In addition to the slave trade, from which the government officers appeared to derive the greater part of their income, a commerce is also earned on in wax and sandal-wood, which the natives are forced to deliver up at a small, and almost nominal price. The trade is entirely engrossed by the governor and officials, no other individual being permitted to embark in commerce. This, with other abuses, caused so much discontent, that many of the inhabitants of Dilli, both natives and Chinese, expressed to me their strong desire to be freed from the hateful yoke of the Portuguese. Scarcely had we anchored in the roads, when several came on board the brig and gave vent to their joy, supposing that we had come to take possession of the place. The fort, a square inclosure, without bastions, containing within it a house and a magazine, is constructed of stone and clay. Several pieces of cannon are mounted on the walls, but the greater number are unprovided with carriages. Some of our officers wished to inspect the interior, but orders had been issued to the sentry not to allow us to enter; at all events, our officers were refused admission on the plea, that our visiting the fort would be viewed with displeasure by the Governor. We did not think it worth while to make a formal request for permission to visit this pitiful fortress, as the appearance of the exterior gave us a good idea of what we might expect to meet with inside. Excepting the wife of the master of a merchant ship, we did not meet with a single European woman here. Even those of the mixed breed were scarce, two or three only being encountered by us during our stay. When the Portuguese go abroad to pay a visit or to take the air, they are carried by two or three slaves in a canvass hammock, suspended from a bamboo pole, over which an awning is extended to protect the rider from the sun and rain. There are excellent horses in the place, but very little use is made of them, neither carts nor carriages being employed by the inhabitants. The Portuguese, indeed, betray no activity, and appear to have given themselves up to an indolent mode of life, all their actions being redolent of laziness and apathy. The population appeared to be numerous, but no signs of prosperity were visible. The dwelling-houses, small, dirty and ruinous, and built without order or symmetry, were scattered irregularly over the town. On each side of the quarter inhabited by the Portuguese two redoubts have been erected, on which some old iron guns of small calibre were mounted. The sentinels were half naked, and their muskets were for the most part without locks, so that they could only be carried for show. In addition to their muskets they carried long poniards or daggers.