[136] The following paragraph appeared in one of the Calcutta journals, and was copied into most of the India papers:—“A passenger who came round from Batavia has favoured us with the following intelligence relative to the Dutch squadron, &c. In Batavia roads there were—one line-of-battle ship, mounting sixty guns; three large frigates; four brigs and smaller vessels of war, all well armed and manned. In the canal there were—twenty gun-boats, mounting two long brass guns each. All the troops were marching in from the interior, and the fortifications were placed in a complete state of defence. A large frigate was lying at Sourabaya, well manned and armed. If the Dutch should determine on making reprisals, a few days’ sail would take them to Lintin, where they might seize British property to an immense amount.”
A very kind hint! deserving the thanks of the Dutch Government; for the capture would have been easy, the loss of British property great, being without a vessel of war to protect them. This is the way British affairs are conducted in the east.
[137] These doves when on board cooed, or, as the Malay said, talked when the bells were struck, but as frequently cooed or spoke out of the regular time, so they did not answer the purpose of a clock!
[138] It is recommended (I was informed by some intelligent persons at Singapore) for ships proceeding to the north-east coast of Sumatra, at this season of the year, to take the passage by the Straits of Banca and Malacca, by which the voyage would rarely be protracted beyond ten or twelve days. From the length of time we took to Pedir, by the outside passage, there was evidently an error in taking it in preference to the one recommended, by persons accustomed to trade about those places.
[139] “Pulo,” in the Malay language, signifies island, but Europeans frequently use the word Island before it.
[140] It is passable for light ships’ boats at half ebb, and even at low water, at the latter time the boats occasionally grounding; those heavily laden can only pass at high water.
[141] The fruit of the Areka palm is incorrectly called in commerce “Betel-nut,” which has occasioned mistakes; many writers considering it the fruit of the “Piper Betel,” or Betel vine, the leaves of which are used with the Areka-nut as a masticatory; but as the whole mixed together, and eaten by the natives, constitutes what is called “chewing the betel” by Europeans, the nut probably derived its commercial appellation from that source. The confusion existing between the Areka palm, producing the nuts, and the Betel vine, by most writers, has caused me to insert this explanatory note.
[142] A small investment of various articles of cutlery would have no doubt met with a ready sale;—a set of excellent razors, the cost price of which in London was thirty shillings, was sold for twenty-five dollars, and other articles, of a good quality, would have sold at equally good prices. A rifle gun, case complete, was also sold for one hundred and fifty dollars; and a pair of duelling pistols, of French manufacture, seventy-five dollars.
[143] A “flock of the swinish breed” would prove efficacious in clearing the decks of a ship of the Mahometan Malays, who have a religious abhorrence of the pollution occasioned by such company.
[144] The Chinese have several species indigenous to the Celestial Empire.