One of the greatest difficulties that strangers have to encounter is their being obliged to live at the hotel.  This hotel was formerly two houses which by doors of communication have been made one.  It is in the middle of a range of buildings more calculated for a cold country than for such a climate as Batavia.  There is no free circulation of air and what is equally bad it is always very dirty; and there is great want of attendance.  What they call cleaning the house is another nuisance; for they never use any water to cool it or to lay the dust, but sweep daily with brooms in such a manner that those in the house are almost suffocated by a cloud of dust.

The months of December and January are reckoned the most unhealthy of the year, the heavy rains being then set in.  The account of the seasons as given to me here I believe may be relied on.

The middle of November the west monsoon begins and rain.

December and January.  Continual rain with strong westerly wind.

February.  Westerly wind.  Towards the end of this month the rain begins to abate.

March.  Intervals of fine weather.  Wind westerly.

April.  In this month the east monsoon begins.  Weather generally fine with showers of rain.

May.  East monsoon fixed.  Showery.

June and July.  Clear weather.  Strong east wind.

August and September.  Wind more moderate.

October.  In this month the wind begins to be variable with showers of rain.

The current is said always to run with the wind.  Nevertheless I found the reverse in sailing from Timor to Java.  Between the end of October and the beginning of the ensuing year no Dutch ship bound for Europe is allowed to sail from Batavia for fear of being near the Mauritius at the time of the hurricanes which are frequent there in December and January.

My illness prevented me from gaining much knowledge of Batavia.  Of their public buildings I saw nothing that gave me so much satisfaction as their country hospital for seamen.  It is a large commodious and airy building about four miles from the town, close to the side of the river, or rather in the river:  for the ground on which it stands has by labour been made an island of, and the sick are carried there in a boat:  each ward is a separate dwelling and the different diseases are properly classed.  They have sometimes 1400 patients in it:  at this time there were 800, but more than half of these were recovered and fit for service, of whom 300 were destined for the fleet that was to sail for Europe.  I went through most of the wards and there appeared great care and attention.  The sheets, bedding, and linen of the sick were perfectly neat and clean.  The house of the physician, Mr. Sparling, who has the management of the hospital is at one extremity of the building:  and here it was that I resided.  To the attention and care of this gentleman, for which he would receive no payment, I am probably indebted for my life.