CO CHIN CHIN A. 341 
the Chinese to that of Ceylon. It is said to be a species of 
Cassia, and not of the Laiirus. For rice there is a never- 
faihng demand in the populous city of Canton, and sugar 
and pepper are equally acceptable ; all of which are most 
abundantly produced in the fertile vallies of Cochinchina. 
The price of sugar at Turon was about three dollars for 
133 lb., of pepper six or eight dollars for the same quantity, 
and of rice only half a dollar. To these productions may be 
added the areca nut, cardamoms, ginger, and other spices ; 
swallows' nests, which are collected in gieat abundance on 
the large cluster of islands running parallel with the coast, 
and known in the charts by the name of the Paracels ; the 
Bichos do Ma?\ or sea-snakes, more properly sea-slugs, and 
usually called Trepan in commercial language, which with 
sharks' fins, Moluscas or sea-blubbers, and other marine pro- 
ducts of a gelatinous quality whether animal or vegetable, 
are at all times in demand by the Chinese. It furnishes 
besides many other valuable products, as gum lac, camboge, 
indigo, elephanis' teeth, cotton, and raw silk ; and there 
seemed to be no want in the country of gold, silver, and 
copper. The hilts of the officers' swords and the clasps of 
their belts were generally made of silver, but we frequently 
observed them of solid gold. It is said, indeed, that a very 
rich gold mine has lately been, discovered near Hue, the 
northern capital. Silver is brought to market in bars about 
five inches long, in value about eleven Spanish dollars. 
All these articles, so well adapted for the China market, 
might be taken by us in exchange for fire arms and ammuni- 
tion, swords, cutlery and various manufactures in iron and 
