African Island*.] ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



45 



the S. shore, is Sandy Island, in latitude 23*39 S., longitude 44 3 E. ; but 

 accounts differ. After passing it, and standing to the E., is seen a high 

 land close to the sea, on the S. side of the bay, and another high land 

 in the interior: the entrance to Dartmouth River is then open. This 

 part of the island is subject to the King of Baba, who resides 12 miles from 

 the bay. Some of his people, called pursers, who adopt English titles, come 

 offto a ship at anchor. Small presents are necessary for permission to get 

 provisions ; and if the King come, he must be saluted at arriving and de- 

 parting. 



Provisions and Refreshments are excellent. The bullocks, large 

 and fat, with a hump like Indian cattle, are bartered for English commodi- 

 ties. Provisions are salted thus : — the bullocks killed in the afternoon, are 

 cut up at 2 A. M., salted, and put in casks ; about noon, taken out, placed 

 on four thick deals, supported on casks ; then four duals laid over the meat, 

 and heavy articles laid thereon, to press out the pickle, for three or four 

 hours : then salted, packed in clean casks, and bunged up. Roiled pickle, 

 with a little saltpetre in it, is poured cold into the casks till full. No good 

 water is obtained, but by sending 4 or 5 miles up the river. Instead of 

 filling the casks at low water, begin to till here at about a quarter-flood. 

 The river has a communication with the sea at other places ; and it is found 

 by experience, that the sea-water brought into the river by the flood-tide, is 

 not discharged till a quarter-Hood of the next tide, in St Augustine's Bay; 

 and for 3 miles up the river, the water is brackish. The river and bay 

 abound with fish. Alligators are occasionally seen in the river, so that 

 bathing is dangerous. 



Trade. — The articles of barter for supplies are gunpowder, muskets, 

 looking-glasses, cutlery and utensils, glass beads, arangoes, and artificial 

 coral beads. Silver is in request, and generally preferred to gold. 



MOROUNADAVA, in latitude 20 3 10 S., is a place of some trade, 

 where refreshments may be had, and water from the rivers adjacent to the 

 roads. It is exposed to all winds from N. W. to S. W., and little visited 

 by Europeans. The town is on the S. side of the bay, and consists of 

 some huts by the sea side. The wooding and watering are difficult, the 

 rivers being shallow at their entrance. 



BE MBA TOOK BAY is large and safe ; the entrance, in latitude 15° 

 43 S., longitude 4tf* 2S E., is about 3 miles wide. On the E. side of 

 it is the village Majuinga. Bembatook Town is on the S. side of a point of 

 the same name, about 3 leagues within the entrance of the bay on the E. 

 side : here ships lay land-locked and sheltered from all winds, in 5, 6, or 7 

 fathoms, close under the point near the town. Bembatook has been recom- 

 mended as a spot for a settlement, being healthy, easy of access, and near 



