390 COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS. 



in exchange, at prices then agreed upon. This 

 contract was ratified by the old trading minister, 

 placing the right-hand of the supercargo into 

 that of the rajah, repeating, as they remained 

 with joined hands, the terms assented to ; all 

 agreements are made in the name of the rajah, 

 and are written and signed by both parties. 

 They had abundance of opium, as much, they 

 informed us, as seven hundred chests unsold ; 

 it had been purchased at seven hundred dollars 

 the chest, (the cost price at Batavia at this 

 time,) but the Areka-nut had been delivered in 

 exchange, at the rate of one dollar the pecuL* 



After the commercial affairs had been settled, 

 the rajah, ministers, and merchants, accompanied 

 us about, and in the vicinity of the village, fol- 

 lowed by a nondescript rabble. My collecting- 

 plants and insects amused some and puzzled 

 others, and all were desirous of ascertaining for 

 what purpose I required them ; whether we had 



* A small investment of various articles of cutlery would 

 have no doubt met with a ready sale ; — a set of excellent 

 razors, the cost price of which in London was thirty shillings, 

 was sold for twenty-five dollars, and other articles, of a good 

 quality, would have sold at equally good prices. A rifle gun, 

 case complete, was also sold for one hundred and fifty dollars; 

 and a pair of duelling pistols, of French manufacture, seventy- 

 five dollars. 



