opened out on to a wide piazza, where the sick could
enjoy all the breezes and yet be sheltered from the
sun. Every morning the chief doctor came round to
each room with assistants and servants, who carefully
noted his directions and prescriptions. He was a
German, and appeared very kindly in his manner;
but when the time arrived to take medicine, I found
he had not only assigned for me huge doses of that
most bitter of all bitter things—quinine—but also
copious draughts of some fluid villanously sour.
The ultimate result of these allopathic doses was,
however, decidedly beneficial; and after keeping perfectly
quiet for a week, I was well enough to return
to my boarding-house, but yet was so weak for some
time that I could scarcely walk.
Our consul, who had been kindly visiting me all
the while, now came with a letter from His Excellency
the governor-general that was amply sufficient to make
me wholly forget my unfavorable initiation into tropical
life. It was addressed to the “ Heads of the Provincial
Governments in and out of Java,” and read thus :
“ I have the honor to ask Your Excellency to render to
the bearer, Mr. Albert S. Bickmore, who may come
into the district under your command in the interest
of science, all the assistance in your power, without
causing a charge to the public funds or a burden to
the native people.”
Besides honoring me with this kind letter, His
Excellency generously wrote the consul that he would
be happy to offer me “ post-horses free overall Java,”
if I should like to travel in the interior. But it was
with the hope of reaching the Spice Islands that I
had come to the East, and, after thanking the governor
general for such great consideration and kindness,
I began making preparations for a voyage
through the eastern part of the archipelago. I had
brought with me a good supply of large copper cans
with screw covers. These were filled with arrack, a
kind of rum made of molasses and rice. Dip-nets,
hooks, lines, and all such other paraphernalia, I had
fully provided myself with before I left America. Yet
one paper, besides a ticket, was needed before I could
go on board the mail-boat, and that was a ( permission
to travel in the Netherlands India.” This paper
ought to have been renewed, according to law, once
every month; but the governor-general’s letter was
such an ample passport, that I never troubled myself
about the matter again during the year I was journeying
in the Dutch possessions.