COCIIINCHINA, a kingdom in Asia, extends from about the lath to the 20th degree of North Latitude, and is bounded by the kingdom of Tonkin, or Tung-quin on the north; by the gulf of Tung-quin, and the Chinese sea, on the east ; by the Indian ocean on the south ; and by a ridge of high mountains, which separate it from Cam bodia, on the west. It stretches along the side of the Chinese sea from 600 to 700 miles, its breadth bearing no propartion to its length ; for, in general, its breadth, from east to west, does not exceed a degree, and in many places is not above 20 miles. The whole country is in tersected by rivers which descend from the mountains, and which, though not large, are very favourable to in land navigation. The climate is healthy, similar in tem perature to Tung-quin, but milder by its % icinity to the ocean.
The face of the country exhibits but few marks of tillage, nevertheless- it is tint unfruitful. In the rainy season, which lasts during the months of September, Oc tober, and November, the low lands are subject to inun dations from the mountains, which continue fur three or four days at a time. These, like the over flow logs of the Nile, contribute very much to the fertility of the country Of rice, they have generally two plentiful crops e% cry year, one in April and eie other in Octobe r, th t grain requi ring no other manure than the mud dep• sited by the tor rents which issue from the mountains. Orange-, bananas, figs, pine apples, greavas, and taker 1r ..ts of inferior quality, arc produced in great s'in.rt'al e: i.i al, parts of the country. Indeed, all the fruits et It.1iu, aat many of those of China, are to be found here in the great est perfection. They have also good yams, and plenty of a sweet kind of potatoes. Sugar canes and tobacco are cultivated in large plantations. The juice of the for mer, after undergoing a partial refinement, is exported to China in cakes ; but the latter is consumed in the coun try, for persons of every age and rank indulge in thc ha bit of smoking.
The timber of this country is the finest in the world, and it may be said to afford the same supply to China that Norway does to Britain. Their oak, pines, and teak, arc admirably adapted for shipbuilding ; and their moun tains also abound with a species of wood, which, from possessing the power of preservation under earth and water, is called by the natives the incorruptible tree.
Their forests also produce a variety of scented woods, as the rose-wood, eagle wood, and sandal wood, all of which fetch very high prices in the China market. Their cinnamon, though of a coarse grain and strong pungent flavour, is preferred by the Chinese to that of Ceylon. On the mountains of the Kemois there grows a tree, the wood of which is most fragrant, and is supposed to be the same with lignum aloes. Being accounted the most valuable wood in the country, it sells from 5 to 16 ducats per pound, and the profits belong to the king. But in China and Japan it fetches not less than 200 ducats per pound, and is formed into beds for the emperor and no bility. It is also used in the funeral piles of those In dians, who still continue to burn their dead. Some gold and silver mines, as well as some species of diamonds, have been found in this country, but the latter are not deemed so valuable as pearl. On coral and amber they set a high value.
Of domestic animals, they have almost every species except sheep. The country abounds with small horned cattle, short-legged hogs, kids, ducks, and fowls. Their cattle being of a small breed, do not supply them with much milk ; but they seem to have no great desire for that article, for they do not give it even to their children, whose food consists chiefly of rice, sugar-cane, and water melons. Like the Chinese, they feed on dogs, and frogs are also a very common article of food. To the inhabi tants of the coast, who form the greater part of the popu lation, the sea is a never-failing source of sustenance ; and the great extent of sea coast enables them to avail themselves of the inexhaustible stores which that ele ment supplies. For catching the fish they employ a net, and sometimes wicker baskets; and vast quantities of flying fish arc taken by sinking deep earthen jars with narrow necks, baited with pork, or the offals of fish. The great body of the people, like the Chinese, have but two meals in the day, one about nine in the morning, the other about sunset ; and in the dry season these are usually eaten before the doors of their cottages, on mats spread in the open air. They do not cultivate the grape, but drink a liquor brewed from lice.