Industry and Knavery of the Chinese. 22^ 
be falfe, in order to produce in other* the belief of what is 
thought to be true, muft, upon themofl charitable principles, 
be imputed to many, otherwife venerable characters, through 
whofe hands the doctrines of Chriflianity pa/fed for many ages 
in their way to us, as the fource of all the filly fables' related of 
the Romifh faints, many of them not lefs extravagant and ab- 
furd than this (lory of the White King, and all of them the 
invention of the firll relater. 
The Bougis, MacafTars, and Boetons, are fo firmly per- 
fuaded that they have relations of the crocodile fpecies in the 
rivers of their own country, that they perform a periodical cere- 
mony in remembrance of them. Large parties of them go out in 
a boat, furnifhed with great plenty of provifions, and all kinds 
of mufic, and row backwards and forwards, in places where 
crocodiles and ailegators are moll common, finging and weep- 
ing by turns, each invoking his kindred, till a crocodile ap- 
pears, when the mufic inftantly Hops, and provifions, beteie, 
and tobacco are thrown into the water. By this civility to the 
fpecies, they hope to recommend themfelves to their relations 
at home ; and that it will be accepted inllead of offerings 
immediately to themfelves, which it is not in-their power to 
F a y- 
In the next rank to the Indians (land the Chinefe, who ill 
this place are numerous, but poffefs very little property ; many 
ef them live within the walls, and keep fliops. The fruit- 
fellers of PafTar Piflang havo been mentioned already ; but 
others have a rich fhow of European and Chinefe goods : the 
far greater part however live in a quarter by themfelves, with- 
out the walls, called Campang China. Many of them are 
carpenters, joiners, fmiths, taylors, flipper makers, dyers of 
cotton, and embroiderers; maintaining the character of in- 
duftry that is univerfaliy given of them : and foiiie are fcattered 
about the country, where they cultivate gardens, fow rice and 
fugar, or keep cattle and buffaloes, whofe milk they bring 
daily to town. 
There is nothing clean cr dirty, honefl or diihonefl, pro- 
vided there is not too much danger of a halter, that the Chi- 
nefe will not readily do for money. But though they work 
with great diligence, and patiently undergo any degree of 
labour ; yet no fooner have they laid down their tools than they 
begin to game, either at cards or dice, or fome other play 
among the multitude that they have invented, which are al- 
together unknown in Europe: to this they apply with fuch 
eagernefs, as fcarcely to allow time for the neceffary refrefh- 
ments of food and fleep ; fo that it is rare to fee a Chinefe idle, 
as it is to fee a Dutchman or an Indian employed. 
In manners they are always civil, or rather obfequious; and 
i* drefs they arc remarkably neat and dean, to whatever rank 
of 
