THE BRITISH SETTLEMENT OF PENANG.

Singapore 1972, Oxford Univ. Blue cloth, very good, dusty dj else a bright as new copy of the book, 321p., errata, 2 fold out charts, statistical tables, reprint of the 1836 edition with variant reprint title,14 x 23 cm. FIRST REPRINT EDITION Covers a wide variety of subjects including botany, plus life on the island, &c. Begins with substantial information on climate, soil, facilities for cultivation, labor, agricu- ltural implements, elephants and draft cattle. Agriculture produce, a list of the spices, fruit, tobacco, coffee, betel, areca and palms. Vegetables, corn, cultivation, food of the people, clothing and housing, rice, fertility of the soil, export/import of grains, harvest time, rent, polticial economy, labor, rents, leases, harvest, precious metals, Indian corn &c. Occupation of the natives & character, fish, cattle, poultry &c. Fruit and forest trees, mushroom tribe, dyes, vegetables, grasses, value of real property...brief remarks on Malacca & Naning, Singapore. Localities of Prov- ince Wellesley, justice, courts, natives & their character, police, Chinese, Malays & Jawi Pukins, Yeomen, crime, gaming & gambling, games. Mahometan religion, superstitions, oath of fidelity, murder, revenge, Priest-kings, classes of people, worship of the fowl, Siamese: adjuration, ordeals, priests, exclulsions, wild tribes. Roman Catholic & Malayan religions, drug spirits, running amok, Hindoo temles, Siam- ese temples, Chinese festivals. Scientific researches,horses bazars, firearms, piracy, temperature, weight & measures. A superb and keen insight to the Island & cultures from 1836. An exceptionally fascinating primary resource, based on this long sojouorn on the island. Unlike most other foreigners in Asia, Low learned Malay and Thai languages which gave him extra insight into the actual people and their culture. It may have been partial to his acquisition of a local Nonia or naive mistress that his language abilities improved. By and large a superb resource of the period. Reprinted from the original title: A DISSERTATION ON THE SOIL & AGRICULTURE OF THE BRITISH SETTLEMENT OF PENANG OR PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND.. Low lived some 22 years in Penang, where he was part of the British military administration, and visited Perak, Siam & Burma on official duties. .