RAT ISLAJfD. 



m 



especially as tlie shores are mostly ii'inged with coral 

 reefa Tlie city is located on a low bluff, on the 

 south side of the bay. 



By a treaty with the Dutch in 1824 this terri- 

 tory was ceded them by the English, in exchange for 

 Malacca and the adjoining country. It is at present 

 under a Resident, who is appointed by the govern- 

 ment at Batavia, and is not under the Governor of 

 Padang. The residency commences at the south* 

 eastern extremity of the island, and includes the 

 area between the Barizan chain and the sea-coast, 

 from that point as far north as Mokomoko. Its 

 population numbers one hundred and twenty thou- 

 sand five hundred and fourteen, and is di\dded aa 

 follows : — Europeans, one hundred and seventy-four ; 

 natives, one hundred and nineteen thousand six hun- 

 dred and ninety -one; Chinese, five hundred and 

 ninety-six ; Arabs, six ; other Eastern nations, forty- 



April 19/^.— The Resident gave me a large prau 

 to go to Pulo Tikus or Bat Island, a small coral island, 

 about six miles off Beneoolen. On its shore-side the 

 reef curves in at one place, and forms a little bay. 

 All round it, on the edges of the reef, were a number 

 of old anchors, hea^-y enough for the largest frigates. 

 They had been placed there by the English, who 

 moored their ships at that place, and carried off the 

 pepper from Beneoolen in praus. If Beneoolen had 

 a good harbor or roadstead, it would be an impor- 

 tant place, but it has none, and there is no good 

 opportunity to make one. 



On Pulo Tikua we found a few fishermen, from 



