6 
BATAVIA— HOTEL LIFE. 
are of one storey ; the floors are of flags, for 
eoolness, with mats thrown here and there, and 
very simple furniture. The beds, however, are 
the largest I have ever seen, and are curtained 
top and sides with mosquito-screens : they are 
not furnished with any upper sheet or covering. 
My room was quite at the end of the row, and 
had a verandah at the end, as well as in front, with 
blinds drawing to the ground, which screened me 
from the gaze of passers-by, but through which 
I could easily see them. When I looked out 
that first morning, the occupants of the various 
“cottages” were just emerging, and, seating 
themselves in their sleeping attire, sipped their 
morning coffee. I had been told that the bath- 
house was at the farther end of the square, and, 
summoning all ‘my courage, I set off, armed with 
towel and sponge, to find it. Ear down, I espied 
a lady companion of the voyage, who had been 
in Batavia before, and was therefore not so 
bewildered as I. She explained to me the 
Eastern mode of bathing, by having pails of 
water poured over the head, otherwise I should 
have been puzzled on entering the bath-room to 
know whether I was expected to climb into the 
large vat which stood there. The bath-rooms 
are arranged so as to be unspoilable from splash- 
