128 VOYAGE FROM INDIA TO SIAM AND MALACCA. 



at six miles distance, and another island which is near Sumatra 

 and is called Varella ; this direction is East N. E. towards 

 W. South W. AVe had much lightning- in the evening. 



There is much dragon's blood collected on the Dindies, and 

 according to what Captain Schilling told me the cane cut here is 

 the very best. We saw a Malay Proh close to the shore. The 

 islands are not inhabited, for fear of slave dealers. 



24. — On account of the calm, we still were near the Dindies 

 and PuUu Issarah ; in the distance we could see the high moun- 

 tains of Pullu Pinang', rising out of the sea. At nine o'clock the 

 wind began to be very favourable and we soon lost sight of the 

 Dindies ; we passed Perah, which is always wrapped in a blue 

 mist. In the evening as the moon rose there arose also a strong 

 north east wind, which lashed the sea. The high waves hindered 

 us very much in our progress during the night. The weather 

 was fine after we had a rain-shower, which cooled the atmosphere 

 considerably. 



After the moon had risen there was a rainbow-like circle 

 round it at two degrees distance ; there was a spot of the same 

 rainbow hue at the side. 



25. — Early this morning we were near Pinang island, which 

 has a smaller island at its side. The high mountains have many 

 cliffs ; at the north- w^estern extremity they are dome-shaped. 

 The length of the islands is about three leagues ; they are said 

 to be uninhabited on account of the kidnapping which the Malays 

 exercise upon one another. Judging from the blue mist, the 

 mountains must contain various metals. The name has been 

 given to this island on account of the Areca trees, which are 

 called Pinangs in the Malay language. In Malacca I had been 

 told that here, as well as in the Dindies, many Areca CUtoria 

 grow wild. 



At eight o'clock we had the high mountain straight before 

 us ; it has the shape of a cone ; we had seen it quite distinctly 

 from old Quedar, being on land then. These mountains are 

 called Girai by the Malays, and it is here that much tin is dug 

 out and melted. 



26. — We had to cruise between the island, Pinang, with the 

 high mountains, and old Quedar, on account of the contrary wind. 

 The weather was fine during the day ; in the evening we had 

 calm, followed by some showers, and in the end the contrary 



