THE GIBRALTAR OF THE EAST. 239
The harbour is like a miniature lake, the entrance at the west being completely hidden by projections of land from the island and mainland ; and that at the east only just sufficiently open to enable one to catch a glimpse of the sea beyond. Nousa Kam- bungan is about fourteen miles in length, and very hilly ; but the eye seeks in vain for a barren spot, all being clothed with a varied combination of the most luxuriant foliage, extending from the hill-tops to the margin of the water.
The fort is at the eastern point of the island, overlooking the sea, and, being built on the shelf of a rock, is considered by Dutchmen as the (libraltar of the East. As there are more ways than one by which an enemy could get to the rear of it, from adjacent enunenccs, and literally look down into the stronghold, 1 could not exactly see what tli(.y could say to an attac;k h'oui that (piarter; but that, I w;is infonucfl, was rendereil imjxis.silde bv another furt in the middle of the island, called
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