.SUMATRA. 
fided only two or three years on a fpot, cannot pretend to form a judg- 
ment ; and the natives, from a natural partiality, are always ready to 
extol the healthinefs, as well as other imputed advantages of their own 
particular countries* 
The foil is light and fertile^ and the products ; befide thofe which I s^ii, 
have enumerated as articles of export trade, and a variety of fine fruits; 
arc chiefly rice and cotton. There is Hkewife a little raw filk^jrocured 
in the country, of very inferior quality. Gold duft is collected in the 
mountains near Achctn^ but the grcatelt part is brought from the fouthern 
ports of Nakhoo and SqOjCo* The fulphur is gathered from a volcano 
mountain in the neighbourhood, which fupplies their own confumption, 
for the manufa<5lure of gunpovvder, and admits of a large exportation. 
Inhabitants. 
The Achenefe differ extremely^ in their perfonsj from the refl of the 
Sumatrans, beings in general, taller, ftouter, and much darker com- 
plexioned. They are by no means, in their prefent Hate, a genuine 
people, but thought, with great appearance of rcafon, to be a mixture 
of BatiaSy Makys^ and Mc&rs from the weft of India. In their difpo- 
fitions they are more a(ftive and induftrious than their neighbours ; they 
poffefs more penetration and fagacity ; have more gent^ral knowledge ;. 
and as merchants, they deal upon a more extensive and liberal footing. 
But in this latter refpe^l:, I fpeak rather of the traders at a diftance from 
the capital and their tranfL'dtions, than of the condu(fl obferved at 
JkhetUy which, according to the temper of the reigning monarch, W 
often narrow, extortionary, and opprellivc, Their religion is Maho- 
metanifm, and having a great number of Mofques and pricfts, it's forms' 
and ceremonies are obferved with feme ftridtnefs. 
The appearance of the town,- and the nature of tlie buildings,-}- are EttMngi, 
much the fame a& are found in the generality of Malay bazars ; except- 
ing 
• Tn the cftimate p, 137, of the quantity of gold exported ffom the ifland, I did not include 
Mheertt and I underratod the produce of ¥adan^ bjr at Icaft one third, not makiiig allowaocc for 
private traiEck. 
* The fol [owing dtfcrrptioo of tfie appeamnce of Acheen, a Jefuit miffionu-y who touched 
there in his way 10 China in 169$, \% fo pidiurefquc, and at liis fatnt time fo jitil, thatlfliall 
4 L mik« 
