a Chinese settlement, several thousands of the Celestials being there located pursuing their various trades with great success. The fronts of their shops being open, we had a good opportunity of inspecting the labours of the hive while driving along. In this nest of chattering sons of Han will be seen coach builders, wheelwrights, blacksmiths, braziers, and tinmen, tailors and shoemakers, even artists; in short, the pursuits of almost every artisan under the sun may here be seen in full work, and exercised in a very tradesman-like style. There are several handsome public buildings in Batavia, all profusely ornamented with the lion of the Netherlands, which is sculptured on almost every projection of these edifices; the parade, and other government grounds, are kept in good order, the walks being neatly trimmed and weeded, and the grass closely cut. Several birds of the jay and sparrow species cheer them by the beauty of their plumage and the liveliness of their motions. It is singular, that in almost every part of the globe, Java included, the common sparrow may be seen hopping about with the same mischievous waggery in his demeanour, without regard to climate, as that which characterizes the saucy little bird of our island home, clearly showing that impudence is tolerated in all countries.

The immense crowds of vehicles and buffalo waggons, the numbers of itinerant fruit and sweetmeat sellers, the troops of coolies, carrying heavy loads of all that is costly, whether gold from Pontick, or the spices of the Moluccas, and country people carrying long poles on their shoulders, a basket pendant at each end containing ducks, geese, and turkeys for sale, give the burning streets a very gay appearance. But by sunset this town may be almost likened unto a huge cemetery, or a plague stricken city, a few Malays may be seen here and there prowling about, a solitary Javanese sentinel, or straggling Chinese, are the few drops left of that human current, which but a brief space since was so noisily flowing. The cause of this desertion is the malaria produced by the exhalations arising from the stagnant canals and fetid swamps of the city, and which compels the native residents to retire early to their homes, and forces the Europeans to retire to the New Town before the unwholesome vapours spring from the ground. Driving through the city one day at dusk we had the full benefit of this miasm. It seemed to take the shape of some tangible substance crawling into the mouth and nostrils; the sensation of inhaling the vapour is indescribable, and the effect of it is most overpowering.*

The new city of Batavia is merely a large assemblage of detached bungalows bordering the great road running from Batavia to the interior, as well as the various cross roads in the neighbourhood. These houses commence about two miles from the suburbs of the old city, and are very handsome residences. A description of the domicile of our late lamented host, Mr. ——, who has since fallen a victim to the climateral fever, will, with very few exceptions in general, suffice for all. His house was a large handsome structure, built of stone and stuccoed white. It consisted of only one floor, but was raised upon arches several feet above the ground; a wide verandah paved with variegated marbles encircled it, and in which, at the front of the bungalow, were placed ottomans, chairs, marble tables, book stands, and flower vases, forming * See Dr. Armstrong's observation on this subject in our last volume, p. 381.

with all these agreeables a most delightful place for the accurate enjoyment of a correct Manila and well cooled glass of Schiedam pawney.

At night the verandah is brilliantly lighted in front by a row of numerous lamps, and all the bungalows being similarly illuminated, presents a pleasing appearance from the road. The sitting rooms consisted of a suite of large apartments, very lofty, and communicating with each other as well as opening to the verandah; they were handsomely, but rather scantily furnished, and a pretty Chinese matting supplied The sleeping the place of carpet, being more suited to the climate. apartments were not large, merely containing a bed furnished with a The windows mosquito curtain, dressing table, and a chair or two. and jalousies are carefully closed at night to exclude the air, which is A glass, partly filled. so very prejudicial to European constitutions. with water and a surface of oil, contains a floating wick, which is lighted at the hour of retiring and remains burning until gun-fire at dawn.

The culinary branch is conducted in one of a range of outhouses forming one side of the compound behind the bungalows; the stables, coach houses, together with the dwellings of the Javanese servants and their families are included in these buildings. As several horses are kept by persons of opulence, a great number of grooms in addition to carriage cleaners is indispensable, their families forming part of the establishment; the allowance, however, which they receive from their masters for the maintenance of those depending upon them being only a little rice, which in Java is very cheap, renders the support of so large a household less expensive than would be imagined.

The English residents in Batavia commence the day by mounting their horses at gun-fire for the purpose of enjoying a cool ride at that early hour, and which can only be appreciated by sojourners in hot climates. As morning dawns and the sun rises, gilding the summits of the higher grounds, the appearance of freshness which everthing assumes is delightful, the trees and flowers loaded with heavy dew-drops scintillate as they catch the young rays, pleasant perfumes emanating from them, which, at a later hour, would be imperceptible from the withering effects of heat and dust. The little Malay pony even seems to participate in the elastic feelings which the bright morning excites, and joyously curvets along the damp road with apparently as great a sense of enjoyment as his master. The roads at this hour are thronged with Chinese tradesmen and labourers going to work, their baskets containing tools, &c., are slung at their backs, and they are all provided with chitterys or umbrellas. Numbers of carriages containing ladies and gentlemen are driving slowly along, squads of clumsy looking heavy sterned soldiers are at drill; and an interesting procession comes in view-the children of the Dutch female orphan school taking their usual walk. As they filed quietly along before us, clad in pure white, their situation gave rise to melancholy reflections, subdued, however, by the assurance of their bereavements being assuaged as far as earthly means were concerned,' by the care of a kind administration; these children, we were given to understand, were chiefly orphans, who having no relatives in Holland, were supported by the institution at Batavia. As the rider proceeds, he sees Malays urging horses with loud shouts into the river, for the

purpose of washing them, and in the waters of which, at the same time, almost two-thirds of the coloured population are busily paddling about; parents at their morning ablutions and scrubbing their little ones, the latter in puris naturalibus, their sires in merely a waist cloth, and the mammas in a sarong; servants scouring domestic vessels, pots, and pans, cleaning fish and washing clothes, and some carrying water away, as if for home use, this muddy little stream seeming to be quite the fashionable resort.

The morning being now somewhat advanced, a herd of hideous looking buffaloes may be seen wending along to a pool on the wayside, to luxuriate in mud and water during the heat of the day. This laudable precaution as well as the rapidly increasing strength of the sun's rays, are good hints of the propriety of returning home. Upon arrival which is generally about seven, a cup of coffee is taken, and preparation made for bathing, by undressing and donning a Malay sarong, which garment is simply a large piece of chequered stuff, the ground a reddish brown with red and light coloured cross bars; it is closely wrapped round the body from the hips to the feet in a succession of folds, and is curiously tucked about the waist without the aid of either button or string. The knack of fastening it secundum artem is usually a puzzle to the uninitiated. In walking across the compound to the bath we afforded great fun to the servants, in consequence of our sarong slipping off and leaving us completely sans culottes. Bathing over, an hour is spent with a book, en fauteuil, after which dress for the day, and breakfast at nine. This meal is certainly a very well got up thing as far as devilled drumsticks, first chop curries, fish, eggs, fruit, roasted plantains, preserves, &c., are concerned, and a bottle of cool claret to conclude with. About ten the carriage is brought round, hood drawn well over, blinds close down and every thing in order, driver and footman in laced coats, but as to continuations the less said about them the better. Upon arrival in town the man of invoices repairs to his desk, and his skipper guest (if he have one)* goes off to the ship to see how things are getting on there. At four or half-past, the road to the new city is again alive with the commerciants homeward bound; having discussed that luxury of luxuries, a tropical dinner, rejoicing in the accessories of table linen rivalling in whiteness the snows of the Himmalay, as a most tempting cuisine, a desert not procurable in the latitude of Covent Garden, and wines of an almost icy temperature. A drive is taken in the cool of the evening, nearly all the European population being on the qui vive at that pleasant hour, some sipping coffee either in the verandahs of their cottages ornées, or on the smooth turf before the doors, the effect produced by the appearance of groups of ladies and gentlemen all clad in white, and gently flitting in the brief twilight amid statues, jets d'eau, and vases of beautiful shrubs and flowers, being very picturesque. Large parties may be seen promenading on the roads and race course. The general walking costume of the ladies seemed to resemble an English evening dress, no bonnet being worn, merely a flower in the hair. We should suppose the heat of the climate tolerates some easy habits, and

The trite proverb of "A fat kitchen makes a lean testament" seems to be the order of the day with Eastern consignees now a days; few poor devils of skippers, particularly Liverpool ones, being thought worthy of a feed from such magnates. Tempora mutantur since the golden morn of the first Free Traders dawned.

also eschews straightlacedness, as we observed several pale, very pale, dark brown beauties, who certainly in Jack's phraseology required a fresh pull upon their stay tackles.

In Batavia where the torture of sitting out a dinner in a camisole of a dress coat, (Hibernia log,) would nearly rival the pains caused by the poisoned gift of Nessus; the etiquette to be observed by gentlemen with regard to dress is to wear a coat at church, attending the Governor's levies, or at a dinner or ball at Government House; but in private society only when going to a dinner or evening party for the first time to any place where there may be a lady of the house, and this with certain modifications, which are to make the entrée and bows in a coat, and then retire to put on a white jacket which your servant has in readiness, ever afterwards a jacket is selon les regles in that house.

Returning from our digression we must revert to the haut ton of the evening driving parties, among whom the Governor in an open carriage drawn by eight ponies, makes no inconsiderable display in consequence of the footmen standing behind His Excellency, as well as the outriders in attendance, wielding lighted torches when night has fallen. His Excellency patronizes the Jockey Club established by some of the members of the English mercantile houses. However we believe it is confined exclusively to themselves. They have a stand, weighing house, &c., on the race course, and come out very strong in racing toggery of the most approved description, to the great wonderment of the Dutchmen, who justly marvel at anybody, unless of doubtful sanity, having recourse to so violent an amusement in this broiling part of the world.

There are two hotels in Batavia both in the new city, but in the old town there is no place whatever of rest or refreshment for persons on shore during the day, and which is very disagreeable in consequence of the distance the vessels lie off. Having completed our business in Batavia, we received on board water and supplies prior to our sailing for Singapore and China. The water was brought off in a floating tank, prahu rigged, and furnished with a hose and force pump, our own crew going on board the craft and pumping, the Malays refusing to perform that duty. We paid three rupees a leaguer. The price charged us for negro head tobacco was 2 Rs. (rupees) per lb., sugar 16 Rs. per pecul, fowls 4 Rs. per dozen, ducks 7 Rs. per do., paddy per bag 3 Rs., yams 31 Rs. per pecul, small hogs 7 Rs. each, and boat hire for conveying off a large stock 8 Rs. We found much fault with the comprador (a Chinese) for making what we thought exorbitant charges for everything, compared with the moderate prices at Anjer. However, upon enquiry, we discovered that in consequence of the Dutch levying dues upon all native supplies outwards, as well as the usual duty of 30 per cent. upon foreign articles inwards, refreshments cost much more than their intrinsic value. To show the relative difference of prices between Batavia and Anjer, the following are the prices of stock purchased at the latter place some twelve months after;-eleven dozen fowls, 25 baskets sweet potatoes, 14 bags paddy, 14 dozen pompkins, some fruit, birds, shells, &c., for £2. 10s., which was moderate enough. It being dark when our supplies came off in Batavia roads, of coarse there was much confusion in getting every thing safe on board, and unfortunately the hogs being very savage and untractable, evincing a great desire to

escape from their baskets and attack all hands, our worthy chief officer thought that he had better make them feel quite at home, by accustoming them to the smell of tar without delay. He accordingly made one of the youngsters attend with a bucket of tar and brush, with which he laid a good coat upon each snout preparatory to its consignment to the pig pen, at the same time gravely assuring us that it was an infallible remedy for keeping pigs from jumping overboard. However, the grunters were hardly in the pen before they escaped, and two out of four jumping through the main deck ports were never seen again, although two boats started in full chase, they must have been immediately seized by sharks, as no time was lost in pursuing them. J. B. CALDBECK.

ON THE LONGITUDES OF THE PRINCIPAL MARITIME POINTS OF THE GLOBE. By Lieut. Raper, R. N.

(Continued from Vol. for 1841, p. 764.)

In the last paper on this subject, published in Nov. 1841,-after which period my time was entirely occupied in putting the second edition of my Navigation through the press,-it was intended to proceed along the coast to the eastward. But the surveys of Sir E. Belcher having arrived in the mean time it has become necessary to combine his chronometic measures with those of former authorities; and, therefore, to avoid further delay, we shall proceed now to Austrlia.

M. Wurm has given in the Astronomische Nachrichten, Nos. 135, 137, 143, and 200, the results of twenty-three occultations observed between Aug. 1812 and Oct. 1828, which will be found enumerated in the Conn. des tems of 1836, "Sur la Table des positions géographiques," by M. Daussy. Of these M. Wurm rejects all such as differ 10s. from the general mean, whereby he obtains twelve within 4s. of the mean. The result of these is 9h. 54m. 43.1s. E. of Paris, that of the whole is 9h: 54m. 45.0s., M. Daussy has adopted the former. Applying to 9h. 54m. 43.1s. the D. Long. of Greenwich and Paris, or 9m. 21.5s. according to Mr. Henderson (Phil. Trans. 1827), which has been confirmed almost exactly by Mr. Dent by means of chronometers, gives 10h. 4m. 4.6s. The long. adopted in the Naut. Alm. is 10h. 4m. 6.2s., or 151° 1′9′′. As it is convenient to omit seconds in a fundamental position, and as this determination cannot be considered definitive we shall adopt 151° 1′ 0′′. 194. Port Jackson. Fort Macquarrie flag-staff,

As we have adopted Paramatta Observatory as the secondary meridian of this district, we need not give here the numerous observations, consisting chiefly of lunars, taken at Port Jackson since those of Cook in 1770, and which range between 151° 20′ 38" (Lt. Bradley in 1788) and 151° 8' 17" (M. Bougainville in 1825). We shall therefore refer Port Jackson to the observatory.

1822. D.L. Param. Obs., by the transit of Mercury, computed by M. Wurm

0° 12′ 36"