No. 54.— 1903.] KING KIRTI SRI'S EMBASSY TO SIAM. 21 
enormous size, shaped like corn ricks. Next we sighted Acheen and 
Sumatra and learned that they were inhabited by Javanese. Till 
noon on the eighth day, being Monday, these great plains and hills and 
rocky mountains remained in sight. On this day the wind dropped 
and we were at a standstill for seven days, and were even obliged to 
cast anchor to prevent the ship drifting back. At last on Sunday 
morning, the wind freshening, we weighed anchor again and started. 
By midday we sighted to the north a lofty range of mountains and 
two stretches of low land at the mouth of a river as well as a harbour ; 
this was a country inhabited by Malays. To north, south, east, and 
west we saw four small vessels, and on the nonh-east a large ship. 
Our captain was greatly alarmed, as he did not know if they were 
friends or foes, and while they were still at a distance he weighed anchor, 
turned his ship round, and steered back fifteen gav). 
Having thus escaped the danger, we started again on our way, and 
seven days later on Sunday morning we sighted on the east a great 
rocky mountain surrounded by a dense forest of holo7i trees with 
a bank of sand stretching round it. The captain, telling us that 
if we drew near we would not be able to cross the bar, made great 
efforts for seven days to tack to the f^outh. He succeeded at last and 
we started again at dawn on Sunday and sailed on for four days. 
In the evening we sounded and found twelve fathoms of water ; and as 
there was a stretch of sand by the mouth of a river we furled sail and 
dropped anchor. On Thursday sail was hoisted in the ship's boat and 
several people with an officer started to explore. They returned on 
Friday morning and reported that extensive sandbanks lay on every side. 
The captain accordingly fitted out another boat with all the neces- 
sary tackle and sent an officer with eight sailors to Malacca. On 
Saturday morning our ship snapped one of her cables, lost her anchor, 
and began to toss about ; but our captain quickly lowered another 
anchor. Seven days later on Thursdaj^, five hours after dawn, the 
officer who had proceeded to Malacca returned with the Company's 
factor and the chief carpenter called the Bass Thuvan Bramath, who 
brought with them in two sloops a large supply of water, betel, and 
arecanuts, with cocoanuts tender and hard ; they addressed us with great 
kindness, and re-starting the ship we arrived the same evening at the 
harbour of Malacca. Here we waited three days till five officers came 
on board from the fort to welcome us and take us with the royal 
message and presents with our attendants on land. This was at dusk 
on Sunday, the twenty-ninth day of the solar month Kanya, being the 
eleventh day of the waning half of the lunar month. On landing we were 
conducted with great ceremony to our halting-place. On the seventh day 
following, being Wednesday, the G-overnor and the Fiscal called on us in 
the afternoon to inquire after our well-being ; and the next day five 
officers took us in horse carriag-es to return the visit and accompanied us 
back again. On Sunday the twelfth day of the solar month we were 
taken back on boardship in sloops. Here we found all the damage 
properly repaired, and at dawn on Wednesday we set sail and proceeded 
without stopping for eight days, till on Thursday we saw a range of 
mountains, rocky plains, hills, and sandy stretches surrounding us like the 
embankment of a tank. The captain and officers after much deliber- 
ation declared that it would be useless to sail back ; and examining their 
chart and noticing three leafy trees on one of the stretches of sand 
that lay in our way, they steered the ship through a narrow passage 
that lay near and after four days passed the range of mountains. 
