6_^ INDIA BEYOND THE GANGES. 



from hence the fibres of a tree called Pitre, which they fraudu- 

 lently mix with their ov.n manufactures ; they even import into 

 their land of tea a courfe and black fort ; poffibly for the fake of 

 enabling them to export their own, at greater profit, into our 

 ifland. The mountains yield feme gold, and much iron ; the 

 natives fufe the laft, and employ the metal in various manufac- 

 tories : raw and wrought filk may be added to the articles of 

 commerce. 



The Fortuguefe had once confiderable influence in the court 

 of Cochin-Cbina ; the Dutch made a ftrong eifort to come in for 

 a fliare of the commercial emcJuments, but were expelled the 

 kingdom by the fuperior intereft of their rivals. At prefent, it 

 is laid, that the trade is chiefly in the hands of the Japonefe and 

 Chinefe, who are fettled at Foy Foe, and preferve their own laws, 

 religion, and cuftoms. The harbors are ftill cafuaUy frequented 

 by European fliips, but, I think, their imports inconfiderable. 

 Port of Fov The chief port is that of Foy Foe, fomc miles up a navigable 



river. The entrance has before it, at a little diitance, the illes of 

 Champellos\ the jchanncl between the mouths and the town is 

 filled with iflands, and obftrucfted by a bar, but not unfurmount- 

 able. Ships of fome burden formerly have been brought over, 

 and then were obliged to anchor before the cuftom-houfe, which 

 was the cafe with Mr. Bowyear. The town confills but of two 

 rows of houfes, inhabitci.1 by Cblnefe and a few Japare/e ; the firfi 

 of whom manage the trade, and import various articles from 

 Canton, Siam, Cajnboja, Batavla, and Manilla ; Bozvyear met 

 with encouragement to fettle a fa6tory near the city, but I be- 

 lieve it never was carried into effedt. 



4 This 



Foe. 



