The soil, for the most part, is a stiff clay, covered with a fertile black mould. In the lower parts, between the mountains and the sea, are large swamps. The interior, especially towards the south, is overrun with impenetrable forests. The heat is more moderate in this and the other tropical islands than on the continent, though more remote from the equator. The seasons are divided into the rainy and dry; the former, comprehending the months from November to March; the latter, those from May to September. The intermediate months have variable weather.

Of the vegetable products, rice is cultivated for common food and sago, a farinaceous substance, formed in the stem of a species of palm, is also much used. Other articles, either wild, or cultivated, are pepper, camphor, benzoin, cassia, cinnamon, cotton, coffee, the rattan, and bamboo canes, and various kinds of timber and dyeing wood.

Of domestic animals, the buffalo is principally employed in labour. The wild animals are the elephant, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, and the tiger, which is no where more formidable or frequent. The number of people devoured by tigers on their journies, or when engaged in their domestic occupations, surpasses belief; and instances are related of whole villages depopulated by them. By an unfortunate superstition, the natives are withheld from using means for the destruction of these ravagers, which multiply in security in the woods and thickets. A similar prejudice prevails with respect to the alligators, with which the rivers abound, and which carry off many people while bathing.

Of the inhabitants of Sumatra, those on the coast are chiefly Malays, and have the language, manners, and religion of that people. Their civilization is of a low degree, and their arts are few. They live in villages, governed by a kind of patriarchal chief; and over all, a prince presides with a vague authority. They have no religious worship, but believe in the existence of spiritual beings, whom they regard with superstitious dread. Their reverence for tigers and alligators seems to imply a belief in the transmigration of souls.

Another native sovereignty is that of Batta. The inhabitants eat their prisoners taken in war. In the north-west extremity of the island, is the kingdom of Acheen, frequently mentioned in the commercial history of the East-Indies. Its natives are stouter, and of a darker complexion, than those of the other parts. They carry on a considerable trade with the Coromandel coast.

The principal Malayan state is called Menag Cabul. Its people excel in filagree work, in gold and silver, and in the manufacture of silk and cotton stuffs. It is affirmed, that there are savage races in the mountains of the interior, covered with hair, and nearly approaching to ourang outangs.

JAVA.

SEPARATED from the south-eastern point of Sumatra by a narrow channel, called the Strait of Sunda, lies the island of Java, stretching longitudinally east and west, upwards of six hundred miles, with a medial breadth of one hundred. The climate and products of this island are similar to those of Sumatra. Volcanoes exist in various parts.

The Javanese are of a yellow complexion, with not unpleasing features. There are three or four principalities, in which the people are mostly Mahometans. This island is best known as the principal seat of the Dutch East-India Company, in their celebrated city of Batavia. Whatever could be effected by European art and industry, to render this place a splendid and commodious capital has been done. Its harbour, fortifications, docks, naval arsenals, and other public structures, are all excellent in their kind. The city is spacious, and contains a very various population, of which a large portion is formed by a colony of Chinese, who came hither, in spite of the laws of their country against emigration, and preserve their national manners and habitual industry. The commerce of Batavia is extensive, and a great quantity of wealth centres in it. But all its advantages are dearly purchased, by

its extreme unhealthiness, occasioned by its low and marshy situation. Probably no foreign settlement of Europeans exhibits such examples of mortality; so that it is surprising that even the thirst of gain should allure strangers to make it their abode. It is usual for three out of four of new comers from Europe to die within the first year; and navigators, on touching here to refit and obtain refreshments, have lost more men in a few weeks, than in all the rest of their voyages of discovery round the globe.

BALLY.

BALLY is peopled with Gentoos. It is well cultivated, and full of inhabitants, who spin great quantities of cotton yarn, which the Chinese export. Provisions are plentiful and cheap. In this island, not only the Hindoo custom of wives burning themselves on the death of their husbands, is observed, but dependants do the same in honour of their deceased mas

ters.

BORNEO.

BORNEO, the largest island in these seas, and probably in the world, exclusive of New Holland, lies directly north of Java. It is crossed by the equator, and extends from about the fourth degree of south latitude, to the sixth or seventh of north. It is about 600 leagues in circumference. Of this great tract of land very little is known, beyond the sea coasts. These, for the most part, consist of muddy flats, intersected by rivers, and overgrown with forests, which reach far within land. The island, near the middle, rises into lofty mountains, many of them volcanic, and is subject to frequent earthquakes.

Pepper is abundant, and the forests yield camphor, dragon's blood, and sandal wood, with many other fragrant and beautiful woods. Tigers are numerous and destructive. The

ourang outangs o. Borneo are said to have the faculty of lighting fires and cooking food; but perhaps the wild human natives have been mistaken for them.

The coasts of Borneo are chiefly inhabited by Malays and Macassars, who are Mahometans. There are also settlements of Japanese. On account of the low level of the land, the houses are commonly built on posts fixed in rafts, which are moored to the shore, and rise and fall with the tide; and whole villages of this construction are, occasionally, floated from place to place. The natives of the interior are black, with long hair, of middle stature, and enfeebled by the climate. They are idolaters, and of a cruel and vindictive disposition, using poisonous darts in their wars with each other. They are distributed into several kingdoms. European colonies have not prospered in Borneo, the settlers having been repeatedly cut off. The Chinese are in possession of the chief foreign commerce.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

To the north-east of Borneo lies a numerous group of islands, which, after they were taken possession of by the Spaniards, were named the Philippines, from king Philip II. Of these, the largest is the isle of Luzon, which is computed at near 500 miles in length, by a breadth of one hundred. A chain of lofty mountains runs through it, containing several volcanoes, of which earthquakes are frequent concomitants. It has a fertile soil, and is rich in its products. The finest cotton, known in trade, grows here; rice, the sugar-cane, and cocoa tree, are cultivated with success: The natives, called Tagals, seem to be of Malayan origin. They are of a mild disposition, dwelling in huts of bamboo, elevated upon posts.

The Spaniards have their principal East-India settlement in this island; this is Manilla, a populous, well built, and strongly fortified city; but encumbered with a great number of religious houses. A commerce of great importance has long been carried on across the Pacific Ocean, between Manilla and Acapulco in Mexico, by large ships, called galleons, which, from their rich lading, were, formerly, the principal objects of cupidity to the privateers of hostile nations, or to pirates. It is said that the hazard has latterly been diminished by employing smaller vessels. The Chinese were established in great numbers in the suburbs and vicinity of Manilla, and by their industry were very serviceable as husbandmen and artisans; but, either bigotry or suspicious policy has caused them to be expelled.

MINDANAO.

MINDANAO is the next in size of the Philippines. It is a fine and fertile island. Horses and horned cattle, suffered to run wild, have multiplied exceedingly. The true cinnamon tree is said to be a native of this island, and gold is among its products. The inhabitants are a mixed race: but the Malay character, and Mahometan religion, are most prevalent. Several Chinese customs are observed, and some people of that nation, and also Gentoos, are among the inhabitants. The government is a monarchy. The Spaniards conquered the northern part of the island, on which they have settlements.

Of the other Philippines, some are of considerable magnitude, and all afford a variety of useful vegetables and wild animals. Many display volcanic appearances, abounding in lavas and vitrifications, sulphur, and hot springs.

CELEBES.

To the east of Borneo, separated from it by the strait of Macassar, is situated the large island of Celebes. It extends