ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

S U M A T R A . 103
Productions of the ifland confidered as articles of commerce. Pepper
trade. Cultivation of pepper. Camphire. Benjamin. Caf
Jia, &c.
VjF F thofe productions of Sumatra which are regarded as articles of
commerce, the molt important and moil abundant is pepper. This is epper '
the object of the Eaft India company's trade thither, and this alone they
keep exclufively in their own hands; their fervants, and merchants under
their protection, being free to deal in every other commodity the country
affords.
Many of the chief inhabitants in different parts of the ifland, having, rftablifhmc»t
of the trade.
as is elfewhere related, invited the Englifh to form fettlements in their
refpective diftricts, factories were accordingly eftablifhed, and a permanency
and regularity thus given to the trade, which was very uncertain
whilft it depended upon the fuccefs of occafional voyages to the coaft:
difappointments enfuing not only from failure of adequate quantities of
pepper tofurnifh cargoes when required, but alfo from the caprices and
chicanery of the princes or chiefs with whom the difpofal of it lay.
Thefe inconveniences were obviated when the agents of the company
were enabled by their refidence on the fpot, to infpect the ftate of the
plantations, fecure the collection of the produce, and make an eftimate
of the tonnage ncceffary to tranfmit it to Europe.
In order to bind the native chiefs to the obfervance of their original
promifes and profeffions, and to eftablifh a planfible claim "in oppofition
to the attempts of rival European powers to interfere in the trade of the
country, contracts, attended with much form and folemnity, were entered
into with the former ; by which they engaged to oblige all their
dependants to cultivate pepper, and to fecure to us the exclufive purchafe
of it 1 in return for which they were to be protected from their
enemies,