WAITING FOR THE STEAMER. 
113 
find some seeds as large as chestnuts. We 
went into the courtyard, where we had in- 
structed Kobez to break one open, to examine 
the rind, and despite the odour I could not 
refrain from drawing my finger over the lovely 
lining of the cells in which the pulp had been 
embedded, to discover if it felt as satiny as it 
looked. 
2 Stfi June , 
We are still in Amboina, in hourly expectation 
of the steamer. It is already ten days overdue, 
and we must perforce endure the discomfort of 
living with our boxes packed, sure that it must 
come to-morrow. We shall doubtless be able to 
laugh over this period when we recall it in after 
years, but at present it is very trying to be thus 
losing time. Nearly two months ago we were 
thus far towards the goal of our journey; our 
men are idle, and our funds are melting away. 
We dare not go a day's journey, or even a few 
hours from the house, lest the vessel should 
come in the meantime ; we have no definite 
occupation, and cannot help fretting. One great 
pleasure we have. The steamer of the 13th 
brought to Amboina an old friend of H.'s in 
Sumatra, Dr Julius Machik, who, posted to 
the charge of the military hospital, has come 
H 
