m 



The principal liea port town is Tarma, which lies 

 ialand about two miles, nearly in the centre o* 

 the eastern side of the island, and about six or se- 

 ven miles from Bantakion. The river, which 

 runs past it, was formerly navigable for sloops* but 

 is now so much choked with sand banks as to be 

 impassable even by boats, except at high water. 

 The harbor ofTarma is vvell sheltered from the 

 prevalent winds, viz. by the Cocos and Salangs 

 from southerly and south easterly winds, and by 

 Panjang from north-easterly ones. A mud flat, 

 which extends from Jamboo to Cocoa, is howe- 

 ver a serious impediment to its becoming a har- 

 bor of imjH>rtance. 



Jamboo is a high point of land, widening out 

 at the extremity, but so contracted in the centre 

 that it is not more than 200 yards across. It 

 juts out in an easterly direction towards the main 

 land, leaving a |)assage of about one mile in 

 breadth between the two. Notwithstanding the 

 boldness of Jamboo point, the watei* on either 

 side of it is very shallow, especially on the north- 

 ern one, where there is so tittle depth that no 

 ship can approach within gmi shot, whilst on the 

 opposite, or southern, side, there is a narrow 

 channel of two fathoms water. The strait, run- 

 ning between the island and the main, is five 

 leagues in length, and offers an excellent and 

 secure harbor lor shipping; but a bar of sand, which 

 can be crossed only by boats, and even by them but 

 in fine weather, blocks up the entrance from sea- 

 ward, and the tides are very strong. This por- 

 tion of the channel is called the straits of Popra, 

 and the vessels from the CoromandeL coast fre- 



