ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[Stum, *S;c. 



which reason it is customary to start all your sugars, and mix well together 

 what comes nearest in quality, and at your own ex pence repack it into 

 more convenient parcels ; the whole charges of repacking it into haskets, 

 shipping, Sec. do not exceed 50 cash per pecul. 



They have plenty of silk, which they manufacture into various articles 

 for their own use ; hut if they had otherwise a demand for that commodity, 

 they would soon briny it to as great perfection as in China. Cinnamon and 

 dye stuffs are also to be procured here. Gold is to be had in considerable 

 quantities; it chieily comes through the hands of Hie King, and is run into 

 small bars or ingots of 10 tales each, which having the King's stamp, always 

 pass in China at 94- touch; such as have not, cannot he depended on. 



The women here are the principal merchants. They are very indus- 

 trious, and make no scruple to converse and deal with strangers ; and your 

 household affairs will never he rightly managed until under the care of one 

 of them, who will be very faithful to the tedious work of counting your 

 cash ; but you must never take one without being well recommended. She 

 should be a Chinaman's widow, to be received from her parents or friends. 

 Take great care of tampering with your linguist; make him believe you put 

 great confidence in him, but never trust him. Learn some words of the 

 language as soon as possible, that you, with your female housekeeper, may 

 be able to transact some business without always troubling your linguist. 



Several junks from Cochin-China visited Singapore in the early part of 

 the present year. They came from Saigong, and reached the settlement in 

 four days, bringing rice, sugar, sugar-candy, raw silk, Tonquin lead, tea, 

 and other Chinese commodities. 



Dibections. — On the arrival of a ship, officers are sent on board till 

 you have the Kings chop, and the charge of your entrance agreed upon, 

 which is according to the size of your vessel, or your stock on board. There 

 is a person at Faifoe, in an office like that of Shabundar, who will assist 

 you in your entrance, to whom it will be necessary to make a small present, 

 though you will not be able to finish this business till you are on the spot 

 where it is transacted, which is always at Hu6, (or Whey), where the 

 King resides, two days' journey from Faifoe, whither it will he best to 

 proceed as soon as possible, where you will act with more certainty, and 

 not risk the being deceived by any inferior officer who may pretend to have 

 it in his power to serve you. 



There is nothing better, (and scarce any thing else that will do), to 

 carry to Cochin-China than tutenague, which the King always engrosses 

 to himself. You will find a loss of 3 per cent, in the weight of tutenague 

 sold to the King. If a ship goes from India the latter end of April, it will 



