Jnva.] 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



379 



E., about two leagues to the E. of the fourth point of Java, and is not easily 

 perceived coming from the W., being .situated in a bay, where the houses 

 are scattered amongst the coco-nut trees ; it is nearly obscured by them, and 

 by a chain of high hills inland, the easternmost of which is a sharp peaked 

 hill, called Anjerie Peak, directly over the houses. The common anchorage 

 is in from 9 to 14 fathoms abreast of the village. 



Provisions and Refreshments. — BufTaloes, hogs, poultry, and fruits 

 are to be procured at reasonable rates ; turtle is occasionally to be had ; pine- 

 apples, oranges, mangosteens, and other fruits are in abundance. The 

 spring from which the water is filled, is only separated by a narrow slip of 

 land from tire sea ; it is but indifferent. Ships therefore prefer watering at 

 North Island, where the water is excellent. 



NORTH ISLAND is close upon the Sumatra shore, without the 

 Strait ; it is about two miles in circumference, in latitude 5° 41' S., and 

 longitude 105^ 4!)' E. It used to be much frequented for wood and water; 

 but the treachery of the Malays has occasioned the preference to be given to 

 Anjerie Point. Should a ship slop here, wood should be cut from the 

 irdwul. The water is procured from the main, about 500 yards from the 

 beach. Care should be taken that the people do not go far from the water- 

 side, or they will be cut off. The Malays bring off turtle, fowls, coco-nuts, 

 pumpkins, yams, Sec. in their proas to the sfiip, and sell them at reasonable 

 prices. 



BANTAM. — This city is seated at the bottom of a large bay formed 

 by St. Nicholas or Bantam Point, which is in latitude 5° 5% S., and longi- 

 tude 106° ^ E., and Point Pontang ; there are many small islands in the 

 bay, mostly uninhabited. The marks for anchorage are Bantam Hill S.S.W., 

 in 6 fathoms water. 



The city is about one mile from the sea-side, between the branches of a 

 river, about 180 feet over at its mouth, so very shallow, that at low water 

 a common ship's boat does not He afloat in it; at high water and in spring 

 tides it is from 5 to 7 feet deep. Though this is called Bantam River, it is 

 properly only a branch of it; the river itself is divided above the town into 

 three channels, of which this is the middle one ; the other two run into the 

 sea, about a league off on each side. The houses in the town are scattered 

 without regularity, and round each is a plantation of coco-nut trees ; the 

 whole surrounded by a paling of split bamboo, by which each family is 

 separated from its neighbour. 



The King of Bantam, although a vassal to the Dutch Company, is a 

 sovereign Prince, uncontrouled in his authority over his own subjects ; 

 but is restricted from entering into any alliances or engagements with any 



