SURABAYA. 
35 
one in which wc lived in Batavia : our room this 
time, however, is in the front part of the build- 
ding. I am now accustomed to hotel life in 
Java, and amuse myself at my ease, looking on 
the busy scene. The same round goes on, tlie 
early rising, the busy morning, the ample lunch, 
the afternoon of rest, and the gay evening. How 
refreshing it is to go driving at the sunset hour 
with those sharp-trotting ponies. If you wish to 
go beyond the town any considerable distance, it 
is the rule to drive with four horses. One such ex- 
cursion we had occasion to take, and as the scen- 
ery of the environs of Surabaya is exceedingly 
pretty, we had no slight pleasure in the drive. 
The town is of no mean size, and is a busy 
seat of trade : its importance is added to by a 
large dock, where ships from all parts are repaired. 
There is, besides, a Government arsenal, and these 
industries bring a considerable European popul- 
ation. Their pleasant homes are in a suburb 
which we had occasion several times to visit, 
to enjoy the hospitality of kind friends. Public 
gardens laid out with much taste are a great 
amenity, and it is customary to descend for half 
an hour in the course of the evening drive to 
walk in the shrubberies and hear the excellent 
nnisic of the band. 
