paffage are often feen dipping into the fea, probably to fnatch up
the fmaller fifties.
B ir d s . I t is very difficult to afcertain the birds ; I can readily fuppofe
them to be the fame with thofe o f India, or the neighboring
iflands. 1 ffiall mention only two; one, the fcarce fpecies the
Argus Pheafant, fpoken of before among the Chinefe birds I here
add, that it is very common in the woods o f Sumatra, See.
T he other bird is the CaJJowary, Latbam, iii. p. 10. tab. 72.
This curious genus is related to the Oftrich, but is moft local,
being confined to the torrid zone, and only to that part which
includes this ifland, Java, Banda, and a few others of this great
Archipelago. It runs fail, is very fierce when in the wild ilate;
grunts like a hog, and will kick violently like the Oftrich. Its
food is vegetables, but will fwallow iron, ftones, or any thing that
is offered.
I n s e c t s . I s h a l l t a k e n o t i c e o f o n l y o n e in f e d t , w h i c h is t h e c o m m o n
b e e , t h e Apis Mellifica, w h i c h in t h e f e h o t c o u n t r ie s is l e f t t o i t -
f e l f u n h i v e d . V a f t q u a n t i t ie s o f t h e w a x is e x p o r t e d t o China,
Bengal, a n d o t h e r p a r t s o f India; as to t h e h o n e y i t is f a r in f e r io r
t o t h e European k in d .
C r o c o d i l e . I m a t mention that among the lizards is the Crocodile, which
makes dreadful haVock among the bathers, who cannot be per-
fuaded from the performance o f that rite notwithftanding the
danger; befides, they look upon thefe terrible reptiles with a degree
of refpedl, probably for the fame reafon as they do the
tiger. . '
Sumatra ftill wants its florift. I muft content myfelf with
* Outlines of the Globe, vol. iii. p. 195.
giving
giving-a lift of fuch of the vegetable kingdom as contribute to
commercial purpofes, or to, the general ufe o f the natives.
Pepper i s the great ftaple o f the ifland. It was for the fake o f P e p p e r .
that fpice that we defied the wretched climate, Mr. Marfden *
gives a long and curious account of its cultivation; he alfo
informs us that the white is only black ftripped o f the outer
coat.
T he Piper Betel is cultivated greatly, and fent to the coaft of B e t e l ,
Coromandel, and to Pelinga, for the purpofe of chewing, wrapped
round the Areca, as we have already mentioned t .
T he Arundo Bambos is very common, and not only furniffies B am b o o ;
materials for building the houfes, but as I imagine, produces the
quantities o f canes that are exported from the weftern fide of the
ifland.
T h e Calamus Rotang, Rumphius, vol. v. p. 97, tab. 51. and num- R o t a n $ :
bers o f the following pages and plates, furnifhes annually great
cargoes, chiefly from the eaftern fide o f the ifland, which the
Dutch fend to Europe, and the country traders' to the weftern parts
of India. The fpecific name (Rotang) fignifies in the Malayan
language a Jlaff or walking Jlick; the common thick canes which
ferve for this purpofe, and the fmall limber canes imported from
India, are all varieties o f the Calamus Rotang— The former is,
Palmi juncus Calapparius, Far. A. Linn, and is accurately de-
fcribed by Rumphius, Amb, vol. v. p. 97. The texture o f its
wood, its leaves and flowering items, bear a ftriking refemblance
to fame fpecies o f palm. Hence Rumphius has not unaptly
named it Palmi juncus, or Palm rufb. Its natural fituation is in
» Sumatra, p. 1 0 5 . . . . t Outlines of the Globe, vol. 1. p. 13 9 .
V ol. IV. C woody