430 



prevent a rapid increase of population. About 

 2 miles to the S. W. of Bantakion, and situated 

 on R hill, lies Ban done, containing about 200 in- 

 habitants, vviib a few Gentoos and Malabars. It 

 is nearly surrounded with paddy fields, and pos- 

 sesses a river. It is considered healthy. At 

 Tentally, ptix or seven miles to the westward of 

 Bandune, which lies at ihe head of a fine sandy 

 bay, a considerable quantity of ambergris is 

 thrown up during the prevalence ofiheN E. 

 monsoon, a circumstance alluded to also by Choi- 

 sy. The country in the vicinity of Ten tally h 

 low and llat, and the population may be stated 

 at 300 : tliere is very excellent fishing here. 



To Ihe N, W., again, ofBantakion, and distant 

 from it about seven or eight miles, lies Sago, si- 

 tuated on the jiide of a mountain, and containing 

 about 150 inhabitants. The mountain, which is 

 high, juts into the sea, defending the village 

 from strong sea gales. The soil is very 

 rich and productive of the finest fruits. Hence 

 to the straits of Popra. a deep sandy road leads 

 across a low country, which is much intersected 

 by lakes. 



On the S. E. side are Ringain and Cockrain, 

 two temporary villages, whither the inhabitants 

 resort during the prevalence of the N. E. iMon- 

 soon, in order to wT*rk the tin onnes. The metal 

 is found in the greatest abundance on this tide 

 of the island. At Pookit» formerly the capital of 

 the island, but now deserted and in ruins, the 

 mines were sunk to the depth of from fifty to se- 

 venty feet; but, at Ringain and places near the 

 coasts the metal only dips from ten to thirty, and 



