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SAIGON.
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 Annamese are a race devoted principally to agriculture; they are not so industrious as the Chinese and are indifferent traders. The Chinese hold the largest proportion of the trade in their hands. The revenue of the colony for 1878 was close on 17.000.000 fr, exclusive of the rates collected for the city of Saigon, which amounted to 422,000 francs. The expenditure is about equal to the revenue. The two principal sources of revenue are opium and spirits.
Saigon is situated ab ut 40 miles from Cape St. James and is accessible to the largest vessels. Since its occupation by the French the climate has undergone a very favourable change, owing to different sanitary works in the town, such drains, the filling up of pools, marshes, &c. The town presents a fine appearance, the roads and thoroughfares being broad and regular. Amongst the public buildings Government House is the most remarkable; several millions of francs have been spent upon its construction and decoration. The other prominent public buildings are the "Direction de l'Intérieur," the Treasury, the Post Office, the Land Office, Public Works Department, the Schools, and the Supreme Court. The Military Hospital is a fine and handsome building, as are also the Arsenal, Barracks, and Artillery parc Saigon has two public gardens, the "Jardin de la Ville." which is maintained at the expense of the municipality, and the Botanical Garden. There is one large rice-mill in Saigon belonging to a European firm and two more in the town of Cholen, one of which belongs to a Chinese company. There are also two steam brick-yards, one in each town. Cholen is the granary of the colony and its commercial activity is enormous. A society called the "Nouvelle Espérance" has begun sugar-cane planting in the province of Giadinh, and it is believed that it will prove successful; a steam sugar-mill will shortly be erected on the plantation. Another society called the "Société Agricole et Industrielle" is trying the cultivation of pepper, coffee, and tobacco on three different plantations. There is an iron floating dock and a new one is in course of construction. The population of Saigon may be estimated at about 20,000 habitants, chiefly Annamese and Chinese. The town of Cholen, principally inhabited by Chinese traders, is three miles distant from Saigon, and its population may be set down at 50,000.
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The M. M. steamers call twice a month at Saigon on their homeward and outward trips. Easy communication is afforded with the principal towns of the interior by the steamers of the firm of Roque, called "Messageries de Cochinchine.' Their steamers are large and commodious, and ply to and fro regularly with cargo, passengers, and mails, and they are subsidized by the Government. One of the Company's largest boats plies regularly once a week from Saigon to Phnom-penh (capital of Cambodia) and vice versa, calling on her way at Mytho, Vinhlong, and Sadec. All the principal towns of French Cochin China possess telegraphic com- munication, and a sub marine cable unites the colony with Singapore, Hongkong- &c. The postal organization of the colony is very complete and efficient. Cor, respondence can be sent daily to almost all parts of the country. The Courrier de Saigon, which is also the Government Gazette, is published fortnightly, and there are two other papers called L'Indépendant de Saigon and L'Ere Nouvelle, both issued weekly.
Saigon is a free port; with the exception of opium, arms, and alcohol, all goods are imported and exported free of duty. In 1872, the arrivals of junks in the port of Saigon (coasting traile) amounted to 4,067, and 603 European vessels with an aggre- gate tonnage of 284,140 tons frequented the port. The export of rice in 1872 reached 3,948,961 piculs, but since then it has increased considerably, sometimes reaching upwards of 5,000,000 piculs. In 1878 the export by foreign going vessels was 3,625,663 piculs. The value of the imports in 1878 was 68,483,806 fr., and of the exports, 72,659,227 fr. In 1878, 277 vessels, aggregating 210,015 tons register, arrived, showing a decrease of 71 vessels and 30,800 tons as compared with 1877. About three-fifths of the tonnage was under the British flag.
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