HAINAN, a considerable island of Asia, situated in between 18° and 20° N. Lat. It belongs to China; and lies to the north of the Gulf of Cochinchina, and about twelve miles south from the province of Canton. It is about 400 miles in circumference. The soil of the northern parts is level, but the southern and eastern ones are mountainous; among which some
of the valleys produce two crops of rice every year. The inhabitants are generally short, deformed savages, of a reddish colour. In the interior parts of the island they have not submitted to the Chinese; but they are great cowards, and 50 Chinese will put 100 of them to flight. There are mines of gold and lapis lazuli, which last is carried to Canton to paint the porcelain. This island produces the same fruits as China, besides sugar, tobacco, cotton, and indigo.