410 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. [Eastern Islands. 



are the common coin, but the under-mentioned also pass current at the 

 following rates 



Ducatoons 13 Schillings. || Bombay Rupees 5 Schillings. 



English Crowns 10 Ditto, || Madras Rupees 4 Ditto. 



The exchange is 4 rix-dollars for 3 Spanish dollars. All bargains are 

 made in the former, which is a nominal coin. They have a kind of mace, 

 7 of which go to a dollar. 



Weights. — All merchandise is weighed by the dotchin, and then 

 reduced to other weights. 



The pecul is 100 catties, or 135 lbs. 10 oz, avoirdupois. The ganton 

 among the natives is 7* lbs. Dutch troy, or 8 lbs. 5 oz. avoirdupois ; 

 but the ganton used by the Dutch is 11$ lbs. Dutch troy, or 12£ lbs. 

 avoirdupois. 



Gold and siver are weighed by the tale of 16 mace, equal to 827 { Dutch 

 asen, or 614 English grains. 



BONTHAIN BAY is about 30 leagues S. E. from Macassar, and 

 may be known by a hill at the bottom of a bay which is in latitude about 5° 

 30 S., and longitude 119° 53 E. The bay is large, and ships may lie in 

 perfect security in both monsoons ; the soundings are good and regular, and 

 the bottom soft mud ; the anchorage is with Bonthain Hill bearing N., about 

 half a mile from the shore. In this bay there are several small towns, the 

 principal of which, from whence the bay takes its name, is in the N. E. part 

 of it. Most of the ships bound to the Spice Islands touch here, and pass 

 between Celebes and Saleyer. 



Trade. — The principal article of trade here is rice, of which large 

 quantities are annually exported; the others are chiefly brought by the 

 proas, and are similar to those enumerated at Macassar. 



Provisions and Refreshments of all kinds are plentiful and at a 

 cheap rate. The beef is excellent ; rice may be had in any quantity, as may 

 fowls and fruit. Fish may be caught with the seine, and turtle is occasion- 

 ally to be procured. The bullocks have humps similar to the Indian ones ; 

 there are besides buffaloes, goats, sheep, and deer. Wood and water are to 

 be had in great plenty ; the former near a river, under Bonthain Hill ; and 

 the latter both from it and another river near the fort : if from the latter, 

 the boats must go above the fort with the casks which are to be filled, where 

 there is a good rolling way ; but as the river has a bar, a loaded boat can 

 come out only at high water. 



BOOLECOMBA is about 20 miles from Bonthain, near a small 

 river. In the 5. W. monsoon the road is dangerous for shipping; small 



