are extremely anxious to effect a communication; but, that nothing will be undertaken by them unless they are convinced it can be accomplished by the way pointed out in Mr. Bailey's mission, which by affording the means of rapid transport of the cargoes and supplies would enable the whalers to remain entirely in the Pacific. Of course the spur which would be also given to the commerce of Central America, is not lost sight of, but the anarchy, confusion, and distrust which now so ruinously degrades this disruptured republic, throws the prospect of such desirable results to an immeasurable distance.

On the 28th of May we had finished watering, and on the day following sailed with the hopes of completing the remaining short space between Turtle Bogue hill and Point Blanco. However, I regret to say that, the rains which had now set in accompanied by heavy gusts of variable winds so baffled all our efforts to approach the shore, that although we fortunately succeeded in connecting the triangulation to Captain Owen's sheet, and determined the position of the rivers which disembogue in this space with other remarkable points in the interior, we were swept past Point Blanco without being able to obtain a single sounding. Indeed, at the very best time the difficulties attending the navigation of this bight are so great, that I expect we shall have to rest contented with very little more detail; not that there are any hidden dangers to guard against, on the contrary, the shore presents an unvaried feature of a steep, bold beach, skirted by impenetrable underwood, but from the current which inclines so frightfully towards it, and directly into the bight at Salt creek, and the north-east roll which has so frequently endangered our packet. With respect to the packet station at Salt creek, I think a single glance at our chart will show you how very much better it would be to change the landing-place to Lime bight, on the eastern side of the point; the only obstacle is the absence of a road across the promontory to communicate with the village at Salt creek. There is, however a foot path to the wells, which lie some short distance inland from the beaches, and if the two or three letters which are brought down monthly, are of so much importance, it would surely not require great persuasion to induce the settlers to complete their connection. The risk now run is really frightful; indeed, on one occasion had not our boat been on the spot, she had scarcely a hope of escape from shipwreck.

The rains were now coming so fast upon us that if we obtained two, or at most three days work in the week, we considered ourselves fortunate. However, we succeeded in tracing the bank to the eastern boundary of our work, but I now found that so much time was lost in endeavouring to combat against the weather now daily getting worse, that I thought it more prudent to quit this inhospitable shore, and employ the remaining portion of our time at the northern edge of the Mosquito bank; and on the 19th of June we took our departure from that neighbourhood. I will now make a few more observations on this part of our work. Between the Turtle Boyne and Point Blanco, are four small streamsFirst, the Tortugas which is a mere outlet to the extensive swamp which

NO. 4.-VOL. XVIII.

2 A

surrounds the Parasmina hills. Second, the Parasmina, navigable for small canoes, one day's journey, whose banks afford the fishermen a constant supply of plantains and bananas. Third, the Matina, which is of no magnitude, and seldom visited except for shelter. Fourth, Salt creek, which, although admitting only small canoes, is of some importance, as being the outlet of a trifling commerce, carried on with the towns of Cartago and St. Jose, which lie at the foot of the Cartago mountain; the former said to contain a population of 5,000; the latter 10,000. The creek is navigable to the little village of Matina, situated about fifteen miles from the entrance; from whence a rough mule road communicates with the above towns; the journey, however, is most laborious and during the rains scarcely to be effected. There is a small village at the mouth where are two resident American traders; and during the Turtle season may contain one or two hundred persons. The few exports are indigo, cocoa, hides, sarsaparilla, and turtle-shell; but of so small a quantity as to load only two small vessels annually. There is also occasionally a large shipment of specie to Jamaica by the English packet.

Between Point Blanco and the Boca del Drago there are many little streams and rivulets, some of which it is said penetrate to a considerable distance into the interior of the country, but none of which are navigable for any thing larger than small canoes; and even in them, owing to the falls and rapids the ascent is most laborious, indeed from the heavy surf which, in the finest season of the year incessantly roars on every part of these shores, to pass their bars is most frequently impossible. During the fine months, however, they are ascended by the traders, who carry on a trifling commerce with the natives, exchanging for sarsaparilla, a few cotton, and hardware goods. In the Home creek situated a short distance from Mr. Shepherd's trading post at Coita point, coals have been picked up of a superior quality, but not in sufficient quantity to become at present an article of export: on no part of this shore do we find (with the one exception) a settled habitation. The interior, however, has, by all accounts, a large population of wandering tribes, the most fierce and powerful of which are the Blancos, who possess the country immediately round the Blanco peak. The reason of their not settling themselves on the sea side is probably owing to the dread they all have of the Mosquito marauders, who in their fishing voyages prowl along the shore. The traders, however, taking them under their protection, have succeeded in enticing them into their employ on their trading voyages; and the few that we saw, appeared to be a quiet athletic race of people, and we hear are much attached to the English.

The Cartago mountain from its approximation to the lake, has received more particularly our attention, from the great probability of its being seen not only from thence but also from the Pacific. And as I am led to believe that St. Carlos lies more nearly on the same meridian, than present charts point out, I hope its true bearing, and difference of latitude, checked by its altitude will afford the means of establishing that point. With this view I shall send Mr. Bailey the position of Cartago by the first opportunity.

I have now again to resume my narrative. Having passed along the parallel of the rock said to exist between the "Serrana" and "Seranilla" without success, we hauled to the northward, and had the good fortune to hit on Arrowsmith's late discovery; which employed us for three weeks; and regret that our being driven off by the wind and current, obliges me to send it to you in an unfinished state. It was provoking; for three days more would have accomplished our task. But as I found we should have the greatest difficulty in regaining our position, if we succeeded at all; and our chronometers having now remained a long time without rating, and our provisions getting short; I thought it better to give up the attempt and proceed to the Grand Cayman, as being the nearest well determined point to which we could connect the bank.

Having effected this on our way to Cape Antonio, we gave a day to the Cayman ridge to the westward of the island; which closed our campaign.

In the examination of these banks we had ample opportunities of seeing the value of Ericson's lead. In our first experiments great discrepancies were observed; the machine differing as much as from 3 to 5 fathoms in a depth of 20, sometimes plus, sometimes minus. Whether it arose from any imperfection of construction in this particular instrument supplied to us I cannot say. However we soon found that by keeping the iron shutter which guards the tube, open, most correct results were obtained. This of course is too dangerous an experiment to practice, for if the lead was to fall on a rock with the open part downwards the tube would most probably be destroyed. I dare say, however, that this evil will be remedied by puncturing the shutter in every part to admit the water more freely. In trials at different rates of sailing, we find 4 knots is sufficiently fast to obtain a true register.

THE TRADE OF ARRACAN AND THE PORT OF AKYAB.

December 13th, 1848. THE extensive shipments of rice which have been made from this province, during the last few years, to all parts of Europe, to America, China and the Straits, and the good quality adjudged to the grain, has given an importance to the port of Akyab which must render any information regarding its commerce both interesting and valuable to the mercantile community, and it is with a hope of thus benefiting the public, and averting the loss and inconvenience which parties have sustained from want of information, that an old resident has been induced to publish and circulate the following notes, collected from the most authentic sources.

The rice loading season commences after the breaking up of the rains, or south-west monsoon, i.e. in all November :-at this time, grain of the last year's crop can be procured, the natives being then able to unhusk

the paddy, and prepare it for shipment, a process which cannot be accomplished during the rains, as it is necessary first to dry it well in the sun. Clean rice is never kept ready, beyond what may be required for local consumption, as it does not keep well in the damp climate of Arracan.— Vessels have occasionally arrived before the above period, without having sent previous orders, and thereby incurred great loss and delay.

The harvest usually commences during the latter end of November, with the Laroong and Longphroo rice, which is nearly all cut and exported by the end of December, or early part of January; the Latooree next ripens; and the harvest terminates in February, with reaping the Nacrensee, which forms the most bulky part of the crop, and is partly held for exportation during and after the south-west monsoon, and before the next crop becomes available.

Ships coming for cargo rice of the season, should not arrive before the end of November, and for cleaned rice, not before the end of December or beginning of January, when the harvest having been partially made, labour can be employed in collecting, husking, and cleaning the grain for shipment.

Should it be an object to make two or more visits to the port during the season, especially for cleaned rice (a cargo, which requires time to prepare, and is not obtainable without previous orders,) funds should be deposited with an Agent to enable him to store, or bag it before the vessel's arrival, and by this means dispatch could be ensured in 8 or 10 days, whereas the usual number of laying days are from 25 to 30, and even 50 for vessels chartered in Europe. The mode of purchasing being upon advances, funds should, if possible, invariably accompany the order at least a month before the ship's arrival.

The best months for loading are February, March, and April.

The season terminates about the middle of May, after which no large vessel should remain in harbour, as the south-west monsoon then prevails strong, and they would be exposed to some risk and difficulty, in crossing the bar, where the average depth is 4 to 5 fathoms at high water, and at that period a heavy sea runs.

Vessels of from 3 to 400 tons can be loaded during the south-west monsoon, that is, between May and October, and proceed to Sea with perfect safety; but in such cases the cargo must be stored in Godowns before the rains set in.

Vessels of more than 500 tons, or drawing more water than specified below, should not be sent to this port.

Vessels of any draught under 21 feet, find no difficulty in sailing in and out during the north-east monsoon.

Akyab is the only port of grain export in Arracan: it has a fine harbour, with good and safe anchorage in 3 to 5 fathoms of water: the entrance to the harbour is rather intricate for strangers, but having once entered, a pilot is no longer required, all the dangers being above water, and there being plenty of room to keep clear of them.

The Akyab district is intersected with rivers, and salt water creeks, or natural canals, with water sufficient to admit a vessel of 3 to 400 tons,

proceeding 20 to 25 miles beyond Akyab to load, and in charter-parties of vessels for the Straits, which are loaded in bulk, it is usually stipulated that the vessel proceeds to any place within 25 miles from Akyab. It is customary for vessels of this draft and tonnage to go as near to the loading place as they can with safety.

Generally between 1 and 200 vessels are loading at the same time, but most of them are small craft from the Coromandel coast, where paddy is taken and cleaned, for the Mauritius and Bourbon markets.

The process of cleaning grain in Arracan is very imperfect and unsatisfactory, as it breaks and injures it without cleaning it thoroughly.

The quantity of grain exported during the last 11 years is estimated at nearly 62,000 tons annually, but of this 50,000 tons have been exported during the season it was reaped, and the remaining 12,000 tons early in the following season; this residue is available for shipment in November and December, with the provisions above as to orders and funds, but it is not recommended for the Europe market,

Three distinct kinds of rice are grown in Arracan-Nacrensee, a large, bold, barley grain, rather opaque: Laroong or Longphroo, similar to ditto, but smaller and a shade more transparent: Latooree, a long, thin, fine grain, more transparent than either of the above, On the whole they are larger, softer and more mucilaginous than those of Bengal, and consequently more subject to weevil, yet they are much better adapted for manufacturing purposes, and have been found to keep perfectly well during a voyage to Europe either in the partially cleaned, or, in the uncleaned or cargo state.

The supply of Nacrensee and Laroong is abundant, but that of Latooree is scanty; increased demand, however, is leading to its more extended cultivation, and it is expected that in the course of a few years the present large grain will give place to a finer and more saleable article.

The following quotations may be taken as the average of past seasons, there being the least possible difference between the prices of the three kinds of rice :-Cleaned Rice per 100 baskets 35 Co.'s rs.; cargo rice 25; and paddy 10.

Should the demand be great, these rates may fluctuate as high as 40 Co.'s rs. for cleaned, and 30 Co.'s rs. for uncleaned or cargo rice; but when it is moderate they sometimes fall much lower than the above quotations.

Cargoes must be engaged at the market price of the day upon which the agreement may be made, or order received; it being necessary on the part of the Agent to contract with the Brokers on the same terms.

Bags are procurable here only to a small extent, but no more than may be required for the cargo should be brought, as the demand is limited, and on one or two occasions they have been sold at a sacrifice.

The port charges are 2 annas per ton, and charges for agency 5 per cent. exclusive of packing and shipping charges, which are 1 anna per bag, and anna for Godown rent when the rice is packed on shore. A gratuity or fee is usually presented to the Port-master should his services be required to pilot the vessel to sea.