814
SAIGON.
jungle fowl or wildcock, pheasant, &c., may be mentioned. The rivers and creek" 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 the trade in their hands. The budget of the colony for 1887 amounted to 30,195 francs. The expenditure on public works was set down at 4,843,566 francs.
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 of Departments as official members and two unofficial members. The Colonial Council, some of the members of which are elected by the residents, consists of sixteen members, four of whom are natives. In the various arrondissements, moreover, councils have lately 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, and is composed of French, foreigners, and Chinese.
Saigon is situated about 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 as 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'Interieur," 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. There is also a stately gothic Cathedral of large proportions. Saigon has two public gardens, the "Jardin de la Ville," which is maintained at the expense of the municipality, and the Botanical Garden. There are several rice-mills in Saigon and Cholon. There are also steam brick-yards in each town. Cholon is the granary of the colony, and its commercial activity is great. There is moderate docking accommodation, The population of Saigon on the 31st December, 1886, was 18,009 (exclusive of the Naval and Military Forces), of which number 8,986 were Annamites and 6,649 Chinese. The French population numbers 1,257, and other Europeans 97. The town of Cholon is four miles distant from Saigon, and its population may be set down at 70,000. It is connected with Saigon by a steam tramway.
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 subsidized mail steamers, and there is a railway to Mytho. All the principal towns of French Cochin-China possess telegraphic communication, and a sub-marine cable unites the colony with Singapore, Hongkong, Haiphong, &c. The postal organization of the colony is very complete and efficient. Correspondence can be sent daily to almost all parts of the country. The Journal Officiel, which is also the Government Gazette, is published twice a week, and Le Saigonnais and L'Indo- Chinois also appear twice a week.
The import and export trade of Saigon, which is practically that of the whole colony, amounted in 1886 to a value of $42,029,929. The quantity of rice exported was 7,949,394 piculs. In 1886, 501 vessels, aggregating 588,357 tons, cleared from the port, of which 203 vessels of 237,691 tons were British, a proportion, excluding the French mail boats, of about five-eighths.
Saigon is no longer a free port, heavy_Customs dues having been imposed since July last, with exemptions in favour of French goods and shipping. The tariff is based on the General Tariff of France.