the  IJland  of  Sumatra.  1 7 7 
finding  empty,  he  burnt.  This  fet  the  whole  country  in 
alarm ; conch-fhells  were  founded  all  over  the  bay,  and 
in  the  morning  we  faw  great  multitudes  of  people  affem- 
bled  in  different  plaeesj  making  ufe  of  threatening 
geftures;  fo  that  finding  it  would  be  unfafe  to  venture 
among  them  again,  as,  for  want  of  underfl: anding  their 
language,  we  could  not  come  to  any  explanation  with 
them,  I ordered  the  anchor  to  be  weighed,  and  failed  out 
of  the  bay,  bringing  away  two  of  the  natives  with  me. 
In  our  return  home  my  defire  of  feeing  fome  yet  un- 
explored parts  of  the  ifiand  of  Sumatra,  occafioned  me- 
to  order  the  veffel  to  put  me  on  lb  ore  at  a place  called 
Flat  Point,  on  the  Southern  extremity  of  the  ifiand,  from 
whence  I walked  to  Fort  Malbro’.  In  this  journey  I 
underwent  great  hardfliips,  being  fometimes  obliged  to 
walk  on  the  fandy  beach,  expofed  to  the  Sun,  from  fix  in 
the  morning  till  fix  at  night,  without  any  refrefhment ; 
fometimes  precipices  to  alcend  or  defcend,  fo  fteep  that 
we  could  only  draw  ourfelves  up,  or  let  ourfelves  down, 
by  a rattan ; at  other  times  rapid  rivers  to  crofs,  and  then 
to  walk  the  remaining  part  of  the  day  in  wet  cloaths. 
The  confequence  of  thefe  hardfliips  has  been  a violent 
fever ; but,  much  as  I then  regretted  having  quitted  the 
ihip,  I had,  when  I came  to  Fort  Malbro’,  more  reafon  to 
rejoice ; for  I then  found,  that  the  veffel,  in  her  voyage 
home, , 
