Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-07-08
: supply in exchange, are eli.

/ Dv laO1r Slcn ~ sOti uuSt, rough uld-
uond,, cloves and nutmegs, benjamin
4 and gamir, or cstechu, the inspissated
q Juice Of a plant which is eaten with
Il The betel nut, aud constitutes, indeed,
4 from its universal use, one OF the most
u considerable articles Of native CON-
merce.
The carrying trade, in all these com
modires, is principally Conducted by the
snterprising nasigators Of Celebes, and
especially by the 8ugis Of Wajo. who
by their skill and activity, may be said to
form the very life Of the native commerce
Of the Archipelago. They dwell on the
borders of great lake, from which
there flaw into the sea several navigable
rivers. There is no country from New
Guinea TO Mergui, to which their enter
prize does not extend. Setting out on
their voy ages At the beginning Of the Ia
vo;shIe seasons, they quit the borders of
their native lake, in vessels OF from
90 to 20 tons burthen, and sail IN va
rious courses, as directed by interest,
habit, and previous connection. Their
original outwa d cargOes are chiefr com.
posed of the exec lent durable cloths Of
their native country, manufactured from
the cation Of Dali and Lomboc. The
greater number If the Traders direct
their curse toward the fertile and ex-
ten,iYc countries to the westward. One
bod takes the direction of Java, where
they cXcl'. &c their cloths. and gold and
silver specie, Tor the highly priced To-
bacco of that island, which supplies the
ex.rG i've consumption OF The Indian Is
laaIcrs throughout with that drag, tor
The opium of BeusaI-the Cotton fabrics
Of IA ope and lniIa-and the II on, bruad-
clvths AID stee Of Eurnpe.
Tie uos CO.'S .e,a'lc DIV however,
performs a :rali 9 voyage along the
Crss o! CeiCb"s, Is rreo, Sunatra, the
elcsrrD sancs II tue Gulf If siam, the
4 Island, in thu lnOuth vfthr Straits of Ma.
4 lIcca, aud tie western shores 1T the Pc.
ui.sIia, uutii il ternhra'es in Malacca,
or Penang, where they give the geld and
bullion, COLLECTED on he voyage, for the
slme commodities obtained by their
brother trad III Java. At Penang T.
Rome, To 1--WE Srme notion OF he extent of
L tbs branch of trade. we have reason 70
believe thai not les han hafa million of
dollars in bullion is annually left by
thO.e people in exchange Tor the single
article ct opium.
The NljO aud other merchants CfCe
iebCs, Who take an essterly direction,
generally cry ge in the fi,hery Of tripang
o. seasing, a singular article Of ChirPsr
lnxUry, aud from its amount. and TIE de- |
mand lO' II, mrs, important ingrediert |
in the commerce Of the Indian islands
tortoise she'll, which ahouudS in the Same
parts of the country: ard birds nests,
which a;e found in almO,t oil If them, -
These same me- chants. before they were |
disturbed by the injustice It Europe
were also the carr'e,s and dealers il the |
great spice trade, and transported heir
spices TO the eG.po,i2 of the western
parts Of the Archipelago A few SNUG
slcd cloves and nutmrgs, and larger
DO,t ton at tn SPICES in their wild state,
are Ill that row remajR 10 them Of this
branch Of commerce.
Of the sdvcntlrcus character OF The
commercial eEter prisss Of these semi Ia =
bareu, traders, the highest opinion may
be formed, ON their voyages TO the coast
OF New-hnlland in quest Of triGarg, in
the fishery OF which it ia probable tn {
not les !hau 10 vessels OF from 20 to 20
tous, are annually e, gssed from the port
OF HacaNSar alone. from which 400 tons
Of The commodity are exported to China,
the sole marAe, If This singular luxury,
wHere the curious Determination oF the
Cp;cureS Of that nation divides the fish in
10 no less than thirty varieties ct as ma
ny different prices; Que hardly dist!n-
gpishaLie tUm the ohei but by practs'
I'd dealer.
These spirited adventures OF the Blu
ciS me- cEaRts axe, hOwever, It must not
he overlooked, wonderfully facilitated by
she ease, the safety and sccu ity with
which the seas uf the Indian Archipela-
9 nav generally he navigated. h great
IarAbe' Of islands, the proximity 1t their
sho,eS. the smoOthness Of their waters,
the tytaI absence Of hurricanes and ~
phaou., the indisprtahle advantages Of
che >teadiast mOnsooRs aud of the land
aud sea b. eezes, make,t, IN short mat
ter OF ea-e 10 perform n their crazy
ba,ks such long voyages, as it would be
mldness to undertake in any other cli-
mate.