Directory_and_Chronicle_1912 — Page 1522

ANNAM-COCHIN-CHINA

POSTES ET TÉLÉGRAPHES

M. Teste, C.C.A. receveur

DOUANES ET RÉGIES

Recette subordonnée de Tam Quan M. Lartigue, Bernard, Maurice Commis

de 2e classe, receveur

Chavareau, Hippolyte, préposé de 2e classe

VINH

Chef lieu

Residence M. Destenay, Inspecteur des

Services Civils, Chef de la province

GARDE INDIGENE

M. Krupp, Inspecteur, Commandant la

brigade

TRESOR

M. Sarazin, payeur

ASSISTANCE MEDICALE

1217

M. le docteur Hermant, médecin de

l'assistance

TRAVAUX PUBLICS

M. Bardon, Conducteur provincial

POSTES ET TELEGRAPHES

M. Pere, receveur

CHEMINS DE FER

M. Marguet, Directeur des Ateliers

SERVICE DE L'ENSEIGNEMENT

M. Queignec, professeur

SERVICE FORESTIER

M. Bernard, garde forestier à Ben-Thuy

COCHIN-CHINA

Cochin-China is a French Colony. The province of Giadinh, of which Saigon is the chief port, 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., Chaudoc, Hatien, and Vinhlong. The actual boundaries of 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 Cambodia.

The Colony of Cochin-China is divided into seven large provinces, comprising in all twenty-one 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, Chaudoe, and Hatien. The country is 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 Mai 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 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 Mekong, which descends from the Thibetan mountains, after running through different territories, crosses Cambodia, enters the lower provinces of Cochin-China, by two branches, and empties itself into the China Sea by five large outlets called, respectively, Cua Tieu, Cua Balai, Cha Cochien, Cua Dinh-an, and Cua Bassac

The principal product of Cochin-China is rice. It is planted in almost every province except some of the northern districts. In the last twenty years the number of hectares cultivated has almost doubled, and in 1908 out of a total export of 1.214,512 tons of rice from French Indo-China 949,879 tons came from Cochin- China. After this the chief exports arefish, fish-oil, hides, pepper, cotton, dried shrimps, and copra. China grass, sesamum, palina-christi, indigo, saffron, gum-lac, sapan wood and cinchona also exist in fairly large quantities, with several other minor productions. The value of the produce exported in 1906, excluding rice, is given as nearly $12,000,000, fish alone being represented in the list by nearly 54 million dollars.

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, tiger, deer, wild boar, and eland, while amongst the feathered game the peacock, partridge, snipe, jungle fowl (or wildcock), pheasant, &c., may be mentioned. The rivers and creeks swarm with fish of every description, and alligators abound in some.