-1808.] 
For the correctness, however, of this 
rough estimate I cannot positively vouch; 
it is probable, that the number of souls 
on the island considerably exceeds that of 
the above statement. 
From the opposite shore are constantly 
brought over great quantities of all kinds. 
of provisions and fruits, which are sold 
here at a very reasonable rate. 
Abundance and great variety of excel- 
dent fish are caught in every direction 
round this island, which, from the salubrity 
of its air, is justly esteemed the Montpel- 
lier of India. 
Coups de soleil are seldom experienced 
in this settlement, although the Euro- 
peans walk and ride about at all times of 
the day, completely exposed. to a vertical 
sun. 
In short, as soon as the wet docks are 
established on Poolo Jaraja, (a small 
island between Penang and the Main), 
this will be the most beautiful, healthy, 
and flourishing settlement in the East In- 
dies, 
From the dawn of day, until the sun 
has emerged abovethe high mountains of 
Queda, and even for some time after this 
period, Penang rivals any thing that has 
been fabled of the Elysian Fields. 
The dews which have fallen in the 
course of the night, and by remaining on 
the trees, shrubs, and flowers, have be- 
come impregnated with their odours, earl y 
in the morning beyin to exhale, and fill 
the air with the most delightful perfumes; 
whilst the European inhabitants, taking ad- 
vantage of this pleasant season for exer- 
cise, crowd the roads, (some in carriages, 
some on horseback, and others on foot), 
till the sun getting to some height above 
the mountains of Queda, becomes so pow- 
erful, as to drive them into their bunga- 
lows, to enjoy a good breakfast with a 
keen appetite. 
The low lands of Penang being liable to 
inundation in the rainy season, the houses 
are all elevated from the ground, eight or 
ten feet, on arches or pillars. They sel- 
dom consist of more than one floor, and 
are all built of wood, thatched over with 
leaves of trees, the roofs resembling those 
of cottages in England; the leaves pro- 
jecting over the verendahs in order to 
throw off the rain into the areas. 
A small party of us having obtained 
permission to occupy the Convalescent 
Bungalow on the mountain, for the pur- 
pose of breathing a cooler and purer air, 
we repaired thither early in March. 
The distance from the town to that part 
of the ‘base of the mountain where the 
Monruty Mac., No. 165. 
Journal of a Voyagein the Indian Seas. 
path commences, is about five miles, and 
from thence to the summit, better than 
three. 
The path-way, which is not more than 
eight orten feet wide, iscut with incre- 
dible labour, through a forest of im- 
mensely tall trees, whose umbrageous fo- 
liage uniting above, excludes, except 
at some particular turnings, the least 
glimpse of the heavens, involving one, all 
the way up, in pensive gloom. 
It frequently winds along the brinks of 
yawning and frightful precipices, at the 
bottom of which one shudders to behold 
huge trunks of trees rived and fractured, 
whilst precipitated down the craggy and 
steep descent. 
The solemn stilluess which reigns 
around, or is only interrupted at inter- 
vals bythe harsh note of an inseet called 
tle trumpeter, or distant roar of the wa- 
terfal tumbling from rock to rock, is well 
calculated to excite in the mind a melan- - 
choly, yet not unpleasant train of reflec- 
tions. 
Steep, and rugged as this path is, the 
httle Sumatran horses mount it with great 
safety: the ladies, however, are generally 
carried up ina kind of sedan-chair, borne 
on the shoulders of some stout Malays. 
After a tiresome ascent of two or three 
hours, we gained the summit; and were 
amply rewarded for our labour, by the 
most extensive and beautifully variegated 
prospect, we had ever seen in India. 
As this part of the ridge of mountains 
is considerably the highest in the island, 
the view is consequently uninterrupted all 
around; and so strikingly grand and beau- 
tiful is it, thatthe most phlegmatic ob- 
server can:hardly fail to experience some 
pleasing sensations, when placed in this 
fairy spot. For my own part, I could not 
help feasting my eyes for hours together 
with undiminished delight on the roman- 
tic scenery, which nature, assisted by art, 
had scattered around in bountiful profu- 
sion. | 
The pencil itself could but faintly de- 
pict the luxuriant imagery of this exten- 
sive landscape; with the pen, therefore, I 
can only attempt to trace its outlines. 
Looking eastward, one’s attention is 
first arrested by the abrupt descent of - 
the mountain itself, whose side is clothed 
with an almost impenetrable forest of 
gigantic trees, except where precipices 
and chasms intervene, over which the 
waters are faiitly heard tumbling and 
foaming in their course to the plains. 
T¥:om this rude scene of nature there is - 
a sudden transition at the foot of the 
4B mountain 
f 
