Directory_and_Chronicle_1884 — Page 289

BRITISH NORTH BORNEO.

Rev. A. Prenger, St. Mary's Rev. B. Punleider, do.

Rev. D. Kilty, Papar

SILAM.

F. G. Callaghan, magistrate in charge,

Darvel Bay

L. B. von Donop, superintendent of agri-

culture

W. B. Wait, medical officer

Nakoda Gomba, native chief

WEST COAST RESIDENCY KUDAT.

E. P. Gueritz, Assistant Resident in

charge

W. R. Flint, magistrate and cadet

P. M. Alves, sub-treasurer

J. J. L. Wheatley, medical officer

J. M. Purdon, assistant commissioner of

lands

W. H. Smith, clerk of works

M. D. Nahapiet, clerk of court

T. J. Keaughran, Government printer

F. Bayley, manager Rest house

NORTH BORNEO CONSTABULary,

A. M. de Fontaine, chief inspector in

charge

48 Sikh constables

16 Native non commissioned officers 78 Constables

GAYA.

G. L. Davies, Assistant Resident J. W. Wilson, sub-treasurer Teo Keng Siew, clerk

PAPAR.

-

R. McE. Little, cadet in charge Mahomet Seh, clerk

KIMANIS.

J. E. G. Wheatley, in charge

+

549

COMMERCIAL AGENTS B. N. B. Co. Hongkong-Birley & Co. Amoy-Russell & Co. Shanghai-Alfred Dent & Co. Singapore A. L. Johnston & Co. Labuan-Ching Hee & Co. Brunei-Capitan Tummonggong Kim-

Swee

Calcutta-Gillanders, Arbuthnot & Co. Ceylon-W. D. Gibbon

Colombo-J. M. Robertson & Co. Galle-Clark, Spence & Co. Madras-Arbuthnot & Co.

BRITISH NORTH BORNEO IMMIGRATION OFFICE HONGKONG.

Frederick Rickard, Immigration officer

in charge

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 Vihulong; and in 1883 the province of Binh-thuan, the southernmost province of Annam, was annexed by treaty. The actual boundaries of Freuch 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-two 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, Chandor, Hatien, and Binh-thuan. The population amounts to 1,500,000 inhabitants, to which has to be added the population of the newly added province of Binh-thuan. The European population, exclusivo 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 Batlen 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 Bienlion or Donnai river. The lower parts of French Cochiu-China are wrinkled with small creeks or arroyos, giving easy and rapid communication to all parts of the country. Of late numerous conals have been opened. The magnificent river Mei. kong, 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, Cua Bakai, Cua Cochien, Cua Dinh-an, and Cua Batae.

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 about 6,000,000 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 (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 name elephants, rhinoceros, tigers, deor, 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 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 and spirits.