S O O L O O. 347 



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 singular; 

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

 take them on board, in order to detect and prevent the impositions 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 later. In 

 trading with the natives, all operations ought to be carried on for cash, 

 or if by barter, no delivery should be made until the articles to be 

 taken in exchange are received. In short, it is necessary to deal with 

 them as though they were undoubted rogues, and this pleases them 

 much more than to appear unsuspicious. Vessels that trade engage 

 a bazaar, which they hire of the Ruma Bechara, and it is advisable to 

 secure the good-will of the leading datus in that council by presents, 

 and paying them more for their goods than others. 



There are various other precautions necessary in dealing with this 

 people; for they will, if possible, so act as to give rise to dispules, in 

 which case an appeal is made to their fellows, who are sure to decide 

 against the strangers. Those who have been engaged in this trade, 

 advise that the prices of the goods should be fixed upon before the 

 Sultan, and the scales of the Datu of Soung employed ; for although 

 these are quite faulty, the error is compensated by the articles received 

 being weighed in the same. This also secures the Datu's good-will, 

 by the fee (some fifty dollars) which he receives for the use of them. 

 Thus it will be perceived that those who desire to trade with Sooloo, 

 must make up their minds to encounter many impositions, and to be 

 continually watchful of their own interests. 



Every possible precaution ought to be taken ; and it will be found, the 

 treatment will depend upon, or be according to the force or resolution 

 that is displayed. In justice to this people it must be stated, there have 

 been times when traders received every kindness and attention at the 

 island of Sooloo, and I heard it even said, that many vessels had gone 

 there to refit; but during the last thirty or forty years, the reigning 



