429 



il ls situated in the eighth degree of north 

 latitude^ its greatest kngth beinjj about forty 

 miles, ruiming from IV N. E. toSS-W., whilst 

 its breadih is only fifieen. It forms ihe north • 

 point of the straits of Malacca, the opposite point 

 of A chin head, on the coajit of Sumatra, oonstitu- 

 ling the southern. Captain I-ight states it to 

 lie** 17 degrees ea^t of Madras ; 4 degrees east 

 of the Nicobars; BOleagnes N.E. of Achin, and 

 50 leagues N. W. of Quedah/' 



The island, as may naturally be expected, is of 

 a mountainous description, liaving here and there 

 well watered and fruitful vallic^. The hills are 

 clothed with ahundaoce of lofty and valuable 

 limber, whilst the vallies and plains teem with 

 abundance of rice, notwithstanding the draw- 

 backs against agriculture to be found in the op- 

 pres^^ivene-^s of the Siamese yoke. The north 

 end of it lies within a mile of the continent, or, 

 peninsula, whikt the southern extrenlity is about 

 ten miles distant. The i^lrait itself, separating 

 the island from the main, is about fifteen miles 

 long, but the entrance fnm seawmd is so ikn- 

 roughly obstructed by sand banks that even boat^ 

 require fair weather to enable themto cross the bar. 



The largest village on the island is Hanlakiun. 

 which is nearly centrically situated on a ])lLMsaijt 

 plain watered by a small Rtreain. U is surround- 

 ed bya bimboo hedge, and contained, in Captain 

 Lights time, about 400 inhabitants, which is pro- 

 bably not far from the number at present, as the 

 tyranny, under which the inhabitants groan, must 



• Thalarfjcr pt«>portioii oftbi* (Jescriplran ofJnnk Cftvltm will be 

 drawn frfim ihr paper* of Cwpuin Krand* light. Captain Jiiiiirs ScoH, 

 and Colonel Kyd; at piiljlwhrd in " Anderson** t ounUlymtiou^ Ac. 

 l^lendud wilb eacb other mi tiie and en t wrlien. 



