T O N Q U I N. 7!? 



The royal navy is an affair of ftate, tifelefs and contemptible 



in wars ; and as to Ihips of commerce, there are fcarcely any ; fo 



that every thing is brought in and oiit of the kingdom in foreign 



bottoms. 



I MAY be pardoned for digreffing to the healing art of the Tonquin 

 . .. ^ , ,.'.^, c 1 t • Medicine. 



uonqmnefe. I miiit produce then" receipt tor the cvire or the bite 

 of the mad dog, the gaol diftemper, and other maladies incident 

 to human nature; let the good intent apologize for the 

 following extraft, thought worthy of a place in the eleventh 

 volume * of tiie Philofophical TranfacSlions. 



They (the Tonquinefe) take of the beft mufk about gr. xvi. of 

 the pureffc native cinnabar, and fineft vermillion, each about gr. 

 xxiv. and, having reduced them feparately to impalpable pow- 

 ders, mix and adminifter them in about a gill of arrack ; which, 

 in two or three hours, generally throws the patient into a found 

 fleep and perfpiration ; if not, they repeat the dofe, and think 

 the cure certain. 



The religion of this country is the fame with that of Cochin- Religiow. 

 China, but idolatry appears here with much lefs magnificence ; 

 the Pagodas are mean, and their images numerous. It fliould 

 feem that the Mandarines and better fort of people are more en- 

 lightened, and confine themfelves to the worfliip of one GOD. 

 They do not frequent the pagodas, they have no idols, but adore 

 the fupreme in their courts, with uplifted eyes. A perfon of the 

 family reads the petition to heaven. Dampiefs t account of the 

 ceremony is curious ; " When they make this petition," fays he, 

 " they order a great deal of good meat to be dreffed, and calling 



* P. 1 05 1. t VoLii.58. 



" all 



