278 
h/s journey. 
As I feared, the weather is very unfavourable. 
They have been most uncomfortably housed, too. 
The way is indeed laborious. Impracticable 
crags bar a straightforward course ; they have 
to wind down precipitous mountainsides to 
river-beds, and mount the next only to repeat 
the process, — a toilsome day’s marching giving 
but a very unsatisfactory record of progress, 
H. says it would have been almost impossible 
for me to accompany him, so that perhaps, after 
all, this loneliness is the less trying alternative. 
Iiow often have we regretted that I joined him 
only at the hardest part of his wanderings in the 
archipelago ! How I could have enjoyed that 
elysian life on the Keeling Islands, with their 
fascinating interest, and with no fever or mos- 
quitoes to intrude. How easy and pleasant his 
life in Java, with the rapid post-chaise travelling 
and the hearty hospitality of the distant stations. 
Iiow delightful that journey by river in Sum- 
atra, from the interior to Paiembang, when he 
leisurely sailed for weeks together in his com- 
modious, orchid-decked, floating house, mooring 
on the beautiful banks or at any interesting 
village at pleasure, 
Matross, our swaggering, fine gentleman ser- 
vant. is invaluable on the way. He is in great 
3 * O 
