other. On applying pick axes or crow bars, it easily gives way, breaking off in lengths of from one foot to nearly twenty inches. But it is only on the upper part of these apparently fallen trees, that coal is to be found, varying in thickness from one to three inches. The heart of the tree is a mixture of hard stone. But in most of these trees nothing is to be seen in the shape of coal, in the lower part, which is nothing but a mixture of blue clay, the same as that which lies under the reddish flag. These trees do not extend down to the outer extremity of the rocks, at low water, but were only met with when the tide was at half-ebb. It was only on this small space of 200 yards that they were to be seen, and I can with safety state, that now, no more remains on this spot.

On asking the head-man of the Siamese in Malay, if he could point out any other places where coal was to be found inland, he said he could not, and that he had never heard of any one else having seen any. I then asked him if he knew if there was any to be found on any of the larger islands outside, telling him, at the same time, that I did not care whether he informed me or not, as I was going to the whole of them to examine them myself, and to look after pirates at the same time. After giving him a small present of Java tobacco, and two bottles of brandy, he acknowledged that there was some on the next point, to the northward, Tanjong Bombong, distant about six or seven miles.

On the morning of the 3rd, I manned two boats, and went to Tanjong Bombong, with Colonel Low. It being nearly high water when we arrived, we landed on the north part, where there is a beach of coarse sand and shells, with a small plain behind, covered with buffalo grass. We found this point to be of a circular form, with a few trees only on its side, which connect it with the low swampy main land. On returning to the south-west part, we found the tide had fallen greatly, which exposed a reef, extending to the S.W. On the top of this reef, which is mostly formed of sandstone, there appeared to be a bed of coal, lying in a N.W. and S. E. direction, in extent, 100 yards. This is also to be found at half-tide. In using crow bars, the stone gave way, but not so readily as that on Tanjong Patong. Unfortunately we found nothing but sandstone underneath, with a thin layer of what resem bled coal on the top, one-eighth of an inch thick. At only two places, that resembled trees, like those on Tanjong Patong, were to be met with, but without the red flag-stones overlying. After having broken the black crust, it appeared as if the rock had been paid over with hot pitch. Here we picked up what samples of coal we could, and returned to the steamer.

On the morning of the 4th, finding that nothing more in the shape of coal was to be found in this vicinity, we steamed out towards the south-end of Pulo Lontar. On reaching it, I manned all the boats, and despatched them to examine Lontar, and several other small islands on its cast side. In the evening the boats returned without having found anything like coal. Lontar is composed of red rotten rock on its south and west sides, and a large track of low swampy land, running north and south, in the middle, and high lime-stone rocks on its N.E. end.

On the morning of the 5th, we steamed round the south end of Lontar, and stood to the north towards Táma, Colonel Low having been informed by natives that coal was to be found close to the westward of the place from which I had formerly brought some black specimens. In the afternoon we arrived at Támá.

Early on the 6th, I manned the boats, and went on shore, Colonel Low going towards Támá, and I round Tanjong Putrí, In the afternoon both boats returned, having found no traces of coal. Tanjong Putri is entirely formed of very high limestone rocks, and numerous high rocky islands stretch from

it in a northerly direction, towards Pungáh, where there is a Siamese Rajah, who exports tin to Pinang in large quantities.

On the morning of the 7th, we started from Támá, and steamed towards Pulo Panjang. We came to on its east side, towards the south end, and despatched all the boats. In the evening they returned, having found no coal. This island is high and rocky, down to the water's edge, with, here and there, a small beach, sandy, but with a rim of coral at low water.

On the 8th, we left Pulo Panjang, and steamed to the S.E., towards Pulo Bouton, to examine that island. On the 9th, early in the morning, bad weather set in from the westward, with a perfect deluge of rain, which prevented my approaching the island so early as I could have wished. It cleared up a little in the afternoon, which enabled me to run in under the N.E. end, and anchor in 24 fathoms. Here is the only landing place I could see on a small sandy beach, the three larger islands having steep rocks down to the water's edge, on which the sea was breaking heavily. Colonel Low landed here, and, on his return at 7 P.M., told me he was perfectly satisfied that no coal could be found in Bouton.

On the morning of the 9th, we weighed, and stood to the eastward, between Lánkáwí, and Pulo Trotto, and came to anchor in 2 fathoms, close to three small islands, where one of Colonel Low's men said he got the last specimen of coal.

On the morning of the 10th, we went in the boats to the easternmost of a group of small rocky islands on the mud bank, to the northward of the Purlis. It being then low water spring tides, and Colonel Low's man being with us, I made him point out the place where he picked up the coal. I sent my men into the water (it being only two feet at the time) with empty gunnie bags to pick up all the coal they could get before the tide rose. They succeeded in picking up four gunnie bags full, but the tide rising, we returned to the steamer, and on emptying the bags on deck, I found the coal was covered on all sides with mud and barnacles. After having it well scrubbed and washed, I found it to be of the same kind as that which we had picked up at Tanjong Patong. This leads me strongly to believe that, it must first have been picked up at Tanjong Patong by some prahu on his way to Pinang, and the prahu having either got on shore on an extensive sandbank, on the east side of the island, or on a reef of rocks on the west side, must, at high water, have got into the small cove, and thrown it overboard. I am the more led to believe this to have been the case, because, 1st, this coal had barnacles on all sides, which was not the case with what we picked up at Tanjong Patong; 2nd, having gone on shore again in the evening, at low water, taking a dredge with me, which I had made at Pinang for such purposes, nothing in the shape of coal was to be dredged up, on either side of the sandbank, nor even over the spot where the coal was found in the morning; and, 3rdly, on the following morning, all the other small islands which are close to, and of the same formation as the one I have marked Low's Island in his sketch, were carefully examined by Colonel Low, with all hands from the steamer, and no coal could be found at low water.

I know nothing about geology, and I have no doubt that Colonel Low will be able to give a more satisfactory explanation regarding this coal than I can. At the same time I beg to state as my candid opinion that, there is not two bushels of coal more to be found on any of the islands that we have visited; and nearly the whole of the other numerous islands that have not been visited (with the exception of Junk ceylon) are either low and swampy, or else high limestone rocks, so that little or nothing can be expected from them.

LIST

OF

W KECKIS UPON THE ISLANDS OF NORTH KONALDSHA AND SANDAY, FROM THE YEAR 1806 TO 1845.

Concordia

Ballast

London

44

Eugenia........ Myres......Linseed & mats Archangel.... London
Hatman Steel, tar & iron Gottenburgh.. Ireland

Gottenburgh. Holm of Rive
Elseness..

Saved.

2001 1,000

1815 Ship

Norway

"

Cotton and rice Savanah...... Petersburgh.. Alters of Linnay N. R.
Logs
Dantzic...... Liverpool Newark
Trattles....) Tar and flax....Stockton

Tiscomin Coals and paint Genoa... McPherson Ballast

Hull

Selk Skerry
St. John

Burness

Stockton Genoa....

N.E. side Thorness

........ Zetland ...... Zetland

PROPOSED NORTH-AMERICAN PASSENGER'S BILL.

A Bill to make further Provision for the Carriage of Passengers by Sea to NorthAmerica.-(Proposed and brought in by Mr. Labouchere and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.)

[NOTE.-The words printed in Italics are proposed to be inserted in Committee.] WHEREAS it is expedient to make further provision respecting the carriage of passengers by sea to certain parts of North America and the islands adjacent thereto, and for that purpose to alter certain provisions of an act passed in the session of parliament held in the fifth and sixth years of the reign of her present Majesty, intituled, An Act for Regulating the carriage of Passengers in Merchant Vessels, and of an act passed in the session of parliament held in the tenth and eleventh years of the reign of her present Majesty, intituled, An Act to Amend the Passengers' Act, and to make further Provision for the Carriage of Passengers by sea :

1. Number of Passengers according to space and tonnage.

Be it therefore enacted, by the Queen's most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same that no ship carrying passengers on any voyage from any port or place in the United Kingdom, or in the islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, or Man, to any port or place on the eastern coast of North America, or in the islands adjacent thereto, or in the Gulf of Mexico, shall proceed on such voyage with, or shall carry more passengers on board than in the following proportion to the space occupied by them and appropriated to their use, and unoccupied by stores not being the personal luggage of the passengersthat is to say, on the between decks. One passenger for every fourteen clear superficial feet, and that if any ship carrying passengers upon any such voyage as aforesaid shall carry any person or passenger beyond such proportions, or any of them, the master of the ship shall, for and in respect of every person or passenger constituting such excess, be liable to the payment of a penalty not exceeding five pounds sterling, cabin passengers in poop excepted.

2. How children are to be computed.

Provided always, and be it enacted, that for the purposes of this act, two children, each being under the age of five years, shall be computed as one person or passenger, anything in the hereinbefore recited acts to the contrary notwithstanding:

3. Rules to be observed on board.

And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for her Majesty by any order or orders to be by her made, with the advice of her Privy Council, to prescribe any such rules and regulations as to her Majesty may seem fit for preserving order, and for securing cleanliness and ventilation on board of such ships.

4. Provisions and water.

And be it enacted, that on board every ship there shall be issued to the passengers, daily, throughout the whole voyage, including the time of detention, if any, at any port or place before the end of such voyage, a supply of water, at the rate of at least three quarts for each passenger per day, and that there shall also be issued, daily at convenient times a supply of provisions after the following rate per day; that is to say Daily, half NO. 4.-VOL. XVII.

2 E

pound biscuit, half pound meal or flour, quarter pint pease, quarter ounce tea, one ounce sugar; and, further, that no ship proceeding on any such voyage as aforesaid shall be cleared out until there shall be laden on board, at the expense of the owner or charterer thereof, such quantity of pure water, and of good and wholesome provisions of the requisite kind, as shall be sufficient to allow of the issues aforesaid during the period of eight weeks.

5. Relating to Food and Water.

And be it enacted, that all the penal and other provisions of the said recited acts which relate to the issuing of food or water to the passengers, or to the lading and having on board such food and water, or to the inspection and approval of the same by the officers therein mentioned, shall apply to the food and water hereinbefore required to be laden on board and issued to the passengers.

6. A Surgeon to be taken.-Notice to be given of Sailing.

And be it enacted, that every ship carrying as many as one hundred passengers on such voyage as aforesaid, shall have on board a surgeon of emigrants, approved by writing under the hands of two of her Majesty's Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners acting under the authority of one of her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State; and that the owner or charterer of every such ship shall give to the said Commissioners or their officer at least eight clear days' previous notice, or if the ship shall be about to proceed from any port or place in. Ireland at least fourteen clear days previous notice of her intended departure.

And be it enacted, that no such ship shall be allowed to clear out or proceed on such voyage unless there shall be on board a duly appointed surgeon of emigrants.

8. Remuneration of Surgeon.

And be it enacted, that while such surgeon of emigrants shall remain on board the ship to which he shall be appointed as aforesaid, he shall receive, at the expense of the owner or charterer thereof, such accommodation and messing as shall be approved by the emigration officer at the port of clearance, or his assistant, or when there is no such officer, or in his absence, by the officer of customs for whom a clearance shall be demanded, and the said surgeon, on producing such certificate of the performance of his duties as may be required by such order in council as aforesaid, shall also receive from the master of the ship the sum of one shilling for every passenger landed alive therefrom.

And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for the said surgeon to punish any passenger who shall fail to obey any rules or regulations made by or under authority of any such order in council as aforesaid, by depriving him of any part not exceeding one half of the daily rations to which he may be entitled; and it shall be lawful for the master of the ship, if he shall think fit, on the requisition of the said surgeon, to confine any such passenger in irons for any period not exceeding hours for any one offence, and the said master shall otherwise aid and assist the said surgeon, in the enforcement of all such rules or regulations as aforesaid; and in case he shall neglect or refuse so to do he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding two pounds sterling for each offence.

10. Penalties.

neg

And be it enacted, that any person on board of such ship who shall lect or refuse to obey any rule or regulation made by or under authority of such order in council, as aforesaid, or any direction issued or given by the