418 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. [Eastern Islands. 



1 00 dollars per chest. A few presents are usually given to the Rajah, but 

 not required. 



Coins and Weights. — Spanish dollars are the principal coin ; and the 

 China weights of pecul and catty are in common use. There is an inferior 

 coin, called a wang, worth the twelfth part of a rupee. 



MOMPARVA. — This river is about 8 leagues from a high but not 

 very large island, called Pulo Dattoo. The point at its entrance is in lati- 

 tude about 0° 18' N., and longitude 109^ 17 E. ; it is remarkably low and 

 flat, and difficult to be seen ; there are eight or nine islands in the offing, 

 and to the N. of it. A very small island, which lays about two miles from 

 the river to the N., and quite close in, is a good mark for it. You anchor 

 in 4] fathoms, soft mud, with Momparva Point about N. E., distance two 

 or three miles. The bar of the river is very shallow, and soft mud ; ships" 1 

 boats will seldom get in before half-flood. About three miles up are 

 some houses belonging to the Bugis: here you will get a man to pilot 

 the boat to the town of Momparva, which is about 16 miles farther up. 



Directions. — Upon your arrival, you must wait upon the King, and 

 state to him the business you are come upon ; he will then introduce you 

 to the Shahundar, and Captain of the Chinese, with whom you generally 

 begin and transact trade. You must insist upon it tiiat no country boats 

 shall come alongside your ship, but anchor without your buoys, till you 

 send a boat to know their business, when the Noquedah and one more 

 should be admitted, in order to examine the goods ; keep your musters 

 up at town, and all boats that go on board from the King or Shahun- 

 dar, should be furnished with his chop or seal, because that will in some 

 degree make him responsible, if any loss should happen. There are a 

 great number of Chinese merchants settled here, and seldom less than 

 four or five of their junks, which generally arrive in February or March ; 

 so that if you come before that time, you may probably make a butter 

 sale of your goods. Momparva is one of the best markets to the E. for 

 opium, as a considerable trade is carried on in the Chinese junks, and 

 by the proas from the neighbouring places and islands. — Caution is neces- 

 sary in dealing here, as the Captain of a Calcutta vessel was attacked in 

 his boat, and killed in this river, through the treachery of the Rajah of 

 Momparva. 



Trade. — The imports are much larger here than at any place on this 

 coast, especially opium. Of piece-goods and other imports similar to those 

 enumerated at Borneo Town, the quantity is considerable. The exports 

 are principally gold and pepper ; sometimes you will procure tin, but not 

 so cheap as in the Straits of Banca. Pepper you get cheap. The gold is 



