1843] BASHEE LIQUOR. 71 



with many broad cultivated spots ; the highest peak, ap- 

 parently an old volcano, is about 5,000 feet above the 

 level of the sea, thickly covered with trees; the for- 

 mer is, however, the richer in soil, and produces abun- 

 dantly yams, sweet potatoes and its varieties, maize, 

 onions, garlic, rice, grain, &c. ; indeed the only want 

 appears to be variety of seed. Cattle, pigs, goats, sheep 

 and poultry are abundant; deer are found on Sabtan 

 and Ibugos, as well as quail on all of the islands. Wood 

 is reasonable and plentiful, as well as water ; but this 

 latter necessary is difficult to procure, as the rivers are 

 barred by reefs, which prevent boats from approaching 

 or rafting off in sufficient quantities for ships of war ; 

 this, however, would soon be remedied if the visits of 

 vessels rendered it advantageous, and I have already im- 

 pressed on the authorities the necessity of some arrange- 

 ment to meet this most important desideratum. 



Speaking of this group of islands Mr. Adams observes : 

 "The Bashee or Bachi Islands, were so called by 

 Dampier, from the name of an intoxicating liquor, which 

 is much drank there.* This Bashee is a thick yellow 

 fluid, of a subacid taste, between that of cyder and 

 toddy, and is not very potent in its effects. 



" The Indians inhabiting these islands are most pro- 

 bably an old branch of some Malay colony, from Luconia. 

 They retain the practise of masticating the areca nut, and 

 betel leaf, though the lower orders do not smear the latter 

 with lime, like the Malay, or add gambier, like the 

 Chinese. They are moreover passionately fond of tobacco. 



* Millet-Mureau in ' Perouse's Voyage ' p. 483. 



