Siam, 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE, 



above 18 in the S. one; it is about a mile wide at its entrance, but becomes 

 narrower upwards, About G or 7 leagues up is the town of Bomea, which 

 is handsome, situated close to the shore or the right hand side of the river ; 

 it consists of about 100 houses. The trade of the kingdom being carried on 

 at Cachao, you proceed in country boats from this place ; and it requires a 

 sharp look-out to prevent your goods being plundered by the boatmen. 



HEAN is about 40 miles above Domea, and (it) from the sea; it is situ- 

 ated on the E. side of the riv er, and is a town of considerable extent. Here 

 the Chinese merchants reside; they were formerly settled at Cachao, but 

 removed from thence by order of the Tonquinese Government, and pro- 

 hibited from again returning: they, however, go there to buy and sell goods, 

 hut do not make it their constant residence. A little before reaching Hean, 

 the main stream of the river divides into the two channels of Rokbo and 

 Domea, up the former of which the Chinese and Siamese vessels come and 

 anchor before iJean. The Governor of the province resides here, who gives 

 his chop or pass to every vessel proceeding up or down the river. 



CACHAO, the capital of Tonquin, (though now subject to Cochin- 

 China) is about 20 miles from Hean, or 80 from the sea ; it is situated on 

 the W. side of the river, is very large, but without any fortifications ; many 

 of the houses are built of brick, but the generality are of mud and timber, 

 thatched with palm-leaves. The principal streets are wide, and mostly paved 

 with small stones. The Kings of Tonquin made this city their constant 

 residence. 



Trade. — The natives carry on little or no trade themselves by sea; it 

 is therefore transacted by the Chinese and Siamese vessels, and occasionally 

 by Europeans. The articles imported are long cloths, red allejars, ordinary 

 white betellees, brimstone, betel-nut, fine and coarse chintz, Caliatour 

 wood, fine and coarse ginghams, large and small guns, h'ne white morees, 

 putchock, pepper, ordinary white salempores, saltpetre, silver in coin, 

 Cossimbuzar silk, and tafleties. 



English broad cloth and other European commodities are in little 

 estimation ; the only colours of the first at all regarded, are red, black, grass 

 green, and blue. 



The returns made to the Chinese and other traders frequenting Tonquin, 

 are aniseeds, cassia, China-root, earthen-ware, galangal, gold, ginger, 

 lackered ware, musk, paper, rhubarb, raw silk, wrought silks, timber of 

 sorts, tortoise-shell, and w T orm-seeds. 



Of gold great quantities may be procured, about the same quality of 

 China gold, from 92 to 94- touch. They manufacture many kinds of beau- 

 tiful sUks, pelongs, gauzes, &c, which are very cheap, and their lackered 



