C O C H I N-C HINA. y 2 y 
fpring by a Tong-quinefe princels, was at Turon at the peace and profperity of the country, a much more con- 
time of his father’s death. He inflantly affirmed the reins fiderable place. The houfes, which are low and chiefly 
of government, as lawful fuccefl'or to his father, while his built of bamboo, and covered with ruffles, or the ftraw of 
elder, but illegitimate brother, retained pofleflion of Tong- rice^were, except about the market-place, interfperfed 
quin, and claimed a right to the whole of his father’s with trees. Many of the bed buildings are in the center 
conqueffs. The (late of rebellion in Cochin-china had of gardens planted with the areca-nut-tree, and various 
begun upwards of twenty years before, in the courfe of other pleafing or ufeful (lirubs. Behind the town were 
which fo very many of the combatants were (lain, the groves of oranges, limes, plantains, and areca-nut-trees, 
country was fo cxhauffed, and the furviving parties fo in the midll of tome of which were houfes, and in others 
balanced, that, at this time, no confiderable enterprize only remains of buildings. The oppofite fide of the river 
was undertaken by any of them; though each was bufy was divided into fields, furrounded by fences, and culti- 
in preparing new plans for the fupport of himfelf and the vated with tobacco, rice, and fugar-canes. The market 
overthrow of his enemies. In the mean time the people in the town was plentifully fupplied with all the vege- 
began, in fome degree, to breathe; but had the kingdom table produce of tropical climates, as well as with large 
even been more fettled, the ambaffador did not think it quantities of poultry, particularly ducks; and, amon°- 
would have been proper to enter into any fort of com- other fowls, the black-bellied darter, a bird fo called from 
mercial negociation, or even to prefent the credential its fuppofed propenfity to dart its (harp and long beak at 
letters, with which he had been entruffed for that king- any fliining objedt near it, particularly into any eye turned 
dom, before he had delivered, in the firfl inflance, thole towards it; on this account thofe animals are brought to 
he had in charge for the emperor of China. His excel- the Turon market with their eyelids fewn together, to 
lency, therefore, determined to confine himfelf to mef- deprive them of the opportunity of difcerning the eyes of 
fages of compliment and refpedl, and to a return of pre- thofe who come to purchafe them. See Plotus. 
fents for thofe he had fo feafonably received for the ufe There were no (hambles or places containing the fepa- 
of the fquadron. An uninterrupted communication was rated parts of animals killed for fale. At an entertain- 
continued to be maintained with the people of Turon ; ment, however, given by the chief of the place to a party 
but not without fome marks of miltruft, and confequent from the Engliffi fhips, many of the diflies, or rather 
w.atchfulnefs, on both fides. bowls, upon the table, were filled with pork and beef. 
The harbour of Turon abounds with fifli. In fome of cut into linall fquare morfels, and dreffed with a variety 
the boats the filherman, his wife, and children, continue of favoury fauces; other bowls contained Hewed fifli, 
with him, (heltered under a circular roofinffead of a flat fowls, and ducks; and many had fruits and fweetmeats. 
deck. Round the young children’s necks are tied broad The number of bowls, piled in three rows, one above the 
pieces of gourd or calibalh, to keep their bodies a-float other, exceeded certainly an hundred. Before each per- 
and their heads from finking, in cafe of their falling over- fon were placed boiled rice to ferve in (lead of bread; and 
board. As often as the fifliermen come on (bore, they two porcupine quills, by way of a knife and fork. The 
implore their deities for the fafety of their families, and fpoons were made of porcelain, fomewhat in the form of 
their fuccefs in fifliing, by erecting fmall altars to them fmall (hovels. After dinner an ardent fpirit, made from 
among the branches of large trees, or other elevated places, rice, was ferved in fmall cups around. Wine does not 
on which they make offerings of rice, fugar, and other feem to be in ufe, or known ; though vines are faid to 
victuals, and burn fhort pieces of odorous and confe- grow fpontaneoufly in the mountains. Had the art of 
crated wood. At the foutliern extremity of the harbour Hopping the fermentation of vegetable juices, before they 
is the mouth of the river which leads to Turon town, palled from the vinous Hate, been underflood by them, 
On the point, which feparates the river from that har- it is probable that it would be, in mofl inltances, pre- 
bour, is a watch-tower, confiding only of four very high ferred to diflilled liquor, to the ule of which this people 
pillars of wood, over which a flight roof is laid, and a feem to be much addicted. More of this Cochin-chinele 
floor is fixed upon crofs pofls into the pillars towards their fpirit, not ill refembling what in Ireland is called whif- 
upper ends. To this floor the watchman afcends by a key, was drunk by the hofl than by his guefls; though 
long ladder, and there he can readily fee, through the the former, by way of fetting a good example, filled his 
harbour’s mouth, any vefiels to the northward, and” thofe cup to the brim, in a true European Hyle of joviality, and, 
which are to the fouthward over the iflhmus. Near the after drinking, turned up his cup, to (hew he had emptied 
watch-tower is an office where the boats and fmall vefiels, it to the bottom. As the gentlemen of the.lquadron were 
going into the river, are Hopped to be examined. The returning from this entertainment, they were requefled, 
river is about two hundred yards in width, and its cur- by figns, to Hop, while an aged lady, with fome difficul- 
rent into the bay is l'ufficiently flrong to work itfelf a ty, walked from her houfe towards them. She had heard 
channel in the bank of land, accumulated at its entrance that Europeans were palling by, and, not having before 
into the harbour. On each fide of this channel the fand feen any, leemed anxious to take the opportunity, which 
is raifed fo high as, at low water, to be uncovered by the might not offer again in her time. She approached them 
fea ; and on this fand was feen, for the firff time through- with looks of eager curiofity, but with much gentlenefs 
out the prefent voyage, that celebrated bird called the pe- of manners, and a countenance implying a willingnefs to 
lican of the wildernefs, whole gullet, bill, and wings, feem apologize for the freedom Ihe took, to Hop and gaze at 
to be much beyond the proportionate fize of its body, them. She obferved, with great attention, their figures, 
which is, however, equal to that of the largefl Turkey, drefs, and countenances, and appeared perfectly to enjoy 
It frequents only waters where fifli abound; of which its a fpeblacle 16 new to her. She at length retired, fignify- 
prefence argues plenty. The depth of the water in the ing her thanks to the gentlemen for their complailance, 
river was upwards of two fathoms. One Chinefe junk, and exprefl'ed every mark of fatisfadlion, at being grati- 
and feveral Cochin-chinefe large boats, were at anchor in fied in one of the moff ardent willies remaining in her 
the river, and others palling through it. The land on mind. 
its weffern bank, on which the town of Turon lay, about The Cochin-chinefe feemed fufficiently dexterous and 
a mile above its mouth, Hoped down to the water’s edge; attentive, though with fcarcely any principles of fcience, 
and the naked infants, of two years old and upwards, to make, on any fubdances which promil'ed to be of ufe 
came, from the houfes built among the (hrubbery grow- or comfort to them in private life, fuch trials and experi- 
ing upon its borders, and played and fwam like duck- ments, as were likely to produce beneficial refults. In 
lings in the water. the culture of their lands, and in the few manufactures 
Turon, to which, as well as to the river and harbour, exercifed amongff them, they were not behind nations 
the natives give the name of Han-fan, was now little where the lciences are known ; and, in fome inflances, 
better than a village, but is faid to have been, during the they have fallen upon proceffes notufed elfewliere, though 
more 
