152 Vv^ESTERN HINDOOS TAN. 



In Fish. Fish is another article; the fpecies is faid to be chiefly the 



BonitOy or Scomber Pelamys. Thefe annually migrate among 

 the illes, in AprU and May. They are caught both by hook 

 and net, are fplit, and the bone taken out, fprinkied with fea 

 water and fet to dry ; then put into the fand, wrapt up in coco 

 leaves, and placed a foot or two below the farface, where they 

 become as hard as fLOck-fifli. Veffels come from Atchee?i in 

 the ifle of Sumatra, with gold duft, to purchafe this necefiary, 

 which is again fold there at the rate of ;^.8 per thoufand. 



The coco tree is the only one which thefe ifles do produce, 

 for they are univerfally fandy and barren. Of this the inhabi- 

 tanis build veffels of twenty or thirty tons. The cables, ropes, 

 fails, and every individual part is made of this tree ; which even 

 fupplies the fire-wood, and proviiion, oil for their kitchens and 

 lamps, fugar, and candied fweetmeats, and ftrong cloth. 



They are furniflied with water from wells, which they dare 

 not fink deeper than five or fix feet, otherwife the fait water 

 will percolate through the fand. On them they depend, nor do 

 thefe ever fail. 



All, Rajah of Cananore, and High Admiral of Ayder AIll, 

 made a conqueft of thefe illes, took the king captive, and cruelly 

 put out his eyes. In this ftate, he prefented him to Ayder, who 

 highly difapproving of the barbarity, deprived the Rajah of the 

 command of the fleet, and treated the unhappy prince with the 

 utmofl humanity, gave him a palace, and fettled on him a re- 

 venue to fupply him with every pleafure he was capable of 

 tafling *. The poets of Aydef^ court added to his title on this 



* Hift. of Ayder Alii, i. 98. 



occafion, 



