a town of Cochin-China, situated about ten miles from the sea, on a navigable river, fifteen miles south of Huron. It was at one time a place of some importance, with houses built of brick, and the streets regularly laid out. It was, however, destroyed in the course of the revolutions which took place in the country; but its prosperity is revived, and it is now a place of considerable trade.

Fainting. See Syncope.

Fairs and Markets. The intimate relation that subsists between these institutions renders it no less proper than convenient to treat of them together. A fair may be defined as only a greater species of market, which recurs at more distant intervals. Both are appropriated to the sale of one or more kinds of goods, the hiring of servants, labourers, &c. In most cases, however, fairs are more numerously attended than markets, and are generally characterized by various exhibitions got up for the amusement of the people.

The Anglo-Saxons are supposed to have derived their fairs from the Romans, who had established such marts in all their provinces.

The following account of fairs is given by Mr M'Culloch, in his Dictionary of Commerce. "Institutions of this sort are peculiarly serviceable in the earlier stages of society, and in rude and inland countries. The number of shops, and the commodities in them, are then either comparatively limited, or they are but little frequented by dealers; so that it is for the advantage of all that fairs should be established, and merchants induced to attend them. For this purpose various privileges have been annexed to fairs, and numerous facilities afforded to the disposal of property in them. To give them a greater degree of solemnity, they were originally, both in the ancient and modern world, associated with religious festivals. In most places, indeed, they are still held on the same day with the wake or feast of the saint to whom the church is dedicated; and till the practice was prohibited, it was customary in England to hold them in churchyards. (Jacob's Law Dict. art. Fair.) But since the growth of towns, and the opportunities afforded for the disposal and purchase of all sorts of produce at the weekly or monthly markets held in them, the utility of fairs, in this country at least, has very much diminished; they have also lost much of their ancient splendour; and, though some of them are still well attended, and of real use, a good number might be advantageously suppressed.

But it is far otherwise in inland countries, where the facilities for carrying on commercial transactions are comparatively circumscribed. There it is of the utmost importance that certain convenient places and specified periods should be appointed for the bringing together of commodities and dealers. This is not only the readiest and best means of promoting commerce, but also of softening national antipathies, and diffusing a knowledge of the products, arts, and customs of other countries."

In England the right of holding a fair must be derived from the crown; and, in the grant obtained, provision is made that no other fair shall be injured by the one to be established. The times of holding the fairs are determined by the letters-patent appointing the fair or market, or by usage; and penalties are imposed if they are held beyond the time specified. A bona fide sale made in a fair or open market, in general transfers the complete property of the things sold to the vender, so that, however vicious or illegal the title of the vender may be, the vendee's is good against every one except the king. But the sale, in order to come within this rule, must be made on the market day, and at the place assigned for the market. Formerly the mayor or steward presided at a court called the court of pie powdre, in allusion to the dusty feet of the suitors, where questions as to contracts, &c., were decided; but these courts are now entirely set aside. Still, as of old, however, there is a clerk appointed, whose duty it is to see that every thing is sold according to just weights and measures. There is generally a toll attached to fairs and markets, which is paid by the buyer after the thing brought to the market has been sold. (For further information as to British fairs and markets, see Chitty On Commercial Law, vol. ii.)

British Fairs. Amongst these may be specified that of Stourbridge, in Worcestershire. Bristol has two considerable fairs, one in March and one in September. Exeter December fair is for cattle, horses, and most sorts of commodities. Weyhill fair, in Hampshire (October 10), has probably the greatest display of sheep of any fair in the kingdom. Bartholomew fair, in London, used to be of considerable importance, but is now appropriated only to shows of wild beasts, and such like exhibitions, and might be suppressed with advantage. St Faith's, near Norwich (October 17), is the principal English fair for Scotch cattle. They are sold to the graziers and feeders of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and other counties, by whom they are fattened for the London markets, where the demand for them is very great. But besides those sold at St Faith's, large numbers of Scotch cattle are disposed of at Market-Harborough, Carlisle, Ormskirk, and other places. Ipswich has two considerable fairs; one in August for lambs, and one in September for butter and cheese; and it is reckoned that above 100,000 lambs are annually sold at the former. Woodborough-hill, in Dorset, is for west-country manufactures, as kerseys, druggets, &c.; and Woodstock October fair, for cheese. Northampton and Nottingham have each several large fairs, for horses, cattle, cheese, &c. The August fair of Horncastle, in Lincolnshire, is the largest horse fair in the kingdom, many thousand horses being exhibited for sale during its continuance; and it is resorted to by crowds of dealers from all parts of Great Britain, by several from the Continent, and sometimes even from North America. Howden, in Yorkshire, has also a very large horse fair, particularly for Yorkshire hunters. Devizes, in Wiltshire, has several large fairs for sheep and cattle. There is usually a large display of cheese at the Gloucester April fair. A guild, or jubilee, commencing the last week of August, is held every twentieth year at Preston, in Lancashire; the last was held in 1842; and was well attended. The October fair of Market-Harborough, Leicestershire, lasts nine days, and a great deal of business is usually done in cattle, cheese, &c. Woodbridge Lady-day fair is celebrated for the show of Suffolk horses. Falkirk fair, or tryst, is one of the most important in Scotland, for the sale of cattle and sheep. Hardly inferior are those of Melrose and Lockerby, which have of late years risen into great importance as lamb-markets, and that of Muir-of-Ord, near Beauly, in Ross-shire. The October fair of Ballinasloe, in the county of Galway, is famous for the display of cattle and sheep; by far the largest proportion of these animals raised for sale in Connaught being disposed of at it.

French Fairs. The principal French fairs are those of Beaucaire, St Germain, St Cloud, Poissy, Lyons, Rheims, Chartres, Rouen, Bordeaux, Troyes, and Bayonne; but they are said to have for the most part much fallen off. That of Beaucaire, however, which was formerly the greatest in Europe, is still attended by a vast concourse of people, not only from France, but also from many parts of southern Europe.

German Fairs. The principal German, or rather European fairs, are those of Frankfort on the Maine, Frankfort on the Oder, and Leipzig. The business transacted at these fairs is in general very great. Merchants of all nations are there assembled, for disposing of the manufactures, merchandise, and productions for which their several countries are distinguished. Frankfort on the Maine has two, and Frankfort on the Oder three fairs yearly. Leipzig has also three annual fairs, and these are by far the most cele- brated. They are held on the first of January, at Easter, and at Michaelmas. The first is the least important. The two latter, particularly that at Easter, are remarkable for the vast number of new publications usually offered for sale. They are attended by all the principal booksellers of Germany, and by many from the adjoining countries, who adjust their accounts, learn the state of the trade in all parts of the world, and endeavour to form new connections. Most German publishers have agents in Leipzig, which is to the literature of Germany what London is to that of Great Britain. As many as five thousand new publications have been entered in a single Leipzig catalogue. The fairs ought to close in eight days, but they usually continue for about three weeks.

**Italian Fairs.** Of these, the most celebrated is that of Sinigaglia, on the Misa. It commences on the 20th of July, and continues for about twenty days. Here, as at the German fairs, are assembled merchants from almost all nations.

**Hungarian Fairs.** Of these, the most important are held at Pesth, which has become the grand centre of Hungarian commerce.

**Russian Fairs.** These are numerous, and many of them are well attended. The most important is held at Nishmi-Novgorod, a city situated at the confluence of the Oka with the Wolga. It is the great emporium of the internal trade of Russia. The fair generally lasts from six weeks to two months, and is well known all over the east of Europe. In point of value this fair is considered as second to none in Europe. Another celebrated Russian fair is that of Kiachta, on the Chinese frontier. At this fair by far the largest part of the commerce between the Russian and Chinese empires is transacted. The goods disposed of are principally the products of the respective countries.

**Eastern Fairs.** The most important fair in the eastern world is that held at Mecca, during the resort of pilgrims in the month of Dhulaija. It has declined of late years, but the concourse which attends it is still very great. The greatest fair in India is that held at Hurdwar in Hindustan. The town, although inconsiderable, is famous for being one of the principal places of Hindu pilgrimage, which takes place along with the fair at the vernal equinox.

**American Fairs.** The fairs of Portobello, Vera Cruz, and Acapulco, once so famous, are now totally deserted; and that of the Havannah is also much fallen off.

**FAIR ISLE,** one of the Shetland Islands, lying between that group and the Orkneys, and extending fully three miles in length by about two in breadth. The coast, which is abrupt and dangerous, is only accessible on the southeast side; and the hills which cover the interior are only useful as affording pasture for sheep. The inhabitants are very few in number.