Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstrait781881roya).pdf/101

 prices, &c. In preparing himself also for the practice of English law (he having been trained in Scotland), I did not fail to notice with astonishment the intense continued application he gave to the contents of huge tomes, which, to me, were as "dry as dust" and as indigestible as sand.

During my residence at Penang, which continued for over three years—in 1838 to 1841—he was a frequent visitor to my solitary bungalow situated in the interior. His company was never more charming than on such occasions. Making but few friends in society, and being of a particularly retiring disposition, he seemed to reserve an overfull share of his attractions for those that could heartily sympathise with him in old fellowship. I remember particularly one occasion when I asked him to join me in an expedition to the interior of Sabrang Prye. Exploring the sources of the Junjong Idup, probably now covered with cultivation, but, at that time, ander primitive forests, waste and unoccupied, except by the tiger or the jakun, we wore detained for three days by a constant downpour and flooded rivers, having taken refuge in a deserted pondoh. Here his versatile talent came to our aid in wiling away the long, dark, dreary hours, whose melancholy aud tedious, was enhanced by the wail of the unku. I never heard Shakespeare read with greater effect, vigour, or thorough appreciation.

Even in those his very young years, I found him a safe councillor and adviser in matters important to myself, where a false step might have been irretrievable. In my heart I was thankful to him for this. We met again at Singapore in 1843-4, where his elder brother had joined me in my own house as chum. A falling off in practice at Penang made a change advisable for the younger also, and with us he took up his residence.

For several years, the busy practice of his profession seemed to engage his whole attention, but early in 1847 I had an indication of coming events; not that there had not been abundant indications before this, for while he conducted the Gazette at Penang he drew out originality and latent talent from many of the residents—European and Asiatic—which that paper had never shown before, and he himself illuminated it with many powerful leaders.

The occasion of this direct indication occurred when he had preceded me to Malacca on law business. I had followed in the gun-