e sea on all
sides, contrasting strongly with the small coasters made of plaited
hemp that darted gaily over the blue waves, and fishing boats of all
sorts and sizes were crossing our path or following in our wake. We
were seemingly enclosed in a nest of small islands, and it was a
mystery to conceive how it would be possible to find our way out of
such a labyrinth. Only by the high volcanic hills, with their crowns
of light smoke were we able to recognize the mainland of Java, whilst
the flowery coast of Sumatra faded gradually from our view, until at
length it was lost on the distant horizon. But the experienced eye of
our captain discerned clearly the way that lay before us; for many
years he had guided his ship in safety through these dangerous seas,
and attentive to his duty and his chart, he disentangled her from
among this knot of islands and we found ourselves once more in a free
offing. Soon the Roads of Batavia were in sight, where more than fifty
large ships and an incredible number of smaller ones were lying at
anchor. The French, Dutch, Austrian and English flags greeted our
arrival, one ship after another welcomed us to the roads with their
thundering cannon, which was regularly answered by the guard ship
constantly stationed here. At last our anchor was let down and fell
rattling into the deep. But, different from Sumatra and the coast of
Java we had left, nothing was to be seen at Batavia but a flat, low
beach overgrown with bushes, behind which appeared some groups of
green trees, and in the far distance rose a chain of blue hills from
the summits of which clouds of smoke were issuing, that told of the
many volcanic fires that are constantly burning in the Island of
Java.

Home-Sickness of a Siberian.

Every Russian officer is permitted to choose their servants from
among the soldiers, the number varying according to the rank; the
under lieutenants having the right to one, the captains can demand
three, and the field marshal twenty-four. These men, although freed
from military duty, are still numbered as belonging to their several
regiments, which they are obliged to enter, whenever their master
pleases. They are better fed and clothed than their comrades, and
upon the whole, live an easier and pleasanter life. Among these
soldier-servants, I became acquainted with one, a Siberian, whose
regiment was quartered in a small town in the government of Pultowa.
He was a dragoon and servant to the A