274 
JAVA. 
CHAPTER X. 
In my first visit to Java, my opportunities of seeing the island were 
confined to a few excursions into the interior ; but they enabled me 
to estimate the amiableness of the natives, to enjoy the delightful 
scenery, and to examine some of the singular productions of their 
much-favoured land. In my second unforeseen, but more length- 
ened visit, when deprived of all means of scientific research, and 
all the objects for which I had undertaken the voyage, I readily 
yielded to the dissipation by which the equal kindness of our coun- 
trymen and Baron Van der Capellan hoped to seduce Us into a for- 
getfulness of our misfortunes. The seven weeks that we remained 
on the island were almost entirely spent in the immediate vicinity of 
Batavia ; and although they afforded us ample opportunities of ob- 
serving the manners of the colonists, gave us few facilities for hold- 
ing any intercourse with the natives. In looking over my journal, 
I find one day’s occupation so very similar to another, that in taking 
my reader through a day’s routine of engagement, I shall do my 
best to give him a notion of the local circumstances that meet the 
eye of a temporary dweller in the purlieus of Batavia. 
Batavia is built in a low, swampy soil, close to the sea ; its streets 
running nearly north and south, at right angles with the beach. 
These streets are very broad, and many of them terminate in fine 
roads leading into the heart of the island. On the principal of 
these, about three miles from the town, at a place called Wel- 
tervreden, was situated the cantonment of our troops ; and here 
were the quarters of the Embassy, whilst they remained in Java. 
