Sumatra. ] 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



367 



consequence of the heavy surf and shoal water which prevent the use of your 

 own boats; but the natives will bring it off, charging about 1J Spanish 

 dollar per butt. 



Between Moco Moco and Bencoolen are the several places from whence 

 the Company received pepper, the principal of which are 



Ippoe, or Aypour, in Int. 3 3 1C S., which produce* annually from 30 to 35 tons of pepper, 



Cattown, or Caytone .... 2° 25' S., ditto 80 to £5 ditto. 



Laye 3 J 40* S„ ditto 100 to X20 ditto. 



and at each of which they had an European resident. The produce varies 

 of course, as the seasons are more or less productive, but on an average does 

 not exceed the above amount 



BENCOOLEN, till its recent transfer to the Dutch, the principal 

 English settlement on the W. Coast of Sumatra, and to which all the others 

 were subordinate, is in latitude 3° 48' S., and longitude 102° 28' E. Fort 

 Marlborough and the town are built on Oojong Carrang, a point of land, 

 having a level appearance, and moderately elevated. 



The best place for anchoring in Bencoolen roads is the flag-staff E.N.E., 

 Pulo Point S. E. by 3., and Rat Island S. W. by S. Ships sometimes run 

 into Pulo Bay to anchor ; the best place is where Sandy Point bears N., 

 about half a mile from the Company's godowns. 



Should an European ship expect to be detained long here, it would be 

 advisable to moor in Rat Island basin, it being safe in all weathers; and 

 boats are able to make a trip each day with the land and sea breezes, and 

 the goods are secure in the boats, which is not the case in the roads ; for 

 sometimes the North-westers give so short a warning, that boats, with half 

 loading, are obliged to put off for Pulo Bay. In going ashore frotu the 

 ship, keep the Company's hospital, which is to theS., on the starboard bow, 

 or right a-head, till you come near the shore, or S. point of the rocks ; then 

 you will have the channel open, and the S. breakers without you ; then 

 stand right in for the sugar-loaf, keeping nearest tJte breakers from the 

 shore, till you have the fort on your beam ; then steer in for the carrang, 

 or landing place, the passage into which lies close to a bluff red point, with 

 a grove of trees on it. 



A ship running for Bencoolen in a North-wester, should, after making 

 Rat Island, bring it to bear S., and keep close to the reef, with the island 

 S. by E. £ E., pitch of the reef N. W., distance from the reef 60 fathoms, 

 and close to the buoy in 8 fathoms, when she will be tolerably sheltered, 

 and enabled to take the first opportunity of hauling into the basin. 



By the treaty with the Netherlands of 17th March, 1824, Bencoolen, 

 and the other British possessions on Sumatra, are ceded to the Dutch, in 



