Directory_and_Chronicle_1880 — Page 450

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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 104 deg. 22 min. longitude 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 pos-essions, 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 six large provinces comprising in all nineteen Inspections. Besides Saigon, which is the capital of Cochin China and at the same time of the province of Giadinh, the other chief towns bear the names of their respective provinces, Bienhoa, Mytho, Chandoc, Vinhlong, and Hatien. The colony measures in breadth about 80 leagues and in length an average of 50 leagues; its population amounts to 1,500,000 inhabitants. The European population, exclusive of the non-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 Batlen 884 metres, Baria 493 metres, and the Moi mountains 550 and 600 metres in height. The principal rivers are the two Naïce, the Saigon River, and the Bienhoa or 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 numerous canals have been opened. The magnificent river Mei- kong, which descends from the Thibetan mountains, after running through different territories crosses Cambolia, and enters into the lower provinces of French Cochin China by two rivers and empties itself into the China Sea by five large outlets called respectively Cua Eieu, Cua Balai, Cua Cochien, Cua Dinh-an, and Của Baac.

The principal product of French Cochin China is_rice. It is planted in almost every province except some of the Northern districts. At the present time the country can produce from 7,000,000 to 9,000,000 piculs yearly, and a little over 5,000,000 piculs is annually exported. 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 (uye-wood), and cinchona also exist in 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 wild- cock, pheasant, &c., may be mentioned. The rivers and creeks swarm with fishes of every description and alligators abound in some.

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