1841.] Report on the Island of Chedooba. 355 



revenue claims must be defrayed with the proceeds of a portion, with 

 another portion the family is to be sustained, the overplus purchases the 

 necessaries of the family, and with no people is the list of these a smaller 

 one. 



From the more populous Eastern circles of Krae-rone, Inrooma, and 

 Jueng-breng, a large quantity of rice is annually exported, partly in na- 

 tive vessels, which come for it from Akyab, and from the western parts 

 of the Bay of Bengal, and partly in native boats, which come for it from 

 Ramree, Sandoway, Gara, and sometimes from Bassein. The vessels 

 from the westward, and the boats from the eastward generally purchase 

 on their own account, the former bartering some few country goods. It 

 is common for native merchants, or their agents to visit the Island from 

 Akyab, or Chittagong at the season of gathering in the crop, and 

 purchase it up from the different villages, giving a certain amount of 

 earnest money, when it is subsequently collected at a convenient spot 

 for shipment, and vessels sent to take it off. I was very anxiously en- 

 quired of by two parties, one from Akyab, the other from Ramree, thus 

 engaged, as to the prices of the grain's market at Singapore, whither 

 both were bound with their venture. A small barter traffic with rice is 

 also carried on by the Islanders with their neighbours of Ramree mainly 

 for fowls. 



The western and less populous villages of the Island are also annually 

 visited to see if they have grain to part with, a circumstance depending 

 entirely on the above peculiar temperament of the people. 



But independently of the superior advantage to the eastern inhabi- 

 tants afforded them for a larger rice produce, in the greater extent of 

 their plains, they enjoy also the great benefit of having those plains 

 intersected by deep creeks, generally with a bar at the mouth re- 

 quiring the assistance of the tide to pass over, but of considerable 

 depth within, where country boats of the largest size, may in perfect 

 security take in their cargo, in the manner pleasing to both parties, 

 quite at leisure. For large vessels also, especially native ones, the 

 anchorage in the straits is safer than that on the western coast, on 

 which although there is anchorage every where, practicable and safe, in 

 the fine season, for such purposes, yet the want of creeks wherein to 

 keep them safe in the monsoon, at present prevents the inhabitants on this 

 part from having any boats for shipment of cargo, which must therefore 

 be taken off at the risk of the purchasers in their own. The rice of Che- 

 dooba is considered of very fine quality ; a considerable quantity was 

 purchased for the use of the crew of the ' Childers,' and the native 



