SUMATRA*' 
from the ufurpation, as they term it, of the Dutch ; who formerly laid 
Urong claim to the country, and periifted in their attempt to eftablifh 
ihemfelves there, till an article of the treaty of Paris, in 1763, put the 
matter out of difpute; It is therefore unneceflary to enter into any dif- 
cuflion of the refpedive claims of the two European nations ; for which, 
however, I am in poflefTion of the ampleft materials. Neither in fad; 
have any rights but what proceeds from the will and confent of the na- 
tive powers* 
The other fettkment is on a fmall ifland, called Punchong cacheel, in 
the famous bay of Tappanoofy^ which is not furpaffed, for natural ad- 
vantages, in many parts of the world. Navigators fay that all the 
navies of Europe might ride there with perfed fecurity, in every 
weather ; and fuch is the complication of harbours within each other, 
as to lead fome to affert, that a large Ihip could be fo hid in them, as 
not to be found without a laborious and tedious fearch. Unfortunately 
it is but ill fituated with refped to the general track of Ihipping, and 
diftance from the feaf of our important India concerns; fo that little ufe 
has hitherto been made of it. This bay ftretches into the heart of the 
BtiUu UuuiiuiMus, aua lib uuracrs are muaoited by that people j who 
barter here the produce of their country, for the articles which they ftand 
in need of from abroad. The natives are in general inoffenfive, and give 
little dillurbance to our eftablilhment. The Achenefe long flrove to 
drive us from Tappancoly^ by force of arms, and we were under a necef- 
^ty of carrying on a war, for niany years, with parties of that nation, 
in order to fecure our tranquility. They wanted to recover the trade 
with the country people, which our interference had obflruded and di- 
miniihed* 
It is faid that no European ever penetrated twenty miles into the^ 
country which lies at the back of NaiaL At Tappansoiyf Mr. Hollo way,, 
chief of that place, and Mr^ Miller, botanift, by orders from the 
council, performed a journey, in the year 1772, through the Baita 
diftri£ls in that quarter, with a view of enquiring into, and giving ea- 
eouragement 
