revent an extension
of this most useful of all trades to this country. One or two Siamese
junks arrive annually. The Tringanu, Timbilan, Karimata, and Borneo
Proper prows trade here; and before Java fell to the British arms,
the Buguese from the eastward traded here to a considerable amount.

The stone walls built by the Dutch still encompass the palace. The
piles on which their factory stood are yet discernible, but the
buildings have been pulled down. Should the English hoist their flag
here, a new factory must be erected; the most eligible situation for
which would be where the mosk now stands, or the mosk itself might
be converted into one, and another rebuilt elsewhere; but to this
the sultan has insuperable objections. In an English fort, to think
to have a mosk open to the ingress of a large body of Malays at all
times is wholly incompatible with a certain reserve and security
required from it. Beside, as the island is small, and soldiers at
times inconsiderate, they might profane or defile its holy precincts,
and thus lay the foundation of perpetual disputes, or even a serious
rupture. The fort and factory, if built at all at Pontiana, must hence
be fixed in some detached place. The sultan is building a new palace
and covering it with tiles; a novelty in this quarter. There is but
a scanty supply of fowls and buffaloes, and the necessaries of life
are scarce and dear. It is altogether the most uncouth and dreary
spot under the sun, though the sultan prefers it to Sambas and Mompava.

Their naval force consists of two small ships, two brigs, fifty prows
large and small, and about one thousand men. There is water on the bar
to admit vessels drawing nine feet water. The roadstead, with seven
fathoms water on it, lies seven miles from the river's mouth. Care
must be taken not to mistake the Pongole river seen from the offing,
and which lies ten miles farther southward. The only stock procurable
here were hogs at ten dollars the picul, and water shipped off in
China tank-boats at four and a half dollars the ton.

The next port is Mompava, about sixteen miles to the northward of
Pontiana, and the second port belonging to the sultan. The river is
shallow, narrow, extremely serpentine, and constantly running down
with great rapidity. The country around is a paradise in comparison
with Pontiana. It is upon an elevated site, and, wherever the eye
reaches, it is clear of jungle, and of fine rich mold, susceptible
of the