those countries, especially from the latter. The only fabrication on which much study is bestowed is that of idols, which are fashioned out of a fine species of marble found in the country, and generally gilded.

The commerce of these countries is also limited. Their chief intercourse is with China, and consists in the exchange of their raw produce, rice, cotton, timber, ornamented woods, varnishes, for some species of the fine manufactures of that great empire. The cotton and other products of the Birman empire are carried up the Irrawaddy to a great jee, or market, in the frontier province of Yunnan. Britain takes of teak timber to the amount of about 200,000l.; in return for which some British manufactures are received. The trade of Siam and Cochin-China is chiefly carried on by Chinese junks coming to the port of Bankok in the former country, and those of Turon, Hué, and Saigong, in the latter. There is also some trade with the rising British settlement at Sincapore.

The people by whom all this territory is inhabited present several peculiarities of external form. Their persons are short, robust, active, but devoid of the grace and flexibility peculiar to the Hindoo. Their face, flat, with high cheek-bones, presents the form of a lozenge, and never suggests any idea of beauty. The hair is abundant, black, lank, and coarse; but the beard is scanty, and universally plucked out, which gives them an effeminate appearance. The Birmans appear to be an active and intelligent people, possessing in this respect a decided superiority over the Hindoos. The Siamese are said to be sluggish and indolent, destitute of courage, candour, and good faith; and so imbued with national pride, that foreign residents cannot obtain a servant to perform for them the most menial offices.

The religion of these countries, like all others in the east of Asia, is derived from Hindoostan; yet, like the rest also, it consists not in the Brahminical doctrine, but in the rival system of Buddha. The name, however, most venerated in all the countries beyond the Ganges is Gaudama, either another appellation of Buddha, or that of one of his most popular disciples. The construction of temples and images of Gaudama forms the grand operation to which the art and industry of all these nations is directed. Frugal and indolent in everything else, they spare neither cost nor labour on this object. The priests of this religion, as in all the other branches of the worship of Buddha, are monks, residing in the temples, and living in a state of celibacy. In Ava, they are called rhahaans; in Siam, talapoins; but in the latter country they are bound by no vows, and may quit the order whenever they please; and it is so common to assume and leave the profession, that almost every man has been a talapoin for some part of his life, even if only for a few days. Great part of their time is spent in insignificant and even absurd ceremonies; yet their ministration is useful in several respects. They instruct the children in reading, and so diligently, that few in the Birman territory are ig norant in this respect. Literature is by no means unknown or neglected in Farther India. The Birman language is a compound of several tongues, the complication of which is greatly increased by the mode of writing; the words, according to Mr. Judson, not being fairly divided and distinguished, as in Western writing, by breaks, points, and capitals, but run together in one continuous line, a sentence or paragraph seeming to the eye but one long word; and instead of clear characters on paper, we find only obscure scratching on dried palm-leaves strung together and called a book. In the royal library, however, the writing is beautiful, on thin leaves of ivory, and the margins ornamented with flowers of gold. The books are kept in gilded and japanned chests. The contents of each are written on the lid, in gold letters. The bulk of the works were said to be on divinity; but history, music, medicine, painting, and romance, had also their separate treatises.

The customs of these countries allow to the female sex a much greater measure of liberty than in almost any other country of the East. They are neither immured nor veiled, nor withdrawn from the company and conversation of the other sex. This freedom, however, is not accompanied with any disposition to allow them that place in the scale of society which justly belongs to them. They

are treated as the mere slaves of the stronger sex; all the laborious duties are devolved upon them, and they manage most of the transactions of buying and selling.

The habitations in these countries are of slight materials, but commodious. Bamboos fixed in the ground, and tied horizontally with strips of rattan, compose the outline, and serve as the supports of the building. Covered with mats they form the walls, and with grass the roof. A spacious mansion can be built in a day, and a tolerable one in four hours.

BRITISH TERRITORIES.

THE territories ceded to Britain by Birmah consist of Assam, with some appended territory; the former kingdom of Arracan; the provinces of Martaban, Yeh, Tavoy, and Mergui, extending along the western coast of the Malayan peninsula, and of Malacca itself.

Assam is an extensive and somewhat rude territory, to the north of Ava, and the east of Bengal. It is bordered on the north by lofty ranges of mountains continued from the Himmaleh, and watered by numerous rivers, of which the principal is the Burrampooter. A great part of its surface possesses a luxuriant fertility; yet the rudeness of the inhabitants renders the gifts of nature fruitless, so that nine-tenths of its surface consist of desert and jungle. A considerable quantity of gold, however, is found in the sands of its rivers, and, combined with elephants' teeth and coarse silk, affords a certain value for exportation.

Arracan reaches along nearly the whole eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal, an extent of about 500 miles, and consists of a narrow plain closely bounded by a high mountain range. The cultivation of this territory being imperfect, it is not supposed to contain more than 100,000 inhabitants. Arracan, the capital, at the mouth of the river of the same name, is a considerable city, and the seat of some trade. A new and improving station has been formed by the British at Akyab.

The Malayan provinces extend along the eastern coast of that peninsula, where it continues to border on the Bay of Bengal, and have been long a debateable ground between the Birman and Siamese empires. They are in consequence thinly inhabited, but they possess the finest and most salubrious climate to be found, not only in this empire, but in any part of the East Indies. Amherst, lately founded at the mouth of the Salwen, which forms the boundary between this territory and the Birman empire, will, it is expected, become the seat of an impor

tant commerce.

The territory and city of Malacca, at the southern point of the peninsula, was, in 1825, ceded by the Dutch to England, in exchange for her possessions in Sumatra. It was one of the earliest settlements of the Portuguese, and continued for a long time to be a great emporium of the trade of the Oriental islands, as well as a place of refreshment for vessels bound to China; but since Prince of Wales' Island and Sincapore, under the protecting sway of Britain, have risen to their present importance, the port of Malacca is much less frequented. It has, however, a safe roadstead; a salubrious climate, cooled by a succession of sea and land breezes; with some industry and cultivation, carried on chiefly by Chinese. The population of the town is stated at 4790.

The following estimate has been made of the extent and population of the British territories in Further India:

EMPIRE OF BIRMAH.

THE Birman empire is formed into two important divisions; Pegue, once its rival, but now its subject kingdom, which comprises all the sea-coast and the mouths of the rivers; Ava or Birmah, occupying the upper valley of the Irrawaddy, and the present seat of the ruling power. Pegue is a sort of delta, entirely traversed by the alluvial branches of the Irrawaddy, Pegue, and Salwen rivers. Its valleys are of extreme fertility, and particularly productive of rice; so that it serves as a sort of granary to the empire. It has also spacious forests, abounding in teak, which requires a soil at once moist and rich. Ava consists of a plain of less extent, closely hemmed in by mountains, and by no means of equal fertility; but it is also well cultivated, abounds in timber, and its brave and hardy inhabitants have generally held in their hands the supremacy over both nations. The two great divisions of Birmah are subdivided into seven provinces.

The empire was formerly much more powerful than at present, and so high an opinion was entertained by the Birmans of their prowess in war, that one of the chief men assured an English agent, that had his master been properly solicited, he would have sent an army to give the English possession of France. In 1824, war was commenced by the Birmans against the East India Company, which ended, two years afterwards, by the emperor ceding to the company nearly all the provinces on the Bay of Bengal, and paying between 4 and 5 millions of dollars towards defraying the expenses of the war.

It was during the above contest that Mr. Judson, an American missionary, was imprisoned at Ava, where he suffered the greatest distress. This was alleviated by the affectionate courage of his wife, whose devotion to the cause of piety and humanity, amid the greatest dangers and trials, affords one of the most interesting narratives ever published.

Besides the Avans and Peguans, there are several other races in Birmah, as Yiens, Shans, Karens, &c. Among the latter the American missionaries in Maulmein, Chumerah, and the vicinity, have established churches and schools, which are attended by the natives, many of whom have exchanged their dark superstitions for the pure light of the gospel.

Rangoon, the grand emporium of the empire, is situated on one of the branches of the Irrawaddy river, and extends for nearly a mile along the water. The population, about 20,000, is composed in a great measure of foreigners from all the countries of the East, and of all religions, who have been encouraged to settle here by the liberal policy of the Birman government. The exchange presents a motley and confused assemblage of Mahometans, Parsees, Armenians, and all the commercial nations of this quarter.

The other sea-ports are Basseen and Martaban, the latter on the Salwen, and the former on the western estuary of the Irrawaddy. They are much inferior in trade to Rangoon. On ascending that river towards the capital, numerous towns and villages occur. Of the former, some of the chief are Prome, Meeaday, Patanagoh, Sembewghew, and Pagham-Mew. Prome, the ancient frontier of Ava and Pegue, and at one time the residence of the Pegue kings, carries on a great trade in timber, and is said to be more populous than Rangoon. Pagham-Mew, the ancient and splendid capital of Birmah at a time when a higher taste in architecture appears to have prevailed than at the present day, abounds with magnificent remains of temples and royal edifices.

Ava, on the Irrawaddy, 500 miles from the sea, has been the capital since 1824, and is said to contain a population of 300,000. The former metropolis, Umerapoora, though but lately a splendid city, is already much decayed; its inhabitants, which, 20 years ago, were reckoned at 200,000, at present amount only to 30,000.

KINGDOM OF SIA M.

THE interior details of Siam are known only to a very limited extent. The kingdom includes Siam proper, part of Laos, the district of Santebon adjoining and once a part of Cambodia, and that portion of the peninsula of Malaya extending southward to about 8° north latitude, and from thence to the north-west to as far as the 21st degree of north latitude, or about 1100 miles. Its chief river, the Menam, is deep and navigable for some distance in the interior: its banks are well cultivated, and are amazingly fertile. A commercial treaty between this country and the United States has been recently effected.

The late capital, Siam, or Juthia, on this stream, about 100 miles from the sea, is in a state of decay. Bankok, at present the seat of government, may be regarded almost as a city floating on the water. The bulk of the houses are merely oblong boxes, which can be floated about from place to place, and are inhabited chiefly by Chinese. The shores are covered with numerous palaces and gilded temples, and with the habitations of the grandees, which are raised on posts above the ground, which is so swampy as to render it almost impossible to walk or drive through the streets. The travelling is chiefly along the river, in richly gilded or ornamented barges. The inhabitants in 1828 numbered about 400,000, of whom 350,000 were Chinese or their descendants. Several American missionaries have visited this place, whose efforts in teaching and spreading the Gospel have been generally encouraging; and ample facilities exist for introducing Christianity into China by means of the number of Chinese who visit and reside here.

MALAYA, OR MALACCA.

THE peninsula of Malaya, or Malacca, is about 775 miles in length, and from 65 to 145 in breadth. A range of considerable mountains extends through its whole length, and the interior is covered with thick woods and marshes. Its rivers are numerous, but short in their length of course, and are of but little use as mediums of navigation. The soil is not very fertile, yet fruits are produced in great abundance. The northern part of Malaya is under the control of Siam, and the southern of Great Britain. The intermediate portions are occupied by a number of little independent states, governed by petty chiefs, who are but little known. The principal of these are Ligor Songora, Patani, Queda, Tringano, Pera, Pahang, and Salangore.

The inhabitants are Malays, who are by turns merchants, pirates, and robbers: their vessels traverse all the Oriental seas, and piracy is with them as regular an employment as commerce. The most daring attempts are often made by them to capture vessels of superior force.

Sincapore, the principal emporium of this region, is on a small island of the same name, immediately south of the southern extremity of Malaya. It was founded by the British in 1819, and, being declared a free port, is visited by the Ivessels of all the commercial nations who trade in these seas. The imports and exports are each about £3,000,000 annually. The inhabitants have doubled since 1828, and are now about 30,000 in number, comprising Europeans, Americans, Malays, Chinese, Arabs, Jews, Hindoos, and Bugis, or natives of Celebes. There is here an important missionary and printing establishment, where books in various eastern languages are published.

Pulo Pinang, or Prince of Wales's island, is about 7 or 8 miles long, and separated from the west coast of Malaya by a narrow strait. It was established as a settlement by the East India Company in 1786, and soon acquired importance as a commercial depôt for the neighbouring districts, and also as a place of refreshment for vessels passing between India and China; though in this respect it is now in a measure supplanted by Sincapore. George-Town is the chief settlement. Population of the island, 16,000 or 18,000.

Westward from Malaya about 300 or 400 miles, and northward from Sumatra,

extend the groups of the Nicobar and Andaman Isles: they are both in the possession of the natives. Those of the former group are of the brown or Malay race, and are peaceable and well disposed. The Andaman islanders are a variety of the Oriental negroes, and appear to be among the most degraded beings in existence. They go quite naked, never cultivate the ground, but live on fish, which they spear with great dexterity. The English attempted to form settlements on the Andaman and the Danes on the Nicobar Islands; but both were abandoned, on account of the sickliness of the climate.

EMPIRE OF ANAM.

THE empire of Anam comprises Cochin-China, Cambodia, Tonquin, T'siampa or Chiampa, and part of Laos, extending from north to south 1000, and from east to west 300 to 400 miles. Of these, Tonquin and Cambodia were recently conquered by Caung Shung, the late king, who, from his attachment to the Europeans, was induced to organize and discipline an army in the European manner. This, with a navy of three hundred gun-boats and a frigate, constituted a force which no native state in this part of Asia could withstand.

Cochin-China comprises a long plain, included between the sea and a chain of mountains, a short distance inland: it is tolerably fertile in the usual products of these regions. Both the agriculture and trade are carried on chiefly by the women. The sea-coast abounds with gelatinous animals, and furnishes the edible birds' nests so much valued in China.

Hué, the capital of Anam and of Cochin-China, is about ten miles from the sea, on a river of the same name, the banks of which are fertile and well cultivated. In ascending the river to the city, the view of numerous and apparently comfortable villages enlivens the scene. Hué consists of a large quadrangular fort, or rather fortified city, which constitutes one of the most complete and remarkable military structures in Asia. Each is about a mile and a half in length, the rampart about thirty feet high, cased with brick and mortar. It is built in the regular European style, with bastions, a glacis 200 feet broad, and a ditch. An hundred thousand men were constantly employed on the works, during the period of their construction, and 1200 cannon were mounted on the walls. It is supposed that 40,000 troops would be required to garrison the place. Here also the king keeps his fleet of galleys.

Turon, on a fine bay, is situated to the south of Hué. Sinhoa, north of the same city, Tai-fo, Bambom, Quinhon, Phuyen, and Nha-triang, all south of Hué, are sea-ports which are seldom visited by Europeans, and are but little known.

CAMBODIA.

Cambodia, the south-west division of Anam, stretches from north to south, full 500 miles, and has a sea-coast of about the same extent, lying along the Malayan sea and the gulf of Siam, which is in general low and flat, and overgrown with wood. The country is inhabited by a mixture of Cochin-Chinese, Malays, Chinese, and Portuguese. The trade, except at the port of Saigon, is unimportant. Saigon, or Luk-nooi, the capital of Cambodia, is situated near the mouth of the river Donnui, which communicates with the Mecon, the great river of this region, by means of a canal of some magnitude. Saigon is composed of the two contiguous towns of Saigon proper, and Bengeh. The latter, which is fortified, is the residence of the viceroy; the former is the chief theatre of the trade and commerce of the place. The inhabitants are supposed to amount to 180,000, of whom 10,000 are Chinese. The markets are plentifully supplied with native products and those of the neighboring countries. The manufactured articles are chiefly of the latter description, and scarcely any European goods are to be seen. There is a superb naval arsenal formed under European direction, and which from the very fine timber of the country, has produced 150 galleys of the most beautiful construction.