S V M A T R A, 
ProduBions of the ijland confidered as articles of commerce. Pep- 
per trade, Cuitwation of pepper, Camphire, Benjamin, CaJ* 
o 
F thofe produdions of Sumatra which are regarded as articles of 
commerce, the moit important and moft abundant is pepper. This is 
the object of the Eaft India company's trade thither, and this alone they . 
keep exclufively in their own hands ; their fervants, and merchants under 
their protedion> being free to deal in every other commodity the country 
afifords. 
Many of the chief inhabitams in different parts of the ifland, having, EfiablifLmtot 
, of tht trade, 
as IS elfe where related, imdted the Engliib to form fettlements in their 
refpedlive diftrids, factories were accordingly eftabliihedj and a perma- 
nency and regularity thus given to the trade, which was very uncertain, 
whilft it depended upon the fuccefe of occafional voyages to the coaft : 
difappointments enfuing not only from failure of adequate quantities of 
pepper toturniih cargoes when required, but alio from th^ caprices an,d 
chicanery of the princes or chiefs with whom the difpofal of it lay.. 
Thefe inconveniences were obviated when the agents of the company 
were enabled by their reiidence on the fpot, to infpe£t the ihte^ of the 
plantmoas,. f<fcure the colle^ion of the produce, and make m cftimate^ 
of th^ tonnage lieceljkry tu tranikut it to Europe 
■ « • *ji > ' « . 
In order to bind the native chiefs to the obfervance of their originat 
promifts and profeffions^ and to cftabliih a plaufible claim in oppofitioji^ 
to the attempts of rival European powers to interfere in the trade of the 
country, contrads, attended with much form and folemnity, were en*- 
tercd into with the former ; by which they engaged to oblige all their 
dependants to cultivate pepper, and to fecure to us the exclufive pur- 
chafe of it i in return for which they were to be proteded from thmt 
,bnf:Di enemies^ 
