ALGOA BAY--IMPORTS--POPULATION OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE--PUBLIC
INSTITUTIONS--NEWS-PAPERS--DEPARTURE FROM THE CAPE--ARRIVAL
AT RIO JANEIRO--DEPARTURE FROM RIO JANEIRO--ARRIVAL AT BOSTON
HARBOUR--STATISTICAL TABLE.
The village in Algoa bay now called Port Elizabeth, is rising into
importance most rapidly. Twelve years since, it contained four houses,
and now it has upward of one hundred, and its residents are rated at
above twelve hundred persons. It is one of the most prominent portions
of the Cape colony, a place of resort for vessels to or from India.
Subscriptions to the amount of five thousand pounds have been raised,
for the purpose of building a lighthouse on cape Receife, and a jetty
for the landing of goods. There are five ships connected with the
direct trade to Europe. The number of vessels which have visited the
port this year is about fifty. There is a good road leading to Graham’s
Town, ninety miles in length; it is in the Albany district, and is
said to contain upward of six thousand inhabitants. All imports and
exports by sea, from Graham’s Town, &c., and the adjacent district of
Uitenhage, are from this port. The imports in 1828 were fifty-five
thousand two hundred and one pounds, and had increased in 1832 to one
hundred and twelve thousand eight hundred and forty-five pounds, and
the exports from forty-one thousand two hundred and ninety pounds, to
eighty-six thousand nine hundred and thirty-one pounds. Provisions
of all sorts are in abundance, and ships can be watered with great
facility by pipes, leading from a pump to the sea. The exports are
wine, brandy, vinegar, ivory, hides, skins, leather, tallow, butter,
soap, wool, ostrich-feathers, salted beef, wheat, candles, aloes,
barley, &c., &c.
Plettenberg’s bay is another place of resort for vessels in the winter
season, bound home from India. The roadstead is open to southeast,
but the anchorage is good, in eight, nine, and ten fathoms. The bay
is spacious, with sufficient room to beat out, in southeast gales.
The number of inhabitants is about four hundred, upward of one half
being white. Cattle and sheep are plentiful, and it is noted for the
excellence of its butter; and the timber is abundant.
There is no port of consequence lying between Plettenberg’s bay and Da
Lagoa excepting port Natal, and this has but thirteen feet of water at
its entrance; but it is well sheltered from prevailing winds. A few
English traders are only to be found there at present, but there is no
doubt that the British government will have a small garrison stationed
there in the course of 1834. The merchants at Cape Town are preparing
to take immediate advantage of this well-situated port, and protection
from the government follows of course. The traders now penetrate one
hundred and fifty miles along the southern coast beyond Natal, and far
into the interior, in a northerly direction. There are no other ports,
suitable for large ships to visit, than those already named, lying
between False bay and Da Lagoa. The country about Natal is represented
as being very fertile, well wooded and watered, and the climate
healthy; it was exceedingly populous until the modern Attila, _Chaka_,
took possession of it, and slaughtered most of the inhabitants. It
abounds in cattle, and ivory is abundant. The Kowie and great Fish
rivers, where there is a great number of English settlers, may be
made good ports, whenever suitable improvements are made at their
embouchures; they are barred like most of the rivers from the Cape to
Da Lagoa, or I may as well say all the rivers in Southern, Eastern and
Northeastern Africa, or from the cape of Good Hope to cape Guardafui.
The whole line of North Africa, or the coast leading from the cape of
Good Hope to Benguela, is represented as being worthless, Saldunha
bay, and the coast lying between it and Cape Town, being the only part
where European settlers are found. Saldunah bay is well sheltered from
violent winds, having a sufficient depth of water, but the country is
very sandy and agriculture but little attended to; a few cattle and
sheep are raised among the scanty herbage. Except one or two bays where
whales resort, the remaining part offers no inducements to adventurers.
[Sidenote: IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.]
I herewith present the amount of the imports and exports into Table,
Simon’s, and Algoa bays, for the year 1831:--
Pounds sterling.
The imports into Table bay, from Great Britain, were 271,687
„ „ „ British colonies 35,620
„ „ „ Foreign states 35,833
„ „ „ United States of America 1,207
---------
332,527
Pounds sterling
The imports into Simon’s bay, from Great Britain 120 10 0
„ „ „ British colonies 1,352 5 0
„ „ „ Foreign states 628 5 0
--------- 2,101
Ditto, ditto, Algoa bay, port Elizabeth, from Great
Britain 9,458 5 0
„ „ „ British colonies 778 15 0
„ „ „ Foreign states 187 0 0
10,244
---------
The whole amount of imports into the Cape of Good Hope colonies £345,052
---------
The exports from Table Bay to Great Britain were 100,509
„ „ „ British colonies 64,596
„ „ „ Foreign states 11,513
----------
£176,618
Ditto, ditto, Simon’s Bay to Great Britain 2,941 0 0
„ „ „ British colonies 1,561 0 0
„ „ „ Foreign states 1,296 0 0
„ „ „ Navy supplies 5,476 0 0
----------
11,277
Ditto, ditto, Algoa Bay, port Elizabeth to Great
Britain 24,019 0 0
„ „ „ British colonies 4,800 0 0
„ „ „ Foreign states 1,892 0 0
-----------
30,711
---------
£218,606
In the amount of exports, from the three ports named, twenty-nine
thousand and thirty-six pounds were articles of foreign growth or
manufacture, leaving the sum of one hundred and eighty-nine thousand,
five hundred and seventy pounds, being the value of articles of
colonial produce for the year 1831.
The value of exports to Port Elizabeth, in 1831,
from Table Bay, was £44,672
Value of imports, in return, from Port Elizabeth 34,640
These sums not being included in the above statements, must be added
to the aggregate of these ports respectively. Since April, 1832, Cape
Town and Simon’s Town have been declared “_free warehousing ports_;”
and Port Elizabeth was declared a “free port” only--all goods of every
description whatever, the growth, productions, or manufacture of Great
Britain, or any of the possessions of the British crown, pay a duty
of three pounds per centum. All goods being the growth, produce, or
manufacture of any of the East India company’s possessions, pay ten
pounds per centum. Any foreign nation, at peace with Great Britain,
may import, in foreign ships, any goods, being the growth, produce,
or manufacture of such foreign nation, ten pounds per cent., and they
may export any goods to any country, &c. All casks, barrels, staves,
heading, or hoops, to be used as wine casks, _duty free_.
No gunpowder, arms, ammunition, or utensils of war, or fresh or
salted beef, pork, dried or salted fish, train oil, blubber, fins, or
skins of creatures living in the sea, can be imported, except from
Great Britain, or some British possession in America. No _tea_ can be
imported, except by the East India company, or some British possession
in America.
Accounts are kept in pounds, shillings, pence, and farthings, or rix
dollars, skillings, and stivers. One stiver is equal to three eighths
of a penny; six stivers, two and one fourth, or one skilling; _eight_
skillings, eighteen pence, or one rix dollar. Three shillings and
ninepence is the par value of the Spanish dollar, but they were sold by
the purser of the Peacock at four shillings; and doubloons, at sixteen
dollars, or three pounds four shillings. Bills on England were three
shillings and eleven pence sterling per dollar.
The weights made use of in this colony, are derived from the standard
pound of Amsterdam, and the pieces permitted to be assized, are from
fifty pounds down to one loot, or the thirty-second part of a pound,
which is regarded as unity.
Proportions between colonial and British weights and measures. Weights:
ninety-one pounds and four fifths, Dutch, are equal to one hundred
pounds English, avoirdupois. Measures: corn, four Dutch schepels are
equal to one Dutch muid, one hundred and seven ditto, to eighty-two.
Winchester bushels. A load of ten muids is equal to thirty bushels, two
pecks, one gallon, and one pint English; eight bushels make a quarter
English.
One ell of cloth is equal to twenty-seven Rhynland inches; one hundred
and thirty-three, fifty-one hundredths, Dutch ells, are equal to one
hundred English yards.
The truth is, that all articles of produce are sold by English weight,
and not Dutch, unless by a special agreement.
[Sidenote: POPULATION.]
The colony of the cape of Good Hope is divided into ten districts.
Herewith, I present a table, showing the whole amount of the population
for 1831-1832; the number of births, marriages, and deaths. Mr.
Greig, the editor and publisher of the South African Almanac, says,
“It is compiled from tax and rolls, and there is an omission of the
itinerants’ and Hottentots’ settlement at Kat river, &c., to the number
of between fifteen and sixteen thousand;” and Cape Town is supposed to
contain about twenty-two thousand, in December, 1833, instead of the
number stated.
-------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------
| Free Persons, | |
|white & coloured.| Slaves. | Total.
Districts. +--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------
| Males. |Females.| Males. |Females.| Males. |Females.
-------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------
Cape Town | 6,410 | 6,949 | 2,921 | 2,906 | 9,331 | 9,855
Cape District| 3,703 | 2,977 | 2,709 | 1,473 | 6,412 | 4,450
Stellenbosch | 3,854 | 3,677 | 4,724 | 4,108 | 8,578 | 7,785
Worcester | 5,758 | 5,655 | 2,667 | 2,135 | 8,425 | 7,790
Swellendam | 6,063 | 7,867 | 1,650 | 1,381 | 7,713 | 7,248
George | 3,286 | 2,740 | 1,106 | 1,068 | 4,392 | 3,808
Uitenhage | 5,135 | 4,485 | 677 | 616 | 5,812 | 5,101
Albany | 3,572 | 2,705 | 72 | 67 | 3,644 | 2,772
Somerset | 4,494 | 4,375 | 781 | 623 | 5,275 | 4,998
Graff Reinet | 6,397 | 4,613 | 1,505 | 944 | 7,902 | 5,557
-------------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------
Total | 48,672 | 44,043 | 18,812 | 15,321 | 67,484 | 59,364
-------------+--------+--------+--------
| | |
| | |
Districts. | Births.| Mar. | Deaths.
| | |
-------------+--------+--------+--------
Cape Town | 644 | 138 | 638
Cape District| 123 | 28 | 98
Stellenbosch | 296 | 102 | 189
Worcester | 577 | 67 | 261
Swellendam | 606 | 49 | 325
George | 219 | 46 | 60
Uitenhage | 300 | 60 | 81
Albany | 177 | 34 | 89
Somerset | 384 | 119 | 107
Graff Reinet | 156 | 127 | 74
-------------+--------+--------+--------
Total | 3,482 | 770 | 1,922
Total 126,848
Add for the army 2,500
-------
129,348
Add omissions, say 15,652
-------
Making a grand total of 145,000
-------
This settlement, which was founded by the Dutch, under Governor
Riebeck, in 1652, contained in 1832 but a little upward of one hundred
and forty thousand, there not being so many inhabitants as there are
in the city of New York or Philadelphia, whereas the first English
settlement of Puritans, which landed in New England but thirty-two
years previous, now numbers upward of two millions, and the United
States not less than fifteen millions. The Dutch held it from 1692
to 1795, when it was placed under the protection of the British
government, by order of the prince of Orange. It was restored to the
Batavian government in the commencement of 1803. In January, 1806, it
capitulated to the English arms under General Sir D. Baird, and it is
now an integral part of the British empire.
On a calm and beautiful morning, before the sun had tinged the
mountains of Hottentots’ Holland, or Table mount, we were preparing for
a ride to the celebrated vineyard of Constantia and to Simon’s town.
J. B. Ebden, Esq., Captain Geisinger and myself, went in an excellent
carriage, having six fine horses, accompanied by Captain Shields of the
Boxer, Lieut. Craver of the Peacock, Mr. Poor of the Boxer, &c., on
horseback. A pleasant ride of five miles brought us to the beautiful
village of Wynberg, passing on the right of the Devil’s Peak. This
village is adorned with a great number of gentlemen’s seats, and neat
cottages, the avenues leading to them having well-trimmed hedges of
myrtle and oak, and over shadowed by pine, oak or fruit trees, the
grounds being ornamented with flowers and shrubs, and the porches
shaded with luxuriant grape-vines. A small but very pretty new church,
belonging to the Episcopalians, graces a rising ground on the right.
We proceeded on about five miles further, where the road branches to
the left and to the right, the former being the direct road to Simon’s
town, and the latter leading to Constantia, &c. We breakfasted at the
picturesque seat of the late Governor Cole, at Protea, with Mr. Scott
of Bengal. From thence we went about three miles out of the direct
road, passing the Newlands, a celebrated seat of a former governor,
Lord Somerset, who lavished some eighty thousand pounds sterling upon
it, at the expense of the British government. We passed through a noble
avenue of ancient oaks, which led to Great Constantia, where we found a
very substantial Dutch dwelling-house, having extensive out-buildings
on the right, with the wine-store in the rear. We were very kindly
and hospitably received, and treated to a taste of four kinds of very
old, rich wine, drawn out of some of the immense leaguers, which line
both sides of an extensive building. Every thing about the place is in
excellent order; the variety of fruits, flowers, shrubs and creeping
plants, and live hedges, made it truly enchanting.
[Sidenote: CONSTANTIA.]
A fine stream of water runs through it, from the range of mountains,
on the decline of which the vineyard is situated. From this estate
two other vineyards have been formed, viz.: high and low Constantia,
so called from their relative positions to the mountains. There is
a most commanding view from the upper garden, the mountains about
Hottentots’ Holland, cape Hanglip and the range of mountains leading
towards the celebrated cape of Good Hope, as well as False bay and the
Indian ocean, and had we ascended to the top of the mountains, which
overlook Constantia, about three thousand feet, we could have seen both
oceans at one view, the Indian and South Atlantic. The vines, which
were hanging thick with clusters of fruit, are kept as low as three
feet; only two fruit-bearing shoots of three eyes are left of the last
year’s growth. The grapes are trodden out with the feet, as well as
pressed out, the former being preferred, as in ancient times. There was
but little to gratify the sight after leaving this hospitable place,
till our arrival at Simon’s town. On the left is a low sandy isthmus,
(having on it many lagoons,) which connects the cape district with
Hottentots’ Holland; it is about twelve miles in length, and separates
Table from False bay; there can be no doubt but that cape district was
once separated from the main land, and this plain was formed by the
accumulation of sand, thrown in by the gales from the Atlantic and
Indian oceans. A few miserable hovels are scattered here and there,
over this dreary isthmus, and on the right toward the mountains, there
were a few ordinary cottages, and a solitary shepherd watching his
flock, but scarcely a tree was seen in any direction, excepting a few
Proteas, or those about the farm-houses. We wound round the base of
Mysenberg, which is about two thousand feet high, passing through a
dreary and uncomfortable looking fishing village of the same name.
Proceeding on, we came next to Fishhook bay, where there is a poor
village, having a small whaling establishment. At this place we came to
a low, sandy isthmus, which is mostly covered at high water, and leads
to Chapman’s bay, on the west; this isthmus separates in nearly equal
divisions the northern from the southern range of mountains, they being
in length twenty-nine miles, from the Lion’s Rump to the cape of Good
Hope.
About two miles from the latter village is Elsey peak, about twelve
hundred feet high, round which the road passes, the base being washed
by the sea, and then we came to the bay and village of the same name,
having another small whaling establishment; but the inhabitants had
shaken hands with poverty, and these three villages are evidently fast
going to ruin. Two miles further brought us to Simon’s town; it was
suddenly presented to our view on winding round the base of a mountain,
with its naval arsenal and pretty white houses, having altogether a
neat and cheerful appearance. A frigate, a merchant-ship and a sheer
hulk, were riding quietly at anchor on the glassy bosom of the bay. We
stopped at a neat hotel, and after a visit to Admiral F. Warren and
family, by whom we were very kindly and hospitably received, we visited
the arsenal, this being the cape rendezvous for British ships-of-war on
this station, and found every thing in fine order and well arranged,
viz.: suits of sails, boats, blocks, rigging, masts, chain and hemp
cables, anchors, &c.; all in readiness for use from a seventy-four-gun
ship to a sloop. The streets were in good order, and the houses very
convenient and well built of stone or brick, and stuccoed, and the
whole aspect of the place was favourable, and had an air of comfort
and cleanliness, although bounded by barren, woodless and precipitous
mountains and hills, with only here and there a few scattered fruit or
forest trees about private enclosures. The town is represented to have
a population of one thousand seven hundred inhabitants.
False bay is easy of access to vessels of the greatest depth of water,
having but few dangers and those visible. No harbour can surpass that
of Simon’s bay in point of security, having a sufficient depth of water
for ships of any burden; the winds may be said never to blow from the
east, which is the only point from which vessels are exposed. The winds
most prevalent in False bay, are from the southeast, and Simon’s bay is
completely sheltered from their violence; and in the winter from the
north, which does not affect vessels materially, which are properly
secured. Boats can always land, and refreshments of all kinds may be
had, excellent fresh beef and mutton, and salted cape beef, with
bread, biscuit, vegetables, wine, butter, &c., &c.
The bay abounds with fish, and if there is any deficiency of articles
in the town, they may always be procured from Cape Town by the wagons.
Horses and carriages are always to be had, and the mail runs twice a
week to the capitol, during the warm months, and three times during the
cool part of the season; the distance is twenty-one miles. Within the
district there are plenty of cattle, and sheep, and wheat raised, and
wine and brandy made in abundance. It is every way a most convenient
and safe port for refreshments, and to repair vessels, and a most
desirable haven for shelter to the way-worn mariner, who has been
buffeting the storms of winter about this “cape of torments.” Our
return occupied the space of three hours, and was performed by the same
set of horses throughout, with perfect ease.
[Sidenote: PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.]
The following public institutions are established at Cape Town:
The _South African library_, in a building at one end of the Grand
Parade, is at once the pride and boast of the colony. It contains
about ten thousand volumes in all departments of literature, and is
highly creditable to the place. The South African college, founded
in 1829, is spoken of in high terms by the inhabitants, although a
large portion of the sons of wealthy parents are sent to England to
complete their education. It has a professor of classical and English
literature, as well as one for Dutch, and one for mathematics and the
principles of astronomy. It has also a Dutch assistant and teacher of
German, an English assistant, a mathematical assistant, writing-master,
and drawing-master. There is also a society for promoting Christian
knowledge, a philanthropic society for the diminution of slavery
in the colony, and a royal observatory, having an astronomer, an
assistant-astronomer, and a chronometer and instrument maker; a Bible
union instituted in 1818; a South African infant school; a savings
bank; a South African literary and scientific institution, to which
is attached an excellent museum; a medical society, a “European and
burial society;” this society was formed in 1795, for supporting poor
and unfortunate fellow-countrymen, during their illness, and in the
event of their death, to cause them to be respectably interred. It is
a Dutch institution, and now possesses considerable funds. A “Saint
Andrews,” friendly society, for the benefit of the Scotch, founded in
1820, to afford relief in sickness, and medical assistance. A widows’
and old women’s fund; a widows’ private fund to afford relief to the
widows of deceased members; a South African missionary society; a
London missionary society, established in 1795; a Wesley missionary
station society for Southern Africa. The school of industry, for
the instructing female children of all denominations in reading and
needlework; there is also a Sunday school attached to it. There are
also a ladies’ benevolent society, an English choral society, and eight
Sunday schools.
The commercial exchange is a handsome commodious edifice, having
a lofty and spacious centre-hall: the tables are furnished with
newspapers, and there is a good supply of mercantile works of reference
with maps, &c. Most of the public meetings are held here; the north
wing is used by the South African public library; a masonic hall is
held in another room, and it has a ball-room, fifty-eight feet by
twenty-four.
There are also a _colonial insurance company_ and an _agricultural
society_, which are likely to be highly useful, not only to Cape Town
but the whole colony, branches being already established in most of
the districts. There are a temperance society, having nine branches,
in almost every district; an _orphan house_, and two “_free schools_,”
besides other institutions. There is an English church now building,
called St. George’s church, at a probable expense of sixteen thousand
pounds sterling; the Rev. George Hough is the chaplain; the service is
at present performed in the Dutch reformed church, at noon, after the
Dutch society has retired. The new church is calculated to hold one
thousand persons, of which three hundred seats are reserved for the
poor. A Lutheran church: St. Andrew’s church (Presbyterian:) a Roman
Catholic chapel, and a Wesleyan and Methodist chapel, &c., &c.
There are four newspapers printed in the colony, three at Cape Town and
one at Graham’s town, the Government Gazette being one of them. There
has also been published since June, 1830, a monthly publication called
the Cape of Good Hope Literary Gazette; each number contains twelve
quarto pages. It is a most respectable periodical, and contains a great
deal of original matter, on general and local topics: it is independent
in its tone, liberal in its doctrines, and deserving of encouragement.
The “South African Almanac and Directory,” for 1833, possesses very
high merit, and I am deeply indebted to it, for no inconsiderable
portion of statistical matter, &c., relative to the colony of the cape
of Good Hope.
[Sidenote: MUSEUM.]
Attached to the South African literary and scientific institution
is a museum; no museum I have yet seen, will compare with this, in
the superior arrangement of the birds and beasts; nothing can be in
finer order than the first: it would require many years of study and
observation, and a fine tact, to be able to arrange them in their
natural state as they are--to catch, in fact, the “living beauty,”
when sporting among the wilds of his native bowers. There are many
hundreds in the highest state of preservation; the beauty of their
plumage is unsurpassed. There is also a small but valuable collection
of shells, minerals, fossils, coral, sponge, &c., &c. A French
gentleman is the artist, the preserver and arranger of this beautiful
museum. I regretted much, that an hour was all I had to devote to these
beautifully arranged objects of nature. There are a noble lion and a
lioness at the upper end of the public garden, belonging to government.
There were for sale in Cape Town a number of zebras from the Snow-berg
mountains; these were in fine order and appeared to be very tractable,
and several were mounted without any difficulty. This animal is so
well known that it is unnecessary to attempt giving any description
of it; their coats were in such good order, and the yellow ground and
black stripes so bright, distinct, and perfect, that one can scarcely
believe it is other than a work of man’s fancy; it differs from the
zebra of the plains, by having black rings upon the legs. The price was
ninety pounds sterling per pair; they are built very compactly, and
are said to be a very hardy animal; there was an “_ant bear_,” but it
differed materially from one I saw at Buenos Ayres; the body and nose
of the latter were longer, and the bristles on the back also of greater
length, and more rigid and wiry: he was very harmless, and suffered
any one to handle him: a spring-bock-springer, antelope, or showy-bock
was also for sale: he had a cavity about the lower part of the rump,
adjoining the tail, the hair being quite white: when he bounded in the
air this spot dilated by the effort, and closed again on descending.
The above animals, as well as birds, reptiles, &c., were for sale by
Mr. Reid, in Roland street--a “collector of curiosities” as he styles
himself on his card.
Mr. Villet in Long street has a very great collection of animals living
and dead: the living ones are at his garden at Green Point. He is also
a nursery seedsman and florist: prepares birds, skins, insects, &c.
There are many other “collectors of curiosities.” The enormous prices
paid by the English generally, put all the traders on the frontier upon
the “qui vive;” and the shell-collectors at Table and Simon’s bay, &c.,
find a ready sale and high prices for paper-nautilus, beautiful limpits
in great variety, as well as scaly chitons, &c.
Dr. Smith has in his possession a stuffed Hottentot woman, formerly a
well-known notoriously bad character in Cape Town; she was skinned in
a very complete manner, excepting the head, hands and feet, the fleshy
part being taken away, and then preserved and stuffed and placed in
a standing position; it is almost the first attempt ever made: the
features are the same as when living: she was about thirty years of
age, of middle height, and well made, having close set and small tufted
twists of hair; apparently no bridge to the nose, thin lips, with
the extraordinary projection behind, which is common to her nation.
The Hottentots are unquestionably a distinct race, from the rest of
mankind, with the peculiarities well known.
There is a race-course at Green point; the horses have a high
celebrity for swiftness, strength and beauty. It has been found that
the racehorses imported from England cannot compete with them. It is
probable they never fully recover from the fatigues of a tedious voyage.
The oil which is preferred, is taken from the top of the tail of the
cape sheep; it burns without smoke or smell. The acorns are preserved
in fresh water, and the cattle fed on them as well as grass.
There are regular mails to twenty-five different towns. The rate
of postage for a single letter, is from twopence to thirteen pence
sterling.
There are stationed within the colony three regiments of soldiers,
the seventy-second Highlanders, the ninety-fifth and seventy-fifth
regiments; the two first named are at Cape Town and vicinity, the
seventy-second being stationed in various parts of the colony. I will
only say they are in the finest order possible, and the officers of the
royal artillery and royal engineers, are gentlemen that would honour
any situation in which they might be placed.
Robbin island is low land, raised but a few feet above the level of
the sea, and can only be seen at a short distance, lying parallel with
the main and devoid of trees. It seems on the first view to be a part
of the continent; it is the Botany bay of the cape, and has a small
garrison; there is a good anchorage on the southeastern side, and a
safe passage between it and the continent.
[Sidenote: EXPEDITION TO AFRICA.]
There is an expedition preparing for discoveries in the interior of
Africa, to consist of about forty persons, under the direction of a
most worthy and scientific man, Dr. A. Smith. It was to leave Graff
Reinet, being the most convenient place of rendezvous, on the first of
June, 1834. At that place there can easily be procured oxen, wagons and
attendants. It is in contemplation to penetrate as far as the equator,
in a northeasterly direction, but the course will be varied according
to circumstances; the time it will occupy will probably be two years.
The objects in view are to enlarge the geographical knowledge of the
extensive and unknown regions to the northward of this settlement, to
obtain scientific information, especially as it regards the branches
of meteorology, geology and magnetism; to collect botanical specimens,
and those of natural history, and to ascertain what prospects the
productions of the country, and the disposition of the native tribes,
hold out to commercial enterprise, are the chief aims of the intended
experiment. There is to be a botanist, a surveyor and a draftsman,
capable of delineating landscape and portraying objects of natural
history, and a person capable of conducting the trading department
of the expedition. It seems there are to be seven wagons, with one
European, and four Hottentots, to each, and one hundred and twenty
crew, and it is probable that two sergeants and ten soldiers will
be added to the number. The cost of the expedition will amount,
probably, to not less than two thousand pounds, exclusive of the
necessary instruments, maps, &c. Lieutenant Edie of the ninety-eighth
regiment will assume the command, in case of accident to Dr. Smith.
Both of these gentlemen lately returned from a journey to Natal. May
every success attend so laudable an undertaking: it is fraught with
innumerable dangers, from sickly climates, _savage_ beasts, and still
more savage men.
It is in contemplation to build a break-water, into the bay, commencing
near the Chavonne battery, and a survey has been completed. If a double
railway is made from the quarries on the side of the hill called
the Lion’s Rump, which is at a very short distance, the full cars on
descending could be made to return the empty, and then it would be done
at a small expense, considering the importance of the object.
On the twenty-first, our stock of provisions being replenished, we took
leave of our hospitable friends. The ship tacked and stood in shore,
and then tacked again and stood off, the main-topsail being aback; a
salute of twenty-one guns was fired, the English flag being hoisted at
the main. The compliment was returned by the castle, the ship “filled
away,” and we passed between Robbin island and the main, owing to the
wind being light, from the northward and westward. The convict-houses
on the island are on the eastern side. The neatness of the officers’
quarters and the soldiers’ barracks, gave some relief to a very barren
spot. The verdant vine-fields, the pleasant town, and the cloud-capped
Table mount, gradually receded from our view, as we approached the
land about Saldanha bay. The weather was fine, the temperature of the
air was delightful; a smooth sea, with light breezes, accompanied us
to the coast of Brazil, so that the smallest boat in the ship could
have performed the passage with perfect ease and safety. We did not
attempt to make much westing until the ship had arrived in the latitude
of about eighteen, and in the longitude of about eight west, owing to
the baffling and uncertain winds which are always experienced in a
higher latitude, as an approach is made toward the sea, midway between
the two continents, and toward the coast of America. And we derived
but little benefit from northerly and westerly currents, which only
assisted us about one hundred and fifty miles. On the seventeenth
January, (1834,) we once more were _blessed_ with the sight of “Lord
Hood’s gigantic nose,” and the Vac d’Assucar, and anchored the next
morning in Rio harbour. Having been deprived nearly twenty months of
letters from home, great anxiety was expressed by all for the return
of the boat, which had been despatched on shore and to the Natchez to
procure them--hopes and fears rushed on the fancy of all, as the return
boat approached the ship--the budget at length arrived, and was opened
and distributed, the seats torn asunder, and the contents read with the
utmost rapidity, and in a few minutes the delightful sound that “all’s
well” was heard from the cabin to the ward-room, and from the steerage
to the berth, gun, and spar decks, repaying all for the thousand
perils they had encountered from stormy oceans, treacherous reefs, and
baneful climates. Such is the delight most painfully earned by a long,
protracted absence from our country, and our friends.
The Boxer having parted company soon after leaving Table bay, and
keeping more to the westward than the Peacock, caused a delay of two
days in her passage beyond ours. I remained at Rio until the arrival
from “the river” of the Lexington, commanded by Captain M’Keever.
[Sidenote: ARRIVAL AT BOSTON.]
Having taken leave of many worthy friends on board the Peacock, I
embarked on board the Lexington, and on the first day of March we
were cheered with the welcome sound of the first lieutenant’s voice,
ordering the capstan bars to be manned. The band immediately struck up
the cheering tune of “Homeward bound,” the capstan bars flew round like
a top, and in a few minutes, the ponderous anchor was at the bows, and
as we “filled away,” every countenance seemed exultingly to say, “Our
next anchorage ground will be within sight of home, and friends, and
our dear native shore.” Light and unfavourable winds annoyed us for
the first fortnight, until we stretched as far to the eastward as 28°,
and latitude 19°, when the northeasterly wind began to prevail more
steadily. On the twenty-seventh day, we crossed the equator and passed
between cape St. Roque and the island of Fernand de Noronha. The whole
passage was marked with light winds, until we arrived in the latitude
of Bermudas, when strong gales from the northward caused us to suffer
severely from the cold. On the twenty-fourth of April we caught the
first sight of land at cape Cod, and that evening, after “battling the
watch” all day with a furious northwester off cape Ann, we put into
Boston harbour and anchored near the light-house. On quitting the ship
and her worthy commander and officers, the next morning, the music
played, “Home, Sweet Home,” which I was upon the eve of visiting, after
a painful absence of twenty-six months.
_A Table, showing the names of the various places visited in
rotation, on board the United States ships-of-war, Peacock and
Lexington, from the eighth of March, 1832, to the twenty-fourth of
April, 1834; together with the distances between each place, and
the number of days at sea._
---------------------------------------------------------------------
| |Distance | Number
From | To | in miles | of days
| |per log. | at sea.
-----------------+-----------------------------+----------+----------
Boston | Port Praya | 3,672 | 31
Port Praya | Rio de Janeiro | 2,641 | 22
Rio Janeiro | Montevideo | 1,159 | 13
Montevideo | Buenos Ayres | 110 | 2
Buenos Ayres | Montevideo | 133 | 3
Montevideo | Bencoolen | 9,215 | 63
Bencoolen | Crokatoa and Angier | 593 | 9
Angier | Manila | 1,631 | 19
Manila |{ Macao }Canton | 589 | 7
|{ Linting } | |
Linting | Phuyen bay and Cochin-China| 718 | 7
Phuyen bay | Siam | 950 | 10
Siam | Singapore | 1,028 | 25
Singapore | Batavia | 920 | 26
Batavia | Angier | -- | 2
Angier | Red Sea | 4,694 | 38
Red Sea | Persian Gulf | 1,416 | 17
Muscat | Quintangony and Mozambique | 2,782 | 30
Mozambique | Cape of Good Hope | 2,306 | 24
Cape of Good Hope| Rio de Janeiro | 3,673 | 27
|----------+----------
Peacock, miles | 38,230 | 370 days.
Lexington, from Rio de Janeiro to } | |
Boston } | 6,948 | 54 do.
|----------+----------
Whole _distance_ of miles, exclusive} | 45,178 | 424 do.
of currents } | |
APPENDIX.
_State of Commerce in the year 1833, at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;
Condensed and brought into Form from Various Documents._
There _arrived_ 1704 national vessels, and _departed_ 1629; and
_arrived_ 696 foreign vessels, and _departed_ 617.
The _exports_ consisted of the following articles, viz.:--
Valuation.
Coffee, 577,764 bags and barrels 10,494,576 000
Sugar, 15,000 boxes, 11,204 barrels,
and 7,217 bags 1,459,513 500
Hides, 187,530 754,048 880
Horns, 380,242 48,922 340
Rice, 14,248 bags 80,276 000
Rum, 3,492 pipes 192,928 000
Tobacco, 15,919 rolls 158,584 500
Ipecacuanha, 458 barrels and bundles 59,880 000
Tapioca, 937 barrels and bags 3,002 000
Cotton, 196 bales 1,488 000
Timber, 1,633 dozens 40,860 000
Tanned half hides, 5,210 20,987 000
Gold, diamonds, &c. 2,400,000 000
--------------
Valued at 15,715,060 820
--------------
Mil Reis. Rs.
The _imports_ were valued at 16,560,372 752
The _revenue_ amounted to the sum of 4,847,952 550
There were imported 184,000 barrels of flour, including 13,000 barrels
on hand, on the first of January; and there were exported 48,500; and
there were on hand, the first of January, 1834, 35,000, which gave
100,500 barrels consumed--164,185 barrels were imported from the United
States, and 6,815 barrels from Europe and elsewhere.
The number of foreign vessels despatched during the year, were 565,
measuring 149,746 tons, of which,
208 were English, measuring 53,985 tons.
167 „ American „ 50,410 „
7 „ Austrian „ 1,771 „
5 „ Belgian „ 1,149 „
16 „ Danish „ 4,688 „
26 „ French „ 7,252 „
6 „ Spanish „ 1,059 „
3 „ Dutch „ 1,225 „
13 „ Hamburgh „ 3,919 „
6 „ Montevideo „ 1,054 „
4 „ Neapolitan „ 815 „
40 „ Portuguese „ 7,327 „
26 „ Sardinian „ 5,661 „
21 „ Swedish „ 5,496 „
2 „ Tuscan „ 382 „
2 „ Russian „ 1,366 „
3 „ Bremen „ 904 „
1 „ Roman „ 158 „
9 „ Argentine „ 1,116 „
There were shipped, by American vessels to the United States, 236,708
bags of coffee, and to Europe, 67,043 bags; making 303,751 bags, &c.,
which is upward of one half of the whole quantity exported.
Production of coffee throughout the world, in 1833:--
Pounds.
Brazil 92,432,240
Java 40,000,000
Rest of India and Arabia 30,000,000
Cuba 50,000,000
Porto Rico 15,000,000
St. Domingo 40,000,000
British West Indies 20,000,000
French „ 15,000,000
Dutch „ 10,000,000
Spanish „ 10,000,000
-----------
Total pounds 322,432,240
Consumption of coffee in 1833, copied from an Antwerp newspaper:--
Pounds.
Low Countries 90,000,000
Germany and the Baltic 70,000,000
Spain, Portugal, and the Mediterranean 65,000,000
England and Ireland 25,000,000
France 24,000,000
United States 80,000,000
-----------
354,000,000
-----------
Pounds.
In 1830, Brazil produced 391,785 bags 62,685,600
„ 1831, „ „ 430,672 „ 68,907,530
„ 1832, „ „ 513,296 „ 82,127,360
„ 1833, „ „ 577,764 „ 92,432,240
Being an increase of nearly fifty per cent., from 1830 to 1833.
Coffee consumed in the world:--
Tons.
The consumption in Great Britain, is about 10,000
„ „ France „ 20,000
„ „ Netherlands „ 40,000
„ „ Spain and Portugal „ 10,000
„ „ Germany and the Baltic „ 32,000
„ „ United States „ 15,000
-------
127,000
This quantity is produced as follows:--
British West India Islands 13,390
Java 20,000
Cuba 15,000
St. Domingo 16,000
Dutch West India Colonies 5,000
French ditto and Bourbon 8,000
Brazil and S. Main 32,000
-------
109,390
Population of Brazil in 1819, continued:--
Whites 843,000
Indians 259,400
Free casts 426,000
Ditto blacks 150,500
Black slaves 1,728,000
---------
3,406,900
---------
Produce: 100,000 cases sugar, of 15 qtt., of 128 pounds each.
150,000 bales of cotton, 12,500,000 pounds.
Between 12 and 13 millions pounds of coffee.
[A]
_Of the Aboriginal Inhabitants of the Malayan Peninsula, and
particularly of the Negroes called Semang._
This subject has afforded matter of curious and interesting
speculation, to several writers of modern date. Marsden, Leydon,
Raffles and Crawfurd have alternately bestowed a slight attention upon
it; but it is one which requires more minute investigation, and would
amply repay the labours of the philosopher.
Of the _interior parts_ of the Malayan peninsula, which is the Suvarna
or Gold island, one of the three sacred isles of the Hindoos [a] and
the _grand depot_ for souls after death, [b] there is little known
even at the present day, and the researches which have hitherto been
made, regarding the Aboriginals of this portion of the East, have as
yet been exceedingly defective, and unattended with any satisfactory
result. “In our present state of knowledge,” as a late author observes,
“I fear we must pronounce that the origin of the nations which inhabit
the Indian islands seems buried in unfathomable obscurity, and hardly
appears less mysterious than that of indigenous plants and animals of
the country they inhabit.” [c] Mr. Marsden, in the introduction to
his Malayan grammar, has quoted the opinion of Sir S. Raffles, (then
Mr. Raffles, secretary to the governor of Prince of Wales island,)
who published a paper on the Malay nation, in the twelfth volume of
the Asiatic Researches, relative to the Aborigines of the peninsula.
“The Malays,” observes this author, “seem to have occupied a country
previously unappropriated, for, if we except an inconsiderable race
of Caffrees who are occasionally found near the mountains, and a few
tribes of the Orang-Benua, there does not exist a vestige of a nation
anterior to the Malays in the whole peninsula. As the population of the
peninsula has excited much interest, my attention has been particularly
directed to the various tribes stated to be scattered over the country.
Those on the hills are usually called Semang and are woolly headed;
those on the plains, Orang-Benua, or people belonging to the country;
the word Benua being applied by the Malays to any extensive country,
as Benua China, Benua Kling, but it appears to be only a sort of Malay
plural to the Arabic word Ben or Beni, signifying a tribe.” [d] This
hypothesis, however, is satisfactorily confuted by Marsden, who asserts
that Benua is a genuine Malay word signifying country, region, land,
and that a slight variation of the word, as Whennua or Fennua is
found in the Bisagan dialects of the Philippines, and the languages
of the South Sea islands, bearing a precisely similar signification.
In my inquiries among the Malays, I have not been able, however, to
discover that the term Orang-Benua (which is literally Aborigines
or people of the land) is ever applied to any particular race of
the Malayan peninsula, the supposed Aboriginal tribes being styled
Sakei or Orang-Bukit, Orang-Laut or Semang. According to the Malayan
legends, indeed, there is a race of wild people said to be found in
the interior of Buman, the boundary between the states of Perak and
Salengore, designated Tuah-Benua [e] by the Salagorians, and known at
Quedah by the name of Mawas. They are represented as bearing a strong
resemblance to the Mawa or long-armed gibbon, and instead of having
a bone in the lower part of the arm, they have a piece of sharp iron
which serves the double purpose of an arm and a cleaver for cutting
wood. There is another savage race, according to the Malays, called
Bilian, who are covered with hair, and have nails of extraordinary
length. Their principal occupation is said to be tending the tigers,
which are their peculiar flock, as the buffaloes are of the Malays. In
rainy nights, they are represented by the Malays as sometimes coming
to their residence and demanding fire, which those who are acquainted
with their savage disposition, hand them upon the point of a sumpit
or arrow tube, or at the extremity of a sword; as were the person to
present it with his hand, he would inevitably be seized and devoured by
the savage monster, a fate, which the credulous Malay firmly believes,
has befallen many. It is admirable how the Mahometans of the present
day even, assign to these regions inhabitants so aptly coinciding with
the mythological superstitions of the Hindoos. Fitter subjects could
not indeed be attributed to the sovereign of darkness, whose abode
is said to be in the peninsula of Malacca, than the Mawas and Bilian
races above described; whose appearance is quite consistent with what
some intelligent Christians even, consider as the imps of the infernal
regions, and it is still more remarkable that the supposed residence of
the Mawa species is, according to the Malays, in the very neighbourhood
of the city of the Hindoos, yama-pari, or the _grand depot_ for _souls_
after death. Another circumstance deserving of notice is, that the
Menang-Kebans of Sumatra, supposed to be the primitive Malays, “deduce
their origin from two brothers named Perapati See Batang and Kei
Tumunggungan, who are described as being among the forty companions of
Noah in the ark, and whose landing at Palembang, or at a small islet
near it named Lauha Pura, (probably the small island of Lucepara) is
attended with the circumstance of the dry land being first discovered
by the resting upon it of a bird (Perapati is literally a pigeon) that
flew from _the vessel_. From thence they proceeded to the mountain
named Sigantang-Gantang, and afterward to Priangan in the neighbourhood
of the great volcano, which at this day is spoken of as the capital
of Menang-Kaban.” [f] There is a mountain called Gunon-Gantang in
the Perak country, the supposed Yama-puri, and what is still more
extraordinary, the king of Perak, in opposing the claims of the Siamese
to a Boonga-Mas or Golden Flower, in a letter to a friend, says, “I am
he who holds the royal sword and the dragon Betel Stand, and the shell
fish which came out of the sea, which came from the hill of Segantang.”
I do not profess myself to be sufficiently conversant with the subject,
to reason farther on this singular coincidence, but it appears to me
that many curious inferences might be drawn from it, and I shall leave
the matter for the investigation of a more scientific pen.
[a] Sir S. Raffles remarks: “Farther investigation may, perhaps,
establish Java and Sumatra, or rather the Malayan ports, (in which
general term, we may include all the islands containing the Malayan
ports,) as not only the Taprobane or Taprovana of the ancients, but
also the sacred isles of the Hindoos.” See History of Java, vol. i.,
page 5.
[b] “As Ptolemy places Ma-Lancapuri in the same longitude with the
Pauranies, he must have used the same data, which he had, probably,
received from the Hindoos, whom he conversed with at Alexandria.
Ma-Lanca being, according to the Pauranies, in the centre of the
peninsula, it must be of course in about four degrees of latitude
north, and there it is placed by Abul Fayil, and in 4°. 20′, by
Ptolemy. Ma-Lanca is called, in the Pauranies, Yamala and Malaya, which
last denomination it still retains. It is styled also Chanchan-apuda,
or with the Golden Skirts. It may be translated the country of the
Golden Feet, a title assumed by the emperor of Ava, and other kings
of that part of the world: and the Malayan _breeze_ is as famous in
the East, as the _Sabaean_ in the west, and its capital was also
called Saba or Zaba. In the beginning of the Brahmanda-purans, it is
declared, that the stronghold of Yama Tri-_cuta_, that is to say, the
peninsula of Malacca, is one hundred yo-janas long, and thirty broad,
which is sufficiently accurate. Ptolemy mentions, there is a place,
called Malaioncolou, probably, from the Sanscrit, Malaya-Culum, which
implies a place on the borders or shores of Malaya; the same is called
Maletur by Marco Polo; Malayatir and Malaya-Culom, are synonymous.[A]
It is singular, that the city of Canca-Nagera, or Ma-Lancapuri, is
placed by Ptolemy in the exact latitude of the river Dinding, in the
Perak territory, (which is known as the _Temala_, or Land of Tin,
of the same author,) and which is, no doubt, the same city alluded
to in the Sejara Malaya, or Malayan Annals, written in the year of
the Hajeirat, 1021, or a little more than two centuries ago. It is
therein mentioned, that Rajah Suran Padshah, (said to be a descendant
of Alexander the Great,) formed the design of subjugating China, and
for this purpose his men-at-arms, and the rajahs dependant on him,
assembled from every quarter, with their hosts, to the number of one
thousand and two lacs. With this prodigious host, he advanced against
China, and in his course, forests were converted into open plains--the
earth shook, and the thickets moved--the lofty grounds became level,
and the rocks flew off in shivers, and the large rivers dried up.
Two months he marched on without delay, and the darkest night was
illuminated by the light of their armour, like the lustre of the full
moon; and the noise of the thunder could not be heard for the loud
noise of champions and warriors, mixed with the cries of the horses and
elephants. Every country which Rajah Suran approached, he subdued and
reduced under his subjection, till at last he approached the country of
Gangga Nagara, the rajah of which was named Ganggi Shah Juana, which
city is situated on a hill of very steep approach in front, but of
easy access in the rear.[B] Its fort was situated on the banks of the
river Dinding, in the vicinity of Perak.” It is also worthy of notice,
that there are two rivers under this mountain, which bear the name of
Sangah Kechil and Sangah Besar, or the small and great Laugah. It will
also be observed, by a reference to any of the charts of the straits
of Malacca, that there is an island, called Callum, or Collong, which
forms the straits of the same name, and which are about a day’s sail
from the Dindings. There is a river of the same name on the main, from
which much tin is exported, and which is, perhaps, the Malaion-Colon of
Ptolemy, and Malaya-Culum of the Sanscrit, notwithstanding the powerful
arguments against such a supposition. It must not be omitted to notice
besides, that there is another river to the southward of Colong, called
Langar, which bears such a striking affinity to Lanca. An intelligent
author (Mr. Crawford) asserts, that ‘The word Kolon is, without any
alteration, Javanese, and means the west, and the compound word,
Malayu-Kolon, exactly in the order in which it stands, means, ‘Malays
of the west;’ and there is an unanswerable objection against supposing
Malayu-Kolon to be on the Malayan peninsula, or supposing this to be
the Golden Chersonesus or Khruse, at all, which will occur at once to
every one familiar with the well-known history of the Malays. It is
this--in the age of Ptolemy, and for many ages after it, the Malayan
peninsula was uninhabited, or inhabited only by a few negro savages,
resembling the cannibals of Andaman, wretched beings, with whom there
could have been no intercourse, or at least no commerce. Malays did not
emigrate from Sumatra, their parent-country, and settle in the Malayan
peninsula, until the comparatively modern period of 1160, a thousand
years after the time of Ptolemy, while Malacca was not founded until
1252, and every other Malay state, on the peninsula, is of a still more
recent foundation.’--History of the Archipelago, vol. iii. p. 190, 191.
[A] Major Milford’s Essay on Asiatic Researches, vol. x., pp. 144, 145,
146, 147.
[B] Forrest alludes to a remarkable mountain in this quarter: “Gunang
Jantong, hanging hill, is remarkable, near Laroot river.”
[c] Crawford’s Archipelago, vol. i. p. 36.
[d] We are informed by Marsden, that the Sumatrans are firmly persuaded
that various particular persons are what they term “betuah,” (sacred,
invulnerable, not liable to accident.) The belief which prevails
in that island, however, among the Malays, of the transmigration
of souls, does not extend to the Malays of the peninsula, who have
spirits and imaginary beings of their own, among which we may safely
reckon the Mawas and Bilian. Mr. Marsden says of the Sumatrans: “They
have an imperfect notion of a metempsychosis, but not in any degree
systematic, nor considered as an article of religious faith. Popular
stories prevail among them, of such a particular man being changed
into a tiger, or other beast. They seem to think, indeed, that tigers,
in general, are actuated with the spirits of departed men, and no
consideration will prevail on a countryman to catch or to wound one,
but in self-defence, or immediately after the act of destroying a
friend or relation. They speak of them with a degree of awe, and
hesitate about calling them by their common name, (ariman or machang,)
terming them respectfully sewa, the wild animals, or even nenck,
(ancestors,) as really believing them such, or by way of soothing them,
as our ignorant country-folks call the fairies ‘the good people.’”
[e] In the history of Sumatra, there is a description of two races
of wild people on that island, called Orang Kubu and Orang Gugu; the
latter of whom seems to correspond with the description of the Bilian
of the peninsula. “In the course of my inquiries among the natives,”
observes Mr. Marsden, “concerning the Aborigines of the island, I have
been informed of two different species of people, dispersed in the
woods, and avoiding all communication with other inhabitants. These
they call Orang Kubu and Orang Gugu. The former are said to be pretty
numerous, especially in that part of the country which lies between
Palembang and Jambi. Some have, at times, been caught, and kept as
slaves, in Labun; and a man of that place is now married to a tolerably
Kubu girl, who was carried off by a party that discovered their huts.
They have a language quite peculiar to themselves, and they eat
promiscuously whatever the woods afford, as deer, elephants, wild hogs,
snakes, or monkeys. The Gugu are much scarcer than these, differing in
little, but the use of speech, from the Orang Utau of Borneo, their
bodies being covered with long hair. There have not been above two or
three instances of their being met with by people of Labun, (from whom
any information is derived,) and one of these was entrapped many years
ago, in much the same manner as the carpenter, in Pelpay’s fables,
caught the monkey. He had children by a Labun woman, which also were
more hairy than the common race, but the third generation are not to
be distinguished from others. The reader will bestow what measure of
faith he thinks due to this relation, the veracity of which I do not
pretend to vouch for. It has, probably, some foundation in truth, but
is exaggerated in the circumstances.”--See History of Sumatra, p. 41.
[f] See History of Sumatra, pp. 332, 333.
At Perak, the principal tin country of the peninsula, there are two
distinct races of wild people in the interior, the one called Semang,
resembling those of Quedah in personal appearance, but speaking a
different dialect, somewhat more civilized, and fond of collecting
silver and gold, with which they ornament their spears and knives,
which they obtain in exchange for the products of the wood; the others
are called Orang-Sakei by some, and Orang-Bukit or hill-people by
others. [g] They are much darker complexioned than the Malays, but
fairer than the Semangs, and speak a distinct language of their own.
They are not so timid as the Semangs, and sometimes come down to the
Malayan villages to amuse the inhabitants by their peculiar dances and
music. Their ordinary dress consists of pieces of bark beat out, tied
round their middle, but in their woods they are frequently met quite
naked. Both tribes are reported to be pretty numerous on the hills
which divide the Perak from the Patani states, and they are often
engaged in hostilities with each other. They are not so untractable as
the Semangs, and some of their children are trained up as domestics in
the Malayan families.
[g] This race of people seem to correspond in their appearance and
habits with a tribe called Jokong, which Sir S. Raffles describes as
being found near Malacca, (Asiatic Researches, vol. xii., p. 109):
“I had an opportunity,” remarks this author, in his paper on the
Malay nation, “of seeing two of these people, from a tribe in the
neighbourhood of Malacca; it consisted of about sixty people, and
the tribe was called Jakoons. These people, from their occasional
intercourse with the Malayan villages, dependant on Malacca, speak
the language well to be generally understood. They relate, that
there are two other tribes, the Orang Benna and the Orang Udai. The
former appears to be the most interesting, as composing the majority;
the latter is only another name for the Semang or Caffres. They are
not circumcised, and they appear to have received some instruction
regarding Nabi Isu, or as they pronounce it, Nabi Isher. They,
however, have no books, nor any word for God, whom they designate by
the Portuguese word Deos. The men are well formed, or rather short,
resembling the Malay in countenance, but having a sharper and smaller
nose. They marry but one wife, whether rich or poor, and appear to
observe no particular ceremony at their nuptials; the consent of the
girl and the parents being obtained, the couple are considered as man
and wife.”
The Orang-Laut is a race of people resembling the Malays in appearance,
who live almost entirely on the water; they are certainly the
Ichthyophagi of the East, and they subsist wholly upon fish. Dr.
Leyden supposes the Battas of Sumatra to be the Ichthyophagi described
by Herodotus; but there are several circumstances in his description
which would seem to contradict such a supposition. The same author
also, in alluding to the Batta Anthropophagi or cannibals of Sumatra,
says: [h] “This inhuman custom is not however without a precedent in
history, for Herodotus positively asserts that the Padang or Pedasi,
about five hundred years before our era, were not only addicted to the
eating of raw flesh, but accustomed to kill and eat their relations
when they grew old.” Now it is curious that Batta or Battey, for the
name is written both ways, seems to be the very word which in Greek,
is rendered Padasi, the letter P being almost always pronounced B
among several of the Indo Chinese nations, as in the word Pali, which
is almost always pronounced Bali. The following is the account which
Herodotus gives us of the Paday or Padasi:--“Another Indian nation, who
dwell to the _eastward_ of these, (the Indian Ichthyophagi,) are of
Nomadic habits and eat raw flesh; they are called Paday and are said to
practise such customs as the following: whoever of the community, be he
man or woman, happens to fall sick, his most familiar friends, if it is
a man, kill him, saying, that by his pining in sickness, his _flesh_
will be spoiled for them, and though he deny that he is sick, they do
not attend to him, but put him to death and feast on him. When a woman
falls sick, she is treated in like manner by her most intimate female
associates. They also sacrifice and feast on him who arrives at old
age, and this is the reason that so few ever attain it, for they kill
every one who falls sick, before that period.” [i] Although this account
corresponds in some particulars with the habits of the Battas, yet it
differs materially in others. The Battas, it is well known, inhabit
the _central_ parts of Sumatra and but rarely approach the _seashore_;
they could not therefore be termed Ichthyophagi, as they scarcely _see
fish_. The Orang-Laut of the present day are not known to be addicted
to cannibalism, though it is extremely probable they were in former
times, as they _yet_ retain all the characteristics of the most savage
life. They rove about from one island to another, and are found in
greatest numbers about the Lancavy group of islands opposite Quedah,
and likewise in the straits of Singapore, Dryon, Banca and Belitong.
They subsist wholly by fishing, and are very expert at striking fish
with the spear; they live principally in small canoes: sometimes when
the weather is boisterous, or their little barks require repair, they
erect temporary huts on the seashore: they are almost all covered with
ring-worms and scorbutic eruptions, and have altogether a most squalid,
wretched look; they are sometimes, when chance throws them in the way
and they have become a little civilized, employed by the Malays to pull
an oar, at which from their continual practice, they are very expert;
“their religion is,” (as Symes says of the Andamaners,) “the genuine
homage of nature,” offering up a hasty petition to the sun and moon.
Of the origin of that most singular and curious race called Semang,
[j] the Malays possess no tradition: certain it is, however, that
the tribes of them which inhabited various parts on both sides of the
peninsula, were much more numerous before many of the Malayan colonies
were founded by emigrants from Sumatra. The Semangs are designated by
the Malays Semang Paya, Bukit, Bakow and Bila. The Semang Paya are
those who reside on the plains and borders of morasses; the Semang
Bukit whose abode is on the _hills_, and the Semang Bakow are so
called from their frequenting the _seashore_, and occasionally taking
up their quarters in the mangrove jungles; the Semang Bila are those
who have been somewhat reclaimed from their savage habits and have
had intercourse with the Malays. A similar race of people are said to
have formerly inhabited all the islands of the Archipelago, and small
parties are still to be found on many of them. To the eastward they
are called Dyake, and on the east coast of the Peninsula, Pangan. They
are at present most numerous in the interior of Jan, a small river to
the northward of Mirlow, near the lofty mountain Jerei, in the Quedah
territory. There are small parties also in the mountains inland of
Jooroo and Krian, opposite Pinang. Their huts are temporary dwellings,
(for they have no fixed habitations, and rove about like the beasts of
the forest,) consist of two posts stuck into the ground, with a small
cross-piece, and a few leaves or branches of trees laid over to secure
them from the weather; some of them indeed, in the thicker parts of the
forest, where the elephants, tigers, and other wild animals are most
abundant, make their temporary dwellings upon the cliffs, and branches
of the large trees; their clothing consists chiefly of the inner bark
of trees, having no manufactures of their own; a few who have ventured
to approach the Malayan villages, however, obtain a little cloth in
exchange for elephant’s teeth, gahru, dammer and canes, which they
procure in the forest, but of the intrinsic value of which they possess
little knowledge, and are imposed upon by the crafty Malay. From the
Malays also, they procure their arms, knives and tobacco, of which
last they make great use; they in turn frequently impose upon the
superstitious Malays, when they have no products to barter and wish
to procure a supply of tobacco, by presenting them with the medicines
derived from particular shrubs and trees, which they represent as
efficacious for the cure of headaches and other complaints. The Semangs
subsist upon the birds and beasts of the forest and upon roots; they
eat elephants, rhinoceroses, monkeys, and rats, and with the exception
of the partial and scanty supplies which they obtain from the Malays,
they have no rice nor salt: they are very expert with the sompit, and
poison their darts with the ipoh, procured from the juice of various
trees, which are deadly poison; they handle the bow and spear with
wonderful dexterity, and destroy the largest and most powerful animals
by ingenious contrivances. They seldom suffer by beasts of prey, as
they are extremely sharpsighted, and as agile in ascending trees as
the monkeys. Their mode of destroying elephants, in order to procure
their ivory or their flesh, is most extraordinary and ingenious; small
parties of two and three lie in wait, when they perceive any elephants
ascend a hill, and as they descend again, (which they usually do at
a slow pace, plucking the branches as they move along,) while the
hind legs are lifted up, the Semang, cautiously approaching behind,
drives a sharp-pointed bambic or piece of weebong, which has been
previously well hardened in the fire, and touched with poison, into
the sole of the elephant’s foot, with all his force, which effectually
lames the animal and most commonly causes him to fall, when the whole
party rush upon him with spears and sharp-pointed sticks, and soon
despatch him. The rhinoceros they obtain with even less difficulty.
This animal, which is of solitary habits, is found frequently in
marshy places, with its whole body immersed in mud, and part of the
head only projecting. The Malays call them bodak tapa, or the recluse
rhinoceros. Toward the close of the rainy season, they are said to bury
themselves in this manner in different places, and upon the dry weather
setting in, and from the powerful effects of a vertical sun, the mud
becomes hard and crusted, and the rhinoceros cannot effect its escape
without considerable difficulty and exertion; the Semangs then prepare
themselves with large quantities of combustible materials, with which
they quietly approach the animal, who is aroused from his revery by an
immense fire over him, which being kept well supplied with fresh fuel,
soon completes his destruction and renders him in a fit state to make a
meal of; the projecting horn on the snout is carefully preserved, being
supposed to be possessed of medical properties, and highly prized by
the Malays, to whom they barter it for tobacco and other articles.
[h] On the language and literature of the Indu Chinese nations. (As.
Res. vol. 10, 202, 203.)
[i] Herodotus, Lib. 3, s. 99.
[j] Dr. Leyden, in his disquisition on the language and literature of
the East, makes mention of the negro-tribes as follows: “The Papuas,
termed by themselves Inglote, but by the Spaniards of the Philippine
islands, ‘Nigritos del Monte,’ from their colour of woolly hair, are
the second race of Aborigines in the Eastern isles, in several of
which they are still to be found, and in all which they seem to have
originally existed. Some of these divisions have formed small savage
states, and made some advances towards civilization; but the greater
part of them, even with the example of more civilized races before
their eyes, have betrayed no symptoms, either of a taste or capacity
for improvement, and continue in their primary state of nakedness,
sleeping on trees, devoid of houses or clothing, and subsisting on
the spontaneous products of the forest, or the precarious success
of their hunting and fishing. The Papuas, or Oriental negroes, seem
to be all divided into very small states, or rather societies, very
little connected with each other. Hence their language is broken into
a multitude of dialects, which, in process of time, by separation,
accident, and oral corruption, have nearly lost all resemblance. The
Malays of the peninsula consider the language of the blacks of the
hills as a mere jargon, which can only be compared to the chattering of
large birds, and the Papua dialects in many of the Eastern isles, are
generally viewed in the same light.” See As. Res. vol. x. p. 218.
A more simple and natural mode of bestowing names cannot well be
imagined, than that adopted by the Semangs: they are called after
particular trees: that is, if a child is born under or near a
cocoa-nut, or durian, or any particular tree in the forest, it is
named accordingly. They have chiefs among them, but all property
is in common; they worship the sun. Some years ago, I am told, the
bindahava or general of Quedah, sent two of these people for the
inspection of some of his English friends, at Penang; but shortly
after leaving Quedah, one of them, whose fears could not be appeased,
became very obstreperous, and endeavoured to upset the small boat, in
which they embarked; the Malays, therefore, with their usual apathy
and indifference about human life, put the poor creature to death,
and threw him overboard; the other arrived in safety, was kindly
treated, and received many presents of spades, hatchets, and other
implements, which he appeared to prize above every thing else. On his
return to Jan, he built himself a small hut, and began to cultivate
maize, sugar-cane, and yams, and it is said that he is still there,
and is a quiet inoffensive man. This man was, at the time of his visit
to Penang, according to report, about thirty years of age, four feet
nine inches in height: his hair was woolly and tufted, and of a glossy
jet-black; [k] his lips were thick, his nose flat, and belly very
protuberant, resembling exactly the natives of the Andaman islands.
The Semangs are found also at Tringand, on the eastern side of the
peninsula. I am informed by the Malays that the dialect of that tribe
is different from those of Quedah, but much the same as of those near
Malacca: they are not of such a jet-black, glossy appearance as the
Semangs from Quedah, nor as the Andamans. There is little doubt that
the degenerate inhabitants of the Andaman islands, in the bay of
Bengal, are descended from the same parent stock as the Semangs, and
it is extraordinary that they have preserved the same uniformity of
manners and habits, through such a series of ages. It will be seen by
a reference to the following specimen of the Semang language, that
there is a very material difference in many of the words collected by
Colonel M’Lunes, (late Malay translator at Penang,) from a Semang or
Jan, and published by Mr. Crawfurd, and those collected by Mr. Maingy,
the president of Province Wellesley, (government of Penang,) from the
Semang of Jooroo, and that the Andaman language bears no resemblance to
either.
[k] “The East Insular Negro,” says Crawford, “is a distinct variety
of the human species, and evidently a very inferior one. Their puny
stature and feeble frames cannot be ascribed to the poverty of their
food, or the hardships of their condition, for the lank-haired
races, living under circumstances equally precarious, have vigorous
constitutions. Some islands they enjoy almost exclusively to
themselves, yet they have in no instance ever risen above the most
abject state of barbarism. Wherever they are encountered by the fair
races, they are hunted down like wild animals of the forest, and driven
to the mountains and fastnesses, incapable of resistance.” (Crawford’s
Archipelago, vol., i. p. 26.) Sir Everard Home gives the following
description of a Papua negro, carried to England by Sir S. Raffles,
Hist. of Java, vol. ii., Appendix, p. 235: “The Papua differs from the
African negro in the following particulars: his skin is of a lighter
colour, the woolly hair grows in small tufts, and each hair has a
spiral twist. The forehead is higher, and the hind head is not so much
cut off. The nose projects more from the face, the upper lip is longer
and more prominent, the lower lip projects forward from the lower jaw
to such an extent that the chin forms no part of the face, the lower
part of which is formed by the mouth; the buttocks are so much lower
than the negro as to form a striking mark of distinction, but the calf
of the leg is as high as in the negro.”
_Specimens of the Semang Language in two Dialects, and of the Andaman._
English. Semang Jooroo. Sensing Jan or Andaman.
Quedah.
Earthquake Talila
Land Teh Karmon Teh Tatonguangu
Mountain Maidap Tabing Chubak
Plain Teh Haita
Sand Pasain
Island Paloo
Road Ha
Water Ho Bateao Migway
Sea Lawat Lant
River Sungei Sungai
Flood Pasing
Ebb Suit
Sun Milkatok Milkatok Allag
Moon Bulan Kachit Tabei
Stag Binting
Rain Ujar Oye
Fire Us Mona
Smoke E’el
Lightning Kilat
Thunder Kai
Wind Bioh
Cloud Miga
Dark Tin, Amea
Light Cha hai
Cold Gun, Amad Choma
Hot Pedee Mooloo
Black Belteng Belting Cheegheoga
Charcoal Auggu Mannying
Ashes Tebut Tapip
Cloth Budbud Panzah
Tree Kuing Chuck
Leaf Klee
Rattan Latei
Bough Teboa
Flower Bungei
Rice Bei Bayas
Salt Ceam Siyah
Milk Boo
Teeth Kabis
Life Gamas
Sick Myi
Fever Maa
Smallpox Champang
Man Tumbal Teunkal Camolon
Woman Mabei Badon
Virgin Kedah
Father Kan Ai
Mother Boh Mak
Brother Tobai Inak
Sister Wan-Ku-Man
Infant Wang Wanganeg
Husband Tee
Marriage Goon
Body Pee
Mine Eng
Flesh See
Bone Gehee Aieng Geetonggy
Blood Muhum Cochengohee
Head Kula Kuyi Kai Tabay
Face Mid
Ear Pal Anting Quaka
Mouth Tenut Ban
Tooth Lemum Yus Maboy
Tongue Litig
Belly Koad Cheong Napoy
Nipple Bou Chas
Hand Tong
Fingers Wantung Momay
Thumb Boaling
Hair Saa
Nail of the
hand Tiku Tong
Arm Belang Pilei
Foot Chan
Nail of the
foot Tiku Chan
Toe Wong Chan
Eye Meda Tabay
Nose Muck Neak Mellee
Tiger Chiai Taiyo
Hog Tuban, Badai
Dog Wan Ek
Deer San Rusak
Elephant Ta-Meen-da Gazah
Crow Eghail
Peacock Mah
Monkey Jayo
Buffalo Kebao
Rat Tikus
Cow Lemboh Lembok
Fowl Kawao
Duck Itek
Fish Ikam Nabohee
Snake Ekob
Bee Galu
Crab Kandun
Ant Kesub Les
Egg Mahu
Nest S’am
TEA.
It is well known wherever tea is used, that there are two descriptions
of it, the _black_ and the _green_. In the account of the _domestic_
commerce of China heretofore mentioned, it is shown that the _black_
teas are brought from the province of _Tuh-keen_, (which lies at the
distance of about four hundred miles from Canton,) and the _green_ teas
from _Keang-nan_, (at the distance of about eight hundred miles.) The
hilly upland districts of these provinces are the native and favourite
soils of the tea-tree. It has not been supposed that these leading
kinds of tea, as an article of wide consumption, were the produce of
the same tree--but it has been and still is questioned, whether the
black and the green teas are the produce of plants _specifically_
differing, or whether these differences of colour, flavour, &c., are
the result of the action of soil and sun on the same original tree.
Botanists have never been permitted to traverse these provinces, and
so decide this question; we believe however, that their opinion now
is, that there must and do exist differences sufficiently great to be
denominated _specific_, between the black-tea tree and the green-tea
tree.
Beside this region producing the real tea of commerce, the greater
part of the Chinese provinces, and even Cochin-China and Japan, have
their tea-tree. The provincial tea of China is a widely different, and
very inferior article, though used by the poorer local population;
and sometimes when prices are high, it is used to adulterate, before
exportation, the _true_ tea. Perhaps the grape is the only plant whose
produce can be compared for singular diversity of flavour, &c., to
the tea of the tea-tree. The delicious “Woolung” differs as totally
from the common Souchong, as does the “Vin ordinaire” of the worst
districts, from the “Chambertin of Burgundy.”
We are not aware that there is any thing peculiar in the cultivation
of the tea-tree, except that, like the mulberry, it is kept down to a
sapling size, to secure a tenderer leaf, and to render its gathering
the more easy. It is said to be cultivated by small proprietors, who
sell the produce of their tea-groves to collectors, called at Canton
“teamen.” These collectors leave Canton in the winter and spring with
their own, and perhaps a loaned capital, and after purchasing, curing
and packing, as much tea as their means will command, return with it
to Canton in the autumn. In the curing of tea, we are not aware that
any unwholesome methods are regularly resorted to--it is certain,
however, that _iron filings_ have sometimes been detected in black
teas, and that the colour of the green is sometimes attempted to be
heightened by a little “Prussian blue.” It is perhaps from a few cases
of this kind, that prejudices have been excited against this wholesome,
temperate and social beverage. The green tea, when arrived at Canton,
is spoken of in the market as a “Sunglo,” or a “Hyson” tea; the _black_
tea is called a “Mohea,” or an “Anki” tea. These names, derived from
the districts where the tea is grown, are used as general distinctions
of flavour and quality--the “Hyson” and “Mohea” being _sweeter_ and
more _valuable_--the “Sunglo” and “Anki,” more _astringent_ and _less
esteemed_ teas. These names are however almost unknown to the consumers
in Europe and America. The names with which they are familiar, are
found under both these general distinctions in tea. The Hyson--Hyson
Skin--Young Hyson--Gunpowder and Imperial, all green, may be either
Sunglo or Hyson teas. These names, viz.: Hyson, Hyson Skin, &c.,
merely designate the sortings, or siftings of the green leaf into its
different _sizes_, or _stages of growth_, but _plucked from the same
tree_. The Hyson, being the full-grown, mature leaf, has hitherto been
in much the greatest quantity; but the increasing demand for Young
Hyson, Gunpowder and Imperial--_younger leaves_--will no doubt be
followed by a corresponding effort to increase by a different time of
gathering, the proportion of these kinds of tea.
There is not so much care taken in sorting the produce of the black-tea
tree. Its rougher, coarser leaf cannot be made to curl or roll when
dried, like that of the green-tea tree. In the spring, the first
sproutings of its twigs and tender leaves are gathered--these make
the _Pecco_ tea; they may be distinguished by the _white down_ which
covers them, as it does the spring shoots of other plants; hence the
name “_Pih-haou_,” white down. In the course of the summer, there are
three other gatherings, each less valuable than the preceding, of the
leaves of the _black-tea_ tree. The “_Congo_,” the great article for
the English market, is made from one of the _early_ gatherings, without
any mixture of inferior tea. The “_Campoi_,” though not at the present
day a favourite article, or a very inferior one, has a large clean
leaf, and should be, as its name signifies, a “selected” tea. It is
not correct to say that the “Souchong” is an _inferior_ tea. Its name
merely designates it as a “_small-leafed_” tea; its different qualities
take in a wide range of flavour and value. Its first gatherings, from
favourable soils, are delicious teas; while the third crop, “Souchong,”
is superior only to Bohea. The “_Pouchong_” is only a peculiarly
_packed_ tea; a clean unbroken black tea is chosen and tied up in
small papers to make Pouchong tea; its name signifies “_enveloped_,”
or a “packed tea.” The very inferior article called “_Bohea_,” is at
the present time, rather a manufacture than a growth of tea. Its name
is corrupted from “Woo-E” the hills bearing the black tea. It is now
prepared either in the country, by mixing the refuse of the Souchong,
or with “Wa-ping,” a neighbouring provincial tea, or at Canton by
adding farther, the tea which has been damaged on its passage from the
interior, and all the leaves within reach of collection, which have
been _once infused_ and dried again.
The “teamen” are in the habit of affixing the same name, year after
year, to the tea which they bring to market; this name given to their
whole parcel, or to each of the qualities it may contain, is called
the “Chop” name. The foreign resident at Canton has little or no
intercourse with the “teamen.” The “hong” merchants, or the merchants
trading through the hongs, are the medium of sale; they often, however,
purchase largely on their own account and judgment from the “teamen.”
The Dutch learned the use of tea at Bantam from the Chinese, and first
introduced it into Europe in 1610. It was not known in England until
after 1650; and from 1700 to 1710, there was imported less than eight
hundred thousand pounds; but from 1710 to 1810, it amounted to seven
hundred and fifty millions of pounds: between the years 1810 and 1828,
the total importation exceeded four hundred and twenty-seven millions,
being on an average of between twenty-three and twenty-four millions a
year. In the year 1831, the quantity amounted to twenty-six millions,
forty-three thousand, two hundred and twenty-three pounds; and in
the season of 1832-33, the export of the English Company was thirty
millions, thirty-six thousand, and four hundred pounds. The expiration
of the English East India Company’s charter, and the ill success of
the Netherlands Trading Company, are now turning the commerce in this
valuable article into private hands. At the close of the company’s
charter, (in 1834,) the consumption of tea in the United Kingdom, was
estimated at thirty-two millions of pounds. Under the free trade now
opening, it may be estimated at thirty-five millions. The consumption
of the rest of Europe, imported almost entirely through Hamburgh and
Holland, may be estimated at _five_ millions of pounds. The quantity
imported into Russia by land from China is not included.
The _American_ trade to China commenced in 1784-5; and that season,
eight hundred and eighty thousand, one hundred pounds, were exported.
In the next season, six hundred and ninety-five thousand pounds were
taken. In 1786-7, five ships were engaged in the trade, and they
exported one million, one hundred and eighty-six thousand, eight
hundred and sixty pounds; but in the season of 1832-3, _fifty-nine_
vessels exported thirteen millions, two hundred and fifty thousand, one
hundred and eighty-five pounds of the following descriptions:--
Catties.
Bohea, 13,665 quarter chests of 50 catties each, making 683,255
Souchg. and Pouchg. 39,538 chests 50 catties „ 1,876,900
H. Skin and Tonkay, 36,608 „ 52 „ „ 1,903,616
Young Hyson, 51,363 „ 70 „ „ 3,595,410
Gunpowder and Imp. 12,583 „ 83 „ „ 1,041,899
Hyson, 14,248 „ 49 „ „ 710,972
Pecco, 2,563 „ 49 „ „ 125,587
----------
Catties, 9,937,639
Equal to pounds, 13,250,185
The consumption of the United States, and the ports supplied from the
commerce of the United States, may be estimated for 1834, at _fifteen_
millions of pounds.
We have therefore a total annual consumption, on this side of the
Cape of Good Hope, of this great staple of China, of FIFTY-FIVE
millions of pounds. This amount will in a few years be increased to
sixty millions. The quantity of tea exported by the Dutch cannot be
accurately estimated. Some seasons there are five or six ships engaged
in the trade, and in other seasons there are none: when there is any
deficiency it has been supplied by the Americans. The quantity exported
to British India averages about _two_ millions, three hundred thousand
pounds annually. The export by vessels of other nations is very
inconsiderable.
The Portuguese, notwithstanding their direct, early, and intimate
connexion with China, neglected to import it, being very indifferent
to its use; they, as well as the Spaniards, place but little value on
it even to this day; coffee and chocolate being preferred in Spain and
Portugal, as well as in South America, Mexico, Cuba and Porto Rico,
with the addition of the Yerba de Paraguay or Maté, the favourite
beverage of the Spaniards of La Plata, Paraguay, Chili, and other parts
of South America.
_Comparative Estimate of the principal Exports from Canton to the
United States._
------------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
| 1822-23.| 1823-24.| 1824-25.| 1825-26.| 1826-27.
| | | | |
------------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
Bohea, one fourth chests| 10,018| 2,413| 5,795| 3,340| 1,095
Souchong & Pouchong | 37,828| 29,296| 31,566| 24,527| 27,405
Hyson skin & Tonkay | 37,134| 32,426| 56,788| 45,299| 29,395
Young hyson | 22,165| 31,217| 39,303| 45,461| 28,487
Gunpowder & imperial | 4,899| 5,587| 6,817| 8,019| 5,992
Hyson | 14,703| 11,562| 14,501| 19,072| 8,915
Pecco | 175| 315| 215| 368| 377
+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
Total chests | 127,022| 112,816| 154,985| 146,086| 101,666
+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
Cassia, peculs | 7,773| 6,459| 8,624| 9,023| 4,035
_Silks_--Crape, pieces | 91,447| 55,616| 103,236| 46,703| 29,615
„ Crape shawls | 156,631| 142,425| 220,635| 264,630| 104,060
„ Crape scarfs | 45,264| 8,683| 8,100| 15,800| 4,160
„ Crape dresses | 32,457| 23,298| 46,500| 58,050| 32,940
„ Florentines | 4,295| 3,846| 2,879| 1,025| 750
„ Sarsnets | 46,264| 45,384| 64,231| 62,662| 20,474
„ Senshaws | 24,145| 12,302| 10,919| 7,740| 9,485
„ Pongees | 5,649| 2,850| 2,967| 2,145| 5,369
„ Handkerchiefs | 92,338| 37,877| 80,979| 90,985| 42,635
„ Satins | 8,150| 5,614| 7,384| 7,880| 10,881
„ Levantines | 10,944| 8,645| 9,600| 6,280| 7,657
„ Camlets | -- |-- | -- | -- | 1,477
„ Droguets | -- |-- | -- | -- | 425
Sewing silk, peculs | 75| 58| 75| 41| 18
Raw silk | -- |-- | -- | -- | 210
Nankeens, pieces |1,070,707| 259,506| 765,000| 664,000| 267,405
| | | | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $
Total value $|6,760,582|5,006,243|7,716,444|7,650,938|3,806,708
------------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
| 1827-28.| 1828-29.| 1829-30.| 1830-31.| 1831-32
| | | | |
------------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
Bohea, one fourth chests| 1,100| 901| 1,904| 3,592| 12,182
Souchong & Pouchong | 24,775| 17,216| 25,428| 17,514| 39,596
Hyson skin & Tonkay | 33,926| 18,097| 68,134| 5,447| 20,883
Young hyson | 31,085| 26,192| 29,476| 25,528| 40,065
Gunpowder & imperial | 6,614| 4,888| 6,289| 3,953| 9,117
Hyson | 14,963| 11,264| 11,197| 7,147| 9,346
Pecco | -- | 191| 366| 205| 517
+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
Total chests | 112,463| 78,749| 102,794| 63,386| 131,706
+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
Cassia, peculs | 7,209| 2,916| 2,888| 1,828| 3,541
_Silks_--Crape, pieces | 69,028| 24,605| 9,660| 5,881| 9,507
„ Crape shawls | | | | | 77,570
„ Crape scarfs | 57,293| 101,425| 87,304| 102,162|
„ Crape dresses | | | | |
„ Florentines | 2,135| 850| 400| -- | --
„ Sarsnets | 23,489| 17,295| 25,439| 53,385| 27,455
„ Senshaws | 14,957| 11,340| 10,113| 25,810| 22,292
„ Pongees | 13,530| 16,087| 10,491| 41,439| 44,578
„ Handkerchiefs | 76,569| 24,314| 14,662| 14,189| 23,157
„ Satins | 18,606| 4,836| 5,154| 8,985| 6,965
„ Levantines | 13,497| 7,382| 4,356| 6,155| 13,643
„ Camlets | 2,620| 2,465| 310| 990| 3,500
„ Droguets | -- | -- | -- | -- | --
Sewing silk, peculs | 184| 144| 164| 354| 350
Raw silk | 157| 68| 230| 285| 109
Nankeens, pieces | 524,500| 392,900| 305,568| 118,774| 122,285
| | | | |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $
Total value $|5,318,966|3,337,480|3,629,722|3,356,551|5,577,731
------------------------+---------+--------
| 1832-33.| Catties
| | each.
------------------------+---------+--------
Bohea, one fourth chests| 13,665| 50
Souchong & Pouchong | 39,538| 50
Hyson skin & Tonkay | 36,608| 52
Young hyson | 51,363| 70
Gunpowder & imperial | 12,553| 83
Hyson | 14,248| 49
Pecco | 2,563| 49
+---------+--------
Total chests | 170,538|
+---------+--------
Cassia, peculs | 7,428|
_Silks_--Crape, pieces | 4,559|
„ Crape shawls | 77,876|
„ Crape scarfs | -- |
„ Crape dresses | |
„ Florentines | -- |
„ Sarsnets | 22,289|
„ Senshaws | 13,172|
„ Pongees | 48,741|
„ Handkerchiefs | 27,274|
„ Satins | 7,201|
„ Levantines | 6,351|
„ Camlets | 1,091|
„ Droguets | -- |
Sewing silk, peculs | 72|
Raw silk | 144|
Nankeens, pieces | 31,500|
| |
| $ |
Total value $|6,691,412|
_Average Prices for Teas._
-------------+--------+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----
|1822-23.|1823|1824|1825|1826|1827|1828|1829|1830|1831|1832
| |-24.|-25.|-26.|-27.|-28.|-29.|-30.|-31.|-32.|-33.
+--------+----+----+--- +----+----+----+----+----+----+----
| | | | | | | | | | |
Bohea tea | 11 | -- | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11
Souchong | 22 | -- | 25 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 20
Pouchong | -- | -- | -- | -- | 18 | 18 | 17 | 24 | 20 | 20 | 25
Hyson skin | 21 | -- | 28 | 27 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 24 | 27
Tonkay | -- | -- | -- | -- | 18 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 24 | 30
Young hyson | 33 | -- | 40 | 40 | 25 | 33 | 30 | 32 | 30 | 44 | 47
Gunpowder & | | | | | | | | | | |
imperial | 55 | -- | 50 | 50 | 55 | 50 | 45 | 48 | 49 | 56 | 58
Hyson | 40 | -- | 40 | 45 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 42 | 42 | 46 | 49
Pecco | 55 | -- | 50 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 80 | 50 | 55
_Export of Teas for Account of the English Company,
to London, season 1832-1833._
Bohea Peculs 52,844 Cost Tales 837,556
Congo 139,640 „ 3,315,811
Souchong 2,321 „ 86,482
Tonkay 23,103 „ 631,866
Hyson 6,579 „ 342,947
Hyson Skin 786 „ 21,450
-------
225,273
133⅓
----------
Pounds[A] 30,036,400 {on account of the English Company,
{ exported during the season 1832-33
13,250,185 by vessels of the United States.
----------
43,286,585 {Pounds of tea exported by American
{ and English vessels, from Canton,
{ in the season 1832-1833.
[A] The Company’s agents, in Canton, do not give the number of chests
in their returns of teas shipped.
_Annual Revenue obtained by the Government of Siam from Farms and
Duties._
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Names. |Annual quantity.|Prices in ticals. |Duties. |Revenues.
----------------+----------------+------------------+----------+---------
Paddy and rice |1,696,424 coyans| | | Ticals.
| of 23 picul |1st sort 16 ticals|} |
„ „ | „ „ |2d „ 14 „ |} | 862,358
„ „ | „ „ |3d „ 12 „ |} |
Orchards | 68,235 in No. | | | 545,880
Vegetables | 4,251 | | | 17,800
Samsoo or spirit| | | |
shops | Bang-kok | | | 104,900
„ „ | Sieuthaja | | | 16,000
„ „ | Bangxang | | | 8,000
„ „ | Suraburi | | | 4,000
„ „ | Krungtaphan | | | 4,000
Bazars | Bang-kok | | | 39,200
„ | Sieuthaja | | | 12,800
„ | Suraburi | | | 1,600
„ | Bangxang | | | 1,600
Duty on floating| | | |
houses | | | | 36,000
Chinese gambling| | | | 64,000
Siamese, ditto | | | | 58,000
Teak wood | 127,000 trees | | | 56,000
Sapan wood | 200,000 piculs |1st sort 3½ to 3 |} |
„ „ | „ „ |2d „ 2½ to 2 |} | 84,000
„ „ | „ „ |3d „ 1½ to 1 |} |
Cocoanut oil | 600,000 „ | 7½ to 8 |1¼ | 56,000
| | |to 1½ |
Sugar, 1st | 10,000 „ | 8½ to 9 } | |
„ 2d | 60,000 „ | 7 to 7½ } | |
„ 3d | 20,000 „ | 6 to 6½ } |1½ | 40,000
„ black | 1,000 „ | 2½ to 3 } | |
„ candy | 5,000 „ | 16 to 17 } |½ |
Jaggery | 150,000 jars | 18 tcls. p. 100 | |
| | jrs.|2 tcls | 8,000
Salt | 8,000 coyans | 2½ to 3 |6 | 32,000
Pepper | 38,000 piculs | 10 to 11 |1½ | 23,200
Bastard | | | |
cardamums | 4,000 „ | 32 to 40 |6 tcls | 16,000
Cardamums | 1st. 100 „ | 360 to 380 } | „ |
„ | 2d. 150 „ | 280 to 300 } |16 „ | 5,400
„ | 3d. 300 „ | 200 to 220 } | „ |
Sticlac | 8,000 „ | 12 13 14 |1¼ | 9,500
Tin | 1,200 „ | 24 26 28 |3 tcls | 18,200
Iron | 20,000 „ | 4 5 6 | „ | 54,000
Ivory | 300 „ | 160 170 180 |12 ditto | 2,500
Gamboge | 1st 50 to 60 | 75 to 80 } | |
„ | 2d 150 „ | 55 to 60 } |6 ditto | 1,200
„ | 3d 50 „ | 40 to 45 } | |
Rhinoceros horns| 50 to 60 | 800 per picul |32 per |
| | | picul| 1,600
Benjamin | 100 „ | 50 to 55 | | 400
Bird’s-nests } | | 1st srt. 10,000} | |
„ „ } | 10 to 12 | 2d „ 6,000} |6 ticals | 32,000
„ „ } | | 3d „ 4,000} | |
Young deer’s | | | |
horns | 26,000 pairs | 1½ to 2 |10 per 100| 3,600
Old, ditto, | | | |
ditto |200 piculs | 8 to 9 per pecul |½ |
-------------+----------------------+-----------------+---------+--------
Names | Annual quantity |Prices in ticals | Duties |Revenues.
-------------+----------------------+-----------------+---------+--------
Buffalo, | | | |
ditto| 200 piculs |3 to 4 per picul |¼ | Ticals.
Deers’ nerves| 200 „ |16 to 20 | 1½ |
Rhinoceros | | | |
skins| 200 „ |7 to 8 |½ | 800
Tigers’ bones| 50 to 60 |50 to 60 | 3 ticals|
Buffalo hides| 500 „ |8 to 10 |½ |
Deers’ ditto | 100,000 „ |20, 25, and 30 | 3 ticals| 1,600
White dried | | | |
fish | 4,000 „ |8 to 9 |½ |
Black, ditto | 15,000 „ |7 to 8 |½ | 18,000
Small dried | | | |
fish | 60,000 „ |3 to 4 |¼ |
Dried shrimps| 10,000 „ |30 to 35 | 3 „ | 4,600
Balachang | 15,000 coyans |50 to 60 | 12 „ | 8,000
Wood oil | 15,000 piculs |3 to 5 |½ | 5,600
Pitch | 10,000 „ |3 to 4 |½ | 6,000
Torches | 200,000 bundles |5 ticals per 100 |½ | 5,600
Rattans | 200,000 „ |4 „ „ |½ | 14,000
Firewood | | | |
Wooden posts |1st. 500 to 600 in No.|1 per 4 ticals } | 10 per |
| | | 100| 8,000
„ „ |2d. 3,000 „ |1 per 2 do. } | 5 „ |
„ „ |3d. 200,000 „ |100 per 25 30 } | „ „ |
| | 40 } | 10 „ | 8,000
Bamboos |600,000,000 in No. |3 ticals per 100 | 15 |
| | | 100| 3,000
Attaps |95,000,000,000 „ |3 ticals per 1000| 20 „ | 1,600
Rose wood |200,000 „ |342 per picul | 10 „ |
Bark |200,000 bundles |100 per 6 ticals | | 1,600
Ticals.
Provinces under the superintendance of the crommahathai,
or 1st minister 32,000
Ditto ditto ditto of the croomkallahom,
or 2d ditto 24,000
Ditto ditto ditto of the crommatha,
or 3d ditto 12,000
Revenue of Justice under the Crammamuang 4,800
„ of the Tribunal 8,000
„ derived from the gold in the province called Bangtaphan,
180 ticals weight of gold.
„ „ „ in the province called Pipri
60 ticals weight of gold.
Tribute which the Malays pay for gold mines, 216 ticals weight of gold.
EXPENDITURE.
Salaries which the king pays to the government officers
annually 618,800
Alms to the Talapoins and the poor 87,600
Monthly allowances to the sons of the late and present kings,
and the second king 29,000
Annual salaries of all the princes employed, and the minors 47,400
Annual pay of the Talapoins 18,240
_Statement of Annual Consumption and Value of Indian Opium in China,
for the following Seasons_:--
--------+---------------------------------------------+
| Patna and Benares. |
| |
|Chests. Price. Value. |
Seasons.| | | | | |
| | Lowest.|Highest.|Average.| |
--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+----------+
1816-17 | 2610 | 1080 | 1320 | 1200 |3,132,000 |
1817-18 | 2530 | 1200 | 1330 | 1265 |3,200,450 |
1818-19 | 3050 | 800 | 1200 | 1000 |3,050,000 |
1819-20 | 2970 | 1150 | 1320 | 1235 |3,667,950 |
1820-21 | 3050 | 1300 | 2500 | 1900 |5,795,000 |
1821-22 | 2910 | 1650 | 2500 | 2075 |6,038,250 |
1822-23 | 1822 | 1180 | 2550 | 1552 |2,828,930 |
1823-24 | 2910 | 1100 | 1900 | 1600 |4,656,000 |
1824-25 | 2655 | 900 | 1450 | 1175 |3,119,625 |
1825-26 | 3442 | 800 | 1150 | 913 |3,141,755 |
1826-27 | 3661 | 800 | 1250 | 1002 |3,668,565 |
1827-28 | 5134 | 815 | 1220 | 998 |5,125,155 |
1828-29 | 5965 | 880 | 1100 | 940 |5,604,235 |
1829-30 | 7143 | 805 | 1000 | 860 |6,149,577 |
1830-31 | 6660 | 790 | 1050 | 870 |5,790,204 |
1831-32 | 6060 | | | 953 |4,234,815 |
1832-33 | 6931 | | | 798 |4,459,170 |
-------------------------------------------+-------------------
Malva. | Total.
|
Chests. Price. Value. |Chests. Value.
| | | | | |
|Lowest.|Highest.|Average.| | |
------ +--------+--------+---------+-------+-------------------
600 | 800 | 950 | 875 | 525,000| 3210 | 3,657,000
1150 | 600 | 800 | 612 | 703,800| 3680 | 3,904,250
1530 | 600 | 850 | 725 |1,109,250| 4580 | 4,159,250
1630 | 950 | 1400 | 1175 |1,915,250| 4600 | 5,583,200
1720 | 1230 | 1800 | 1515 |2,605,800| 4770 | 8,400,800
1718 | 1050 | 1600 | 1325 |2,276,350| 4628 | 8,314,600
4000 | 1080 | 1500 | 1290 |5,160,000| 5822 | 7,988,930
4172 | 800 | 1050 | 925 |3,859,100| 7082 | 8,515,100
6000 | 550 | 950 | 750 |4,500,000| 8655 | 7,619,625
6179 | 560 | 850 | 723 |4,466,450| 9621 | 7,608,205
6308 | 860 | 1060 | 942 |5,941,520| 9969 | 9,610,085
4401 | 950 | 1420 | 1204 |5,299,920| 9535 | 10,425,075
7771 | 750 | 1250 | 968 |6,928,880| 13132 | 12,533,115
6857 | 740 | 1030 | 862 |5,907,580| 14000 | 12,057,157
12100 | 520 | 760 | 588 |7,114,059| 18760 | 12,904,263
8265 | | | 704 |5,818,574| 14225 | 11,501,584
14454 | | | 570 |8,258,155| 21385 | 13,757,290
_Average Consumption of fifteen years, ending 31st March, 1832._
Catties.
Chests of Patna and Benares, 19,954 chests, weighing 1,995,400
Or candareens of extract of 50 touch 1,596,320,000
Chests of Malva 24,600 weighing catties 2,460,000
Or candareens of extract of 75 touch 2,952,000,000
Total chests.
44,554.
Total candareens of extract.
45,466,320,000.
Number of smokers, at 3 17-40 candareens per day.
4,152,716.
_Tumbah Tuah’s Letter of Thanks to Captain Geisinger, Bencoolen, August
31st, 1832._
The commander of the United States ship-of-war Peacock, during our
short stay at Bencoolen, presented one of the principal rajahs of that
place some American tobacco, and the following letter of thanks was
sent, written in the Malayan character, which, being translated into
English, is as follows:--
“BY THE MERCY OF GOD:
“This friendly epistle is the dictate of a heart very white, and a face
very clean, written under a sense of the greatest respect and most
exalted love, permanent and unchangeable as the courses of the sun and
moon; this is to say from me--a gentleman--Tumbah Tuah of Bencoolen,
the Paseer Marlborough. Now may God the Holy and Almighty cause this to
arrive before the face of his glorious excellency, Colonel Geisinger,
the head man who commands in the American ship-of-war, which is now at
anchor off Rat island, in the harbour of Bencoolen.
“Furthermore, after this, the object of this letter is to acknowledge
the present of American tobacco sent to me, and which I have duly
received through the love of Knoerle the resident of Bencoolen; this is
the message [present] of your lordship to me rajah, &c., [two names.]
Wherefore I return praise to God, and my expressions of gratitude--thus
much.
“Besides this, I can only pray the Lord your God to grant you peace and
long life. Amen.
“The gentleman,
“TUMBAH TUAH.
“Bencoolen, the 31st day of the month of August in the year 1832.”
The superscription was as follows:--
“Presenting itself before the visage of his Excellency Colonel
Geisinger, commanding the American ship-of-war.”
_Translation of a Letter from the Sultan of Muscat to the President of
the United States._
“IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN.
“To the most high and mighty Andrew Jackson, President of the United
States of America, whose name shines with so much splendour throughout
the world. I pray most sincerely that on the receipt of this letter
it may find his Highness, the President of the United States, in high
health, and that his happiness may be constantly on the increase. On
a most fortunate day and at a happy hour, I had the honour to receive
your Highness’s letter, every word of which is clear and distinct as
the sun at noonday, and every letter shone forth as brilliantly as
the stars in the heavens. Your Highness’s letter was received by your
faithful and highly honourable representative and ambassador Edmund
Roberts, who made me supremely happy in explaining the object of his
mission, and I have complied in every respect with the wishes of
your honourable ambassador, in concluding a treaty of friendship and
commerce between our respective countries, which shall be faithfully
observed by myself and my successors, as long as the world endures.
And his Highness may depend that all American vessels resorting to
the ports within my dominions, shall know no difference, in point of
good treatment, between my country and that of his own most happy and
fortunate country, where felicity ever dwells. I most fervently hope
that his Highness the President may ever consider me as his firm and
true friend, and that I will ever hold the President of the United
States very near and dear to my heart, and my friendship shall never
know any diminution, but shall continue to increase till time is no
more. I offer, most sincerely and truly, to his Highness the President,
my entire and devoted services, to execute any wishes the President
may have within my dominions, or within any ports or places wherein I
possess the slightest influence.
“_This_ is from your most beloved friend,
“SYEED BIN SULTAN.
“Written on the twenty-second day of the Moon, Jamada Alawel, in the
year Alhajira 1249,[A] at the Royal Palace in the city of Muscat.
[A] Corresponding to seventh of October, 1833.
“This letter is to have the address of being presented to the most high
and mighty Andrew Jackson, President of the United States of America,
whose name shines with so much brilliancy throughout the world.”
_Translation of the “Chinese Chop,” relative to the United States’
Sloop-of-war Peacock, D. Geisinger, Commander, and sent to the
Hong-Merchants at Canton._
“Chung, Imperial Commissioner at the Port of Canton, Tsunhwan of
Jeho, &c., &c., hereby issues an order to the Hong-Merchants:--
“The Custom officers at Macao have reported, saying: On the sixteenth
day of the present Moon, [November ninth, 1832,] the pilot, Leu Kefang
reported, that on the sixteenth, the American cruiser Geisinger[A]
came and anchored off the Nine islands; that immediately he went and
inquired why he came and anchored, and that the captain of the said
ship replied, that he sailed from his own country to Manila, and a gale
having driven him hither, he had anchored for a short time; but that
when the wind should become fair he would set sail and depart. Now on
examination it is ascertained that there are in the ship two hundred
foreign seamen, twenty-four cannon, one hundred muskets, one hundred
swords, nine hundred catties of powder, and nine hundred balls. Uniting
these circumstances they are forthwith reported. Having obtained this
information, we ordered the pilots to keep a strict watch and guard
(against the ship.) Moreover, as it is right, we send up this report.
[A] The Chinese always omit the name of the ship, and insert the name
of the captain.
“_This_ coming before me, the hoppo, and having ascertained that the
said cruiser is not a merchant-ship, nor a convoy, and that she has
on board an unusual number of seamen, cannon and weapons, she is
not allowed, under any pretext, to anchor, and create disturbances.
Wherefore, _Let her be driven away_. And let the “hong-merchants,” on
receiving this order, act in obedience thereto, and enjoin it upon
the said nation’s Tae-pan,[B] that he order and compel the said ship
to depart and return home. He is not allowed to frame excuses, linger
about, and create disturbances, and so involve offences, that would
be examined into and punished. Let the day fixed for her departure be
reported. _Haste! haste!_ A special order.
[B] Consul.
“TAOU KWANG.
“Twelfth year, twenty-second day of the ninth intercalary moon.”[C]
[C] November sixteenth, 1832.
NOTE.--The truth of the matter is, the pilot, who came in the
mandarin-boat, was informed, that the Peacock was on a cruise and last
from Manila, and came there for provisions, and when she was supplied,
and otherwise ready, she would proceed to sea. But nothing was said to
him that she was driven there in a gale of wind from Manila. An order
was issued commanding the Peacock to quit the waters of China, but no
notice was taken of it, for the ship remained at Linting for six weeks
after. So inefficient is the _navy_ of China in the present day, that
the Peacock alone could destroy the whole “_imperial fleet_,” and have
passed up to Canton and back with a _leading wind_, without receiving
any material injury from the forts, as their guns are firmly imbedded
in stone and mortar, and they can only be fired in one direction.
THE END.
* * * * *
Transcriber's Note
Duplicate headings have been removed.
The following apparent printing errors have been corrected:
p. 9 "Cavite" changed to "Cavité"
p. 9 "Cavite" changed to "Cavité"
p. 10 "Hue" changed to "Hué"
p. 20 "ever house" changed to "every house"
p. 31 "Malborough" changed to "Marlborough"
p. 35 "who who were busily" changed to "who were busily"
p. 40 "‘Some" changed to "“Some"
p. 44 "seeming delight" changed to "seeming delight."
p. 47 "American consul," changed to "American consul."
p. 51 "CAVITE" changed to "CAVITÉ"
p. 57 "CAVITE" changed to "CAVITÉ"
p. 65 "peloto?" changed to "peloto?”"
p. 85 "if she" changed to "“if she"
p. 96 "“it is a villa" changed to "it is a villa"
p. 101 "of taxes." changed to "of taxes.”"
p. 104 "Nan-hae-heen che-heen" changed to "Nan-hae-heen-che-heen"
p. 132 "crosing" changed to "crossing"
p. 133 "POPULATION" changed to "POPULATION."
p. 134 "the earth" changed to "the earth."
p. 138 "longtitude" changed to "longitude"
p. 142 "grand son" changed to "grandson"
p. 144 "1618" changed to "1681"
p. 147 "twenty six" changed to "twenty-six"
p. 169 "mandarin, ducks" changed to "mandarin ducks"
p. 178 "I am" changed to "“I am"
p. 178 "at Hué?" changed to "at Hué?”"
p. 181 "navigation,’" changed to "navigation,”"
pp. 189 and 191 "HUE" changed to "HUÉ"
p. 190 "confectionary" changed to "confectionary."
p. 193 "before hey" changed to "before they"
p. 198 "Hitherto all" changed to "“Hitherto all"
p. 198 "places." changed to "places.”"
p. 200 "“_liberal treatment_?”" changed to "‘_liberal treatment_?’”"
p. 203 "I have now" changed to "“I have now"
p. 213 "MANDARINES’" changed to "MANDARINS’"
p. 216 "to Hue" changed to "to Hué"
p. 216 "can.’" changed to "can.”"
p. 224 "peacocks,," changed to "peacocks,"
p. 227 "STRENTH" changed to "STRENGTH"
p. 266 "wh take" changed to "who take"
p. 273 "the iron" changed to "the iron."
p. 274 "Chinese" changed to "Chinese."
p. 282 "case, i" changed to "case, is"
p. 282 "less tha" changed to "less than"
p. 290 "cocks’ with horses bodies" changed to "cocks with horses’
bodies"
p. 296 "orginally" changed to "originally"
p. 298 "Phanlcon" changed to "Phaulcon" (two instances)
p. 302 "third rank)" changed to "third rank,)"
p. 302 "rank,) &c," changed to "rank,) &c.,"
p. 308 "witnesses" changed to "witnesses."
p. 313 "a star," changed to "a star."
p. 317 "2d do 6,000." changed to "2d do. 6,000."
p. 318 "32 to 40 do" changed to "32 to 40 do."
p. 326 "expenses of the prahu" changed to "expenses of the prahū"
p. 327 "midnight" changed to "midnight."
p. 341 "region" changed to "region."
p. 368 "curiases" changed to "cuirasses"
p. 371 "pla as" changed to "place was"
p. 374 "Guardafui,may" changed to "Guardafui, may"
p. 378 "us,speaking" changed to "us, speaking"
p. 390 "Wynberb" changed to "Wynberg"
p. 398 "longtitude" changed to "longitude"
p. 408 "Sakci" changed to "Sakei"
p. 409 "Gantang,and" changed to "Gantang, and"
p. 409 "extraordinary,the" changed to "extraordinary, the"
p. 417 (note) "190, 191.”" changed to "190, 191."
p. 418 (note) "202, 203." changed to "202, 203.)"
p. 419 "vol. ii" changed to "vol. ii."
p. 431 (note) "the captain" changed to "the captain."
Many archaic, inconsistent, and variant spellings, as well as
inconsistent hyphenation, have not been changed. The following possible
mistakes have also been left as printed:
p. 97 the passage beginning "says: “The gates" has no ending quotation
mark. The quotation continues to the words "and “Odyssey.”".
p. 136 the values in the table are inconsistent.
On p. 204, there are reference to 1833 as both the fifty-sixth and
fifty-seventh year of independence.
p. 279 they but most of them
p. 372 "Bissaõ"
p. 381 "the spot where there domicil is"
p. 387 the values in the table are inconsistent.
p. 389 the values in the table are inconsistent.
p. 400 the values in the table are inconsistent.
p. 403 the values in the table are inconsistent.
p. 423 the values in the table are inconsistent.
p. 424 the values in the table are inconsistent.
p. 428 the values in the table are inconsistent.
p. 406 "Free casts"