T O N Q U I N. 77 



*< the fixth and feventh days of the water's age, on which two 

 *' days the flood runs very high ; but on the eighth day (which 

 " may be accounted the lad of the fpring tides) the waters be- 

 *' gin gradually to decreafe again, retaining the fame orderly dif- 

 *' ference of time in each tide, until the next following fir ft day 

 *' of the water's increafe ; when, during two days unfettlednefs, 

 *' there is a fhifting of the tides in refpedl of the beginning of 

 <' the flood and ebb, after which faid fliifting, a conftancy in 

 " their inverted courfe is again retained in the above mentioned 

 *' order for thirteen days following." 



Cacbao, the principal city of Tonquin, lies about eighty miles City of 

 higher up the river, and is the place where the chief trade is 

 carried on. The imports are conveyed froni the fliips in large 

 'Tofiquinefe boats, navigated by the natives. The tide runs with 

 great rapidity thirty or forty miles above Domea^ through a rich 

 and beautiful plain ; near Hean, a town of two thoufand houfes, 

 is the place where the two channels meet, and form the Delta of 

 Tonquin, about eighty miles from the fea. The Chinefe mer- 

 chants have a flreet to themfelves at Hean. For a time they re- 

 fided at Cachao, but became fo numerous that they feemed to 

 fwallow up the very natives; the king therefore ordered them to 

 remove here. The French alfo had a fatftory in this town in 

 Dampief?, time. Is is from that honeft voyager I take my ac- 

 count, having no later authority of any authenticity. The Cbi- 

 nefe and Siamefe ]onk.% come up as high as the town, and ride in 

 the middle of the river. 



Cachao is a city of twenty thoufand houfes ; the walls ufually 

 made of mud and thatch, but fome are of brick, covered with 



tiles. 



