Malay Peninsula.) ORIENTAL COMMERCE, 



349 



any small vessels they can overcome. Having no convenient harbours, the 

 islands are seldom visited by European ships. 



1* ATA NY is in latitude about 6° 50' N. ; the town is about G miles 

 from the road, and was formerly a place of very great trade* The town is 

 surrounded with wooden palisadoes, and has a strong fort. The houses are 

 built of timber and bamboos, and have a mean appearance. Considerable 

 numbers of Chinese are settled here, who carry on a trade in their own 

 junks with Siam, Cochin-China, China, and Batavia. 



Trade. — The Chinese import from Batavia, cutlery, gunpowder, iron, 

 lead, looking-glasses, opium, piece-goods, and steel. From China are im- 

 ported, for the consumption of the resident Chinese, and for the natives, 

 China-ware, furniture, ironmongery, lackered ware, silk-goods, sugar and 

 sugar candy, tea, and wearing apparel ; and from Siam, Cochin-China, 

 Borneo, &c a variety of eastern commodities. 



The exports consist of the under-mentioned articles, the greater part 

 of which are sent to China : — Agala-wood, betel-nut, beech de mer, black- 

 wood, canes, dragon's blood, rattans, sapan-wood, skins of sorts, tin, tor- 

 toise-shell, and wax. 



CALANTAN RIVE 11. — This river is in latitude 6° 10 N., and under 

 the Government of Tringano. The bar of the river is shoal, and there is a 

 number of sandbanks inside, on which boats will ground. Ships sometimes 

 touch here to procure pepper. The anchorage is with the river bearing S., 

 about 3 miles' distance. The coast from hence stretches W. into the Gulph 

 of Siam ; the principal place in which is 



LI GORE, about 12 leagues to the N., between which is a low island 

 called Papier. The anchorage is about 2 leagues from the river. The 

 town is built of bamboos covered with reeds. There are many temples 

 with small steeples, which at a distance appear like ships' masts. This 

 place is under the Siamese Government. There used to be a great trade 

 carried on upon this part of the coast. The Malay proas carry on wliat 

 little trade remains. 



SINGAPORE. — The Island of Singapore is situated at the extremity 

 of the Malay Peninsula, in what is called the Straits of Singapore, through 

 which lies the route of vessels to and from the China seas. The town 

 stands on a point of land, near the W. part of a bay, and is easily 

 distinguished by a pleasant hill behind it, partly cleared of trees which 

 abound on the island. Between the \V. part of the bay and the town is a 

 creek, in which native vessels anchor close to the town, and European 

 vessels of easy draught may repair in. 



