and bazaars. The business-houses occupied
by Europeans are all built in the old Dutch style of centuries ago, and
their venerable appearance is largely augmented by the mould and
discoloration of the sea-air; while the _tout ensemble_ presents an
ancient and dilapidated aspect strangely at variance with the luxuriant
verdure of the tropical scenery and the brilliant tints of the
picturesque Oriental costumes everywhere visible. The New City is a
terrestrial Paradise, with broad avenues shaded by majestic trees,
spacious parks, and palace-dwellings of indescribable elegance--a quaint
commingling of city and country, of Oriental luxuriousness with the
Hollander's characteristic love of solidity. In truth, the New City is
not a city at all, but a continuous succession of beautiful villas
embowered in orange groves, and surrounded by palms and banians, upon
which climb and clamber flowering vines and creepers innumerable, while
birds are singing, bees humming and butterflies fluttering their gauzy
wings, utterly regardless of the proprieties of city life.

At eight o'clock we found ourselves in the custom-house, surrounded by
Dutch revenue-officers, whose insignia of office seemed to consist of
the huge bunches of keys with which they were armed. Their stylish
uniforms and fair pale faces were singularly in contrast with the
chocolate-colored skins, naked busts, scarlet girdles and green or
yellow turbans of the crowds of native porters who stood ready to take
charge of the baggage as fast as it was examined. Having seen our
effects disposed of, we set out for our quarters in the New City,
attended by the Bengalese comprador who was to serve as guide and
purveyor-general during our stay in the island. We were driven in the
neatest of pony palanquins, drawn by horses scarcely larger than
Newfoundland dogs, over smooth, well-shaded roads, amid luxuriant fields
and meadows, and for a good portion of the route by the banks of a
beautiful canal, all aglow with busy life. Here and there were sampans
and _budgerows_, some loaded with merchandise, and others with
passengers, their light sails spread and pennons gayly flaunting in the
breeze, while men, women and children, bathing and swimming in the
smooth waters, sported like fish in their native element, and never
dreamed of the possibility of danger.

[Illustration: A STREET IN BATAVIA (THE NEW CITY).]

Among the majestic trees that formed natural archways above our heads,
s