THE FRUIT OF FRUITS. 
63 
living even in the East to eat the mangosteen. While 
I was opening one of them and putting the four sections 
into my mouth one after the other in rapid succession, I 
was saluted hy a young Javanese of Mongolian cast of 
features, rather below the middle size, and showing a 
horribly-blaek set of teeth — black as ink — when he 
wished to appear amiable. He told me that he was the 
second captain of the port, and that he had called to pay 
his respects and see if ice wanted any thing, I subse- 
quently found that he was a dealer in poultry, &c. ; and 
as soon as he found we diduH leant any thing — having been 
previously supplied — he took himself off in high dud- 
geon. Before he went, however, I had, with my usual 
curiosity, questioned him as to the colour of his teeth, 
and been told that all of his people’s teeth were the same, 
resulting from the excessive chewing of the betel-nut. 
“I liked the looks of their boats and canvas. They 
were very cleanly built, and were propelled by both oars 
and sails. The former were very short and broad, almost 
paddles, and the latter — which generally consisted of a 
single or double lug — were made of grass-matting sewed 
together, that was lighter and more flexible even than 
canvas. 
“Like most half-civilized or savage people, the occu- 
pants of these boats expressed themselves in quick, loud, 
and energetic language, accompanied by violent and 
frequent gesticulation. To stand at a distance and see 
several of them carrying on an ordinary conversation, a 
stranger would imagine them upon the verge of a free 
fight.” 
While approaching Batavia, the wind was very light, 
