EASTERN SIDE OF MALACCA. 31 



and Sumatra call their gold mines ophirs, and Mr. Marfden*^ 

 that in the latter ifland is a hill named Mount Opbir^ poflibly 

 from its having been once rich in gold. 



Much pepper is cultivated on the fides of the river ; about Pepper. 

 three hundred tons have been fent to market, but had there 

 been a demand, three thoufand might be raifed in the fpace 

 of five years. The beft canes in the world are faid to grow in 

 thefe parts. 



'Trangano or 'tri^igoran, a fmall town a little to the north of Trangano. 

 Pabangi is feated on a river near the fea, in which fmall fliips 

 may moor fecurely among the rocks. The town did confift of 

 above a thoufand houfes, half of which are inhabited by Chinefey 

 who traffic in their y(?;?/^j" to Siam, Cambodia^ and Tonquin. Tran- 

 gano is mod delicioufly feated amidft low hills, covered with the 

 eternal verdure of undeciduous trees ; lemons, oranges, mango- Fruits. 

 ftans, and all the fruits of the Indies grow here in perfedion ; 

 and the vallies laugh with grain, pulfe, and fugar, but all 

 owing to the induftry of the Cbinefe. The feudal Malayes are 

 too lazy to make the earth yield its increafe. Pepper is raifed in 

 great abundance, but the port is fliut up from O&ober to March, 

 by a moft violent fea, driven in by the north-eaft monfoons. In 

 the ftill months, the fea is faid to afford the fineft of fifli. Pto- 

 lemy places, either in the neighborhood of this town or Pabang, 

 a place called fhagora- 



Latitude 6° pafies over part of the group of the Ridang Ridang Isles. 

 ifles, which lie not remote from the coaft. They are inhabited 

 by Malayan pirates, who feizeon any veffels they can mafter, ef- 



• Voyage to Sumatra, p. 8. 



pec i ally 



