Philip Neale

“ It naturally sounds rather too hot to be pleasant, but it is surprising how very soon one gets accustomed to sleeping in such a high temperature, especially considering the moist, clammy heat which prevails in all parts of Java. ”

“ All the natives in the neighboring kampongs turned against us, and refused those of us who had escaped the least help or food. Many of the Europeans — especially the women — exhausted with fatigue, and almost frightened out of their lives, were sinking down in a helpless state by the wayside. Although the worst was over as regards the volcanic wave, many sank down and died on the road from exhaustion and neglect. Not only did many of the natives refuse to help us in the least, but they actually drove us fiercely from their houses. ”

“ It was well for us that our visit had not been made earlier, or else the sight would have been a still more terrible one. Now and again we detected decomposing matter near us, and the Malays who were accompanying us said that probably many a body still lay concealed beneath the immense fallen masses which lay on each side of us, and which they had not yet had time to examine. Closely following our guides, we made our way very slowly through the ruined district. A rougher piece of walking I never experienced. The road had completely disappeared, and there was no track or footpath in its place. ”

“ It did not take us long to come to the conclusion that, whatever their merits for breeding purposes may be, Bantam fowls are no better on a dinner table than any other, and to hungry travellers like ourselves they certainly had the serious drawback of being very diminutive in size. ”

“ In some cases it was found necessary to burn the remains. We could scarcely take a step anywhere in one part of the district without walking on a grave. Wherever we saw a stake driven into the ground we knew that some unfortunate victim lay buried beneath. ”