VOYAGE FROM INDIA TO SIAM AND MALACCA. 97 



the bird came to the ship. 



The high mountains which one could see from a great dis- 

 tance belonged according to our captain to the territory of a 

 king ruling this country; his kingdom is here called the Rhom- 

 boish* kingdom, and the coast had been taken from him by 

 some rebellious subjects, who had made themselves kings in 

 opposition to him. It is called the Buk kasis in these parts and 

 specially known under that name at Borneo. 



We passed one part of the coast where a cape was projecting, 

 and where many of the afore-mentioned trees grew in the water. 

 Our captain, who during several years had had some commerce on 

 this coast, told us that here a large stream poured its water into 

 the sea, and that one could get the best cane here very cheaply, 

 but that the inhabitants were the greatest scoundrels and mur- 

 derers, who made commerce very dangerous. 



19. — Early to-day we had strong northwesterly wind, com- 

 bined with rain and a thick atmosphere, we passed the sand and 

 mudbanks of Sallango (Selangor) ; we could not see the land, 

 but fortunately we perceived the waves breaking at our right. 

 The sea was of a whitish-green colour which was caused by the 

 mud. Towards midday the weather cleared up and we could 

 discover the mountains round the harbour, but soon after we 

 had dead calm, so that we advanced scarcely at all. Afterwards 

 I could see the shore, from which we were only about three quarters 

 of a mile distant, but I could not detect any of those trees which I 

 had so often seen yesterday those that grew in equal height. At 

 least if any of them were there, they were not as high and inter- 

 mixed with other trees ; they grew deep into the water. My 

 captain however disagreed with me, as he said that those trees 

 could only have been MangTOve trees, and not as I had imagined 

 Rotan or cane. They must be a kind of JRMzophora, as I concluded 

 from the appearance of their fruits, which frequently drifted by. 



20. — With unfavourable wind, yet beautiful weather, we 

 came within a mile's distance from the harbour of Selangor, which 

 is a good place for trade and the residence of a Malay king. At 

 midday we cast anchor here. The trees which grew in such equal 

 size were also here, but only in some places along the coast. 

 Several sea snakes passed the ship ; they were about one foot 

 long and had a thin head and body ; the head, the back and the 



* Rembau. 



