19^ Obfervations on the Straits of Malacca. 



the pilot to pafs irf fafety. Naturey how-^ver, feems as if 

 defirous to afford here every poffible affiftance, fince the Aru 

 jflands on the weft fide, whicb.confift of fome fmall un- 

 inhabited rocks, ferve the pilot as good marks to fleer by. 

 When ihefe difappear,- the fiimrnit of the mountain Parcelar 

 is difcovered on the eaft fide, which muft be kept in a cer- 

 tain diredion, according to the current, in order to pafs 

 without danger. As navigators between thcfe fand-bank* 

 have often to ftruggle with bad weather aixl contrary winds, 

 it is impoffible to proceed but by coutinirally beav/ng the 

 lead, which is indeed attended with danger. The fecond 

 paflage lies along the coaft through the fmall channel of 

 Caluni,^ which is fcarccly fo broad as the Elbe at Drefden. 

 Nothing more beautiful can be conceived than this paflage, 

 where veflels fometimes approach fo near the coaft that the 

 bowfprit is often entangled among the branches of the trees. 

 Birds of the moft fliining and variegated colours, unknown 

 to the Europeans^ are feen fluttering around, while othe-rs 

 delight the ear with their fong. As a fand-bank in the 

 niiddle fliuts this paffage againft large fliips, it is practicable 

 only for thofe which draw very little water. 



When veflTels.have reached the northern part, nothing can 

 be' more pleafant than the navigation. They proceed along 

 the coaft, fronx which the wind, when it blows from the 

 land, wafts along with it the moft delicious aromatic odours. 

 The mouths of the fmall channels, the different windings of 

 the coaft, the bays which thev form, and the land rifin'g lik« 

 an amphitheatre, all together form the moft enchanting pro- 

 fpe£t. Nothing is wanting to complete the piilure but ha- 

 bitations; for, in an extent of twenty or thirty miles, the only' 

 things of the kind that can bedifcovered, even with a'fp^ing- 

 glafs, are afew fiftiernien's huts. ---"^ 



Atiliifl, after weathering a headland, you fuddenlydifeover 

 the town of Malacca, formerly bcloniring to the Dutch. It 

 lies at the head of a bay, and, though fmall, is neat and well 

 built. It is furrounded by beautiful gardeqs and country- 

 Teats. No place in the world produces more valuable fruits. 

 The ananas here are half an ell in length and a quarter of an 

 ell in diameter. They have an exceedingly fv.ect melleous 



tafte. 



