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Hotel der Nederlanden

Batavia, den 21st March 1907.

Dear Colonel Hecker, 
Nature having done so much for Java it is, perhaps, to be expected that man should do little. He could not have done much worse in transporting men and mail between Batavia and Singapore. 
Your good letters of February 1st and February 8th, reached me here together this morning. A part of Mr. Kennedy's mail (one letter with contents) of February llth, came at the same time. Another envelope with clippings etc. mentioned by Mr. K. as having been mailed at the same hour is not yet received. And what is true concerning the handling of mail is worse in the handling of passengers. I bought a first-class passage ticket Batavia to Singapore via the Dutch Packet Co. for use last week with all sorts of assurances about a good room etc., etc. Took my luggage to the ship and was shown a cabin in the 2nd class containing five berths one for me the other four for fellow-passengers of varied kind and color --- not one white and all of uncertain sex --- principally eunuchs, I guess. I'll not attempt herein a description of the kick or "gentle remonstrance", I made on the spot. I got my money back, rescued my luggage and walked the gang plank ashore. By "walking" I mean that I escaped being kicked ashore. I went back inland and spent a week longer amidst the wonderful hills and jungles and tomorrow, I start for Singapore once more under better auspices --- in the "La Seyne", a French craft of early vintage and given over largely to the care of ancient bugs and hoary pests who claim and get first place below deck. I know, for I came over here in her --- and I slept both nights on deck --- of course moonlight you know! This trip there will be no moon and of course, rain! But this and the missing mail is the fault of man --- (by the way, my honored relatives - the Dutch! I am glad my mother's family left Holland before the craze for tropical possessions got abroad in her land). There is much in Java that's disappointing but it's all owing to the Dutch! It's a good thing they are so slow and stupid or in their dull headstrong way they might have ruined the whole place. Of course, not all Dutchmen are bad, but many of those here are bad enough. The natives are charming, the landscape the most beautiful I have ever seen, the ground the most fertile, the gardens most