308 



population of Simpo was attracted to the neigh- 

 boriDg town of Se bong, which possessed all those 

 inducements comprized in opium, arrack» and 

 gambling, which were not to be met with in its 

 own village. 



The fourth and last village in this district Ls 

 old Sebong, if indeed it be still in existence, 

 which is situated on a branch of the Sebong ri- 

 ver: it was formerly a place of considerable im- 

 portance, but, in 1 825, was reduced to three 

 plank houses with attap roofs, and presented the 

 appearance of fast falling to decay. 



The inhabitants of the district of Sebong are 

 principally gambier planters, and retail traders, 

 who carry the gambier and pepper to Uhio. 

 They are governed by an individual selected 

 from among their own body, who is accountable 

 for their behaviour to the Captain of the Chinese 

 oi the Canton atrnjiong* 



The number of the plantations in Sebong in 

 1825 was ninety gambier, and seventy pepper 

 planiaiioDS, whilst the Captain of the Chinese 

 estimated the whole population to amount to 

 1,540, a number which, while it exceeds the ag- 

 gregate of the four villages, is said by the Dutch 

 to fall short of the truth, thus affording an illus- 

 tration of my previous remarks- 



The soil of Seboug is of a yellowish color ahd 

 puor in its nature; it is consequently well adapt- 

 ed fi-r ihe growth of either pepper or gambier; 

 The roads in the district are tolerably good, and, 

 at a trifling expence and labor, might easily be 

 rendered very excellent. 



