368 SOOLOO. 



community, and even that of the slave, for he too, as before observed, 

 has a life interest in what he earns. 



Soung being the residence of the Sultan, as well as the grand 

 depot for all piratical goods, is probably more of a mart than 

 any of the surrounding towns. In the months of March and April 

 it is visited by several Chinese junks, who remain trading until the 

 beginning of the month of August. If delayed after that time, they 

 can scarcely return in safety, being unable to contend with the bois- 

 terous weather and head winds that then prevail in the Chinese seas. 

 These junks are said to come chiefly from Amoy, where the cottons, 

 &c, best suited for the Sooloos arc made. Their cargoes consist of a 

 variety of articles of Chinese manufacture and produce, such as 

 silk, satin goods, cottons, red and checked, grass-cloth clothing, 

 handkerchiefs, cutlery, guns, ammunition, opium, lumber, china 

 and glass-ware, rice, sugar, oil, lard, and butter. In return for this 

 merchandise they obtain camphor, birds'-nests, rattans, biche de mar, 

 pearls and pearl-shells, cocoa, tortoise-shell, and wax ; but there is no 

 great quantity of these articles to be obtained, perhaps not more than 

 two or three cargoes during the season. The trade requires great 

 knowledge of the articles purchased, for the Chinese and Sooloos are 

 both such adepts in fraud, that great caution and circumspection are 

 necessary. 



The duties on importation are not fixed, but are changed and altered 

 from time to time by the Ruma Bechara. The following was stated 

 to me as the necessary payments before trade could be carried on. 



A large ship, with Chinese on board, pays . . . $2,000 

 without " " " ... 1,800 



Small ships, 1,500 



Large brig, ........ 1,000 



Small brig, 500 



Schooners, ...... from 150 to 400 



This supposes them all to have full cargoes. That a difference 

 should be made in a vessel with or without Chinamen, seems sin- 

 gular ; but this, I was told, arose from the circumstance that English 

 vessels take them on board, in order to detect and prevent the imposi- 

 tions of the Sooloos. 



Vessels intending to trade at Soung should arrive before the 

 Chinese junks, and remain as long as they stay, or even a few days 



