1158
ments here!
THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZET TË
Jarge village, surrounded by some trees, and which We would rather trust to Cochichinese than to
Canton Chinese. Generally they are very mome borders on the Turon river.
The French name Thiranne affords us the ex-ble. They are oppressed by their mar planation of that name better than the English for the slightest offense require them name Turon. As this place is called Hann in Co fetters or to be bambooed. We wer chinchinese, and there is a fort or tower at the enough in several instances to save som
have called it Tour Hann, poor follows from the unsparing severity trance, Frenchmen which signifios tower of Hann. The small town chief of Turon, rather a large village, is at the most ra- note side of the bay towards the south, at about six niles from the common anchorage on the left side of a brond channel, which is said to communicate with the scu, and into which the river from Sayfo empties itself. The place was formerly very mer. cantile and several European nations had retablish here. Now they have all deserted it, and the place is only to be distinguished by the forts built with ditches and walls, after the European ninnner, one on each side of the water, and at a distance of a mile and a hall. We landed, but not without difficulty, because mandarins do not like to See foreigners, especially when they have no pre sents to give, or when they are influenced only by motives of curiosity. We saw the bazar, and some poor joss-houses, but wo could not find the renown ed white elephants stables. There were no inter- preters, but one poor fellow who could utter a few words in bad French, Spanish and English. We were more happy another day, in going up the channel to the marble mountain called None Nuoc, on Account of the water 10. fresh water, probably on of the channel, which being near the junction of the river Sayfo, is fresh and good for drinking, es. pecially at low water.
WEIGHTS.
acord. P.
40
on binh
kan' or eatty of 16 throngs or tacts, 13 ounce ea. 1.378
one yen
1379
69.90
137.1
one ta ono konan
10 phans-I tak or incli.
There are but faw roads in the country, and gomo on yards and acres mountains, which barely mon to pass on foot. The country was in a rosperity in the time of Gyalong Ming But suce their time Cochin- hina has declined much Foreign wars, intestine 500
lon and sightless abeolatism have raised the There is no exactly determined legal measure Its divi- country. There is virtually no property amongst of longth. This the generic name. the prople. All belongs to the king, and after him sions will be here presented. to the officers. Thus if any man wants to buy or sell any land or building, he is obliged to riva pre sents to the officer seconding to the proportional value of property generally depends value. The upon its revenue. Thus a certain estate will be sold at four, three and even two times its revenue. So in Tonquin and in Upper Cochinchina, where the population is more dense and money is more abun dant, a piece of ground will be sold at four or five times its revenue. But in Lower Cochinchina which is reputed the garden and granary of the empire, in the magnificent alluvial lands formed by the delta of the great river of Camboja, but whore population is scarce and the price of silver high, a piece of ground may be obtained for twice its res venue in one year.
10 the 1 thuoc or foot or ell.
5 thư00-1 ngote, or fathom. 4 ngou I soa or rod. 10 830
****) mog of rood." The generic measure thror (the Chinese chih, cubit, or foot) is very different according to circums. tances. Those more commonly employed uro hero presented. Thuoc used for measuring ships for
the service of ports.
Touse used for wood at Turun.... Thuoc mentioned by Tabord Thuoc used by the king for moast-
0.405 metre 0.425 0.48726
ng silks and other cloths in his tronsactions with a Frenchinah. - 0 594 Thouc used by natives in the Toron
markut....
0.617 Thuoc used according to Morrison 0.61008.
MEASURES OF DISTARUE,
1J144 metres.
2 ly-1 dam-889 metres. -. 10 ly dam4444 metros.
MEASURES OF LANDMA Imino-10.soa-165 thhac-80,3979 metres. The mao is what a man may cultivate in one day
thao
28 litres.
MEASURES OF CAPACITY
The patienes which the Cochinchinese had to wardens and their kind reception of us was per haps owing to the name of France, which has heen respected by them since the days of the venerated bishop of Adran. I believe also that the onergalic minander of the American frigate conduct of the commander of the Constitution, was for something in the balance fle had come lately to Turon Bay to take in wood and water he had heard of the imprisonment of a French bishop, and he resolved to attempt his de liverance. Thanks and congratulation may be of fered to the generous officer, who for the sake of humanity, not consulting the difference of religion, did all in his power to deliver the poor bishop.
The object of our voyage to Cochinchina was the delivery of this bishop who had been in fetters for seven months. The commandant of the Alemone,
Religions are almost the same as in China. There a French corvette of 386 guns, captain Daplan. brought a letter for the king from rear admiral are joss-houses where Budhistic gods are represent- Cecile. Immediately after our arrival in town the ed and the goddess Thin Thoje. The literary gri- futter was dispatched, and the answer was that duates go to the temple of Confucius to make prose without difficulty the French bishop would be re-tration and receive information. Commerce is al- lensed and sent from Fodhue to the French ship. most nothing. The king has taken to himself all Officers of the first and second rank came to bring the monopoly of trade. He buys goods from his this verbal answer, and consequently, some days subjects at the price he appoints, and sends his ships after, M, Lefevre bishop of Isauropolis, was brought to sell them at forreign ports. He employs in trado on board, accompanied by a gracious letter from five square rigged ships and steamers which have on constructed in the country. He sends them Thieu fri who earnestly sought to engage French- men to come and trade with Cochinchina. The to Canton, to Singapore, to Batavia, and sometimes
2 bao-1 shita-Itao in weight-50 litros. venerable and courageous missionary gave us some to Calcutta. He sels to Singapore indigenous
The ho is a measure of fice required for a that he had been living in the country of Taron namon, rhinoceros? horns, cardamoms, cico, sugar, these ten years, and had been in the most civilized salt, ivory, buffaloes' skins, precious wood and tre- his sukliers. places as well as among the savage tribes of the sure. Ile receives camlets, common long ells, red, It would be useless here to try to describe all the Isiampa and Laos mountains. Christians are now blue and yellow, for the use of his soldiers, tin, Hens and ducks's eggs beauties of those remarkable rocks, and mysterious tolerated by some mandarins. But they must not opiem, firo arus and some Indiae goods. Fowl or duck where the water by stalactites and stalagmitrust to the ill disposed who are the declared enemies ceives from Batuvia, cloves, nutmegs, pepper, black- Pork tes, has produced so many fantastical works, where of Christianity. No exterior worship was allowed and blue silks, and green velvets and glass ware of Rice nature has been the architect and the sculptor as anywhore, and there were no remains of the benu orery kind. To give an idea of the manner in Geof well as the painter and the beautifier. Perhaps tiful churches or monumental chapels erected by which the trade is carried on, wo may mention, that Plantains. at another time we shall try to give an idea of those and since the bishop of Adran. All have been put the last year the king sent to Canton two ships and Pine upples
down by the unsparing Ming Ming. Cochinchina, twelve officers to sell his goods and to buy others in Oranges, magnificent and religious natural mysteries, espe einily of the subterranean pagoda, called Ouhien is actually tributary to Chim. Gyalong the com exchange. On their return, not being satisfied with Ouhia Dong. We have here only room to men- queror of his own kingdom, had got rid of that their success, be degraded them, putting them in domination. But his son Ming Ming, father of the prison and in fetters and confiscating all their pro- The same day of our excursion we went down actual king, more experienced in belles-lettres and perty. And they are still bewailing their miser- and landed at Turon, and visited the mandarin who in science than in war, had voluntarily renewed able condition the reward of their ill success as is a man of great ability. He is said lately to have the ancient use of investiture, which has been con merchants. The junks which trade from Cochin made some animadversions on the present king on tinued by his son Thieu-fri, a prince excessively china are under private authorisation or managed by fraud. A statement is here presented of the necount of his administrations a very rare thing in rigorous towards his subjects. such a country of despotism; and he has since left
commerce be wean Singapore and Cochinchina
Imported to Singapore. Exped from Singapore his position, Turnu consists of several groups of
1839 1830 $176,201
8173,447. villages on each side of the channel, the principal
166,479.
200,301. of which has about 500 mean habitations of bamboo
299,686. and 2500 inhabitants,
Cochinchinese would have hindered us from visit- ing those famous rocks. They had called to their assistance all the power of their military and priest Jy strongili. "Boats and junks were put across the
river soldiers with their guns were seen along on account of himself and the country. He told us and Chinese silks, also green teas, bankeens, cin-th's subsistance. It is given by the king to
both sides of the channel, gongs were heard in all directions. But we landed in spite of all difficul
tics
caves,
On another day we visited the west side of the bay. The the it and candy and we reached a village, coclosed in algroup of trees. In the front as a large temple built in the Chiness manner, and behind bamboo huts, separated by gardens, where vegetables are cultivated. The principal articles are rice and maize. They have also some mulberry trees (morus alles) whose leaves they sell to Sayfo people who rear silk worms. Cotton is also culti- vated, but it is employed in a very costly manner. Country people, especially women, have looms in which they weave cotton, their looms are disposed in the Chinese manner, they have two tred dles, or a pair of treddles, and their read is inclined and pushed by itself from the back side of the loom, Their cotton goods are very common, of one foot broad; some are dyed red, with sapan wood, blue with native indigo, black with different kinds of
leaves and iron water.
1840
1810
1841 1842
245.521.
1841
209,484.
1842
-248,921.
244,795. 1843 227,813. 1843 1844 177,606,
1814 220,113. The scale of duties for anchorage is as follows:-
51 konan for a thuoc (15,91) in). At Foulné At Shaignene 102 At Turon - 72 - "
Maize
MARKET PRICES AT TURON,
Emall lemons Flour of millet Salt
Veal
Buffalo Small oninus Sweet potatoes Beans Yains
(10) (1):
(I catty)
1 konan
2 tien
4 tion
(a kan) | to 2 kounn
(a calty)
(a set) (10) (10)
3 tion
I tien
og konsa
5 tien
(a lan)5 to 10 tien
(10) (a catty)
4tion.
2. koman
3 tien
4 tien
tien
I tion
I ten
2 tien
Do supoke
(1)-99 sapéka
4 tien 14 koyon
ften..
kouan
Small pigeons Gesce
Oysters
(100)
Turnips
(a catty)
Cakes made of eggs and flour (1)
Cocoa nut
Oil
(10) (a catty)
3 tien 2. konan
Fish (all kinds)
22-tien
Tobacco
14 tien
Paper, white leaves, made of bambon (100) s kovan
(a catty)
là tun Sugar
Candy
Cucumbers -
But the last place only is open to foreign trade. Very few ships come to trade. They have desert- ed on account of the arbitrary practices of the king, Ginger (sweet meat of) who has the entire monopoly of the trade, and be cause there are no fixed regulations for its man- agemont.
Cachinchinese coins have been explained in Mor rison's Commercial Guide, according to the state. ments given by the late J. L. Tabord, bishop of Isauropolis in his valuablo Amunitic dictionary, They are well made made both in gold and silver, and are as follows:
I goldon ingot or loaf” weight if taels Sp. Dr. 039,
1 golden nail or 'ding váng'
Mango
Tack
Black pepper Green tea from lue
Wood for fire- Ebony from Kimannam Eagle wood
Rad copper Morlit
3 dien
3 tica
tioni
tien
tien
2 kou
Is tien 3 tien
3 kowan
10 to
10 tsen
50 kon koumn
119.
22.
(a catty)
Horns of thinoceros
10 konan
Male (best kind)
(a pair).
(a catty)
1 to 2 kovan
golden nails make one golden loaf so called.. Its specific weight is 93 parts pure silver and 5
silver ingat or leaf aen hae weight 10 tacka Drs, 11 alloy, or 100 parts. The value of 17 silver loufis equal to that of I golden juf
I silver nail or dính bạc weight 4 tael, Drs: 1.40
70
35
The kingdom of Cochinchina or Anam is now composed of: Ist Tonquin which contains accord. ing to M. Chaiqueso, the ancient French man- darin, 18 millions of inhabitants. That is the ri- chest part of the Anamitic country. There are in the interior two principal towns, Ketchen amil Vi houang. The population of each second a 100 or 160 thousand inhabitants, and 220,000 Ro- man Catholics are supposed to be spread over all the country, in Upper Cochinchina, wherein is Fohue, or rather Kiguh, residance of the king and Capital of the kingdom. This place is upon an is land, formed by tws channels of the river It is remarkable for its fortifications mide on the Euro- pean system, which were erected by the French and Irish engineers, who in 1799 accompanied the bishop of Adran. It is a town whose streets are said to be paved, gravelled and bordered with trees Houses are made of stone and bricks after the Eu- ropean manner. There are ramparts defended by numerous artillery, and stone houses and arsenals well furnished with guns, and everything necessary, in case of a war for 100,000 soldiers. The surface of the town is about five or six miles in cireum We found also in a wild state two varieties of ference, and its population consists of about 600 10 mulberry trecs. Moras Indica, remarkable for inhabitants. 31. Lower Cochinchin, whose prin their leaves cut in the shape of a vine; the leaf of cipal town is Shaigoene, another town fortified af. the first was broader than that of the other. We ter the European system, and seaport at the mouth found also different species of what the people call of a river of the same name, which must boan arm me, and which they employ to make ropes and of the great Camboja river. There was occording hammocks We discovered one of them to be the to Horsburgh a manufactory for the casting of Urtica nivea, from its leaves being on the bak side canzon, and houses and stocks for the building of very woody, and another, a species of sida, its lea. ships. According to different travelers this tower was very mercantile, for the convenience of the yes being very sharp, pointed and intented like a saw. Those plants grow in the plains as well as harbor and the depth of water. But since the great upon the mountains. We found a plenty of indigo insurrection of 1933, a great part of its furtifica- shrubs, several in the marble caves, The woods tons have bows put down, its commerce driven all around are full of a peculiar kind of monkeys away and almost all the population perished. Those They have a white haired face, surrounded by a two ports of Cochinchina are said to contain ac- red beard. Their body is a fine shining grey. cording to the same aforesaid mandarin, 1,000,00) Their feet and foro paws and their legs red. They inhabitants, amongst whom are 80,000 Roman are therefore called cod breached monkeys. They Cathalies, 4th. Camboja, whose principal town are very inoffensive and never attack men. But Ponben or Kalompe, with a population of 30,000 they are said to be very fond of fruits and vegetables, inhabitants. The frontiers of that pan which so and destroy sometimes everything about the vil parates the Anamic empire from the Siamese, or Inges. People were well satelied when they saw from two uncivilized tribes which are supposed to fifty or sixty of these poor hinge brought on the belong to the Stacee kingdom, are determined ex-
The specific weight is 190 parts of pure metals. shoulders of our sailors and sent to our ship. Factly, but they are frequently crossed, by parties of the maddy grounds and fields of rice are found a warriors, nel cocopivi sometimes by the one and great number of leeches and tortoises There are allerwards by the other, according to the chances and 80 of copper or alloy. One side bears the face also small dangerous watersnakes. All round the of war, which has long been carried on by the one of the Cochinchineas Vragon, and the other side way are found different Linds of fish and fine shells, government against the other. The population of the king's name in Chinese characters sime Ming We did not find the climate of Thron so that fourth part of the Amunitio empire is about Ming' and others that of Thiesti. Some are
while others are broader and was to thick. wholesome as soune lave decribed it. During all one million inhabitants amongst whom are very like common dollars and have a hole in the midle,
The only popular coin is the cash male of pure | our star, twelve days, we lost na uno of the crew for Christiane,
We cannot piso an idea of the surface of that and had only twenty men sick. No min toll and the thermometer contioned at 90 Farsabat on kingdom, It is a long babi which traces more tipe In Carro is circular, and is 0,37 inch in das. board and in the shade. However every evening than 12 degree, from a burders of the tree Chim. It has his the Chiasse cash, a from soven and every morning from ne o'clock nese provices Yunaan, Kwangyi and Kangtung in the middle, of 0,16 inch each sale, as the can the surroosting mountains were covered will to the southern estrema of Cochinchina de Tenence of stringing a number together. It is not Clouds Lightnings were ea and a great case of the Camboja river, at the 10th degree of coined but cut. The Chinese characters are in of thunder beard all around. We sol to take 3 N. hole. It breath is greatest in Tongue, to tended to present the ease of the king. Six bath in the lart errry alemon, and latribzade of fron de to two degree.
There are Chiario in aston very sorrow, no more than yay good health to this creamARTE. no sharks nor other dance fth in that bay
The Cochinchinese were very kied to tgh mediately, noted by as cast props, who nepitable, come at tunes to pleader the poor and defenseless Very poor, Mey vite ray ovi sod
Cockineliss is a very essemble entry, on se, women, we entered their was, we passed Jenn their soldiers, we track the tea, and we final cost of its is intern way, salat és ha a thema ofthe same hamar, oever anery, orrer lantat ing. They are not fair Emel, ber tire is today
1
thmg in their operace which stres enchience. | Cvecancioso,
meal bemes than baser Fat the Vera na tares of even la
Besides the native com the late king Ming Ming 10 silver nails are equivalent to one silver loaf. issued a coinage of gold and silver dollars, and the reigning king Thieu in adopted the sante. The weight and valde are here presented
gold dollar weight 1.639 ounce Troy Dis 12,
silver dollar
22
0510 0.950
0:431 0213
6.50. 3.25.
Green indigo
Beeswax » Cotton - Raw Silk •
Cotton cloth-a piece of 21 thuoc Coat for a man • Trowsers
- kowan
i kouan-
14 koun
3 to 4 kouan
7. kouan
6 kouan
3 kotan
8. Kounn
() Turban of silk or cotton craps Day's work in Upper Cochinchina (beside rico) 30
to 10 saproks. Lower Cochinchina
2 tien
•1 tien trades in Upper Cochinchina Mason, carpenter and other mechanical Mason, carpenter and other mechanical
trades in Lower Cochinching 2 to 3 tien These several prices indicate the variory and 070. cheapness of local productions. But it is not to be 0.85, ( inferred that icse prices are by any menas con- 017stant, inasmuch as the king has monopolised.com- merce for instance, silk may be generally oh- tained from 2 to 5 man which is very cheap. But
Unfer each circumstances tendo cannot by if it be for expoention, the price may be increased to G or 5 or 10 koman, according to the king's
long time it will present any secure advantages to easily carried on, and é is not probable that for a foreigners,
mhols
Notz-la undering our best thanks to Mr Hekle for bis Notion wo must apologize for their poor England dress, we were not aware of the many had blisms in the article until it was too late to correct them. The present king of Chebichina, called his fri, succeeded his father Be is Laser haired of them strong together in this manner early in 1911. Soc Chi Hap vol. XI pp. 341, 4000. faya what is called s koes (tem) or a ating 975. He father's name was Mingming, and his Each kus makes 10 heaps or teas, each of 60 | grandfather's Kistung, written cien, na ghove cash. The mis of the cash varies in different we "Gyabong Polascally and morally considered, "Co- to, or accorbay to the rakce qazilanted to guid chinchins is a very miserable country, all it has and adres in Turonal is Upper Cochinchina, a very fertile soil, and duine a better rule and om Spawh other in works only vite er fou baar. good equitable laws it can beesino a prosperonis dolus à vonth ive er ég keman Samuling the mors of it, and that better relatos coultexist be la Sagesse or in Lover Lochecomes and Spoon and happy country. We wish Europeana knew dodas at en neerega nise of huge brows we shall | twem Annsas "the Tranquil Youth," and the na-
10
Way of the w
Edited, Printer and Published by Jona Cans, At The Frient of China and Hongkong Gaete, Friating Office, Cover Smeer, Verzia, HouSKONE, 15,16,
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