3IO COCHINCHINA. 
There is, however, such a vast difference in the circum- 
stances under which an European and the inhabitant of a 
tropical chmate are situated, that the former, who for the 
first time finds himself among the latter, will be very apt to 
fall into error in attempting to form a comparative estimate 
of their respective conditions. To the one, fuel and clothing 
and close and compact lodging are essential, not only to his 
comfort, but to his existence ; to the other, fire is of no 
further Use than a few embers to boil his rice, or to prepare 
an offering to his god. For splendid and massy fabrics 
neither his taste nor necessity incline him ; and close thick 
clothing, so far from being a comfort, would be to him the 
most inconvenient of all incumbrances. Even the little which 
he occasionally finds it expedient to use he frequently throws 
aside ; for Avhere nakedness is no disgrace, he can at all 
times, and in all places, accommodate his dress to his feel- 
inos and his circumstances, without offence to others or em- 
barrassment to himself ; an advantage which is denied to the 
European. 
Although we had neither expected to meet with an ex- 
tensive city nor magnificent palaces in the vicinity of Turon 
bay, yet as this spot was known to have been anciently the 
chief mart for the trade of this country with China and 
Japan, we felt rather disappointed on finding a few villages 
only, in the largest of which the number of houses did 
not exceed one hundred, and these chiefly thatched cot- 
tages. That it had suffered considerably from the late revo- 
lutions was evident from the ruins of larger and better build- 
ings than any which now appeared, and from the inequalities 
