have been without some misgivings, and has left a warning to other navigators, which shows, notwithstanding all he had previously said, an entire want of confidence in the general character of the people; for he would not feel safe doing business at any of the outports, without a sufficient number of men and arms on board to defend his vessel in case of any attempt to surprise. A strong and vigilant watch was at all times necessary. He recommended, as highly prudent in vessels procuring cargoes of pepper, to have strong crews, notwithstanding the additional expense; for it is not possible always to make despatch, if doing business on shore. While some of the men are on land, others in the boats, there should always be a sufficient force on board to manage or defend the vessel, as emergences required. If there should be any of the crew sick, as often happens, and generally from imprudence, without a strong crew business would go on but slowly; as there is no getting the Malays to work when they can possibly avoid it.

Within Lamboan Hadjee Bay are many coral shoals, and a long heavy swell sometimes heaves in from the westward, often breaking high, and should not be too carelessly encountered, either in boats or by a vessel. A coral shoal, over which the waves sometimes break, bears from Sandy Island southwest or southwest-by-west, distant four or five miles. Point Mangin is low land, covered with lofty trees, with the little huts of the inhabitants interspersed among them. There are many corals about this point, and it is difficult, at all times, to land, on account of the rollers that break upon the beach. At the distance of about two miles north of Point Mangin is Tally Pow, from which Soosoo, eight or nine miles further north, may be seen. Abreast of these places, Tally Pow and Mangin, there is good anchorage in from seven to seventeen fathoms, clay bottom, which is convenient to the beach of either place. In Soo-soo Bay, about a mile north of Tally Pow, there is a large shoal, over which the sea continually breaks, which serves, however, as a defence to the landing at Tally Pow, and affords inside of it smooth water and sandy bottom. When in the offing, a league or two from shore, the mountains in the interior have a broken and rugged appearance. Between the shore and foot of the mountains is a large tract of

low land, over which are spread out, in extensive cultivation, the pepper plantations.

On the twenty-sixth of April, seventeen hundred and ninetyeight, Captain Joseph Ropes, in the ship Recovery, left Salem, bound direct for Mocha, Arabia Felix, and arrived in that port on the ninth of September. This was the first American vessel that ever displayed the stripes and stars in that part of the world. The captain, who is still living, informed us that the arrival of the strange ship was viewed with great interest by the authorities, who could not divine from whence she came, and made frequent inquiries to know how many moons she had been coming. The same captain visited Padang, Sumatra, in eighteen hundred; found the natives well disposed, and was very successful in procuring a cargo of pepper.

We shall notice but one more of these early voyages, as the trade had already assumed much importance, and many vessels were now in the business. The ship Putnam sailed from Salem, November twenty-first, eighteen hundred and two. An idea of the rapid growth of the trade may be inferred from the fact, that during the same year, no less than thirty American vessels, generally small, visited the coast, seeking cargoes of pepper. The range of ports on the west side had proportionably increased, such as Analaboo, Soo-soo, Tangar, North Tally Pow, besides several smaller ports. From Analaboo were shipped a thousand piculs; Soo-soo, eighteen hundred piculs; Tangar, fifteen hundred piculs; North Tally Pow, five thousand six hundred piculs; Laboan Hadjee, eight thousand piculs; Muckie, eighteen hundred piculs. Soo-soo and Muckie were at that time the most important ports on the coast.

From this period up to the time of the interruptions occasioned by the late war with Great Britain, the trade on the coast of Sumatra was regularly prosecuted by our merchants, from several ports of the United States, Salem always taking the lead. We cannot conclude this chapter, therefore, without again recurring to the space this latter place has filled in the commercial history of our country. In the revolutionary struggles, Salem took a decided and early stand. When the port of Boston was shut by an act of the British parliament, in retaliation for the destruction of the tea which the Bostonians had thrown overboard, the merchants of

Salem offered their friends of Boston the free use of their wharves and stores until the act should be repealed, or the dispute settled.

Salem, with the neighbouring towns, Marblehead and Beverly, were foremost in taking out letters of marque and reprisal, and were wonderfully successful. The records of these early times show that the bravery of these hardy adventurers was a theme of praise throughout the colonies, and also among their enemies. When peace arrived, and our independence was acknowledged, the merchants of Salem, as has appeared in this chapter, were among the first to explore new channels of trade, disdaining to confine themselves to the narrow track of a colonial commerce, such as they had been restricted to when under Great Britain. With a few erroneous maps and charts, a sextant, and "Guthrie's Grammar," they swept round the Cape of Good Hope, exhausted the markets of the Isles of France and Bourbon, and pushing onward, entered the Straits of Babelmandel, and secured the trade of the Red Sea. They brought from Madras, Calcutta, and Bombay, the best of their staples, and had their choice of the products of Ceylon and Sumatra.

They had also a double share of the Canton trade; in fact, their ships were seen in every part of the Indian Seas, and were held in respect by all commercial nations. Much credit is due to the foremost in these enterprises. Derby, Gray, Crowningshield, Peale, White, Forrester, and others, were followed by Thorndike, Peabody, Pickman, West, Silsbee, the sons of the elder Derby and of Crowningshield, and many other enterprising merchants.

While engaged in this profitable commerce, they were assiduous in gaining a knowledge of the countries they visited, and gathered many curiosities and antiquities of the east, of which they have formed a splendid museum for the benefit of science and the arts, and the gratification of the curious who visit their

town.

"The Salem East India Marine Society is composed of persons who have actually navigated the seas beyond the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn, as masters or supercargoes of vessels belonging to Salem. It was founded in October, seventeen hundred and ninety-nine, and obtained an act of incorporation in eighteen hundred and one. Two hundred and eighty-two members have been admitted, ninety-one have died, and seven have retired

from the society; so that at present it consists of one hundred and eighty-four members, of whom one hundred and thirty-two still reside in Salem."

The chief objects of the institution are, to assist the widows and children of its members, when they need it, from the funds of the society; to collect facts and make observations, which may tend to the improvement and security of navigation; and to form a museum of natural and artificial curiosities, to consist chiefly of such as are brought from beyond the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn.

The very nature of these voyages gave a peculiar character to the people. The length of time they passed on the ocean, gave the officers in these ships fine opportunities to improve their minds in various branches of knowledge. From among the masters, supercargoes, and other officers of these Indiamen, it is said there have been, from the town of Salem, a great number of the members of each branch of the legislature of the state we know there have been three members of congress, two secretaries of the navy, a United States senator, and a great mathematician, second to no one in ancient or modern times; one who has corrected the works of Newton, and enlarged the heavens of La Place; and, in fine, many distinguished minds in every walk of life. Whatever our success in commerce hereafter may be, the enterprise of Salem will still continue an era in our annals, worthy the pen of the first commercial historian.

CHAPTER XIII.

Sumatra Effects of the Potomac's visit illustrated by facts-Piratical practice's of the Natives previous to that event, and their good conduct since-Their former frequent attempts and failures proved by their own confessions, and the testimony of Shipmasters-Their triumphant boasting respecting the Friendship, and threats of future aggressions-Effect of that event on our eastern commerce— e-Revival of that commerce after the attack on Quallah-Battoo-Anecdote of Mahommed Bundah-His visit to the Potomac-Respect and admiration of the American character-Hints to Government on the protection of our commerce.

BEFORE We take a final leave of Sumatra, it may be well to pause a moment and to inquire, what will be the effect of the Potomac's visit to the pepper coast, and whether it will tend to the security of our commercial interests, and to the personal safety of our countrymen, in their future intercourse with the natives of that place. These are momentous inquiries, and they not only deserve to be treated with the greatest attention, care, and frankness, but also to be illustrated by every fact that can throw a single ray of light upon a subject of such paramount importance.

We are now ready to meet these questions promptly and fairly; for up to the present moment we have reason to believe that the minds of no inconsiderable portion of the American people, who take an interest in such matters, have been misled with regard to the true merits of the case and the inevitable result of this highly important enterprise. We are now prepared to determine the point, and to prove by the strongest testimony of which the case is susceptible, that the Potomac's visit to the western coast of Sumatra has resulted decidedly and unequivocally in the complete attainment of the objects contemplated by our government; and that the enterprise was not only wisely conceived, and faithfully and ably executed, but that any deviation from the course actually pursued, must have been followed by an almost inconceivable train of evils. The time has arrived when we can speak knowingly on the subject.

While in the Pacific Ocean, we fell in with a vessel which had visited Quallah-Battoo after the departure of the Potomac. Since