punishments.  Indeed, he says that if a boy be in fault the others do not at all like his not being well punished; they seem to think that it is an injustice to the rest if this is omitted.  I am about to do with a strange people; so much to admire in them, and yet with a perversity of disposition which makes it absolutely necessary, if you are to live with them at all, to treat them severely, sometimes almost cruelly.  They have such an overweening esteem for themselves, that they become unbearable unless they are constantly reminded that others are as good as they....  The Bishop seemed to think that it would be a very good thing if the Rajah were to go home for a time, and leave the government to his nephew, whom he praises much....  When we came down from the mountain we went to the house of the Resident on the shore, and there I found all the world of Penang assembled to meet me; among them a quantity of Chinese in full mandarin costume.  It was not easy, under the circumstances, to make conversation for them, but it was impossible not to be pleased with their good-humoured faces, on which there rests a perpetual grin.  We had a grand ‘spread,’ in which fresh fish, mangosteen, and a horrible fruit whose name I forget (dorian), but whose smell I shall ever remember, played a conspicuous part.  After breakfast we returned to our ship to be broiled for about an hour, then to bathe, and now (after that I have inserted these words in my journal to you) to finish dressing.

[Sidenote:  Singapore.]

June 3rd.—­Just arrived at Singapore.  Urgent letters from Canning to send him troops.  I have not a man.  ‘Shannon’ not arrived.

Singapore.—­June 5th.—­I am on land, which is at any rate one thing gained.  But I am only about eighty miles from the equator, and about two hundred feet above the level of the sea.  The Java wind, too, is blowing, which is the hot wind in these quarters, so that you may imagine what is the condition of my pores.  I sent my last letter immediately after landing, and had little time to add a word from land, as I found a press of business, and a necessity for writing to Clarendon by the mail; the fact being, that I received letters from Canning, imploring me to send troops to him from the number destined for China.  As we have no troops yet, and do not well know when we may have any, it was not exactly an easy matter to comply with this request.  However, I did what I could, and, in concert with the General, have sent instructions far and wide to turn the transports back, and give Canning the benefit of the troops for the moment.

[Sidenote:  Diversion of troops to India.]