The houses allotted the naval officers by the Company were on the Mount Road, a charming promenade. I had a kinsman in Henry, another son of Dean Garnier. He belonged to a Madras cavalry regiment, but just now had command of the Governor’s bodyguard. The horses were thoroughbred Arabs, beautiful to look at, but dangerous to play with. Nevertheless, after galloping home from a morning ride, dismounting, and hungry for breakfast, these same horses, deprived of saddle and bridle, would walk into the bungalow, and eat bread from our hands. On the Mount Road, near a native hut, between which and the road, was an elephant, lamed from having trodden on a glass bottle. It was attended by a native vet. Before any one knew that the vet was approaching, he would commence a melancholy moan, and swing his huge limb backwards and forwards until the dressing was commenced. This little game was repeated daily while we were there. [Sidenote: Nov. 3.] We sailed from Madras, and amused ourselves at sea until 24th, when we arrived at Penang, a gem of an island. During our first visit the war with Nanning engrossed all our time; thus, we were unable to spend any time on shore, or explore its beauties. The road by the coast is shaded by a succession of the prettiest and coolest-looking bungalows. After business hours some officials retire to the luxuriously cool Government houses on the heights. At the foot of the hill is a refreshing waterfall; just at the angle where you turn off among the shady forest trees on the path ascending to the Government buildings. The view from the top is perfection. On one side is Sumatra, with its Acheen Head to the north-west; on the other, the Peninsula, stretching away south to Singapore. On the ruins of a fort there was an old, long brass gun with the arms of Queen Anne. A strait of one mile and a half separates Penang from the Malay Peninsula. Tigers and alligators common on both sides. There was more than one instance of a tiger clinging at night to the accommodation ladder of a trader for rest, when tides were fresh. [Sidenote: Malacca, Dec. 1.] Anchored at Malacca, an interesting old Dutch place. The Stadt House, where the Resident lived, was built on a low hill facing the sea, and beautifully cool. The first-floor was approached by a carved ebony staircase. A little further to the southward, on a higher hill, stands the old Church of Notre Dame del Monte, in which St. Francis Xavier had preached. Lower down are the remains of the city wall, with the Dutch arms still clinging to it. Malacca is one of the oldest settlements in the East. Captured by the English in 1795, restored in 1818, and finally ceded to England in exchange for Sumatra in 1824, which may account for the Queen Anne gun at Acheen Head. [Sidenote: Dec. 21.] Returned to Madras. [Sidenote: 1833. January.]