Baltic. long navigation through Silesia, Brandenburgh, Lower Saxony, and Pomerania, is maintained. There is also an artificial navigation which unites the VistuOf Brom- la and the Oder; this is the canal of Bromberg, which berg. joins the Brahè, a tributary of the Vistula, with the Netze, which falls into the Warthe, and the latter into the Oder. The Niemen, in conjunction with the Dnieper, affords a communication between the Of Pinsk. Baltic and the Black Sea; the canal of Pinsk uniting the former river near its head, with the Priapetz, which empties itself into the Dnieper. These seas are also united by means of the Dwina and Dnieper. The boats employed in this navigation ascend the Dwina to the Ulla, which they also ascend as far as the Lake Beloie, out of which it flows. By crossing this lake, they reach the river Essena, which they ascend to Lake Beresina. Here they enter a canal four leagues long, which conveys them into Lake Plawia. From this lake the river Sargutsch flows, which joins the river Beresina, and this latter falls into the Dnieper; but the cataracts in this river, about 250 miles above its estuary, greatly impede the intercourse that might otherwise be established by these two navigations, between the Baltic and the Black Sea.

Canals of

The Baltic and Caspian Sea are united by the caLadoga, &c. nals of Ladoga and Vyschnei Volotschok. The canal of Ladoga, so called, not because it enters that Lake, but as winding along its margin, extends from the river Volchof to the Neva. In the original navigation, the boats passed from the canal of Ladoga up the Volchof to Lake Ilmen, and from this lake entered the river Masta; but in consequence of the fatal accidents that happened on the rapids of this river, one of which is six or seven leagues long, a canal was cut directly from the Volchof to the Masta above the rapids. The old route is here only followed at a certain season, and by boats of a peculiar construction. Ascending the Masta, the boats enter the Lake Mstinskoja, and thence the river Shlina, from which, by means of a canal with a lock, they enter the Sna, and by another lock the canal of Vyschnei Volotschok. This is a league in length, and from it a lock lowers the boats into the Twerza, which they descend to the Volga. In order to facilitate the ascending navigation from Petersburgh, which is rendered tedious by the rapidity of the Volchof and the Masta, a canal has been cut combining the Tichwin, which falls into the Lake Ladoga and the Somina, which falls into the Molaga, a tributary of the Wolga. In spring the vessels may draw two and a-half feet water; but in summer only 26 inches. In autumn, the navigation from Vyschnei Volotschok to Petersburgh is performed in rather more than a month; in summer, in three weeks; and in spring in a fortnight.

the canal of Maria. The boats ascend the Neva, cross the Lake Ladoga, and enter the Swir, which they ascend to Lake Onega. From this Lake they ascend the Wytegra, which is united by the canal of Maria to the Kowska. By ascending this, they arrive at Lake Bieloe, crossing which they enter the river Tchesna, which they descend to the Wolga. A canal has long been projected to form a communication between the Baltic and White Sea; but though it was begun nearly forty years ago, there is only a short cut of about seven miles executed.

The

Baltic.

Ever since the time of Gustavas Vasa, the Swedes Canals in have been anxious to form an inland navigation be-Sweden. tween Stockholm and the Cattegat, principally in order to avoid the payment of the duties of the Sound, and Danish privateers in case of war. This navigation presented no very formidable difficulties. The Gotha Hows out of Lake Venar; this is at no great distance from Lake Hielmar; and this is still nearer Lake Mælar, which communicates with the Baltic at Stockholm. Hence, it appears, that the plan of forming an internal water communication between Gottenburgh and the capital, may be divided into three principal parts: the junction of the Hielmar and the Mælar; of the Hielmar and the Venar; and the rendering the Gotha navigable from the Venar to Gottenburgh. The Hielmar is 73 feet higher than the Mælar, which is six feet above the Baltic. These two lakes were united in the reigns of Christina, Charles XI. and Charles XII., by the small river Ulvison, and the canal of Arboga. Nine locks are necessary to establish this communication. junction of the Hielmer and Venar has been attempted, only very lately, with any hopes of a successful and speedy termination. The obstacles that opposed the navigation of the Gotha from Lake Venar, were principally just at its first issuing from that lake, at the four cataracts, 20 leagues above Gottenburgh, called by the general name of Trollhæta ; the fall of Akerstream, about a mile below these cataracts, and a bed of rocks at Edit, considerably nearer Gottenburgh. The first impediment was removed in the reign of Charles IX. and XII. by the Carlsgraf Canal. Attempts were made to remove the second by carrying a canal along the channel of the river; but these not succeeding, it was resolved to cut the canal through the solid rock that forms its banks. This work was begun in 1793, and in seven years it was completed. The canal commences below the first fall of Trollhæta (for this fall, by the former plan, had been nearly turned into still water), and is carried nearly a league before it again joins the river; its breadth is 22 feet, and its depth six and a-half; it has eight locks, and a large reservoir. A communication between Lake Mælar and the lake Sodra Barken on the borders of Dalecarlia, is effected by means of the canal of Stræhmsholm, some small lakes, a river, and several locks, some of which have a fall of 38 feet. A communication between Lake Mælar and the Baltic, considerably to the south of the exit of that lake, and much shorter than by it, is afforded by means of a canal that joins I ake Mælar with the Sound, at the head of which stands the town of Sæder Telje.

It is also proposed to form a communication be

I

tween the Cattegat and the Baltic, by means of the Gotha, the lakes Venar and Vetter, the river Motala, and a canal. Between these lakes are several intermediate waters, which will facilitate the communication; the Vetter empties itself by the river Mottala, which enters the Bay of Browick at Nordkaping; but, in consequence of the falls and other obstructions of this river, it will be employed only part of its course, in the intended navigation, which will be completed by a canal to the Gulf of Slætbacken, at Sæderkæping.

V. In proportion as the maritime nations of Europe increased their navy, the commerce of the Baltic, which supplied them with flax, hemp, iron, pitch, tar, timber, and masts, flourished and extended. England and France filled their arsenals with marine stores from the Baltic; and the Dutch formed immense depots of them, not only for their own use, but to supply the nations of the south of Europe. The stimulus to the commerce of this sea was reciprocal; for the nations on its shores began to acquire a taste for the luxuries of life, wines, spices, fine woollens, cottons, silks, sweet oil, fruits, tobacco, coffee, sugar, and expensive furniture. Towards the middle of the seventeenth century, 2000 vessels passed the Sound annually. Light-houses and beacons were multiplied, companies of pilots were formed, and tribunals of commerce, banks, and exchanges, were established in the principal cities. Christian IV. was particularly distinguished for accelerating the commercial progress of Denmark at this period, though, by his war with Sweden, he weakened and diminished his territories. From the reign of Eni XIV. Sweden had gradually extended her influence and her commerce on the Baltic. Charles IX. subdued a great part of Esthonia and Livonia, built towns in Finland, and founded Gottenburgh. Gustavus Adolphus built several towns on the Gulf of Bothnia. Charles XI. encouraged the building of merchant vessels, and paid great attention to the improvement of roads and the formation of canals.

Soon after this, another maritime power appeared on the shores of the Baltic. Frederick William, the Great Elector, having acquired a part of Pomerania, and formed Prussia into an independent state, turned his attention to commerce. He attacked Sweden, annoyed her commerce, organized the ports of Prussia, and deepened and provided with pilots those of Memel, Elbing, Koningsbergh, and Pillau.

At the beginning of the eighteenth century, Russia, under Peter the Great, began to participate in the commerce of this sea. Esthonia and Livonia were united to his dominions, and Petersburgh was founded. The first foreign vessel that entered the Neva was a large Dutch ship, richly laden; and her arrival gave Peter so much pleasure, that he granted her an exemption from all duties so long as she should continue to trade to Petersburgh; and, by frequent repairs, she was kept in existence for more than half a century. So early as 1718, 100 Dutch ships loaded at Petersburgh, and other nations soon followed their example. In the middle of the eighteenth century, the exports of Russia from the Bal

tic amounted to twelve or thirteen millions of rubles, Baltic. and her imports to about eight or ten.

During the wars which arose out of the French revolution, the commercial relations and resources of the Baltic nations have undergone a considerable change by the transference of Swedish Pomerania to Prussia; of Swedish Finland to Russia; and of Norway to Sweden. The effects which these transferences will produce, cannot yet be ascertained.

The following statements and tables, will exhibit a view of the commerce of the Baltic nations at the close of the last, and the commencement of the present century.

The Danish vessels visit the ports of Mecklenburgh Danish and Pomerania, with horses, bullocks, butter, cheese, Commerce. fish, fish-oil, colonial produce, &c.; and receive in return, thread, linen, brandy, wool, hardware, paper, &c. To Petersburgh, Riga, and Memel, the Danes send herrings and dried fish, woollen manufactures, salt of France, Spain and Portugal, India and China goods, oysters, and dog-skin gloves; for which they receive potash, planks, fire-wood, flax, and hemp, cordage, iron, copper, linens, and corn. To Holland, Denmark exports rape-seed, salted and dried fish, and timber; and receives spices, drugs, corn, pipes, and paper. To England, hides, bar-iron, kelp, furs, tar, timber, &c. The returns are, hardware goods, woollens, cottons, hats, and colonial produce. From the official account of the real value of the imports into Denmark from Great Britain, from the 5th January 1798, to the 5th January 1808, laid before Parliament, in consequence of the attack on Copenhagen, it appears, that from 1798 to 1803, they are rated about half million; and that from 1803 to 1808, they varied from two to six millions. France receives from Denmark, horses, butter, cheese, fish, &c.; and returns salt, wines, brandy, fruits, silks, &c. The exports to Spain and Portugal are nearly the same as to France; the imports also are the same, with the addition of wool and American produce. To the Mediterranean, Denmark sends fish, salted provisions, butter, iron, &c.; and receives wines, brandy, oils, fruit, and salt. The Danes derive great profit from hiring their vessels to the ports of Italy, as their flag is generally respected by the Barbary States. The exports to the Faroe Islands are wheat, flour, brandy, tea, coffee, sugar, linens, &c.; the imports are dried and salted fish, fish-oil, feathers, hides, tallow, and worsted stockings. The exports to, and imports from Iceland, are nearly the same; the imports from Greenland are whale-oil and bone, sealoil and skins, eider down; the exports nearly the same as to the Faroe and Iceland Islands. Denmark has also a trifling trade to the East and West Indies.

State of the Danish merchant marine at different periods.

Baltic.

In 1807, the Danish fleet consisted of 26 sail of the line; 16 frigates; 9 sloops, and 30 gun-vessels.

Swedish The foreign commerce of Sweden is confined to Commerce. a certain number of ports, which have custom-houses; these are called staple towns; they are Stockholm, Gottenburgh, Warberg, Halmstad, Nordkaping, Landscrona, Carlscrona, Christianstad, Carlshamn, Calmar, Westervic, Uddervalla, Marstrand, Gefle, and Abo and Wasa in Finland, now given up to Russia. The foreign commerce is supposed to be divided among these cities, as follows:

Prussian Commerce.

Russian

Stockholm 7ths of exports, and of imports. Gothinburghths

The other ports ths

Sweden exports to the foreign parts of the Baltic, iron, steel, copper, lime, alum, and herrings, and receives corn, hemp, tallow, and hides. To Holland, she exports iron; and receives spices, tobacco, prepared colours and papers. To England, she exports iron, timber, pitch, tar, potash, and herrings; her imports are lead, tin, leather, bear, butter and cheese; and every kind of manufacture and colonial produce. In France, Spain, and Portugal, the exports are iron, steel, copper and brass, and wines, brandy, fruits; oil and silks are the returns. To Italy and the Levant she exports all her territorial productions; and receives salts, spices, fruits and cotton. There are from four to six ships of 600 to 1000 tons burden in the East India trade. In 1800, she had above 2000 merchant vessels of 20 tons and upwards; but the rupture with England and cession of Finland reduced them, in 1810, to 1500. In 1809, her navy was reduced, in consequence of her wars with Russia, to 13 sail of the line, 9 or 10 frigates, and about 150 vessels of the flotilla.

The Prussian ports, including Dantzic, export almost the whole of the commercial productions of Poland, consisting of corn, fir planks and rafters, masts, hemp, tar, pitch, potash, hides and tallow, leather, honey and wax; besides Pomeranian oak, brandy, woollens, linens, caviar, and amber. The im ports are wines, coffee, sugar, tobacco, spices, salt, iron, copper, Spanish wool, herrings, and flax seed from Livonia and Courland. Towards the close of the last century, the merchant marine of the Prussian ports on the Baltic, consisted of between 900 and 1000 ships. Salted and smoked meat, hides, wool, butter, cheese, corn and fruits, are the exports of that part of Pomerania which belonged to Sweden and Mecklenburgh; the corn of the latter is principally taken off by England; that of Pomerania, as well as the fruits, used to go to Sweden.

The following table exhibits the exports and imCommerce. ports of Russia, so far as her commerce in the Baltic is concerned, in the beginning of this century:

100 smaller vessels carry on the coasting-trade of the Baltic; and about 100 craft of 20 or 30 tons are employed in loading and discharging the vessels at Cronstadt, that cannot enter the Neva. At the close of the year 1807, the Russian Baltic fleet consisted of 20 sail of the line, 14 frigates, six brigs and cutters, and 19 small craft; and the Baltic flotilla, of 20 gallies, 25 floating-batteries, 81 gunboats, and 16 yauls.

During the year 1815, there passed the Sound, inwards and outwards, in January, 45 ships; in February, 17; in March, 147; in April, 692; in May, 1243; in June, 1104; in July, 1476; in August, 1171; in September, 1251; in October, 783; in November, 542; and in December, 274; making a total, in the course of the year 1815, of 8745.-In the height of the season, not fewer than 100 vessels pass every four. and-twenty hours, for many weeks in succession.

See Thomson's Travels in Sweden; Tableau de la Mer Baltique, par Catteau; Tableau des Etats Danois, par Catteau; Macpherson's edition of Anderson's History of Commerce; Oddy's European Commerce; Maritime Geography and Statistics, by Tuckey, Vol. I.

(c.)

BAMBOO. Privation of some ordinary substances, which attract little attention from common observers, would materially affect the convenience of entire nations. Few are wont to appreciate the incalculable value of limestone in the quarry, or iron in the pit, or even to form any conjecture of how the arts and manufactures of this country could be carried on without them. In the same manner, the bamboo, a plant of universal use in other regions, scarcely receives the slightest notice, unless when its properties, for which there is no substitute in the use of any other vegetable, are considered in detail. It is to millions in the east what the most useful raw material is to the western world.

Baltic

Bamboo.

boo.

This plant is generally ranked by botanists in the Description number of reeds; but some, less sensible of its analogies of the Ban with them, incline to institute a separate genus for it. In the Systema Naturæ, Linnæus describes two species, under the genus Bambusa, which is characterized by "scales three, covering the spikelets, which are about five flowered; calyx none; corolla, a two valved glume; style bifid; seed one." Loureiro, who had an opportunity of studying the nature of the bamboo in its own climate, characterizes it as having "flowers with six stamina; panicle diffused, with imbricate spikelets; branches of the culm spiny; calyx one flowered." We shail abstain from discussing the more minute botanical characters, as it is to the real utility of the plant that our attention is to be specifically directed. The bamboo is a native of the warmer climates only, though growing luxuriously without the limits of the torrid zone. It rises to the height of 40, 60, or even 80 feet, with a slender hollow stem, shining as if varnished. Many, however, and probably according to the particular species, are only 12 or 15 feet high; and those which attain the greatest height here mentioned, are rather to be viewed in the same light as the overgrown vegetable productions of our own country. The stem is extremely slender, not exceeding the thickness of: five inches in some which are 50 feet high, and in

Bamboo. others reaching 15 or 18 inches in diameter. The whole is divided into joints or articulations, separated by a short interval, called a knot or internode, and in some there is the distance of several feet between each. Small alternate branches spring from the base to the top, which, together with the narrow pointed leaves issuing from the knots, give the tree an elegant feathered appearance as it waves in the wind.

Varieties.

The rapidity of growth is surprising in the bamboo. It sometimes vegetates three or four inches in a single day. Accurate observers have seen it rise 20 feet, and as thick as a man's wrist, in five or six weeks; and it has been known to reach 30 feet in six months. This enables us to credit the assertions of those naturalists who maintain, that its full dimensions are attained in a year; and that the only subsequent change is greater thickness and induration of the wood. It is always more solid and compact towards the root, and the hollow cells of the stem become wider in proportion as they ascend. In Malabar it is said to bear fruit when 15 years old, and that it then dies. Slenderness is a distinguishing characteristic of the whole plant, and it seems probable that there are several different species which have not yet been recognised by systematic botanists. Soil and climate may have also produced effects which would disappear on uniformity of circumstances. An observer of the bamboos of China, in general, considers that there are ten species or varieties, and an observer of those in Cochin-China admits of eight. The former judges the difference to consist, first, in the size and height, for there is here the greatest disparity in those that are full grown; and it has been supposed that some, if not all species, originally spring of their ultimate diameter, which receives no accession. Secondly, The distance of the knots, or length of joint, which, in certain species of full-grown bamboo, is only four inches, while, in others young and slender, they are nine or ten feet asunder. Thirdly, In the colour of the wood, which is whitish, yellow, brown, pale blue, or speckled. Fourthly, In the size and form of the knots, some swelling out from the stem above and below; some encircling it like a cord; and those of the most singular kind, which do not penetrate within to interrupt the tubular part of the bamboo. Fifthly, By the surface and figure of the internodes being channelled or covered with tubercles; and a kind is said to exist, called the square bamboo. The varnished surface is also of different quality. Sixthly, The substance and thickness of the wood, which, varying without any relation to the dimensions of the plant, afford sufficient characteristics for constituting a species. The wood is either soft and tender, or very hard and of great strength; and the stem is either very thin and hollow, or almost totally filled up and solid, like other trees. But elsewhere, in Bangalore for example, this solidity is not ascribed to the difference of species, but to the tardiness of its growth in stony places. Seventhly, It is said that there are bamboos entirely devoid of branches, however old they may be; while others protrude as they spring from the earth. Eighthly, There is a great difference both in the hue and figure of the leaves, as also in their size; they are bluish, ash-colour, reddish, or mottled. Some are so large

It will easily be observed, that these remarks are too general to warrant the establishment of species from all the bamboos enumerated; but it is not improbable that a plant, so widely diffused, may consist, as before observed, of a greater number than are yet recognised.

The bamboo grows wild in most places of the east, and the warmer parts of the west, and is resorted to as occasion requires. Where the country is principally dependent on its use, it is cultivated in regular plantations; and, in more ungenial climates, preserved by the curious in greenhouses. Its culture is different, according to soil and climate; but apparently it succeeds best in low sheltered grounds, with rich, soft, spongy earth. Contact of the root with water is reputed to be immediately destructive, and too much humidity occasions gradual decay. This plant is propagated by shoots deposited in pits at the close of autumn or commencement of winter, eighteen inches or two feet deep; and if it be designed to obtain bamboos of considerable size, the scyons are cut over as they spring up. Some scrupulous cultivators among the easterns take care to preserve the plant exactly in the same position, with respect to the cardinal points, as that in which it originated. The greater the number in a plantation, the more the chance of success, as they shelter each other in their progress. Their subsequent treatment depends entirely on the uses to which they are to be converted, whether to profit or pleasure; much care being bestowed on those designed for beauty or ornament only. They are propped up with rods of a proper height, by which they are trained and supported; and, if complete plants, cut over in order to obtain suitable shoots, which are chiefly sought after; besides, this operation makes the root strike out and take a secure hold of the ground. In a rainy season, it is always necessary to surround the plantation with a ditch, in order to drain off the superabundant humidity which would otherwise be prejudicial. Various expedients are followed to obtain good bamboos, of which one of the most usual is to take a vigorous root, with firm wood, and transplant it, leaving only four or five inches above the joint next the ground. The cavity is then filled with a mixture of horse-litter and sulphur. According to the vigour of the root, the shoots will be more numerous; but they are destroyed at an early stage during three successive years; and those springing in the fourth will resemble the parent tree. It is affirmed that no culture can obtain any thing of larger size.

Bamboo.

Scarcely has this plant been put in the ground be- Various fore its utility becomes conspicuous. The soft and important Uses. succulent shoots, when just beginning to spring, or only some inches long, are cut over and served up to table, like asparagus. Like this vegetable also, they are earthed over to keep them longer fit for con

Bamboo. sumpt; and they afford a supply in succession during the whole year, though more abundantly in autumn. They are also salted and ate with rice, or prepared after different other fashions. As the plant grows older, a kind of fluid of grateful taste and odour is secreted in the hollow joints, affording an agreeable beverage, and in sufficient quantity to satisfy several persons. If allowed to remain in the tree, a concrete substance, highly valued for its medicinal properties, called Tabaxir or Tabascheer, is produced from it. The presence of the fluid is ascertained by agitating the bamboo; after some time its quantity gradually diminishes, and then the stem is opened to reach the Tabascheer. This substance, participating in nothing of a vegetable nature, has been supposed to be nearly allied to siliceous earths; it resists the impression of all acids, is indestructible by fire, and with alkalies forms a transparent glass. Notwithstanding its repute in the east, we are not aware that it has yet been received into the European materia medica. Besides the Tabascheer, many parts of the bamboo are said to be endowed with medicinal properties; a decoction of the leaves is recommended for coughs and sore-throat; the bark for fever and vomiting; the buds as a diuretic; and a compound of the root with tobacco-leaves, betelnut, and oil, is believed to form an efficacious ointment. But setting aside its medical properties, it is highly valuable as an article of food, for many of the poorer classes in the most populous countries subsist on it in times of scarcity. The seed which it produces is recorded, in Chinese history, to have preserved the lives of thousands; the Hindoos eat it mixed with honey as a delicacy, equal quantities of each being put into a hollow joint, coated externally with clay, and thus roasted over a fire.

From the copious draught which a joint of the bamboo naturally yields, mankind are taught its use as a vessel for carrying water, and in some places no other bucket is employed. The Eastern nations build their houses solely of the wood without any auxiliary substance; if entire, it forms posts or columns; split up, it serves for floors or rafters; or interwoven in lattice-work, it is employed for the sides of rooms, admitting light and air. The roof is sometimes of bamboo solely, for which two species growing in Laos, an Asiatic country, are described to be specially adapted; and when split, which is accomplished with the greatest ease, it can be formed into lath or planks. It is employed in shipping of all kinds, and as houses are constructed entirely of it, so are complete vessels framed out of it likewise, and fitted for sea. The hull is obtained from the stem; and some of the strongest plants are selected for masts of boats of moderate size. In Bengal, a boat of four or five tons may be furnished with both mast and yard from the same bamboo, at the cost of threepence; and the masts of larger vessels are sometimes formed by the union of several bamboos built up and joined together. Those of considerable dimensions are used in the higher yards of ships of four or five hundred tons, for which service they are well adapted by their great strength and lightness.

The bamboo is employed in the construction of

Banda

Islands.

all agricultural and domestic implements; and in Bamboo all materials and implements required in fishery, hooks and nets excepted. In Tibet the strongest bows are made of it, by the union of two pieces with many bands; and in the same country also, it is employed, as we use leaden pipes, in transmitting water, for the distance of several miles, to reservoirs or gardens. The species from which these pipes are constructed is said to grow in the mountains; and from other light and slender stalks, the inhabitants obtain shafts for their arrows. In the south-west of Asia, there is a certain species of equally slender growth, from which writing-pens or reeds are made.

From the extreme flexibility of this substance, and also its divisibility, for it splits like whalebone from top to bottom, it can be reduced to the smallest dimensions, and bent into every shape. It is woven into baskets, cages, hats, or various ornamental articles. By a particular process in bruising and steeping the wood or bark, a paste is procured that is made into paper. In short, from its very origin until its decay, it never ceases to produce something beneficial. It has justly been observed, "All that composes a bamboo is profitable, of whatever species it may be. The artists of China have each made their choice, and in the works they produce, show the advantage they have derived from it. Its uses are so numerous, so various, and so beneficial, that it is impossible to conceive how China could now dispense with this precious reed. It is no exaggeration to affirm, that the mines of this vast empire are of less importance to it than possession of the bamboo."

It has been proposed to naturalize the bamboo in France. Perhaps were the naturalization of plants and animals attempted by slow and regular gradation, instead of great and sudden transition, experiments might be more successful than former practice would authorize us to conclude. Probably it would require the renewal of several successive generations, each advanced into a different climate not remote from the abode of the one which preceded it, before naturalization could be completely effected. Some European climates might not prove noxious to the bamboo; but the same rapidity of vegetation, the same natural qualities, could not be expected, or only in an inferior degree, even in the most favourable situation, and consequently its utility would be infinitely diminished. (S.)

BANDA ISLANDS. These Islands, situate 130 General miles to the south-east of Amboyna, are ten in num- Description and History ber, viz. Banda Neira, Gonong Apee, Banda Lantoir, of these Pulo Ay, or Way, Pulo Rondo, or Pulo Roon, Islands. Rosyngen, Pulo Pisang, Craka, Capella, and So

nangy.

Of these, Banda Neira is the seat of the supreme government, and it is secured by one principal fortification, situate on the south side of the Island, consisting of a small square fort, having a wet ditch, with a horn-work towards the sea. This fortification, which is called Fort Napau, forms the chief defence of the Banda Islands. The troops are quartered, and the public granaries are kept in this fort; but the storehouses for the nutmegs and mace are on the outside, as well as the government-house.