The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1888-12-21

C4U6VOGs auu bU0Hu1lllk PHSt Vic N1cO.
bar. Island into the Straits of Malacca,
with Sumatra on our right and the
Malay peninsula on hi left. 1t was
dark as we passed Penang, city and
island, one of the British "Straits Set
.tlements," but next day we reached
the more important island of Singa-
pore. The Captain took the steamer
into Singapore harbor for water, and
gave us just four hours to see the
town. As. however, the town lies
two miles back from the harbor,
and rs we were half an hour hag-
Cling with the Jews, Malays, negroes,
and Cinnamon who througed the wharf
for . conveyance, we only had time to
drive up and come right back. noticed
that We drove over low flats, which at
high water are covered by the tide,
but which twice q day form u broad ex-
pause Of mud and refuse, rendering the
city very unhealthy. However, I also
noticed that on each side and back of
the city we're very beautiful wooded
heights from which peaped many bun
galows, and it is in that pleasanter To-
cality that the rich Europeans reside.
Folks who suffer from cold feet or
chills ought to go to Singapore. It is
located right on the equator; the heat
is excessive and does not vary five de-
grees during the entire year.
Steaming eastward from Singapore,
VIC began to enter the archipelago
islands, islands, islands-large, small,
and ell sizes between, volcanic and
otherwise. Passing down the Java Sea
we passed Karimata and Bamea, both
mountainous islands with their SUBMITS
completely hidden away in the clouds,
and for q long time we had the large
islands of Borneo and Java on our left
and right respectively. For two whole
days we were steaming through these
myriads of islands, and among them
gotta good view of Mount Bator, q very
active volcano. We saw the smoke aud
flames very distinctly, though Bator
vas unusually quiet as we passed it.
The sail through the warm blue waters
Of the still Indian OCEAN is. mighty
pleasant. and as one hardly over loses
sight of land there is nothing tedious
about the trip.
Now, although navigation of the
waters Of the deep has been brought
down to . pretty fine science, there are
still some out-of-the-way quarters where
skippers have to go very slow, and
sometimes have to stop altogether.
Torres Straits is one of these places
whore the most northerly point of Aus.
tralia comes very close to the shores OF
New Guinea. These straits are full OF
Sreacherous reefs and currents and hid
den shoals, which have already proved
:Atel to many q gallant craft. However,
zach successive tlip Of Q steamer Will
an intelligent captain lessons these
dangers, for both the Queensland
tAustralia) Government and the En-
klish Home Government are preparing
reliable charts for mariners who nayi:
rate the intricate channel of Polynesia.
No, fast steaming is not one of the Of
lenses of steamers which navigate
Asiatic waters, but il is, perhaps, bet.
ter to "be slow and sure" or. in tn;
words Of the immortal .Davy Crockett
BE sure you're right, then go ahead.
Our captain agreed with. Davy and
came to an anchorage toward evening
where we lay until daylight. Then VI
steamed on, and about noon I got m,
first night of Austrslia-a country j
had for many years longed to visit; ,
country for which I now hold grea,
regard; . country which, I believe
win soma day take :. leading plact
among the greatest nations Of tn.
world. Two hourslater We came to ~
anchor OF the town Of Somerset, tn.
most northerly town in Australia. i
II not much Of town, but it II . tow
and . British colonial town, with whit.