Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/189

 co,grs o AUgrRAA. 129 no merchant vessels, that have not some particular object in view, will visit this place; so that it has very little communication with other parts, ex- cepting through the Chinese traders, who are constantly in motion. In fact it is, to use the Resi- dent's own words in describing it to me, "a poor p/ace;" and it seems to be the policy of the Dutch government to keep it so, for no vessel is allowed to ti2de with Coepang without having first visited either Batavia or Amboyna, for the purpose of procuring permission. The town is situated principally on the east banic of the river; which, rising in the mountains, runs through a torrent-worn course until it reaches the valley in which the town is built; here the tide meets it, and at low water its bed is nearly dry: it communicates with the sea by a shoal bar, immediately under a rocky eminence on which the Fort of Concordia is constructed. This fort, from its favourable situation, protects the harbour and outer anchorage, as well as commands the From the anchorage, Coepang presents a very picturesque and lively appearance. The houses, a few of which are built of stone, are roofed either with red tiles or thatch, and are shaded frofit the heat of the. sun by thick groves of trees; among which the bread fruit-tree, the Jaca, and a �m,. I. K

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