1838.] Geography of Cochinchina. 317 



IV. — Additional notice on the geography of Cochinchina. By the most 

 Rev. Jean Louis, Bishop of Isauropolis* 



Although I have already given you a short account of the geography 

 of Cochinchina, I think it is advisable to add a few more remarks 

 because in the first place, I have recent intelligence from that country 

 that various changes have taken place in the divisions or limits of the 

 empire ; and in the second place, because I have made, — and in some 

 cases I have not made, — the consequent alterations in the map which 

 I am about to publish. 



The letters to which I have above alluded inform me that the king- 

 dom of Cumboze, henceforth will onl^ have a local habitation and a 

 name in our old maps. This kingdom so ancient, known in the 

 Chinese annals by the name of Chon lap and of Chiem lap, was originally 

 designed by them under the name of Phu nam. From the fifth cen^ 

 tury and perhaps even before, it was divided into two parts, one named 

 Chiem lop (maritime). This part was the nearest to the sea and has 

 the appearance of an immense lake. It is the division now known by 

 the name of Gia dint, or the province of lower Cochinchina. The 

 northern part which is very mountainous was called Chiem lap * of earth' 

 (inland). This denomination ceased about the year 606 of the Chris- 

 tian era, when the general name of Chiem lap or Camboze embraced 

 the whole. This kingdom was bounded on the north by the kingdom 

 of Laos, on the west by the kingdom of Siam, and on the south by 

 the sea, for it is within the last century only that lower Cochinchina 

 has formed one of its limits to the south, for the latter country was itself 

 formerly one of the finest divisions of the Camboze kingdom. Its true 

 limits were the mountains inhabited by savages called Moi, and those of 

 the ancient kingdom of Ciampa. This country is situated in a long 

 plain between two ranges of mountains on the east and west. 



Camboze, from being one of the most flourishing kingdoms of Indo- 

 China has undergone the same fate as all those great empires of Asia 

 of which nothing remain but the name, while Cochinchina has been built 

 upon its ruins. For a long period the king of Camboze was tributary 

 to the kings of Siam and of Cochinchina. The king of Siam had taken 

 all the country which bordered his kingdom to the west even as far as 

 Battambong. The king of Cochinchina extended the limits of his domi- 

 nion to Chdndoe, a fortified place, situated on the canal of Ha-tien, about 

 three days' journey from the capital of Camboze, named Nam-vang, by 

 the Cochinchinese, Penompeng by the Cambogiens, from whence, the 

 Europeans, who have a facility of corrupting names, have made Columpe. 



