Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstrait781881roya).pdf/102

 boat on survey duty. Here it was difficult to find quarters, so he carried me to Kampong Illier, where he had hired a bungalow. In the evening he invited me to accompany him to St. John's mount, where, he said, we should enjoy a most glorious sunset. While sitting on the old Dutch ramparts his first hint of a scientific journal was made to me, by his asking my co-operation—not that he seriously intended this, but as an indirect way of letting me know of a somewhat (as it would appear to me) ambitious project. At the time, I personally thought little more of it, but of his seriousness (if I had any doubts on the subject) he gave ample proof in his devotion of every spare mouent to an examination of the geology of Malacca and its neighbourhood, exposing himself in this pursuit the live long day to the full rays of the tropical sun. Few men were gifted with such intense energy. Alas! the spirit was strong, but a delicate constitution denied to him the full exercise of his abilities.

The establishment of the "Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia" duly took place in 1817, as mentioned by Archdeacon, who remarks that it was a bold enterprise for a single individual to undertake. I may also add that, continued as it was for so many years, it was also a most public spirited one, for such a work was necessarily mainly supported at the private expense of the proprietor. And as the Archdeacon justly states, the contiinuance of the Journal evidenced a time of great scientific power and literary activity in the Straits. To is the credit due not only of evoking this power, but of having personally contributed so largely by his papers to its scientific objects.

If my remembrance serves me aright,, while influencing all that were willing to aid, himself engaged first in geological enquiry next in geographical exploration; and then in philological studies: and, to my mind, it is on the latter that his reputation will mainly rest.

During these few recent years, I have given some of my attention to one of the branches coming under the scope of his studies, and in reading the disquisitions of on Asia,  on Africa,  on Polynesia, with others. I find his elucidation of many remote and subtle points in the linguistic peculiarities of nations most respectfully quoted or referred to. Indeed, he is generally known as Dr. —a title too often detained from those who