I7a WESTERN HINDOO 5 T A N. 



tudes of very low wooded illes, formed by a thonfand rivers, 



that tumble from the Ghauts. This flat country extends thirty 



miles inland, and has intermixed a great affemblage of lakes, 



rivers, and forefts, the whole marfliy, and moll unwholelbme: 



it abounds with fifli and game, which makes Cochin.^ in that 



refped:, a moll luxurious refidence. 



Sv.'ELLiTD Legs. A diftemper prevales in thefe parts, fuppofed to arife from 



the badnefs of the water, or from an impoverillied flate of blood 



from poor living. Its fymptoms are a violent fwelling in one, 



and fometimes in both legs, fo that it is not uncommon to fee 



them a yard in circuit round the ancle*. It is not attended with 



any pain, but with an itching ; the fwollen l^'g is not heavier 



than the unafFecfted. The diftemper is called the Cochin-leg^ 



and, from the fize, the E/epbant-Ieg ; no remedy has yet been 



difcovered. The Dutch procure their water in boats from a 



-diftant place, yet Hamilton fays, that he had feen both men and 



women of that nation afflidled with the malady. This deftroys 



the hypothefis of its being the effedl either of the water or of 



poor livin'7. 



From Cochin to the termination of the iflands, the coaft is 

 flat, and fo low, as to be diftinguidied only by the trees, or by 

 the flags on the enfign ftafFs ; the fea clear of flioals, and with 

 PoRCAH. good foundings. Porcah^ on the ifland beyond Cochin^ is a 



Coui.ANG. fmnll Dutch fettlement. ^lilon, or rather Coulang, is another, 



now funk into an inconfiderable place. On the firft arrival of 

 the Fortuguefe it was governed by a Queen-Regent, who ruled 



* See the Plate 65, in Linfcottaa's Voyage. 



ever 



