in a sitting posture. I held conversation with the Bonzes
attached to this temple, who seemed to be very ignorant;
for they could tell nothing of the propagation of their religion
in Cochin China, but that it had come from the western
country. Behind the temple is another building,
containing the names of deceased Bonzes : this was held
in great veneration.
A P P E N D I X B.
INSTRUCTIONS
TO JOHN CRAWFURD, ESQ. AGENT TO THE GOVERNOR-
GENERAL, ON A MISSION TO THE EASTWARD.
P O L IT IC A L D E P A R T M E N T .
S i r ,
Y o u r appointment as Agent to the Governor-General,
to proceed on a Mission to Siam and Cochin China, has
been already notified to you in my letter o f the 1st instant ;
and I am now commanded, by the Most Noble the Governor
General in Council, to furnish you with the necessary
instructions for your guidance.
S.—You are aware, that in the earlier period o f the Indian
commerce of the European nations, the trade o f Siam
and Cochin China constituted no unimportant branch o f it ;
and that during their struggle for superiority among themselves
in India, and those contests with the native powers
which led to the establishment of territorial possessions, the
commerce with those two countries was overlooked or neglected;
so that, during the first half o f the last century,
that trade became extremely inconsiderable, and during the
last seventy years may be looked upon as having altogether
ceased.
3 .— From the most authentic information in the possession
of this Government, there is every reason to believe
that the industry and civilization, together with the geographical
position and natural fertility o f soil which characterise
the kingdoms o f Siam and Cochin China, are such
as to render it extremely desirable, under the present stagnation
o f trade, to negotiate with the Sovereigns o f those
countries the renewal of a commercial intercourse with
Great Britain and her Indian dominions. The subject,
indeed, of cultivating a more intimate connexion with Siam
has been repeatedly brought to the notice of the Supreme
Government by the Government o f Penang, and towards
the end o f last year, a proposition from that Government
to depute an Agent to Siam received the sanction o f his
Lordship in Council. That sanction has, however, only
been partially acted on, and the design may now be conveniently
superseded by the Mission which his Excellency in
Council has resolved* to commit to your charge.
4.— I now proceed to state to you some general Rules
and Observations for the guidance of your conduct in the
execution of the important duty in which you are ab'out to
engage.
5.— I t is not unknown to you, that among the various
states of farther Asia, beyond the peninsula o f Malacca, a
very general fear and distrust o f Europeans, highly detrimental
to the interests o f commerce, is predominant ; resulting,
it is too much to be feared, from the violence,
imprudence, and disregard o f national rights, which occasionally
characterised the conduct o f all the European
nations in the earlier periods o f their intercourse. The
first object o f your attention will be to endeavour to remove
every unfavourable impression which may exist as to