Directory_and_Chronicle_1920 — Page 1212

CHOLON-CAMBODGE

Voirie M Rochelle, chef de service Police Municipale-M. Mariot, commissaire

central de police

Police de Sureté M. Klein, commissaire

de police

Recette Municipale-M. Tristeh, paycur Contrôle des Contributions directes-M

Loupy, contrôleur

Service Médical-Docteur Lalung Bonn-

aire

Epizotic--Fabre, vétérinaire

1107

Enseignement M...Cimetière, directeur

des écoles not?

HOPITAL DROUET

Dr. Biaille de Lagibaudière

SOCIETÉ FRANCAISE DES RIZERIES

D'EXTREME ORIENT Usines à decorti- quer le riz

SOCIETE DES TRAM ET D'ELECTRICITE

Pelletier, directeur

2019

CAMBODGE

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Cambodia, the kingdom of the Khmer, extends from 101 deg. 30 min. to 104 deg. 30 min. longitude E. of Paris, and trom 10 deg. 30 min. to 14 deg. latitude. It was reduced to its present proportions in 186 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, and other valuable sorts cxist, 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. Large quantities of fish oil are also produced.

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 tound 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 custoins. 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 is about 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. In June, 1884, King Norodom signed a new Treaty with France, by which the administration of the country was handed over to French 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.

Phnom-penh, the present capital of Cambodia and seat of the Government, is situated on the river Mekong, nearly in the heart of the kingdom. The king's palace is a large building, and the portion devoted to his use is built and furnished in European style. French functionaries have charge of the Treasury, the administration of justice, customs, and public works and taxes. Phnom-penh has been considerably improved under the present rule, especially since the year 1889. Many roads have been made and numerous sanitary works carried out in the town, such as drainage works, the filling up of pools, marshes, etc. The town has also been provided with waterworks and electric light. The new Treasury, in the ancient Khiner style of architecture, is a most remarkable building. The other prominent public buildings

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