a kingdom of Asia, in the peninsula beyond the Ganges. The king is very powerful, his dominions being bounded by Mogulistan on the west, Siam on the south, Tonquin and Cochin China on the east, and by Tibet and China on the north. Several large rivers run through this country, which annually overflow their banks like the Nile, and thus render it extremely fertile. Here are mines of lead and copper, together with some of gold and silver, besides large quantities of the finest oriental rubies, sapphires, emeralds, &c. See ASIA, No 81, &c.

formerly the metropolis of the kingdom of the same name, is situated in E. Long. 96. 30. N. Lat. 21. o. It is pretty large; the houses built with timber or bamboo canes, with thatched roofs, and floors made of teak plank or split bamboo. The streets are very straight, with rows of trees planted on each side. The king's palace is an exact quadrangle, each side of which is 800 paces, and is surrounded with a brick wall; but the palace itself is of stone. It has four gates: the golden gate, through which all ambassadors enter; the gate of justice, through which the people bring petitions, accusations, or complaints; the gate of grace, through which those pass who have received any favours, or have been acquitted of crimes laid to their charge; and the gate of state, through which his majesty himself passes when he shows himself to the people.

AVA ava, a plant so called by the inhabitants of Otaheite, in the South sea, from the leaves of which they express an intoxicating juice. It is drunk very freely by the chiefs and other considerable persons, who vie with each other in drinking the greatest number of draughts, each draught being about a pint; but it is carefully kept from their women.