THE SUMATRA COAST. 195 



atmosphere became very close, eighty-eight degs. in 

 the shade during the greater part of the day, and as 

 we were passing the coast of Acheen, having sighted 

 ** Point Way," the surface of the sea to our right pre- 

 sented a very pecuHar appearance in the shape of 

 ripples in endless strings, similar to the rapids on the 

 Danube, or those of the St. Lawrence near the Thousand 

 Islands. This phenomenon here, the captain explained 

 to me, is caused by opposing currents ; it also occurs in 

 a milder form in the China sea, where sailors call it the 

 chow-chow waters. The Sumatra coast remained with- 

 in view until evening, and on the following day we 

 encountered a strong current against us, by which 

 fifteen miles were lost, and we did not reach the har- 

 bour of Penang until seven p.m. 



This island, properly called Prince of Wales' Island, 

 the Pulo Penang of the natives, meaning Betel-Nut 

 Island, belonged to the King of Quedah, who owns the 

 country on the opposite shore, or part of the Malay 

 Peninsula. Its acquisition is connected with the 

 romantic marriage of a British officer, Captain Light, 

 to the daughter of the said king, who made a 

 gift of the island to his son-in-law; but in 1786, 

 quite regardless of his previous promise, the above 

 potentate ceded it to the East India Company for an 

 annual payment of £1,200, increased afterwards to 



o 2 



