B a y o f
T o n q u in .
F r u i t s .
M u l b e r r y .
R h u s v e r n ix .
IN D IA ' B E Y O N D THE GANGE S ,
which is that o f Macao, and the numerous iiles that bound the
channels to the great port of Canton.
T h e bay o f Tonquin begins near the wall o f Cochin-China,
and at the northern extremity o f that kingdom. The entrance
is bounded on the eaitern fide by the ifland o f Hainan. The
middle of the bay has very deep water, and is free from ifles,
excepting a fmall one called the Nachtigaei ; but the ihores are
ikirted with fands, or groups o f little iiles; the coafts them-
felves, according to F> ampler, very low ; and the whole interior
a flat o f the richeft foil, productive o f all the fruits, and poflibly
vegetables, o f the tropics. Paftures. or rice ground border the
banks o f the moft confiderable rivers.
T h e great orange Cam-chain has a thick rind and rough ;
the infide of an amber color ; the fmell is moil: fragrant ; the
tafte moft delicious
T h e Cam-quit is very fmall, round, and o f a deep red.
The tafte is equal to the former, but is efteemed a more un-
wholefome fruit, as it both creates and heightens the diforder
o f the flux. The limes are equal in fize to lemons. The betel
is faid to furpafs any of the Indian.
T h e mulberry is much cultivated here for the nourilhment
o f the filk worms. There is a fucceffion o f them, for the leaves
o f the old trees are held to be lefs nutritive to the worm, and
productive o f worfe filk. The fpecies of Morns is generally fup-
pofed to be the white,
T h e Rhus Vern 'rx is found here and in lèverai other parts o f
India citra Gangem. It is the valuable tree which yields thé
varniih fo ufeful in the lacquering of variety o f things, and giving
T O N Q U I N .
ing them a fort o f immortality ; the beft is in Japan. The
reader may fatisfy his curiofity further by confulting Phunberg,
Flora Japon. p. 121. Kmmpfer’s travels, i. 114. and his Am ten.
Acad. 79T. fig. 792. Kahn * found it in North America, and
mentions it under the name o f the poifon tree. It certainly
merits the title, but its effects are not general ; fome perfons can
receive its juice on the body or hands without the leaft ill con-
fequence, while others are afflicted with violent fwelling, acute
pains, and blifters fo numerous that the patient will refemble a
leper, and his very ikin peel off ; fome people are even ftruck
with blindnefs for two days together ; much depends on the
conftitutions o f thofe affeited. There are men that will handle
the tree, or touch the juice with impunity ; while others will be
vifited with all the deleterious fymptoms by being in the way
of the fmoke, or even of the wind which carries the effluvia or
exhalations o f this lingular tree.
I t has been obferved that the workers in Laquer or Japan,
feel the bad effects, being fubjeCt to violent eruptions, in form
of boils or blotches;. The laborers can only work in thè dry
feafon, when the north winds blow. They are obliged to lay
feveral coats on, each o f which muft have time to dry, before
the other is applied. The varniih is brought to market in great
tubs all the working feafon, the natural color is white, and thick
like cream, but changes in the air, and becomes blackiih ; F)ampler
fays that the Ponquinefe have thè art o f making o f it a glue
the beft in the world.
In this kingdom, are abundance o f fir and poon trees,
- * Voi; 1.177.
Vo l . III. l both
73