56 CRUISE IN THE SOUTHERN CHINA SEA. 



Although the actual control is in the hands of the Dutch 

 from whom he receives an income of some $80,000 a year, the 

 Sultan of Linga is nominally ruler over neighbouring parts of 

 Sumatra, all the islands between Sinkep and Singapore and all 

 the various small groups in the Southern China Sea. 



The town of Linga — his capital — is. situated on the banks 

 of a stream navigable by small praus at high water, about 

 two miles from its mouth. To the north a fantastically split 

 peak, the highest summit of the Linga group, rises to a height 

 of 3,921 feet, densely covered with jungle and scrub and scarcely 

 ever free from clouds. 



The population of the town, Malays and Chinese, number 

 about 6,000. All the houses are built on piles, those of the 

 Chinese on a muddy expanse by the banks of the river which 

 not infrequently overflows. A number of substantial brick build- 

 ings have at one time also been erected by them but are now 

 in a ruinous condition. 



The houses of the Malays, shaded by fruit trees, arecas and 

 coco-palms were scattered about without regard to orderly 

 arrangement. Amongst them stood the school, which was 

 apparantly well patronised, and the Sultan's palace, a large and 

 ugly barn-like structure of wood. 



The Sultan was absent and we proceeded at once to the 

 Chinese portion of the town to get through with our marketing. 



The Chinese community is under a " Captain China" who in 

 the Linga Sultanate is responsible to the l)utch only for the 

 good behaviour of his charge and who collects for them the poll 

 tax of $3 a head every year. 



The bazaar was of fair size and sold the usual merchandise 

 found in such places that includes various articles ranging from 

 a bottle of scent to an onion. Our requirements of rice, vege- 

 tables, curry stuffs etc., were soon satisfied and from the sarong 

 shops kept by K lings we got a few European cotton sarongs for 

 use on board. The Malays here were apparently like the 

 lillies of the field. "They toil not neither do they spin," and it 

 was with difficulty that we got from them even a few eggs and 

 chickens. 



We returned to the " Terrapin" by way of the river in a 

 canoe with a small roof of kajangs. The water was very low 



Jour. Straits Branch 



