both which are very ferviceable for mails. The country allb
S a p p a n W ood, produces Sappan-wood, which Dampier compares to the Logwood
of Campeachy. It proves to be the Caju Sappan, or Lignum
Sap an of Rumpbius, iv. 56. tab. x x i. LignO Brajiliano Simile, Bau-
bin. Pin. 393. G/efalpina Sappan, Syft. Pi. ii. 259. Loureiro, FI.
-loch-. 320. This tree grows principally in Siam and Ciamba; is
o f the firft ufe in India for the dying o f red. Rumpbius gives a
very M l account o f the means b y which it produces a tinge of
different ihades. It is affo brought to the European market. It
grows to a moderate fize; the branches are thick fet with ihort
fpines. The wood is very hard, and much ufed by the Indians
for pegs to fatten the boards of their ihips. This plant, has
been introduced into the Kew garden, and is defcribed by Mr.
Aston * finder the name of Ctefalpina veficaria, narrow-leaved
prickly Brafile'tto.
T he zoology o f PoBquin would give a moft plentiful harveft;
here feems to be a continuation o f moft of the animals o f the
E l e p h a n t s . countries o f India we have patted over. The elephants are generally
in a ftate of nature; they are very wild and Ih y ; but
when taken their tteih is eagerly fought after; the trunk is a
peculiar dainty t The king keeps a few for ftate; when one
happens to die, the fleih is given to the poor, and the trunk
cut to pieces and fent to the mandarines; horfe-fleih is alfo frequently
brought to market. T h i s favors o f Tartarian origin.
2jIRDS; T he variety o f birds, terreftrial and aquatic, is incredible. T h e
water fowl pair before May, and fly in pairs during the months
o f June and July. 'From OBdber to March they colletft in vaft
* Hurt. Kew. ii. SSflocks.
flocks. The Ponquineje take them in nets fet on poles, which
the birds ftrike on in the twilight.
F i s h is in equal abundance. That delicate fauce we call Soya
is made here of one fpecies; and o f a fort o f fhrimp, is produced
another reliihing luxury called Balichaun.
T he chief river of the country is called the river o f Pm quin,
which empties itfelf into the bay b y two channels, one called
Rok-bo, the other twenty leagues to the north-eaft, which Dampier
named that o f Domea. The firft, frequented by the fmaller
vcfliis, has not ahove twelve feet water at the entrance, and is
-the moft convenient for the,Siam.efe and Chinefe. The other is
ufed by the European ihips on account o f the depth. Before
the mouth is a line o f hard fand two miles long; the entrance
is diftinguiihed .by a high ridgy mountain far up the country
called the Elephant.. About fix leagues from the mouth o f the
river is the village, o f Domea, ulually confifting o f .a hundred
shoufes, yet on the arrival o f the European ihips it foon increafes
to a large town; the natives refort for fake o f trade from .all
parts ; houfes fuddenly fpringup; -for being only gonftructed of
frames of bamboo, and the roof o f palm or other leaves, .a,tem.-
porary town is quickly-formed, in which a fair is kept.as long
as the ihips remain in the harbor.
T h e river is fubject to the fame periodical-floods as others
in the;tropical regions; and the fame fertility is the confeqnence.
The wet-feafon commences -the latter end of April or -^beginning
of May, and lafts-till towards the clqfe of Augufl. The rains are
intermittent; fome are o f two or three days continuance,, others
o f only a -few-hour.s,-with intervals of .fine weather, efpecially
L 2 towards
SO V A SAUCE.