Cfcaf of CoDom.] ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



167 



defended by a redoubt, near which is a cluster of fine green trees, that 

 makes it very remarkable. Just within the S. point, on the side of a hill, 

 stands a small square fort built of brown stone, and near it the village. 

 Mcrjcc River is recommended for ships wooding and watering, it being 

 very expensive and tedious at most other places on the coast. Upon the 

 N. side of the river, on the hill, you may cut good fire-wood, and rice may 

 be procured in any quantity. Fresh water is to be had also in great plenty, 

 extremely soft and good, and with the greatest ease, as you do not go into 

 the river ; the watering place is a very fine sandy cove, just within the 

 N. point of the westernmost part of the bay, where your boats may land, 

 and you can roll your casks upon the sand to a low stone wall about a foot 

 high, over which you may dip your buckets into the pool of fresh water, 

 and a large fleet may water in two or three days. The most convenient 

 situation to anchor is about a mile from the N. bluff, having Fortified 

 Island, near Onore, in one with the S. extreme of the land bearing S. S. E. 

 The river in no place has less than 4} fathoms at half-ebb ; on the bar there 

 are 3 fathoms, and within it 7 fathoms, till near the town, so that if there 

 was occasion, a ship might enter the river ; but it woidd be necessary to 

 send a boat first to sound the bar. 



Weights and Measures. — The candy at Merjee is equal to .540 lbs. 

 avoirdupois ; 12 bales or robins of rice are a corge. 



FORTIFIED ISLAND. — This island is in latitude 14 c 10 N., about 

 two miles from Onore ; it derives its name from being fortified all round 

 with a stone wall. The landing place is at the S. end, where there is a fort 

 with eight guns mounted. The island is about six miles in circumference, 

 and about one in the nearest part from the main land ; between is a channel 

 for large boats. 



A small trade is carried on with this island for a kind of reddle, which 

 is used by the natives for painting their houses ; here is abundance of good 

 fresh water. 



ONORE, or HONAWERA, is situated in latitude 14° 18 N., on 

 the N. side of a salt-water river. Near its entrance is a shoal, on which are 

 only nine feet at low water ; within it has sufficient depth to receive vessels 

 drawing 16 or IB feet ; the best channel is at the S. part of the entrance of 

 the river It is navigable a considerable way inland. A ship may anchor 

 in the roads, with Onore flagstaff E. N. E., and Fortified Island N. by W., 

 about a mile from the shore. Fresh water is rather scarce here. 



Trade is now inconsiderable, the chief export being rice, with a little 

 pepper, betel, and coco-nuts. 



Coins.— The common currency hrrv consists of Ikeri, Sullany, and 



