still pretty strong, though its interior is falling into decay. This fortress, built on the hill in the centre of the town, is about the size of Delfshaven, and has also two gatos, and though one of its sides stands on the hill, yet the other side is washed by the sen. It is at present the residence of the Governor, of the other officers employed by the company, and of the garrison, which is pretty strong. Two hundred years ago this place was merely a fishermen's village[1] and now it fine town.
In former times the town had a population of 12,000 souls; but there are now not more than 200 or 300 families, some of which are Dutch and some others Portuguese and Malays, the latter living in the most remote corners of the town in common attap huts.
At a small distance from the town are also some fine houses and many well-kept cocoa-nut plantations and gardens with fruit trees, the greater part of which are owned by Malays.
This town is remarkably well situated for trade, and those straits have been frequented, since the times of old, by much shipping, which still continues from Bengal, Coromandel, Surat, Persia, Ceylon, Java, Sumatra, Siam, Tonkin, China, and from many other countries; the gross revenue in the year 1669 (consisting of 10 per cent, import duty and 3 per cent. export duty, and some other small taxes) amounting to 71,958.18 guilders.
There arrived in that same year 116 Javanese vessels, besides the Danish, Portuguese and Moorish vessels.
This place is very convenient for our vessels passing through the Straits of Singapore going from Japan to Bengal, Coromandel, Surat and Persia, and also for vessels bound for Batavia coming from those places.
The place is not very productive in provisions; everything must be imported from other places, with the exception of fish and some kinds of fruits.
The productiveness of this place is very poor, compared to that of the Coast [of Coromandel], Bengal, Ceylon, &c.; and the sur- rounding country bears a barren aspect.
It is also not safe to venture in the jungle, as it abounds in wild beasts.
One of my friends, Mr. VAN NAARSSEN, told me, that it once had happened to him in person to fall in with a tiger accidentally, and he was sure on several other occasions of being in the neighbourhood of one of these animals, for it was only in that case his horse
- ↑ i.e. about 1526, or 14 years after the Portuguese took it, in which case it must have greatly fallen from the state in which they found it.
