must
us to
#die) x a settle-
the China Sear This bounty as a coal- means of suppressing for ships disabled ng postion
Put for this
now ledge of if seas all the neces-
labrit of climate, a fstrup-mavigation, led on typhoons, con- sers duinng war, and a by nature, so as to be
north latice, aud conse
t will be about 83 of Fahrenheit; mometer wild not exceed ten
perpetual bol summer. It idated by both monsoons; from the marshy shores of tile ground to appetoed that fthose shares themselves so which, however, is not the salubuity, it may be stated; that healthy, although it stands, and has coded banks of the river; the posts, and chiefly accessible by bcat. harbour, a most essential point, I do not aland is indented by any bay or inlet that hose of one †. The channel, however, and the mainand of Bernna is but and will probably constitute a spacious harbour. The name of the island itself, pehorage, I have no doubt derived from the citer to native shipping, and those probe- feets of pirate prabus This chaquel is by four islets, aid these, with four south west, will afford shelter is the south monsoon, protection is even in the north-east monsoon, by Labuan self; and any add, od by four degrees of latitude, beyond the ern limit of the typhoons of the Cinesa Sea, Shannal between Labuan and the main, or ra- Labnen and the talets ready mentioned, the dinge the Admiralty chart shew that vessels drawing as much as eighteen feel water may anchor within a mile of the shore, and the largest vasecls within a mile and a half; a¦
ventnod for shipping which greatly exceeds din of Sin. One of the advantages of Labuan will be that it will part of refuge for shipping disebied in the storme of the Chinese Seas. Many examples, indeed some of recent Fourrence, might be adduced to show the need. there is of such a port,
ler botave
Labuan les pearly in the direct.Brach bells of steam and sailing navigation from India to China, dinting the
east, the worst and severest of the two monsoONS mud is as Intermediate a position between Singapore and Hongkong as can be found, being 300 miles from the for- ner and 100 from the latter.
The insular character and narrow limits of Labuan will make a casily and cheaply defensible. The extreme deaghth of the island appears to be about six miles, its greatest bread about four and a half, and probably its while area will not be found to exceed thirty square miles. From the rude tribes of the immediate vicinity no hotile attack is to be apprehended that would make the present enction of lotts or batteries necessary. No Asia- tu enemy is at any time to be feared that would make such delences requisite. In five.and-twenty years it has and been leund imperativo to have recourse to them to Singapore. It's only in case of war with a naval power Beations wont be required, but I am not fiform- advantages Labuan possesses for their erec- principal object of such forafication would be the
the shipping in the harbour from the inroads of an ruenusicmusers. At one point the soundings, as given
tion Motence
do the admimony chart are stated aine fathos, within Three quarters of a mile of the shore and I presume that Tarteries within is distance would afford protection to the ass merchantmen In Singapore Roads no above mere nation craft can lie nearer Than
us of the shore so that in a war with an European val power the merchant shipping there can
Red by her Majesty's navy. one of the most striking national advantages to be ex- peeled from the possession of Tabuan would consiet in its use g our owl commerce, and attacking titat of oppo- nis of a naval war. Between the castern
of Malacca and Hongkong, a die-
here ja no Brush harbon, and no safe refuge; Hongkong in, indeed, the only Traits of the thines Sow for such a legitimate commercial gurcourse
2000 miles Every where opened ports of China excepted,
GBT merchonumen purered by the 1 by lie exclusion at extortion of sor in danger of falling into the power
the Borneon coal to be as is repressaced, would
of the csult of one paseching or supply of cost hat of Ben
found
ILD OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZET TE
denized from customs, but, as in that set scene unties; upon the nature of these, now, it is apnecessary to enlarge. They my time, near twenty years ago, and years of the establishment of the settlement. charges of & small but sufficient garrison (1.00 dmoderate bnt competent civil establish
wid na ruda as the Amer
people we are not to expect any tuable
"A charter for the administration of justice mondi be as nearly as possible contemporaneous with the case sion. Great inconvenience has resulted in alt our Fa en settlements of the same nature with that speculated on at fabuas, from the want of all legal provision the administration of Justice; and remembering 1 it ought to be guarded against in the case of Labus, "Whether in preparing for the establishment of litary and civil establishments have been British settlement on the coast of Bornen, or in actual pressed of late years; but the revenue, still inly making one, her Majesty's initiaters. E sm satisties, nature the same, has kept pace with them. Dur-will advert to the merits and peculiar qualification By administration of Singapore, the municipal of Mr. Brooke. That gentleman is unknown to me except by his acts and writings; but, judging by these, I consider him as possessing alle qualities which have distinguished the successful founders of new co. lonies Intrepidity firmness, and enthusiasm, with the art of governing and leading the masses. He posseir same, moreover, which here not always belonged to reeb men, however otherwise distinguished a knowledge of the language, manners, customs, and institutions of the natires by whom the colony is to be surrounded with benevolence and independent fortune, things sui more unusual with the projectors of colonies. wards the formation of a new colony, indeed, the arad able services of such a man, presuming they are acad. able, may be considered a piece of good fortese
is fell on the general fund ; but they are at present provided for from a distinct sources, chiefly an Resessment on honas-property
If the military and civil charge of Labuan are kept within moderate bounde, I make no doubt but that & Bit of mist facture, for a British mercante depolamilar excise revenue will be adequate at least the
produced in considerable quanuity, and
etate need not be called on to make any disbursement the forests are very various, no book, wax,
on its account; while during a naval war, if the state fing camphor, camphor oil, esculent allows
make any expenditure, it will be fully compensated by hesis, canoe Bid Thrane, which teed to form The Exaple-ar-
the additional security which the set dement will afford cles of Borneon port Jato Singapore. The Borneon ter-
to British commerce, and the sopoyance
it will cause tity opposite to Labuan abounda also, I believe, in the palm which yields sago, and indeed the chief part of the ma
to the enemy, mufactured azela was thirty years ago brought from this country, The Chinese siders would, no doubt, as in Singa: pore and Malacca, establish factories for its properation no, cording to the stapoved processen Which they now practise a those places.
AF
As to the disposs) of the land, always a difficult question in a new and unoccupied colony, the result of my own inquires and personal experience lead me to offer it as my decided conviction that the most expe- dient plan that which is least troublesome 10 the go- There may be resson to expect, however, that the timber vernment, most satisfactory to the sertier, and ultima of the portion of Bernco referred to may be found of hotely most conducive to the public prosperity-is to dis- ship-building for Mr Dalrymple stars that in blame, above eventy years ago, Chinese jusks of 500 tons Bartben used to be built in the river of Horneo. As to timber wall soled for beats and house-building, it is hardly necessary to aid that the north-west const of Borneo, in common with al. most every other part of the Archipelago, contains a supply amurting to super Quity.
pose of it for a term of years, that is on long leases of 1000 years, or virtually in perpetuity the object in this case of adopting the leasehold tenure being by making the land a chatel interest, to get rid of the difficultles in the matter of inheritance and transfer, which, under the administration of English law, and 1 may take this opportunity of stating, sa evidence in reference more particularly to the "Asiatic people of the conveniency of this portion of Borneo for & who will be the principal landowners, are incident to commercial intercourse with Ching, that down to real property. Town allotments might be sold subject within the last half century a considerable number of to a considerable quit-rent, but allotments in the coun- Chinese junks were engaged in trading regularly with try for one entirely nominal. Those of the latter des Borneo, and becarado ceased only when the native go.cription should be sedall, proportionate with the extent verament became too bad and weak to afford it proteg- of the island, and the tinie 'and difficulty required in tion Without the least doubt this trade would again
such a climate to clear the land, now overgrown for spring up on the erection of the British flag at Labuan.
the most part with a stupendous forest of evergreen. Not a single Chinese junk had resorted to the Streite trees, and the wood of which is too abundant to be of of Malaccs before the establishment of Singapore and any value, certainly for most part not worth the land- their number is now, of one size or another, and ex.
carriage of a couple of furlongs, clusive of the junks of Siam and V'ochin-china, ao! less than 100.
* From the cultivation of the land. I should not be disposed to expect any thing beyond the production of No. 11. fresh fruits and excufent vegetables, and when the land is cleared of gross for pasture. The seas, in this part of the world, are prolife in fish of great variety and great excellence; and the Chinese settlors are found every where skilful and industrious in taking them
Some difficulty will in the begining, be experienc- ed with respect to milk, butter, and fresh meat; this was the case ac first in Singapore. but the difficulty bas in a good measure been overcome. The countries of the Archipelago are generally not suited to pasture, and it is only in a few of them that the ox and buffalo are abundant. The sheep is so so where, and, for the most part, is wenting altogether; cattle, therefor, must be imported. As to corn, it will unquestionably be found far cheaper to import than to raise it. Rice will be the chief bread-corn, and will come in great abundance and cheapness from Stam and Cochip-clic No country within 700 miles of Singapore is abundent in corn, and none is grown in the island; yet, from the first establishment of the settlement to the present time, corm has beerf both cheap and abundant, there has been wonderfully inde fluctuation, there are always stocks, and for many years & considerable exportation. A variety of pulses, regetable oil, and culinary salt, wil be derived from the same countries, as is now done in abundance by Singapore.
*The mines of antimony are 300 miles to the south- west of Lobusu, ami those of gold on the west and the south coasts; and I am not aware that anginerel wealth has been discovered in the portion of res immediately connected with Labuan, except that of cost-far more important and valuable, indeed, than goid or antimony. The existence of a coal-B has beom tracell Erin Labaas to the islands of Kayngarang
which words, in fact, mean cosi-island-to the ix land of Chermin, and from thence to the mainland, over a distance of thirty miles. With respect to the coal of Labuan itself, I and no distinct statement beyond the simple fact of the existence of the mineral, but the coal of the two islands in the river, and of the main, is proved to be from coalysis and trial in steam-naviga. tion-superior to nearly all the coal which Intia has hitherto yielded, and equal to some of our best English coals. This is the more remarkable as it is known that et surface-minerals, and especially cools, are inferior to the portion of be same veins or beds more deep. scated,
Nearly as early as the British Rag is erected, and,- at all events, as soon as it is permanently known to be so, there may be reckoned upon with certainty large influx of settlers. The best and most numerous of these will be the Chinese. They were settled on the Borneo river when the Borneo government, never good or otherwise then comparatively violent and disorderly, was most endurable,
It will be seen by the map that Borneo is, of all the great islands of the western portion of the Archipe Ingo, the nearest to China, and Labuan and is meigh- bourhood the nearest point of this island. The die. lance of Hongkong is about 1000 miles, and that of the island of Hainan, a great place for emigration, not above 800; distances which to the Chinese funks-fast, callers before the strong and favourable winds of the racasoons do not make voyages exceeding four or five days The coast of the provinces of Canton and Fo- kien have hitherto been the great hives from which Chincse emigration has proceeded; and even Folien is not above 1400 miles from Labuan, a voyage seven or eight days. Chinese trade and immigrat will come together. The north west coast of Horned produces an unusual supply of teose IAW AT cicles which there is always a demand in the markets of Chi no and Lahuan, it may be reckoned upon with stainty, will soon become the seat of a larger trade with
China thad ting river of Buraen ever
Americe,
I by no means and
advanc
SHANGHAL IMPORTS.
T
Per Poppy, British Brigantine, Hongkong, arrived April 9th, 1846. DENT, BEALE & l'u.
4.234 changs
1,098
359 pieces Woollens
413
}}
-
15
31
3,400 500
Sp. Stripes Long Ells, Chintzes,
2,072 doz. Bandkerchiefs,
A quantity of stores, de.
EXPORTS.
1.3
Per Pappy, British Brigantine, for Chusan and Hongkong, sailed 28th April. 1846,
DENT, BEALE & CO.
2 casus Cotton Thread, 121 bags Saltpetre, 197 picula, 181 bales Cotton Yarn, 805 bundles Manufactured Iron,
27 cases Hardware &c.
(From the China Mail, May 7.)
Diplomatic Department.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
His Excellency Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary and Chief Superintendent of British Trade, &c., doc. is pleased to direct that the annexed Returns of BRIT-it and FORDING TRADE at the Ports of SHANGHAI and FOO-CHOW-FOO, during the Fear ending 31st December, 1513, be published for general information,
Victoria, Hongkong, 28th April 1840,
By Order,
AR JOHNSTON
A RETURN of the Quantities and Value of Merchandire Imported into the Port of SHANGHAI in 2 Burns Vessels of 15,071 tons, from the Countries and Places andermen- tioned, during the Year ending 31st December, 184--
No.
of
Twir
19
M
Dermination of Articles
MANTPATCHER OF COTTON
White Long Cloths 21 Grey do. do. » Dyed do do.
12 Drills White
“ን
11
Grey Chiste
ambrics Handkerchiefa Velvetcens
14 Colton Yarn
י
veported or US Trusted
Quantities
From Let Counties und Pieces parled
Piers 31,581 Laserpool & Hongkong
Vulue Macas
247 65
19 18.35
49
251
Durens 8,369 Value
6169
Proyls
770
4.812
47
др
MANUFACTURES OF WOOL: Habit Cloths, Spanish Stripes, &c. "Long Bile
Yurda 291976
147,21
17961
13.858
"Camleta, English
Is 572
31
11
Dutch
102
798
Blankets,
••Pairs
500
Woollens anenumerated
Valua
2360
Wooll n and Cotton Mixture
Value
30
METALA, 21~
Iron, pig
Proute
409 Liverpool Hough pog
11
bt
rods and barg
Ana Cangopore
5957
Lead pige.
1,771
1318
291
1091
MISCELLANEOUS -
364
1868
Value Pins
1338
Bangkong Strails
L015
1.163
3,306
445
15081
5121
2.636
190
204
343
1481
9.899
"Tin Plater
19 Flinte
20 Glera and Glassware 21 Gambier
32 Pepper, 34 Rattana 37 Saltpetre
Inigo 40 Smalts
Fiardware
+
40 Wooda, Sandal
It
31
#
20
Ebony Sapus
М
45 Wines
Sundries
יק
Value
cuis
36
478
Dozens Falze
Note.-A very considerable gassy of Treasure bs been imported from Wossang but the smothi unknowo."
G. BALFOUR, H. B. M. Consul at Shanghai.
Shanghai, 31 December, 1845.
A RETURN of the Quantities, and value of Merchandise Exported from the Port of SHANGHAI in 65 BRITISH Vessels of 18,760 tons, to the Countries and places undermen- tioned, during the Year ending the 31st December, 1845.
Reported et Estimarl From what Centres Value in Sterling af
and Places Imported
42 per &
i,
Hoogkong
Denomination of Articles
37 Mush 45 Robarh
Quastitick
Picais 2,731 Cafties 67 Piocle
73
Bilk, raw,
Picals 5,818)
d
2,894 608
Picula 9,595
Hongkong, Londen, Liverpool Coff
792,483
296
10156,17
70
ong. London,
por Scilly, and
462,746)
Cork
521
Pleute
IR, London and earpool
5700
(£1,250,091)
G. BALFOUR H. BM Consul at Shanghai.
GARK A the rond of Chapa sa Hongkong Garelle," Gangli Stres), Fictoria, Hongkong, 1816,
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