who has seen how
well the chain-pier at Brighton stands the worst weather, that no
similar work has been devised at Madras. The water is shallow, the
surf does not extend very far from the beach, and there seems really
no reason why a chain-pier should not be erected, which might answer
not only for the accommodation of passengers, but for the transit of
goods to and from the shore.

CHAPTER XXII.

VISIT TO THE SULTAN OF PONTIANA, IN BORNEO--SIR SAMUEL HOOD.

In the summer of 1814, Sir Samuel Hood made a voyage, in his Majesty's
ship Minden, to the eastern parts of his station. We called first at
Acheen, on the north end of the island of Sumatra, where we held some
very amusing intercourse with the king of that district, whose capital
the Admiral visited. From thence we steered over to Pulo Penang, or
Prince of Wales' Island, and thence down the Straits of Malacca,
entering the China Sea by the beautiful Straits of Sincapore. The
Admiral's chief object was to visit Java; but as there lay three
routes before him to choose between, viz. the Straits of Gaspar, the
Straits of Banca, and the Caramata passage, he preferred taking the
last and widest, which also led him near the western shore of the
immense island of Borneo. On reaching the equator, he steered in for
the mouth of the great river Lava, which passes the town of Pontiana.
The weather being very favourable, the ship was anchored, and the
barge got ready for an expedition.

At four in the morning, on receiving the joyful intimation that I was
to be officer of the boat, I lost no time in getting together
everything likely to be useful--a sextant, artificial horizon,
spy-glass, chart, compass, and Nautical Almanac, besides a Malay
Dictionary.

We had some little difficulty in finding our way in the barge, for the
mouth of the river of Pontiana lay so completely hid amongst low
cane-brakes, mangroves, and other aquatic trees and shrubs, which grow
thickly along the western shores of Borneo, that, until we came quite
close, no inlet was perceptible. The first hit we made proved wrong,
and lost us three or four miles; and it was not till nearly noon that
we reached the rush of fresh and troubled water, which indicated the
true entrance. The Admiral desired greatly to observe the sun's
meridian altitude. His Excellency, however, though he could command
many things, could not command this; for although our fellows gave way
lustily, so as to stem the curren