Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstra13141884roya).pdf/64

 very strong place, but in time almost all these fortifications have gone to ruins. We do not mention their names now, as they will appear in the course of this description.

The convent of the Jesuits, also called St. Paul's Convent, was built higher up in town, and the monastery of the Minorites, otherwise called that of Madre de Deos, stood on the adjacent hills.

The territory belonging to Malakka extends over a length of 30 miles, and over a breadth of about 10 miles. There are two islets in its vicinity, Ilha das Naos, within a gun-shot from the town, and Ilha das Pedras, from where they got the stones to build houses, &c. with, beyond the range of gun-shot. The Portuguese carracks and galleons used to anchor between these two islets in 4 or 5 fathoms of water.

On the North-West side of the town is a wall with a gate and a small fortified turret, and next to it a river, discharging into the sea, with fresh water at low tide, but with salt water at high tide. Its width is 40 paces, and its current is generally pretty strong. It is commonly called "Chrysorant," and there is another river on the East side.

The country on the other side of the river (being on the same level with the land where the town is built) is joined to it by a wooden bridge; but the ground is very swampy on the South-East side, being generally flooded in the rainy monsoon, with the excep- tion of a small piece along the beach, which lies somewhat higher. There are in the town many fine and broad streets, bnt unpaved, and also many fine stone houses, the greater part of which are of the time of the Portuguese, and built very solidly after their fashion.

The town is built in the form of a crescent.

There is a respectable fortress of great strength, with solid walls and fortified with bastions, well-provided with guns, able to stand with its garrison a hard blow. There are, in the fortress, several strong stone houses and pretty good streets, all remembering the Portuguese times, and the tower, erected on the hill, seems to be