Hamilton's account of the east indixs.

477

any people in Siam ufed to enquire about future events after that manner, and I wastold that they did.

The coafts of Liampe and Chiampo are in the territories of Siam , but for 50 leaguesand more along the fea-fhore, there are no fea-ports, the country being almoft a defert.It produces good ftore of fapan and agala-woods, with gum-lack and ftick-lack, andmany drugs that I know but little about.

Chap. XL VIII. -r-Gives an Account of Cambodia ; its Trade; alfo of a late Warbrought into their Country by the Siamer, and the ill Succefs they had.

THE firft fea-port to be met with is Cupangfoap, a town in the dominions of Cam-bodia . It affords elephants teeth, ftick-lack and the gum cambouge or cambodia ;but there is no free commerce allowed there, without a licence from the court ofCambodia .

The next place is Ponteamafs, a place of pretty good trade for many years, havingthe conveniency of a pretty deep but narrow river, which, in the rainy feafons of thefouth-weft monfoons, has communication with Banfack or Cambodia river, which con-veniency made it draw foreign commerce from the city of Cambodia hither ; for thecity lying near 100 leagues up the river, and moil- part of.the way a continual ftreamrunning downward, made the navigation to the city fo long and troublefome, thatfew cared to trade to it, for which reafons foreign commerce chofe to come toPonteamafs, and it flourilhed pretty well till the year 1717, that the Siam fleet de-■ftroyed it.

When the Siam army and fleet threatened Cambodia , the King knew his inability towithftand the Siamers, fo the inhabitants that lived on his borders had orders to removetowards the city of Cambodia , and what they could not bring with them, to deftroy it,fo that for 50 leagues the country w r as a mere defert. He then addreffed the King ofCouehin-China for afliftance and protection, which he obtained, on condition thatCambodia fliould become tributary to Couchin-China , which was agreed to, and hehad an army of 15,000 to aflift him by land, and 3000 in nimble gallies well mannedand equipped, by fea.

The Siam army by land was above double the number, of the Cambodians andCouchin-Chinefe in conjunction, and their fleet above four times their number. Theland army finding all the country defolate, as they marched into the borders of Cam-bodia , foon began to be in diftrefs for want of provifions,. which obliged them to killtheir carriage beads and their elephants and horfes, which they could get no fuftenancefor, and the foldiers being obliged to eat their flefli, it being a diet they had never beenufed to, an epidemic flux and fever feized the whole army, fo that in two months onehalf was not left, and thofe were obliged to retreat towards their own country again,with the Cambodian army always at their heels.

Nor had their navy much better fuccefs; for they Coming to Ponteamafs, fent intheir fmall gallies to plunder and bum the town, which they did effectually, and, ofelephants teeth only, they burnt above 200 tons. The flu'ps and jonksof burden lyingin the road, above four miles from the town, the Couchin-Chinefe taking hold of thatopportunity, attacked the large veffels, and burned fome, and forced others afliore,whilft their gallies were in a narrow river, and could not come to their afliflance tillhigh-water that they could get out. The Couchin-Chinefe having done what theycame for, retired, not caring to engage fuch a fuperior number, and the Siamers fear-

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