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ORIENTAL COMMERCE. [Bengal to the Mahn/. 



is intended for Chowry, a small island to the S. of theirs, to which a 

 large fleet of their boats sails every year, about the month of November, 

 to exchange cloth for cowries, The village is on the N. E. side of 

 Chowry, abreast of which you may anchor in 20 fathoms, sandy ground. 



Provisions and Refreshments. — This island, being very fertile, pro- 

 duces abundance of fruits-— oranges, lemons, citrons, bananas, and pine- 

 apples ; the only animals are hogs, which are plentiful, remarkably fat, 

 being fed on coco-nuts ; they have likewise fowls, pigeons, several kinds 

 of wild fowls, excellent yams, and sweet potatoes. 



To the S. of Car Nicobar are three small islands — Terressa, Bem- 

 bocka, and Katchull, seldom visited by Europeans. About five miles to 

 the E. of Katehull is 



NONCOWRY HARBOUR, in lat. 8° N. long. 93° 41' E., one of 

 the best harbours in the East Indies, formed by the islands of Carmorta 

 and Noncowry; it is of very easy access, and will hold 40 sail of 

 large ships, in the greatest security, sheltered from all winds, about half 

 a mile from the shore, with the additional advantage of two entrances, 

 that may serve for going in and out in both monsoons. 



CARMORTA. — This island, to the N. of the harbour, is about 16 

 miles long, and in no place above 5 wide ; the principal port is on the 

 W. side of it, at the foot of a high mountain ; the island is almost co- 

 vered with trees, among which are three or four sorts of poon, very fit 

 for masts, and for building. Sugar-canes grow here without cultivation ; 

 and it produces the finest yams in India, besides several excellent kinds 

 of fruits. Water is got in wells ; but in the dry season it is rather 

 scarce, owing to the small number of wells sunk by the natives. 



NONCOWRY, which gives its name to the harbour, is about four 

 miles long on each side, being of a triangular form, and separated from 

 Carmorta by a narrow channel; it affords the same fruits as Carmorta, 

 but is more covered with wood. 



The Sombreiro Channel, bounded on the N. side by the islands 

 Katchull and Noncowry, and by Meroe on the S. side, is very safe, and 

 about seven leagues wide. In August 1820, the Prince Regent India- 

 man sailed through the passage between Meroe and the small island 

 called Track, and had no soundings with 30 fathoms line. 



Trade. — At the commencement of the N. E. monsoon, the natives 

 sail in large canoes to Cor Nicobar to trade; and for cloth, iron, to- 

 bacco, and some other articles, which they obtain from Europeans, they 

 give in exchange the produce of their own island, consisting of coco- 



