Q^U EDA. 1751. 217 



An unflnifhed caftle was fituated on the 

 mouth of a fmooth river. The engineer feem- 

 ed to be no difciple of Vauban. The faces 

 were parallel to the curtains, and the walls fo 

 thin that half a dozen fix pounders would 

 have made a breach. In the infide were fome 

 houfes, the roofs of which ferved for batteries. 

 The cannons were mod of them from an Eng- 

 UJIo fhip wjnch was loft jufl before the river, 

 but fo leifureiy that there was even time to 

 get thofe heavy goods out. Though this caflle 

 has fuch a miferable appearance in the eyes 

 of Europeans ; yet it is fufEcient to keep the 

 nations hereabouts in awe, merely becaufe it 

 looks European. I faw here fome prifoners, 

 whofe necks and hands were fattened to a pole 

 with willow-twigs. They had coined money, 

 and feemed not to hope for pardon : but did 

 by no means fhew any fear ; a foolifh infenfi- 

 bility muff be the effeft of the do&rine of un- 

 avoidable deftiny. 



The other houfes are generally built on 

 poles, four feet above ground, on account of 

 the high tide. The walls and floors are fre- 

 quently made of bamboo flicks fplit in pieces. 



Mahmud 



