SAIGON, one of the finest river-ports in Asia, the capital of the French possessions in Lower Cochin China, stands 6.1 a small river of the same name, about 35 m. from the Chinese sea. The city is fortified, and its value as a strategical position is unquestion able. By land it is defended from attack by many miles of jungle and swamp, and the approach from the sea on the s., by the fine river Domini, could easily be rendered im passable to the strongest fleet. The entrance to the Donnal is at cape St. Jacques, and its winding course to Saigon, through a rich level country, is from 50 to 60 in. in length, and might be defended by fortifications at every point. It is of easy navigation, and is of sufficient depth to allow vessels of the heaviest burden to sail close to its banks under the overhanging foliage. The breadth of the river from Saigon/ to the sea varies little, but it is never narrower than the Thames at Loudon. It is joined on both sides by many large affluents, and it is the main channel of a river-system that covers the whole country to the s. of the capital with a network of water-courses. The city of Saigon is fortified, and is defended by a permanent force of several large ships of war anti a gar rison of 10,000 men. At the beginning of the year 1865 the law of conscription, by which one man in seven is chosen from among the natives for military service, was already in force. Saigon consists of two parts, the Chinese town, 4 in, inland, filled with an active population busily engaged in trade, and the European, or fortified town on the banks of the Saigon. The latter, with its fleet of vessels riding at anchor in mid stream, is already of considerable size. Good roads have been constructed for many
miles around, and there are barracks, hospitals, official residences, and other buildings for public purposes. The soil, only about one-fourth of which is under cultivation, is abundantly fertile, and is admirably suited to the production of cotton, sugar, indigo, and tobacco, besides rice, the principal export. Its forests contain•magnifirent timber, and abound in woods rich in dyes. Many handsome public buildings have been erected. There is a naval yard and arsenal, and ship-building is carried on. Pop. estimated at 70,000.
Saigon, together with part of the territory of which it is the capital, was taken by the French in 1800. Treaties of peace and commerce, concluded with the Anamite government, in 1854, provided that the protectorate of the six provinces of Lower Cochin China should remain in the hands of France; that three important ports on the coast of Anam should be opened; and that a space of 9 kilometres on the shore of each port should be conceded to the French for the establishment of factories: that French mernants and missionaries should be allowed to traverse the kingdom of Anain without hindrance, and that an indemnity of 100 millions of francs should be paid. In 1867, in consequence of fresh aggressions, encouraged by the government. of Anam, the French took the town of Vinh-long, and. by a new treaty, added three other provinces to their dominions, which now extend from 9° 5' to 10' lat., and from 1 5° to 107' e. long. Pop. '73, 1,327,000. The revenue of the colony in 1873 was 14,300,000 francs: The yearly french trade amounts to about 60,000,000 francs.