406 COCHINCHIKA, 



wanting an inch, fliorter than our yard, 

 and fix pontes four condorins longer than 

 the Chinefe cove. They have no other, ex- 

 cept that ufed for rice, which the poor, 

 alone, purchafe by meafure* It is equal to 

 about fix Cochinchinefe pounds* This pound 

 contains fourteen ounces more than ours, 

 and ten more than the Chinefe, which is 

 equivalent to twenty French ounces. It is, 

 therefore, equal to thirty French ounces. 



In this country, there are certain kinds 

 of goods, fuch as ivory, and calambac wood, 

 which are prohibited j that is to fay, the 

 king alone referves the right of felling 

 them. Thefe two articles cannot be pur- 

 chafed but from the fovereign. Thofe who 

 might purul^afe them from private per- 

 fpns, would run a great rifk of being punifh- 

 ed. All kinds of merchandize, in general, 

 whether pur chafed from the king or indi- 

 vidu^ils, are exempted from duty, Mer- 



chants^ 



