INDIA BEYOND THE GANGES. 87 



west. Laos, Cambodia, and Siampa, as well as some other smaller 

 kingdoms, are said to be tributary to Cochin-China. The manners and 

 religion of the people seem to be originally Chinese, and they are 

 much given to trade. The king is said to be immensely rich, and his 

 kingdom enjoys all the advantages of commerce that are found in the 

 other parts of the East Indies. Formerly, Cochin-China was under a 

 sort of obedience to the sovereign of Tonquin ; but a daring leader 

 arose, who was acknowledged as king and the country became inde- 

 pendent. 



TosquiN is only separated from Cochin-China by a small river ; it 

 proouces little or no corn or wine, but is the most healthful country of 

 all the peninsula. Rubies, topazes, amethysts, and other precious 

 stones, are found here. In some places, especially towards the north, 

 the inhabitants have swellings in their throats, said to be owirg to the 

 badness of their water. The principal river is the Holi Kian, which, 

 after receiving the Li-Sien, passes by Cachao, or Kesho, the capital, a 

 city which, according to Dampier, resembles in its form and appear- 

 ance the towns of China, and is considerably populous. The Ton- 

 quinese are excellent mechanics, and fair traders ; but greatly oppres- 

 sed by their king and great lords. The king engrosses the trade, and 

 his factors sell by retail to the Dutch and other nations. The Tonqui- 

 nese are fond of lacker houses, which are unwholesome and poison- 

 ous. The people in the south are a savage race, and go almost naked, 

 with large silver and gold ear-rings, and coral, amber, or shell brace- 

 lets. In Tonquin and Cochin-China, the two sexes are scarcely dis- 

 tinguishable by their dress, which resembles that of the Persians, 

 The people of quality are fond of English broad cloth, red or green, 

 and others wear a dark coloured cotton cloth. 



Tonquin, with the countries stretching from it southward to the 

 Gulf of Siam, was, in the first epoch of its history, a part of the Chi- 

 nese empire ; the governors of which acquired, in time, a sort of 

 hereditary possession. They afterwards threw off their allegiance,, 

 and at the end of a long series of struggles, established their indepen- 

 dence. For a long time the civil authority was usurped by a heredi- 

 tary officer called the Chua, who held the nominal sovereign in sub- 

 jection, and even directed which of his children should succeed him. 

 Upon the death of a Chua, who was assassinated by one of his confi- 

 dents, he leaving no children, a civil war was kindled by his relations, 

 who disputed the succession. Amid the confusion, the king found 

 means to assert his rights ; to abridge the power of the Chua ; and to 

 render the succession to the office no longer hereditary, but depen- 

 dent upon himself. 



The king resides generally in the capital, Cachao, which is situat- 

 ed near the centre of the kingdom. The palace is a vast structure, 

 and has a fine arsenal. The English have a very flourishing factory 

 on the north side of the citv. 



