Medical Topography of Malacca. 49 



The Settlement embraces an area of 1,000 square miles, comprised 

 in a line of coast of mean length forty miles, by a mean breadth 

 of twenty-five miles. 



It is bounded to the north-west by the Malay state of Salangore, 

 from which it is separated by the river Lingie or Linggy, about 

 twenty-five miles from the town ; and to the south-east by the state 

 of Johor, from which it is likewise separated by a stream, the Muar 

 river. Interiorly it is bounded to the east by the Malay states of 

 Rumbome and Johole, and to the west by the Straits Proper. 



The town of Malacca founded a. d. 1252 ; Heg. 650, by Sri 

 Iskander Shah, or Rajah Secunder Shah, is situated about the centre 

 of this line of coast, in Long. 102° 12' E. and Lat. 2° 14' N. upon 

 the mouth of a small river, which it names. 



As approached from seaward, it presents a very striking and inter- 

 esting, nay picturesque, appearance. To this the luxuriance of its 

 surrounding vegetation, by giving it the appearance of being as it 

 were imbedded in the neighbouring topes of cocoa and areca nut, 

 together with the prominent feature of St. Paul's ruin-crowned hill 

 with its beautiful verdure, greatly contributes, and gives to the eye 

 of the stranger as a whole, a view of retirement and health ; to 

 both of which its claims are justly acknowledged throughout the 

 Straits. 



The once noble church which crowns the summit, of St. Paul's is 

 now a powder magazine. 



Malacca, comprises the fort so termed ; the town proper ; and the 

 suburbs of Tranqueirah, Bander Eller, and Baumgarayah or Boonga 

 Rya; and includes a mixed population of about 15,000 inhabitants. 

 These may be conveniently classed as follows : about 200 Europeans 

 and Dutch ; 3,000 Indo-Portuguese ; 3,000 Klings and Chuliahs or 

 natives of India, viz., from the Malabar and Coromandel Coasts, 

 as well as a few Bengallees ; 3,000 Malays ; and 6,000 Chinese. 

 The cantonment or fort as it still continues to be called " pro forma " 

 though its once massive fortifications have long since been demolish- 

 ed (and of which the only standing relic is now a picturesque-looking 

 gateway), is separated from the town by a mean-looking, though 

 serviceable, wooden bridge, once likewise a drawbridge. It extends 

 from and along the eastern or left bank of the river, running in the 



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