PRODUCTIONS OF SOUJO. 



63 



tinsels, find other baublos. Altogether, though the market 

 ou tliis oocasioo ivas well atteudcd, the trade waa slack ; 

 but I douht not that, in the paUoj days of active piracy, 

 a considerable amount of busmess was transacted tmder 

 the old Banyan tree. 



Tlie fi-uit at Soloo k plentiful and good ; the mangoes 

 am not so good as those iii the Phillippme Jfilands, but the 

 oi-anges are equal to those of China or of any other 

 country. There m the jack and bre^id-fmit tree, the far- 

 famed mangostein, also the piiie-apple, and the liighly- 

 l>ri;seLl, but offensive smelling durian ; cocoa nuts of course, 

 and a great variety of plantain and banana, and others 

 whose names I forget. Cinnamon^ ginger, and various 

 spices likewise grow ; in faet, the soil appeared capable of 

 producing whatever the natives might take the trouble to 

 cultivate. 



We did not consider it prudent to venture into the 

 interior on shooting excursions, but we heard tliat there 

 were partridges and quail, wild ducks, snipe, and teal 

 Monkeys, doves, and pigeons we saw, Tlie beef we found 

 particularly good. We went to see what they call their 

 races, which wero lield in an open space not far from the 

 to\TO. We obser\^ed groups of savage, but pictiu-osque- 

 looking men, mounted on spirited, strong-built little horses, 

 of the Manilla or Spanish breed ; these men were generally 

 well armed, bearmg each a spear or lance. Presently, 

 oae man would dash out from the rest as a challenge ; 

 then a man from another group, ov poriiaps from the same. 



