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during the whole of our stay at this place I never suffered from the heat. it usually rains here once or 2 a week sometimes very hevily [sic] but as the soil is sandy and the country rolling the ground is soon dry. Cinnamon and clove nut megs and spices of all kinds grow here in the greatest profusion. In the jungles All kinds of Tropical birds can be found and monkeys are so numerous as to be troublesome. There is here a species of Monkey or Squirrel something of both. that flies from tree to tree sometimes flying half a mile. Serpants [sic] are very numerous and of the most venemous [sic] kind. The tricks of some of the Native Jugglers with them are very amusing as well as interesting and curious. There is always here about 500 soldiers on duty Most of them are Indians Many of them fine handsome looking men. the hindu women are kept very close and can scarcely ever be seen by a stranger, but some of them with whom I became acquainted were quite handsome and had beautiful forms and regular features. The Malay language is called the Castilian of the east being an easy and beautiful one and by them spoken with a soft and smooth tongue so that one can not help but admire it single combats are not common amongst them but if a Man is jealous or angry he way lays the offender and Murders him sometimes during their fits of drunkeness or of excitement the [sic] go in the most crowded parts of the city and run amuck as it is called or in other words they shut their eyes and run into the crowd stabing [sic] every one they can come across with their poisoned knives The south coast of Mallacca or Malay is famed for its beautiful shells many of which are very beautiful and are very rare. We used to send our band ashore twice per week of an Evening to play on the green in front of the European part of the city it used to attract large crowds of Natives and lots of the pretty English girls of the place who came out in their palankins or palanquins to hear and be heared to see and be seen and it was a sight good for our eyes. for we had not seen a white woman before since leaving Rio. Many of them were pretty some beautiful and all good looking. Of an evening after dark we would take the band around and serenade the young ladies. The English officers here were a jolly set and were first rate fellows.