Bombay. J 



OMENTAL COMMERCE. 



155 



the least ; but if plucked too soon, it will in a short time, by removal from 

 place to place, become broken and dusty. 



The pepper countries extend from about the longitude of 9G to that of 

 1 15 E., beyond which none is to be found ; and they reach from 5" S. lati- 

 tude to about 12 71 N., where it again ceases. Within these limits are 

 Sumatra, Borneo, the Malay Peninsula, and certain countries lying on the 

 E. Coast of the Gulph of Siam. 



The whole produce of Sumatra is estimated at 168,000 peculs ; the 

 S. W. coast being said to produce 150,000 and the N. E. coast 18,000 

 peculs.Tbe pepper ports on the N. E. coast are Lankat and Delli, with 

 Sardang. The two first produce 15,000 peculs, and the latter 3000 

 annually. The cultivation is carried on by the Batta nation in the interior. 

 The ports on the S. W. coast, and the amount of their produce, as 

 given in a recent estimate, are as follow, viz. 



Port and District of TruinaJi -10,000 



Disuictof Pulo Dua 4,000 



of Clmit 30,000 



Coast from Tarn pat Timii to Susu 33,000 

 PortofSusu 1,000 



KuaUa B:itu 20,000 



Armbalu q )000 



Districts to the N. of AnabaJu ...20,000 



Pecttfi i .00,000 



It is to be observed that the production of pepper fluctuates extremely, 

 owing to the cultivators putting fresh districts under culture, when the price 

 of pepper is high ; but never planting fresh vines, or dressing the soil, but 

 abandoning it when exhausted. Trumah, the most extensive pepper 

 district, was a few years back unknown to European traders. The pepper 

 trade on this coast is perfectly free, the natives selling their produce to the 

 best bidder. 



Penang, which produces about 15,000 peculs, (though much more 

 formerly,) is the principal depot for the pepper from the N. coast of 

 Sumatra. 



Of the islands at the mouth of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, 

 Bintang, on which Rhio is situated, and the adjacent islands, produce 

 10,000 peculs ; and Lingga about 2000, most of which goes to the 

 emporium of Singapore. 



The W. coast of the Malay Peninsula produces only 4000 peculs in 

 the territory of Malacca. The E. coast yields a considerable quantity. 

 The ports of Patmi and Calantan, about 16,000 peculs, and Tringana 

 about 8000. 



TheE. coast of the Gulph of Sium, from the latitude of 10^ to 12 §* N. 



