[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Holding our nostrils we ran for it, doubtful if we should ever get rid of the
smell. Further on was a hut of rather larger pretensions, now used as a
barrack for the police. One of these latter, who possessed a tolerable
knowledge of English, struck up a conversation with us, and amongst
indifferent topics we asked about the prisoners recently captured. He
certainly took us by surprise, when he indicated[60] they were within the
building, alongside of which we were standing. Would we like to see them? We
would. Yes, true enough, there on the floor were five Chinamen, lashed and
bound so tight that the flesh stood out in great purple ridges on either side
the rope.
To get back to our boat we had to repass the village of odours delectable. On
this occasion the scantily clad and polished Malays, whom we had not seen on
passing through, put in an appearance.
By 4 p.m. the anchor was aweigh, and we heading towards Penang, which was
reached on the following day in the midst of thick, dirty weather.
The town is well built, and the cleanest I have yet seen since leaving Europe.
The island is sometimes termed the "Garden of the East," and if it is always
as now, I should say the name was justly bestowed. A little way out in the
country is a fine waterfall, which all who call here, make a point of
Page 27
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
visiting. Jumping into a pony carriage, locally called a gharry, a
comfortable, well ventilated vehicle, capable of seating four persons, we
desire the turban driver to steer for the latter place. Along the very fine
road to the fall, a profusion of palms and gigantic tree ferns, between thirty
and forty feet high, up whose great stems gaily flowered creepers wind their
hawser-like fronds, make a delicious and cooling shade. Yonder tree away there
in the background, with delicate pea-green leaves, is an old friend of ours.
Let your memories go back to your infancy. Cannot you recall many a wry face;
cannot you remember how unpleasant the after sensations when stern, but kind
mothers forced a nauseous decoction called "senna" down your widely-gaping[61]
throat? You smile. I felt certain you had all experienced it. Well that is the
senna tree.
Large mansions lying back from the roadway, with gates and paths leading up to
their entrances, and a smell of new mown hay, were most home-like and
refreshing.
We should have fared much better had a more mutual understanding existed
between us and our pony. That obtuse little beast, good enough at curves and
tangents, after half an hour's canter, flatly refused to exert himself above a
walk; nor, though frequently encouraged by the whip, did he accelerate his
movements to the end of our drive.
At the fall we had a very refreshing shower bath under a thundering cascade of
water tumbling over the edge of a gorge. Near at hand, and conveniently so,
too, for the priesthood, is a small shrine sacred to the Hindoo god Brahin, a
diminutive edition of whom stands on a little pedestal, amidst braziers,
lamps, figures with elephants' heads and human bodies, and other
monstrosities. You may be certain there was a mendicant priest in attendance
on his godship.
On the return voyage our hack behaved even more ungentlemanly than before, for
now he most emphatically refused to budge an inch, indicating his intention of
becoming a fixture by planting his feet obliquely, like a stubborn jackass,
into the ground. Human nature could scarcely be expected to tolerate such
evidence of mutiny, so, jumping into the first passing carriage, we reached
the town at a fairly creditable canter.
November 28th. To-day our short stay at Penang comes to a conclusion, and a
few days afterwards we are once more at Singapore.
[62]
CHAPTER VI.
"Merrily, merrily on we sail!
The sailor's life is gay!
His hopes are on the favouring gale,
And whether it freshens, or whether it fail
He recks not, cares not, no not he;
For his hope is ever upon the sea."
SARAWAK.? ?LABUAN.? ?MANILLA.? ?HEAVY WEATHER.
December 5th. At 4 p.m. the anchor was hove short for our voyage to Hong Kong,
by way of Manilla. As we start some days sooner than we anticipated, we had
made no provision for getting our washed clothes on board, and grave fears are
entertained that we shall be compelled to sail without it, for as yet there is
not so much as the ghost of a washerwoman in sight. Will they, can they by any
fortuitous combination of circumstances, put in an appearance before we leave?
Despair, we are off! But surely no, it can't be? Yes, by jove, there are boats
pulling after us with all the might the rowers can command. We lie to, the
proas come nearer. Hurrah! the clothes, some wholly washed, some half-washed,
and some not [63]washed at all. Piles of fair white linen are bundled up the
Page 28
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]