S U M A T R A. 
^^rjT/ Shah Mooallm Shab, The prefumptive heir is, in all Malay ftates, 
called Raja Mooda. 
PalemUaog^ Pakmhmg^ as has already been obfervetl, is peopled moftly by Javajts, 
in confcqiience of that part being formerly under the jurifdidion o( 
the Bantam empire, whence its fovereigns were appointed. It is now 
under the immediate protedion of the Dutch government at Ba^avia, 
who have a chief and factory there^ and procure from it pepper and tin. 
It proves likcwlfe ati ufeful mart ro them, for vending opium^ and other 
commodities from the Wefr of India, Its river which takes its rife 
in the diftrid of Moofti;^ near the Weft coaft, and within a day or two's 
journey of that of Bsumhn^ is the moil advantageous for navigation of 
any in the ifland. High up, on its banks> the pepper is cultivated, and pur- 
chafed of the natives at an extraordinary cheap rate, as I am informed, 
by an agent of the king or Dutch company, who refides there. The 
inhabitants oiPaJfummnb arc moftly fupplied with opium, fait and peice 
goods, from P^/m^iz ;g-. The king's agent (for trade in thefe parts is 
ufually monopolized by the fovereign power) comes up the river with 
large boats, which are towed againft the ftream. In this manner the 
goods are conveyed to a place called Moarro Moslang ; from whence 
they are tranfported, on men's backs, to that country. The voyage by 
the river, is faid to take up fourteen days ; but the journey from Mooarro 
Mcdang^ where they difembark, to Pajfummaby is. performed in one, 
Their returns are moftly in a fpecies of twine called pcoiay ; filk in its 
rougheft ft ate; and elephants teeth. The tin, (which the Malays call 
trm^^r, and , fame nations, caiin) though exported from Palembang, is dug 
* Mr. Charles Miller, ia his account of a journey made into this part of the country, men- 
tions that after having cfoffcd the range .of HIls which form , the bouadary of the Company's 
diftria, he came to a doofoon called CMttr, Ctuated on the hanks of the river Mao/ff, (or Pa- 
leuibang) which is there pretty broad. Here he was flicwn famples of ftilphur, which is coUeaed 
in great quantities, and carried to PaiembUng for fale. Tobacco, and f&o/^j r\vine arc likcftin; 
feni iKiiher. CalTia is produced there, of which there are large woods. The country' there 
about h kvel> the foil black and good, and the air temperate* 
up 
