548 FOURTH BULLETIN OF [1846. 



calibre, and also one of the samo size in tlie bow. These guns were on carriages. 

 Tlieir krises were hung up in front of the covered part, the boat was sharp at tlie 

 bow and stern, with the rudder on one side near the stern. 



They wore on a visit to the ship, but after a short conversation they concluded 

 to return to the city, probably thinking we had some presents with us. 



After getting under way again, the proah took the lead, and they commenced 

 heating their gongs and singing, to which they kept time with their paddles, by 

 giving two strokes in quick succession, and then pausing and giving three, and 

 one, &,c., &c. The gong, it is said, is the token of welcome. 



When arriving at the island before mentioned, the proah stopped at the old 

 house, and sent a smaller boat ahead to announce our coming ; we continued on, but 

 they hailed us, and apparently wished the small boat to arrive at the city first. 



The river at tiie mouth is about one-fourth of a mile wide, with a slow current, 

 and half a mile above the island becomes confined between two ridges of moun- 

 tains of three hundred feet elevation, and having numerous peaks, some of which 

 are extremely pointed; and frequently these sharp summits are covered with timber, 

 although at many places they are entirely destitute of wood, having only a few 

 stunted bushes and grass upon the sides, which at a distance appeared cultivated; 

 but this is a deception, for only a few patches are really cultivated, as the soil is in 

 most places too scanty and too sterile to admit of it. A few scattered houses are 

 seen on the sides of tlie mountains, in groups of three or four, and at several places 

 there are also a few situated in the river, twenty or thirty yards from the shore. 



I observed that at a few places along the shore cocoa-nut and banana trees 

 were cultivated, but I saw no pepper. The distance from the mouth of the 

 river where it empties into the bay to the city, is perhaps eight miles, and on an 

 average is four hundred yards wide. Below the small island mentioned before, thero 

 are large portions of water staked off for the purpose of fishing. Those form en- 

 closures which lead to a basket made of rattan, where the fish enter, but cannot 

 return. 



A short distance before arriving at the city, the river takes a short turn to the 

 right ; and at the inner angle, there is a rectangular mound thirty feet in height, 

 having several mortised posts on the top, which probably once supported a build- 

 ing. The river widens where the city is situated, and is divided into two branches. 

 The houses are all, with tlie exception of one, built over the river on piles of the 

 Nipa palm, and tho sides are thatcliod. The houses are elevated about four feet 

 above the water. There is one row of houses near each side of the river, being 

 perhaps thirty yards from tho shore, and one row in the centre, thus forming two 

 streets about one hundred yards wide, having cross streets, making it necessary to 

 pass in canoes from ono block of buildings to another. 



The Rajahs' houses are somewhat better looking, being formed of plank, instead 

 of bamboo and thatch ; yet looking more like sheds than dwellings, and would 

 scarcely bo distinguished but for tho flags and cannon, and a large drum in tho 

 gable end of the buildings. 



Thero were four flags flying in different parts of the city, three being yellow 

 silk, with a triangular piece of red; the other was red, with a white border on the 

 upper and lower edge. 



The singular practice of building their houses over the water, where there are 

 good sites on the shore, appears to be unaccounted for, unless it bo the conveni- 

 ence of bathing, for they are of tho Mahomedan faith ; and it may also tend to keep 

 their houses clean from vermin, particularly ants, which generally abound in tropi> 

 cal countries. 



The principal Rajah had twelve small brass cannon, mounted under a small 

 shed, about four feet above the water, adjoining ono side of the residence. 



The cannon were very neatly made, and carried a two pound ball, the metal at 

 the muzzle being six or eight inches in diameter, and mounted on swivels. 



On the point of land forming tho fork of tho river were several very large brass 

 cannon, unmounted. 



On entering the city wo were saluted with the small cannon, and two other war 

 proah's manned, each came out to meet us, beating their gongs, and having in tho 

 center two very large silk umbrellas, formed of gaudy colored silks, under which 

 the officers sat, and from one to two hundred small canoes soon made their ap- 

 pearance from all parts of tho city, all armed with small spears, but principally 



