F a c t o r ie s .
tiles* Here are three regal palaces; two very mean, the
third more magnificent, but built o f timber, and open at the
iides. This, with' the courts, fiih-ponds, and docks for the
pleafure boats, take up a vaft fpace o f ground, furrounded by
a wall faced with brick. There are feveral gates, and ftairs to
afcend to the top o f the walls, round which is a pleafant walk.
This palace is the refidence or rather prifon of the Boua, or emperor
o f Teniiutn. In this country is a moft fingular government;
by a revolution which happened long ago, the general of
the reigning monarch made himfelf mailer o f the empire; he
affirmed all the regal power, and feized the whole revenue, but
did not venture to extirpate the royal family, for fear of the af-
feilion the people entertained for their antient rulers. The
executive power-is. lodged in the general or his heirs, who
is called Cheua ; he is-quite abfolute, has his guards, and all the
infignia of -majefty. The Botia is -kept as a ftate prifoner, with
his wives-and -children, and diverts himfelf within the palace
tvalls, for -he is -riever allowed 'to ¡iftir out. The Cboua pays him
all external-refpe&s, vifits-him three times .a year, gives .him the
precedence, makes him a tender elf his life and fervices, and declares
that all he does is-in-kindeefs, to fave him the fatigues/of
government. The Cboua plaees-his own creatures-about him,
and ho others are -permitted -to ha-ve acoefs.
TlfE Engli/h md 'or had f-adlories in this city. -I
am "not Well acquainted with the'exports-of the-country-; they
are faid to be gold, woods for dying, raw and wrought filk,
fome'cdlliCbes,' vdrhiih,-turpentine, "fait,- earthen 'wave, annifeed,
and drugs o f feveral kinds ; pearls are alfo-found on the
co'afts.
T he
T h e royal navy is an affair o f fta-te, ufelefs and contemptible
in wars ; and as to ihips o f commerce, there .are fea'feely any ; fo
that every thing is brought in and out o f the kingdom in foreign
bottoms.
I m a t be pardoned for digreffing to the healing art o f the T o s c ip ra
. , c . • M e d i c i n e . Uonqumep. I -muft produce their receipt for the cure ot the bite
of the mad dog, the gaol diffemper, and other maladies incident
to human nature; let the good intent apologize for the
following extraft, thought worthy of a place in the eleventh
volume * o f the Philofophical TranfadUons.
T h e t ( the"Tonqmnefe) -take o f the beft mu-fk about gr. xvi. of
thè pureft native ci-nnabar, and fineft verm-illion, each about gr.
xxiv. and, having reduced them feparately to impalpable powders,
-mix and adminifter them in about a gill o f arrack ; which,
in two or three hours,' generally throws the patient into a found
fleep and perfpiration ; i f not, they repeat the dofe, and think
the cure cèrtain.
T h e religion o f this country is the fame with that o f Cochin- Religio».
China, but idolatry appears here with much lefs magnificence ;
the Pagodas are mean, and their images numerous. It iliould
feem that the Mandarines and better -fort o f people are more en- -
lightened, and confine themfelves to the worihip o f one GOD.
They do not frequent the pagodas, they have no idols, but adore
the fupreme in their courts, with uplifted eyes. A perfon of the
family reads the petition to heaven. Dampier'i + account o f the
ceremony is curious ; “ When they make this petition,” lays he,
“ they order a great" deal of good meat to be dreffed, and calling
5 P. i o j i . t Vol. ii. 58.
i all