once more renewed. Their
cargo eventually consists of sperm oil, gum copal and other gums, ebony,
tortoiseshell, gold dust, seal-skins, shells, and curiosities; yet they
originally started upon a whaling voyage.

INSTANCES.

During the years 1824 and 1825, when the port of Mombas upon the East
Coast of Africa was temporarily ceded to the British Government,
Lieutenant Emery, R.N., who was stationed there as commander, was witness
to a curious instance of this nature.

Whilst this port was in the possession of the English but one British
merchant vessel arrived there, yet three American vessels entered the
harbour. The master of the English vessel was not a part owner; the
American masters were all part owners and carried on a very lucrative
trade, shipping a large quantity of ivory, whereas the English master was
placed in a very unpleasant position, for, owing to the orders he had
received from his owners (Messrs Tobin and Co. of Liverpool) he had not
been able to ship a cargo suited to the market of Mombas, and if
Lieutenant Emery had not kindly cashed a bill for him the speculation
would have been a total failure.

The cargo these American vessels brought to Mombas was principally
muskets and ammunition, which they bartered with the natives for ivory;
and this is the cargo they always ship for trade with the inhabitants of
the Indian Archipelago, and, as muskets and ammunition are there of great
value, the profit they realize is enormous.

As an instance of the kind of persons these American masters often are I
may state the following circumstance.

Captain Wickham, R.N., was at Valparaiso in South America in the year
1836, where he met a purser in the American navy who had realized about
3000 pounds sterling; this person here quitted the American service and
laid out his capital in the purchase of a small vessel in which, having
embarked a cargo suited to the trade of the country, he started for the
coast of California; in a short period he returned to Valparaiso, having
in this single trip more than doubled his capital; this Captain Wickham
also stated was by no means a rare instance.

TRADING PRODUCTS OF THE SEVERAL ISLANDS.

Having bestowed some attention on the state of trade in the Indian
Archipelago, and collected considerable information from various
individuals who had been engaged in it, I shall here subjoin a summary of
such of the principal facts as I think may be depended on.

TRADE WITH TIMO