66 
VISIT TO THE VOLCANOES. 
preach we found the beauty of the village was best seen 
at a distance, it being nothing but a miserable cluster of 
huts with one larger than the rest constituting our hotel. 
Immediately on arriving the people brought cups of hot water 
for us to drink, but my companion explained to them that we 
did not care for that kind of beverage, so they then brought 
a dish of smoking hot potatoes, which was much more 
acceptable. The air was so cold that we found it difficult to 
keep ourselves warm till dinner time, and when that hour did 
arrive we were agreeably surprised to find an excellent hot 
repast placed before us. Our keen appetites would have 
relished a much worse fare, but everything was very well 
cooked and the dishes were piping hot. After satisfying 
ourselves I attempted to sketch some of the natives who 
crowded round us, but as soon as I got out my pencil they all 
ran away. These Tengger people, as they are called from 
the mountains they inhabit, are all Hindoos, the only tribe 
in Java that has not been converted to Mohammedanism, 
They are a fine robust race, very quiet and unoffending, and 
strange to say they are not a bit better clothed than the 
people of the plains, although they appear to suffer much from 
the cold ; the sight of some of the children stark naked made 
me shiver ; before we went to bed we were glad to warm 
ourselves at a fire the natives had lighted before the door. I 
had luckily brought with me a country made blanket, but with 
that even, 1 could get but little sleep, and was glad enough 
when mornlnfif dawned* 
Soon after sunrise we started for the Bromo. I 
remained behind for a short time to make a hasty sketch of 
the hill village; but as I heard Symond's horn high above me, 
I hastened on, and at the spot where I overtook him the 
