Directory_and_Chronicle_1926 — Page 1174

COCHIN-CHINA

Cochin-China is a French Colony. The province of Giadinh, of which Saigon is e chief port, was conquered by the Franco-Spanish fleet on the 17th February, 1859, t 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 rmally surrendered by Treaty; in 1867 three more provinces were conquered by the rench and added to their possessions, viz., Chaudoc, Hatien, and Vinlilong. The tual boundaries of Cochin-China now are: on the North, the kingdoms of Annam and mbodia; on the East and South, the China Sea; on the West, the Gulf of Siam and mbodia.

The Colony of Cochin-China is divided into seven large provinces, comprising in 21 inspections. Except Saigon, which is the capital of Cochin-China and at e same time of the province of Giadinh, the other chief towns bear the names of their spective provinces, Bienhoa, Mytho, Chaudoc, and Hatien. The country is a st plain with small hills on the West and some mountains on the East and North; e three highest are Batlen 884 metres, Baria 493 metres, and the Mai Mountains 550 d 600 metres in height. The principal rivers are the two Vaico, the Saigon River, ad the Donnai river. The lower parts of Cochin-China are wrinkled with small eeks or arroyos, giving easy and rapid communication to all parts of the country. Of te several canals have been opened. The magnificent river Mekong, which descends om the Thibetan mountains, after running through different territories, crosses ambodia, enters the lower provinces of Cochin-China, by two branches, and empties self into the China Sea by five large outlets called, respectively, Cua Tieu, Cua Balai, cua Cochien, Cua Dinh-an, and Cua Bassae.

The principal product of Cochin-China is rice. It is planted in almost every rovince except some of the northern districts. In the last 20 years the number hectares cultivated has almost doubled. After rice, the chief exports are fish, th-oil, hides, pepper, cotton, dried shrimps, and copra. The Hevea Brasiliensis las een extensively cultivated during the last ten years. The acreage planted amounts proximately to 75,000 acres, and the average export of rubber is nearing 10,000 tons er annum. China grass, sesamum, palma-christi, indigo, saffron, gum-lac, sapan wood and cinchona also exist in fairly large quantities, with several other minor productions.

The principal salt pits are in the province of Baria. The forests contain large antities of fine timber and abound with game of nearly every description, mongst which may be named elephants, rhinoceros, tiger, deer, wild boar, and and, while amongst the feathered game the peacock, partridge, snipe, jungle fowl r wildcock), pheasant, etc., may be mentioned. The rivers and creeks swarm with sh of every description, and alligators abound in some.

The country being very tranquil, the garrisons have been considerably reduced pt only in Saigon but also in the provinces, and now a few hundred French and ative soldiers suffice to maintain the security of the inhabitants of Cochin-China bid Cambodia. The Annamites are a race devoted principally to agriculture; they ce not so industrious as the Chinese and are indifferent traders. The Chinese vave the largest proportion of the trade in their hands.

The whole of the French possessions are now comprised under the title of Indo-China, bad consist of the Colony of Cochin-China, the protectorates of Tonkin, Laos, Annam, bad Cambodia, and the leased territory of Quoang-tschou-wan, and are under the control a Governor-General, who usually resides in Tonkin. The Government of Cochin-China administered by a Governor, who is assisted by a Privy Council composed of all the eads of Departments as official members and several unofficials. The Colonial ouncil of Cochin-China, some of the members of which are elected by the residents, onsists of 16 members, six of whom are natives. In the various arrondissements, Goreover, Councils have been introduced composed entirely of natives. The towns of aigon and Cholon are ruled by Municipal Councils, the members of which bodies are rartly French and partly native. The Chamber of Commerce at Saigon is also an official body elected by the merchants and traders; formerly it was composed of French, reigners, and Chinese, but in 1896 its constitution was altered and it is now an xclusively French and native body.