The Sun.
London, England, 1857-09-08 00:00:00

TffE ISLAND OF BANCA.

TO THE EDITOR, OF THE TIMES.
Sir,—During my tenure of the offiee of resident
and coatinanden.; t.le Islan lof Ban..ta from 1813
to the elese of 1816, Nl-11,n that interesting, possessor
was no fertte a,teiy, under e,ndit ions of the peace in
1814, delivered over to the Netherlands Govern-
ment, a very accurate survey of the east, nor 111
and north-west coasts of that island was made by a
very capable and intelligent officer of the Bombal
Marine, Lieut. J. J. Robinson, I am sorry to sag
now deceased. A chart of the survey was print°.
and published in 1819 by Mr. B.orsburgh, the etai-
nent hydrographer to the East India Company, and
if this chart, so minutely delineated, had been
in
the possession of the captain of the Transit it might
have been expected that nothing short of an extra-
ordinary convulsion of the elements would ba"!..
exposed that ill-fated ship to be cast upon the rear
off Cape Oolar, if that he the spot, as very probably
conjectured by your corresponds It, Mr. Elpkill_:
stone, in Friday's paper, as he justly observei
is no such point as Cape Oolar. By _Lieut. Rubin.,
sou's chart, which is now before me, it will be see;
that Tanjong or Point Oolar is in a line IN-Wr fr°
the highest point of Monopin-hill, a Ns-e 11-ktow
landmark for navigators in the Straits oc Ban:
Off this cape runs a reef of rocks, extendi.°o,f
about four miles from the shore, and another red
running N. to N.E. ; but how the Transit got ttc."
s not very evident.
It might b© that the ship in its course up the
st. nits was bearing up to hold communication
with Minto, the chief town of the island, and *7.
may have happened that in doing so withal;
guidance of the chart it may have struck on the reef
of rocks called Karang Hodjee, not far from Point
Kaleeang, which is about eight miles from Cape
Oolar to the N., and four miles from Minto to the
E., Cape Kaleeaug being the extreme W. point i
Banca.
The Jeboos is a large river, at the mouth of
which the Orang Laots, as they are called, have
their habitations and fishing, boats. These ree3
received rations from the public stores at Minto in
consideration of their services in conveyance of
stores to Jeboos and elsewhere and their giving ill'
formation of any piratical or smuggling boats which
might make their appearance off the coasts which
they habitually traversed. They were placed under
authority of Lieutenant Robinson, whose gentle'
ness of temper and sound good sense ccenmandea
the affections and willing services of this peculiar
people, and, as the Jeboos river is not more than
about 12 miles from Cape Oolar, they would no
doubt (if they are now as they then were) render
every assistance to the Transit, so that with their
aid and the more essential efforts of the Dutch au-
thorities at Minto it may be hoped that every prac-
ticable measure has been taken to provide for tb°
safety of the •sew and recovery of the stores from
the wreok of the Transit.

I remain, Sir, your most obedient servant,
Castlonians, Sept. 5. M. EL COURT.

Country Markets.

CHELMSFORD—SEPT. 4.
a
A fair supply of wheat, and many samples, chal3o4
hands at last day's rates. Spring corn firm, and unalter°7
in value. New barley on offer and 45s per qr. realigse'
fur several samples.
Wheat, white, old, per s.
qr.6l
new 51
red, old 49
new 49
35

0. o,
per qr 24 0"
Partridge 41 44
White 39 41
Boiling 39 46
Dun.,' 40 VI
Beans, Tisk 40 rK
Harrow ticks 41 %'"
Mazagan ..... 37
Ditto, new 37 '"

61 I Oats,
63 Peas,
58
56
46
50
42
TT
79

Barley
Chevalier 38
Grinding 35
Malt 73

Chqva,lier 75

Official Statement of the Quantities of Corn, &c
in the port of London, from the following P
Aug. 31 to Sept. 5, both inclusive.

receive"
nts, fro°

o

Colchester
Harwich 135
Leigh
hialdon :1945, 57

COLCHESTER— SETT. 5.
The supply of wheat was moderate, and a flan trade,
at about is to 2s per qr. advance on last week's rates.
Barley in better supply, and a fair amount of business WO
done at late quotations. Beans and peas scarce, and is Pe!
qr. dearer.
Prices to•daywere as follow :—Wheat, white, 603 to 6"
red, sis to 58s; barley, 42s to 46s ; oats, 26s to 30s ; bean ft
Mazagan, 40s to 44s ; middle and small, 44s to 48s ; Petlfl
white, 38s to 42s ; grey, 42s to 465.