COCHIN-CHINA-SAIGON
1171
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 eoneessions have been granted, especially in 1899 and 1900, by the Colonial Council of Coehin-China, soine to villagers, some to settlers. The fields granted to European settlers are only taxed according to their progress, eommencing 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 a seheme for the improvement of Saigon Harbour whieh involved an estimated expenditure of f10,394,000 (£415,760). A quay 1,091 metres (3,578 feet) long was construeted on the right bank of the river, and a series of warehouses 25 metres (82 feet) broad and 969 metres (3,178 feet) long was erected, thus making a total surface of 24,225 square metres (260,611 square feet). Railroads were built in front and at the back of the warehouses, and the line of railway leading thereto was conneeted with the Mytho and Cholon Railways. About 20 buoys were established on the left bank of the river in order that vessels might be moored on that side as well as on the right bank, and a bridge, level with the ground, was built in continuation of the street ealled rue d'Adran. A postal line of French steamers has been established between Bangkok and Singapore, with a subsidy from the Government of Indo-China.
SAIGON
Saigon, the capital of Cochin-China, is situated on the Saigon river, a tributary of the Donnai, in lat. 10 deg. 50 min. N., and long. 104 deg 22 min. E. It is about 40 miles from Cape St. Jaines and is accessible to the largest vessels. Since its occupation by the Freneh the climate has undergone a very favourable ehange, owing to different sanitary works in the town, such as drains, the filling up of pools, marshes, etc. The town presents a fine appearance, the roads and thoroughfares being broad and regular. Amongst the public buildings the Government House is the most remarkable; several inillions of franes have been spent upon its construction and decoration. The other prominent public buildings are the Palace of the Lieutenant-Governor, the handsome and imposing Post Office on the Place de la Cathédrale, the Custom House, the "Direction de l'Intérieur," the Treasury, the Land Office, Public Works Department, the Schools, the Supreme Court and the "Hotel de Ville" (Town Hall), the eost of which was over Franes 2,000,000. The Military Hospital is a fine and handsome building, as are also the Arsenal, Barracks, and Artillery Park. There is also a stately Gothic Cathedral of large proportions, in front of which has been erected the statue of Monseigneur Pigueau de Behaine, bishop of Adran, one of the first French missionaries who came to Cochin-China in the last century. A fine bronze statue of Gambetta stands in the Boulevard Norodom. There are two other statues, one of Franeis · Garnier on the Boulevard Bonnard in front of the theatre, and another, that of Amiral Rigault de Genouilly, on the Rond Pont Rigault de Genouilly. Saigon has two public gardens, the "Jardin de la Ville," which is maintained at the expense of the Municipality, and the Botanic Garden. The municipal theatre, whieh inaugurated in 1900, is a remarkable building erected at a cost over 2,000,000 fr. There is good doeking accommodation. The Bassin de Radoub, capable of receiving the largest men-of-war, is one of the finest docks in the world, and there are two floating lifts. Saigon has two steain rice mills. Two petroleum godowns built by the Government at a cost of $18,000 are situated at Rach Doi, on the banks of the Saigon River (half-way to the town). They are said to be large enough to receive over 400,000 cases. The agents of Messrs Samuel & Co., of London, have built two petroleum tanks at Nhabé, at the point where the Saigon River flows into the Donnaï. The largest of these is estimated to receive 2,300 cubic metres (81,190 cubic feet) of oil. There are (without reckoning the troops) about 3,500 Europeans and about 18) foreigners, of whom there are about 40 British subjeets (Europeans and descendants - of Europeans).
was