50 vat/entyn's description or Malacca, 



very strong place, but in time almost all these fortifications have 

 gone to ruins. We do not mention their names now, as they will 

 appear in the course of this description. 



The convent of the Jesuits, also called St. Paul T s Convent, was 

 built higher up in town, and the monastery of the Minorites, 

 otherwise called that of MadredeDeos, stood on the adjacent hills. 



The territory belonging to Malakka extends over a length of 30 

 miles, and over a breadth of about 10 miles. There are two islets 

 in its vicinity, Ilha das Naos, ( x ) within a gun-shot from the town, 

 and Ilha das Pedras, ( a ) from where they got the stones to build 

 houses, &c. with, be} T ond the range of gun-shot. The Portuguese 

 carracks and galleons used to anchor between these two islets in 

 4j or 5 fathoms of waler. ( 3 ) 



On the North- West side of the town is a wall with a gate and a 

 small fortified turret, and next to it a river, discharging into the 

 sea, with fresh water at low tide, but with salt water at high 

 tide. Its width is 40 paces, and its current is generally pretty 

 strong. Jt is commonly called " Chrysorant," and there is another 

 river on the East side. ( 4 ) 



The country on the other side of the river { being on the same 

 level with the land where the town is built ) is joined to it by a 

 wooden bridge ; but the ground is very swampy on the South-East 

 side, being generally flooded in the rainy monsoon, with the excep- 

 tion of a small piece along the beach, which lies somewhat higher. 



There are in the town many fine and broad streets, but unpaved, 

 and also many fine stone houses, the greater part of which are of 

 the time of the Portuguese, and built very solidly after their 

 fashion. 



The town is built in the form of a crescent. 



There is a respectable fortress of great strength, with solid walls 

 and fortified with bastions, well-provided with guns, able to stand 

 with its garrison a hard blow. ( 5 ; There are, in the fortress, several 

 strong stone houses and pretty good streets, all remembering the 

 Portuguese times, and the tower, erected on the hill, seems to be 



(i) PulauJawa. 



(2) Pulau tjpeh. 



( 3 ) Oniy about two fathoms now. 



( * ) No traces of this now, excegt in the large drains near Kampong Jawa, 

 and Banda Hilir. 



(s ) The only remains visible of this now are contained in the curious old 

 gateway (near the residence of Mr. J. E. Westerhout) which bears Portu- 

 guese arms, but a Dutch date, viz., 16'. 0; this is probably what is left of the 

 bastion called " Baluarte Santiago" as marked in the old plates of the For- 

 tress. 



