382 OMENTAL COMMERCE. [Java. 



less in size. There are two pier heads, where vessels may load and discharge 

 at its south side. 



The Island of Fitkmerend is to the E. of Onrust, and about half as 

 large again. It is planted with shady trees, and In the centre is a large 

 building, which serves for a hospital, or lazaretto. 



Trade. — The commerce of Batavia, previous to our conquest of the 

 island in 1811, was conducted upon the exclusive system. The vast im- 

 provements, commercial and financial, introduced during our retention of 

 the island, are ably stated, with the description and resources of Java, in 

 Sir T. S. Rafiles's History of the Island. 



The coasting trade is carried on by Arabs, Bugis, and Chinese, who 

 are enterprising and in general fair traders. The Bugis import camphire 

 (Karoos), tortoiseshell, birds 1 nests, bees 1 wax, sarongs (clotli of strong tex- 

 ture), and gold dust ; which they barter for opium, iron, steel, European 

 chintz and broad cloth, and Indian piece-goods, besides rice, tobacco, salt, 

 and other Javan products. The Chinese navigate brigs as well as junks. 

 They carry on, besides a coasting traffic with the neighbouring islands as 

 far as the Moluccas and Timor, a considerable direct commerce between 

 Java and China in junks. They bring, from Canton and Amoy, teas, raw 

 and manufactured siJk, China ware, sweetmeats, nankeen, paper, and va- 

 rious minor articles ; they convey also industrious settlers, who acquire con- 

 siderable wealth in the island. The return cargoes, in Javan produce, and 

 the supplies required from the islands, amount to a very considerable sum. 

 A trade with China is also carried on by the European residents at Java. 

 Previous to the restoration of this possession to the Dutch, a very extensive 

 traffic was carried on by English country vessels from the three Presidencies, 

 bringing opium, piece-goods, &c. and returning with gold-dust, bees' wax, 

 tin, Japan copper, camphire, sago, and teak timber, which is plentiful here, 

 and considered superior to that of Pegu or Malabar. 



The exports to Europe are sugar and coffee, of superior quality, pro- 

 duced here, and likewise pepper ; besides tin, (which promises to be a large 

 item, as mines have just been discovered and opened in the Island of Billiton), 

 sago, Japan copper, spices, ivory, sticklac, long pepper, cubebs, tortoiseshell, 

 gold, diamonds, Sapan wood, ebony, rattans, indigo, Sec. Among the im- 

 ports from Europe most in esteem with the Javanese during our occupation 

 of the island, were iron and piece-goods ; the imports of the latter description 

 of British manufactures increased rapidly, and entirely superseded the fine 

 Indian cottons. A trade exists between Japan and Java, and is the only 

 channel of intercourse between Europe and that country. It is exclusively 

 confined to the Government of Java. 



