The Chinaman abroad, or, A desultory account of the Malayan Archipelago, particularly of Java

Q@ w\s2

WR BA
QaSG

ge +599

&

TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE.

The author of the following work appears to have been
a man of education and observation, equal to the generality
of his own countrymen. His distorted views and occasional
mistakes, are to be ascribed to his early habits and partial
information : considering the circumstances under which he
wrote, however, his remarks display not a lite of good sense
and good feeling. The singular representation given of Eu-
ropean habits and manners will perhaps contribute to the
amusement of western readers, as serving to shew what the
Cines* tnitiok of foreign nations, Themes map axpended

ia a literary curiosity, and shews trows:4 oc...... uo. vpeans
the Chinese are in hydrography ; though they may sometimes
make a shrewd remark on men and manners. With regard
to the translation, it remains merely to be observed, that it
has been drawn up amidst the pressure of many more impor-
tant duties, and is published with the view of bringing the
eastern and western world into a better “acquaintance with

each other.

Shanghae, July 3rd, 1849.

iv

THE PREFACE OF [ij 3 3§ CHOW-HEO-KUNG, |
OF THE HAN-LUY COLLEGE. ul}

In old time there were nu accounts of the Pa te western
ocean. . During the Fl Chow dynasty, the Emperor #3 Mih
paid a visit to PFE Bf the mother of the western king
but the extent of his journey reached only as far as_ his A

eight steeds could carry him * ; previous to that time the —
race of BY ee. Yué-shing came - sailing over the seas, with
their double interpreters, when 7c ys Yuéo-kung (or Eat Be
Chow-kung) constructed a 45 1) HE south-pointing car.
riage to direct them in their homeward, course; this people,
however, wore came, ‘im the south-eastern part of the
ocean, t 3

In the time af ihe *ernpbrs or bem) oe: tih. of the BR

Ming dynasty, (a. 0. 1430) the order for =E = Wang-
Sauipe to pree ~* towards the western ocean, fortes ple
pose of collecting pedr.-xcu precious things, is. recorded in
the, national history ; his road ley through JP Bef Cockin.
shina, westward, et the chart of ‘that country was conceale
by the superintenda nt 2] k ¥ Léw-ta-héa, w
no desire to sr the sea; y by which means the. tra
the westera 0 remained unkown. : |

Our governmient, extensively, overspreading all things aa
the heavens do the earth, has « caused, its unfathomable favour
overwhelmingly to reach to the islands of the een; 80 that
all who have blood and breath without exception honour,
their parents ; and even the people of the western ocean (the
* In the 17th year of Mith-wang (5. o. 983) Tsaou- foo, being a
good <harioteer, obtained the favour of the monarch ; the latter having)
procured a stud of eight horses, went ona hunting expedition to the
west, and was so delighted that he did not think of returning, till
ompelled hy a revolution in his own country. (See Chinese Histery,
pended to the translation of the Shoo-king. page 383
' In the 6th year of Ching-wang (s. o. 1070). the peanle of Yué-|
geame from the region sonth of Cochin-china, making use of
interpreters. They were however ignorant of the way home |
Ch w kung presented them with five carriages, all ped

“thward, by help of whi messengers, after a year”
‘ +tame, (Seed 3¢ 378.)

v

Europeans) have thought of bringing their cunning accom-
plishments to scheme after rewards, Latterly, however, the
readiness of the imperial astronomers, to estimate the acquire-
ments of our countrymen, in order to promote and employ them,
is daily more manifest, and people from all parts of the empire
come pressing forwards, soliciting a thorough’éxamination, by
which a vast amount of native talent is obtained, without de-
pending on foreign aid, Thus it is, that those distant coun-
tries have now but few persons to visit and inspeet them,
and there is not so mueh as a fairy seated on the leaf of a red
lotus, to bring us a single section of a book from thence.*

According to the “ py iy lee Record of the western re.
gions,” the junks of Centon and Fokien frequently go and
anchor on the south of Hindostan® eli Ap iy tH Win-
ton-sze-tan) where the waters all flow into the sea, The
tribe of iE fl Chung-yuen, from dz S| Chang-pih Cin
Manchow Tartary) in the 40th year or iy [4&- Zseu-lung,
Ca. D. 1775) first discovered the seas of that country.

The work calted fe 7 #4 Lan-ta-trh asserts; that sever.
al thousand miles to the south-west of our country, in the
midst of the great ocean, t there are tribes of black a white’
people ; the one as white as snow, and the other as black as
lackered-ware ; are mot these” perhaps the samé with what!
the * Desultory Account” calls the powdered Dutchmen, and)
the varnished Papuas

Thus it appears’ that the book writen by = kit Ong- ,
tae-hae is calculated to make up the deficiencies of our
former accounts, being equally clear and perspicuous with
ihe “Record of the western regions”: and this one little: work
serves extensively to testify that the instructions of our
august dynasty are gracefully wafted over the sea, like the
influence of Draco among the stars, Delighted, therefore, I
contribute this preface to the work,

? Alluding to the fables of the Buddhist priests, who pretend that
their sacred hooks were brought by spiritual beings seated’ on the
water-lily:

vi

THE PREFACE OF 4 kt LE WEI,
OF PREING.

My townsman, += *k gf: Ong-tae-hae, in his youth
possessed irrepressible vigonr of mind, and scorning to sub-
mit his Jucubrations to the criticisms of the examining officer,
gave up his prospects of advancement to official rank,
and contented himeelf with the publication of private essays ;
he was truly a noble-minded echolar of the age His family
was originally possessed of a little property, but our friend
unsuspectingly allowed hia acconntants to waste his income;
and as many of hie debtors had absconded, he generously sold
his patrimony and divided the proceeds amongst the claim-
ants; for having other d®@igns in view he would not allow the
business of markets and shops, money and cloth, to interfere
with his projects. After living for some time in poverty, in
a negltetad lane, lo wi-ied 10 Iravel nerth and south of the
great river; hut his means being ineuflicient, he suddenly
thought of going abroad ; and embarking on board a mer.
chant vessel, he soon landed in Batavia. When T heard o!
the circumstance I admired his determination. After o
long season of travel he returned to his native land, and at
Jength arrived at the hill of fils fe Séen-lo6, and passsed
through ff tk Wod-lin and Ay fei Kin-chang, in order ta
revive some of his old recollections. Jn the yenr 1798, at
an inn in the entrance of Soo-chow, we grasped each other's
hands. and discoursed of what had linppened during the 20
years of our separation, lamenting that in both cnses old age
was creeningonns, JT heard however, that during the time
of hia residence abroad, he had been jn the habit of deserib-
ing the hills and rivera, manners and enstons, which he liad
witnessed) But he seemed at that time in a great hurry,
ani! before T could have leisure to look over his productions,
he was gone, Atasnhsequent period, however, my friend's
two works, viz. "A dasultory account of the Archipelago.”
and’Pugilive verses on miscellaneous subjects,” were een)

vil

by post to Peking for my inspection; ou reading them, I
admired our author's study of the curious, but regretted that
he had bestowed his attention on such a strange and distant
region, which had not yet come under the influence of our
civilizing doctrines. If he had but obtained office in the
places which be visited, he would certainly have been able
to point out the easy from the difficult, to enquire into ad-
vantages and disadvantages, and practice that which was
aolid and useful, thus proving a benefit to the men of his
age ; how much better would that have been, than drawing
up @ mere account of what he had witnessed, for the inspec-
tion of future readers. His odes and essays were warm
and glowing, and displayed considegable feeling ; he had no
need to pirate the elegant ideas of former writers, as his own
effus"ons were sufficiently excellent. It was suitable thete-
fore that I should accord him the. respect |

An old teacher of our village, aot tl BR
tse, a near relation of our % es h “say, that on read.
ing our friend’s poetry, the f Al ‘he! bus sgemed warmer than
words could express ; on Hes tha ‘pefusing ‘atis Desultory
Account,” the idea of pitying the times and b'sming the man-
ners of the age, seemed embodied in parle!’ Now *he
must have been intimately. acquainted with « our ‘author, thus
to ascertain the tendency of his words, and what need is tiftu
that one so unskilful as I, should use so much tautology
on the subject.

Vili
THE PREFACE OF 3) 4 #% LEW-HE-CHIXG.*

From of old, eminent men aud retired scholars, wherever
they have occasionally sojourmed, have been in the habit of
enquiring after antiquities, and searching into curiosities ;
whereupon they usually record what they have seen, noi
merely that they may glance their eyes, or run their thoughts
ever such things, but also to communicate them to their cotem-
poraries and transmit them to posterity. That which is
contained in statistical works is very generally taken from
such accounts: and thus we have general descriptions of
whole states, and minuter elucidations of remote parte of the
country ; while references to ultramarine and foreign king-
doms are altogether deficient. [or there is a difficulty with
regard (o;foreign parts, from the circumstance of their not
“paying /lbnte, jar. ing OO imiercourse with our central
kingdom ; wii ‘ofour countrymen whe do hold. com-
mneleaiona, ‘and trade tb (bose regions, merely think abow
bunting after gain, and havé-no knowledge of books ; 80
that they have neitherinclination to observe, nor ability to
recard, This constitutes a difficulty.

Our friend oe Kk Ti Ong-taé-haé ia my wife's biectiale:
a man dutiful to his parents, aod faithful to his friends; in
~ bis-youth he studied for literary honours, and laboured at
odes and essays ; in the year 1783, when speculating on the
means of subsistence, he crossed the seas, and availed him-
self of what leisure he had from school engagements, to en-
quire into the manners of the age; hinting at whatsoever was
curious and extraordinary, he recorded them all in order ;
after ten years he returned, and the ditties which he sang,
with his accounts of the Archipelago, were all collected to-
gether into a book. Qn reading his verses, the filial thoughts
seem to be warmer ‘than words could express ; and on perusing

2 —

- awe he-ching was the author's uncle by marriage, having
married his father’s sister.

3

his narrative, the idea of pitying the times and blaming
the manners or the age is apparent throughout. Moreover,
the climate, soil, inhabitants and productions of all the is-
lands are minutely and compreliensively exhibited. How
could a mere trader have entered into the particulara of
these, and is it vot a real record of the islands of the sea ?

In the beginning of the reign of oe eS Kéen-ling (a. p.
1750) FE HR 3 4 Ching-sun-gnd, ® of the city of iq Poo (in
Fokisu), before he rose in the literary scale, uavelled to
Batavia, and drew up an account of the place, resembling in
some respects the present work, though this is more full and
complete ; of that work, the former prime minizter ea x x
Tuac-win-kung used to say, that.it served to eupply a defici-
ency im our statistical works, and might contribute to general
information. If now, the present work had come under the
glance of the prime minister Tené, we cannot tell how much he
would have admired it. itis to be regretted, however, that
he never got a sighi of it, |

Our author haying some business that required a sect
visit to Soo-chow, urged me to write a preface for his work ;
thus, without adverting to. my poor ability, I have hastily
put together a few words, that (hose who are in the habit
of selecting extraordinary thinge may. haye something
wherew uh to make e up the deficiencies of their cabinets, .

© Called Called also ‘lao Ching-jtb-eae.

x

. “THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE,

\ We have heard that districts have. their statistics, just as
kingdoms have their historiea, Now statistice are. recorda
giving an account of the hills and rivers, face of the country,
antiquities, productions, inhabitants, worke-of art, Tegions
ond superstitions of a diytrict; in. short nothing should: be
omitted. “When-I read the. history of Batavia drawn up-by
#2 AR Ching-jih-kea¢, T approved in some measure of
his minute description of the country, but I found his. aecount
of the inhabitnnts defective. For Ching, at that time, had
not received his promotion, and being uneasy because uns
known, he was not able to view things with an even mind
and a harmonious spirit, while he failed to observe the
maxim, “ Be sorrowful without being vexed.4) - > j

After my first arrival at Batavia, I speedily removed ta
Samaraig; from thence I went to Pakalongan, and subse,
quently returned to Batavia, where I pitched my: taliernacle
on the south side of the river. In drawing up my Desultory
Account of the islands of the sea, the character of the inliabi-
tauts w as enquired foto, something was-gathered up about
the mountains and seas, the islands werd examined, various
telations recorded, the natural productions alluded to, avd
yet there was something deficivnt in the description of remarks

ble individoals. ~ Hence were added a reference to iz
tit Ong-sam-pd, who in laying the foundation of the coun-
try acquired a merit that overspread the whole region » and
Bg IN eS Kotyh-lak-kwna, whose heroic spirit diffused it-
self to the cutskirts of the ocean, being alike respected and
looked up to by Chinese and foreigners. Then there was
the fidelity of Madam fan Soo, and the purity of the wife
of te Je Chéet-kong, which the lapse of a thousand ae
will never obliterate. So also the liberality of me
Wuirg-chéng-kong; and the vace of 34 FZ of [i a
Tan-pa-k’heng. with the elegance of a 4 FZ K'hos-hong.
léing, and the retiring disposition of ie aR & Na Bok-

seng, all of whicu .Wwotthyy of being finndéd down. Eu-
ropean countries are originally on the outside verge of civi-
lization, and their being now assimilated to the villages of
our inner land, is entirely owing to the virtuous influence
of our august government, which transforms those distant
and unknown regions, by the innate force of its majesty.

Although far from being intelligent, I dare not refuse care-
fully to record the things which I have seen and heard, to-
gether with some references tothe country and its, inhabi-
fanis,. in short, every individual word and action, worthy of
being noted down ; thus publishing the whole, in order to
render some small assistance towards correcting men's
minds, and sustaining right principles io the world !

The 56th year of Keen-lfing; (1791) Sth month, 2d day, |)

=

-F

xii
' ‘TABLE OF CONTE! . 3

OF THE DESULTORY ACCOUNT OF THE MALAYA
ARCHIPELAGO.

SECTION L

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS PLACES.

Page Page
Batavia 1 Bantam 14
Samarang 7 Soil and manners of Java 15
Pacalungan 11 Further account of Batavia 18

ECTION If.

ACCOUNT OF CELEBRATED PERSONS,

Ong-sam-po 21 Tan Pa-k'heng 23
The fairy that favonrathe sea ib. Kh'oé Hony-léang 25
The wife of one Soo 22 Wuing Chéeng-kong 26

The wife of N3 I'séet-kong ib. The Pricet Fub-pin 27
Neé Bok-seng 23

SECTION HL
ACCOUNT OF DIFFERENT NATIONS.

The Dutch 28 ThenativesofCeram 36
The English 30 Do, of Kering il
The French ib. Do. of Timor 37
‘Manilla men 3L Do.of Pasir,on Borneo ib.
Natives of the Coast ib. The Portuguese ib.
The Javanese 32 The Biadjoos, or Dayaks ib.
The Islas 33 The natives of Bima, on
The Malays ib, Sambawa 38
The Bugis ib. The Amboynese ib.
The Balinese 34. The natives of Banda 39
The nativea of Bootan 35 ~=—-— dDo. of Ternate ib.

The natives of Papua ib. Do. of the Cape of Good
Hope ib.

xiii

THE INHABITANTS OF THE ISLANDS TO THE WEST AND

NORTH.

Page Page

The natives of Mangalore 40 The natives of Bengal 41
Do. of Ceylon ib, Supplementary remarks 1b.

Do. of Cochin ib.
SECTION IV.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.

Page Page

Climate and seasons 41 The iguana 4S
Water-spouts 42 The gecko 49
Circular rain-bow ib, The chameleon ib.
The southern ocean 43 The crowned pigeon ib.
Mecca ib. ‘Tortoise-shell 50
Volcanoes 44 'T'ripang ib.
The loadstone sea ib, The sucking-fish ib.
Edible birds’ nests ib, The shark Bl
The monkey market 45 The flying-fish ib.
The sea horse 46 The alligator ib.
The sea man ib, The flying-head 52
The ink monkey ib. The tooth-extracting tribe ib,
The bird of paradise AT The sea-priest 53
The cassowary ib. Savages with tails ib.
The boa conetrictor ib. Orang outan ib.
The rhinoceros 48 The flying fox ib.

SECTION YV.
OTHER THINGS WORTHY OF OBSERVATION.

The quadrant 54 European balls 58
The barometer ib. Bamboo rafts ib,
The time-fixing bell 55 Rattan bridges 59
The balloon ib, European vessels ib.
The air-gun 56 The telescope 60
The mariner’s compass ib. Sky-rockets ib.
Native dancing girls 57 The gaming-table 61

Monkey bezoar 62. Secret societies’): 65
Parasite _ ib... Manufacture of poison . ib.
Large and small eggs 63. New Guinea smoke 66
Carriages ib. Dutch doctora _- | ib,
Wonderful contrivances .64 Dullars bat pine, » aggre
Writing ib. , Military tactics =. 68
A larga fish bone _ db,
SECTION VI,
ON FRUITS AND FLOWERS.

The santan (ixora) 69 Theeugenia(jamboo) 73
The rose ! ib. The rambootan ib.
The gomphrenaglobosa = ib. ‘The namnam (cymometra »
The nerium oleander and cauliflora) ib.

laweonia 70. The mangostin ° > Ta
The camunium sinenss ‘ib. The custard-apple’ © ib.
Native flower ib. The salak ib.
The cocoa-nut 71. The durian ib.
The manggo ib. The atap 76
The plantain « 72. The aren palm ib:
The orange ib.. The buah duku ib.
The sugar-cane 73 cite b

SECTION VII.
| VARIOUS ACCOUNTS. ‘
Some account of Manilla Wibgi lind e\eses neal eee
The history of Wuing Gay-héen,.....sccereceesesrseeaeT®
Some account of Formosa cress secveteresevevenreserstD

iV

LIST OF PLACES MENTIONED IN THE MAP.

Borders of Canton pro-

vince

Cochin-china, between
which and the former a
brazen pillar indicates

the boundary.

Part of Fokien
Aimoy
Palembang
Quidah
Malacea
Johiore
Palembang

. Lampong

» Chanmpia

. Places west of the Straits

of Sunda

. Straits of Sunda

~ Bantam

. Batavia

. Residence of the
Sultan of Bantam

. Volcano

. Cheribon

. Pacalongan

. Samarang

21.
ae.
23. The southern ocean
24.
- Boomptjes

25
26.

Grissee
Surabaya

Banyuwangi

Thousand islands

27. Swraits of Banca

28.
29.
30.
. Benjarmasin
. Pasir

. Dayaks

. Pontianak

. Bali

. Timor

. Ceram

. Papua

. Kering

. Macassar

. Celebes

. Amboyna

. Banda

. Ternate

. Sooloo.

88 2

Banca
Lingin
Carimons

A eh

pay AMS nif iatce aie me
; RS eral Ml nal :

A DESULTORY ACCOUNT OF THE MALAYAN
ARCHIPELAGO ;

By — FC HF oNG-TAE-HAE.
wel tagctae

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS PLACES.

BATAVIA.

Batavia (ae Hl) iB Kat-la-pa)* is a fertile country on
the sea-shore, an extensive region in the extreme south-west,
Setting sail from A-moy, (iz =A Hay-t6) we pass by the

DH Seven Islands, or Paracels, leave Cochin-China es

An-lam) and Cambojia (4 Kang-k’hao) to the right,
as well as the straits of Malacca (FS FA Mwa-lak-kah,)
and Palembang, (EL je Kod-kang,) steer through the
straits of Banca, (= as Sza-lak,) until we arrive at Ha Sy
the fortified island of Onrust, and then anchor inthe roads of
Batavia. It is calculated that the voyage is about 280 ship's
watches, each watch comprising 50 le,t making together
14,000 le, after sailing over which we arrive at Batavia.

The city faces the north, and is bounded on the south by a
range of volcanoes, as a sort of screen, beyond which is the
southern ocean. T'o the left lies Bantam, ( fig +} Ban-tan)
and to the right Cheribon (Ff FE PY Chaing-lé-ban), while
before it are spread out the fortified islands, ‘The gates of the
cily are strong, and the walls high ; the territory is extensive,
and the streets are wide; merchandize is abundant, and all

* The names of these places are all given according the Hok-

kéén pronunciation, the writer having been a native of that province.

We shall therefore follow, in a great measure, the orthography of the
Fith-kéén Dictionary.

t About 250 le go toa degree, which would give as the distance
56 degrees ; much too large a calculation ; shewing theChinese writer's
ignorance vf geography, as well as the slowness of junk sailing.

A

2

the tribes of foreigners assemble there ; truly it isa great
emporium, But the situation is low, and the climate sultry,
all the four seasons being as warm as our summer ; while
the hot winds are very oppressive, and exposure to them oc-
casions sickness, 'The river water is, however, cool and plea-
sant, and bathing in it keeps off disease. Their rainy season
accords with our spring, and their dry season with autumn,
They gather in only one harvest in the year, though the soil
is rich and fertile. Ploughing and sowing are easily per-
formed, and the price of rice is moderate, so that the people
are rich and well-fed. But articles of commerce generally
come from the neighbouring states, being conveyed to
Batavia for the purpose of traffic, and are not the produc-
tion of the place itself. The regions subject ‘to the govern-
ment of Batavia are Pakalongan (Fh, igs if Pok-ka-ldng),
Samarang (= sey He Sam-pa-lang), Grissee es) J Ay
Kéet-lek-sek), Surabaya (VY Ft} Sod-lé-ba), Benjarmasin
Gia Iz Ma-sin), Makassar (& yi i, Bang-ka-seak), Am-
boyna (FE IX An-bin), Banda es i Ban-lan), Ternate
a 47: aK Kan-a-te), Bantam € t+ Ban-tan), Malacca
CR 7 FA Mwa-lak-kah), and so forth, to the amount of se-
veral scores.

The virtuous influence of our “‘Chinese) Government ex-
tending far, all the foreigners have submitted, and thus mer-
cantile intercourse is not prohibited. Those who ply the
oar and spread the sail, to go abroad, are principally the in-
habitants of the Fokien and Canton provinces, who have been
in the habit of emigrating, for the space of 400 years; from
the early part of the Hy Béng dy masty (a. p. 1,400) up to the
present day, while those of our countrymen who have remain-
ed and sojurned in those parts, after propagating and multi-
plying, amount to no less than 100,000.

Theterritory of Batavia originally belonged to the Javanese,
but the Dutch, having by stratagem and artifice got possession
of the revenues, proceeded to give orders and enact laws, un-

3

til squatting down all along the sea-coast, they have exacted
duties, issued passports, guarded ingress and egress, put down
robbers, and brought the natives under their entire control,
The Hollanders have long noses, and red hair, they are deep-
schemed and thoughtful, and hence they acquire such an in-
fluence over the natives. Their kingdom has been esta-
blished about eighteen hundred years ; they make no use of
an intercalary moon ; their months have sometimes upwards
of thirty days, which are made up by cutting off the excres-
cencies and supplying the deficienciea of our intercalary
moons, The beginning of each year occurs ten days after the
winter solstice. The government officers all receive orders
from their sovereign in Europe, and the ruler of Batavia dogs
not presume to follow his own inclinations.
They have a Governor (k TET ni 6ng,) anda Lieutenant-
Governor (— Ese ong); there ara Members of Council (#
Séang-piaing,) and Directors (]M A Kay-t’hadu.) with
‘Land and Water Fiscals ez & fy Bé-sek-kat), and inner
and outer Tomonegongs or Magistrates ( ty J» Tam-pan-
kong), Factors qs uN Poey-tut,) Commandants, (B Fy
Kong-put-lang,) and such like titles ; these are divided off
{© superintend different districts, and take precedence, either
higher or lower, according as their districts are great or small.
The chief of the Javanese On Bp Jasu-4,) dwells in the in-
terior, at a place ealled the Dalam, (i AW Lam-laé) or pa-
lace of the Sultan of Solo; he takes the title of Susuhunan (RR
ica Sin-lin,) which resembles that of Grandee ( fa =F Séen-
é,) in the ff Han dynasty, or that of K’han( A] if K’6-han, )
in the }Fy Téng dynasty ; the other native chiefs, in every
place, all call themselves Sultan Gu ot So6-tan,) and in.
variably acknowledge the Susuhunan (AX if San-lan) of
the palace CF PY Lam-laé), as their liege lord. Amongst
their officers, they have Adipatis, (— 5 i) e ‘Jé-pa-ta),
Tomonggongs (3& AX Ze Tam-pan-kong,) and Patis, * (Ff,

* These are all J avanese titles of nobility,

4

1K Pa-te); these have each of them assistants, like our great
officers in China, who transact business for them; their ele.
vation and depression, as well as their appointment to or dis-
missal from office, all depend upon the will of the Dutch.
From the time of eS | Swan-tek, of the A Béng dynasty,
(a. p. 1430) when FE = it Ong-sam-pd, and f=I\ #0
Taing-hé, { went to the western ocean, to collect and pur-
chase valuable articles, to the present day, the flowery nation
(Chinese) have not ceased going and coming for commercial
purposes. After the winter solstice, they ply their oars from
the island of Amey, when in about 20 days, they may arrive
at the city of Batavia (AB Pa); there the streets are lined with
shops, and the markets thronged with barbarians; high and
low holding mutual intercourse, so that it may be truly
said, “ profit abounds in those southern seas.” Our rich
merchants and great traders, amass inexhaustible wealth,
whereupon they give bribes to the Hollanders, and are ele
vated to the ranks of great Captain (FA A Ft Kap-pit-tams
tua,) Lieutenant (EY aii Liiy-tin-lan), Commissioner of in-
solvent and intestate estates, or Boedelmeester (HK ie
Bo6-tit-béy), Secretary, i yg Hi Chod-kat-tat, and such
like appellations ; but all of them take the tithe of Cap-
tain, (Kap-pit-tan.) When the Chinese quarrel or fight,
they represent their cause to the Captain, before whom they
make a low bow, without kneeling, and call themselves his
“juniors.” The rights and wrongs, with the crookeds and
straights of the matter, are all immediately gettled, either by
imprisonment or flogging, without giving the affair a second
thought. With respect to flagrant breaches of the law and great
crimes, together with marriages and deaths, reference must
invariably be made to the Hollanders. Those who journey
by water and land, must all be provided with passports, to
prevent their going aad coming in an improper way ; from
this may be inferred how strict the Hollanders are in the

—

| For some account of these men, see a subsequent page.

5

exeeution of the laws, and how minute in the levying of
duties. The life of man, however, is not required at the
hand of his next neighbour; # but Europeans lay great stress
on evidence, requiring the witnesses to submit to examina-
tion, and to take oath by cutting offa fowl's head, before
they dare to settle a matter or decide a cause ; thus when
men are killed, they are either thrown out into the streets,
or suffered to float down the streams, every one being silent
without enquiry, and nobody daring to stand forward as a
witness. Alas! alas! that the important affair of humana
life should after all be treated so lightly.

With respect to the Dutch, they are very much like the
man who stopped his ears while stealing a bell. ¢ Measuring
them by the rules of reason, they scarcely possess one of the
five cardinal virtues; { the great oppress the small, being
overbearing and covetous, thus they have no benevolence ;
husbands and wives separate, with permission to marry again,
and before a man is dead a month his widow is allowed to
go to another, thus they have no rectitude ; there is uo dis-
tinction between superiors and inferiors, men and women are
mingled together, thus they are without propriety ; they
are extravagant and self-indulgent. in the extreme, and thus
bring themselves to the grave, without speculating on leav-
ing something to tranquillize and aid their posterity, thus they
have no wisdom. Of the single quality of sincerity, however,
they possess a little, As it respects the manners ofthe ma-
lives, with their uncouth forms, their singular appearances,
dwelling in hollow trees, and residing in caverns, with their

* In China, when adead body is found, the nearest inhabitants are
taken up, and required to discover the culprit; the Chinese writer
laments that it is not so in Batavia.

t Intimating that thev try to hide their vices from themselves, and
think that they are as much concealed from others. They have a
story in China, that while aman waa stealing a bell, he etopped his
own ears, to prevent his hearing the noise, and then thought that
others were also deaf to the sound. ,

_{ The five cardinal virtues among the Chinese are benevolence,
righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and truth.

6

woolly hair and tattooed bodies, their naked persons and
uncooked food, and all such monstrous and unheard of mat-
lers, it is scarcely worth while wasting one’s breath upon
them.

The situation of Batavia (0[9, pa) is low, and the dwellitig-
houses are very close together ; but when you get out into
the campongs (ee aa kam-kong,) or villages, you meet with
the gardens and parks of the Hollanders, adjoining one an-
other, for miles together. There you have high galleries and
summer pavilions, bridges and terraces, so elegant and beau-
tiful, as almost to exceed the compass of human art; the ex-
treme skill ahd cleverness displayed in erecting them no pen
can describe. Every seven days there isa oe =3 ceremony -
day or sabbath, when, from nine to eleven in the morning,
they go to the ite 52 place of worship, to recite prayers and
mumble charms; the hearers hanging down their heads
and weeping, as if there was something very affecting in it all;
but after half an hour's jabber they are allowed to disperse,
and away they go to feast in their garden-houses, and ‘spend
the whole day in delight, without attending to any business.
Then you may see the dust of the carriages and the footsteps
of the horses all along the road, in one unbroken succession,
presenting a very lively scene. |

I should say that these lands of the western ocean have
something agreeable in them, and something to be lamented.
The climate is not cold, and the whole year is like a coutinual
summer ; all the flowers are in bloom during the four sea-
sons; in the time of our winter and spring the nights are
rainy and the days fine, truly this is an enchanting state of
things and very agreeable. In their manners Europeans
aim to be polite, and affect an elegant air ; they seem delighted
at meeting with their friends, and are lavish in their compli-
ments to one another ; ifa man in his poverty make appli-
cation to them, they do not reject him, whether he be of the
same clan or only distantly connected, they do not look

7

strangely upon bim. When young people see a stranger, they
compliment him with a bow, and when menials meet their
masters, they honour them by kneeling ; this is according
to the liberality of human feeling displayed in’ ancient times,
and is truly praiseworthy. The soil is rich and fertile, and
necessaries are cheap and easily procured; a peck of rice can
be bought for a few cash, fowls and ducks are cheaper even
than vegetables, and for a mere trifle you can obtain an at-
tendant ; this is a cheap state of things, and very agreeable.
But there are no writings of philosophers and poets, where-
with to beguile the time; nor any friends of like mind, to
soothe one’s feelings ; no deep caverns or lofty towers, to
which one could resort for an excursion ; all which is very
much to be lamented. Before I had lived in Batavia a
whole year, I removed to Samarang (= $f Lele] Sam. pa-
jang), and afterwards to Pacalongan (LP By ie Pok-ka-
long); therefore | am not fully acquainted with the manners
and inhabitants of the first-named district: I have here only
given utterance toa few transient thoughts, to assist more
intelligent persons in their inquiries ; but although my obser-
vations are desultory, and make no pretensions to regular
composition, they may serve to amuse my friends in a leisure
hour.

SAMARANG (— |] dig SAM-PA-LANG.)

Samarang is a district subject to Batavia, but superior
lo it in appearance. [ts territory is more extensive, and its
productions more abundant. Merchant vessels are there
collected, and its commerce is superior to all the places in
these south-western regions. Pacalongan, gL ies ifs Pok-
ka-long,) and Lassam (ok Laé-som,) form its right and
left wings : Ulujami (eh Ht. SE La-jem-né), is its granary,
and ‘Tese (HE uF Téy-sé) and Japara (A i $B Jit-pa-la,)
constitute its door-ways. The country which is under its
government extends to hundreds of miles ; the fields

5

are fertile and well-watered, and the people rich and
affluent ; whence it may be considered the crown of all those
lands. With respect to the climate, the air is clear and cool,
and thus superior to Batavia; the inhabitants are seldom
troubled with sickness, provisions are reasonable and easily
obtained, while throughout the whole region for ages past
they have not known the calamity of famine ; the manners of
the people are 30 inodensive, that they do not pick up things
dropped in the roads ; and the lawe are so strictly enforced,
that men have no occasion to shut their doors at night.
The offices held by the Hollanders residing here consist of a
Governor (fe Gk Gé-ban-lut), also a Factor (

Poey-tut), a Secretary a SB Tua-séa), a Cashier ( Fi)
T's’aé-hod), a Commissary (ayes | Sin-geaou-chew-né, )
dc. &c. Each officer attends to his own business, without
mixture or confusion, Whenever any of the Chinese are ap-
pointed to be Captains ( 1A WA FI} Kap-jit-tan) a represen-
tation must be made to Europe. ‘The new Kap-pit-tan then
selects a lucky: period, and assembles his relatives and friends,
the guests in his family, and ‘visitors from the villages,
amounting to some score of persons, when on the appointed
day a Hollander approaches bringing the order. “The Kap-
pit-tan and his friends go outside the dvor to receivé him ;
the Hollander enters, and stepping up into the middle of
the hall, stands conspicuous, and opening the order, reads
it; then pointing to heaven above, and earth beneath, he
says, “This man is polite, intelligent, and well-inform.d_ re-
garding the principles of things, hence he is promoted to bea
Kap. pit-tan ; you elderly gentlemen, what think you of it 1”
All the people then with one voice exclaim, “ Very good,
most excellent!’ The Hollander then shakes hands with
all of them, and this ceremony being completed, they all
return to their seats; the European then taking the Kap-pit-
tan by the hand, leads him up the steps to the middle of the
hall where they pay compliments to each other ; and this is
way in which the Dutch get our people into their net, ‘The

q

power of the Kap-pit-tan in Batavia (PEL) is divided, and the
profits of the situation are uncertain ; but the authority of the
Samarang Kap-pit-tan is fixed, and his profils more regu-
lar in their returns. ‘The boiling of the sea to make sult,
and the cultivation of the fields to produce revenue, are all
the perquisites of the Kap-pit-tan, Thus it is that a person
who fills this office, can amass stores of wealth.

According to the custom of the place, those who come ori-
ginally from China are preferred as sons-in-law, while those
born in the country are not esteemed. In the former case, a
pair of wax candles may serve for a marriage-portion, which
is most delightfully cheap. The servants and slave girls,
though amounting to tens and hundreds, attend each to
some particular business, thus making their services regular.
The distinction between masters and servants is very strict-
ly observed, so that when they wait upon their masters, they
- bend their knee; thus putting honour upon their superiors.
Wives are called Niai WE Gnay), or mistress, and the men are
_ very much afraid of them; the affairs of tie family are all
under their controul, and the female slaves must obey their or-
ders. They keep every thing shut up very close, and their jea-
lousy is ingupportable. But with respect to those whom they
favour, they are easy and agreeable. Mei and women walk
about hand.in hand, and sit down shoulder by shoulder,
while some of them proceed so far as to go arm in arm, or to
take one another round the waist ; so little do they know of
the decencies of public morals. Female slaves carry umbrellas,
to screen their mistresses from the sun, or bring fans to agitate
the wind for them ; or they hold the spitting-dish, or carry
the betel-box, and thus waitin attendance to the right and
left; throughout the whole country the practice is the same,
und has therefore ceased to excite wonder.

In these western regions, eating and sleeping are very im-
portant things ; let the case be ever so urgent, the visitor must
not be immediately announced, until the gentlemen have

B

10

done eating, or rise from sleep, when the attendants presume
to inform them, ‘The tower of the ae FF church is very
high, and the sound of its bell may be heard in all quarters.
It strikes both day and night; after midnight and mid-day,
they commence reckoning one o’clock, which goes on till
twelve in both cases. Just after the noontide, at two o'clock,
the inhabitants of every house shut up their doors and go to
sleep ; when no passengers are to be seen in the streets ; thus
one day is as another day, and one year as another. I must
say, that this western region is a very pleasant place, but
aman must have no parents at home, be destitute of bre-
thren, and have no family anxieties upon him, and then
he may all his life long be a most happy fellow in such quar-
ters, While China has its delights, however, these are ac-
companied by politeness, rectitude, and a sense of shamé, s0
tbat they can be indulged in unreservedly ; but the plea-
sures of these western regions are enjoyed without knowing
‘what sort of things politeness, rectitude, and shame-faced-
ness are: (hus extravagance is carried to its utmost length,
and lusts gratified without restraint, just as inclination
prompts. )

Here follow some remarks of a friend of the author’s, na-
med 7K A aA Lim-yéw-foo, dated midsummer, 1798.

“ Ravished by the perusal of this record of charming pro-
spects and easy manners, genial climate and blooming ver-
dure, a man wishes himself one of the fh genii, that he might
transport his WP spirit to the spot; but then he must be with-
out parents at home, and be destitute of brethren abroad, before
he can fully enjoy himself there. ,

“] have heard that Fe Je Ya Ong-tab-haé, (our author)
When at =F dig Sam-pa.lang, was entertained in the house
of the Kap-pit-tan, where his dress and food were elegant and
complete, with scores of female attendants around him; and
yet he would not be one of those most happy people, because
Ong had an old mother at home, whom he longed to see;
wherefore he looked upon allas a dream of the southern

11

forest, and whisking his sleeve he returned home, with as little
regret as if he had been throwing away an old shoe ; consi-
dering’ the coarse vegetables of his native village as sweeter
by far than all the delicacies of the south ; after which he
set to work ny 43¢ ploughing with his tongue (i. e. teaching
a school) as before, For it was a thought of filial piety
that eprong up in his breast, and the delights of Samarang
could not hold him back.” |

PACALONGAN ce PR ips PAK-KA-LON G).

Pacalongan is a district to the south-east of Batavia cn pa),
second in importance only to Samarang, The Chinese town
faces the hills, and borders on the sea; it consists of a row
of dwelling-houses, amounting perhaps to fifty or sixty. ‘T'o
the north and south it.is defended by wooden palisades ; the
Chinese dwell between these, and commonly call the place
Pa-China-an (J{ ra eal Pat-che-lan), or Chinese town,
The houses are joined one to another, with high stories; to-
wards the west is the FA A Ff} Kap-pit-tan’s residence, to
the right of which is a garden, which may be about an acre
in extent, beautifully shaded with trees, the colour of whose
foliage is very agreeable: in it there isa pavilion called “the eal
eee Es pavilion of floating clouds,” where the Kap-pit-tan
during his leisure hours amuses himself. 'T’o the east of the
pavilion; all kinds of flowers and plants are found, which flou-
rish in all seasons and never fade; almost equal to the region
ofenchantment. A few paces to the south there is a pond,
on both banks of which the willows droop, and within which
the sporting fishes play ; to the east of the pond there is an
orange grove, of about half an acre, and a frame-work covered
with vines, ‘To the west of the garden there isa siri ( 12)
si-li) or betel-leaf plantation; the wo inclosures ate divided
by a wall, with a gate for communication. Behind the garden
there is a cemetery, in which are some scores of coconnut
trees, tall, straight, and free from branches, the trunks of

12

which are about a yard in circumference ; the leaves are fan-
like and long, which agitated by the wind, make a mournful
noise, that unwittingly reminds one of sad separations from
former friends. » To the north of Pat-che-l@n, there js a tem-
ple, dedicated to the se ii: ie. K “fairy that favours the
seas.” * QOn_ the outside of the inclosure is the Pabeyain,
Gy ty Pok-béén) or custom-house, where they collect the
import and export duties. T'o the north of theriver, at the
distance of about a furlong, is the outer custom-house, for the
inspection of such goods as may have escaped notice at the
other. A mile or two beyond, the proapect opens out towards
the sea, where there is the grave of a holy man, esteemed
very sacred ; at this the boat-people in passing invariably
present incense and offerings, and make obeisance towards
the place. Southward from Pat-che-lan, the road leads to
Hi A A Ba-t tang, distant about ten miles ; at Batang, there are
two ee formerly divided to the east and west, but
now united in one. To Roban (ae faa] L6-ban), which place
produces boards and bamboos, the distance is about ten
miles : about fifteen miles farther on you come to a
high mound on the sea-shore; whenever I pass this place,
1 invariably feel a shuddering sensation, and suddenly
the tears begin to flow. For there I see the deep sea, over-
whelmingly wide, and the white clouds infinitely broad
beyond: the heavens seem so expansive, and the journey so
far, with one’s native village in the distance ; although a man
may be ever somuch elevated above the world, how can he
forget his feelings. When the mound on the sea-shore is
passed, you enter the forest, as far as the station of Tabuan,
(iy ress eh Tut-bod-wan), which district seems deeply bed-
ded in the centre of ten thousand hills, and is unusually so-
litary: even by day the monkeys chatter and the tigers
roar, the birds chirp, and the storks scream, travellers in
passing to and fro, are obliged to form themselves into com-

+ See an account of. this personage further on.

13

panies, and carry weapons; in which case only can they
venture to goandcome. ‘The forest is about ten miles in
extent, leaving which and passing over a rattan bridge, you
come to the station of Jetek (A HS Jit-tap). The above
places are all under the authority of Pacalongan ez Long).
Thence froni Kandal ( nH Gan-tat) and Kaliwungu (
Liz fel Ba Kat-lé-léng-g6,) as far as Samarang (— 7
Sam-pa-lang), the distance js not more than thirty miles.
Going out of AK rod pay Pat-che-lan, tothe west, over the
river, you are ferried across by means of a bamboo raft ;
then you come to Wiradesa (A fa ae WHA hoo-t'adu-léy-sa),
. where resides a Tommonggeng (ie rina rs Tam-pan-kong):
six miles further on, youcome to Ulujami (GE #} fe L6-jém-
né), where the land is well-watered and fertile, and the na-
tives numerous ; this forms the granary of = FF ite Sam -
pa-lang. From Ulujami Ee né), through Pamalang (A Fe
He Pat-mé-lang), to Cheribon SEK Chaijzg-ls-biin), the
distance is about 150 miles, and from Cheribon Cy 4 Bin), to
Batavia (Hf) Pa), all the diferent villages or desaa Gans pas
léy-sa) are under the jurisdiction of Batavia. Travelling
overland, in about ten days, you arrive at the city of 44 Pa,
but the road is very dangerous and difficult; the postmen
or opassers ( =) 3% i o0-pwat-se), however, go and come
without intermission. &
Those who manage matters in Pacalongan cit Long,) are
the resident or factor ( KE poey-tur), also a police
magistrate called the great writer * + tua-séa), and a
controller of the revenue, called a clerk (By ial) tsaé-hoo ).
There is a fortified place called ifr pan, or fort, and the soldiers
on duty are called jaga ct > jéak-ga), or watchmen:
The fort is merely separated from the Chinese settlement, Pa-
chinaiin (A eal Pat-che-lan,) by a river. On the south
of the fort, deep in the gardens and shrubberies, with noble
galleries, high and lofty, dwells the resident or factor Gus
poey-tut.) The city of Batavia CAB Pa), is the place of

14

resort for both Chinese and foreigners ; the streets there are
at right angles, and wide ; while the mansions are elecant
and beautiful. But Pacalongan i Long), is a rustic vil-
lage, without any embellishments ; it has however its natural
scenery of high mountains, and mighty rivers ; there, while
the evening sun is descending over the hills, and the fisher-
men are rowing home and singing responsively to one an-
other, in a pleasing tone, one is strongly reminded of the far-
famed #8 "sod river ; the stream of which is neither deep
nor shallow, with water-plants spread over the surface, just
like the scenery of Bf Soo-chow and Ff Hang-chow ; the
sight of which tends at once to gratify the eye and delight
the mind; but men of understanding alone can find real plea-
sure in such scenes.

“ BANTAM, OR Ri Fy BAN-TAN.

Bantam was formerly called the Fd Re Toe-pos country ;
it lies to the west of Batavia (fg M]HP Kat-la-pa), and is in-
habited by Javanese. The territory is wide and extensive,
while the fields are rich and well-watered. Property is abun-
dant and the people affluent. Among its prodnets are variegated
and fine mats, very much esteemed by Europeans. The
Mollanders collect the revenues, and hold the lands on the
sea-coast in possession, in order to keep in order the various

foreigners, who come and go for purposes of trade. The
Javanese assemble from all parts in great numbers ; but they
"with their chiefs are very. much afraid of the Hollanders, ho-
nouring them very scrupulously, and not daring to treat them
with the leastneglect. Their Sultan (eA J. Soo-tan) dwells
in the interior, and the royal palace where he resides is
strong and elegantly adorned. Outside the palace there is s
small fort; where twelve Hollanders and 100 native troops
are stationed, under the name of guards of honour, but really
to control the ups Soo-tan. When the Sultan dies, his
son cannot succeed without an order from the Hollanders.

li

The Javanese are dull and stupid by nature, thinking that
the Hollanders reverence them, and therefore take the trouble
to collect their revenues; they imagine also that the Hollanders
respect them, and have therefore built them a fort, and _per-
gonally act as their guards of honour. These Javanese are
spread abroad in all parts, from Batavia eastward to Cheribon
FE fie ne Chaing-lé-biin), Pacalongan (+h ied ie Pok-ka
lang), Samarang (= a Sam-pa-lang), Lassem ( en TK
La-som), Grissee aig yA | Ay Kéet-lek-sek), Sourabaya (pg
FA 4ifj Sod-16-ba), Balambangan (Hf). B9 E Gwa-lam-ong);
and westward to Johore ex sii Jé5-hwut), Palembang GE
He Koo-kang), Champia ( a) A =} Chéem-pe), Lampong
Gey i Lam-péng), &c. scores of places, are full of this sort
of people, who do not fall short of millions. ‘The Hollanders
cannot muster one for their thousand, and these very much
dispersed : but the Hollanders are courageous and scheming,
whereby they form plans for entrapping the people, and then
overawe them by majesty and allure them by gain, till they
have sufficiently subdued their minds, without their daring to
refuse compliance, or withhold veneration. Rightly therefore
did the ancients esteem wisdom above force.

SOIL AND MANNERS OF JAVA.

Batavia (HES te] Hie Kat-la-pa) is the country of the Java-
nese; the Hol..aders who live along the sea-coast, form not
one tenth of the population.. The Javamese are hundreds of
times more numerous than the Dutch; the manners of the
natives are honest and simple ; but they are dull and stupid,
and by nature pliant and fearful, being very much afraid of
Europeans, and making a salaam at the very hearing of their
names, The distinction between master and servant is
very strictly marked; whenever they meet a superior they
bend the knee, and clasp their hands together, which is
called obeisance, or sumbah ( OG 4, chéem-pa). ‘They
dwell aniong the hills and dales, cultivating their fields ;
and reaping only one harvest in the year. In the spring-

16

time, after the rains, when the fields are full of water, they
spread the seed abroad, and it grows up spontaneously,
witheut the aid of either hoe or plough ; weeds do not spring
up, and the crop is produced of its own accord ; each ear has
hundreds of grains, hence in these western regions the price of
rice is very moderate, On the sloping sides of the hills, also,
rice may be planted, where the ground, if but just chiselled
by abodkin, and a few grains cast in, at the proper season,
will yield an abundant harvest. The rice does not need
a mill to grind it, but is put into a long wooden trough, when
several people beat it with long pestles ; xs soon as the grain is
freed from the stalk they ejft it out, andagain pound it to clear
it from the husk. The rice of Java is of along grain and
soft, much superior to thatofChina, ‘The concerns of each
family are managed by women, hence parents consider it
of importance to have daughters born, by the marriage of
whom sons-in-law are brought into the family; but when a
son is born they are less pleased, because at his marriage he
goes out to be housed elsewhere. Their houses are like
pavilions, open on all sides ; they use neither chairs nor ta-
bles, but spread mats on the floor to sit on. The floors of their
rooms are all covered with these mats, and surrounded by
tapestry: their bedsteads are not high, their matresses are
soft; and their pillows are piled up like a tower, six or seven
stories high. ‘They sit generally cross-legged, and squat
down when they see a visitor, holding each others hands by
way of ceremony. They coinmonly esteem betel, and when a
stranger arrives they present itas a mark of respect. The
vessels which contain it, among the rich, are made of gold
and silver, but among common people of brass. Their spit-
toons for holding the voided juice of the betel-nut are as largo
as flower-pots, and are also made of brass. Men and wo-
men sit together without restriction or suspicion. When
they eat, they do not use chopsticks, but take the food up in
their hands ; they consider beef a delicacy, but do not touch

17

pork or dog’s-flesh. ‘The women’s feet are not bound up (as
in China), their faces are not smeared with cosmetices or
paint, and on their heads they stick no flowers ; their gowns
have no collars, and they wear petticoats iastead of drawers.
The coats of the men, on the contrary, have collars ; on the
sides of their heads they stick flowers, and on their persons
they wear pantaloons instead of petticoats ; thus their customs
appear to be the very opposite of the Chinese. Flowers of all
kinds are common atevery scason, opening and blooming
without cessation ; fruits and blossoms may be seen succeed-
ing each other all the year round ; their fruita are finer in fla-
vour than those of Canton and Fokien, but the soil being
different, the natural productions also vary. Pine-apples
(By FZ 6ng-laé), and water-melons (Hy JJ, 6ng-kwa), which
are naturally heating, are in the western regions esteemed
refrigerant medicines ; all who are affected by heat and noxi-
ous winds eat them, and contrary to one’s expectation get
free of their complaints. Coarse vegetables are even dearer
than fowls and ducks ; because grain being easily raised
none of the people will exert themselves to cultivate
vegetables. In the He Pa country they look upon wind as a
demon, and on water as a medicine; all who are exposed
to the wind, and consequently get fevers, have only to bathe
in the river, and they get well.

Women immediately after labour, and young children
afilicted with the small-pox, all bathe in the river; they also
prick the pock with a needle till the matter comes out, and
experience no evil effects from it: is not this strange? If the
weather be ever so hot and sultry, they never take off their
clothes, nor fan themselves, but always sleep in close rooms,
with curtains spread over them; the least exposure to the
wind brings on sickness, hence in their chambers and rooms
they use glass for doors and windows, because it keeps out
the wind, but admits the light. In the rural tales of
EB ie Lek-lam, it is said, “ that in the luxurious lands of

c

18

the genii, they have flowers all the year round, with glass
windows, and tortoise-shell bridges :” now in the western
regions these are common things, so that it is not worth while
making any wonder about it.

A FURTHER ACCOUNT OF BATAVIA.*

Alas! the wheel of fortune is ever turning, and the fates
revolve without cessation, It is now several hundred years
since the Dutch barbarians, by artifice, obtained possession
of the soil of Batavia ; for by rich presents and sweet words
they induced the natives of the country to give them as much
ground as could be included within a cow’s hide, where they
might carry on their trade; and now they have strengthened
their citadel, and rigidly enforced their severe enactments ;
until the natives of every island, far and near, not presuming
to resist, have paid them tribute ; thus have they possessed
themselves of a wealthy and powerful kingdom.

The Javanese are a stupid race, and, coveting the wealth
of Europeans, have gradually fallen into their snare ; but who
could have calculated on the conquerors proceeding to invent
the black fumes of opium, to tempt and delude the natives ;
urging them to consume this drug asa luxury, until they
became so weak and emaciated, so dispirited and exhausted,
that they could no longer think of regaining their land, nor
conceive the idea of revenging their wrongs. ‘The Javanese,
being originally a stupid and ignorant race, were readily over-
come by this poison, and lost all care for themselves; but
we Chinese, of the central flowery land, have also been deluded
by them ; for no sooner do we partake of this substance, than
we lose all anxieties about our vative land, have no further
concern for father or mother, wife or children, and are plunged
into unspeakable misery.

© This article seems to have been added by another Chinese writer,

as it alludes to matters which occurred long subsequent to our au-
thor’s visit to Jaya.

19

Opium may be denominated an article of luxury, but it is of
an encroaching nature, Men partake of it in order to procure
amoment’s enjoyment, but they do not know that it makes
gradual inroads on the constitution, and extends its injury
to a future day. For the corporeal energies of man are like
the rays of the sun and moon, the soothing influences of which
cause all things to attain growth and vigour ; but the fire
of opium is like a midnight blaze upon the hills, burn-
ing upand destroying every thing with which it comes in
contact; whoever consumes much of this drug becomes
meagre and emaciated, he is indisposed for active exertion,
and his countenance assumes a pale and sombre hue. His
corporeal energies being enfeebled, he can no longer increase
and multiply, and though he may have progeny they soon
sicken and die. Having long indulged the habit, he wishes
in vain to relinquish it, but he cannot help continuing the
practice, until his family is ruined and his property wasted;
then worms are engendered, and the marrow is dried up, yea
every kind of frightful disease comes on, for which medi-
cine affords no remedy. Inevery case it is the same, At the
same time Europeans forbid their people the use of this drug,
and severely punish these who offend ; how is it then that we
Chinese, together with the Javanese, are so thoughtless as to
fall intothe snare! In this scheme of the Europeans they
seem to have laid a foundation not to be rooted up for a myriad
of years ; having done which, they live at their ease, with-
out dread of danger, while they give themselves up to the
work of fleecing the people. We of the flowery nation, coming
from a distance to traffic here, were formerly allowed to take
the proceeds of our commerce, and either lay in a new stock,
or carry back the hard cash to our native land, as we found
it convenient. Butafter atime it was strictly forbidden to
export silver from the colony, and we were compelled to ex-
pend our profits in the purchase of goods, before we could
spread our sails,and return, Moreover the return cargoes

20)

being the product of other places, were some time before
they could be brought to Batavia, so that the Chinese junke
had to wait many days, until the monsoon was over, and
they were unable to reach Amoy ; or they were delayed till
the latter end of summer, when typhoons were frequent, so
that vessels and mariners perished together. This has been
the case for aseries of years, until the inhabitants of the
sea~coast, who are devoted to this branch of commerce, burst
forth into incessant lamentations, and the revenues of the
country suffered, while no remedy could be discovered, Just
at this crisis, who would have thought that the red-haired
English foreigners, who had long cherished designs on the
place, in the 14th year of ¥ fie Kay-k’heng (1810) came
with a fleet of vessels to attack the colony, but not succeed-
ing they retired, In the summer of the next year, however,
they prepared another fleet, and beseiging the fort with
their shells soon mastered it. The Dutch, not daring to
resist, returned to their own land, and now (1814) the ter-
ritory of Batavia is all under the authority of the English,
who have abolished the oppressive laws of the Dutch, and
invited people to trade as formerly. Every one renders them
willing obedience, and merchants from far and near carry on
an uninterrupted intercourse. ‘The spirit of the English is
really hereic ; and in this ‘affair we see how irue it is, that
artful plans are not to be relied upon, and that cunning trick-
ery is of no avail. +8 ADA FB, =H B 3 th By
AN ya When men injure others in order to benefit them-
selves, the powers above will not endure them; a troth
which in this instance is abundantly exemplified. We
have therefore recorded it for the examination of posterity.*

* The Chinese writer does not seem to have been aware, that the

English bave been much more deeply engaged in the opium trade
than the Dutch, though not on Java,

21
SOME AOCOUNT OF CELEBRATED PERSONS.
t= te ONG-SAM-PO,

Ong-sam-po, in the time of Led fea Swan-tek, of the HA
Béng dynasty, (4. p. 1,430,) was a eunuch of the palace.:
5 Swan-chong ® being fond of curiosities, ordered I
— 1 Ong-sam-po and Bh At Taing-hd, to go to the
western ocean, to purchase and collect valuable things.
These came as far as Bantam Ft Ban-tan,) but did not
touch at Batavia (PE! Pa.) Nevertheless, at Samarang(—= EF
He Sam-pa-lang) there is a cave, called Sam-pd’s cave, at
which it is eommonly reported, that wonders are wrought ;
and every new and full moon, our Chinese ladies and gen-
Uemen go in crowds to worship at the place. In the
midst of the sea, off Cheribon tb ria Wy Chaing-lé-bin.)
there ia an island, severe) miles in extent, called the HU Bt
snake island ;+ the common tale concerning which is, that
a certain snake had a large pearl, which was taken away by
Sam-pé; upon which the snake died, and became a long
rocky island, to involve men in misfortune. This account,
though wild and visionary, is here preserved for the inspec-
tion of the curious.

pee iy v= AK THE FAIRY THAT FAVOURS THE SBA.

This protector of the sea, was called By Kok by surname,
and va =A Lak-kwna by name. He formerly put to sea
for the purpose of trade. ‘The master of the vessel, and the
foreign sailors, observing that he had a full cargo, began to
conceive evil designs; but Lak-kwaa secretly perceived their
intentions, and said, “ You slaves, you would make a gain
by my wealth, but you have no need to commit murder; stop
till T have bathed, and [ will myself give you that which
you desire.” After he had bathed and changed his clothes,

* Another name of Swan-tek.
+ This refers to the Boomtjes, a small island surrounded by rocks.

22

he got out and walked upon the sea, and in a moment disap-
peared. The barbarians were very much alarmed, when a
violent storm arose, which overturned the vessel, and all the
savages were drowned. The Chinese conceiving that the
unfortunate merchant had become ia an invisible intelli-

gence, bestowed on him, the title of « ye IH. K the fairy
that favours the seas,” and built a temple to his honour.

can oF CH THE WIFE OF ONE 800.

In the city of Jet J¥ Chang-chow, in Fokien, outside the
eastern gate, in the Tk By deep ereen village, there dwelt a
man belonging to the clan of ak Soo, who went to trade
across the western ocean ; he there married a wife, but being
unsuccessful in business, after several years returned, and
died in hia native land. His western wife hearing the news,
and knowing that his family was poor, his parents old, and
his children young, resolved to venture alone across the sea,
to visit her husband’s home, and support and nourish her
aged mother-in-law ; in doing this, she carried to the utmost
the duties of filial piety, and instructed the children, till they
grew up to maturity. Alas! female constancy and tects
tude, even if sought for in the flowery land of China, is not
often to be found, how much less can we expect it in wild
and uncivilized parts of the world. Truly, it is enough to
awaken one’s respect and perpetual admiration. It is a pity
that we are not acquainted with her surname, or we would
record it here.

THE WIFE OF Hi Fig Ix NE-TSEET-KONG,

The wife of Né.ts¢et-kong, was a woman of a beautiful
countenance, and happening to live about the time of the
Batavian rebellion, was taken by a rich and powerful man,
who desired to obtain her for his wife. The lady pretended
compliance, but requested leave first to sacrifice to her hus-
band on the river, when she would put on the bridal dress,

23

and go through the marriage-ceremony ; but when she
had finished the sacrifice, she threw herself into the water,
and was drowned,

pu TK 2E ye-nox-senc.

Né-bok-seng dwelt in a plantain garden, on the banks of
the aE 3a tit Holy grave Canal, where he separated him-
self from common pursuits, and employed his time in copy _
ing books ; he was fond of the flute and violin, could make
poetry, and wasa skilful player at chess; in all of which
he excelled. Every Sunday his comntry-seat was thronged
with friendly visitors, and he had something of the spirit of
our famous na Ef Pok-haé, who was so celebrated for en-
tertaining his friends. The trees in his garden were beauti-
fully verdant, the flowers and fruits were blooming and
luxuriant : the weeping willow swept the surface of the wa-
ter, while the cedars and firs shot up to the heavens. There
was a gallery called the FA HE moon gallery, and a bridge
called the B FG crescent arch: there was also a bamboo
grove and a fish pond : the grove was shady, the paths were
serpentine, and the whole had an elegant appearance. Bok-
seng himself was quiet and still, like the chrysanthemum
flower, while his bosom was full of bright ideas; truly he
might be considered the retired scholar of the age.

Be x al TAN-PA-K'HENG.

Tan-pa-k*heng, whose name was ie Lek, was an inhabi-
tant of the 4q 5 beautiful stone village, in the prefecture of
ig 1H Chang-chow. He was naturally shrewd, and well-ac-
quainted with human nature; his first cousin bs Yang was
the Captain China of Samarang, Pa-k’eng went to in-
quire after his relative, and was soon enabled to assist hit
in his business. After atime Yang died, and K’heng suc-

24

ceeded to his office. He soon obtained several scores of
trading vessels, which he despatched to different ports, and
gained, wherever they touched, cent per cent profit. Before
many years had expired, he became the richest man in all
the country, when he kept hia singing-boys, and trained his
dancing-girls ; he had a sumptuous table apread before him,
and hundreds of females waiting at his side. When J
first arrived at Samarang, I observed a native officer of the
rank of ‘Tomonggong ei FF Ds Tam-pan-kong), paying
a visit to Pa-k’heng. His train consisted of several hundred
horsemen, who came in grand procession, but on their arri-
val at the outer gate, they alighted; and on entering ap-
proached on their knees, while Pa-k’héngsat exalted, until they
came near, when he greeted them with a slight inclination
of his head, Most assuredly, to altain such an extent of
elevation in a foreign land, shows what the flowery Chinese
are capable of,

In Batavia there used to be a large building, called the
Samarang factory, where, on the arrival of the Chinese
junks, those new-comers, who wished to proceed to Sama-
rang, took up their residence, until they found vessels ready
to take them on thither; these, whether of the same or
different clans, whether well or ill-recommended, were all
received and recorded ; after which every man was employed
according to his ability, and placed in the situation best
adapted for him.. Both Chinese and foreigners received as-
sistance from Pa-k’heng, and his merchanis and factors
were without number. ‘Trading vessels thus accumulated in
Samarang, and mercantile commodities were abundant,
above all other places in the western ocean: but when our
hero died, the merchant ships came to an anchor, the busy
mart was still, and silence and solitude pervaded Samarang.
How true is the proverb, that K at Hit a aman of talent

is the soul of a place.

25

5 Bz K’HOR-HONG-LEANG,

K'hoé-hong-léang was a native of ja Cheang-chew,
and became Captain China of Batavia ; he was also of a li-
beral disposition, and truly generous. There was at that
time one ba aa ye Ch’hwa-sek-kong, who resided in his
family, and experienced an instance of his generosily, It
seems that of all the fruits of pI Pia Cheang-chew, the fie Hi
brown pear is considered the most delicious; butit is never
obtained in great quantities, and when the Chinese junks
arrive they merely bring two or three specimens. The larg-
est of these are gold for a hundred reals, and the smallest
for twenty, all of which are generally sent up, by great and
influential persons, as presents to the governor of Batavia.
Hong-léing purchased a couple of these, and entrusted them
to Sek-kong, intending to send them to the governor: but
Sek-kong, thinking that they were only common productiona,
sliced them up, and presented them to his patron, Hong-
léang said composedly, “ BR i ob He i, F
tt 2 BE PER RRA BC. This is
indeed one of the most delicious fruits of our native place,
and is rarely to be obtained, let all my guests and inmates
be ealled to partake of it.”

Amboyna produces the oil of cloves, which is generally
kept in gmall glass bottles ; the largest of which are worth
a hundred reals : one day Sek-kong, whilst wiping the table,
accidentally broke one of these, when the fragrance diffused
itself through all the house; and it being impossible to con-
ceal the fact, he informed his patron. Hong-léing merely
said, “ +e 5) ao ¥b fi sb Be Hh, The preservation
and destruction of things are determined by fate ; why need
you mettion it.”

In Batavia, when guests are invited, they use crystal ves-
sels and dishes, even the tea.cups are all of glass, each set of
which is worth one or two hundred reals. One day. when
they were entertaining some friends, a slave-girl, by a slip

i]

26

of the hand, broke a whole set: whereupon the maid pros-
trated herself on the ground, and begged to be put to death,
Hong-léing said, « SH 254 PY 1H A $e 1 we wy 22
Never mind! go in, and tell your mistress that I broke it by
mistake.” For, according to the custom of Batavia, the
slaves are treated very cruelly; the’ men-servants are in-
deed subject to the master’s controul, but the women-ser-
vants are under the superintendence of the mistress. Thus,
had not Hong-léing adopted this plan, the slave-girl would
have been in danger of her life.

At that time all those belonging to the clan of = K’hoé
were people of respectability, of which Hong-léAng used to
boast. It being reported to him, however, that one of his
clan was doing the work ofa day-labourer, Hong-léing sent
for him, and said, Since youare a relation of mine, you ought,
on your arrival at Batavia, to have waited on me immedi-
ately ; why should you stand in your own light?’ The Cap-
tain then took him into his employ, and in a few years he
became arich man, Of such acts of generosity there are fre-
quent instances, all of which it would be impossible to par-

ticularize,
we FF IX. WUIng-CHENG-KONG.

Wuing-chéng-kong was a native of i VFA Cheang-ph’od,
in the prefecture of vind yt Cheang-chew, in Fokien ; he was of
an honest blunt disposition, and never harboured resentment.
In early times he was Captain China of Samarang, and used
to take great delight in poetry and wine; in which respect, as he
did not restrain himeelf, be fell under censure ; and his ac-
counts not being very clear, he was at length thrown into
prison. Some persone then advised Cheng-kong to prose-
cute those who were indebted to him, that he might be ena-
bled to meet his own responsibilities. Chéng-kong replied,
‘RR-AMBRMR ABBA Bh
F'or the sake of me, a single individual, to involve others in
difficulty, I had rather die than allow it.” Many admired

a7

his nobleness of spirit, and offered to come forward as his
securities, while they entered into a subscription, and got
him out of confinement, His eldest son, called 2A He:
Béén-kong, who resided at Batavia, exerted himself i in trade,
and having obtained a competency, invited his father to
come and reside in Batavia, where he built a country-house
for him, neara clear pond. In this quiet retreat the old
gentleman atiused himself every day, with a few of his com
panions, singing and reciting odes. The people looked on
this as the reward of his former public spirit,

ie Ate ER THE PRIEST FUH-PIN.

Fith-pin was a native of ia Vip Cheang-p’o6, in the prefec-
ture of Cheang-chew ; and became officiating priest in the
temple at Samarang. He could write a good hand, and talk
very glibly, but he publicly married a wife, and brought up
a family of children, to which was added an establishment
of men-servants and maid-servyants; so that when a guest
arrived, he used to call his slave-girl to boil the tea ; most
ridiculous truly! For it appears, that the priests in foreign
parts have wives and concubines, which is there thought to be
nothing remarkable. However, I could not belp composing
a verse, to expose the priest Fiih-pin, as follows :

I have hes it reported, a hermit dwells here,

Who joins with the worldling in making good cheer ;
His surplice is work’d in the female arcade,

And to boil us some tea, he calls out his maid,

ag

ACCOUNT OF DIFFERENT NATIONS.
THE DUTCH,

The Hollanders (FU ‘| op Hé-lan-la) are called by the
Chinese $4 H6-lan ; and the general appellation bes.
towed upon them is Tuan (gy twan) or master. The
Dutch, in their turn, call the Chinese AS Chin, or as
a general designation, Keae (FE Khe), Sir. The Dutch in-
habit the north-west corner of the ocean; they have high
noses and red hair, white faces and grey eyes ; they do not
allow their bearda to grow ; their coats are clean and neat,
with short bodies and narrow sleeves; while their gait is
light and nimble. They share the sovereignty of Europe
with the English (#7 = Ang-mé, red-haired nation) and
the French (At i PG H6-lan-say). The English nation
is poor but powerful, and being situated at a most impor-
tant point, frequently attacks the others, It is now about
1,800 years since the Dutch nation was established, and a
little more than 200 years since they took possession of Ba
tavia. At first they were driven thither by adverse winds,
when seeing that the country was extensive, and adapted fof
the building of a city, they pretended to take shelter in
Bantom bay, and sent io an humble petition, accompanied by
large presents, intreating the Sultan (ee ie So6-tan) of Ban-
tam, to them allow to borrow for a time a place on the sea-
shore, where they might repair their vessels. It was not long,
however, before they requested leave to erect a stockade,
with the view of screening those who were within from
those who remained without ; on which occasion they in-
creased the amount of their presents. The disposition of
the Javanese is stupid and foolish, unsuspicious and uncalcu-
lating ; being moreover desirous of European gold, Bantam
speedily fell into hands of the foreigners, and Batavia soon
followed. The Dutch then entered intoa treaty with the Su-
suhunan, ($i fee) Stin-lan) or Emperor of Solo, engaging to
pay him a certain amount of tribute annually ; and thus all

29

the territory along the coast came under the superintendence
of the Dutch. They then erected forts and defences, and
encroached more and more, as the silk-worms devour the
leaves ; until their military defencea are now become very
strict, having a guard-house, Jaga (2) if Jak-gi,) at every
gate ; while their centinels keep incessant watch, night and
day, never laying aside their weapons, so that the whole year
round we never hear of thieves.

They have also established a poor-house, Miskin Es 4
3}f Bé-sek-kin), for the reception and maintenance of sick
and destitute persons. Whenever a person comes to die,
who has no near relatives at hand, he sends for a notary (
Hie nééng-ta), who draws up a testament according to the
desire of the sick person, which is as firm as iron and never
departed from; this will is then delivered to the orphan
chamber, Weeskamer, (x al “Ef Bé-sek-kam), to be deposi-
ted there, until the relatives of the deceased come to claim the
the property, which is paid over with the annual interest; as
well as the proceeds of the sale of houses or lands, slave-men
or slave-women, and the account of all debts due to the es-
tate, distinctly arranged, without confusion ; the least failure
in which would lead to the imprisonment of the parties.

There is also a Commissary (Be 1] Je Rik Kong-put-sa-
lé), who is charged with the superintendence of all places in
the interior : besides which they have a collector of customs,
Shabbandar (yf #5 $5 Sim-ban-tat) who takes care of all
affairs relating to the port, There are also outer and inner
magistrates or tomonggongs B HX Be tam-pan-kong),
who regulate matters in the city and suburbs. The flowery
Chinese, and every description of foreigners, have all got
Captains (FA NAD i Kap-pit-tan), placed over them, who are
charged with the regulation of affairs belonging to their own
countrymen, while great offences and capital crimes, are all
given over to the Dutch to decide. The laws and regulations
are carefully drawn up and rigidly executed, which is one
cause of their perpetuity,

30)

The Dutch say, that their country is very cold : that in the
month of October they have frost and snow, when the leaves
all fall from the trees. Many of their people, they affirm,
attain to a hundred years of age; but the climate of Ba-
tavia is extremely hot, the leaves do not fall in Autumn,
and bathing may be employed all the year round: thus the
energies wasting away, people do not attain to great longe-
vity ; and fifty or sixty years are looked upon as the maxi-
mum. Those who are born in Batavia have not red hair,
and their eyes are dark, which is perhaps to be ascribed to the
climate.

vne $2 5 ane-mo, or RED-HAIRED PEOPLE.

The English Oj we gu Eng-kit-léy), are denominated
by the Chinese £7. = aing-mé (red-haired people) ; they alsc
dwell in the north-west corner of theocean, very near to the
Dutch, whom they much resemble in person and dress
but their language and writing are different. English ma-
nufactures are very superior, while their swords and guns,
and other implements, are the best in all countries to the
north-west, Those who trade to Batavia all reside in fac-
tories ( + jez t’hoé-k'hod), and submit to the regulations
of the Dutch; while the latter treat them well, and do
not dare to quarrel with them. Of late years there is a new-
ly-established settlement, to the west of Malacca, and the
south of Quedah C1 Hee Kit-tat), on the opposite side of the
peninsula to Patani (Je 4 Ta-nd), which is called the
island of Pinang (#& #if Pin-léng.) But theregulations there
are oppressive and unfriendly, so that the Chinese of that
place, being unable to endure them, have removed elsewhere.

THE FRENCH (Fai lod yj HO-LAN-SAY-)

The French 7i| fal PQ Put-lan-say) people’ are called
by the Chinese # el ra H6-lin-say; they also reside in
the north-west corner of the ocean, very near the English and

3

Dutch. Their appearance, apparel, and household furni-
ture are all similar to those of the Dutch, but their lan-
guage and literature are different. Their dispositions are
violent and boisterous ; their country is poor, and contains
but few merchants, hence they seldom come to Batavia.
Whenever the Dutch are insulted by the English, they de-
pend on the French for assistance. The kingdom of France
is large and the population numerous, so that the English are
somewhat afraid of them.

MANILLA (3 fF ek BUN-NE-LA).®*

The Spanish (f FE 2 Sit-pan-géw), are called by the
Chinese ars t¥- Song-a, (from Luzon); they also dwell in
the north-west corner of the sea, and the name of their coun-
try is £% Hi Kan-se-lap. Their physiognomy resem-
bles in some respect that of the Chinese, They wear high-
cornered caps, and coats with narrow sleeves, small above
and full below; their food and furniture are not unlike those
used by the Dutch. ‘Their country ie very rich, and pro-
duces gold and silver. The |E Git round-caked silver
money (dollar) is stamped with the likeness of their
sovereign, of which various sizes are made, and the merchants
of Canton and Fokien find them very convenient for the pur-
poses of trade. They frequently send veesels to the coast
= ae iat Ko-sit-tat),t to purchase European cloths, forsale
in Batavia. Their capital is large, of which both Chinese and
foreigners avail themselves,

THE NATIVES OF THE COAST (ey KO-CHA.)

These live at the coast is yin rs Ko-sit-tat), far to the west
of Batavia, distant from Padang da ve Pa-tang) and Ben-
coolen (# x Hi Bang-koo-l¢), about 200 ship’s watches
(nearly 2,000 miles). The Chinese call them Sayid ce i,
Sa-yih.) ‘They are tall in person, with bushy whiskers, and

oe A ie ee eee
* In this account the author seems to have confounded the Spa-
nards and Armenians together.

| The coast of Coromandel.

32 i*

imposing appearance ; they wear flowery tunics, embroidered
robes, and white silken trowsers. ‘They bind their heads
about with white cloth (turbans), and hold x EK rosariea
in their hands, Their country is rich, and their manufac-
tures consiat of a fine cotton cloth, called BF R Ka-ché,
also denominated moris CE 12 mé-lé), every piece of which
ig worth a hundred reals; it is as thin as BY ie surplice
cloth, or as the wings of the gossamer, embroidered with
flowers, extremely neat and elegant.

THE JAVANESE als i+] JAOU-A.)

This race is extremely numerous, dwelling all along the
coast from Bantam and Batavia, to Cheribon (Fp PE PX
Chaing-lé-biin), Pacalongan (+, ie it Pak-ka-long),
Samarang (=. if 42 Sam-pa-lang), Lassem (At #4 La-
som), Grissee 8 7] 4y Kéé-lek-sek), Surabaya 6)! il
aij Sod-lé-ba-a), and Banyuwangi (We By HE Gwa-
lam-ong). There are some of this race also in Johore (S Ate
Jé5-hwut), Palembang ( =I He Kod-kang), T'siampa ( Hf
Chéem-pe), Lampong EF Lam-péng), &c, all of which
places are inhabited by people of this class. They generally
acknowledge the ruler of Samarang (= ay ia Sam-pa-
Jang), and Solo (&. A Lam-laé), as their Susuhunan Gi

Siin-lan), or sovereign, The chiefs of other places being
merely called Sultan ($4 f} So6-tan), This class of peo-
ple are blunt and stupid, not understanding the principles of
reason ; but they harbour no resentment, and are easily
managed, They take little account of times and seasons,
but assign twelve moons to each year, which moons they
reckon from the time when they see the new moon; their
mode of writing resembles crawling worms, and their dia-
lects differ according to the places in which they reside ; but
they are all subject to the Dutch ; whom they serve as slaves,
obeying orders most punctually, without daring to display
the least negligence,

oo

THE ISLAMS Ge: AC sit-tam.)

When the Chinese remain abroad for several generations,
without returning to their native laud, they frequently cut
themselves off from the instruction of the sages ; in language,
food, and dress they imitate the natives, and studying foreign
books, they do not scruple to become Javanese, when they
call themselves Islam (2s Sit-lam), They then refuse
to eat pork, and adopt altogether native customs, Having
multiplied, in the course of time, the Dutch have given them
into the hands of a Captain, who superintends this class.

THE MALAYS (ae Ae Hy BOO-LAE-YEW:)

This race is exceedingly numerous, scattered about in
every place; Malacca Gir RR FA Ma-lak-kals ), Quedah (a
RE Kit-tat), Padang (3f4, ul Pa-tang), Bencoolen ( 4
FA Bang-kod-lé), Benjarmasin (Fy ff Ma-sin), Bima (He
5 Li-ma), Timor (F i] PE Ti-bin), and Pasir (7) EY Pa-
sit) on Borneo, are all peopledby them. Their dispositions
are crafty and treacherous; they are very much addicted to
piracy, and they keep their nests in the Carimons (FEE
FY Kit-lé-bin), Lingin (Hp If Ling-gay), &c. being such
as we call in our country boat-robbers. ‘T'heir appearance
or disappearance is uncertain ; the Canton and Fokien people
are much disturbed by them. ‘Their language is employed
by the Dutch, asa medium of intercourse with the Chinese
and natives, as the mandarin dialect is in China,

THE BUGIS (Hz We i B0O-GIT-SE.)

These reside in Macassay (E J]\] $y Bang-ka-seak), but
their principal city is in the interior of Celebes ; their chief is
called Rajah (e a La-ja), a title similar to the Javanese
Susuhunan, Their women are very handsome and clever,
readily comprehending matters ; but the dispositions of the
inen are boisterous and violent in the extreme; they care
no more about going to Weath than about returning home.

E

34

Whenever they meet pirates at sea, they invariably despise
them. They will not submit to Dutch rule, but have no ob.
jection to enter into covenant with them, as friends and bre-
thren. Their country produces fine cloth and beche de mer,
both of which are highly esteemed in Europe. A Chinese, of
the name of Hf {je 'Té-héw, had a number of servants of
this nation, who followed him ona voyage to Banda e
ea Ban-lan). Whilst pursuing their course, they fell in with
pirates, when T’é-héw became afraid, as did also the Java-
nese captain of the vessel; but the servants said, “ We Bu-
ginese are celebrated for our military skill, and are not afraid
of those weak fellows.” They therefore advised Té-héw
to sereen his Buginese servants, and to make believe that it
was a Chinese vessel, when the pirates would be embold-
ened to attack them. ‘They also directed the sailors to a-
void assuming the defensive, but to put on the appearance of
alarm. When the pirates came near, they said, This is
certainly a Chinese veseel from Batavia, hence they are so
much afraid. Saying this they rushed on board, where
they found the servants waiting for them sword in hand.
The pirates seeing these were alarmed, and said, “ Who
would have taken this for a Bugis vessel.” ‘They were then
about to make their escape, but the servants shouted at them ;
and the thieves, prostrating themselves, said that they had
made a mistake in attacking the vessel, and owned that they
-deserved to die, ‘The servants asked what they had on
board, The pirates replied, that they were only just out,
and had taken nothing; still being desirous of showing
their regard, they brought out various articles of provision,
which presenting, they knocked their heads on the deck and
departed.

THE BALINESE eK jist BA-LI.)
These reside on an island, to the eastward of Banyu-
wangi, or Balambuang (aH By Gwa-lam-ong): - their
appearance is like that of the Javanese, both men and women

35

make large holes in their eara; the females, however, are
rather handsome ; they are diligent and economical in dispo-
sition, but will not submit to the Dutch government. Their
country lies to the extreme east of Batavia, and is on all
sidea surrounded by water; there is a range of islands near it,
in which there are many-caves ; the productions of the coun-
try are edible bird’s nests, sea-weed (agar agar), sharks’-fins,
beche de mer, and birds of paradise.

Boor an (Eu pf Boo-Tun).

This island lies to the south of Makassar, not far from
Salayu cB ra S| Sit-la-yéw.) The appearance of the
inhabitants is black and ugly, and being violent in disposi-
tion, without fear of death, they are dreaded by all the sur-
rounding islanders ;in this respect they are not inferior to the
Bugis, while in coarseness they surpass them. They are
not subject to the Dutch, and the productions of their country
are rattans, sapan-wood, beche de mer, bird’s beaks, and a
sort of incense,

PAPUA He He PA-PA), THE INHABITANTS OF NEW GUINEA.

These reside to the eastward of Amboyna, and are as black
“as jet, or as if their whole body had been painted; they
have woolly hair, and are intolerably ugly; their limbs are
nimble, and they climb trees as if they could fly ; most of
them live in hollow trees and caves of the earth ; they do not
cook their food ; their blood is like thick ink; and they are
very fond of wine. A Captain China, called Ren Ht Ko-kin,
had a slave, who being once missing, was thought to have
absconded. In the distillery there was a large vat, full of
wine, as high as the roof, which was supported underneath
by stone pillars ; the slave had crept under this vat, and
having bored a hole in it with an awl, began by means of a
straw to drink out the liquor ; thus he got drunk and
lay intoxicated for six or seyen days ; after which he
was discovered, still under the influence of liquer. The

ob

Dutch are‘fond of keeping this kind of people as slaves to
wait on them, just because of their ugliness, Their country
ig near to Ceram ( B 5 Sit-lan), and Kering FF ae Kit-
léng), and in manners they somewhat resemble the inhabitants
of those countries. They are all called B bit black de-
mons, ‘The productions of their country are a peculiar kind
of tobacco, dragon’s blood, sandal-wood, sapan-wood, sea-

weed, and sago.
CERAM py i SAY-LAN.

Thies country lies near Papua, and the inhabitants are
also called black demons. Ag it regards their physiognomy,
they have deep sunken eyes, with the lower part of the face
projecting, and their mouths so wide, that they almost
extend from ear to ear. Their skin is black, and their hair
woolly ; they go about nearly naked, and nestle in the trees ;"
they carry their children on their hips, and climb up and
down as if they were flying, being as nimble as monkeys ;
they make no use of fire in dressing their food, and eat all
kinds of spiders, lizards, snakes, and other reptiles. They
resemble the Papuans in manners, and their country produces
sandal and sapan-wood, sharks’-fins, tortoise-shell, and birds
of paradise.

KERING, F sd KIT-LENG ) ON CERAM,

The ds ut Kit-léng people are the neighbours of the
Ceramites; they are also very black and dwarfish ; their
hair, however, does not curl, and is rather lank ; their man-
ners in some respects resemble those of the Papuans ; the pro-
ductions of their country are sandal and sapan-wood, sea-
weed, and ambergris. I once possessed a slave-girl from
thence, who was rather well-formed, but her extreme black-
ness was horrible: when the Europeans dine, they like to
have a train of such slave-girls arranged on each side, wait-
ing on them ; but when I see them, I order them away ; when
my wife playfully says, These curious creatures are only
come to amuse you; why do you drive them away ?

of

TIMOR Fh PX re-nvy.)

Timor lies on the extreme east of Bootan( 3 ge Boéy-tan).
Timor, in the native language, means east ; hence its appli-
cation tothe name of thecountry. Itis inhabited by Malays,
and is not far from Bali; the soil is barren, and the people
barbarous ; the couniry is poor, and not subject to the Dutch.
The productions are sandal-wocd, clove-trees, sapan-wood,
beche de mer, and sea-weed.

PASIR eis ef PA-SIT), ON BORNEO.

This place is situated to the eastward of Benjarmasin (&
Ir Ma-sin), but is not equal to it in wealth; the natives afe
a race of Malays, who have their own king, and are not sub-
ject to the Dutch, only paying a small annual tribute. The
productions are bird’s nests. rattans, and gold-dust ; on which
account it is generally considered a rich country.

SERANIS (& P24 SEK-A-NE) OR PORTUGUESE.

The Seranis are called by the Chinese [= oi black demons,
there is no account of their forefathers, but they belong to
Batavia, in which city they have achurch. In their reckon-
ing of time, as well as in their language and mode of writing
they follow the Dutch ; so also in their apparel, houses, and
furniture. Their men are slenderly formed, but their wo-
men are beautiful, and contract marriages with the Dutch,
who seem to prefer them. ‘This class is principally em-
ployed as clerks, or soldiers ; they are of an artful disposi-
tion. and the Dutch, out of jealousy, will not allow them to
rise in office.

BIAJOOS (A iY = i LE-BA-JOO), OR DAYAKS.

These people reside on the west of Benjarmasin @i5] iz
Ma-sin). the interior of which country they occupy, but have
no form of government, and are nominally subject to the
Sultan of Benjarmasin. Their appearance is something
similarto the Javanese; they are tatooed all over, and have

‘

38

large holes in their ears, through which they insert pieces of
wood, until the lobes of their ears reach to their shoulders.
The country produces gold-dust, rattans, and dried veni-
son ; the inhabitants employ themselves in gathering rattan,
killing deer, and washing gold-dust. The country of Ben-
jarmasin is extremely rich, producing gold in various places;
it also produces diamonds, which are very hard, and when
polished are extremely brilliant, reflecting the smallest hair,
and dazzling the eyes of the beholder, like the splendour of
the sun and moon ; cast into the fire they are not destroyed,
but when rubbed up are as brilliant as before. The larger
ones are above all price, but the amaller ones are weighed a-
gainst grains of rice, sixteen of which form one carat a= |
kat-lat), the price of each carat is about 20 or 30 reals.
Europeans do not so much value pearls and gems, but they
consider diamonds as exceedingly precious ; their sleeve
and neck-buttons being frequently ornamented with them.
Some of them say, that diamonds above ten carats in weight,
if carried about the person, will ward off misfortune.

BIMA (Hl res LE-MA), ON SAMBAWA.

This place lies to the south of Macassar, and is inha-
bited by Malays, who are not subject to the Dutch jurisdic-
tion. It is seldom visited, and the habits of the people are
grasping and opprescive. It produces good horses, some of
which are sent as an annual tribute to Batavia,

AMBOYNA (He x AN-BUN.)

Amboyna lies to the eastward of Batavia. not far from
Banda (BH Ban-lan), and Ternate fal 4¥. qe Kan-a-
te). It has a mixed population of Seranis ( jas] 4t- aE Sek-
4-né) or Portuguese, {slams (4, 2 Sit-lam), and Malays.
The islands subjected to Amboyna are Saparua (eB Ae Hel
Sa-pa-lua), Ela (4s ee E-la) at the back of Ceram. Kariko
(HH Bt Bf A-le-ko) on Booroo. Lariko (#5 a BF La-lé-
ko) on Amboyna, Booro (Fe Lect Boo-lé), and Maripa

od

@:3 Hi ae Ban-lé-pa), between Ceram and Booro. The
productions are beche de mer, cloves, nutmegs, parrots, birds of
paradise, oil of mace, and honey,

BANDA es fi 2an-Lan).

Banda lies to the extreme east of Batavia, forming the east-
tern limit of the European colonies ; it is inhabited by a
mixed race of Islams aa 26 Sit-lams), and Malays. The
productions are cloves, nutmegs, beche de mer, and tortoise.
shell. ‘The dependant states are Little Timor, Kien Ge $F
Kay-niy, AY (aj Yr A-ji), Goram (9G Bf Ga-long) and Ti
mor Laut (4 eo tk Tan-lay-bwat).

TERNATE (fi {¥ 4 KAN-A-TE.)

Ternate lies to the extreme north-east from Batavia,
neat Sooloo (fe ef Soe-lok), and Salibabo (%3 HH Seuk-
bod), It is said, that the course from thence to Amoy (in
China) is much nearer than from Batavia, but none of our
countrymen have ever tried that passage. The productions:
are beche de mer, tortoise-shell, gold-dust, and pearls. The
islands subject to it are Tidore Hb #8 Téy-lé), Kemar (+
{F Kim-a) on Celebes, Batchiang ahh rs Ba-cheang), W ay-
geoo (4h Ge Wae-kéén), Oby ( Bay bit O-bé), Geby Gi e
Haé-lé), Popo (FS & Poo-lée), and Bankela ea
Ban-gnay-lé. ) ~

THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE Ge KAP.)

‘This place is situated at the corner of the south-western
ocean ; when the Datch vessels annually return to Europe,
they generally anchor at this port, to change their
crews, and lay in provisions, after which they proceed on
their voyage : for the Gape appears te be about half way.
The Chinese of Batavia, who engage on board the vessels
as sailors, on their arrival at this place are exchanged for
Europeans ; from whence, after a short residence, they
return to Batavia by other opportunities; as they are not
permitted to proceed to Europe. The voyage between Bata-

40

vie and Holland is said to be three months outward-bound,
and five months homeward-bound ; because, in coming, the
winds and tides are favourable, and only three months are
required ; but in going, both are contrary, hence the necessity
of a flve months’ passage. It is also said, that somewhere
near the end of the voyage there is a dark part of the sea,
where neither sun nor moon can be seen ; but after proceed-
ing onward three or four days, these again appear: for in
this wide world there are many wonderful things which can-
not be accounted for.

MANGALORE He LANG.)

This country is situated in the north-western ocean, it is a
very extensive region, and all the nations of Europe trade
there, so that vessels are incessantly coming and going, and
merchandize is abundant, ‘T'he hundred kinds of barbarians
flock thither in crowds, and it is truly a great emporium of
commerce. But the Chinese have not yet travelled thither.

ceyion (Pp dik SAY-LANG),

Is situated in the corner of the north-western ocean, and is
a widely-extended region. The Dutch, English, French, and
natives of Manilla (BE se ws Biin-né-la) live together there.
The productions are gold, silver, and precious stones of all
colours, so brilliant that they dazzle the eyes. The coun-
try is subject to the authority of the Dutch, who banish
thither all persons meriting transportation in Batavia. Some
of the Chinese have been banished thither, but those who
are not criminals are not allowed to go.

COCHIN ia Be K00-CHENG),

Lies on the shores of the north-western ocean, not far
distant from Mangalore He Lang), and Ceylon (PY ie Say-
lang). The territory is Jarge,and colonized by the Dutch.
There is also a dense poputation of natives, not inferior in
numbers to those of Batavia; but the Chinese have not yet
Visited it,

41

BENGAL (BA Re ep BENG-KA-LA.)

This place is situated to the north-west of Bencoolen, and
ig a very extensive country, inhabited by Dutch, Seranis (fe
tF- 4F Sek-a-né) or Portuguese, and English ; besides vari-
ous descriptions of natives who collect thither in crowds for
trade; in addition to many natives of the Coromandel coast
(Hs Ko-cha), as well as the inhabitants of Padang, Ben-
coolen, and other neighbouring countries to the west. All
kinds of merchandise are to be met with there, and wealth
is abundant. The productions are woollens, camlets, and
long-ells (fe BE pit-che), ‘I'he Chinese do not trade thither.

SUPPLEMENTARY REMARKS.

The dependent countries of Europe are intermixed and
connected without end ; some of these places can be visited
by ships, when they become a little known ; and some are
held in subjection by the Dutch, and governed by them.
The rest live in hollow trees and caves of the earth, not
knowing the use of fire, and wander about naked, or in
strange and uncouth attire; they cannot all be fully known,
nor are there any means of inquiring about them. We
have heard of such names as English (Se aR Eng-léy),
Pegu (AK ee Pok-gna), Bussorah QF ze But-sa), with #e
RN Key-lap, and 4@ fe Ek-sim, but we have no oppor-
tunity of knowing any thing of their manners and customs.

MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.

CLIMATE AND SEASONS.

In the south-western regions, the climate and seasons dif-
fer ; the length of the days and nights, with the rise and fall
of tides, are the very reverse of our inner land (China), In
the spring there is much rain, and in the summer, drought;
every year itis the same. The wind in the morning blows
from the south, and in the evening from the north,* of

* Alluding to the land and sea breezes.
-

42

which voyagers take advantage. At night all the stars
north of the great bear are invisible, while those in the
southern hemisphere are doubly bright. Europeans do not
distinguish the new and full moons, nordo they supply in-
tercalary months. 'The four seasous and eight terms are
in Batavia all alike, but ten days after the winter solstice
they reckon the new year to begin, In this respect they
make no variation for hundreds and thousands of years,

WATER-spouts oR fe WX JK THE pRacoN INHALING
WATER.

On the wide ocean, when storms occur in the dusk of even-
ing, & line of black clouds, like a needle, is sometimes seen
to descend, gradually coming lower and lower, until it
reaches the sea; when the water, thereby thrown into com-
motion, forms a violent eddy. Those who are at a dis-
tance experience no injury; but should the phenomenon
approach, then it is necessary to burn fowl’s feathers, and let
off crackers to disperse it; while great care must be taken to
cover the water-casks and reservoirs on board with cotton
or cloths, otherwise the water in them would be drawn up
into the clouds, The taste of the sea-water is naturally salt,
but when thus drawn up and formed into rain it becomes
fresh. This is oneofthe inscrutable ways of Providence,
whereby human life is preserved.

irr: THE CIRCULAR RAINBOW, AND ry iA, BLUE
LIGHTNING.

At sea, the rainbow appears to those at a distance aa a
semicircle ; but on approaching near, it will be found to be a
complete circle, without a break.

When I first heard the people of Batavia say, that near
Carimon Java, the lightning was blue, and not did not play
in streake, | would not believe it ; but on my voyage to Ben-
jarmasin, I passed by Carimon Java, and that evening I obser-
ved that the lightning was not red, but of a deep blue colour ;

43

and the light of it was broadly diffused, and not in atreaks.*

The poet truly says, “ 7 aS a 2) ‘| Hit ee If you want
to see wonders, you must just go to sea.”
| Hf tHE SOUTHERN OCEAN,

The Dutch, wishing to extend their territories and enlarge
their colonies, once despatched four ships, with three years
provisions on board, to go towards the southern ocean, in
search of new countries. Thus they sailed towards the
south, and proceeded to the limits of all known regions, un-
til they saw no more land ; and after having been out a year
and more, they came to avery dark place, where fogs en-
veloped their ships, so that they could not distinguish the sea
from the sky, Poisonous fishes and strange birds then came
about them, without shewing the least sign of fear. The
gun and moon afforded no light ; while the days were short-
ened to five or six hours, and the nights rendered propor-
tionably long, ‘Terrified and alarmed they returned, and
arrived at Batavia: but.ofthe four vessels belonging to the
expedition, only two came safe to port.}

mecca (f% WM woK-KA); CALLED ALSO THE RESIDENCE
oF BUDDHA.

On the shores of the western sea, is the residence of the
true Buddha : the hills are extremely high, and the whole
ground is replenished with yellow gold and beautiful gems ;
which are guarded by a Fy ia hundred genii, so that the
treasures cannot be taken away. ‘The true cultivators of
virtue may ascend to Mecca, and worship the real Buddha,
when after several year’s fasting they return, and receive
the title of dukun (FE F lo-kwun), or doctor; they can
then Ke ity bring down spirits, and tk & subdue mons-
ters, Fy al drive away noxious influences, and Mf 5B, be-

* The south coast of Borneo in very much impregnated with sul-
phuret of antimony, which perhaps attracts the lightning, and produces
the lurid appearance above referred to,

{ This refers probably to the expedition of Van Dieman.

44

head demons, These dukuns carry rosaries in their hande,
and are very compassionate ; so that all who see them ac-
knowledge their virtue.*

VOLCANOES, OR K Da [IJ errr awn sMoxeE HILLS.

These volcanoes are some scores of miles to the south-west
of Batavia; they are extremely lofty, and seldom trodden by
human feet ; from their summits smoke issues as from a fur-
nace, pouring forth night and day ; in fair weather there is
less smoke, but after a storm the eruptions increase. Some-
times there is a noise like the firing of cannon, when a shower
of ashes descends, the taste of whichis like sulphur. Some
suppose that it is the place where the influences of the eouth~-
ern ocean find a vent. We merely record this opinion,
however, and leave the determination of the point to the i
Ly) ry natural philosopher.

2Y Aa FE rae LOADSTONE SEA.

To the eastward of Banyuwangi, amongst the vallies and
ravines, there are many loadstones, the nature of which is
to attract iron : vessels visiting that place, therefore, all make
use of bamboo pegs, and do not dare to use iron nails. Ships,
passing by, think it necessary to make all sail, and give the
spot a wide berth; while those which are driven by adverse
winds, and unfortunately approach too near, are drawn by an
irrestible force, and cannot extricate themselves.

Fuk ial THE CAVES OF EDIBLE BIRD’S-NESTS.

On the precipitous shores of the sea,and in rocky and
rugged places, there are many caverns ; where sea swallows,

* Our author has here confounded the birth place of Mohammed
with the residence of Buddha, and fails to speak according to his usu-
al good sense when misled by superstition.

+ The author has here probably confounded some natural whirl-
pool with the fabled account of a magnetic mountain, which he pro-
bably heard from some European, who might be detailing the stories
of the Arabian nights. It isa fact, however, that the natives of the
eastern islands fasten their vessels together by means of bamboo pegs.

45

in flocks of hundreds and thousands, make their nests. Ban-
tam, Batavia, Samarang, Grissee, and Banyuwangi, as also
Benjarmasin, Bali, Pasir, and many places besides, produce
the edible bird’s-nests ; almost all of these caves are in the
hande of some influential Dutchman, who lets them out at
an annual rent; the larger ones for several thousand reals,
and the smaller ones for several hundred; while our rich
merchants and great traders pay considerable sums to be
allowed to collect the nests. ‘T'hese bird’s-nests are made by
ewallows, which feed on glutinous sea-weed, and voiding it
out therewith form their nests, They are gathered in the win-
ter and summer, only twice year, and then not to anexcess ;
just like the honey of bees, which would fail were too much
collected. Whenever people wish to take the nests, they build
a shed near the place, and having selected a lucky day, they
offer a sacrifice, and call the dancing-girls or ronggengs (>

iff] long-gang), to sing and dance on the occasion. This done,
the natives in companies of ten or hundred, provided with a
score of bamboo ladders, and bags tied to the ends of poles,
proceed to take the nests. Should they obtain many, their
profits are incalculable ; but in bad seasons they lose money.
Perhaps this also depends on the conduct of the individual.

Lig sh] THE MONKEY MARKET.

To the south of Grissee (Hy 7] Ay Kéet-lek-sek), at a
place called Sidayu (7H Fe Hf Chi-ta-yew), in the midst
of wild ravines and deep forests, the monkeys are very nu-
meroua ; and there is a market at that place, where monkeys
and men mix together, without being ehy of each other.
The monkeys have two caves, the inmates of which frequent-
ly fight together; each clan has its chief, as big as a little
boy, who on going abroad, is followed by all his clan; and
on sitting down, is surrounded by them, as if he were some
great personage ; if they get any fine fruit, they put it on their
heads and present it first to their chief, after which they re-
‘ve. How strange! that brutes should be thus accomplished,

Ab

and know the difference between superiors: and inferiors !

a) EE rue sea-norse.

This animal is found in Macassar, where it frequently
comes on shore to seek after its mate; on which occasions
it ig sometimes caught. Ite hair is of a fine black colour and
very sleek ; its tail is long and sweeps the ground ; on shore
it walke about like other horses, is very tractable, and will
go several hundred miles in a day ; but you must not attempt
to bathe it in the river; for no sooner does it see water,
than its former nature revives, and darting into the stream,
it swims away ; and as its strength is great is not to be

caught again. *
Ye A. cur sea-may

Is found on the shores of the southern ocean; its body is
about three or four cubits long, in appearance not very un-
like that of a man; its colour is yellow, and from the navel
proceeds a stalk several hundred feet in length, which is at-
tached to the rocks at the bottom of the sea. Whenever it is
produced, male and female appear together, so that there are
no solitary persons among them. ‘The Dutch who are very
desirous of collecting all sorts of curious things, pay the fish-
ermen to catch these, but when the root is severed they die ;
they are however, put into spirits and preserved. Whenever
Europeans hear of a strange and unusual animal, they spare
no expense to procure it, in order to gratify their curiosity;
after which, they put it into a bottle with spirits, and ar-
range it in acabinet, where they have all sorts of wonder-
ful birds and uncouth beasts, poisonous snakes and ugly fishes,
and every thing else that you can think of.

Bs Hie THE INK MONKEY

Is common in the northern regions and is about four of five
inches long ; it is endowed with an unusual instinct ; its

* In this and the following account, the Chinese writer has allow-
ed himself to be misled by the fabulous relations of others.

47

eyes are like carnelian stones, and its hair is jet black, sleek
and flexible, as soft as a pillow. Itis very fond of eating
thick Chinese ink, and whenever people write, it sits with
folded hands and crossed legs, waiting till the writing is
finished, when itfdrinks up the remainder of the ink; which
done, it squats down as before ; and does not frisk about un-
necessarily. =F Tif Fe Ong-té-hoé used to keep one at
the head of his ink-stone, or in the middle of his seal-box.

ie B THE BIRD OF PARADISE

Is found about Banda and Amboyna; its appearance is
like a variegated pheasant ; it remains among the clouds,
drinking fog and eating mist, and never sets foot on the earth,
until it dies, when it falls to the ground.® Its feathers are
very light and loose, soft and pliable; at the end of the
wings are two beautiful feathers, more than a foot long; its
tail is like that of the swallow, which it trails ina graceful
manner, and when borne along by the wind, it soars irre-
aistibly away,

CASSOWARY OR Fe. B THE STAG BIRD

Is found in the hills of Amboyna ; in appearance it is like
a large stork, only twiee the size; its coat resembles a deer’s
skin; its tailis short and it has no wings ; its voice is like
that of a drake; the foot has only three toes, and no spur
behind ; its food is coarse, consisting of the leaves of trees,
fruit, grain, &c,

BOA CONSTRICTOR, OB ih Fe Pp ELEPHANT-SUSPENDING
SNAKE,

In the country of Palembang (Ft [J Kang-k’a6u), there
aré many elephants, which are used in war. Formerly an
old elephant was killed by a snake, and the elephant-keeper

* The Chinese writer has probably been led to form this opinion
from the circumstance of the birds ef paradise being generally brought

to Batavia for sale in the dead state. They have, however, frequently
been preserved alive for years.

34

having traced him into the jungle, found him suspended to
a tree, with several folds twined round his body, The keep-
er attempted to sever these with his sword, but the weapon
made no impression. An old woodman, hearing of the cir-
cumstance, said, “This is the elephant-suspending snake ;
in the interior of Siam there are many such, but I did not ex.
pect to find them here. Neither axes nor saws will affect
them ; but they are afraid of fire. On applying fire, therefore,
the snake fell to pieces, and died ; having collected the joints
and measured them, they found the animal to be upwards of
a hundred feet in length. =E ik ex Ong-té-héw, attended
by several others, once went to see one of these.

FEF cue nurocenros.

This animal in form resembles a buffalo, but is much larg-
er. Is skin is rough like the hide of the #4 3H le-che fruit,
(dimocarpus litchi); every protuberance is about the size
of a copper cash ; there isa mark across its back, something
like a horse’s saddle, which also covers its neck; the feet are
thick and clumsy, like those of the elephant; its head resem-
bles that ofa rat, with a mouth like that of a tortoise, It is fond
of roaming through the thorny bushes, and delights in eat-
ing the shoots of the young bamboos, It has one horn on the
bridge of its nose, but thecommon representation of this an-
mal with a horn on the forehead is incorrect. ‘This animal
I have seen with my own eyes. Whenever it retreats into
the deep forests, and buts against the trees, they are imme-
diately thrown down; onits approach all birds and beasts
flee away.

ravana, on PY yE BE THE FOUR-FOOTED SNAKE.

In shape it resembles a lizard ; its tail is three-cornered and
very large ; its skin is like thatof the variegated snake ; it
flees away on the approach of men, and does not attempt to
injure them. The large ones are several feet long; it Is

49

as amphibious as the otter, andis valued as an antidote against
poison ; on this account, whenever taken, it is reserved for
medicine, The oil extracted from it is excellent, which
should be fried out and put by ; in all cases of boils, ulcers,
and sores, you have only to apply it, and the cure is

im mediate,
HB Wf rue cecKo

Is of the lizard species, with a large head and a broad
tail ; it is nearly a footlong,and ijs colour is green, variegated
with brown streaks, interspersed with red spots. Jt jis al-
together an ugly beast, and nestles on the beams and rafters
of houses, or in old broken walls, At night it comes out,
attracted by the lights, to devour the insects which abound.
People say that its bite is mortal, but I never heard of any
one having died by it. Whenever it makes a noise, people
count the number of its cries, in order to divine their future
fortunes. Thus five, seven, or nine cries are considered
lucky; but two, four, and six, unlucky. How ridiculous !

bh iE THE CHAMELEON

Is also of the lizard tribe, about five or six inches in
length. with a high ridge along its back : its tail is long, and
its scales small, while its motions are very rapid. When
found among leaves, the colour of its body is green ; whien it
walks over ashes, it assumes a whitish hue ; but should it
fall on charcoal, it immediately turns black, Thus its body
changes colour according to the substance on which it rests,

This is a most strange and singular property, which we can-
net account for.

CROWNED PIGEON OR 32 te He THE NEW GUINEA FOWL.

This bird is shaped like a dove, and a little larger than
tiie domestic fowl ; its body is about six inches high, and its
head is crowned with a bunch of feathers like diverging
rays. Its colour is a deep slate blue, and its plumage very
soft and sleek, vying with the peacock in beauty, like which

Li

50

bird it spreads its feathers when meeting with people. — It is
said, that when domesticated, it will drive away noxious in-
fluences, prevent the calamity of fire, and exterminate white
ants. The Dutch and the Chinese Captains are fond of
breeding them in their parks and gardens.

Ht tf TOR TOISE-SHELL.

The form of the animal from whence this substance ia
taken is like that of the common tortoise, having on its back
twelve plates ; which are detached in the following manner.
The tortoise is suspended with its head downwards, its
back is moistened with vinegar, and fire is applied, when the
plates of the tortoise-shell falloff. The plates first detached
are esteemed of prime quality, and fetch a high price. Should
the animal now be let go into the sea, in a year’s time the
shell will be reproduced, when if taken it must be scorched
again, but the plates will be thinner and softer, and are thus
called second sort, fetching a lower price in the market.
Those pieces of tortoise-shell in which the black spots are
fewest are considered the best, while those which are clear
and white are very valuable ; but the latter are rare, and sel-
dom obtained.

TRIPANG, OR re RB BECHE DF MER.

Tripang is a slug found in the sea, of an oblong shape;
when first caught it is nearly a foot long, and as soft as
cotton; but boiled in a solution of alum, and afterwards
dried in the sun, it contracts to about two or three
inches in length. Itis found in deep water, among rocks ;
and the deeper the water, ‘he finer and more plentiful the
tripang. There is a large variety of this species, having
different names and forms; but the best are the if] aR prick-
ly tripang, and the zB be aR crape tripang.

cue sucktne FisH, on Ef] & siener risu.

Resembles a mud-fish in form, with something on its fore-
head like a pig's snout; when caught and brought on board

ol

of ship, it will adhere with its forehead to the planks of the
vessel, and should it stick to any one’s arms or legs, it is
with difficulty separated. People cut off the sucker and pre-
serve it, saying that it is good in cases of difficult labour,
Sometimes also there are two little fishes adhering to the
cheeks of the first, which accompany it wherever it goes ; as
a certain sea fish is attended by shrimps. When the larger
fish is taken, the little fellows will not separate, but stick the
faster, which may be regarded as an instance of faithful
attachment among the finny tribe.

THE SHARK, on PY fa SAND-FISH,

Is of various kinds, some large and others small, differing
slightly in form, but as they have all a sandy skin, filled
with tubercles, they are called rd ie] sand-fish ; some
call them #4 iE dog-fish. There is one species with a
large belly, and a cavity about the navel, where the young
swim in and out in groups, as it were making their nest in the
mother’s navel, Is not this strange !

THE FLYING-FISH, OR #98 & SWALLOW FISH,

Has a skin as black as ink ; itis without scales, but is
provided with fins, about six inches long, anda tail divided
into two parts, like a swallow’s tail; the fish is more than a
foot in length, and can fly out of water, but not very high.
When the winds and waves are boisterous, it flies against
the wind, and darts along like an arrow.

ee 1] THE ALLIGATOR

Is of the lizard tribe, but large, being from ten to twenty
feet in length, Its head resembles a pig’s snout: it has a
mouth, but no tongue; its back is rugged, and its eyes are
slanting ; its tail tapers to a point, and its claws are very
sharp; it climbs on shore without cauaing a wave, and dives
into the water without leaving a wake. Whenever it de-
vours men, people call a native doctor, or dukun on FG lo-

52

kwun) who recites charms, and throws some silken threads
into the river, keeping hold of the énds, when ina little
time the alligator gets entangled in the threads and is
brought out, ‘These doctors seem really to have some mys-
terious power, and aré not mere pretenders.

Fig a THE FLYING HEAD, AN ELF.

This elf ie called $% Bb A Se-io-ban, and js said to
abound in Amboyna, but in Batavia there até none; we have
heard of its name, but have never fallen in with it; those
who have met with it sfy, that it is like a native woman,
differing from the common class of Malays, and dwelling in
the deep jungle. Her eye has no pupil, and she can see in
the dark ; at night she is said to fly about, with nothing but
her head, and entering ihto people’s houses devours their
entrails. Butshe very much dislikes sour things, coming
into contact with which she cannot open her eyes. The na-
tives say, that the way to dissolve her spell is to take the
juice of a lemon, and sprinkle it upon her, when she dares not
approach.®

BE pay THE TOOTH-EXTRACTING TRIBE.

There is a tribe of people at Benjatmasin, who fre mith
addicted to praying evéry evening, they worship towards the
getting sun, and récite charmid till the en goes down. They
do not eat the flesh of dogs or pigs, and when their friends
die, they pull out theit hair, draw their teeth, and strip them
of their clothes ; saying, that as they did not bring these
things into the world with them, so when they die they
should not carry themaway. This is one of the cruelties of
falee religions.

* This elf ia much believed in by the Malays, and is éalled Pon-
tianak. They think that it consists of a human dead, with dishevelled
hair and flowing entrails, which flies about at night, and does much

mischief. In describing this, and sevetal other matters, the author
has allowed himself to be misled by superstition.

53

i #h fii THE SEA-PRIEST.

This is rather an unusual phenomenon at sea; when it ap-
pears it is indicative of astorm. Its form is like that of a
man, with a mouth from ear to ear; on seeing people it
laughs aloud, and is called the sea-priest. Those who
meet with it, know that it is an infelicitous omen, and ex-
pectastorm. They say, that when it appears, the waves
soon become boisterous and disasters ensue.

ARB SAVAGES WITH TAILS.

There is a tribe of Dayaks ( Ail Hi se Li-ba-joé), dwel-
ling among the hills, with ugly faces, and tattooed bodies,
who have tails about five or six inches long, at the end of
which there are several bristles, about an inch or two in
length; these savages frequently engage themselves as sailors,
and come to Batavia, but on being suspected, they run and
hide themselves ; should any insist on inspecting them, they
change countenance and resist stoutly.

ORANG OUTAN [ly] Fon MOUNTAIN STRANGERS.

"hese are wild men, of the ape species, found in the deep
forest jungle. ‘The face resembles the human countenance,
but the body approaches nearer to that of the ape : they have
hair one or two inches long, and are in etature about two or
three feet high ; their bellics are like drums; they are not
fond of sporting about ; whenever they look up or down they
sirike on their bellies, and on meeting people cover themselves,
as though they had some sense of shame. How strange !
that even the orang outan should display a degree of modesty.

tA Bh THE FLYING Fox.

The bats of the western ocean are all large, their wings
extending several feet, while the body weighs two or three
pounds. Their eyes are dark by day and clear by night ;
they fly about at the dusk of evening in flocks, like red
birds ; for their wings are flesh-coloured, and as they fly

54

inthe air, they appear red. They frequently make their
nests in cocoa-nut trees, where they eat the nuts; they
are also fond ofall wther kinds of fruit. Their claws are
like hooks; when on the ground they cannot rise, but are
obliged to crawl up a tree, where they let themselves fall
down, and then get on the wing. They devour the fruits
of the gardens, on which account the natives hunt them with
their poles, or pierce their wings with bamboos, when they fall
to the ground. ‘The body is like that of a large rat; when
deprived of their legs and wings, and boiled, the taste is
like that of a field rat, but much fatter and finer, Ihave
heard it said, that in three thousand years they become white,
and then if you eat one you will attain to immortality : but I
have not seen anything of the kind.

OTHER THINGS WORTHY OF OBSERVATION.
THE QUADRANT ie: FC JX on HEAVEN-MEASURING RULE.

When Europeans navigate the ocean, they do not depend
solely on the compass, but make use of a quadrant, to mea-
sure the heavens, by which they know how far the vessel
has sailed. They can also, by the inspection of mapa, know
what ground they have, whether sand, rocks, or mud, with-
out the least failure. The form of the quadrant is something
like a fan, when opened out; it has a horizontal rule andan
oblique one ; the former is divided into degrees and minutes,
on which some European letters are written. Whenever
they measure the heavens, they do it exactly at noon, when
the sun is in the meridian. The horizontal rule remains fix-
ed, and by moving the slanting one backwards and forwards
they ascertain the distance they have sailed, together with
the depth of water. The principle of this is rather abstruse.
Some Chinese have endeavoured to acquire the knowledge of
it, but have not succeeded.

BAROMETER aie lf OR TUBE FOR ASCERTAINING THE
WEATHER.

Of this there are two kinds, one about the size of a quill,

_

ao

and the other several feet in length; the inside is filled with
quicksilver, and it is fixed in a cage, on the side of which
some European characters are written. In this tube the
quicksilver rises and falls, Generally speaking, in fair wee-
ther the mercury rises, but in gloomy dark weather it falls ;
the exact height of ita rise and fall is seen by the marks on
the side, by which may be predicted wind or rain, fair or
foul weather ; it has never been known to fail.*

ies Fee Ga THE TIME-FIXING BELL.

Each day of twelve Chinese hours, is divided by the Eu-
ropeans into twenty-four hours. The first hour after mid-
night they call one o'clock, going on till noon, which they
call twelve o’clock ; after this they begin reckoning one
o’clock again, until midnight, when it is again twelve ; thus
dividing the natural day into twice twelve hours. The clocks
are some large and some small; the smaller ones are not
more than an inch in diameter, and the larger ones are sever-
al feet high. After the clock has struck, there are soime
smaller bells that play, preducing various notes, all of which
may be distinctly heard. These are called repeaters.

THE BALLOON, OR K fp CELESTIAL BOAT.

This boat is short and small, resembling a dome-shaped pa-
vilion, capable of containing ten men: attached to it there is a
pair of bellows, or air pump, of exquisite workmanship, in shape
like a globe; several people work this with all their might,
and the boat flies up extremely high, where it ia borne about
by the winds; but if they wish to give it any particular di-
rection they spread their sails, and make use of the quadrant
to measure their distance : when they arrive at the destined
place, they take in their sails, and let the boat descend.
It has been reported that these boats have been burnt and in-

* It is not clear whether the Chinese writer means to allude to the
barometer or thermometer; he seems to have had both in his mind.

56

jured by the sun’s rays, while persons venturing in them have
been scorched to death, therefore people do not dare to con-
tinue their use.®

jt oe THE AIR GUN.

This resembles in some respects acommon gun, havinga
handle that may be pulled up and down; when used thig
handle must be worked, and the bullet putin; the sound of
the explosion is not loud, This instrument is capable
of doing injury, and the laws of the Dutch strictly prohibit
its use ; should any of the people offend against this prohi-
bition they are soon discovered, hence no one dares {to pur-
chase them.

THE MARINER’S COMP4SS, OR $5 ior3) Hi SOUTH-POINTING
CARRIAGE.

In the mariner’s compass met with on board of Dutch
ships they do not use a needle, but a flat piece of steel, broad
in the middle, and tapering towards each end, resembling a
shuttle ; in the ceutre is a small hollow place, which fits on
to a pin fixed underneath ; thus it appears like an umbrella,t
that can turn round; on the surface are writen certain Kuro-
pean characters, with sixteen points, called east, west, south,
and north ; also south-east and north-east, south-west and
north-west ; they further speak of the right and left of the
south-east, and north-east, south-west and north-west ; thus
forming a complete scheme. When Chinese mariners wish
to proceed any where, they turn the characters of the compass,
lo accommodate it to the position of the vessel; but when
European sailors want to go towards any quarter, they turn

* This account of the balloon is evidently taken from the reports of
some partially-informed Europeans, who haye attempted to describe jt to
eur author ; as, however, balloons have never been seen in the east, it
is hardly to be expected that a Chinese should succeed in giving a
correct account of them.

} The Chinese paper umbrellas are nearly flat when opened gut.

57
the vessel, in the direction of the compass, still itis one and
(he same principle: only the instrument is ofa different con-
struction.*

NATIVE DANCING GIRLS, OR is Pal RONGGENGS.

Native actresses are called Ee ronggengs, and some
of them are tolerably handsome; they let their hair fall loose,
and are dressed in embroidered garments, adorned with
golden flowers; the upper part of the body is however naked,
and the feet bare; they flourish a paper fan, sing native songs,
and perform savage dances, shaking their heads and glancing
their eyes, standing like storks and walking like cranes, they
act and sing, and play pantomime, occasionally with impro-
per gestures. Sometimes two women perform together, at
other times three or four females go through the dance. By-
standers may also, if they choose, dance with them; which
i3 called FF ie tI sporting with the ronggengs. After the
performance the young women are rewarded with presents
of money. Listening to those songs at a distance, on a clear
evening, the sounds seems languid and melancholy, verify-
ing the proverb, that the music of foreign parts induces
sorrowful feeling. When the performers wear masks, they
are called fopengs (Z Ft to-péng) ; the songs and caiibols
of these are something like those of the rong gengs, but mix-
ed up with more indecent and improper expressions. The
natives in their villages are very fond of such, and call them
to dance night and day ; but wherever the Chinese reside,
they are not allowed to come into the town. There are also
puppets, or shadowy representations, called 3 Hie leathern
monkeys (from their being made of buffalo hide,) which are
intended to depict the fabulous relations of the old Ja-
vanese ; these puppets are fairy-like forms, made either to fly

* The fact is, that ina European mariner’s compass ‘the card is
attached to the needle, and ina Chinese compass the needle is free,
s0 that in the latter case the compass must be continually turned to
accommodate it to the play of the needle.

1 |

58

or dive, and the tales regarding them are liké the lying and
unfounded stories contained in romance; pieces of bamboo
and wood are occasionally introduced, and the performance
ia coarse and vulgar in the extreme, in fact not worth
looking at.

EUROPEAN BALLS CALLED TANDAK, (PL FR van-vax.)

When Europeans make an entertainment, they set out a
long table, at which scores of people sit down, which is
called a feast or festa ( A ye pe-sit-tat), and when the
stringed instruments play up, men and women stand opposite
each other and dance, which is called dancing or tandak Ft
FT tan-lak.) When a young woman is marriageable, she is
allowed to select her own partner, who is called her lover or
sooka aus A goo-kak), Ifthey are fond of each other,
they dance together, in order to settle the match. Amongst
their instruments of music, some are long like the guitar,
the sound of which is clear and loud: some are ag atall as a
man which are played standing, emitting a broad deep tone ;
and some are shaped like a harp, the sound of which is tink-
ling and pleasant : altogether they produce an elegant air, and
the instruments themselves are minutely wrought and skil-
fully finished: asset of the best may be worth about a

thousand reals.
ry aE BAMBOO RAFTS.

In foreign parts, when people wish to cross a river, they do
not use ferry-boats, but rather rafts, formed of several scores
of split bamboos, entwined together. Neither do they
make use of oars to propel these, but a Jong piece of ground
rattan, several hundred feet in length, is drawn acroga the river,
from one bank to the other, and fastened either to a post, or
the trunk of some tree; after which several smaller rattans
are tied to the raft, and then made fast to a ring that runs
along the larger rattan. Whilst crossing, several persons
take hold of the rattan. and push themselves over. the
a tream.

59

fie i RATTAN BRIDGES.

When two hills are opposite to ench other, with a river be-
tween, the water of which is both deep and rapid, eo that it
would be imposssible to construct a common bridge—when
also the trees on each bank are very lofty, with branches in-
tertwining together—the natives join the two banks by a
bamboo platform firmly fastened, about seven or eight feet in
breadth, and upwards of a hundred in length; on*each side of
which they make use of rattans in order to suapend the
bridge to the branches of the trees, so that it assumes the
form of a half-moon, raised up in the air, and very tottering.
When a person first meets with such a bridge he is alarmed,
but the natives go over it as if walking on level ground.
When I was travelling from Samarang (Hi Lang), to Paka-
longan aR Long), Icame to such a bridge, and having no
resource, I descended from my conveyance, and cautioning
the natives not to cross at the game time, being afraid of the
excessive motion, with a gentle and light step I advanced ;
but when I had got half way, being afraid to look down, I
I strove to proceed, but the motion became intolerable ; I
therefore crouched and sat down. ‘The natives seeing me
afraid, wished to come forward to my assistance ; but this
alarmed me the more, and I hastily stopped them. After
waiting 4 little the motion ceased, when I got up, and with
trembling steps, crossed over to the other side. Oh the dan-
gerous roads in foreigo parts ! of which this is an instance,

EUROPEAN VESSELS, on Kapats (FA BY wap-pan.)

At the mouth of the Batavian river there is the ship island,
(Onrust,) so called because the Dutch repair their vessels
there. European vessels are generally broken up every
twenty-five years; this is the fixed limit. The timbers
which can be used are employed again, and those which
cannot be used are burned: while the iron and nails are
taken care of. The timbers of square-rigeed vessels are
ghewt» foot thick, and along the transverse beams they use

60

iron plates, to fasten them together on either side. Outside
the vessel’s planks they use copper or zinc plates, which are
spread along all over the bottom. The masts are in three
pieces ; the sails are made of cloth, of which there are 45, of
all sizes ; the rigging on each side is fastened with iron and
copper; hence the vessels are firm and strong, and seldom
meet with accidents. The bulwarks of the vessel are about
the height of a parapet wall, along which are arranged a
number of great guns, Large ships have two tiers of cannon,
and small vessels one tier. Each man among the crew has a
particular business assigned him, and though the night be
dark, the rain pouring down, and the wind raging, they dare
not neglect their duty. The regulations on board of ship are
exceedingly severe ; for heavy offences instant death is the
punishment, of which the Captain alone is the judge. Hence
pirates do not dare to approach European vessels, Looking at
our Chinese junks from Amoy, slightly formed, and fastened
with straw, they seem merely like children’s playthings ; on
this account they are frequently attacked by rebbers.

THE TELESCOPE, OR + Ht R THOUSAND LE MIRROR,

That by this instrument distant objects should be seen, is
not so much a matter of wonder; but that there should be
some with crooked tubes, for surveying the sides and corners
of buildings, and the most retired parts of rooms, in short every
nook, is matter of great surprise. The best of these are
worth thousands of reals. They are used in warfare, for
by means of these one can look into the camp of an enemy,
and know his real situation; penetrating within the em-
brasures, and behind the screens, to see whether the troops be
few or many, all which can be thoroughly surveyed.
TS FE Hh truly it is the cunning invention of super-
natural agents.

K vf) SKY-ROCKETS OR BOMBS.

Europeans, in attacking their foes, make great use of bombs,

and the skill of the English in this respect, compared with

61

that of the Dutch, is much superior. For firing off these
bombs they make use of brazen mortars. According to the
measure of each mortar, in length and circumference, so is its
capacity for carrying far or near ; for this there is a fixed cal-
culation. Suppose, for instance, the enemy’s camp were ata
certain distance, they would measure it by the quadrant, and
survey it by the telescope, when they elevate their mortar and
exactly hit the spot, without erring a foot or an inch; but the
mortar must be pointed upwards, in the direction of the spot,
and then the ball will descend, booming and rolling all
along. Because the shot comes down from the sky, these
bombs are called 1 PE) sky-rockets.

ira Hi THE GAMING-TABLE.

This, at Batavia, is under the superintendence of the Cap-
tain China, who pays a yearly tribute to the Dutch, amount-
ing to one tenth of the stakes ; every day plays are performed
before the gaming-house, ® the whole year without intermis-
sion, by which means gamesters are collected in crowds.
On the lamps that are suspended before the gambling-house
is written, in laige characters, “ [By eR national impost ;”
whilst on the curtain that is hung up round the gaming-ta-
ble is inscribed, * FE PR Se 88 HK Oy HG HB of all the
pleasures in the world, there is nothing like gambling,” or
. Hk £ yh true pleasure is to be found here.” There
are a certain number of persons who go round to inspect the
gaming-tableg, in order to see that nothing escapes the net ;
and even parents and elder brethren, when they come into
euch a place, are not allowed to control their children or
juniors. Should the inspectors hear of their attempting it,
they immediately seize such superior relatives, and take

es

* For this purpose, the Captain China and some of the rich men
purchase and train a number of slave girls, who are taught by musi-
cians from ris 44 Cheang-chew or Big IN Chwin-chew, (in China),
in order to make profit thereby. They speak the mandarin dialect,
with which they confusedly mix the brogue of the southern regions ;
the dresses and the musical instruments are all brought from China.

62

them before the Captain om gr ae Pay te acon e
Ge Ze Be 1 VE he Bl

DBLA SD $8 een If you Fes
to teach your young people, you can do that at home; but
this is the office of the national tribute, how can you think
of talking at random, and misleading people ; thus perverting
men’s minds, and causing the National Tribute to suffer ;
such conduct is not to be forgiven.” Upon this the parties
are immediately thrown into prison, In a distant colony
like this, there are many such instances of perversion and
error, which cannot be particularly specified. This is record-
ed, just to expose the matter to deserved reproach.

Ae uF THE MONKEY BEZOAR.

Monkeys, when wounded by the sword or gun of the hunts-
man, but not mortally, know of themselves how to employ
vegetable medicines, which they pluck and apply to the sore
place, when it heals and forms a cicatrix. Should they af-
terwards be caught, you may cut out of the cicatrix some-
thing like a etone, round, clear, transparent, and smooth,
which is called “monkey bezoar.” This is used as medi-
cine; its nature is cooling, and it is an antidote against poi-
son, For Qe 44 os monkeys have these calculi a Af

'F as cows have their bezoar.
THE PARASITE, PF te OR CANCER BERNHARDUS.

On the sea shore, amongst the eand and gravel, there are
many old shells, of the different species of cockles, which the
little crabs on perceiving get into, in order-to hide them-
selves ; after a time their tails are produced and conformed
to the murex-shell, when they run about with the shell at-
tached to them, just like a living murex animal; if you take
it up and examine it, you will find, however, that though the
shell is a murex, the flesh ia like that of a emall crab, This
kind is good to look at asa curiosity, but mot toeat. The
common name of it is a a ue parasite.

63

Kk >) SA LARGE AND SMALL EGGS.

The }if HE sea goose® is double the size of the common
goose, and the eggs it produces are about five or six inches
in diameter, and two or three pounds in weight : the shell is
hard, and if let fall on the ground it will not break. Some
people from foreign parts having brought home, to China, one
or two of these, have pretended that they were mare’s eggs, in
order to excite wonder, but they are all the eggs of the bird men-
tioned above. In Batavia, the cock of the domestic fowl some-
times lays eggs, but they are small like comfits, and when
broken are found to contain only a white substance, without
any yolk, This is however to be considered as a departure
from the usual order of things, and is a bad omen; those
families in which such fowls are domesticated are sure to
meet with some misfortune, We have known several in-

stances of thia,
Fe Hi CARRIAGES,

The four-wheeled carriages are drawn by two horses, and
the two-wheeled vehicles by one horse. In the four-wheele d
carriages the front wheels are small, and the hind wheels
large ; they are made of wood, and bound round with iron; the
form of the carriage is like that ofa small pavilion. The large
ones will hold three or four persons, and the emaller convey-
ances one or two, ‘They are carved and painted, and cost
each several hundred reale. That in which the governor
tides is gilded ; other officers of government, and the Cap-
tain China, ride in ornamented carriages, and the common
people in plain varnished vehicles, The seat is provided
with cushions, and covered with broad-cloth or velvet, very
handsomely and elegantly fitted up.

® The author probably alludes to the ostrich. as the producer of his
large eggs ; and in his account of the small eggsis again misled by
superstition,

64

ay $F WONDERFUL CONTRIVANCES.

These are Jil, $F wind-saws, and aK §& water-saws,
J, HE wind-mills and 7X = water-mills, FR} #5 draw-

bridges, ® cranes or vy) +a thousand -pound-lifters, {
microscopes or glasses for displaying minute ob-
jects, clocks or bells that strike of themselves; Ae
& iE Ek 8 BED Fy birds and beasts that can both
move and sing, automatons or JJ 4p ee wooden images

apparently endowed with life ; and a variety of other things
which cannot be enumerated.

WRITING OR TOOLTS, (ft [A T00-LE.)

The native word for writing is ¢oolis (Pe JG wo-le), The
Dutch in wriling use a goose’s quill, cut toa poiot, and
formed into a pen; this is dipped in ink, with which they
write across the paper, from left to right: the English,
Dutch, Portuguese, and all other European nations use the
same mode, T'he Javanese, Malays, and Islams use pieces
of reed cut toapoint for pens; they also write across the
paper, but from right to left. The Buginese, the Balinese,
persons from Pasir, on Borneo, with the Dayaks, have
each a separate mode of writing. Wehave heard, also, that
there is a description of foreigners, who write from bottom to
top, but these seldom come to Batavia, and we have not seen

them.
K a EP A LARGE FISH BONE.

Walking once through a native village, I saw a large stone
mortar, capable of holding five pecks ; and being struck with
its unusual form, I asked about it, and was told that it was
one of the vertibre of a large fish, and not a stone mortar.

* Draw-bridges, the Chinese writer says, are placed at the city gates;
they are several thousand pounds in weight, and are opened and shut
every morning and evening ; one man, however, can pull them up.

{ The form of these is like a tube made of iron, within which there
is @ Screw, one man can turn it, and even houses and ships, when the
screw is applied, may be lifted up or moved.

i)

Upon this I was struck with wonder, and exclaimed, a ver-
tebral bone as big as a mortar, how long and how larg,
must the fisli have been! I[t is said by some, that there
are fishes able to swallow ships ;: looking at the size of this
bone, I should think that in the great ocean there may be
such things !

SOCIETIES, OR CAMPONGS BH Ret KAM-KONG.

Pit ier Kam-kong is the name of a religious sect, or secret
society, like those of the Ai white lotus, or the i iB
strange river (Chinese free-masons) ; it is not the name of a
country. The Javanese, Malays, and Dayaks, are frequently
ia the habit of joining such a society, reciting charms and
incantations until the completion of their initiation, when
they become invulnerable, or (as the Chinese writer expresses
it) sa F fit ‘a get a brazen body and iron bones, so that
neither sword nor spear will injure them; but they dread
both dogs and pigs; so that if you rub your weapon with
pig’s fat or dog’s blood and attack them, you will find them
vulnerable,

Hi ie THE MANUFACTURE OF POISON.

All the tribes of bare-footed savages* are able to compound
poisons, which they do in the wilderness and solitary places.
They make use of the fat of venomous snakes and noxious
beasts, mixed with various drags, which they rub on their
swords and spears. After it has been compounded a long
me, the poison becomes more powerful, and if man or beas;
be wounded by a weapon, impregnated with it, so as to draw
blood, the individual dies, In ashort time afterwards the
flesh rots away, and nothing is left but the bones.

* The European nations, to the north-west, all wear stockings and

shoes, and put on hats, hence they are called = A A the three-
cornered-hat race ; but the tribes to the south-west wear neither hats

nor shoes, and are therefore called ah Re 7 bare-footed savages.
1

66

I Fis us NEW GUINEA SMOKE.

The land of New Guinea is rather extensive, and the pro-
ductions of the country are abundant; but foreign vessels
do not dare to trade thither, on account of the mariners of
the people, who are so crafty and deceitful, that they are. ay
Yh Ret YER just like demons and elves. What is most to be
dreaded is their smoke: wedonot know what drugs they
use, but when they make a fire to windward, on some high
place, all who inhale the smoke die. — It is on this account
that their prodictions are so little sought after, vessels sel-
dom going thitliér, and the natives being obliged to export
their own merchandize.

Fi Ba es DUTCH DOCTORS.

SERRE Ong-choo-seng had an ulcer on his back, which
turned into a gangrene, and he was about té die. PréVions
to this, some one had recommended a Dutch doctor; but
Choo-seng, knowing that these gentlemen were fond of using
the knife very freely, was afraid and refused toemploy one.
Afterwards his pain became excessive and insupportable, and
when the Chinese surgeons had all given him up, having no
resource, he sent for a European practitioner. The doctor,
on entering the house, as soon as he saw the patient, said,
This is a very dangerous ulcer, why did not you apply to me
sooner, and not throw your life away in this manner ?
He thén asked the by-standers to provide him with a pig
that had recently been killed, and sending his servant 'to the
carriage fora small box, he took out a bottle of tincture, and
pouring some into a‘glaes said, drink this, and it will render
you insensible to pain, Then taking outa silver knife, he
cut away the gangrenous part of the ulcer, as large as a plate;
and having tied up the pig in the hall, he took a portion of the
flesh, of the same size with the wound, and mixing it up with
‘some drugs, applied it fo the ‘part affected. After atime, he
allowed them to remove the pig’s flesh, which had become
black and intolerably offensive, for it had drawn outall the
poison, ‘This operation he repeated thrice, and then said,

67

It will do. After this he applied some salve, and desired
that the patient should refrain from indulgence, and abstain
from wine and flesh, fora whole month. After three days;
the patient was improving. Our Chinese surgeons have no
such contrivance.as this, and even Se [IE Hwa-t6 and Ins
rie P’héen-sek, (those celebrated practitioners of antiquity,)
could not surpass this,
DOLLARS, OR Al AF SR RounD-CAKED SILVER COU.

Europeans coin their silver in the shape of little round
cakes ; on some is stamped the image of a foreigner on horse-
back, holding a sword, hence called the BS fil| horse-sword
coin (ducatoons), Some are half this size, called ‘p fill
half sword coins (half ducatoons). Some coins are smaller
and thicker, inscribed with European characters, which are
called =} if mo-tiin (rupees): the half of these are called
Jy FR small tins (or half rupees). Some are still smaller
and thinner, having a European vessel stamped on them ,
these are called +h IB tat-lé (¢alis, or quarter rupees). Some
are made of yellow gold, bearing the figure of a foreigner, in a
standing posture, which are called ‘sea ff golden fanams ; 80
also the ducatoons, half ducatoons, and large and small
‘Tupees are all occasionally made of gold; in which case an
ounce of one goes for a pound of the other, and eyery gold
coin is worth sixteen of its like in ‘silver. Some coins,
again, are made of copper, bearing a rampant tiger (lion) ;
these are called $a liiy (dutts or doits) and are used as cop-
percash, The English nation is poor, not producing the
precious metals, hence they have no coinage,# The French
(Prussians) make a round kind of silver coin, on which is
stamped a double eagle, called the EF JPS double eagle coin.
There are also the halves of these, Another small coin,
very thin, having foreign characters on it, is called a $j fang,
(fanam), ten of which go toa rupee. The kingdom of -F

| ® A very small quantity of English coin finds its way to Batavia,
Trans.

68

ie it Kan-se-lap (Spain) is very rich, producing much sil-
ver and gold ; where also silver coin is made, bearing the
image of the sovereign, and called PF FE foreign money (dol-
lars). There is also the half dollar, two of which go for one
dollar ; there are some four to a dollar, and eight, sixteen, or
thirty-two to a dollar; the latter bearing a small flower, but
this kind is seldom seen. There is another kind of coin

made of copper, with a cross on them, called vIN Kwa, which
are used for cash.

74 ue MILITARY TACTICS.

In foreign countries to the south-west, all the people learn
military exercises. ‘The Bugis, in particular, admire bravery,
and when their skill in the use of weapons is great, they are
praised by their parents, and respected by their townsmen,
being honoured with the title of 2wstee 4b F hk f00-sit-
téy), holy, or honourable. Throughout the whole region,
every one submits to those who are skilled in military tactics ;
hence both men and women, from their 10th year upwards, ac-
custom themselves to the nse of sword and spear, and are ac-
quainted with the method of jumping and springing on the foe,
For the sword and spear exercise they have masters, who hand
down their secret methods, the names of which are various :
such as the Je fd great grandfather's method, gE E the
universally honoured mode, a the monkey’s pugilism,
and a Bh the stork’s posture, &c. Hence it is, that the
western nations are particularly skilled in military ma-
neuvres, I had once a slave-girl, called a2 Be Chang-choo,
who accompanied me to Benjarmasin ; on the way we feli in
with pirates, when I was very much alarmed, and lost com-
mand of myself. The crew of the vessel also said, Few
against many, what can we do? Theslave-girl said, Since
it is come to this, we must exert our strength. However I
did not know what to do: when the girl cried out, Never
fear ; and grasping a spear she went forth, and mounted
guard at the companion, without moving. When the thieves

69
came on board, they rushed aft, but the maid brandishing
her spear wounded several of them. The pirates fell back,
and said to each other, How it is that she has got the Bug-
guese mode of brandishing the spear. On which the slave-
girl bawled out, I also ama Bugguese, come and let us have
another round. ‘The thieves were however alarmed, and
retreated in confusion,
ON FRUITS AND FLOWERS.

rue [I] FL S AN-TAN (1X0RA).

Of the Santan flower some are of a deep red, others of a
light red, and others again white ; these latter are somewhat
fragrant. The branches of the tree are weak, and hang down
to the ground, while the leaves are lanceolated and flexible ;
each kind opens out in all seasons, and the tree is never with-
outa bloom, Iset sail from Amoy in the close of the year,
and in the first month of the next year I arrived at Batavia ;
when I saw everywhere, in all the gardens, the a iB hibis-
cus, and Bey 1h erysanthemum, the aan Ba Ba holly-hocks,
Aa Be geraniums, = #il jasmines, x fh baleams and pf

epidendrums, all beautifully in ower. On first obsery-
ing it, I was astonished ; and enquiring of the people of
Batavia, they all said, that continually throughout the year,
these flowers successively blossom without any cessation.

ae i THE ROSE.

The roses here are white, and not equal to those of China
in fragrance ; indeed the fragrance of all the Javanese flowers
falls far short of those in China. For in the sweet scents of
China there is a pureness and a freshness, while in those of
maritime countries there isa heaviness and a sickliness,
which is perhaps occasioned by the soil, otherwise we cannot
account for it.

THE GOMPHRENA GLOBOSA “Tr A £7 THOUSAND-DAY-RED
FLOWER.

This is called the flower of perpetual bloom, because its
redness rarely fades; but in these regions the flower is white ;

7)

just as theoranges south of the Yang-tszé-keang, if trans-
planted toa place north of that river, /become-sour, on account
of ‘the difference ofsoil and climate, On enquiring of the old
people of Batavia, they all-said, all kinds of seeds if brought
‘hither ‘from China have their red blossoms turned white,
‘and their white flowers changed into:red ones; which is to
be ascribed to the strange variation of the soil, and \the con-
trariety of the seasons.

THE AE yr Bk SERIUM OLEANDER AND ‘THE (=) a qF

LAWSONIA AMERICANA,

The nerium oleander is originally a red flower, and yet
in Batavia there are some white specimens; the lawsonia
americana is generally white, and yet here it assumes a red
hue ; which are instances of the contrarieties of the vegeta-
ble world. The lawsonia also ocours of a deep red, a light
red, a-dull yellow, and variegated ; so that there are altogether
four or'five kinds ; they flower in all seasons, and are never
out of bloom.

kit rig CAMUNIUM SINENSE.

The Dutch in their gardens make uee of the camunium as
@hedge, round their parterres ; they let it grow as high as
the’ knees and about a footin thickness, cutting it twice or
three times a month, and. turning or connecting it according
-to a prescribed rule ; the sides and eornera not being an inch
out of order, ao that it looks like awall, while the foliage is
very thick and beautiful.

NATIVE FLOWERS.

The flowers peculiar to Batavia are the champaka (+R
FA chéem-ché-kak), sichelia champaka, L. The tree on
which these grow is.as»large as the ficus indicus, and the
form of the flower when unopened is something like a a ==

wooden pencil flower, but smaller; the colour is yellow, and of
a dull or sickly smell. There is another, called the Ag 4p #1)

71

bwat-la-te, (malatti, nyctanthes sambac, L.) The tree on
which this grows is like a pear tree, the flower is white, and
the form like the unopened buds of the jasmine; the scent
is agreeable. _ Another is called xz He BE kwun-lang-bang,
(canangga, wearia canangga, L.) It growa on a tall straight
tree, the flowers are yellow, like the FZ r= 5 magnolia pumila,
but longer ; the smell is rather sickly, Another kind is deno-
minated #8} Bf t6-m6 (tanjong, mimusops elengi, L.) which
comes originally from Ceylon, called the PY | +E ‘olea
fragrans of Ceylon ; the tree is like the Hp *a loquat, and
the flowers are produced underneath the leaves, something
like the Ft fil camunium ; the flower resembles the Hh 3X
le-no6 flower, and is usually strungon threads by the na.
tives ; the scent is agreeable and perceptible at some distance:
These are the principal flowera indigenous to Batavia,

ill THE COCOA-NUT.

The native name for the cocoa-nut is Calypa, and because
of the number of cocoa-nute in Batavia, the Chinese cal] the
place 5B Hall PP! Kat-la-pa. The cocoa-nut is a species of
palm, of a large kind ; its leaves are like those of the 3 In
fan-leaf tree, but larger. ‘The use of the cocoa-nut is very ex-
tensive ; it may be used for food, or it can be boiled into oil,
or distilled into wine ; each nut also contains about a pint of
water, but principally when inthe green state, the taste of which
is like the juice ofthe sugar-cane,‘good for elaking the thirst, or
allaying the heat; the shell may be used for ladles, being
both onvenient and light ; the huek is like that of the ie
coir palm, andcan be made into ‘ropes, or used for the soles of
shoes : in short every )part of the tree is useful, aud nothing
lo be thrown away.

Hie THE MANGO.

The natives call this fruit mang ga “eee BB bang-ka) but
the Chinese call it HE swat. The mangoes of Batavia are
far superior to those Canton and Fokien, being uncommonly

72

sweet and fragrant, of a mellow taste, and not stringy. There
are more than ten sorts, such as Ae ih, ka-yit (m. ayer), &
14 to.tian (m. dodul), $e SS kwey-né, (m. quini), & ZS
sek-lam aod PH] Bq A-mé; the names of the rest [ did not
learn. Some of thenrvare halfa foot in length: some are
long and thin, and othere round and short; some are oblong
like the #4 nelumbium root, and others fragrant like the 7[t
pi papaya. It would be difficult to enumerate all their qua-
lities, but the mang ga dodul is reckoned the best.
#E THE PLANTAIN.

The plantain is called ia FA p’he-sang ; some are up-
wards of a foot in length, and others scarcely an inch long ;
some are square like a paper parcel, others are round like fowl’s
eggs; some have red skins, and othera white; some have
smal! seeds in them, and others are short and diminutive, like
one’s finger, having thin skins, and of a ycllow colour; these
are called golden plantains, and are very sweet and fragrant ;
of all plantains these are the best. There are together twenty
or thirty different kinds, all of which it would be difficult to
enumerate.

# THE ORANGE.

Large and small oranges, together with pumelos, are all
called by the natives geruk (E] $F jit-lok). ‘Ihe Chinese,
however, who cannot forget their native country, call them
according to their original names, Thus there are Ay Ft
fragrant oranges, at Ht eweet oranges, ie FH sour oranges,
and FH tiger oranges, more than a score of kinds, the
names of which I do not fully know. The four seasons are
alike luxuriant, while flowers and fruits never cease : which
suggested to me the following couplet :

Fe US aL EE PE Gh

fea ed HB BK
The scarlet hibiscus droops not nor diea,
And oranges many the garden supplies.

73

as THE BUGAR-CANE.

Sugar-cane is by the natives called /éhu (G, me Lit-bod),
of which there are various kinds: red, white, black, and
green, as well as striped, like the striped bamboo. It puts
forth a flower, like the reed, or rush: and the cane-fields
present an extensive prospect very pleasant to behold.

JAMBO (He RP sem-n00) OR THE ROSE-APPLE (EUGENIA),

The tree which bears the jambu resembles the mulberry-
tree, it yields fruit during the months of September and Octo-
ber ; the form of the fruit is like a bobbin, pointed above
and rounded off below ; the hole at the end is angular; some
sorts have seeds, and others none; some are as large as the
peach, and others as small as a bean ; some are of a deep red,
others of a light red, and others of a snowy white colour : the
laste ia very pure and sweet, and it may be ranked among
the best fruits of foreign countries. There is also a Europe-
an species, in-shape like an egg, the taste of which is sour.
Altogether there are twenty or thirty kinds, which we are
not fully acquainted with.

nampooran, (FT =5 FY anc-mo-ran.)

This fruit, the nephelium echinatum, is as red.asa iis
Fy fresh Litchi; some however are white and yellow, but
the taste of every kind is like that of the Litchi. Some are
called Acheen (Ja) ZF A-chéy), which is the name of a coun-
try near Quidah xj Ait Kit-tak), and they are thus na-
med, because the seed was originally brought from Achéen.
The pulp of this species can be easily separated from the seed,
and it is much esteemed.

ey NAM-NAM, (CYNOMETRA CAULIFLORA.)

The namnam, vulgarly called puki-andjing (iF 35 oe
4 p’heo-ké-an-chéng), is produced on a large tree, and grows
en the stem, or about the roots. It bears some resemblance
to the peach in shape, but notin flavour ; it is variously

J

74

marked and indented, has a yellow colour, and a sourish
taste, very serviceable in correcting the effects of wine. Wo-
men are fond of it.
MANGOSTLN GA ta BANG-GIT), GARCINIA MANGOSTANA.

The tree producing this fruit is umbrageous, and the form
of the fruit resembles the 44 Hy pomegranate ; the rind is
black, and the pulp white, the taste is very sweet and juicy,
good for quenching the thirst, while the rind can ube used
in dyeing cloth.

SIRIKAYA, (Ep FA ys SI-LI-KAK ) THE CUSTARD-APPLE.

The custard-apple tree is like the os 1K guava, anc
the form of its [ruit resembles the es a cone of the fir-tree.
The pulp is white and juicy, the seeds are like black beans,
and the sweetness of the fruit surpasses the preparations of
the confectioner. Amongst foreign fruits it is reckoned in-
sipid, but I no sooner tasted it than I admired it.

SALAK (ee } SA-LAK), CALAMUS ZALACCA,

The salak tree resembles the jie edible fern, but is of a
larger size ; the stem is very thorny, and the fruit, which is
cone-shaped, is produced near the roots of the tree, in bunches
of dozens together. In shape it resembles a peach, but the
rind is of a darkish red, and scaly like the skin of a snake.
The pulp is yellow, and surrounds several seeds; the taste
is rough and unpleasant ; but the Dutch are very fond of it.

DURLAN ae LEW-LEEN), DURIO ZIBETHINUS, L.
The shape of the durian is ovate, about the size of the
pumelo ; on dividing it, the pulpy kernels are found disposed
in regular order, shaped like eggs, of a whitish colour, and
each inclosing aeeed ; the smell is very strong, and to a
stranger iptolerable, but the native women are excessively
fond of it. It is reported to be very strengthening : many of
our countrymen cannot touch it, but at the very sight of ir,
stop their noses and try to escape.

75

[tay ze A-TAP, OR LEAF OF THR COCOS NIPA PALM,

The atap tree resembles the areca palm ; the flowers and
fruit grow in large bunches, hanging down like willow
branches. The leaves are similar to those of the cocoa-nut,
but broader, and can be used for thatching houses, to which
purpose they are extensively applied. On opening one of
the fruit, we find it to contain aseed, which boiled down with
eugar constitutes a confectionary, much esteemed at the
tea-table.

i+] P| A-LEEN, (THE AREN i ALM.)

The aren palm bears some resemblance to the cocoa-nut :
the heart, of it is like a plantain, and the flowers hang down!
if you cut these, and attach a bamboo vessel, the next morn-
ing you will, find it full of juice: this boiled down becomes
sugar, which is commonly called Javanese sugar.

OF aN B00-K00, (RUAH DUKU. )

The dulcu tree resembles the Hp #0 loquat, and the
shape of the fruit is likea plum, and about the same size ;
the skin is yellow, and the taste sweet, it grows in bunches
like the grape, and is traly a fine fruit. ‘There is an.
other kind called lanseh (FF eal Lang-sat), growing on a
similar tree; the colour of this Jatter fruit is red and the size
smaller, but the taste is exceedingly sour, so that a stranger
cannot bear it in his mouth. The price, however, is mo-
derate ; and the natives are very fond of it.

SOME ACCOUNT OF MANILLA, OR LUZON Fy

BY te ee BT WUING-GAY-HEEN,

Manilla or Luzon (Py Se Let-sdng) is a dependant state of
Spain or Castile (F sa A Kan-se-lap), Spain is situated
on the north-west corner of the ocean; we know nothing of
the origin of this country, or when it was first estublished ;
but it produces much gold and silver, wiih other precious
things ; and is on a par with Holland, France, aud England.

76

The usual name of it among the Chinese is on 1 Song-a ;
it is also denomisated Spain (‘Ef Je 2 Sit-pan-gew). The
appearance of the people is vot unlike that of the Chinese i
they wear high-cornered caps, and narrow sleeves, while
their food and furniture are both similar to those used by the
Hollanders. The af aig silver-caked money (dollar), cur-
rent in Canton and Fokien, is stamped with the image of
their sovereign. ‘

Manilla, or Luzon az ae Leti-song), is situated in the
south-eastern ocean, about three hundred miles off. On
the east it is bordered by the sea of Banda (7° fa] Ban-lan)
and 'Ternate isi 4F- ARE Kan-a-té) ; on the west by the sea,
that washes the coast of Canton and Fokien ; on the south
hy the Sooloo ( a 72 Soe-lok) archipelago, and on the
north by the Bs) nK id Ky great sea where the waves
perpetually flow to the eastward, We should reckon that
the country is about 300 miles in length, The eastern
and western, as well asthe northern and southern shores,
are distant from the centre of the country several hundred
miles, and the opposite coasts are about 300 miles apart,
‘The situation of the capital is fronting the west. There are
several large lakes, about thirty miles in extent; and the
natives are not less than 100,000. In gold and pearls, tor-
toise-shell, camphor, edible birds’-nests, tripang, sapan-wood ,
and ebony, together with salt fish, this place surpasses all
others beyond the seas. .

Formerly, in the time of the AA Bang dynasty, the Spani-
ards occupied Manilla, and built their capital city of Ela a
Koo-toé, near the external lake, (bay of Manilla), on the
shore of the western sea; they fortified the island of Be 3d
Kang-sit, on the west of the town, in order to control and
subjugate all both far and near.

It is the custom of the couniry highly to venerate the 2
Ve foreign priests, setting up monasteries for the padris
e te pa-léys), and keeping up the te FF ceremony day

a7

(Sunday). Thes€ FY ed pa-léys are foreign priests. ‘They
lay great stress on the He AK sprinkling of water (baptism),
and in their servicee turn night into day. Every monastery
strikes its bell, in order to fix the time. At mid-day and
mid-night they commence reckoning their hours, going on to
twelve respectively. ‘They venerate the cross BH 82 ko-
yit), and do not sacrifice to their ancestors, while they wor-
ship no other spiritual being than Deus (nk K Leuk-se.)
There is something still more extraordinary, the padris
(& ie pa-léy) forgive people’s sins, and are very much ho-
noured, The vat ordinance of baptism is thus adminis-
tered ; the corpse of the chief padri (Fy 7m =E pa-léy-6ng)
having been boiled down to an ointment, one of the instruc-
tore takes charge of it, and when any wish to enter their reli-
sion, they make them swear that their whole persons are
derived from Deus (HE te Leuk-se), after which the padri
(a ae pa-léy) takes the ointment with water, and drops it
on the head, hence it is called vi IK water sprinkling.

The ceremony of marriage is performed by holding each
others hands; in addition to which, on the day of the nuptials,
the # a minister throws a chain (or garland) around the
necks of the bride and bridegroom. Every seventh day
they go to church, and ask the padri (Aig pa-léy) to for-
give their sins ; which is called going to mass q GfFaI
k*han-me-sa); old and young believe and attend to this.
There are also te oF ie nunneries, where they collect mo-
nies for the public service ; the nunnery is locked up very
closely, all the males being excluded ; the building ia high
and imposing ; daily necessaries are hoisted in by a basket
over the wall ; and all those females who wish 3{§ Pe to
enter the cloister and {& 47 devote themselves to the prac-
tice of piety are admitted. When the chief padri Anh ris =
pa-lé-6ng) meets the be Es a abbot, the usual ceremony is
to smell (or kiss) his hands ; but when common people pay
their respects to him, itis done by kissing his foot. The rea-

78

son of this ceremony cunnot be ascertained.
_ The ships built by the Spaniards are very large, the sails
and masts being particularly strong ; their spears and guns
are all ready, so that pirates do mot dare to approach them.
In the voyage to and from Spatn they make use of the

. Re: quadrant, and the ie IK ia mirror for reflecting the
water ; by means of which rocks and shoals, deeps and shal-
lows are instantly discernible: this invention is even more
wonderful than that of the Ai By # mariner’s compass.
The Chinese who sojourn in Manilla are delighted with the
swiftness of their vessela, and pleased with the skilfulness
of their arrangements. Pinropean ships, in coming to Manilla,
are about three months on their passage ; but when they wish
to return home, the currents are different, and they require
five months for the voyage. The Chinese have been in the
habit of trading backwards and forwards to Manilla for several
hundred years, In the time of the emperor we Ae Kéen-ling,
of the present dynasty, the red-haired English (372 RR Eng-
léy), a race of foreigners from the north-west corner of the
ocean, came suddenly, with about a dozen sail of vessels,
and made an attack on Manilla, wishing to get possession of
the place. The inhabitants, together with the padris, offered
a large sum to be exempted from the incursion, when the
English retired : and up to this time there has been general
tranquillity, peace, and joy in the regions beyond sea. We
humbly conceive that it is the instruction diffused by our sa-
cred government, which overawes these insulated foreigners ;
soaking into their flesh and moistening their marrow, so that
even the most distant submit themselves. Having myself
traded to Manilla, I have been enabled to record this narration,

THE FOLLOWING IS AN ACCOUNT or BL ee by WUI-GAY-HEEN
py Ke YE ong-ran-nar.
‘ = 5 aT | | a "4 a . == Hi 4
Be iF Gay-héen’s family resided at Ge Bd Hoo-soe, in

the prefecture of “jm Cheang-chew, in the province of
Fokien. He was the elder brother of i Ae Lap-yem

79

the imperial adviser, He was naturally a very strict
and upright man, diligent and economical; in instructing
his sens and nephews he urged them on to the study of
the odes aud classics ; and in associating with his friends
and companions, he wontheir confidence by his fidelity
and rectitude, In his native village he was respected by
everybody. When he was fifieen years of age, he accom-
panied his father’s uncle in his travels to By Fe Bin-laé,
after which he went to Siam (HE Fe Seém-l6), the Soolco
archipelago (Oe ie Sve-lok), Manilla or Luzon (1 et Le-
song); subsequently he sojourned in Formosa C4 ad T'aa-
wan) several years ; again he dwell at Amoy for some time ;
so that of all the rast important places beyond sea he left
none without a thorough inspection. He had made his ob-
servations for a considerable period, and paid much attention
to the recording of what happened. {[n the winter of 1804,
J was a fellow-lodger with = ig Chong-teaou, the eldest
son of # iit Gay-héen at B FA Goé-biin, when an inti-
mate friendship arose between us. Having seen my obser-
vations, he produced his account of Manilla; on perusing
which, I became deeply sensible of his accurate knowledge,
and ability to express himself, feeling ashamed of myself
that there were so many things with which I was still un~
acquainted,
SOME ACCOUNT OF FORMOSA (1S YAE-WAN).

ae HE Tos-wan was the ancient Fb > Ff Pe-séa-ya
country, and is inhabited by a race of Dayaks ( Aj oF
Lé-ba-jo6), who bore large holes in their ears, and tattoo
their bodies, living in the deep jungles, without cooking their
food. These are commonly called 4: a raw savages ;
while those in the plain, who trade with us, are denominated
the 3% iy friendly foreigners. The Dutch once occupied
a territory on the sea.coast, near to the port of Nz sz Lok-
ye, Where they built a small city te dwell in. Because
the hair of that people was red, therefore they were com-

ball)

inonly called 47: the red-haired nation, and their city
was named the red-haired city, but in realty they were
Dutebmen. Towards the close of the AA Béng dye > sy,
the pirate BH Teng (Coxinga) roved about the seas, 19 2)!

dering merchant-vessels ; ihe imperial troops having s hed
andexterminated many of them, they had no fixed residence ;

and the people of jit }H Cheang-chew and 5 HY Chwan-
chew, in Fokien, suffered much from their incursions ;
afterwards they gradually increased and grew, until they
colleated geveral hundred pirate vessels, and plundered 45
FA Cha-poo, 4 ‘Vsung-ming, and other places; then
they entered the fe a 7E. Yang-tsze-kéang, and. invested
Nanking ;, but. here being defeated by the imperial troops

they fled, and haying no further shelter, they went to attack

and take Formosa, awa place of repose. The Dutch, though

well-skilled in the use of cannon and, musquetry, yet having

_ only a solitary citadel withoutaid, were defeated and retired

to Batavia. ‘The ruler of) theic coutttry in Fiurope was angry
at this, and ordered the general wo had returned to be ex-
ecuted on one of the towers of the fort of Batavia, ‘The

Dutch in Batavia to this Ag quietly relate these particulars.
During the reign of fe BE

MG K’hang-he, of the present dynasty,
the pirate haviog been. persuaded to surrendet, Formosa

~ was brought under imperial rule, and constituted part

of the Chinese territory, being erected into a prefecture
with four districts, The mame of the prefecture is
x Té-wan, and the four districts are ae Taé-

wan, JA, LL Houeeab, 4 Cheang-hwa, and Fa Ye

Choo-l6, which latter has heen changed to. HE Hie Kay-ge.
Since that time: the transmarine regions have, been peaceful

and tranquil, monstrous deyourers of men hava ceased, and

bedewed by the gracious influence of our august government,
the pw, of ae 7 become rich and REP EPCONS:

i f ing os Bit, ie orb
Nh a pies ity spe ay ae J r

| Mecrofbmed on

20 £32 1966

1366.

oe
I fre

LY

ae.
is.
oS é
e” 2 <— -
. i MS eat ot 18
tat ee “Pa " he
= ‘ =