it is situated fifteen miles up
one of the finest rivers in the world, with three fathoms low water on
the bar, and a rise and fall of fifteen feet. A correct plan of the
river and town is published by Mr. Dalrymple. Here are mud docks for
vessels of 500 or 600 tons. The town consists of about three thousand
houses, built on stakes, in the middle of the river, with a population
altogether of fifteen thousand souls, Chinese, Malays, Moruts, &c.

The palace is slightly fortified; but the Rajah of Pontiana says, the
Rajah of Borneo Proper is preparing the means of defence, apprehending
the resentment of the English in vindicating the rights of their flag,
so frequently insulted by them with impunity; however, as there is
sufficient water for a line-of-battle ship to the city, nothing need
be apprehended from them. The remains of a stone fort up the river
are still seen, but the one on Pulo Laboan is destroyed. Both banks
of the river are planted with pepper, which formerly produced sixty
thousand piculs annually; these are now running to decay from want
of commerce. The Chinese junks, for years past, have ceased touching
here, from the numberless piratical depredations committed upon them;
and the Portuguese from Macao have attempted to renew the trade
from time to time, but at length, in 1808, their agent withdrew to
Macao, a large ship having been cut off and the crew murdered the year
preceding. They now have no other resource but piracy; and the produce,
such as it is, finds its way in prows to Tringan, Sambas, Pontiana,
Lingin, and Malacca. Very large quantities of the finest camphor in
the world are procurable here; it comes down from the Morut country, by
the great river; a great deal of wax, some gold, much birds'-nests of
an inferior quality, any quantity of sago, cassia, clove-bark, pepper,
betel-nut, rattans, camphor-oil, &c., tripan, tortoise-shell, &c.

The hills hereabout are clear of jungle, and wear a beautiful
appearance, and, without the aid of history, bear evident marks of
a more extensive population and culture. There are plenty of black
cattle, buffaloes, goats, fruits and vegetables of all kinds, abundance
and variety of fish, turtle, &c. The articles best suited for this
market are coarse China, white cangyans, brass plates, China crockery,
brass wire, tea, sugar-candy, coarse China silks and satins, blue and
white coarse guras and salampories, coarse ventipallam handkerchiefs,
arcot chintzes, iro