Siarn, $c.] 



0K1ENTAL COMMERCE. 



4S3 



the trade. When you have settled with the Datoo, or King's merchant, 

 what part of your cargo the King is to have (which is commonly called a 

 present, unless he asks particularly to buy any thing), some of the principal 

 merchants of the place are called in to value them; and as they are valued, 

 you are paid by the King, as a present, in the goods which he monopolizes, 

 at the highest prices they will bring at most markets in India. 



No private merchants are permitted to trade in tin, tutenague, elephants' 

 teeth, lead, or sapan wood, without leave from the King, which permission 

 is seldom granted, as he monopolizes these articles to himself, and pays in 

 them for any goods he purchases. 



In purchasing sapan-wood, it is customary to allow five catties per pecul 

 for loss of weight; and as each draught is weighed by the five pecul 

 dotchin, you are allowed 525 China catties, which, if it is the first sort, 

 should not be more than from 16 to 18 pieces ; the second sort runs 22 to 24 

 pieces ; and as the number of pieces increases, the price falls in proportion. 

 The quantity of this article exported, is in some years 300,000 peculs. 



The mountains produce a few diamonds, which are of an excellent 

 water ; likewise sapphires, rubies, and agates ; gold b also met with in 

 various parts of the country. They have also excellent copper, but not in 

 any great plenty. 



The following articles are also procurable from private merchants i — 

 Agala wood, betel-nut, beech de mer, benjamin (head), birds'-nests, carda- 

 mums, copper, diamonds, gamboge, gold-dust, pepper, rattans, rice in large 

 quantity, salt, sugar, and wax. 



The commercial intercourse between Siarn and the settlement at Singa- 

 pore is increasing every season. During the months of January and 

 February, of the present* year (1824), no less than 16 Siamese junks 

 entered the harbour, laden with sugar, rice, sticklac, benjamin, salt, coeo- 

 nut oil, tin, sapan, and rose wood, qualies, (cast iron cooking pots,) Sec. 



All accounts received at Singapore concur in representing that the 

 Siamese Government is desirous of cultivating a commercial connexion, 

 though upon their own terms. 



Duties, Port Charges, Sec. — By the treaty entered into with Siam, 

 the free admission of British commerce is stipulated, and an engagement is 

 made that the duties shall never be raised. These duties are generally 8 per 

 cent, on imports, except a few articles which are excused. The exportation 

 of hullion and even coin is free. Sugar pays 1} tical the pecul. The 

 charges, however, are of the nature of duties ; and it is represented that 

 1200 dollars is about the amount of the port charge* on a ship of 350 tons. 



Every application for a permit to purchase any description of goods 



>Je 



