38 OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY OF THE DINDINGS. 



the inhabitants "have too many of the Perak qualities to 

 be trusted with honest men's lives and money." 



DAMPIER gives an interesting description of the fort and 

 the Governor's house as he found them. The ruins of the 

 former still exist, and, though they are in a very tumble-down 

 condition, it is easy to sc-e how accurate Dampier's descrip- 

 tion was ; but no trace remains of the house, which was built 

 of timber. 



He also gives a most amusing account of an entertainment 

 given by the Governor to Captain Minchin and a Mr. and 

 Mrs. RICHARDS who were on board his ship. They went 

 ashore in the afternoon to call on the Governor, and Captain 

 MlNCHIN treated him to brandy-punch, in return for which 

 the Governor sent out a boat to catch some fresh fish, as an 

 addition to the other fare of the fort, and invited them to 

 " supper." The boat came back about 5 o'clock, the fish 

 was cooked at once, a fresh bowl of punch was brewed, and 

 the Governor sat down with his guests and the officers from 

 the fort prepared to do ample justice to this good cheer. 

 But hardly had they fallen to, when one of the soldiers raised 

 an alarm of " Malayans," which produced a most remarkable 

 effect on the Dutch section of the party. The Governor, 

 without saying a single word, leapt through a window and 

 was off like a hare in the direction of the fort; the officers 

 and servants followed suit with great promptitude ; and the 

 three guests were left behind in amazement "at this sudden 

 Consternation of the Governour and his people." They follow- 

 ed, however, to the fort, where they found the Governor (possi- 

 bly rather ashamed of his precipitate flight now that he was 

 in safe quarters) waiting to receive them. The door was then 

 shut, and the soldiers proceeded to fire the guns to show the 

 "Malayans" that they were ready for them, but no attack 

 was made, and their alarm must have given way to a feeling 

 of regret at the loss of the supper and the punch which they 

 had left behind. It is noticeable that DAMPIER, in common 

 with other early voyagers, speaks of the excellence of the 

 harbour at Pangkor, and also of the timber. Of the latter he 

 says "the Trees are of divers sorts, many of which are good 



