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CAMBODIA.
Cambodia, or the Kingdom of the Khmer, as it is called by the natives, extends from 101 d g. 30 min. to 104 deg. 30 min. longitude, and from 10 deg. 30 min, to 14 deg. latitude. It was reduced to its present proportions in 1860 by the annexation of its two richest provinces, Angcor and Battambang, to Sam. Its area is about 62,000 square miles. It is bounded on the south-west by the Gulf of Siam, on the south-east by French Cochin China, on the north by the Laos, and on the norti.. west and west by Battaut ang and Angcor. The noble r.v. r Meikong flows through the kingdom, and after passing through French Cochin China, em ties itself, by a number of mouths, into the sea. The Meikong is the great waterway of Cambodia, and, like the Nile in Egypt, lays the greater part of the country under water annuady, greatly increasing its fertility. There are some other navigable rivers in the country, but none that compare with this "Great Father of Waters." The soil of Cambod a is rich and productive, and rice, pepper, indigo, cotton, tobacco, sugar, maize, and V cardamous are cultivated. Coffee and spices of all sorts could be grown. Among woods, ebony, rose, sapan, pine, iron, and other valuable sorts exist, no less than eighty different kinds of timber being found in the forests. Iron of good qual ty has been dis- covered and it is affirmed that there are gold, silver, and lead mines in the mountains, Auimal life is abundant. Among others, the elephant, rhinoceros, tiger, buffalo, deer of many species, wild boar, and the monkey may be mentioned. Reptiles of every kind are to be found, from the alligator to the lizard. Winged game of all sorts, including snipe, woodcocks, pheasants, pea owl, teal, partridges, and wild ducks swarm. Hares and rabbits are to be found everywhere. The fisheries of Cambodia are very productive, and salt fish forms one chief article of export.
Cambodia was once a large and powerful stat, and proofs that it possessed a much higher cvilisation than now prevails are to be found in the architectural remnants of former graudeur. The noble ruins of the ancient city of Angcor are monu. ments of a people much superior to the feeble race which now inhabits the Kingdom. The Cambodians differ entirely from their neighbours te Anuames, both in features and customs. Polygamy is pract sed among them. The prevailing religion is Bud- dhism. The people are apa het.c and indolent, and allow all the trade of the country to fall into the hands of Chinese, of whom there are about 100,000 in Cambodia. The entire population of the Kingdom is a little over 1,000,000.
The Government of Cambodia is an absolute monarchy, under French protection, The present King, Smdach Pra Maha Norodom, is forty five years of age and suc- ceeded his father King Ang Duong, who died in 1860. As in Siam, there is a Second King, Maha Oberak, brother to the King, but his title is pur ly nominal and hig power equa ly so. King Norodom I. is intelligent and amiable, but wanting in resolution. He has adopted European babits and mode of living, and is always ready to lend his countenance to improvements and enterprises calculated to promote the prosperity of the country.
Phnom-penh, the present capital of Cambodia and seat of the Government, is situated on the river Meikong, nearly in the heart of the King-lom. The King's palace is a large building, and the portion devoted to his use is built and furnished in European style. It contains some fine apartm nts. Attached to the l'alac, an inside the Palace walls, are the Hall of Justice, Audience Roon s, Treasury, Armoury, and some steam workshops and magazines. The King possesses three small st amers,
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