1836.] States in the Interior of Malacca. 63 



derable difficulty, although the trees had since been cut in two, and 

 broken down. At high-water, they might however be readily passed. 

 The river was blockaded in this fashion during the Naning distur- 

 bances, and the engineer on this occasion was no other than our friend 

 in the boat, the Laks-amdna of Rambdwe. Sempong, as before stated, 

 is situated at the point of the river's bifurcation. In 1833, it consisted 

 only of two or three huts ; in the foremost of which was a small 

 battery, consisting of seven swivels, and an iron 3-pr. of sufficient range 

 to command both branches of the river. It is the place selected by the 

 Rumbdwe chiefs to levy the duty on the tin passing down from Sungie 

 Vjong. 



At the close of 1833, and commencement of 1834, many fugitives 

 settled here, in consequence of the disturbances at Lingie, together with 

 a small colony from Sumatra, under a Pangh 'ma named Kammer. The 

 place is now strongly stockaded by the Iang de pertuan Muda Sayad 

 Saban, by whom every encouragement is held out to settlers. 



Population. — Rumbdwe, including Kroh and Tamping, contains about 

 9,000 inhabitants. The principal places are Bander, Senpong, Chembong, 

 Kaling, and Battu Ampar. Chembong, with its environs, is said to contain 

 about 600 houses, and drives a petty trade in timber, dammer, and 

 wax, which are bartered for opium, cloths, iron utensils, and tobacco. 



Chembong is the residence of the Panghuld of Rumbdwe ; Bander, 

 Padds, and Sempong those of the Iang de pertdans. 



Besides Malays are several aboriginal tribes inhabiting the steeps 

 of the mountains, and the forests, who subsist principally by hunting. 

 The natives give them the general appellation of Orang Benua, people 

 of the soil or country. 



They are subdivided into several tribes : among the most remarkable 

 of which are the Uddi, Sakkye, Jakiin, and Rayet Utan. I have seen 

 several specimens of the two last, but do not perceive any material 

 dissimilarity between them, save that the latter, by enjoying freer 

 intercourse with the Malays, have become more civilized ; at least, as 

 far as a shew of dress and ornaments is implicated. 



They differ much from the descriptions given of the Semang in the 

 interior of Quedah, and the thick-lipped, woolly-haired Papuan. Their 

 features are of the Malay caste ; their hair sometimes straight, like that 

 of the generality of Asiatics, but more frequently curling ; at the same 

 time, very different from the frizzly locks of the African. 



Their stature is shorter, but they do not differ much in complexion 

 from the Malay. 



The Malays entertain a high estimation of the skill of those singular 

 tribes in medicine, and the knowledge of the virtues of herbs, roots, 

 k 2 



