COCHINCHINA. 247 
charts, Turon, which, for the security and conveniencies it 
affords, is equalled by few in the Eastern world, and certainly 
surpassed by none. It is situated in latitude l6° 7' N. 
It was for this bay Ave shaped our course from Pulo Con- 
dore, and we arrived before it on the 24th Ma}^ Not having 
any chart that could be depended on, and perceiving a mul- 
titude of fishing craft between our ships and the shore, we 
sent out a boat with the view of getting a pilot ; but the 
fishermen, on observing it, immediately hoisted their sails 
and scudded away before the wind. At last, however, a 
small boat without any sail was overtaken, from which a 
miserable old wretch was brought away, than Avhom I never 
beheld a more piteous object. His eyes were deeply sunk in 
his head, his face was the colour of an old oaken wainscot, 
haggard, and wrinkled ; and a fe:7 clotted locks of grey hair 
started from under a dirty handkerchief which was bound 
round his head. liis whole dress consisted of a short frock 
patched with pieces of twenty different sorts and colours, 
and a pair of ragged trowsers of the petticoat kind. Such a 
specimen af the people we were about to visit was not cal- 
culated to raise very high expectations in their favour. On 
stepping into the ship he seemed to be greatly agitated, cast- 
ing his eyes first round the spacious deck, then at the large 
guns, and not a little disturbed at the appearance of so 
many people ; but, above all, the great height of the masts 
seemed to attract his attention. He frequently fell on his 
knees, and burst into tears. With some difficulty he was at 
last sufficiently pacified to be made, by signs, to comprehend 
the purpose for Avhich he had been brought on boai d ; and 
