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ORIENTAL COMMERCE. [Bengal to the Malay. 



Buoy Duty.— Every vessel not requiring a pilot, pays a buoy duty of 

 3 annas per ton, for the first 200 tons, and 2 annas per ton above that 

 burthen. Donies and square-rigged vessels leaving the river for internal 

 trade, pay 8 annas per 100 maunds burthen. A doney exceeding 600 

 maunds, pays 3 rupees only. 



Mooring Rates. — Vessels of 100 tons and upwards, pay 25 rupees for 

 mooring, and 25 for unmooring. Donies and coasting vessels are exempted. 



Port Regulations, 1S22. — Commanders of vessels entering the river, 

 to furnish the Harbour Master with the names of the vessels, their nations, 

 ports, and other necessary particulars. Vessels to be moored off the Custom 

 House only, except special permission is granted by the Collector. The 

 Harbour Master s certificate to be obtained before a port clearance is given, 

 without which no vessel can sail. Attempts to evade duties and charges, 

 punishable with double port charges, or confiscation of cargo, as the case 

 may be. 



ARACAN. — The kingdom of Aracan wa* conquered about 40 years 

 ago by the Burmese, and is governed by a Burmese Viceroy, generally re- 

 siding at Rangoon. The natives are called Mugs. 



The Coast of Aracan stretches S. S. E. from the Naff, a broad and 

 deep river, which is the boundary that divides the state from the territories 

 of the East India Company, as far as the Island of Cheduba. The princi- 

 pal place of trade is Aracan, situated a considerable distance up a large and 

 navigable river, which is scarcely paralleled in the East, of which Mosque 

 Point, in latitude about 20° 15 N., forms the N. side of the entrance. The 

 river near the fort is narrow ; large boats can come up to it ; the banks are 

 cultivated. 



The disputed title to the Island of Shapurec in the NafT River, which 

 the Burmese claim as a dependency of Aracan, is the ground of the existing 

 war between the British Government and that of Ava. The former having 

 sent a guard of British troops to the Island, as a police station, they were 

 attacked, and driven off by the Burmese ; and subsequently the Com- 

 mander of a Company's schooner was enticed on shore, seized, and sent 

 prisoner to Aracan. 



Trade.— Aracan produces large quantities of rice, of which 15 seers 

 may generally be procured for two puns of cowries, equal to 1 2 maunds for 

 a duss massa rupee. A few elephants 1 teeth, some wax, wood oil, and 

 several kinds of coarse piece-goods are the principal exports of the country. 



Provisions and Refreshments. — Plenty of elephants, buffaloes, hogs, 

 goats, and deer are to be met with, likewise geese, ducks, and fowls ; and 

 of vegetables, nearly the same kinds as are produced in Bengal. The 



