With the exception of the fort and commandant's house, the "astana" is the only building on this side of the river.
"On the Equator"
Harry de Windt
A plunge in the large astana swimming-bath at dawn began the day; after which, our light breakfast of coffee, eggs, and fruit over, we would go across river for a ride or stroll out with a gun; and during my morning's walk past the neat town and bungalows, the latter surrounded with their pretty gardens and trim hedges, I often thought of what poor old Muda Hasim would think could he arise from his grave and compare Kuching the modern with the Kuching of forty years ago-half a dozen Malay houses on a mud bank!
"On the Equator"
Harry de Windt