VOYAGE FBOM INDIA TO SIAM AND MALACCA. 161 



pieces near a stream on the way from Mer^ie to here. The 

 present king- however does not permit any digg-ing for gold any 

 more, in order not to furnish the Burmans with an excuse for 

 new invasions, which they have to fear every year again, and 

 just this very year he had sent out armies partly for the purpose 

 of guarding the frontiers against these guests, and partly to 

 conquer the capital of the kingdom, where the usurping brother 

 of the king of Leo. who is living here, defends himself. The 

 silver, which was sold here formerly, is said to have come from 

 Leo, and was very friable. As I have mentioned the place 

 where they found the gold, I will add the tale of some Christians, 

 who made this journey, concerning a class of creatures, which 

 are probably the Homo Lar of Mr, Arch. v. Linne. This animal 

 is said to walk erect, and to live principally on honey, and as the 

 Siamese consider its skin and liesh to have some medical virtues, 

 they kill it in the following manner. Those who go out for this 

 purpose take two bamboo sticks, of about an arms length, which 

 they hold close to their arms. As soon as the animal sees the 

 man it comes up to him and seizes one of his arms, with signs of 

 joy and as if it wanted to caress him. The man drops one of 

 the bamboo sticks, which the animals keeps in his paws, and 

 which it contemplates with joy and admiration ; meanwhile the 

 man sizes the other bamboo, and hits the animal over the 

 head, until it is dead. The animal is said to be good natured, 

 but it only lives in the densest forests.* 



The best articles for trade which one can bring here, are all 

 kinds of linen, surah silk, or materials embroidered with gold, 

 also silk from Bengal. 



This country moreover is amply provided with all sorts of 

 articles from China ; they are exchanged for the above-mentioned 

 goods. 



The most important trade is made by the Chinese living 

 here, the king himself favouring it, but the greed for riches of 

 this latter and the constant fear of rebellion, are very great 

 drawbacks for irade. The king wants to be the first seller of 

 the products of the country, and buys the best goods imported 

 at a very low price, selling them again to the merchants of the 

 town at 100 per cent interest. 



The soil in these parts is very fertile, and particularly suit- 

 * The Wa\Ta. Hylohatfis Lar i«» intendeil. 



