All the neighbouring nations would crowd to the new mart, many wandering Christian families, homeless since the Burmese invasion, would take refuge there, and the Chinese who equip vessels at a cheap rate, would send at least forty ships per annum. They would hasten to bring their merchandise in the hope of a brisk trade. The India Company would be spared the expenses that are incurred in having to seek trade-openings further afield, and that absorb so much of its profits.
The Mahomedan descendants of the Arabs, Moguls, and Persians have had commercial relations with the capital for a considerable time, and to renew them, they are only waiting for a establishment of a depôt by which trade may be expedited. The foundations would be easy to lay and by the re-establishment of the college that the French missionaries had formerly in the kingdom and which enjoyed the highest respect, the success of the former project could be ensured. The old King when he was informed that Christianity inculcates obedience to rulers, had always extended a cordial welcome to the missionaries.
These men had not left their country to seek their fortunes. Their disinterestedness was favourable to the Company who trusted them, but not as paid agents for their share of the profits, nor for whatever they could appropriate. It would be of great advantage that a well ordered society should be established in this foreign country so as to become familiarised with the manners, customs, vices and virtues of those with whom they dwell. The knowledge of the principal Eastern languages is also an important matter so that the French merchants need not be at the mercy of untrustworthy interpreters. The natural history of this country tells us of the productions that are of commercial value, and even if such productions as agate, diamonds, pearls, perfumes dye-stuffs and scented woods, which are known to be found in the country, could not be discovered in paying quantities; great advantages could be gained by the trade with the neighbouring nations for which this kingdom is, geographically speaking, the meeting place.
A short sketch should be given of the peoples of the Indo-Chinese peninsula in order to lead to the better understanding of the advantages that would accrue from the establishment of trading stations as above mentioned. The northern part of the peninsula includes nine kingdoms, viz., Asem, Tipra, Aracan, Pegu, Ava, Laos, Siam, Cambodia, and Cochin-China.
The Kingdom of Asem is almost unknown owing to its situation lying beyond the usual routes favoured by travellers and to reach it, a considerable détour is necessary.
It is one of the richest countries of Asia and has no need of any of the produce of its neighbours to whom it supplies a large quantity of metals. In this country are mines of gold silver, lead and iron.
As the inhabitants are free from taxation, the King holds the monopoly of the mineral products, and, mindful of the well-being of his subjects, employs slave-labour only in the mines. This is the only country in Asia, where humanity is not crushed by the weight of despotic power.
A creature differing somewhat from our ordinary silkworm produces silk from which a glossy fabric of inferior quality is produced. Gum-lac is the most valuable product of the country and is of the finest quality produced in the East. There are two varieties. The red is used as a dye-stuff, as a varnish for articles of furniture and for wax. Silver is the currency of the country.
The inhabitants are of sturdy build, but the women and are somewhat snub-nosed. Both sexes are practically naked, and cover their private parts only. They wear blue caps trimmed with pig's teeth. Their bracelets, which display a certain amount of taste, are made of coral, yellow amber, and sometimes of tortoise shell or sea shells. Poverty, tyranny and oppression are unknown. Every man is master of his own property and has several wives, each of whom has her appointed household duties. Although four-footed animals are plentiful, dog's flesh is the favourite dish. They grow many varieties of vines and the grape is used for the preparation of brandy only. They extract salt from the green scum of stagnant pools and they obtain it also from the leaves of a tree known as Adam's fig tree. The leaves are burnt and an intensely saline residue is obtained from the ashes. They have a secret process of extraction by boiling and straining the mother liquor through a linen fabric. They manufacture gun-powder of the finest quality and Eastern peoples ascribe the glory of the invention of this agent of destruction to them, but what is more extraordinary this country has been engaged in no war for 500 years. The secret has passed to the Peguans, who in turn handed on to the Chinese, who pose as the inventors, as doubtless they were the first nation to employ it in warfare.
The kingdom of Tipra produces nothing that excites the curiosity of the traveller or the greed of the merchant. A gold mine is situated in the country, but the metal is of rather poor quality, and is exchanged for silver in China. There is also plenty of silk, but of very coarse quality and is used for common purposes only. The inhabitants are addicted to intoxicating liquors. Instead of figures, they calculate with pebbles that have the appearance of small agates. They rarely journey from their own country and have no commercial relations with other nations who know them by name only. The kingdom of Aracan has so extended a coast line that it seems to invite all commercial nations to trade. The climate is good, plague and other infectious diseases are unknown. The rich and fertile plains produce all the necessaries of life. Many tribes live in the pleasant valleys which afford pasturage to all sorts of wild and domestic animals. Horses are rarely seen. Horned buffaloes are employed for agricultural operations. Their anger is aroused at the sight of red. They let those whom they wish to attack pass quietly by and then gore them from behind with their murderous horns. These animals, intractable, by nature are obedient only to the native in charge of them, and gather around him at the sound of the horn by which he calls them.