ASIATIC NATIONS. 209 Achin, Palembang, Pontianak, and some of the Malay states of the pemnsula. A trade is conduct- ed, however, by the resident Arabs, more extensive and considerable from port to port. The Arab shipping are the best constructed, best navigated, and best equipped, of those of any Asiatic nation. They are entirely on the European model, many of them navigated by an European pilot, and some constructed by Europeans. Arabia, a poor coun- try, has no commodities to exchange with the In- dian islands but the genius and enterprise of its people. The Arabian shipping coming to the Archipelago usually make a trading voyage on the coast of Malabar, * from whence they bring cloths to truck with the islanders. A few dried fruits are occasionally brought, and the rest of the investment is bullion. The returns are cloves and nutmegs, black-pepper, Indian frankincense, betel- nut, rice, but, above all, in later times, sugar, the production of the united industry of the Chinese and Europeans. In a free intercourse between these countries, this will, in future, constitute the most valuable article of exchange. With the re- turning ships, a great many pilgrims usually em- bark, natives of the Indian islands of all ranks and
- It was from the inhabitants of that coast, in all probabi-
lity, that they first acquired a knowledge of the navigation to the Indian islands, and thence that to China. VOL. in.
