194 Scientific Intelligence. 



fail to draw the attention of his readers to those marks of wisdom and be- 

 nevolence of which the material world bears so deep an impress; — to 

 strengthen those feelings of humihty and gratitude which the contempla- 

 tion of nature so strongly excites ;— and thus to render intellectual wisdom 

 subservient to moral discipline and religious improvement. 



The first of this series of Treatises will be a Popular Treatise on Astro' 

 nomy, in one volume Post 8vo, illustrated with Plates ; the second Treatise 

 will be on Optics ; and these will be followed by separate and complete 

 Treatises on the various subjects of Science and the Useful Arts, contain- 

 ing the most recent discoveries and improvements made both in this coun- 

 try and on the continent. 



27. Siamese Islands of Ko-si-Chang and Ko-Cramb.'^Many islands 

 which had never been visited by Europeans have been recently explored 

 by the last English ships which entered the River Siam. They lie about 

 eight leagues from the south of that river in 13° 32' north lat. and 100° 55 

 cast of Greenwich. The two largest are called Ko-Si-Chang and Ko- 

 Cramb. 



The first is 24 leagues long, and one broad. It is covered with wood, 

 and the mountains are very high. There are no inhabitants upon it, ex- 

 cepting the keeper of a temple, built by the officers of the Cochin Chinese 

 Junks, upon a hill on the south shore, who come here every year to 

 trade at Bankok. 



In order to take advantage of the wood and water, a harbour has been 

 made for the country ships which ascend the river, and the European 

 vessels can also profit by their example. 



Upon the other island, which is less extensive, the Siamese fishermen 

 have established themselves, and their habitations are surrounded by cul- 

 tivation. Besides the vegetables which have been observed before, they 

 have a species of Ignama not eatable ; but the bulbiferous sorts grow to a 

 most extraordinary size; thei/ are sometimes ten feet in circumference i and 

 weigh 4i7 4i pounds ; thefecula, when dried, is used as a specific in fevers. 

 Many beautiful kinds of pigeons, which seem to have abandoned the con- 

 tinent to take refuge in the isles of the Gulf of Siam, are seen in the woods 

 of Ko-Si-Chang. There is in particular a large white species with a black 

 tail ; another with the plumage brown and purple ; and a third kind of 

 a smaller size, whose covering is of a most brilliant green. 



Between the two principal islands the ships find a spacious ancliorage, 

 well sheltered from the winds and the high seas. The entrance to the har- 

 bour is by two openings, but the one to the north is preferred. Although 

 the anchorage is good, it is prudent to use iron cables, because many parts 

 of the bottom are covered with loose rocks, and the tides, which in spring 

 rise to the height of ten feet, form a very strong current across the har- 

 bour. 



In spite of these inconveniences we should not be surprised if England 

 were to form an establishment upon these isles, .whose situation at once 

 commands the commerce of the kingdom of Siam. — Le Globe, Mars 27, 

 1827. 



