[CHAPTER XI.]
SINGAPORE.
Singapore, Dec. 9, 1889.
ON the 4th instant we left the beautiful island of Hong-Kong and the city of Victoria by the steamer Kaisar-i-Hind (Empress of India). The accommodations and appointments of the steamer were first-class—electric lights, plenty of ice, and every convenience.
On Sunday morning the English service was read from the prayer-book by the captain to a congregation consisting of all of the officers and most of the passengers. Before this there was a parade of the crew and servants,—some sixty Lascars, black, sharp-looking fellows dressed in frocks and bright head-dresses, and looking very fine.
Yesterday was very hot. We were nearing the equator, and the captain had punkas put up in the dining cabin. A Lascar boy pulled the strings running over pulleys and fanned us during meal times, which was very agreeable.
Again I have to note how lonely these sea voyages are. Since we left Hong-Kong, five days, not a craft has been seen, only a wide waste of water, generally as smooth as a pond.
The steamer arrived at seven in the morning, and was soon surrounded by boats, each containing two or three boys. The passengers threw silver pieces into the water, and the boys would dive after them, and seemed to get them every time. It was great fun to watch them. A little bald-headed fellow not more than six years old, attracted my attention, and I threw some bright pieces near his boat. Over he went and caught them every time, and was pulled into the boat by his older companion, triumphantly holding up the pieces.