364 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[Sumatra, 



steel, brass-wire, and salt These are bartered again witb the more inland 

 inhabitants for the products and manufactures of the country. 



Provisions a\ t d Refreshments, — Most of the articles mentioned in 

 the neighbouring places are to be had here ; but the demand being but 

 small, no great quantity of supplies could be obtained without a short pre- 

 vious notice. Water is conveniently procured from the main land, and is 

 very good. 



Coins. — Accounts are generally kept in dollars of 24 fanams, or 400 

 keppings. Spanish dollars are the principal coin used in foreign trade ; but 

 among the natives, the value of goods is estimated by tompongs, or cakes 

 of benjamin, and sometimes by buffaloes ; also by brass-wire, beads, and 

 salt. 



Weights and Measures. — English weights, as well as the Chinese 

 pecul, are used here. A measure of salt, called a sal up, weighs about 2 lbs. 

 avoirdupois. 



NATAL. — This settlement is in latitude 0* 32 N., and longitude 

 98° 57 E. The anchorage is in five fathoms, about two miles off shore, 

 with the Hag-staff bearing E. by N. This is one of the worst roads on the 

 W. Coast of Sumatra, having numerous shoals in it, and often a very large 

 sea running, and dirty weather; and when the wind blows hard from the 

 W., you cannot without great difficulty clear the shore. Notwithstanding 

 which, it is a place of considerable trade, and inhabited by settlers from 

 Acheem Rhio, and many other places, who make it populous and rich. 



Trade. — From India are imported beer* brass-wire, cutlery, cloths, 

 China-ware, gunpowder, glass-ware, gold-thread, household furniture, iron 

 in bars, muskets, looking-glasses, lead, opium, patent shot, swivel guns, 

 steel, salt, wearing apparel, and wines. 



Gold-dust of a fine quality is procured here in considerable quantities. 

 Some of the mines are said to lie within 10 miles of the factory; it is gene- 

 rally of the fineness of 22 to 23 carats. The annual produce is stated to be 

 from 800 to 1000 ounces: this, with camphire and wax, form the principal 

 exports. 



Pro visions and Refreshments. — Beef, vegetables, fruit, and fish are 

 procurable at moderate prices ; likewise wood and water. 



Coins. — Spanish dollars and rupees are current ; besides these, there 

 are single, double, and treble fanams, the latter called tali, coined at Ma- 

 dras ; 24 fanams, or tali, being equal to a Spanish dollar. 



In this part of the Island, where the traffic in gold is considerable, it is 

 generally employed as currency instead of coin. Every man carries small 



