1150
COCHIN-CHINA
creeks or arroyos, giving easy and rapid communication to all parts of the country. Of late several canals have been opened. The magnificent river Mekong, which descends from the Thibetan mountains, after running through different territories, crosses Cambodia, enters the lower provinces of Cochin-China, by two branches, and empties itself into the China Sea by five large outlets called respectively Cua Tieu, Cua Balai, Cua Cochien, Cua Dinh-an, and Cua Bassae.
The principal product of Cochin-China is rice. It is planted in almost every province except some of the northern districts. In the last twenty years, the num- ber of hectares cultivated has almost doubled, and in 1907, 17,245,400 piculs were exported. The rice (White & Cargo) and paddy export in 1907 was valued at $58,857,400. After this the chief exports are fish, fish-oil, hides, pepper, cotton, dried shrimps, and copra. China grass, sesamum, palma-christi, indigo, saffron, gum-lac, sapan wood and cinchona also exist in pretty large quantities, with several other minor productions. The value of the produce exported in 1906, excluding rice, is given as nearly $12,000,000, fish alone being represented in the list by nearly 53 million dollars.
The principal salt pits are in the province of Baria. The forests contain large quantities of fine timber and abound with game of nearly every description, amongst which may be named elephants, rhnoiceros, tiger, deer, wild boar, and elands, while amongst the feathered game the peacock, partridge, snipe, jungle fowl (or wildcock), pheasant, &c., may be mentioned. The rivers and creeks swarm with fish of every description, and alligators abound in some.
In the chief towns of each province there is a citadel sufficiently garrisoned, and numerous military posts in the interior maintain and watch over the security of the inhabitants. The Annamites are a race devoted principally to agriculture; they are not so industrious as the Chinese and are indifferent traders. The Chinese have the largest proportion of the trade in their hands.
The whole of the French possessions are now comprised under the title of Indo-China, and consist of the Colony of Cochin-China the protectorates of Tonkin, Laos, Annam, and Cambodia, and the leased territory of Quoang-tschou-wan, and are under the control of a Governor-General, who usually resides in Tonkin. The Government of Cochin-China is administered by a Lieutenant-Governor, who is assisted by a Privy Council composed of all the Heads of Departments as official members and several unofficials. The Colonial Council of Cochin-China, some of the members of which are elected by the residents, consists of sixteen members, six of whom are natives. In the various arrondissements, moreover, councils have been introduced composed entirely of natives. The towns of Saigon and Cholon are ruled by Municipal Councils, the members of which bodies are partly French and partly native." The Chamber of Commerce at Saigon is also an official body elected by the merchants and traders; formerly it was composed of French, foreigners, and Chinese, but in 1896 its constitution was altered and it is now an exclusively French body.
The population of Cochin-China by the 1901 census was 2,968,529, of whom 4,323 were French (exclusive of the white troops, which were put down at 3,536 men).
Following on irrigation works a great number of concessions have been granted especially in 1899 and 1900, by the Colonial Council of Cochin-China, some to villages, some to settlers. The fields granted to European settlers are only taxed according to their progress, commencing by one-fifth at the end of the fifth year, to which is added another one-fifth at the end of each of the following four years. The Conseil Supérieur, in November, 1900, adopted the following works to improve Saigon Harbour:1. A quay 1,091 metres (3,578 feet) long on the right bank of the river. This quay will permit the mooring of nine vessels of 120 metres (393 feet) long 2. A series of warehouses 25 metres (82 feet) broad and 969 metres (3,178 feet) long, thus making a total surface of 24,225 square metres (260,611 square feet). 3. Railroads in front and at the back of the warehouses. The line of railway leading thereto will be connected with the Mytho and Cholon Railways. 4. About 20 buoys will be established on the left bank of the river, and vessels will be moored on that side as they are now on the right bank. 5. A bridge, level with the ground, will be built in continuation of the street called Rue d'Adran. The total expenses to be incurred for the improvements projected were estimated at f.10,394,000 (£415,760). Several of these improvements have been completed. A postal line of French steamers has been established between Bangkok and Singapore, with a subsidy from the Govern-
ment of Indo-China.