SIR THOMAS STAMFORD RAFFLES. 41 



pressing myself in raptures. As we descended, the 

 scene improved ; we found ourselves in an immense 

 amphitheatre, surrounded by mountains ten and 

 twelve thousand feet high ; the soil on which we 

 stood rich beyond description, and vegetation luxu- 

 riant and brilliant in every direction. The people, 

 too, seemed a new race, far superior to those on the 

 coast, tall, stout, and ingenuous. They received us 

 most hospitably, and conducted us to the village of 

 Nigri-Cayu, where we slept. 



" In the vicinity of Nigri-Cayu, were several hot 

 springs, and we soon succeeded in making very com- 

 fortable warm baths. 



" On the next day we proceeded to Taujong 

 Alem (the point of the world), another village in the 

 Passumah country, which we reached in about six 

 hours' walk, through one of the finest countries in 

 the world, having before us nearly the whole way 

 the volcanic mountain called Gunung Dempu, from 

 which the smoke issued in large volumes. 



" At Tanjung Alem, we remained two nights. 

 We found the villages in this part of the country 

 most respectable, many of them having more than 

 five hundred inhabitants ; the houses large, and on a 

 different plan to those on the coast ; each village, 

 which may rather be considered as a small town, has 

 a fosse or ditch round it, with high palisades. We 

 passed the site of two or three towns, which were 

 represented to have been destroyed by the petty hos- 

 tilities between the chiefs. 



