PRINCE OF WALES'S ISLAND, or PuLo PENANG, is an island separated from the west coast of the Malay penin sula by a strait about two miles in breath. The island, which is of an irregular quadrangular shape, is about five leagues long and seven or eight broad, and contains about 160 square miles. An elevated range of hills passes through the heart of the island, diminishing in size as they go southward, and sending out numerous streams, which water the island. The Flag-staff-hill is estimated to be 2500 feet above the sea. Upon it the ther mometer seldom rises above 74°, and never above 78°, and falls to 66°, while, in the plains, it ranges between 76° and The soil is commonly a light black mould, mixed with gravel, clay, and sometimes sand. The forests which cover the island yield excellent timber, and the lower masts of a seventy-four have been got of one piece. A great part of the north, and much of the south and east sides of the island, are in a state of cultivation.
" The principal productions," says Mr. Hamilton, " are pepper, betel nut, betel leaf, cocoa nuts, coffee, sugar, pad dy, ginger, yarns, sweet potatoes, and a great variety of vegetables. The fruits are, the mangosteen, rambosteen, pine apples, guavas, oranges, citrons, pomegranates, &c. &c. The exotics raised here are, cloves, nutmegs, cin namon, pimento, kyapootee, colalava, and a number of other plants from the Moluccas and eastern isles. Pep per is the chief article of cultivation. The quantity raised in 1804 was calculated at two millions of pounds.
" The elastic gum vine, (Urceola elastica,) or American caoutchouc, is found in great plenty on Prince of Wales's Island. It is about the thickness of the arm, almost round, with a strong ash-coloured bark, much cracked, and di vided longitudinally, with points at small distances, that send out roots, but seldom branches. It creeps along the ground to the distance of more than 200 paces, then as cends among the branches of high trees. The milky juice of the vine is drawn off by wounding the bark, or by cut ting the vine in pieces. The best is procured from the oldest vines, which will yield two-thirds of their weight of gum. The chemical properties of this vegetable milk surprisingly resemble those of animal milk." George Town, the principal place in the island, has spa cious and airy streets, crossing at right angles. The chief buildings are the government house, a church, a jail, and several good bridges. The fortifications have been recent ly strengthened and improved, and the public roads re paired. Fort Cornwallis, containing barracks, the arsenal, magazine, and military storehouses, are built on the north east point of the island. The pier, for landing and ship
ping goods, is large, and is supplied with fresh water in pipes. Ship-building has been carried on here to a con siderable extent : a frigate, a ship of 800 tons, and vari ous others of inferior size, having been built.
The country ships bound eastwards, generally touch here to refresh and trade. The East India Company's ships for China likewise touch here, and load great quanti ties of tin, canes, rattans, sago, pepper, betel nut, biche de mar, birds' nests, &c. for the China market. The whole trade, indeed, of the straits of Malacca and the ad jacent islands now centres in this small island.
The goods imported from Europe are, anchors, cutlery, fire-arms, nails, tin ware, patent shot, sheet-lead, sheet copper, iron, cables, canvass, cloth, glass ware, hosiery, instruments, nstruments, watches, malt liquors, wines, &c. In 1807, 1808, the value of the imports from England was 76,0001. and in 83,2531. The imports from Bengal are opium, grain, and piece goods ; from the coast of Coromandel, salt, tobacco, punjam cloths, coi• rope, and yarn ; from Bombay and the Malabar coast, cotton, salt, red wood, sandal wood, Surat piece goods; from Borneo, gold dust, sago, and black wood ; from China, tea, sugar, lutestrings, china ware, and all articles required by the Chi nese settlers. A great proportion of the exports from this island consists of articles imported. In 1807-1808, the woollens imported into this island amounted to 46,7831.
This island was granted, in 1785, to Captain Light, of a country ship, by the King of Queda, as a marriage por tion with his daughter. Captain Light transferred it to the East India Company, and was appointed its first gover nor, in 1786.
From the number of tombs discovered on the island it would appear to have been formerly inhabited, though there were only a few wretched fishermen on the coast when it was taken possession of.
The population in 1797 was 6937, in 1801 it was 10,310, of whom 1222 were slaves, and in 1810 it was 14,000. The population consists of English, Dutch, Portuguese, Ameri cans, Arabs, Parsecs, Chinese, Chulias, Malays, Bugges ses, Burmans, Siamese, and Javanese. The point is situated in East Long. 100° 19', and North Lat. 5° 25'. For more minute information respecting this island, sec Sir George Leith's Account of Prince of Wales's Island, in the Asiatic Annual Register; Elmore's Xavi gation of the Indian and Chinese Seas ; Hamilton's East India Gazetteer ; and Milburn's Oriental Commerce, vol.
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