Directory_and_Chronicle_1903 — Page 1072

CHOLON-CAMBODGE

525

Draftsman-L. Ippolito Chief Surveyor of Roads-Ropion Surveyors-Schaeffuer, Didolot Municipal Treasury

Receiver-Rocen

Writ Server-- Dessaints Commissioner-Lhermite Brigr. chef-Piétri

Brigrs. Bonhomme, Boulanger Sub-Brigrs.--Godaime, Menu

12 French police officers Municipal Boys' School

Director--Potier

Professor-Mme. Potier

Municipal Girls' School

Directress-Sister Octave

Teachers-2 French, 2 native Sisters Hospice de la Maternité Directress-Mlle Kuy!

Municipal Hospital

Directress-Sister Adelphe

Assistants-3 French, 4 native Sisters Doctor-Burdin

HÔPITAL DE CHOQUAN

Angier, medecin-en-chef Hervy, infirmier chef

YEE CHEONG and Yee TYE & CO. RICE MILL

E. L. Comar, chief engincer Watson, second

RIZERIE "ORIENT"

do.

C. Speidel & Co., general agents

RIZERIE DE L'UNION

W. & Th. Speidel & Co., general agents M. Bennecke, manager

W. Wilkes, accountant H. Bader, engineer F. Martin, do. A. Sévérac, do.

SENG GUAN RICE MILLS

Ngo Chin Guan, manager Marten, chief engineer G. Orr, second do.

CAMBODGE

Cambodia, formerly called the kingdom of the Khmer, extends from 101 deg: 30 min. to 104 deg. 30 min. longitude E. of Paris, 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, Angkor and Battambang, to Siam. 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 French Laos, and on the north-west and west by Angkor and Battambang. The noble river Mekong flows through the kingdom, and after passing through French Cochin-China, empties itself, by a number of mouths, into the sea. The Mekong is the grand waterway of Cambodia, and, like the Nile in Egypt, lays the greater part of the country under water annually, greatly increasing its fertility. The soil of Cambodia is rich and productive, and rice, pepper, indigo, cotton, tobacco, sugar, maize, and cardamoms 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 quality has been discovered, and it is affirmed that there are gold, silver, and lead mines in the mountains. The fisheries of Cambodia are very productive, and salt fish forms one of the chief articles of export.

Cambodia was once an extensive and powerful state, and proofs that it possessed a much higher civilisation than that which now prevails in the country are to be found in the architectural remnants of former grandeur. The noble ruins of the ancient city of Angkor are monuments of a people much superior to the feeble race which now inhabits Cambodia. The Cambodians differ entirely from their neighbours the Annamites, both in features and customs. Polygamy is practised among them. The prevailing religion is Buddhism. The people are apathetic and indolent, and have allowed the trade to fall into the hands of Chinese, of whom there are about 160,000 in the country. The entire population of the kingdom in 1893 was 1,000,000. Slavery, since its abolition by the French Treaty of 1884, has almost entirely disappeared.

The Government of Cambodia is a monarchy, under French protection. The present King, Somdach Pra Maha Norodom, succeeded his father King Ang Duong in 1960. In June, 1884, Norodom signed a new treaty with France, by which the administration of the country was handed over to Frenchi Residents. Since the convention of 1892 the native functionaries are appointed by the king, under the control of the French Administration, and are paid from the treasury of this kingdom.

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