220 TRAVELS IK TWB EAi3T INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 



magnificent coast of Lontar on the right, and the 

 high, overhanging peak of Gunong Api on the left ; 

 and^ as we advance, they separate, and diaclose to our 

 view the steep and lofty wall that forms Lontar's 

 northern shore. This is covered with a dense, matted 

 mass of vegetation, out of which rise the erect, col- 

 umnai' trunks of palms, from the crests of which, as 

 from sheaves, long, feathery leaves hang over, slowly 

 and gracefully oscillating in the light air, which we can 

 just perceive fanning our faces. Now Banda Neira is 

 in full view. It is composed of hills which gradually 

 descend to the shore of this little Ijay. On the top 

 of one near us is Fort Belgica, in form a regular 

 pentagon. At the comers are bastions surmounted 

 by small circular towers, so that the whole exactly 

 resembles an old feudal castle. Its walls are white, 

 and almost dazzling in the bright sunlight ; and 

 beueath is a broad, neatly-clipped glacis, foiming 

 a beautiful, gi'een, descending lawn. Below this 

 defence is Fort Nassau, which was built l>y the 

 Dutch when they first arrived in 1609, only two 

 years before the foundations of Belgica were laid, 

 and both fortifications have existed nearly as they 

 are now for more than two and a half centuries. On 

 either hand along the shore extends the cliief village, 

 Nelra, with rows of pretty shade-trees on the ])und, 

 or front street, bordering the bay. Its population is 

 about two thousand. In the road are a luimber of 

 praus from Ceram, strange-looking vesseLs, high at 

 stem, and low at the how, and having, instead of a 

 single mast, a tall tripod, which can be raised and 

 lowered at pleasure. They aie all j>oorly built, and 



