THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS, &C. 51 



years must pass before trade can be diverted. The great advant- 

 age of the ports in the Straits is that they are centres of trade, 

 and that they lie on the great highway of traffic and close by. 

 IS'o day passes without ten, twelve or fifteen steamers going in 

 and out of Penang and Singapore. 



Mr. VA?s" HouTEX. — After the last answer of the honourable 

 gentleman, I may observe that I do not see any great objection 

 to the low import duties levied at our Indian custom-houses — 

 one can always leave wares in the depot — but I think that at all 

 places where custom duties are levied the formalities which one 

 has to comply with during importing and exporting prevent trade 

 from being drawn thither. 



Mr. Keutt. — The journey from Belawau to Batavia lasts three 

 or four days, and if there were need for it more steamers would 

 soon be put upon this run. As soon as the planters in Deli can 

 provide themselves as well and as cheaply from Batavia they will 

 probably get things from Java. But this condition does not ex- 

 ist at present. The nearer ports in the Straits offer also greater 

 facilities in other respects. 



The President. — As no one wishes to make any further re- 

 marks, I close the meeting with a vote of thanks to Mr. Keuyt 

 for his interesting and instructive address. 



