1917

COCHIN-CHINA
Cochin-China is a French Colony. The province of Giadinh, of which Saigon I to
■the chief port, was conquered by the Franco-Spanish fleet on the 17th February, 1851 il
’but Lower Cochin-China (comprising the provinces of Giadinh, Bienhoa, and Myth* h
.and the Islands of Pulo Condor) was not definitely occupied until 1862, when it w;i t ■
formally surrendered by Treaty ; in 1867 three more provinces were conquered by th
French and added to their possessions, viz., Chaudoc, Hatien, andYinhlong. Tli [
actual boundaries of Cochin-China now are : on the North the kingdoms of Annam anjfi
'Cambodia, on the East and South the China Sea, on the West the Gulf of Siam ania
-Cambodia.
The Colony of Cochin-China is divided into seven large provinces, comprising in
twenty-one inspections. Besides Saigon, which is the capital of Cochin-China and
the same time of the province of Giadinh, the other chief towns bear the names of the?
.respective provinces, Bienhoa, Mytho, Chaudoc, and Hatien. The country is
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 55
and 600 metres in height. The principal rivers are the two Vaico, the Saigon Bivei
and the Donnai river. The. lower parts of Cochin-China are wrinkled with sma;
creeks or array os, giving easy and rapid communication to all parts of the country. C f
late several canals have been opened. The magnificent river Mekong, which descend n:
from the Thibetan mountains, after running through different territories, crossej
'Cambodia, enters the lower provinces of Cochin-China, by two branches, and emptie
itself into the China Sea by five large outlets called, respectively, Cua Tieu, Cua Bala;
Oua Cochien, Cua Dinh-an, and Cua Bassac.
The principal product of Cochin-China is rice. It is planted in almost ever*1
province except some of the northern districts. In the last twenty years thii
number of hectares cultivated has almost doubled. After this the chief exporm'i
are fish, fish-oil, hides, pepper, cotton, dried shrimps, and copra. China grass, sesamun®
palma-christi, indigo, saffron, gum-lac, sapan wood and cinchona also exist in fairl®
large quantities, with several other minor productions.
The principal salt pits are in the province of Baria. The forests contain birgp
quantities of fine timber and abound with game of nearly every description
amongst which may be named elephants, rhinoceros, tiger, deer, wild boar, anj
eland, while amongst the feathered game the peacock, partridge, snipe, jungle fow
for wildcock), pheasant, etc., may be mentioned. The rivers and creeks swarm witj
fish of every desci'iption, and alligators abound in some.
In the chief towns of each province there is a citadel sufficiently garrisoned,
numerous military posts in the interior maintain and watch over the security of tl
inhabitants. The Annamites are a race devoted principally to agriculture; they are n<
so industrious as the Chinese and are indifferent traders. The Chinese have the lai
proportion of the trade in their hands.
The whole of the French possessions
comprised under the title of Indo-China)
and consist of the Colony of Cochin-China, the protectorates of Tonkin, Laos, Annani
and Cambodia, and the leased territory of Quoang-tschou-wan, and are under the contm;
of a Governor-General, who usually resides in Tonkin. The Government of Cochin-Chinaj
is administered by a Lieutenant-Gfovernor, who is assisted by a Privy Council composed
of all the Heads of Departments as official members and several unofficials. The Colonia
Council of Cochin-China, some of the members of which are elected by the residents
consists of sixteen members, six of whom are natives. In the various arrondissements
moreover, Councils have been introduced composed entirely of natives. The towns <
Saigon and Cholon are ruled by Municipal Councils, the members of which bodies art
partly French and partly native. The Chamber of Commerce at Saigon is also an officia
body elected by the merchants and traders ; formerly it was composed of French
.foreigners, and Chinese, but in 1896 its constitution was altered and it is now at
exclusively French body.