1846.] PEPPER TRADE OF BRUNE. 171 



informed the quantity that year was 4,000 Peculs, culti- 

 vated solely by a colony of Chinese, settled here, and sold 

 to the Junks at the rate of 17 j Spanish dollars per 

 pecul, in Ckwta-doth, called Congons, which, for want of 

 any other specie,* are become the standard for regulating 

 the price of all commercial commodities at this Port. 

 Although I was well convinced it would not answer the 

 Company's purpose to pay so high a price for the Pepper, 

 especially where the quantity was so small, I notwith- 

 standing, in the Treaty, made a point of securing to them 

 the exclusive trade of that article, to be paid for in mer- 

 chandize, at such rates as might indemnify them at pre- 

 sent, in the inconvenience of the high price, to the end 

 that it might divert the Junk trade, f from this to Balam- 

 bcngan (their grand inducement for coming here being 

 thus removed), which, together with my having bound 

 the state to oblige all their dependants to make planta- 

 tions, whereby the quantity would not only be greatly 

 increased, but from their having no other purchasers, the 

 Company would be enabled to fix such prices as would 

 give ample encouragement to the Planters, and soon 

 reimburse the expences, which were necessitated to be 

 borne at the beginning of the undertaking; and the 

 more so, as, in consequence of their industry, becoming 

 yearly richer, they would find our protection but the 

 more indispensibly necessary. 



" Things being fixed on this basis, the Englishman and 

 Borneyan becoming thus mutually necessary to each 



* They use bits of iron, at present, weighing about four ounces, 

 t Doubtful policy. 



