John McCosh

“ PENANG.— The Straits and China is a favourite resort, especially in hot weather, for it is curious, that the climate of the Straits, though under the line, is less hot and less oppressive than during the warmest season in Bengal. Europeans do not dread the sun there as they do in India. Penang, or Prince of Wales Island, was in former years a good deal frequented, but now few visitors spend any time there. George Town, the capital, stands upon a large tract of level ground on the mainland side of the island. ”

“ There is every facility in making the voyage to the Straits and China, both by steam and by sailing vessels, but where time is no object, and where the chief benefit to be obtained is at sea, I think the sading-vessel holds out most advanatages to the invalid. ”

“ Macao is still preferred as a residence, though very inconvenient for the transaction of business.
9. CANTON.—This is the last place in the world to resort to in search of health. The confinement imposed upon the residents is excessive, and one might as well live in a prison. Gentlemen in the receipt of some thousands a year are glad to be allowed to rent a pig-stye of a house at the furthest end of a dark and dirty lane, shut out from all ventilation, sometimes without being able to command a ray of sunshine unless at the tops of the houses. ”

“ The population is exceedingly mixed, consisting of Dutch from Java, Spaniards from Manilla, Portuguese from Macao. The Chinese form the most numerous class,and are men of great enterprise in the commercial world; a large fleet of junks is at certain seasons anchored in the roads, with innumerable boats from the innumerable islands in the Eastern seas. In fact, in no part of the world can be seen a greater diversity of race than in Singapore. ”

“ Strangers dare not, unless at the risk of their lives,venture within the walls of Canton,nor take a walk into the country without getting pelted with stones, they are equally debarred from sailing on the river, unless within certain boundaries, and have the same chance of rough usage afloat as on shore; they are not even permitted to have their wives, or families in Canton.
There is here a large society of Europeans of many nations, and I have no where met with more genuine hospitality. ”

“ A cabin on the poop will be one-third more expense,but this must not be thought of when the recovery of health is concerned. At the same time, I consider a voyage to England in a poop cabin of one of the above companies' ships, with a good table and a pleasant party of passengers, more likely to restore a person to health than any other possible means he can have recourse to, in the same space of time. ”

“ The situation of an invalid under such circumstances, who requires more free air than a man in health,and is unable to leave his cabin, or his cot, is most distressing, and can be conceived only by one who has witnessed it. ”

“ The site of the town is so little raised above the level of the sea, that a large portion of it is flooded at high water; and where the sea is banked out, the soil is flowing with water, and converted into rice fields. Large tracts are planted with nutmegs and cloves, and nearly equal portions are in a state of nature, overgrown with mangrove and other jungle. ”

“ The usual way of drawing one's pay while absent from India, is to authorise some house of agency in Calcutta to draw it monthly, receiving in return a letter of credit on the different places he may visit,for so much a month. ”

“ While on board ship, he will every day see some new phenomena for which these seas are remarkable, and he can no where set his foot on shore without meeting wash, interesting varieties of the human race, that cannot fad to absorb his attention, and turn the morbid current of his thoughts into new and more congenial channels ”

“ Making ones will is at all times a serious matter, few people like to think of it,but postpone it to some future opportunity. This is a great mistake, for in the event of the invalid's dying intestate in the Colonies, those most dear to him may, in consequence, have much difficulty, and be subject to years of delay before they can recover his property. ”

“ The harbour does not admit of ships entering it, but there is an excellent roadstead with a fine sandy beach and no surf to prevent a boat from landing. The town is built upon a plain raised only a few feet above the sea, and large tracts are daily flooded by the tide. ”

“ He will find himself quite in a new world, and yet in a world full of originality of enterprise and of interest; and feel impressed with the opinion that we outside barbarians have been indebted to them for many of the comforts, conveniences and refinements of society, with this difference that whereas they have stood still for the last two or three thousand years, we have continued to improve upon their antitypes. ”

“ The houses of the Europeans are substantially, even elegantly built, and the interior is studded with nutmeg plantations and pretty villas, with numerous roads of the very best description. There are two good hotels here, several good boarding-houses, and houses may readily be got furnished for rent. There is a large European society, principally mercantile, much convivialty and good fellowship prevads ”

“ The atmosphere is intensely damp;the sky generally cloudy and overcast, with frequent heavy showers. The town is of considerable extent, of Dutch construction, and may contain 15,000 inhabitants, of whom Chinese and Portuguese form a large proportion. ”

“ The mountains are very steep on all sides, and clothed in deep forests. On the summit of the highest mountain, rising to 2,000 feet, stands a Government-house, occasionally occupied by the governor of the Straits ”

“ These forms of office are a very serious matter to any one in delicate health, and generally require eight or ten days to get through them; but there are army agents to be got at all the presidencies, who negociate such affairs for their constituents. ”

“ A small private store of jam, raspberry vinegar, arrow-root and tapioca, and a box of spices, if in very delicate health, and a native servant will be desirable. A milch goat will also be very useful. ”