Malay Peninsula.] ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



343 



musters on shore; and having made your bargain to sell, you will stipulate 

 likewise for your returns. Should there be any Bugis proas in the river, 

 avoid making any private bargains with them, as the King does not allow 

 aiiy to trade with them or the Chinese ; he monopolizes all this trade, and 

 if he finds it out, which he is certain of doing by his informers, he will ever 

 after give a preference in trade to any body else than you. 



Trade. — By the country ships from India, and by proas from Tulo 

 Pinang, are brought coarse cutlery, cotton, cliina-warc, copper goods, 

 gunpowder, glass-ware, gold thread, iron in bars, lead, looking-glasses, 

 opium, piece-goods, swivel guns, steel, tobacco, and woollens. 



The Bugis proas import many articles of Eastern produce, taking in 

 return Spanish dollars and the before-mentioned goods. The produce of 

 the country, as well as what is brought from the neighbouring ports, is 

 taken away by the country ships, or sent in their own proas to Pulo Pinang, 

 and consists of beech de mcr, betel-nut, cloves, camphire, cutch, canes, 

 dragon's blood, dammer, elephants" teeth, gold-dust, nutmegs, pepper, 

 rattans, sago, tortoiseshell, and tin. In the choice of tin the preference 

 here should be given to the smaller pieces, as the slabs are frequently adul- 

 terated with dross, stones, and iron shot. If you take gold in return for 

 your goods, it should be examined by a touchadar, and have the King's 

 chop on it, to prevent adulteration. 



Duties. — Two dollars per bahar, (that is about 2 in 30), is the amount 

 of the Customs here, and the presents are many, though not so valuable as 

 at Achecn ; and you will find it much to your interest to be on good terms 

 with the Shabundar and the weigh-m aster. 



Coins and Weights, — Spanish dollars are in general use, but imaginary 

 dollars are dealt for here, which ore computed by weight, in the following 

 manner: — 6 tompongs of tin, of 8 catties weight, are 1 Dollar ; 30 dollars, 

 or 240 catties, are 1 bahar, equal to 324 lbs. The Malacca Bahar of 300 

 catties is sometimes used for selling ; it is therefore necessary in bargains to 

 mention what bahar you agree for, and insist upon having your tin 

 weighed by your own weights, as their dotchin is generally short of the 

 weight you ought to receive. 



Another Bahar here is 3 China Peculs, or 400 lbs. avoirdupois. 



MALACCA* — This city, which gives its name to the straits formed 

 by the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Sumatra, is situated at the head 

 of a small bay, in latitude 2° 12' N., and longitude 102° IS E., and has 

 a very neat and beautiful appearance from the sea. The city is large ; 

 many of the houses arc of stone and well built ; and several of the streets 

 are spacious and handsome. The fort is on the S. side of a small river, 



