A dead Mangrove Forest. — State of Trade. 73 



to the recollection of tlic stranger, who stands marvelling at 

 the all-powerful energies of Nature to create and destroy in 

 these regions, how many corpses of his fellow-Europeans are 

 mouldering beneath the damp soil of tliis island ! Fortun- 

 ately the river has once more broken through the bar, and 

 given access to the sea-water, so that beneath the dead forest 

 a fresh green vegetation was fast springing up. 



The crew of a Malay prahu from Penang had selected this 

 dull spot for a regular settlement, in order to collect ripe 

 cocoa-nuts, and Trepang, the edible sea-slug [Holothuria) 

 already mentioned, the latter for the Chinese market. These 

 people occupied a large wooden shed, and were provisioned for 

 a somewhat long stay. Except this shed there was not one 

 single hut here, all around being nothing but dense forest 

 and swamp ; but some natives of the island of Kondul came 

 over in their canoes to trade hens and eggs with us. The 

 Malay vessels which visit these islands almost all come hither 

 from Penang, about the beginning of tlie N.E. monsoon, and 

 remain during the whole of the dry season, so as to take in 

 a full cargo of the various natural produce of the island. 

 They bring for barter fine Chinese tobacco, calico, knives, 

 axes, hatchets, cutlasses, clothes, and black round hats. In 

 former years they also imported the betel shrub into Great 

 Nicobar for propagation ; where, in fact, it has been planted, 

 and has since then increased to such an extent that its im- 

 portation is no longer remunerative. With the commence- 

 ment of the S.W. monsoons and the rainy season, the Malay 



