L O W E R S I A M. 17 



Mergui {lands oppofite to the center of the Archipelago of the Archipelago 



n r -r, ■, • ■ ■ -, OF MeRGUI. 



fame name, a molt numerous group or illes, begmnmg m about 

 Lat. 13° 13', and reaching as low as Lat. 10° 15', and in 

 length ftretching along the coaft a hundred and thirty miles from 

 north to fouth, and from thirty to fifteen miles diflant from the 

 continent : the channel has all the way good foundings, good 

 anchorage, and regular tides, which on the fprlngs rife to twelve 

 feet. Captain Thomas Forreji, in 1783, took a moft accurate 

 furvey of thefe iflands, and proved the advantage of a know- 

 lege of the channel between them and the main land. At p.p. 

 i. ii. of his preface, he fliews how our hidiamen may, in their 

 way to Europe, fave the hazard of being embayed and lofing 

 their paiTage, by taking this route, and by getting round Atcheen 

 head in Sumatra-^ proceed to Europe, 



All the ifles aremountanous, and may be feen in clear weather 

 at'the diftance of fourteen or fifteen leagues, and moft of them 

 finely wooded : many of the trees are very lofty; among them is 

 the Poon tree, or Uvar'ia Altijp.ma, fo ufeful for mads, and the 

 Coco palm, of fuch univerfal ufe in all parts of India. In Pegu, 

 the nut is efteemed a neceffary of life, nearly as much as 

 rice. 



The iflands are of various fizes and forms, but generally very 

 finall ; many exaflly of the fliape of a bee-hive, and clothed 

 with woods ; a few are very rocky, and fo rudely broken, as to 

 feem flung up by a mighty convulfion ; fuch are the rocks called 

 the Cupelo. The largeft ifles are St. Mathezvs, St. Sufamtas, 

 3.nd,Su//ivans, or the Do/ne/. Among them are fome very good 

 harbors, particularly //(:7///;/^-j- Bay, in the ille of St. Mathezv. HastixgsBav: 



Vol. IIL D Mr. 



