Untitled - Sabrizain.org

328 ANAM.
rivers fall. It is not considered as very safe in the
S.W. monsoon, though the ground is good, but in the
opposite season, the harbour is excellent.
The coast of Cochin China, from Cape St. James to
Turon is Bay, singularly bold and picturesque. A
continuous chain of lofty mountains stretches in the
direction of the coast, (that is S.E. and N.W.)
throughout this tract, at a very short distance from
the shores, which are in general abrupt, bold, and
precipitous, or. begirt with a narrow sandy beach.
" The ranges of hills are numerous, and for the most
part are seen to rise above each other in gradual succession
as they recede from the. sea. Their abrupt,
acuminated, and ridgy forms, their sterile summits,
their steep flanks, leave little room to doubt that the
greater part, and the whole of the western half of
these mountains, are granitic. Near to the middle of
the chain, they become less bold and less elevated,
while their forms are rounded at top. With this
change, increased fertility of the soil and a country
better adapted for the support of man come into
view. Here, human industry struggles against the
inequality of the soil. Numerous fields are observed
to occupy the sides of the hills, and a vast fleet of
boats plying in the open sea, indicates the existence of
a numerous population. Some of the islands along
the coast are also cultivated in a similar manner."
The bay of Turon is completely land-locked, and
were its entrance as easy as its interior is safe, it
would
bours.
be justly numbered among the best of har-
From Turon to Hue", a passage of about twenty
hours, the coast still preserves its rugged, bold, and
picturesque
character. The chain of mountains is
continued ; the ridges bear the same forms and direc-