SALARY OF RESIDENT. 377 



coin to other commodities, which they are said to 

 make into ornaments. 



Gold mines were reported to exist in the interior, 

 but nothing was certainly known about it. The 

 island abounds in several kinds of deer, but I heard 

 of no other animals. Among birds, pigeons and 

 quails were spoken of as most numerous, the former 

 especially, having many varieties. I could not help 

 thinking that if we had had possession of this fine 

 island for upwards of 200 years, it would have been 

 both more known and in a higher condition than it 

 is at present. They had now been seven months 

 without any communication with Batavia or Java. 

 I was informed that the Resident had 1000 rupees 

 a month as salary, of which he got one-third in 

 silver and the rest in copper. At the rate which 

 they charged us for rupees this would make 1000/. 

 per annum ; but we afterwards learnt that the 

 rupee, instead of 20c?., was not at present worth 

 more than 15%d. sterling, which would make his 

 salary about 7801. per annum.* Coupang is now 

 a free port, and is accordingly much us^d by 

 whalers and other vessels as a place for procuring 

 refreshments. Excellent water can be procured 

 on the beach where it is brought in a pipe from 

 above the town. 



September 3. — To-day being Sunday, a party of 

 us went to church out of curiosity to hear the 



* In Java, in 1844, the pound sterling was worth 15-40 

 rupees silver. 



