26 
REMARKS. 
lifted to ascertain important facts on both these points. I have 
repeatedly seen an ardent curiosity excited by my pursuits in the 
minds of those whose general habits of life would appear least likely 
to render them observers of nature ; and I have been indebted to their 
industry, intelligence, and kindness, for the possession of a number of 
specimens and remarks, which, if they had not been unfortunately 
lost in the shipwreck of the Alceste, would better prove than words 
the correctness of my statement. 
The medical officers of ships of war, and of Indiamen, are especially 
fitted for the pursuit of natural history, and still more so for that 
of comparative anatomy, and they do frequently make these depart- 
ments of knowledge the objects of their study. But their modesty, 
looking to the extent of knowledge embraced by the masters of 
science, underrates the value of their acquirements. Many also are 
deterred from aiming at discovery, from the belief that they cannot 
tread a path which has not been before explored, or that the quan- 
tity of information necessary to give effect to their endeavours, requires 
exclusive occupation to obtain. But, surely, no part of knowledge 
is yet exhausted, and much that has been done requires to be modi- 
fied ; and it is one of the peculiar advantages of the present age, 
that the lover of natural history, instead of toiling through myriads 
of books to ascertain the amount of existing information on any of 
the subjects of his research, may find it comprised in a few volumes. 
But let me quit a subject which may be considered as irrelevant to 
the nature of this work ; and which, if pursued, might lead into a 
wide field of statement and discussion. 
Means of conveyance having been provided to take Lord Amherst 
and the gentlemen of his suite overland to Batavia, they set off on the 
morning of the 11th June for Sirang, which is about half-way between 
Anyer Point and Batavia. His Excellency, with his usual attention 
to the furtherance of my pursuits, permitted me to select my own 
mode of travelling. I therefore took possession of a dooly, and 
accompanied by Mr. Havell, who also preferred this mode of travel- 
