'A New Account of the East-Indies: Being the Observations and Remarks of Capt. Alexander Hamilton who resided in those parts from the Year 1688, to 1723, Trading and Travelling, by Sea and Land, to most of the countries and Islands of Commerce and Navigation, between the Cape of Good-Hope, and the Island of Japan. The Second Edition. Volume II.' [‎190] (219/362)

190. A new Account;
B y that Time I was clear at Bencock, Cap
tain c Dalgle'tjh arrived there alfo, in order to
proceed to Bengal. He had fallen into the
Trap laid by Collet^ and had paid Meafurage
and Cuftoms, befides the ufual Prefents to the
Court, according to the old Conftitution,
but he could not get ready to go fo foon
out of the River as I, otherwife I defigned to
have brought fome Troubles on Sennerat, if
not on Collet and ^Powney^ Affairs at S'tafn^
but Captain Dalglei/h being flill in their
Power, tied my Hands.
Siam Bar is only a large Bank of foft Mud,
and, at Spring-tides, not above ten or eleven
Foot Water on it. It is eafy getting into
it in the South-weft Monfoons, becaufe, in
two or three Tides, with the Motion the
Ship receives from the fmall Waves and the i
Affiftance of the Wind, fhe Hides thro' the
Mud. My Ship drew thirteen Foot, and we
had not above nine on the Bar when we
went into the River, but coming out with
the North-eaft Monfoons, the Sea being
fmooth, we are obliged to warp out with An
chors and Halfers, and, if the Ship draws any
confiderable Draught of Water, we are fome-
times two Springs in warping over, but, at
twelve Foot Draught, I got over in four Tides.
A nd now, having given fome particular
Accounts of my Obfervations on and in Si-
am, I will alfo give fome general Remarks,
and begin with the Fertility of the Country,
which, on that Point, is inferior to few (if
any) in the World.
T here