1844.] TOWN OF TUNDONG. 157 



lowing out the curvature of the sand, which is then laid 

 bare on either side. After passing these flats and 

 reaching the first sandy point on the right, the river sud- 

 denly bends westerly, and preserves an even depth 

 between four and six fathoms ; the deepest water being 

 here, as in most rivers, on the concave side. On ap- 

 proaching the town of Tundong, which is situated about 

 nine miles from the mouth of the river, we found two 

 very substantial booms, which were so neatly jointed 

 below water that no axe would have separated the lash- 

 ings, but it could be effected easily by a saw, unless the 

 fastenings were of chain. The trees of which these were 

 composed, were about two feet in diameter, and the holes 

 through which the lashings, connecting, or jointing them, 

 were passed, were so deeply grooved as to admit of their 

 being completely imbedded. The lengths were about 

 twenty feet each, and these wooden necklaces formed two 

 very deep curves, or sacs, in the direction of the tide, at 

 about 800 feet asunder. On the left, an indifferent 

 wooden stockade, having three embrasures below, was 

 intended to cover these booms ; and if well served, might 

 do some mischief before it could be stormed. But in 

 this case they had foolishly placed their battery so near, 

 that the guns of a Boat Expedition would scarcely permit 

 them a chance of reloading. 



The town of Tundong consists merely of a scattered 

 collection of huts along the bank of the river, the prin- 

 cipal one being constructed much after the manner of 

 that noticed at Bunting. As this chief, or Orang Kaya 

 (literally headman) was a particular friend of Mr. 

 Brooke's we were entertained in his best style, in the 



