122 



CHINA. 



Dutch. The Dutch made their firft fettlement for the benefit of the 



Cbinefe on the iile of Fonnofa\ and deceitfully, under pretence of 

 building a houie, eredcd a ftrong fort, fo as to conamand the en- 

 trance into the port they had fixed on ; it was faid that: they made 

 life of the ftale Phoenician^ rtratagem of the ox's hide, in the 

 building of Byrfa, or the famous Carthage. The Japancfe had 

 not long before made a conqueft of the ifland, but were too 

 weak to refcnt this perfidy. The Dutch now were in poffeffion 

 of a flourifliing trade, with the two great empires of China and 

 'Japan. It was loft to them in the year 1661 by the fault of the 

 fadlions which reigned at Batavia, the feat of the Dutch govern- 

 ment in India. Iquon^ a taylor, who lived in the Dutch town on 

 the ifland of Formofa, a man of undaunted courage, had revolted 

 from the Cbinefe empire, and became fo powerful as to induce the 



CoxENGA. Emperor to get him feized by perfidy and poifoned ; his fon Cox- 

 f/Tf^, inherited all his abilities. At firft he applied to the Dutch 

 for fuccor ; but being refufed, turned his refentment againft 

 them. He prepared a vaft fleet, and army; landed near the 

 Dutch fettlement, and notwithftandiiig every effort of the go- 

 vernor, Frederick Cojet (whofe defence was gallant and obfl:inate) 

 at length compelled him to furrender by capitulation. Co/V^had 

 been at firft negledled by his countrymen, who when it was too 

 late, fent a ftrong fleet from Batavia ; it met with a fevere re- 

 pulfe, and was compelled to leave their colony to its fate. We 

 fliall hereafter meet the European nations at their common per- 

 miflave fettlement at Canton. I fliall quit the fubjedt I have been 

 on, and change it to that of a particular topography of the coafts 

 of the vaft empire. 

 BouvDARir.s 'To fpcak generally; the country may be faid to be di- 



OF China. «->■'' ■' J 



6 \ided 



