COMMERCE OF THE ARCHIPELAGO. 1 4-5 for facilitating intercourse, and for the distribution and exchange of the surplus produce of the dif- ferent portions of the same countiy. I know no exception to this but the institution of public markets, which had its origin in Java, and which spread in some measure among the neighbouring tribes, as we learn on the testimony of language. Throughout the whole of Java, these are regularly established j and, as mentioned in another place, the ancient Javanese week was founded on this in- stitution. The allotment of particular quarters of a town for the permanent sale of commodities was probably borrowed from the Mahomedans, for the term Fasar, applied to these, appears to be nothing more than a corruption of the Arabic word bazar. The Indian islanders have neither relio-jous zeal nor civilization enough to have any institutions pa- rallel to the great fairs or Melas which periodical- ly take place ir. Hindustan. The ordinary markets of Java present scenes of great bustle and activity. Under the shade of a few scattered trees, planted for the purpose, or of temporary sheds, the dealers expose their wares for sale on frames of bamboo. The whole value of their goods seldom exceeds a few dollars. A short list of the principal dealers in these markets will convey some notion of the na- ture of the traffic conducted. These are the corn- dealer — the oil-merch.ant — the sugar-merchant — the salt-merchant — the green-grocer — the dealer VOL. III. K
