1846.] SCALE OF BARTER. 169 



this apparent trading disposition, contrary to Act of 

 Parliament, &c. ; but they will cease to feel any sur- 

 prise when they learn that in all voyages of discovery, 

 exploration, &c., it becomes the bounden duty of the 

 Commander not only to ascertain the produce of the 

 countries which he visits, but to collect samples, &c. j 

 and in order to facilitate these measures, as well as to 

 ensure supplies of fresh food and vegetables for his crew, 

 that he is supplied with the necessary articles of traffic 

 " by Authority of the Lords Commissioners of the Ad- 

 miralty ", thus taking away the venom fang of the law. 



To proceed to business ; at Ambong, being present in 

 the port, we purchased for the use of the crew, one bul- 

 lock for forty yards of long cloth. These forty yards 

 cost in England 9s. ; the value of one bullock, 181 Ibs., 

 therefore, is 12s. The largest, sixty yards, 230 Ibs., the 

 smallest forty yards, 160 Ibs., mean average 181 Ibs. Bees' - 

 wax, 1 cake=12 Ibs., ten yards=2s. 6d., little more than 

 Zd. per Ib. Now at Kabatuan, one cake of Bees'-wax of 

 12 Ibs., was valued at seven yards, equal to 1*. \d. At 

 Kimanis, 25 Ibs. of Pepper were purchased for ten yards, 

 =2*. Id., pr \d. per Ib. Would any of these articles be 

 delivered at Laluan, at a less profit to the carriers than 

 500 or 800 per cent. ? 



The following extract is the substance of a letter to 

 the Court of Directors of the East India Company, from 

 Mr. Jesse, the 20th of July, 1775, at Borneo Proper.* 



observed, ' appears to be in great abundance. It is converted into 

 flour and pearl for the European market.' Of the eleven piratical 

 prahus lately attacked by the ' Nemesis ' it seems that only three have 

 escaped back to that place." Times (City article), Oct. 25th, 1847. 

 * Dalrymple's collection. 



