112 MALACCA HARBOUR. 
VALENTYN says: © There are two islets in its (Malacca’s) 
vicinity—Ilha das Naos (Pulau Java, nearly opposite the end of 
the pier) within a gun-shot from the town, and Ilha das Pedras 
(Pulau Upeh) from where they got the stones to build houses 
etc. with, beyond the range of gun-shot.* The Portuguese 
earracks and galleons used to anchor between these two islets 
in four or five fathoms of water.’’ There are now only about 
two fathoms. 
HAMILTON, writing the same time, says; The Road for 
Shipping is at too great a Distance to be defended by the Fort, 
the Shallowness of the Sea obliging them to be above a League 
off, which is a very great Inconveniency.” But this latter is 
clearly an exaggeration, for he says shortly after: “ At Malacca 
the Streights are not above four Leagues broad,’ whereas they 
are nine or ten; and from other parts of his narrative it is 
evident that too much faith must not be placed in him. 
The Commentaries of ALBUQUERQUE, wherein an account 
is given of the founding of Malacca by PARIMICARA (A pramu- 
syastira) who had settled on the Pago, a tributary of the Muar, 
after his expulsion from Szngapura, state that that prince was 
induced by some fishermen who lived on the Malacea River 
‘to go and settle there, both on account of a fertile plain called 
Bintao three leagues distant along a river, wherein large crops 
of rice could be grown,” and “ because the harbour was 
commodius and very deep with good water.”’ 
We find in different places in the Commentaries the follow- 
ing expressions :— 
“he (the King of Malacca) desired Afonso 
Dalboquerque would order his ships to with- 
draw from right in front of the port ; 
‘ he (Albuquerque) ordered the small vessels 
to withdraw and le off owtszde the port ; 
“and to burn also all the other ships that lay 
wm the port ;”’ 
ee 
* i. e. from the fortress. 
Jour. Straits Branch 
