S U M A T R A. g 



giving a lift of fiich of the vegetable kingdom as contribute to 

 commercial purpofes, or to the general ufe of the natives. 



Pepper is the great ftaple of the ifland. It was for the fake of Pepper. 

 that fpice that we defied the wretched climate. Mr. Marjden * 

 gives a long and curious account of its cultivation ; he alfo 

 informs us that the white is only black flripped of the outer 

 coat. 



The Piper Betel is cultivated greatly, and fent to the coaft of Betez,. 

 Coromandel, and to Telinga^ for the purpofe of chewing, wrapped 

 round the Arecay as we have already mentioned t. 



The Arundo Bambos is very common, and not only furnifhes Bamboo. 

 materials for building the houfes, but as I imagine, produces the 

 quantities of canes that are exported from the weftern fide of the 

 ifland. 



The Calamus Rotang, Rumphms, vol. v. p. 97. tab.51. and num- Rotanc.- 

 bers of the following pages and plates, furniflies annually great 

 cargoes, chiefly from the eaftern fide of the ifland, which the 

 Dutch fend to Europe, and the country traders to the weftern parts 

 of India. The fpecific name (Rotang) fignifies in the Malayan 

 language zjiaffoi walking Jlii:k ; the common thick canes which 

 ferve for this purpofe, and the fmall limber canes imported from 

 India, are all varieties of the Calamus Rotang — The former is, 



Palmi juncus Calapparius, Var, A. Linn, and is accurately de- 

 fcribed by Rumphius, Amb. voL v. p. 97. The texture of its 

 wood, its leaves and flowering ftems, bear a ftriking refemblance 

 to fome fpecies of palm. Hence Rumphius has not unajjtly 

 named it Palmi juncus, or Palm ruJJj. Its natural fituaticm is in 



* Sumatra, p. 105. f Outlines of the Globe, vol. i. p. 139. 



Vol. IV. ' C woody 



