I 
232 VOYAGE OF THE POTOMAC. • [Februarjj 
a proper remedy. We allude to the want of a regular standard 
of weights. The Malay picul is one hundred and thirty-three and 
a third pounds ; but so far is this from prevailing in all the ports, 
that the standard of weight is as much a matter to be regulated 
by contract, as the price of the pepper itself. The consequence 
must be obvious ; the Malay will sand or wet his pepper, and the 
trader will provide against loss by endeavouring to procure greater 
weight. The trader in a neighbouring port, fearing that his com- 
petitor will get better measure' than himself, and thus enter the 
home market to better advantage, will exert himself in his con- 
tract, so as to guard against such a contingency. While this 
state of things exists, difficulties will occasionally occur; and 
though not of great importance, they are still annoying and per- 
plexing, without bringing profit or advantage to any one. 
We have conversed with no one interested in this subject, who 
does not feel anxious that this difficulty should be removed by 
the establishment of some standard; and it can make but little 
difference what that standard is, so that it be uniform. By con- 
cert of action, in one season the difficulty might be settled. This 
concert, however, is hard to bring about ; for while all feel the 
necessity, who shall begin the reform ? 
There can be no impropriety in having this question decided 
and put to rest by government. An armed vessel, visiting the 
coast, might be provided with a standard of one hundred and 
thirty-three and one third pounds weight, to be left with the rajahs 
of the principal ports, with a plain explanation of its object, and 
every cause for cavil or dispute would be immediately removed. 
We. offer this as a suggestion, in the adoption of which our mer- 
chants and traders would, we have no doubt, most cheerfully 
acquiesce. 
But we have lingered long — perhaps the reader may think too 
long — -upon the Island of Sumatra. If there be any of this 
opinion, we beg them to reflect that forty years — a large portion 
of our national existence — have now passed away since the com- 
mencement of our trade on that coast ; that as early as eighteen 
hundred and three, thirty vessels, small ones it is true, were in 
the trade ; that it has been continued with varied success and oc- 
casipnal interruptions to the present time ; employing from six 
