The history of the
inhabitants of this place, in as few words as possible, is as
follows. About nine years ago, Mr. Hare, a worthless character,
brought from the East Indian archipelago a number of Malay slaves,
which now, including children, amount to more than a hundred.
Shortly afterwards Captain Ross, who had before visited these
islands in his merchant-ship, arrived from England, bringing with
him his family and goods for settlement: along with him came Mr.
Liesk, who had been a mate in his vessel. The Malay slaves soon ran
away from the islet on which Mr. Hare was settled, and joined
Captain Ross's party. Mr. Hare upon this was ultimately obliged to
leave the place.
The Malays are now nominally in a state of freedom, and certainly
are so as far as regards their personal treatment; but in most
other points they are considered as slaves. From their discontented
state, from the repeated removals from islet to islet, and perhaps
also from a little mismanagement, things are not very prosperous.
The island has no domestic quadruped excepting the pig, and the
main vegetable production is the cocoa-nut. The whole prosperity of
the place depends on this tree; the only exports being oil from the
nut, and the nuts themselves, which are taken to Singapore and
Mauritius, where they are chiefly used, when grated, in making
curries.
Pages:
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876