1848.] TANJONG API. 19 



very fact of this force being detached to collect tribute at 

 the Anambas, has in itself a piratical complexion. 



Before leaving Singapore I used every endeavour to 

 obtain information which might assist me in finding the 

 mouth of the River Sarawak ; but disappointed in this, 

 I was compelled to trust to the pamphlet published by 

 Mr. Brooke, a copy of which had been kindly furnished 

 me by Mr. Wise. I did not imagine the published charts 

 to be more in error than fifteen or twenty minutes of 

 longitude, and confidently relied on obtaining a local pilot 

 off its embouchure. On the 4th July we passed Tanjong 

 Api, or " Fire Points "; a low wooded spit, forming the 

 north-western angle of Borneo, and dangerous to approach 

 within two miles. It has a slight elevation immediately 

 within the line of trees, which are not Mangrove, nor is 

 the ground swampy, as in other parts of the low coast ; 

 the trees are of hard wood, and the rocks and solid ground 

 jut out at the point where a fresh-water stream oozes 

 through the sand into the sea. The water inland is 

 deeply tinged by leaves and decayed vegetable matter, 

 but it percolates into a large sandy reservoir a little to 

 the south, about ten feet above high-water mark, where 

 it may be procured very pure. The knowledge of this 

 fact is highly important to seamen ; easy and safe landing 

 may be found immediately to the southward of the large 

 rock at the northern angle, and no similar facility for 

 watering occurs in any part of the route by the Palawan 

 Channel to Manila or China. 



We looked in vain for Tanjong Datu of the charts ; 

 it is the first high land seen from Tanjong Api, and is 

 situate in lat. 2 6' N. long. 109 38' E. There are several 



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