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ANAM. 359
TURON.
THIS magnificent bay, which resembles a fine, tranquil
lake, is surrounded almost entirely with bold and
lofty hills, clothed with wood to their very summit.
Compared, however, with the more luxuriant vegetation
of the southern provinces, the aspect of the
country is sterile, and the general effect, Mr. Finlayson
describes as falling short of his expectation. Extensive
sandy beaches surround the shore, except where they
are rendered more bold by the projection of granitic
rocks. In point of scenery, he says, it is greatly infe-
rior to that of Trincomalee, to which the absence of
cultivated land and the deficiency of human habita-
tions assimilate it. Here and there, on the shores
of the bay, are to be found the huts of a few wretched
creatures who live by fishing ; but neither the betel,
nor the cocoa-nut, nor a palm of any description is to
be seen, nor, except a few acres of rice-ground, any
signs of agriculture. Every thing indicates an ungrateful
soil. Yet, the great extent of the circular
basin, the serrated tops of the mountain ridges, partially
enveloped in mists, the number of Chinese
junks and other boats that are always to be seen
sailing to and fro, and the bold forms of a few rocks,
confer upon this harbour a peculiar interest.*
* See the plate. Before the harbour, on a low peninsula, is a
large mass of brown marble rocks, resembling, at a distance, a
is a remarkable rock, bearing a
heap of ruins ; and on the point
strong resemblance to a lion couchant, as if about to spring into
the sea ; and what renders the illusion more complete, the head,
at the seat of the eye, is perforated. Turon Bay is in lat 16 7' N.
The peninsular promontory of Turon (or Hansan), together with
Callao Island, was the price demanded by France, in the treaty
negotiated by Bishop Adran, for her assistance. This peninsula,
Mr. Barrow observes, is to Cochin China, " what Gibraltar is to