inhabit the colder latitudes, for in a warmer climate
it is a rare thing to find them. Sometimes a few weary land-birds that
have strayed from their homeward way, skim over the ocean, or rest
upon the masts; how they maintain themselves on the wing cannot be
conjectured, but certain it is, they have been seen on the trackless
ocean, when no point of land was within hundreds of miles.

On the first day of December, a long range of blue hills rose on the
far horizon as if springing from the sea; we soon found it to be the
coast of Sumatra. Contrary winds kept us beating about and prevented
our entering the straits of Sunda, but we found ourselves surrounded
by a number of ships from all nations sharing a like fate, and waiting
with the same impatience for a favoring wind to blow them into Sunda
Roads or to their different destinations. At last the wished for
breeze sprung up, the sails swelled, and our gallant ship sailed
proudly through the straits. On all sides were seen chains of blue
hills and richly wooded islands rising out of the water; the long
coast of Java and Sumatra covered with vegetation and groups of
beautiful trees, and the thousand little green islets that studded the
straits like emeralds cast at random, presented a lively picture that
contrasted pleasantly with the late monotony we had endured. Huge
trunks of pistangs and tops of cocoanut trees, broken off by the wind
were driven about in all directions, and as they met us, awakened
almost as much apprehension as would a reef of rocks. We passed many
islands uninhabited, and with their impervious forests still remaining
in primitive wildness, clothed in the beauty of a perpetual verdure
unknown in northern regions, and soon came in sight of the white
houses of the island of Java, which surrounded with lofty trees and
blooming gardens, proclaimed themselves the dwellings of Europeans.
From many eminences the Dutch flag was seen floating, and as we sailed
along, a Java village looked out from among the tall cocoanut trees;
little barks shot out from the shore and steered towards our ship, and
one European boat manned with eight Javanese rowers, and bearing the
flag of Holland at her stern reached us first.

A police officer, corpulent and full of importance, now came on board
and handed the captain a sheet of paper on which he was desired to
inscribe the name and destination of the vessel, from what port she
had sailed, what burthen she carried, and oth