Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-28

Equator, and steamlng past the Nico-
bar Island into the Straits of Malacca,
with Sumatra on our right and the
Malay peninsula on our left. It was
dark as we passed Penang, city and
island, one of the British "Straits Set
Elements" but next day we reached
the more important island of Singa-
pore. The Captain took the steamer
into Singapore harbor for water, and
gave 10 just four hours to see the
two miles back from the harbor,
and as We were half an hour hag-
Cling with the Jews, Malays, negroes,
and Cinnamon who thronged the wharf
for q 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 . day form broad ex-
panse of mud and refuse, rendering the
city very unhealthy. However. + also
noticed that on each side and back ut
the city were very beautiful wooded
heights from which peeped many bun
galows, and it is in that pleasanter To-
eality that the rich Europeans reside.
Polks 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.
We began to enter the archipelago
islands, islands, islands-lsrge, small.
and oil 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 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
Hayriads Of islands, and among them
got good view of Mount Bator, Q very
active volcano. We saw the smoke and
flames very distinctly. though Bstor
was unusually quiet IS We passed it.
The sail through the warm blue waters
Of the still Indian Ocean is mighty
pheasant. and as one hardly ever loses
Mght Of land there is nothing tedious
about the trip.
Now, although navigation Of the
vsEers Of the deep has been brought
dom 30 . pretty fine science, there arc
sill some out-of- the-way quarters where
skippen have to 60 very slow, and
Gnaetimes have to stop altogether.
Torres Straits is one of these places
where the most northerly point Of Aus
kalia comes very clcse to the shores Of
New Guinea. These straits arc full of
teeaeherous reefs and currents and hid.
6sa shoals. which have already proved
fatal to many . gallant craft. However,
each successive trip Of steamer with
IA intelligent captain lessons these
aangers. for both the Queensland
(Australia) Government and the En-
giish Home Government are preparing
reliable charts for mariners who navi-
este the intricate channel of Polynesia.
No, fast steaming 10 not one of the Of
fenses Of steamers which navigate
Asistio waters. but it is, perhaps, bet
ter to "be slow and sure" or, in the
words of the immortal Davy Crockett,
'eBe sure you're right, then 60 ahead"
Our captain agreed with Davy and
came to an anchorage toward evening,
where we lay until daylight. Then We
steamed on, and about noon got my
first sight of Austrslia-s country I