C O C H I N C H I N A. 349 
The second day, however, the market was rather better 
stocked ; and, in a few days more, when they found that 
their articles were saleable at their own prices, and money 
plentiful, it was abundantly supplied with live stock, fruit, 
and vegetables. The leading men of the place, who now 
beoan to come forward, shewed an inclination to be civil, 
and to pay some attention to our requisitions. They even 
visited us on board ; and on the fourth or fifth day it was an- 
nounced that, for the sake of convenience, a public dinner 
would be daily prepared on shore, for such of the gentlemen ' , 
and officers of the squadron as might chuse to partake of it. 
Our intercourse with the people was now become constant 
and unrestrained, and mutual confidence was established 
between us ; and this brought to light a discovery not very 
creditable to our friend Manuel Duome. This Portuoueze 
trader, in the true spirit of commercial jealousy, had availed 
himself of the suspicions of the Cochinchinese, and insinuated 
that nothing was more probable than the English squadroM 
having come thither with hostile views. And it seemed he 
was at no little pains to convince them that such was really 
the case, in the hope that, by their shutting the markets 
against us, we should be induced to take a speedy departure, t 
and leave the coast clear to himself. To explain the circum- 
stances which gave colour to these suspicions will require a 
brief statement of the affairs of this distracted country for the 
last thirty years ; and I am unwilling to think that the his- 
torical sketch I am about to give will be considered, even by 
Mr. Pinkerton, as unimportant or uninteresting. 
K K 
