The Sun.
London, England, 1824-12-16 00:00:00

COCIIIN CHINA.

THE BURAIAN MISSION TO COCHIN CHINA.
- The late Mission from the Court of Ava to
that of Cochin China consisted of Mr.. G. Gibson as chief,
and two I.lurmens as second and third Members. Their
train, including Interpreters, Secretaries, and servants, amounted
to 7tl persons. Mr. Gibson (as his name imports) is the son of
an English Gentleman, and was in "Oct born at Madras. Ile
appears kperson of much shrewdness and curious observation.
Ilte Mission quitted Ave In January, 1823, in an European
built vessel. They reached Penang in the end of February,
where the ship was burnt by the accidental circumstance of a
Siamese junk on fire running foul of her. The liberality of
the Governor of Prince of Wales Island procure(' a passage
for the Embassy on board a Portuguet(e ship, which, on her
voyage to China, landed them at Cape St. James on the Ist of
June.

Tar-kun, the Governor of the Lower Cochin China and Kam-
bojial a man of well-known talent and liberal conduct, re-
ceived the Mission handsomely; but the prudent Government
of Cochin China, from the very first, viewed the intentions of
the ambitious Government of Ave with much distrust. They
declared that they cola see no benefit which could result from
any Intimate connection between two people so distant from
each other, and they had evident apprehensions of alarming the
Chinese and Siarn ewe. the 4,,, iump.ikkon,ayilkAvio.r.l.s
the Burmese, whose restless ambition they have so frequently
experienced.
After being detained nine months at Saigon, an unfavourable
communication was finally received front the capital. The
Burman Mission would not be permitted to come at all to the
Court ; ,the presents which they brought, with the exception of
a single ruby rbtg, would not be received ; and a war vessel
was immediately directed to be prepared to carry them back to
their own country, with u deputation of Mandarins, and an
escort of 150 soldiers, to give them .a safe and honourable con-
voy. They accordingly quitted Saigun about the middle of
"March.

Upon this occasion'a stronger reluctance has been evinced to
enter into any close political connection with the Court of Ava,
than has been shewn even in regard to any European nation.
It appears to he the ambition of the present King of Cochin
China to imitate both the manners and policy of the Chinese
Court ; he professes, therefore, an open aversion to strangers ;
the Christian religion is no longer openly professed ; he has re-
fused to admit the Catholic Bishops into his presence, accord.
ing to the usage under the late King ; and the French Gentle.
men who have so long resided in the kingdom are, it is said,
preparing to leave it without delay.
Much state and pomp is observed, not only at the Court of
the King itself, but also at the Courts of the Governorsof Ton..
quin and Kambojla. As it specimen we transcribe an authentic
statement of what took place et the latter during the last au-
dience given to the Burman Embasity :
" Manctt 7.—The Mission yesterday received SIB kwans
and 141 baskets of rice, reckoned to be three months stock of
provisions for the voyaice. They were requested to repair next
morning to the Fort, for the purpose of receiving the King's
letter anti presents to his Majesty the King of Ava.
" This morning at day-light the Members of the Mission re-
paired to the Fort on foot, ushered by a Mandarin of the civil
t order. They missed upon this occasion their old guardian (or
' jailor) Ong lion, anti making ihquiry, found lie had been dis-
graced and dismissed Thud his office.
"In front of the Hall of Audience they found the letter to
the King of Ave laid out on a table, and the presents arranged
on the left of it. IVithin the Hall of Audience four tapers
were burning. The Mandarins of the military order were in
one line on the right hand side, and the Civilians in another on
the left. All were standing up and in their dresses of cere.
mony. Shortly after the Governor made his appearance, and
took his place on the right hand side. Next to him stood an
elderly Mandarin, said to be the General and.. Chief of the
Army. The rest followed according to their ranks. At the
head of' the left or civil side was Ongho, being the Treasurer.
Ong Kini, the first Judge, came next, then the Comptroller;
the Secretary wasonly fourth in rank.
" The music began to play, end heralds on both sides hav-
ing given the signal, the whole of the Mandarins advanced to
the centre of the fall, and byabrowing themselves upon the
earth made five prostrations to the Throne, as if the King him-
self had been sitting in it. The Mandarins who were to accom-
pany the Burman Mission hack, then made their prostrations.
The Members of the Burman Mission were then ordered to
advance, and prostrate themselves five times iro.,-similar man-
ner, which they 'did. The King's orders respecting the Mis-
sion were then explained to them, the presents for his Burman
lqajesty were enumerated, and the gifts conferred on each
Member of the Mission were individually stated.
" The Mission after this ceremony was conducted to the
house of the Governor, where they bad a long conference re-
specting the affairs of the Mission, but particularly concerning
what related to their return.
" The Members of the Mission now retired, accompanied
by the King's letter and presents, which were conveyed with
much state, and deposited in the house where they resided.
The gifts intended for the individuals of the Mission were then
distributed according to their ranks."
A person attached to the Burman Mission gives us authentic
accounts of a singular and unexpected discovery made by Mon-
sieur Mord, in Cochin China. This gentleman, travelling be-
tween the southern and northern provinces of that kingdom,
found a people professing the Brahminical worship. These
are the race called 1401, the aboriginal inhabitants of the coun-
try, extending from Cape St. James to between the 13th and
14th degrees of North latitude. This race of men are at pre.
sent confined to the hilly parts of the country, the coast being
occupied by the Cochin Chinese or Anam nation its conquerors.
Hindoo temples and images are not unfrequent throughout die
territory in question, and Monsieur Diard is stated to have
obtained both specimens and drawings.
This must be looked upon as a very singular and not easily
accounted for event in the history of the Hindu° religion, for
the people who now profess it are every where hemmed in by
the followers of Boodli and Confucius. Will it he adduced as
an argument is fiwour of the superior antiquity of the Brahrui-
mical over the Beodhist form of warship ?