192 VISIT TAMPASSOOK RIVER. [1844. 



vated hills, the huts of the Dusuns (pronounced Doosoon) 

 are seen through the thick foliage of Banana, capped by 

 the cocoa-nut. This latter fruit, of which we purchased 

 large supplies, was not only of great importance in main- 

 taining the health of our crew, but its milk furnished 

 the boat's crews with a most grateful beverage when 

 fatigued at the oar. 



We quitted Ambong on the 10th, at dawn, and at 

 9 o'clock anchored off the mouth of the river Tampassook, 

 in six fathoms ; the shoalness of the water, under our 

 present knowledge of the coast, preventing the approach 

 of the ' Samarang ' nearer than two miles. We, there- 

 fore, advanced in the ' Phlegethon ', and with our boat 

 force in tow, anchored within a quarter of a mile of the 

 rivers mouth. We clearly perceived from the decks of 

 the steamer, that the people upon the tongue on the left 

 bank were not peaceable Bajows ; bright muskets, swords, 

 spears, shields, &c., were the principal objects in the 

 hands of those seen moving about the beach, and the 

 scarlet dresses of some of the parties soon assured us that 

 they were Illanons. Accompanied by Mr. Brooke, we 

 started with our force, entering the river against a strong 

 current, which caused the sea to curl astern of us, at times 

 topping rather ominously; we arrived, however, safe within 

 the tongue of land, and pitched our instruments for 

 obtaining the necessary observations. We were soon 

 visited by the Illanons, whom we found to consist of five 

 parties, having as many Rajahs, with an entire force of 

 about two hundred persons ; they occupied six or seven 

 strongly built houses within the sandy tongue, and were 



