EXPEDITION TO MOLUCCA ISLAND*. Oi 



shipping and trade as would tempt the speculation of individuals 

 to these undertakings. The watering of ships at Penang at pre- 

 sent is by no means convenient, hut might easily be made so, at a 

 much less expense than has been proposed by some schemers, whose 

 plan I have heard of. but who don't seem to understand the sub- 

 ject : though perhaps it may some day happen that, being proposed 

 by some person Avith interest, it may become an expensive job to 

 the Company without much advantage to the public. 



The Fort is situated in the North-East point of the island, which I 

 think the best, but it is in itself so childish a plan and scale, so near 

 the sea, so ill-executed, and so crowded on by the town and houses 

 adjoining, that I fancy, to afford a real security to their possessions, 

 it will be found necessary to build another in a different place. I 

 am told the best place for the purpose is about six miles 

 South, near where the Chinese have their pepper gardens, and 

 where there is an inner harbour, which might, as far as I can judge, 

 from the plan of it. be improved to the reception of large ships. 

 The tree or plant which yields that curious substance, the elastic 

 gum, grows here in abundance: its juice, Avhen cut or broken, 

 resembles milk, which, when suffered to remain exposed to the air, 

 coagulates into the substance Ave . see it Avithout any chemical 

 process whatever. Bullocks and sheep are very scarce and poor 

 here ; the beef is generally buffalo, chiefly from the opposite shore 

 of Queda, and sheep come from Bengal. Poultry are plenty and 

 cheap ; the market being supplied by Malay prows, besides Avhat are 

 bred on the island, which are every day increasing ; vegetables 

 are cultivated in great plenty by the Chinese, who, wherever they 

 settle, are industrious and orderly. I am told that there are at 

 present for sale in Queda, tAventy very fine elephants, which might 

 be bought and embarked for 500 Spanish dollars each, which 

 would be worth from 1,000 to 1.500 or even 2,000 Pagodas each on 

 the coast of Coromandel, this breed of elephants being much more 

 esteemed than any in India. Having received orders from the 

 Admiral for the embarkation of the troops, communicated the same 

 to Major Yigoes. 



Tula Fencing to Malacca* 



24th. — This morning embarked Avith the Admiral on board the 

 Orpheus. Aveighed anchor at 10 o'clock, and sailed through the 



