Provinces, Chief Towns, Rivers, &a. Cochinchina..........Ke-Hoa... Cambodia............................... Cambodia or Levek..Mecon. ....... ASSAM joins the north-east part of Bengal ; it is situated in a valley through which the Burrampooter, or Brahmapootra flows. The country is fertile and produces rice, ivory, lac, pepper, silk, and cotton. Gold is found in the beds of the rivers, and borax and musk are exported. The ancient capital was Ghergong, defended by an extensive fortress called Rungpore. The Birman Empire includes Ava, Arracan, Pegu, Martaban, and part of Siam. It is bounded on the north by Assam; on the east by China, Laos, and Cambodia; on the south by Siam; and on the west by Bengal and the sea. This country exhibits every variety of soil. A flat marshy delta extends along the mouth of the Irawaddy. Beyond this are pleasing hills, picturesque vallies, and high mountains. The plains and vallies produce rice, corn, sugar-canes, tobacco, indigo, cotton, &c. There are also mines of gold, silver, rubies, sapphires, &c., near the river Keenduem which falls into the Irawaddy. The chief towns are Munnipore, Arracan, UMMERAPOORA*, Monchaboo, Pegu, and the sea-port of Rangoon on the Irawaddy. SIAM consists of a vast extended plain, which is intersected by the river Menam. It it separated from Pegu on the west by a chain of mountains; on the east another chain separates it from Laos and Cambodia. As the interior of this country has not been traversed by any European the topography is of course very imperfect. The banks of the Menam are low and marshy, but very populous from Bankok to Juthia.† Ligore, in the peninsula of Malacca, on the Gulf of Siam, belongs to the Siamese. MALAYA is connected with Siam by the Isthmus of Ava, the ancient capital, is now in ruins. + Called also Siam, and Odia. Kraw. The country is intersected by a chain of lofty mountains, and covered with extensive forests and marshes, so that it is very difficult to penetrate into the interior; and the Malays, who act as guides, are in general more dangerous than the tigers and serpents with which the country abounds. Tin is the only mineral substance exported; the other exports are pepper, sago, rattans, gums, elephants' teeth, and some gold-dust. The imports are opium, piece goods, and silks. The chief towns are Pera, Patany, Salengore, Pahang, Queda, Malacca, Singapore, &c. TONQUIN is situated on a gulf of that name to the south of China. On the north and west the country is skirted by mountains, the centre and sea coast present one extensive plain. The Tonquinese cultivate potatoes, yams, plantains, rice, mangoes, lemons, cocoa-nuts, pineapples, oranges, &c.; their manufactures are silk and cotton goods, muskets, porcelain, Chinese paper, varnished furniture, and hardware. Besides Kescho, the capital, there are the cities of Han-Vints, Tranash, Kausang, Hun-Nam or Hean. LAOS is situated to the north of Cambodia, and northeast of Siam, and is separated from all the adjoining states by high mountains and thick forests. This country is very little known to Europeans, and the accounts given of it are contradictory. The chief town is Lantchang or Langione. COCHINCHINA extends along the Chinese sea from Tonquin to Tsiompa. It consists of a long plain, between the sea coast, and a chain of mountains running parallel with the coast. The plain is very fertile, and produces all the tropical fruits, rice and sugar. The forests afford rose-wood, iron-wood, ebony, sapan, sandal-wood, eagle-wood, and calambac. The principal towns are Ke-Hoa, Faifo, and Turon, on a fine bay of that name. The Paracels and other small islands on the coast abound in the nests of the Salangan swallow; these nests are formed of a glutinous substance which is used in soups, and highly esteemed by the Chinese. CAMBODIA is situated on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Siam. There are but few authentic accounts of Camıbodia, and none of modern date. The coast is, in general, flat and overgrown with wood; various sorts of precious stones are found among the mountains, also gold. The soil is fertile, producing abundance of rice, legumes, fruits, and medicinal plants, gamboge, &c. This country also produces considerable quantities of ivory, rose-wood, sandal-wood, eagle-wood, calambac, teak, and iron-wood. TSIOMPA is a small province situated between CochinChina and Cambodia. The country is barren, intensely hot, and very unhealthy during a great part of the year. The little commerce which Tsiompa has, is carried on by Saigong, at the mouth of the river Cambodia. EAST INDIAN ISLANDS.* I. THE SUNDA ISLANDS. THE SUNDA ISLANDS are situated in the Indian Ocean, between 95 and 118 degrees of east longitude, and between 7 degrees north and 8 degrees south latitude, comprehending the islands of Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Bally, Madura, Banca, &c. SUMATRA lies between 95 and 106 degrees east longitude, and between 6 degrees south, and 5° 30′ north latitude. It is separated from Malacca by the Straits of Malacca, and from Java by the Straits of Sunda. It is about 1300 miles long and 200 broad. The English East India Company had two settlements here, Bencoolen, latitude 3° 49' south, long. 102° 6' east, and Fort Marlborough near it.† Palembang, on the north-east coast of Sumatra, exports pepper, rattans, silk, cotton, ivory, cats'-eyes, sulphur, salt, wax, rice, benzoin, indigo, tobacco, buffaloes, and * Malte-Brun designates the East Indian islands by the name of Oceanica. Given up to the Dutch in exchange for the town and fort of Malacca, and the island of Singapore. gold. There are tin mines in the country, and the forests abound in ebony. Achen is likewise a place of importance, in latitude, 5° 22′ north, longitude 95° 40′ east; it carries on a considerable trade with the natives of the coast of Coromandel. The island of Singapore, between Sumatra and Ma-lacca, has within a few years been occupied by the English, and constituted a free port. JAVA lies between 104° 55' and 114° 47' east longitude, and is separated from Sumatra by the Strait of Sunda. Batavia, the principal place belonging to the Dutch in the East Indies, lies in this island, latitude 6° 10′ north, longitude 106° 57' east. The East India ships, to and from China, go through the Straits of Sunda. Samarang, in the north of the island, is a large comnercial town, with a considerable European population. The climate, though not very salubrious, is far preferable to that of Batavia. The city of Bantam was once a rich and flourishing place, but is now little better than a miserable village. The island belongs to the Dutch, being restored to them by the English in 1816. BORNEO lies between 7 degrees north, and 4 degrees south latitude, and between 109 and 118 degrees of east longitude. It is 760 miles in length and 620 in breadth. Borneo was discovered by the Portuguese, in 1521. The central parts have never been explored by Europeans, and the insalubrity of the climate has prevented them from frequenting its shores. The principal towns are Borneo at the north of the island, and Benjermassin on the south. Gold is found in large quantities in the island, and in the west and south coast are valuable diamond mines. The Pongo, the largest of the monkey tribe, equalling the human race in stature, is found in this island; also the Ouran-outang, an animal bearing an intimate resemblance in figure and propensities to the human species; its limbs are slender, and its height scarcely exceeds three feet. BALLY is separated from the east end of the island of Java by the Straits of Bally, through which the East India ships sometimes pass to and from China, and some times they pass through the Straits of Alass, between the island of Lombock and Sumbawa. The southern point of this island is in latitude 8° 56' south, longitude 115° 23' east. MADURA is separated from the north-east of Java by a narrow channel; the scenery of the island is picturesque, and the country throughout is fertile and tolerably cultivated. The chief town is Samânap. BANCA is separated from the island of Sumatra by the Straits of Banca. The southernmost point of this island is in latitude 3° 4' south, longitude 106° 17' east. Banca is situated opposite to Palembang in Sumatra : there are several tin mines in the island which are worked by a colony of Chinese. The island belongs to the Dutch. BILLITON is separated from Banca by Gaspar Straits, through which the vessels bound for China pass, after passing the Straits of Sunda. This island contains some iron mines. II. ISLANDS TO THE WEST AND NORTH OF SUMATRA. The island of NYAS is fertile and populous. A great trade is carried on between it and the town of Nattal in Sumatra. The NASSAU or POGGY ISLANDS consist of rocks and mountains covered with forests which afford excellent timber. The sago-tree grows in plenty and constitutes the chief article of food to the inhabitants. Cocoa-nut trees, bamboos, and the common fruits of Sumatra, are found here. The NICOBAR islands form three small groupe between 6' 51' and 9° 25' north latitude. The most northerly is called Car Nicobar, and the southermost Sambelong. These islands produce plenty of cocoa, areca, sugarcanes, sassafras, excellent teak timber. The edible birds' nests, so much esteemed in China, abound here and in the Andaman islands. The ANDAMAN islands are situated to the north of the Nicobar islands, between 10° 15′ and 13° 30′ north latitude, and in 92° 30' east longitude. The inhabitants of these islands are an extremely savage race. |