304 



Rhio itself, although the seat of tbe Nether- 

 lands Residency, has nothing to recommend it 

 to notice, except a piettjr fort, wbicli has been 

 erected there by the Dutch, but which is said 

 to be commanded by an adjacent height, and 

 which is consequently more for sliow than real 

 defence. This small island produces nothing, 

 and is only valuable in consequence o* it« proxi* 

 mity to Bin tang,* to the de^^crtption of which 

 island, 1 at once proceed, premising that my in- 

 formation is chiefly confined to the northern and 

 t^'estern portion of the island. 



The island of Bintang lies in about N. Lat. KID. 

 and possesses tl*e very great advantage of being in- 

 tersected by several broad and navigable streams, 

 by means of which its produce is principally 

 conveyed to the residency of Rhio. The names 

 of these rivers, some of which are inferior size, 

 are as follows ; the Sebong, the Rotjo, Ayer Ja- 

 w^ar, Cawal (joonookayang, A ban tang, Sun pang 

 Poal8, Gindi, Jalaiig, Aycr Rajah, Pho Touwo, 

 lant Joukang, and the Oonam ■ these generally 

 have their source far inland, and are navigable by 

 boats, or smipang puknts. 



For the convenience of reference, I will sup- 

 pose the northern and western parts of the 1*^- 

 land to be divided mto districts, and, iu pursu- 

 ance of this artificial arrangement, commence 

 with Stjliona:, 



This division is on the north side of the island , 

 and is consequently in the straits of Singapore, 

 facing the Peninsula. It contains four settle- 

 ments, the first of which is called Singkang, a 



• Bmtang, ia MaJaj«»e, ilgtaSea a star. 



