CHAP. X.
G E N E R A L SK E T C H OF T H E M A N N E R S , C H A R A C T E R , A N D
C O N D I T IO N OF T H E N A T IV E S OF TU RO N .
Cochinchinese Dinners— Communication with the young King o f Tung-quin____
Presents sent by him to the Ambassador—Entertainment given at Turon on
the King of England’s Birth-Day—Plays and other Amusements—
Activity of the Cochinchinese— How they agree and disagree with the
Chinese— Treatment of their Women— Consequences of it—Easy Terms on
which Women are transferred to Strangers—Instances of it—Dress—
Buildings— Diet and Means o f Subsistence—Extensive Use o f marine
Productions as Articles o f Food—Low State o f the Arts and Manufactures—
Excel most in naval Architecture— Language—Religion Laws the
same as those o f China— Punishments not so frequent.
I t was observed in the last chapter, that when the jealousy
and alarm had in some degree subsided, to which the appearance
of our squadron and the unfounded insinuations
thrown out by Manuel Duomfi had given rise, the markets
were from day to day better supplied with refreshments, the
officers of government under less restraint, and that something
like mutual confidence as well as an uninterrupted intercourse
was established between the inhabitants of the port
and the persons belonging to our squadron; that the officers
of the ships and the gentlemen attached to the embassy,
whom business or curiosity might induce to spend the day on
shore, were entertained with a public dinner. On their side,
some of the leading men daily visited the ships, where, notwithstanding
the very little relish they seemed to feel for our
cookery, they usually dined. They neither admired our beer
nor our wine; but their avidity for raw rum, brandy, or any
kind of spirituous liquors, was so great that, after their first
visit, it was found expedient not to leave the quantity to
their discretion, as the whole party went out of the ship in a
state of complete intoxication.
As none of the houses in the town were large enough
for the accommodation of so numerous a party, the Governor
issued his directions for building a spacious shed,
which, by the help of the- ever ready and useful bamboo,
was finished in the course of a few hours : the roof and the
Sides were covered with thick close mats. Within this shed
was placed a row of little tables-, with forms on each side, to
which might sit down; conveniently from- twenty to twenty-
four persons. In China it is the custom to cover their little
square tables so completely with dishes, or rather bowls,
that no part of their surfaces shall be seen; but the Cochinchinese
seem to have improved on the liberality of their
highly polished- neighbours, by not merely covering the table,
but by piling the bowls in rows-upon- each other, three or four,
in depth.. I should suppose that we- seldom sat down to a-
fewer number of bowls than two hundred, exclusive of the
eups of rice which are handed round to the guests in the
place of bread;; rice-being in this country, as well as in
China and most of the Oriental nations, the staff of life.
Of table linen,: knives, forks, 'bottles and glasses, they make