COCHINCHINA. 397 



plenty: their rivers, as well as the fea, 

 abouad with them* 



Commerce. 



WITH regard to the commerce of this 

 country, it may be obferved, that the Co- 

 chinchinefe are neither rich, nor well ac- 

 ; quainted with the nature of trade. As to 

 foreign trade, they never carried on any, 

 except with the Chinefe and the people of 

 Japan j but the latter^ about twenty-five 

 years ago, gave up all intercourfe with them, 

 by order of their fovereign, who forbade 

 his fubje^ls to go out of the kingdom. The 

 like prohibition was made in Cochinchlna ; 

 and, on that account, the Cochinchinefe are 

 obliged to be contented with fuch merchan- 

 dize as the Chinefe bring to them. The 

 inhabitants of Gochinchina, however, arc 

 6 far 



