252 BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE 



son, where they anived on the 12th of January, 1820, after 

 an absence of thirty-five weeks and four days. 



Of Timor and its capabilities of supplying passing vessels, 

 Mr Cunningham remarks — " The experience of the last year 

 at this settlement having taught us, that many of the lesser 

 comforts, now required for our cabin mess, were only to be 

 obtained by executing the several purchases ourselves at 

 certain periods of the day, in the streets, or in the Chinese 

 siiops, rather than trust to the specious kind offices of atten- 

 tion from any agent resident on shore. I landed early this 

 morning (November 2d), to make the best market an indivi- 

 dual could, who was a stranger to the established Malayan dia- 

 lect. Having purchased some fruits, vegetables, &c., for our 

 immediate consumption, I returned on board. The Tama- 

 rind trees, that form such a salubrious and agreeable shade in 

 the streets of Coepang, are laden with ripe fruit, which lob- 

 served was exposed for sale in large quantities, without any 

 other preparation than that of having the external brittle 

 leguminous investment taken off, and then being dried in the 

 sun; after which, the fruits are either made up in small balls, 

 or loosely spread out in baskets. Besides Limes, Citrons, 

 the Jack-fruit [Artocarpus integrifolia), although at this pe- 

 riod in season, was sparingly exhibited for sale, and conse- 

 quently dear. The young fruit of a palm, which I suspect 

 to be Borassus fabelliforynis, is sold in the market for the sake 

 t)t the semitransparent soft albumen of the very young seeds, 

 which, although insipid, is eaten by the Malays. * * * I landed 

 again at an early hour this morning, (3d,) for the purpose 

 of employing myself on the hills in the vicinity of Coepang, 

 during the whole of the day. Bombax Ceiba and Jatropha 

 Ctircas, the latter apparently planted, in some situations, in 

 lines to strengthen the hedge-rows (principally formed oi 

 Zizt/phv.s Jujube), bore their ripe fruits, and among the old- 

 described plants, observed so abundantly last year, some few 

 others now presented their fructification, that had been with- 

 out flower or fruit at the period of our former visit to this set-- 



