Page:McCosh, John - Advice to Officers in India (1856).djvu/303

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IN INDIA.
283

tuguese from Macao. The Chinese form the most numerous class,and are men of great enterprise in the commercial world; a large fleet of junks is at certain seasons anchored in the roads, with innumerable boats from the innumerable islands in the Eastern seas. In fact, in no part of the world can be seen a greater diversity of race than in Singapore.

The climate, though a hot one, is considered healthy, every morning has its sunshine and its sea-breeze, and every afternoon its cool refreshing shower, and the nights are so cool and congenial that a light covering is agreeable. Singapore has, however, no cold weather, with a series of cloudy, clear and rainy days, and a temperature seldom under 80° throughout the year. It is, therefore, not a place to halt at, longer than the novelty excited, ten days will satisfy the stranger and make him willing to leave.

6. JAVA.—When at Singapore, a convenient opportunity may be found once a month of visiting Java. The Dutch government have a steamer ready to receive the European mails, and convey them to Batavia. From all I have read and heard of Java, a month's tour throughout the island would well repay the traveller. One may drive post all over it, with every convenience, and at an elevation of 6 to 7,000 feet, with a European temperature. The day has gone by, when Batavia