1832.] 
ISLAND OF SUMATRA. 
201 
of Sumatra, when it becomes necessary to introduce upon the 
theatre of eastern competition another actor ; a people whose 
very existence in that part of the world was scarcely known. On 
the thirtieth of August, seventeen hundred and eighty-four, the 
stripes and stars of our beloved republic, which Heaven in 
its mercy long preserve, the " home of the free," were first un- 
folded in Canton. An incident of so much importance in our 
history shall not pass without due notice, in its proper place. 
The first American vessel that ever procured pepper from the 
Island of Sumatra, was a schooner, Jonathan Carnes master. 
She had been fitted out from Salem for the East Indies, in the 
year seventeen hundred and ninety-three. While in Bencoolen, 
the captain learned something of the pepper trade, at that period 
confined principally on the west coast to the single port of Padang. 
To this point he shaped his course, without any other knowledge 
'or directions than such as he had by accident been enabled to pro- 
cure from a pilot, whose services he secured to accompany him. 
On arriving at Padang, he found that but little pepper was raised 
there, but was brought in small quantities by the natives, in their 
proas, from other ports further to the north. These ports he 
did not visit at this time, but after some considerable delay, was 
successful in procuring a cargo, when he sailed for the United 
States ; but while touching at some of the West India islands, 
was so unfortunate as to lose his vessel on a reef, and with her 
the whole of his cargo. On arriving in Salem, he made his 
owners acquainted with the new channel of trade he had opened. 
The whole matter, however, was kept a profound secret. A vessel 
of one hundred and fifty tons, called the Rajah, was built by Mr. 
Peale, and the captain in seventeen hundred and ninety-five set 
out for Sumatra ; and this was the first vessel that ever sailed di- 
rect from this country to that island, for the purpose of procuring 
pepper. After arriving at Padang, he procured such further in- 
formation of the coast as induced him to make sail for other ports 
further to the north. Without chart or guide of any kind, he made 
his way amid numerous coral reefs, of which navigators have so 
much to dread even at the present day, as far as the port of An- 
alaboo, touching also at Soo-soo, where he succeeded in procuring 
a large portion of his cargo. 
On the arrival of Captain Carries at Salem, which happeneii 
