Sumatra.] ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 377 



other parts of India. Many Chulias, chiefly from Najore, make an annual 

 voyage with cloths, salt, &c. A small vessel also comes from Surat, or 

 Bombay, with about 200 bales of cotton. Those from Penang and the 

 Eastward bring opium, iron, fire-arms, gunpowder, and other necessaries. 

 The chief articles of produce are betel-nut and rice, (10,000 tons of which 

 are said to have been exported in one year from this coast), with a small 

 quantity of pepper. A few catties of gold-dust are collected from the beds 

 of the rivers, and brimstone and camphire are sometimes to be bought- 

 They manufacture silk and cotton cloth, which is very durable. Mats of all 

 kinds are made, and filagree and embroidery followed. The staple product 

 is hetel or areca nut, of which Pedir produces for exportation about 40,000 

 peculs annually. In the year 1821-22 upwards of 16,000 maunds were 

 imported into Calcutta from the Coast of Pedu\ 



The following is a list of India goods suitable to the market on the 

 Pedir Coast, with the quantity of each particular article which should form 

 an assortment. 



Blue Cloth 9 cull 100 corgc. 



Ditto' 7 andS ditto... 100 ditto. 



Blue Suckertoons, gold head... 20 ditto. 

 Brown cloth ....8 and 9 call ....100 ditto. 

 White- ditto and 9 itiur>...l&0 ditto. 



Negapatam salt 50 garce. 



Jaffnttpatam tobacco, 1st sort 20 canities. 



Ditto 2d do. 60 canities. 



Iron, broad bars 500 maunda. 



Patna opium 30 chests. 



Duties. — The only duty collected is 4 per cent, on exports; but 

 certain voluntary contributions are expected. The Rajahs of Pedir profess 

 a nominal obedience to the King of Acheen, but a force is necessary to 

 obtain the revenue. It is dangerous to transact business on shore, except 

 with the principal merchants. It is a common custom to buy and sell on 

 board ship. The present Kajah attends to business. 



Provisions and Refreshments. — Buffaloes and poultry are in abun- 

 dance, particularly ducks and fowls, which are reasonable; likewise tropical 

 fruits, similar to those at Acheen ; and the sea supplies various sorts 

 of fish. 



Coins, — Spanish dollars are the principal currency ; the other coins are 

 nearly similar to those at Acheen. 



Weights. — The Pedir catty weighs 37 Spanish dollars; and the 

 bahar is equal to 424 lbs. avoirdupois. 



