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306 SIAM.
commerce, which has been upon the decline since the
place fell into the hands of the Siamese. The produce
of the country is annually removed to Bankok, and
the commerce with foreign ships is prohibited. The
principal productions are pepper, the cultivation of
which may be increased almost to an unlimited extent,
benzoin, lac, ivory, agila-wood,* rhinoceros* horns,
hides of cows, buffaloes, deer, &c., gamboge, some
cardamoms, and precious stones, the latter of inferior
quality. The forests abound in excellent timber, and
afford the best materials for ship-building: accord-
ingly, many junks are built at this place. Many of
the islands in front of the port, and particularly that
called Bangga-cha, produce abundance of precious
stones. The island Sa-ma-ra-yat, to the east of the
harbour, is said to produce gold. In the former of
these islands, there is a safe and convenient harbour.
At a short distance from the coast, there is a very
high mountain, called Bomba-soi, commanding an extensive
view both of Chantibond and of Cambodia.
" The amount of the population is uncertain,
* The agila-wood of Chantibond is equalled only by that of
Cochin China. The odoriferous principle, which gives it value,
resides in a black, thick, concrete oil, resembling tar or resin
while burning, and it is probably a combination of an essential
oil with resin. It is disposed in numerous cells, and gives to the
wood a blackish, dotted appearance. As it is found in compara-
tively few trees, and those only which exhibit signs of decay, it
has naturally been supposed to be the effect of disease. Probably,
it is occasioned by the puncture of some insect. The Siamese
name the substance : nuga-mai it is also called mai-hodm. The
consumption of it is considerable, even in Siam but the ; greater
part is exported to China, where it is used in the service of the
temples, and in the incineration of the corpses of persons of distinction.
The powder, mixed with a gummy substance, is laid
over small sticks, which burn with a slow and smothered flame,
giving out a feeble but grateful perfume.