Siam, <$rc] 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



445 



into 10 mace of 60 cash each, the whole strung together, and divided by a 

 knot at each mace. Those received from the King in payment for goods, 

 are always new, and may be paid away again without any doubt of a defi- 

 ciency ; but in dealings with the merchants, the cash is old and mixed, 

 which occasions trouble in disposing of them, besides a loss of 6 or 7 per 

 cent. The ingot of silver, which is marked with characters, and passes as 

 coin, is valued at 3 quans. It weighs 597 grs., and is 17| dwts. fine. 

 Bars of silver are sometimes used as money. 



Weights. — The weights are exactly the same as in China, and all 

 goods are weighed by the dotchin. Only for sugars they allow, instead of 

 100, 150 catties to the pecul, though the Chinese in general receive 160 

 catties to a pecul. The common pecul at Faifoe is however said to be but 

 112 catties. 



Meascres. — The measure is the covid, equal to about 16 English 

 inches. 



TURON. — Cape Turon, in latitude 16? 5' N., and longitude 108° 15' E., 

 is the E. extremity of the peninsula that forms the E. side of Turon Bay ; 

 and Turon Island, in latitude 16^ 11' N., is close to the point of land that 

 forms the N. W. side of its entrance. This is an excellent harbour, where 

 ships are sheltered from all winds. At the S. part of the harbour is the 

 mouth of the river that leads to Turon town, on the point of which is a 

 watch-tower, consisting only of four very high pillars of wood, over which 

 a very slight roof is laid, and a floor fixed upon cross posts into the pillars 

 towards the upper ends ; to this floor the watchman ascends by a Jong ladder, 

 and there he can readily see through the harbours mouth any vessels to the 

 N., and those which are to the S. over the isthmus. Near the watch-tower 

 is an office where boats and small vessels going into the harbour, are stopped 

 to be examined. 



The town of Turon, to which, as well as the harbour, the natives 

 give the name of Hanson, is situated on the W. bank of the river, a few 

 miles from its entrance ; it is now little better than a village, but it is said 

 to have been a place of considerable trade. The neighbourhood is cultivated 

 with rice, tobacco, and sugar-canes. 



Provisions. — The market-place is well supplied with all the vegetable 

 produce of tropical climates ; also large quantities of poultry, particularly 

 ducks ; and the harbour abounds with lish of various kinds. 



HUE, or WHEY. — This city Is situated about 3 leagues up a river, 

 about 18 leagues to the N.W. of Turon harbour, in latitude about 16° 35' N.; 

 tbere is good anchorage off it in six fathoms. The river is broad, and runs 

 over a bed of white sand. Though shallow, and not convenient for navi- 

 gation, it is frequented hy junks from Tonquin and China. 



