590 Excursions to the Eastward. [July, 



inconvenient, since the bamboo which is heavy must be lowered when 

 water is required by any of the household. Joints of the bamboo are 

 in general use for carrying water on a journey, and rice can be suffici- 

 ently boiled for food in a green one, without the latter splitting. We 

 returned to the ship on the 31st, after presenting some trifling presents 

 to the chief and his lady, amongst which was some wine and brandy for 

 eye-water, as she was pleased to term it. 



Salang is the Siamese name for this island. It seems to have been 

 originally peopled by the Thai or Siamese race, who have not paid that 

 attention to it which policy should have dictated, seeing that it possesses 

 valuable tin mines and forms one of the keys to their coast. Its im- 

 portance as regards British influence has been much exaggerated, and 

 since the fall of Tenasserim and its occupation by British troops the 

 island has become of hardly any political importance to us. It could 

 easily be taken at any time if rendered necessary by war. 



Salang or Junkceylon. 



The most correct account perhaps extant of this island is that con- 

 tained in " Forrest's Voyage to the Mergui Archipelago" But since 

 his time (about 1784) many changes have taken place, not by any 

 means contributing to its prosperity. 



Salang is 27* miles long by 10 at most in breadth, lying about E. S. 

 E. and N. N. W. It is diversified by hill and dale. The hills are of 

 moderate elevation, slope gradually, and are clothed with wood to their 

 tops ; while the levels are covered with grass and forest, excepting where 

 cultivation has been carried on. Both the east and west coasts may 

 be closely approached by large vessels, but the west being a lee shore 

 the chief harbour has been chosen on the east side. A dangerous nar- 

 row passage only navigable by small prows separates the north point 

 of the island from the main land, while the most southerly point is bold 

 and rocky and difficult to clear unless the wind be quite favorablef . 



The island abounds in streams, the principal of which is that which 

 leads to Thdrooa the residence of the governor. 



The harbour is excellent, and it is covered by two islands in front, 

 while a hill sufficiently high to give it the command of a great part of 

 the harbour, juts boldly out from the main island. 



* 25 miles according to Horsburgh. 



f When returning from Mergui in the latter part of 1825, the vessel I was 

 in was forced by the wind and currents so close on this point, that had the last 

 tack she made not weathered it she must have been wrecked : we were within a 

 cable's length of the rocks. 



