Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/261

 EUROPEAN NATIONS. 245 pire of Siam, failed, and were for ever expelled the kingdom. This example of the misconduct of Europeans in their intercourse with the people of Asia, and which was caused by the unprincipled ambition of Louis the XIV., is the only notable one of which the monopoly companies were not directly or indirectly the cause. In the countries lying between Siam and China, viz. Champa, Camboja, Cochinchina, and Ton- quin, there existed at one time an intercourse with European nations, which promised to be of a most beneficial nature. These countries are, without doubt, the most highly gifted of all the continent of Asia, whether we consider the ferti- lity of their soil, the variety and utility of their vegetable and mineral productions, the number and excellence of their harbours, their fine navi- gable rivers, and the extent of their internal navi- gation, with the conveniency of their geographical position for an intercourse with other nations, yet they are, in point of useful intercourse, as little known to the great commercial nations of Europe 9,t the present moment, as if they were situated in another planet. Down to the close of the seven- teenth century, the Dutch, French, and English, miiintained a busy intercourse with them, which was discontinued from the usual causes. There existed no means of getting the productions of the country from its intelligent and industrious inlia-