highest culture. There is a walk up to the town about eight
miles from the mouth of the river; here the fishing-stakes nearly
extend across the river, beside two miserable forts, mounting each
five or six pounders, to defend the river. The population is seven
thousand men, Malays, Buguese, and Dayers, and about two thousand
Chinese. Formerly the territory of Mompava extended as far as 1 deg. north
latitude. This territory belonged to a chief or rajah, reduced by the
Dutch twenty-five years ago, shortly after they settled at Pontiana;
the territory thus conquered was delegated in trust to the Rajah of
Pontiana. The Sambas rajah has forcibly taken possession of a part
of it. Sultan Kassim, of Pontiana, governed this district during his
father's lifetime. On his accession to the musnud, five years ago, he
placed a half-brother there, a stupid fellow, about twenty-five years
of age. This man, about eight months ago, was trying to establish his
independence, which he found he could not maintain. It has the same
trade as Pontiana, but the regulations of the sultan do not admit of
any vessel's touching here for that purpose. The palace is extensive,
paled round with a sort of a fortification. The campo China, in
October last, was in part burnt down by the people of Sambas, to the
number of four hundred houses. There is a variety of roads hereabout;
one leading to Sambas, one to Landa, one to Mintrada, &c. Groves of
cocoanut-trees mark the site of ancient villages, since demolished; and
indicate that it once enjoyed a superiority and preeminence, of which
it has been despoiled. In point of susceptibility of cultivation, it
is a full half century beforehand with Pontiana; it is capable of great
improvement, and much grain might be raised with very little trouble.

There is a considerable mud-flat at the mouth of the Sambas river,
extending four or five miles out, but no regular bar. Vessels
drawing thirteen feet may get in at high water springs; nine feet is
the least water, and there is thirteen at the flood. In the offing
there is a rise and fall of seven feet. At the entrance of the river
neither shore must be too closely hugged, having ledges of rocks near
them. Twelve miles above the bar the river branches into two parts;
the broad or northern branch is called the Borneo river, having its
source in Kiney Baulu; the other, leading to the town of Sambas,
is named the Landa river, having its source in the diamond mines;
where