ieces by thunder. This is perhaps the largest idol in the
world, and is called by the Dutch in derision, _The great blockhead of
Lust_. He is represented sitting cross-legged like a tailor; in which
posture he measures seventy feet high, and every one of his fingers
is as large as the body of a man. About three leagues from the capital
there is a temple of vast size, having an idol not quite so large as
the other, which the priests say is his wife; and that once in seven
years, one of these goes to visit the other. The priests also pretend
that both of these idols are of solid gold; but the thunder-clap,
which destroyed the head of the larger idol detected that part of the
cheat, shewing it to be only brick and lime, very artificially gilded
all over. One may justly wonder that this accident did not put an end
to the adoration of so wretched a deity; but where superstition once
prevails the plainest proofs very seldom produce any effect.

[Footnote 1: Perhaps cotton, often termed _cotton-wool_, ought to have
been here substituted.--E.]

[Footnote 2: In Harris the temples are stated at 30,000.--E.]

The country of Siam is very rich and fertile, and there is a
considerable trade carried on here by the Chinese. The Dutch have here
considerable privileges, and are the favoured nation, especially since
the great revolution, when they got into great favour with the new
king, because the English had been entrusted by his predecessor, whom
he murdered, with the best places in the government, both civil and
military. The Dutch have a factory on the side of the river, about a
mile below the city, where they collect great numbers of deer-skins;
which are sent annually to Japan. The Siamese are themselves much
addicted to trade, and the Chinese who reside here still more; so that
they send ships every year to Japan, which, considering the difficulty
of the navigation, is not a little extraordinary. The Siamese boast of
having used the compass above a thousand years before it was known
in Europe: But the Jesuits very justly observe, that the Siamese and
Chinese compasses are very imperfect.

The third resident is fixed at _Mokha_, being always a merchant,
having two factors under him. This country is under the government
of an Arab prince, styled _Imaum_, who resides in the inland country,
about 200 miles east from Mokha. The sea-port of his dominions was
formerly Aden; but as that was found very inconvenient, he removed the
tra