Directory_and_Chronicle_1932 — Page 1237

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 21 inspections. Except 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, Chaudoc, 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, Qua 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 20 years the number of hectares cultivated has almost doubled. After rice, the chief exports are fish, fish-oil, hides, pepper, cotton, dried shrimps, and copra. The Hevea Brasiliensis has been extensively cultivated during the last ten years. The acreage planted amounts approximately to 75,000 acres, and the average export of rubber is nearing 10,000 tons per 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 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, etc., may be mentioned. The rivers and creeks swarm with fish of every description, and alligators abound in some.

The country being very tranquil, the garrisons have been considerably reduced not only in Saigon but also in the provinces, and now a few hundred French and native soldiers suffice to maintain the security of the inhabitants of Cochin-China and Cambodia. The Annamites 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 whole of the French possessions are now comprised under the title of Indo-China, and consist of the Colony of Cochin-China, the protectorates of Tonkin, Laos, Annam, and Cambodia, and the leased territory of Quoang-tschou-wan, and are under the control of a Governor-General, who usually resides in Tonkin. The Government of Cochin-China is administered by a Governor, who is assisted by a Privy Council composed of all the Heads of Departments as official members and several unofficials. The Colonial Council of Cochin-China, some of the members of which are elected by the residents, consists of 16 members. six of whom are natives. In the various arrondissements, moreover, Councils have been introduced composed entirely of natives. The towns of Saigon and Cholon are ruled by Municipal Councils, the members of which bodies are