Indian Antiquary Vol 60

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 307

JULY, 1931]
THE SCATTERGOODS AND THE EAST INDIA COMPANY
103
[27.] A DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND JUNKZELONE AND WHAT VAST PROFITT THE HONBLE. COMPANEY MAY MAKE BY SETTLING THAT PLACE.
JUNKZELONE is an Island lying in the lattitude from 84: to 94: North, on the West of the Peninsula of India,1 close to the extremity of the coast of the Kingdom of Syam, near the confines of the Malaya Countrey. About 60 miles long and about 25 miles broad. The countrey woodey, and some planes gradually ascending; towards the middle, hilly; severall small rivers in it, that vessells from 50 to an 100 ton may goe a good way in them, and fine riverletts all over the countrey of very good water.
THE AIR very good, especially the Norther most part; the it lyes so near the Line, yet it is not so hott as Madrass and other parts of India of the sains lattitude, by reason of fine breazes of wind that continually blows (and cooling showers of rain that falls), the grass seldome is burnt up as in other places. The soil is very good both for grain and pasture.
PROVISIONS are plenty, as cows, hogs, some goats, and fowles abundance, and for fish, plenty of severall sorts all round the Island, and in the season abundance of turtles comes ashoare. The woods contain a bundance of deer of severall sorts, and wild hogs; turtle doves wild pidgions parrotts, &c. the trees afrej full off. The Island afords several! sorts of fruits, as oranges, limes, mangoes, mangostaine[s], durians, and all the other sorts that India [affords.
The inhabitants are Siams, about 2000 soules, and about 2 or 300 black Christians, who call themselves Porteguese. It is under the Government of the King of Siam, who sends two Chinese Governors8 every 3 or 4 years to rule them, by which meanes 'tis greatly oppress'd, allmost depopulated, and the trade ruined. Often vex'd with descents and depredations by the Malays piratts, lyeing so farr from Court that it is little regarded. The people inexpressiably lazy, all property being perfectly precarious; beggars to a man both Governors and governed. Yett, notwithstanding it is at present such a scene of missery and want, it needs nothing but a good Government to make it a very happy place and the inhabitants very rich. They would be glad to joyn or come under any forrainers for their protection, knowing they would live much happier, and not be oppress'd as they at present are, and likewise be fre'd from the piracies of the Malays, who often comes amongst them with 50 or 100 men in small vessells and plunder all they can. The King of Syam cannot send any number of men to their aid or assistance by reason the Island lyes so farr from him, and so many mountains and woods betwixt him and them that it is impossible for any number of people to march that way, and by sea he has no shipping to send.
The black Portegues would be sure to joyn with any Europeeans that settles there.
The island lyes extreamly well situated for trade with the Coast of Chor]mandell, Bengall, Pegu and Sumatra. Ships may goe and come from all those places most, al times in the year and with all moonsoons. The moonsoons does not break up here as at other places with stormy weather only with rains. The harbour is one of the best in the world, for so soon as you turn the South part of the Island, no winds can hurt you, and you may come Lear any part of the Island in what depths you please, and may lay ships ashoare to clean their bottoms in severall very convenient places. 10
The Commodities the Island afords and can aford are as follows.
TIN. All the South parts are full of Tin mines lyeing high and near the surface of the earth, which however, the natives, for want of the art our Europians are masters off, find difficult enough to come at; which, added to their naturall sloth,11 and the just fear they live in of being rich (which would render 'em liable to greater inconvenience then liveing just from hand to mouth) are the causes that very little is dug. When they gett into a hole five or ten foot deep (which is what they call a mine), if they meet with any water they leave. of immediatly, and goe no further, let the vein be never so rich (because they cannot drain the water off). They never goe under ground to follow a vein, but poke what they can with