ning their heads aside,
as if they were afraid to look at one. The natives of the eastern part
of the island are said not to be so timid.

Starting from Chipana early on the following morning, they continued their
rapid descent by Buitenzorg to Batavia; and on the 16th embarked again on
board the 'Ferooz,' for Ceylon, where he expected to find an accumulation
of four mails. 'Two months of news!' (he wrote). 'I always feel nervous as
to what so long an interval may bring forth.'

[Sidenote: Strait of Sunda.]

'_Ferooz,' at Sea.--February 16th.--One P.M._--We are entering the
Strait of Sunda, which separates Java and Sumatra. When through it we
have a clear sea-way to Galle. _Two_ P.M.--We have just passed the
high land which forms the north-western point of Java, and is called
Cape St. Nicholas. It is beautifully rich-looking; the bright green of
its grass and crops embroidered over by the darker green of the clumps
of trees which are scattered upon it. Farther down to the south, on
the same side, is the flat promontory known as Angen Point. On the
other side we have the coast of Sumatra, wooded and broken, with
mountains in the background, and green islets tossed out from it upon
the ocean, in the foreground; and a sailing ship moving along it in
the same direction with ourselves, her sails flapping idly in the
calm.

_Sunday, February 24th_.--We have just had service on deck, under a
double awning. A little fanning breeze from the north-east seemed to
say that we are at last getting back into the region of that monsoon
which we left when we went to the south of the Line. I have been some
days without writing, for there has been nothing to tell, and we have
had a good deal of bad weather, rain, and rolling and pitching; but we
must not complain, as it was more convenient to have it here in the
open sea, than if we had encountered it in a narrow passage, such as
we have passed through. We expect to reach Galle in three days, and I
cannot but feel a little nervous as to the news I may find there. We
are in God's hands, and this sort of doubt makes us feel the more that
we are so.

[Sidenote: Retrospect of Java.]

Altogether, I was much interested by Java. As I have said, it is ruled
entirely for the interest of the governing race. No attempt is made to
raise the natives. I _believe_ that the missio