68 INDIA BEYOND THE GANGES. 



" Toc^ in the ftreights of Sunda, the caverns of which are lined 



*' with the nefts, but no where in greater abundance than about 



<' Croee^ near the fouth end of Sumatra, four miles up a river of 



*' that name; but they are not peculiar to the above places ; for 



*' they are likewife common from Java to Cochin-Cbina on the 



" north, and from the point oi Sumatra weft, where it is called 



•* Layung, to New Guinea on the eaft, where the fea is faid to be 



*' covered with a vifcous fubftance like half melted glue, which 



*' the bird is fuppofed either to take up from the furface with its 



** bill during flight, or to pick it from the rocks when left there 



*' by the waves. 



*' The beft nefts, or thofe of a pure white, and free from 



<* mixture, fell in China from i,ooo to 1,500 dollars t\\t pick, the 



** black and dirty ones for only twenty dollars. The laft are 



*' fuppofed to arife from age, mixed with dirt, or feathers ; and 



" the gatherers beat down all the black ones they can get at, in 



** hopes that, from the neceffity of the birds making frellinefts, 



** they may meet with the more valuable ones at the next ga- 



■** thering. It is faid, that the Dutch alone export from Batavia 



" 1,000 picles of thefe nefts every year, which are brought from 



" the ifles of Cochin-China, and thofe lying to the eaft of them. 



*' Among our EaJI India imports, it is much to be wondere<l, 



" that, among other luxuries imported by us from the Eaft, the 



** life of thefe nefts fliould not have found a way to our tables; 



" as yet being fo fcarce in England, as to be kept as rarities 4a 



** the cabinets of collcdtors." 



Whay, THE The king refides generally at Whay, in Lat. 16° 48' north, 



King's. Court. c^ o j y t 



^ about 



