uld more willingly engage than any other I am
acquainted with.

Immediately off North-West Cape is good whaling ground. The schooner
employed on the expedition fell in with two vessels--the Favourite,
Captain White, and the Diana, Captain Hamott, whalers belonging to
Messrs. Bennett & Co., of London, and then fishing between North-West
Cape and the position usually assigned to the Tryal Rocks. Both these
vessels had been very successful.

COMMERCIAL PROSPECTS. TRADE WITH THE ASIATIC ARCHIPELAGO.

With regard to the commerce that might be carried on by Northern
Australia with the islands of the Indian Archipelago I have made many
enquiries, and have gained from the most authentic sources some important
facts.

The points upon which I first endeavoured to obtain information were:

1. What desire was evinced by the inhabitants of the islands of the
Indian Archipelago and the China Sea to become possessed of articles of
British manufacture; and,

2. If they were able to pay a fair price, either in money, or by giving
goods for which there would be a demand in European markets, in exchange
for such articles of British manufacture as might be introduced amongst
them.

Upon both of these points I received very satisfactory information. In
some instances most respectable merchants detailed to me the result of
speculations of this kind in which they had been engaged; in others
mercantile letters were placed in my hands, fully corroborating what had
been told me; but the information I thus obtained bore reference also to
the following points:

1. The degree of labour necessarily required to transport articles of
British manufacture to such a distant mart as the one here contemplated
for their consumption.

2. The length of time during which wages must be paid to and food
provided for the individuals engaged in this labour.

3. The duties to which the articles will become liable in the various
ports; and,

4. The danger of loss or injury that may be incurred in their transport
thither.

With regard to the two first of the above heads it appears that the
profit that may be realized by the trader is so considerable as not only
to cover the expenses that they would necessarily entail upon him; but
after these expenses have been defrayed the residue of profit that would
remain in his hands would be so large as to render this commerce one of
the most lucrative in which capital could be embarked.

METHOD OF BARTER.