landed half naked and without provisions, they were all as jolly and comfortable as sandboys; nothing could exceed their good behaviour. For the first day or two they had nothing but half allowance of biscuit and a small ration of grog; but, after that, provisions were recovered from the wreck, the Dutch sent us a quantity of food, and the natives came daily to sell things, so that for the rest of the time we lived like fighting cocks.... We used to bathe twice a day, before sunrise and just before sunset, had parade twice a day, laid down and slept during the heat, and passed our spare time in cutting down trees right and left in the most strenuous manner, as if our lives depended upon it, and for no earthly purpose that I could ever make out. Then we imagined it was necessary to dam up the stream (it was totally unnecessary), and so we occupied ourselves and the men till I believe we were sorry to leave the island. Our camp was one of the prettiest sights imaginable, and I used to lie awake at night quite in raptures with the scene around. It was pretty enough in the day to see the sails suspended from tree to tree and little knots of men grouped here 3nd there, the sea gently breaking on the beach within 20 yards; but at night we lit enormous bonfires all round the camp to keep mosquitoes off and counteract any dampness in the air, and the effect of the flames and numberless sparks rising high into the air amongst the trees was the most picturesque scene I have almost ever witnessed. After ten days ships arrived to bring us away to Singapore, where I and the Medical Staff Corps are now staying, daily expecting to go on to Hong Kong. This is a most charming island and with a most delicious climate, the temperature varying all the year round from ']']'' to 87°, the heat far from being severe and with constant sea breezes cooling the air; you must, of course, keep out of the sun, but by taking the most ordinary precautions the climate is made most enjoyable. I have been most hospitably entertained here by Colonel McLeod, commanding the forces of the Company here and hereabouts; he has got a most delightful house where I have been staying since my arrival here. At church yesterday a bishop preached with moustaches and a fine black beard. You must tell the Bishop of Durham.^" It was the Bishop of Labuan,^' who preached a very good sermon, and administered the Sacrament afterwards, when it was very interesting to see kneeling at the altar Chinamen, with their long pigtails hanging down their backs, Malays, and a Hindu with his wife, all kneehng side by side. They were very devout and received the Holy Communion with the greatest possible reverence. Punkahs work away all church time.... — Ever your affectionate brother, Fredk. Stephenson.
To his Nephew, Rivers Wilson
My dear Rivers, — A few lines are due to you as being (independently of other considerations) the first cause of my being where I am. How you would have enjoyed and appreciated all I have seen! I don't think I have ever been happier in my life than during the whole of our voyage out here. It has been one incessant flow of excitement the whole time. Touching at Corunna, the Cape de Verde Islands, the Cape, Banca, and, lastly, Singapore, besides the different places we have sighted, have all proved a source of the greatest pleasure, and has given me a better insight into these different countries and people, etc., than reading at home all the books of geography and travels that ever were written. You will, of course, have heard long before this of the conclusion of the Transit drama, or, as the soldiers used to call her, the " Chance it." I am, however, so tired of repeating the same story that in case you care about hearing the details of the accident I must refer you to a letter I have written to your Uncle William by the last mail, and to your Aunt Minny by this. I will only add that our being wrecked at all was a perfect godsend; if we had gone on to China and met with
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