CO'CHIN CHINA, or ANASt', an empire of Asia, occupying the greater part of the eastern portion of the Indo-Chinese peninsula. It lies in 10° to 23° n. lat., and 102° to 109' c. long., including Tonquin and C. C. proper. It is bounded, n. by China, c. by the gulf of Tonquin and the China sea, s. by lower or French C. C., and w. by Laos, Siam, and Cambodia. Area, 200,000 sq. miles.
Physical Features. —A mountain range of considerable height runs through the country, parallel with the coast. The northern province of Tonquin is an extensive plain, through which flows the river Song-ca. C. C. proper extends along the coast between 11° and 18° n. latitude. The largest river of Anent, and indeed of the whole Indo-Chinese peninsula, is the Ma-kiang or Cambodia, which, rising in the mountains of China, flows through Laos and Cambodia, and, after a course of some 1500 m., sepa rates into several branches, and finally discharges itself into the China sea. The Song-ca, or Great river, of Tonquin, has an estimated course of 400 miles. The Hub, in C. C. proper, flows through a fertile valley, and presents some of the finest scenery in Asia.
As to climate in Tonquin, the changes of temperature and weather are very sudden. Much rain falls in C. C. during the whole summer, which produces a general inundation about the end of October. Sept., Oct., and Nov. are the best months of the year, and most suited to the European constitution.
Among the agricultural productions, rice, of which two crops are raised in the year, holds the chief place. Potatoes, pease, beans, melons, and other vegetables, maize, tobacco, cotton, indigo, tea, and sugar, are also grown. Silk is produced in considera ble quantities. Valuable trees, such as the calnmba, ki-nam or scented eagle-wood, ebony, rose-wood, iron-wood, sandal-wood, the varnish-tree, and many others, flourish on the mountains. The palm tribe and the bamboo are common in the low lands. The mineral riches of the country are very much neglected; but gold, silver, iron, copper, and coal exist, and are most abundant in Tonquin. The domestic animals are the elephant, Indian cow, buffaloes, pigs, goats, dogs, and cats. Fowls of that kind so lately a rage in this country, ducks, geese, and pigeons, abound in every village. The most dreaded of the wild animals of C. C. is the tiger. Elephants are very numerous in the forests of Tonquin ; and leopards, wolves, bears, wild boars, the rhinoceros, as well as many kinds of apes and monkeys, infest the mountainous districts. Serpents and
other reptiles are to be met with in great numbers. Of birds, eagles, peacocks, quails, partridges, paroquets, and wild ducks are amongst the most important. Fish of very excellent quality swarm in the rivers and canals. Very many are taken on the sea coast, and carried to every part of the country.
Cochin Chinese, like the other peoples of the Indo-Chinese penin sula, are characterized by a Mongolian physiognomy and a monosyllabic language. They are rather low in stature, but well proportioned, hardy, and active. The women have a lighter skin, and are altogether better looking than the men. Their dress is the old national costume of the Chinese prior to the Tartar conquest. The Cochin Chinese are greatly addicted to smoking, and betel-nut is the universal masticatory. The civiliza tion of this people has been derived from China; hence their religion and government, manners and customs, nearly approximate to the creeds, administrative system, and habits of that country. The selection of a place of sepulture is with them a very grave consideration, and the good or bad fortune of a family is supposed to depend upon it. Rice, with a sauce called balachiam, made of macerated salt fish, is the principal food of the Cochin Chinese; but they are very unclean feeders, no flying or creeping thing, whether bat, insect, or reptile, coming amiss. The national drink is tea, but a liquor made from rice is also in use. The common dwellings, which are raised 2 or 3 ft. from the ground, are made of bamboo and thatch; but the better classes inhabit brick houses roofed with tiles. Women in C. C. are allowed full liberty, and frequently engage in commerce and agriculture. They are kind to their children and proud of a numerous offspring. Infanticide is unknown. but the poor sometimes sell the children they can not afford to keep. Marriages are regulated by law; and before they can be contracted, the consent of the head of the family is required. Polygamy, or rather a system of concubinage, is allowed, but obtains chiefly among the rich. Divorce is also permitted. The-laws against adultery are very severe, yet amongst single women little or no dis grace attends a breach of chastity. The law invests the creditor with the most arbitrary power over the property, wives, and family of his debtor. The pop. is estimated at 't1,000,000.