VOYAGE FROM INDIA TO SIAM AND MALACCA. 105 



in some places. Gomphrena glohosa, Celosia cristata, Amaranthus 

 tricolor g'rew at the door leading' to the big- g-arden. Pancratium 

 Ley Jan icuni grew here wild among- the trees. In an avenue of Areca 

 trees I found near the root of one of them an unknown kind of 

 palm. Birds had probably broug"ht the fruit hither, and had eaten it 

 on one of the trees, whence it had fallen down and had gTown 

 there. This palm was very frequent here, but none of them had 

 more than two or three leaves, which were all fan-shaped with 

 blunt ends. The stalk of the leaves was prickly. I was told that 

 they grow often in the jung-les but do not grow hig^her than a man. 

 They are of no real use.* Wherever I went I saw parasitical plants 

 and I also found some kinds of moss. I was sorry not to have 

 been able to find any thing- more of interest in this place so favour- 

 able to natural science, but I overcame my disappointment reflect- 

 ing that this was an unfavourable season, and hoping to be able 

 to revisit the place soon under more favourable circumstances. 



The soil here consisted of a fertile black mould. Many of the 

 gardens lay near a swamp so were partly swampy themselves ; they 

 all lie low not far from a river, which empties itself into the sea 

 between the town and frequently floods the neighbouring coun- 

 try. I had no opportunity to see any kind of stones and there 

 was nobody here who might have given me any information 

 concerning them. The sea shore was very muddy and I could 

 not g'O to the islands for want of time. 



26. — We had to pack our things together and towards mid- 

 day we left the country ; however the wind soon changed and 

 was contrary so that we had to cast anchor again. 



27. — Quite early the anchor was hoisted, and we passed the 

 islands pretty closely ; they were all quite small and consisted 

 mostly of stones, but neverthless they were covered with trees. 

 Our joy soon ceased, as we lost the favourable wind till nearly 

 evening, and the anchor had to be let down, as the current would 

 otherwise have drifted us towards the islands. In the evening 

 we had much thunder and lightning from the direction of Suma- 

 tra, but only a small part of the thunderstorm was driven to us 

 by the wind. 



28. — We sailed a little to-day Avith the help of the six hour's 

 current, but the wind was entirely contrary. AVe saw the 

 mountains of Moor (Muar) and further on Cape Formosa, | the 

 * Licuala. f Batu Pa hat 



