158 
THE STRAIT OF SUNDA. 
V 
CHAP. Vll. 
THE STRAIT OF SUNDA AND ISLAND OF JAVA. 
Comparison between the Harbour of Rio de "Janeiro and the Strait of Smda-^ 
Swallows' Nests — Anjerie Point — Number of Sharks — Tomb of Colonel 
Cathcart — The Thousand Islands — The Fabrics of marine Worms*— Coral 
Islands more favourable for Plants than those of volcanic Origin— Bay of 
Batavia — Site of Batavia — Bad Taste of the Dutch — Description of Ba- 
tavia — Population — Great Mortality — Temperature — Diseases — Produc- 
tions of Java in the mineral and vegetable Kingdoms — Cocoa, Mangostan, 
MangOf Rambootan, Poolosang, ^c. — Curious, useful, or beautiful Plants — 
The Nepenthes, or Pitcher Plant — The Upas — Effect of poisonous Sub- 
stances — Hydrophobia, curious Case of — Animals. 
We took our departure from the burning island of Am- 
slerdam on the 2d of February, and on the 26th of the same 
month entered the strait of Sunda ; the passage of -which to 
the usual anchorage of the East India Company's ships, near 
North Island, (so called from its position in the northern 
mouth of the strait,) occupied three da3^s. The features of 
the two grand islands of Sumatra and Java, between which 
this strait is formed, and indeed of all the smaller ones which 
are interspersed around them, are distinguished in a very pe- 
culiar manner by the luxuriance, softness, and amenity of 
their native tints of verdure. In sailing up the magnificent 
harbour of Rio de Jaiieiro, the varied hues of rude and un- 
