44 
MEMOIA OP 
rived on tlie 3d of Jmi(«, to the no gmsll astonish- 
mt'ut oif the et/loiiist^Sj who w*?re not iutliiied to lie- 
lieve it poaniye we could Lave thought of such a 
Tlj(i party Ijaving tliua r(?turi)ed in safety to Ben- 
coHoleiit the attention of Sir Stamford v,m oecujiied for 
a moiitli m ilie concerns of the c otnpany ; hut he c<m- 
ttmplated other exi'ursisniH, antJ, ia July IB 18, com- 
meuced his inquirieii n'srnrdirii; the anci*'nt Miiliiyan 
city, Meimnirkaba, cek-bniied fur tite riclnie^rii of its 
ofi's and mineral produciiQn». He embarked for 
Padang, aceonipanied as formerly hy Lady UafUes, 
|javin|^ upon ilie journey also^ l^n^ company and hs- 
aistaiice of Dr HorniWld. *rhe journal of lliis expe- 
dition, wriiteu at th^; time of lis execution, audtsent 
home to hi^ friends, m extremely i>iter(!»itii)i^, hut, 
from itH k>nL!;thr would occii|>y too tuuch upaeehere; 
we have iherefore ojdy selected some jKirtfj of it. 
The difficulties of the way were much dwelt on by 
the imtives. Sir Standurd U'as, liowever, determined 
to make the attempt, though the informalion of his 
advanced party was rather confirmatory of danger. 
*' This party, cotisittling of about two hunttred coolies, 
fifty military as mi escort, and all oor personal eer- 
vajits, left Padonpr on the afU!rnoon of the 1 4th June, 
by beat of drum, forming a tnoHt ridiculous cavalcade, 
the intereiit lieii^htened hy the quixotic appearance 
of my friend Dr Ilor&field, w ho was borne along oil 
the shoulders of four of tlie party, in order that, in 
preceding ua, be might gain time for hotaiuKiiig. 
