S63 



- The country on the main land is fertile, ftbocmd- 

 ing m fruits, pepper, cinnamon, and game, • and, 

 like the rest of the Peninsula, abundantly water- 

 ed by showers, and cooled by alternating' breezes. 

 It also produces tin, gold, elephants* teeth, agala 

 wood, canes, excellent timber for masts, &c , in 

 abundance. It has, however, of late, dwindled 

 away, and become a dependency of the Dutch 

 settlement of Rhio. 



The empire of Johore consists at present prin- 

 cipally of numerous islands, which hare long 

 been celebrated for the piratical pursuits of their 

 inhabitants. This nefarious mode of life is so 

 deeply engrafted on the character of the nation 

 as to form almost a second nature, and c%'ery 

 circumi^tance affords its aid to strengthen, in Vim 

 of eradicating, such lawless propensities. The 

 Rajah of Johore, his nobles, and the Chinese emi- 

 grants, who are settled at the different European 

 stations, have all moreorless interest in encourag- 

 ing the system — the scanty literature of the nati- 

 on turns wholly upon the favorite topic, the ex- 

 ploits of some noted pirate of either ancient or 

 more modern times forming the theme of their 

 legends or romances, whilst the arms of the rob- 

 ber crew are nerved by songs of a similar descrip- 

 tion as they pull their long oar in chace ef the 

 trading boat, which passes their lurking place. 

 In addition to these incitements, to depredatory 

 living, thus prominently given to the people of 

 Johore, all stimulus to industry is destroyed by 

 the rapacity of their rulers, who compel them to 

 part with the agar -agar and biche de-mer, the prin-i 

 cipal product of their isles, for an inconceivably 



• Miisiltoii'i n«w account of B, Jod. rot a. 



