COCHIN-CHINA.
SAIGON.
Saigon, the capital of French Cochin China, is situated on the Saigon river, a branch of the Donnai, in latitude 10 deg. 50 min. N., and longitude 104 deg, 22 min. E. Saigon was conquered by the Franco-Spanish fleet on the 17th February, 1859, but Lower Cochin-China, (comprising the provinces of Giadinh, Bienhoa, and Mytho, and the Islands of Pulo Condor), was not definitely occupied until 1862, when it was formally surrendered by treaty; in 1867, three more provinces were conquered by the French and added to their possessions, viz., Chandoc, Hatien, and Vinhlong. The actual boundaries of French Cochin-China now are: on the North the kingdoms of Annam and Cambodia, on the East and South, the China Sea, on the West the Gulf of Siam and the kingdom of Cambodia.
French Cochin-China is divided into seven large provinces, comprising in all twenty Inspections. Besides Saigon, which is the capital of Cochin-China and at the sam time of the province of Giadinh, the other chief towns bear the names of their respective provinces, Bienhoa, Mytho, Chandoc, and Hatien. The population amounts to 1,500,000 inhabitants. The European population, exclusive of the official element, is very small. The country resembles a vast plain with small hills on the West and some mountains on the East and North; the three highest are Batleu 884 metres, Baria 493 metres, and the Moi mountains 550 and 600 metres in height. The principal rivers are the two Vaico, the Saigon River, and the Donnai river. The lower parts of French Cochin-China are wrinkled with small creeks or arroyos, giving easy and rapid communication to all parts of the country. Of late several canals have been opened. The magnificent river Meikong, which descends from the Thibetan mountains, after running through different territories, crosses Cambodia, enters the lower provinces of French Cochin-China by two branches, and empties itself into the China Sea by five large outlets called respectively Cua Tieu, Gia Balai. Qua Cochien, Gia Dinh-an, and Cua Hate.
The principal product of French Cochin-China is rice. It is planted in almost every province except some of the northern districts. In 1883 the export of this grain reached 8,635,200 piculs, equal to 514,000 tons, which is the largest figure ever reached and about 2,600,000 piculs over the export of the previous year. After this important grain the principal products are:--sugar cane, mulberry tree, pepper, betel-nut, cotton, tobacco, and maize; china grass, sesamun, palma-christi, indigo, saffron, gum-lac, sapan (dye-wood), and cinchona also exist pretty large quantities, with several other minor productions. 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, rhinoceros, tigers, deer, wild boars, and elands, while amongst the feathered game the peacock, partridge, snipe, woodcock, 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 Annamese 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 budget of the colony shows a healthy expansion, and there is a substantial reserve fund in the treasury. The two principal sources of revenue are opium, spirits, tonnage dues, export duty on rice, capitation tax, &e.
The Government of French Cochin-China is administered by a civil Governor appointed from Paris, who is assisted by a Privy Council composed of all the Heads
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