43H 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[Statu, 4-e. 



to shift ; it is therefore prudent to anchor in 4 or o fathoms outside, until 

 a pilot can be procured. 



The Coast of Cambodia is said to contain some very fine ports ; among 

 which is Chantibmi, tributary to Siam, containing 30,000 inhabitants, and a 

 place of much trade in pepper and cardamums ; Kang-kao, or Athien, the 

 frontier town of Cochin-China, nearly equal in size to the former. There 

 are besides Nakon-wat, Nimg-ka-hin, and Kamao. Along the whole coast, 

 from the latter place, (situated on the point of Cambodia), to Cape Liant, 

 (called by the Siamese Lem Sam-mc-san), is an uninterrupted archipelago 

 of beautiful islands, inhabited by Cochin-Chinese, Cambodians, and Chi- 

 nese, who collect sea slugs, which abound here, and agala wood. 



A recent anonymous account states, that the kingdom of Cambodia is 

 separated into three divisions ; one of which is tributary to Siam, one to 

 Cochin-China, and a third is independent. The two former comprise the 

 sea-coast ; the third, the capital of which is a populous city named Fanom- 

 pin, is several days 1 journey up the river. 



Trade. — The country being subject to Cochin-China and Siam, its 

 trade has merged in that of those two states. The Chinese junks, of which 

 two or three come annually to Cambodia, import China-ware, dried fruits, 

 lackered ware, pepper, sweetmeats, silk goods, tutenague, and tin. Few 

 European commodities are saleable, except cutlery, hardware, and broad 

 cloth. 



The productions of the country arc elephants' teeth, wood of various 

 kinds, gamboge, and some gold. 



Coins. — The gall, a small piece of silver, worth about fourpence, with 

 characters cm one side, is the only coin of the country. Spanish dollars 

 and Chinese cash are current. 



WEtGUTs. — The Chinese pecul is the weight commonly used. 



SAIGONG, or SEY-GUN. — This city, the capital of Cochin-China, 

 is situated upon a fine unobstructed river, in latitude 10° 15' N., and lon- 

 gitude 100 40' E., of which Cape St. James forms the E. boundary. Ships 

 proceeding up the river, anchor in a bay within the Cape, where there is a 

 village. There is no need of a pilot ; but if you want one, you must apply 

 to the Chief, who will give you a fisherman that generally proceeds before 

 the vessel in his own boat, during the N. E. monsoon; but in the other 

 monsoon, as they do not keep their boats in the bay, which is open to the 

 W. winds, he comes on board the ship to conduct her to the village of 

 ( angio, which is on the left side of the river, about a mile from its entrance ; 

 for which service you present him with a few dollars. 



It is customary to anchor before Cangio, where there is an inferior 



