S U M A T R A. 
trouble thcmfelves to carry away, in order that they may find white 
ncfls the next feafan in their room. The birds, during the 
building time, are fcen in large flocks on the beach, collecting 
m their bills the foam which is thrown up by the furf, of which 
there is Httle doubt but they conflrud their nefts ; after it has under- 
gone, perhaps, a preparation^ from a commixture with their faliva, or 
other fecretion, with which nature has provided them for that purpofc* 
The fooalhj or fea ilug, is alfo an article of trade, to China and Bata- 
via ; being employed, as the birds neft and vermicelli, for enriching 
Ibups, among a luxurious people. 
Import Trade. The general articles of import trade, are the following* From the 
coail of Coromandcl, fait; long cloth, blue and white; chintz, and a 
variety of other cotton goods: from Bengal, opium and taffetas; from 
China, coarfe porcelain i forae tobacco; quaiiies or iron pans, and a num- 
ber of fiiiall mifcellaneous commodities ; from the eaftcrn iflands, Bug- 
guefs clouting, a courfe, Uriped, cQtton manufacture, much worn; 
guns czMcd rant akkers I creefes and other vveapons ; filken creefe belts *, 
ioado'igs or hats; fait of a large gram; and fometimes rice, eipecially 
from the ifland of -fffj/^' : from Europe, fiiver; iron; fteel; Icadj cutlery 
and other hardware; brafs wire; and fcarlet cloth* It is not within my 
plan to enlarge upon this fubjed, or to enter into a detail of the markets 
and prices of the va>rious articles, which, as in all countries where 
commerce is in it's infancy ot decline, ar^ extremely fluf^uating. The 
different fpecies of goods above enumerated, come, for the moft part, 
under confideration in other places of the work, as they happen to be 
connected with the account of the natives who purchafe them. 
4rts 
