these two unite below there was formerly a fort. The Landa
river is extremely serpentine, deep to the very bushes on both sides,
and quite clear of danger up to the town, except near Siminis creek,
about ten miles below the fort; here a reef of rocks runs across
the stream, and as the fair way over them is somewhat intricate,
the channel ought to be buoyed before attempted to be passed. The
Barracouta, drawing thirteen feet, just scraped them at high water.

About five or six leagues up the Landa branch, and about thirteen from
the sea, stands the town and palace of Sambas, on the confluence of the
Landa and Salako rivers. The fort on the right bank of the Landa is
about a league below the town, built of two rows of large piles, the
interstices being filled up with mud and stones, apparently mounting
five guns, eighteens and twelves in the lower tier, and an equal number
of smaller caliber on the ascend or more elevated range. A boom or
dam of fishing-stakes was constructed across the river one-eighth of a
mile below the fort, a large armed prow was moored in the center of the
river, mounting two long twelves, and a masked battery opposite to the
right, the number of guns unknown. The reach which these forts command
is a mile and a half. The land makes an elbow where these forts are,
which obliged the Barracouta to haul athwart the river, to get her
broadside to bear. The whole of this Landa river is very narrow,
but near the forts not one-third additional to her length. Both
sides of this river toward the fort appear tolerably clear from
the mast-head, interspersed with pleasant hills inhabited by the
Chinese. The tides are pretty regular, six hours and six hours,
running a knot and a half per hour. This river is too serpentine
and narrow to admit sailing up; sweeps, towing, or tiding it up are
the only modes that can be resorted to. The great branch of Borneo
river, before mentioned, when up it twenty miles, divides into two;
the branch running north being called Tampasan river, the other still
retaining the name of Borneo. The Tampasan branch leads to old Sambas;
it is from hence they get their supplies of rice and provisions,
by the two cuts above the town of Sambas, which reunites the Landa
and Borneo streams. There are roads from the great branch leading
to the town, fort, and palace. Since the Dutch abandoned Sambas,
three sultans have reigned on this musnud (within fifty years, or
thereabout). There are four Pa