The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-01-20 00:00:00

PRICE OF !MOCKS VEATERDAY.
Bank Stock
3 perlnsp. 3
Kr
Ct. An. 6811
3 per Ct. Cum.... by ti 9 India Stuck— '221 2-.111
I Ditto Bondi 33 338.1 pr.
31 per Cent 79 I BR. Bills, 1..... 4 ti w.
4 per Cent....... 13.7111 I Lottery 1 tam 411. 3a.
5 per CI. N. Au...103i I Cone. for Ftb...• 6910
, 104 k

IOURN2L
OF A TOUR INTO THE INTERIOR OF SUMATRA,
ET 81R THOMAS STAMFORD RAFPLU, EMT.
F.MS. F.AJ. LIEUTENANT.GOVERNOR OF BEN.
COOLEN, ke. Ike. Sze.

_____,........_
[From " 77ta Ineerfigetor" or habarr, 1811, a vary
'stemming Wait.)

(Cootlossodfrolo our Piper of !Wiwilop.)

a? ILA, SEPTEMBER 10, I*lB.
The dawn of Wednesday found us on the banks
of the lake, shipping our baggage, and embarkiiig
for Simawang ; we should have rterted the preced.
ing night, but the boats had not arrived. -Ewen
now we hail but one at our command.; and in this
we proceeded, leaving the heaviest part of the bag-
gage and the escort to follow 'by land, should no
other boat ba procurable in the course of the day.
This beautiful sheet of water, celled the Minns,
or Lake of Sincere, 'is about fourteen miles lohg,
and at its broadest part eleven miles across ; sur-
rounded by moneitaios end hills, except towards the
Tega Blas country, where a plain of its own width
gradually sinks into its bosom. 'Proceeding north-
ward we had ois our left the high immunities, that
form the barisels, or boundary of the coast districts,
iii height from•l to 7,000 feet, at thefutit'of which,
on the margin of the lake, for two or 'three miles
deep, were rice fields, plantations, and
risoug successively above each other': on the sides
of the mountains themselves, Heady to the summit
of the Brat ridge, the foreyt had been cleared, and
cultivation carried. The opposite side, as well as
the northern part of the lake, is confined by a suc-
cession of low hills, which, is their constitution,
are found to be essentially different from the high
volcanic ridges we had passed over, being primitive,
and abounding in metals. Among these the must
conspicuous, and lying nearly north, was the
Ginning Beni, or Hull of Iron, which from time
immemorial has been the principal source whence
these districts are supplied with that metal. Be-
hind these, • little to the westweid, rises the Me-
rani, • gradd volcanic mountain, emitting smoke
from its western peak, and towering in the clouds
to the height of at least 10,000 feet above the lake
itself. Further west, connectilig its base with that
of the Merapi, is the Guntto!, Stucelang, another
insulated Mouutain, in height' about 8,000 feet.
To the westward of Mersin, and newly over Sims-
swung as we approached it, we obtained a glimpse of
the stupendous mountain of Kasumbe, the esti-
mated height of which is not less then 15,000 feet.
To the southward, the view was bounded by Gu-
esting Tiding, lying at the extremity of the Trio
Bias country, at the back of which was observed a
ridge still higher than itself. On the banks of the
lake are situated seven principal towns, with their
numerous dependent villages and hamlets ; be. ,
ing chided by trees, they become so many grovel,
whose dark foliage forms a pleasing contract with'
the light hut of the rice plantations, in the middle
of which they are situated. The beach is a bright
sand ; and cultivation commences immediately
upon it. At each of the towns a weekly market is
held, to which the traders from the neighbourhood
aad adjacent cowries repair by water. The canals
are natmerca, peel ow+ towe-4ms rise or two large
boat., capable of carrying six tons and 100 men :
it was in one of these that we embarked. These
large boats are well built, and at a diolusce, when
filled with people, have very much tito appearance
of the large war-boats of the South Sea Islands.
At a short distance Irvin Sendangbakir, sad where

the lake was said to be by no means deep, we found
bottom with a deep sea-lead at 68 fathoms; but,
subsequently, more in the centre, we found no bot.
tom at 180 fathoms. The shores are easy of access,
and no rocks or shoals exist to obstruct the navi-
gation. The lake abounds in fish; and the inha-
bitants procure lime by burning • small muscle
shell found on its banks.

As we approached, Simawang, a very peculiar
hill, with three rugged peaks, was pointed out to
US as lying immediately at the back of Pageruyoiig,
the capital of the Munaugksbow country. This
bill, Gaming Bongs°, will be hereafter noticed.
We had embarked ut a quarter put eight: it was
new half part one, when we lauded at the foot of
the hill on which Sunuwang is 'situated, and at the
bourse of the K uautau, or ludrogiri river. IVe had
a very hot, and fatiguing walk for above an
hour in ascending the hill; but were amply re-
paid by the friendly and cradlel reception
we met with at the summit, inhere the head
of the village, a venerable old man, quietly coil-
&meted us into his dwelling, and made every
preparation for our comfort, without subjecting us
to any of the ridiculous ceremonies and delays to
which we had tu former instructs been exposed.
This dwelling was about 100 feet long, and from
30 to 40 in depth; built in a very substantial manner,
and supported along the centre by three wooden pil-
lars, fit for the marts of a ship ; indeed, from its
peculiar construction (the gable ends being raised
in tiers like the stern of a vessel) it had very much
this appearance. The floor virus raised about ten feet
from the ground, the lower part being enclosed :ad
appropriated to cattle, fix.: a principal entrance is
in about the centre, and there is u second door at
one end. The interior consists of one large hall,
with three fire-places at equal distance from each
other on the front aide ; and at the back weveral
small chambers, in which we perceived the spin-
mug wheels and furniture belonging to the women.
This may serve fur a general description of all
the houses in this part of the country : and 1
have described theme thus minutely, because they
differ so essentially from those on the coast,
sud from what Mr. Marsden has described as the
usual dwellings of the Sunistrens. Notwithstand-
ing the room in which we were now placed was so
commodious, we buffered more from the heat here
than eleewheie, on account of the greater number
of people winkled, and the quantity of tire..
Thai end of the hull which rose ill tiers, like the
steal of at ship, %sus net apart for Lady It. and We,
al .1 orpoislett float the list by units. 'flue total
number accommodated at one tune in this care-
vJnarta did not fall short of 150 persons.
Thursday, 23,1 July.—The town of Simawang
occupies the bUi ttttt it of the hill, elevated above the
Woks of the lake about .500 feet, and commands a
most beautiful prospect. Notwithstanding this
elevation, there are hills in the vicinity of greater
height, which give it the advantage of several
i streams ; these are directed into numerous elm-