78 POPULATION, GOVERNMENT, &C. 



this island injurious, and often destructive, to 

 European constitutions. 



The native population consists of Malays, 

 occupying the lowlands or coast, (and who must 

 be regarded as ancient colonists,) and Harraforas, 

 or tribes inhabiting the interior and mountainous 

 parts of the island, a people distinct from the 

 Malays in person, language, and customs, and 

 who are, in fact, the aborigines of the soil. 



The native government is feudal : many chiefs, 

 of various grades of rank and power, holding 

 territories independent of each other, with the 

 liabilities to frequent aggressions and wars de- 

 pendent on such a system. They are all, however, 

 subservient to either the Dutch or Portuguese, 

 who have divided the dominion of the country 

 between them ; the greater share being retained 

 by the Dutch. 



The principal European settlement is Coupang, 

 (on the S.W. extremity of the island,) possessed 

 and fortified by the Dutch. On the western 

 coast there are several bays, off Malay villages, 

 as Baraca, Delhi, A^ntecoupar, Coushay, and 

 Soutranha, which offer anchorage, and abun- 

 dant supplies for shipping. The most valuable 

 exports Timor is capable of affording, are sandal- 

 wood, bees-wax, horses, and cotton. Its com- 

 mercial intercourse is chiefly with China, Java, 



