Cochin-Chinese ships visiting Singapore in 1825

“Three junks have lately arrived here from Hue, the capital of Cochin China, said to belong to the King. The cargoes consist chiefly of sugar, with some tutenague and sticklac of lonquin, cinnamon, bech de mar, and shark-fins. About eight junks more are expected from Saigun: one of these conveys Mr. Gibson (the Envoy from Ava to Cochin China), who is expected here shortly  it appears quite certain that the Cochin Chinese have shown no desire to enter into a coalition with the Burmans against the Siamese ; and that if this was the object of Mr. Gibson's mission, it has been unsuccessful. A French ship has sailed from Cochin China with a cargo of sugar; she had imported and sold to the govt., 3,000 stands of French muskets, at the rate of seven Spanish dollars each. We learn from these junks, that the King of Cochin China has constructed a ship of 6 or 700 tons burthen, after the model of one of the French ships which had lately visited Cochin China. This vessel (we are told) was intended to have been sent on a trading voyage to the Straits of Malacca, but some difficulty was experienced in procuring a commander and officers for her. [Sing. Chron. April 1.

Several junks have come in from Saigun since the first of the month. Besides the usual cargoes, we perceive that they have imported, for the first time, Cochin Chinese salt, an article understood to have been contraband ; but its truth, it appears that in tins case as in many others, there is nothing contraband for which there exists a good market. The last junk from Saigun conveys Mr. Gibson, the Envoy, from Ava to Cochin China, on his return to Rangoon. This is a large vessel, carrying 12 guns, six to nine pounders, and two hundred men ; besides Mr. Gibson, she has on board three Cochin Chinese of rank, proceeding as Envoys to the court of Ava, with letters from the King of Cochin China.A number of junks have arrived from Bankok since our last. They have imported 3,000 piculs of white sugar. Although so late in the season, six or seven more are still expected. The tedious passage made by these vessels is remarkable. The schooner Mary Ann, although sailing too late in the season, effected a passage in sixteen days. The junks which arrived at the same time took two months, and we do not believe that any one made a passage during the whole season in less than forty days. This is less owing to their bad sailing, than to their unskilful pilotage. Their great dread is to fall upon the lee-shore of the Malay Peninsula; they consequently creep among the numerous islands on the eastern side of the gulf, coming regularly to an anchor every night.”

Source

The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British and foreign India, China and Australia. Vol XIX. January-June 1835. London, 1825, p. 94. Topic Asiatic intelligence. Digitized by Google.