151 KLOUWANG AND ITS CAVES. 



from seawards, we gained the entrance of the port, but truly not 

 without difficulty, for the breeze grew so faint, that our vessel, no 

 longer answering to the helm, entered the port quite obliquely, 

 under the inuuance of a current, which carried us within a few 

 metres of the breakers near the entrance of the port. 



The South entrance, by which we arrived, is splendid ; to the right 

 is a volcanic isle, the foot of which is so hollowed by the waves, 

 that from a distance it resembles an enormous mushroom ; its 

 shores are very steep and quite denuded of vegetation, a few 

 shrubs appearing on the summit only, but the natives assert that 

 there is no path which will allow of an ascent so far. 



In the bank which we are passing, the sea has hollowed out im- 

 mense caves, where the swallow builds those nests so much sought 

 after by Chinese gourmets. 



On the side of the island facing the port, is a charming strand 

 formed of sand and shells, and shaded by shrubs which are over- 

 shadowed by the crowns of countless cocoanut palms. 



On our left, the line of breakers, upon which we had so narrow- 

 ly escaped running, protects the port from the southerly squalls, 

 and only leaves between it and the island of Klouwang a narrow 

 passage 100 metres across. A little further on, a delightful stretch 

 of sand extends to the foot of Mount Timbega ( copper ) [ Malay 

 "Tembaga"]* which is somewhat peculiar in shape ; it is an immense 

 cone cut obliquely, which seems to have been deposited in the 

 middle of the plain, whence it emerges as from the midst of an 

 ocean of verdure. Its almost perpendicular steeps are clothed 

 with an abundant vegetation, the deep hue of which contrasts 

 forcibly with the brilliant white of the strand. The latter, after 

 performing half the circuit of the port, stretches before us in a 

 smiling valley closely walled in, and here, in the midst of a charm- 

 ing scenery, lies hid the Kampong ( village ) of Klouwang, and the 

 little river bearing the same name. 



The North entrance, while larger and more commodious than the 

 Southern, is much less picturesque. It is formed by the island on 

 one side, and on the other by a rather steep mountain lying on the 

 left side of the mouth of the river Klouwang. Hardly had we 

 dropped anchor before we landed on the island to examine care- 

 fully the strand which lay before us, and also, as will be readily 



