Account of the Trade of Slam. *:s 



The southerly monsoon is therefore the season for shipii 

 to go to Siam, as it is a fair wind to cross the bar ; and-the 

 northerly monscou to leave the bar, and proceed to India 

 tlirough the straits of Malacca. 



Bankasoy, situated on the river near the bar, is the prin- 

 cipal place of trade ; and the king is the chief merchant, for 

 his revenues are paid in elephants' teeth, sapan, and aquilla 

 wood. This is the best part of the Malay coast for pro- 

 curing that exquisite sauce called ballichong, which the 

 ieastcrn epicures so much geek, value, and regale upon: it 

 is made of a coniposition of dried shrimps, pepper, salt, 

 seaweed, &c. &c,. beateji together to the consistence of a 

 tough paste j and then packed in jars for sale, use, -or ex- 

 portation. 



Siam, near the shores, (the only places where Europeans 

 have access to,) is very imhealthy. The land seems to be 

 formed by the mud descending from the mountains ; to 

 which mud, and the overtiowiiig-s of the river, the soil owes 

 its fertility ; for in the higher places, and parts remote from 

 the inund^ation, all is dried and burnt up by the sun soon 

 after the periodical rains are over. 



The arts have been in more repute, and better attended 

 to formerly, than at the present time. Few travellers will 

 omit noticing the many casts at this place, both of statues 

 and cannon, of an immense calibre and length, as well as 

 many oUier curiosities, m.-my of them in gold. 



The mountains produce diamonds of an excellent water, 

 (little if at all inferior to those of Golconda, though not 

 so large,) sapphires, rubies, and agates. 



They have tin of a very fine quality, of w hich they make 

 tutanag; steel, iron, lead, and gold: they have copper 

 also of a fine quality, but not in great plenty. 



The low grounds prodiicc rice in great quantities j and 

 on the higher grounds, that are not inundated, they raise 

 wheat. They have many medicinal plants and giuns, oil 

 of jessamine, sack, benzoin, crvstal, emery, antimony, 

 cotton, wood, oil, varnish, cinnamon, cassia buds, and 

 ir.on-wood, which is jimch used by the natives, Malays, 

 and Chinese, as anchors for their vessels. They have also 

 great quantity of while betel nut, which is exported to 

 China, by the junks and Portuguese ships, which have en- 

 joyed almost uninterruptedly the whole trade of this place, 

 and the coast of Cochin-Ciiina, from the Ridang islands to 

 Macao. 



They have also the fruits known in India, as well as the 

 B 1 duriaiij 



