49 SKETCÖ OF B0RN£O. 



ïiuns with the chief of Sambas, has hovvever^ 

 glvea that chieftain a decided prepoaderance at 



sea. 



The mouth of Lewa or Pontiana river lies a- 

 baut S or 4 miles to the N. of the equator» 



The har at the entrance has onlv from 11 to \2 



t/ 



feet at high spring tides^ biit above this the river 

 IS vérj deep io an immense distance, and the 

 strength of the current seldora exceeds from 3- 

 io 3^ miles an hours^ and is generally less The 

 anchorage ia the roads is safe and free from 

 shoalsj and the weather^ even in October, which 

 is the worst month;, is never sa bad as to inter- 

 iLipt the regular intercourss betweea the ship 

 and the shore. About 7 miles from the mouth 

 of the river, at Balu Lajang, there is a fort on 

 each side of the river^ with 14 or 15 giins 

 mounted^ being IS and 2i pounders ; on the 

 North side of the river and on the South side^ 

 directlj opposite^ a number of smaller guns. 

 The town of Pontiana is about 12 miles from 

 the mouth of the river, whcre there is likewise 

 a fort, and some armed vessels stationcd. 



In the town and bounds of Pontiana, there 

 are settled about 3000 Malays, 1000 Bugis, 100 

 ArabSj and about 10^000 Chinese^ besides these 



