Siam, $c] 



OKIENTAL COMMERCE. 



437 



wards translated, signified, " Whither is your vessel bound ? What lias 

 brought you here ?" 



Pulo Condore produces only sweet potatoes, small gourds, very bad 

 water-melons, and black beans, all in small quantities. It contains many 

 forest trees, some of which are fit for masts and yards to ships. It has no 

 springs, affording only rain-water, which running down the mountains 

 among the rotten leaves of trees, acquires an unwholesome quality ; where- 

 fore the inhabitants prefer the whitish water of the wells to the clear water 

 from the mountains. Their only game consists of wild pigeons and a species 

 of woodcock. The island abounds in reptiles, consisting of snakes of a 

 prodigious size and length, others smaller, and many of them venomous ; 

 likewise centipedes, scorpions, and a variety of insects ; but the ants are 

 the most troublesome of all, getting into every thing, and spoiling whatever 

 they enter. All these, with the sterility of the soil, and the unwholesome- 

 ness of the air, render Pulo Condore a wretched abode. 



COCHIN-CHINA. — The whole extent of coast from the Gulph of 

 Siam to that of Tonquin, which is commonly called the Coast of Cambodia, 

 Tsiompa, and Cochin-China, was subjected by the latter Government, and 

 formed into three divisions : — the southernmost extends from the Gulph of 

 Siam to latitude about 12° C N., and is called Donai ; the centre extends 

 about three degrees to the N., and is called Chang ; the northernmost 

 extends from thence to Tonquin, and is called Hue- The Siamese have, 

 however, possessed themselves of some of the ports of Cambodia. There 

 are few countries that contain so many excellent bays, roads, and harbours 

 as Cochin-China, or that are better situated for commerce, from its interior 

 communication by means of numerous rivers. 



The visit of Mr. Crawford in 1822, it is expected, has furnished better 

 information than we have hitherto possessed, respecting the condition of this 

 country, and the character of its Government ; but few authentic particulars 

 have yet been suffered to transpire. 



The principal places on the coast are Cambodia, Saigong, or Sey-gun, 

 Nhiatrang, Quin-hone, Turon, and Hue ; but the British trade is confined 

 to Saigong, Turon, 'Hue, and Faifoe. 



CAMUODI A.«^The city is situated about SO leagues up a river of the 

 same name, which is suid to communicate with the Meinam, and which 

 disembogues into the sea by three principal branches. The westernmost is 

 the proper one for large ships ; its entrance is in latitude about 9" 35' N., 

 and 18 leagues N. by W. from Pulo Condore. The sands at the entrance 

 render the navigation into the river difficult, particularly as they arc liable 



