The celebrated Pere
Gaubil spent eight months on the island and wrote an interesting letter
about it (February, 1722; see also Lettres Edifiantes, Rec. xvi.). When
the group was visited by Mr. John Crawford on his mission to Cochin China
the inhabitants numbered about 800, of Cochin Chinese descent. The group
is now held by the French under Saigon. The chief island is known to the
Chinese as the mountain of Kunlun. There is another cluster of rocks in
the same sea, called the Seven Cheu, and respecting these two groups
Chinese sailors have a kind of Incidit-in-Scyllan saw: -
"Shang p'a Tsi-cheu, hia-pa Kun-lun,
Chen mi t'uo shih, jin chuen mo tsun."[1]
Meaning: -
"With Kunlun to starboard, and larboard the Cheu,
Keep conning your compass, whatever you do,
Or to Davy Jones' Locker go vessel and crew."
(Ritter, IV. 1017; Reinaud, I. 18; A. Hamilton, II. 402; Mem. conc.
les Chinois, XIV. 53.)
NOTE 3. - Pauthier reads the name of the kingdom Soucat, but I adhere to
the readings of the G.T., Lochac and Locac, which are supported by
Ramusio. Pauthier's C and the Bern MS. have le chac and le that, which
indicate the same reading.
