320 Geography of Co chinchina. [April* 



engineers, and if they were capable of measuring distances and finding the 

 latitude and longitude of places. The different engineers and drafts- 

 men belonging to his majesty with whom I was acquainted were not 

 then conversant with the details of the art ; they merely used the chain 

 and could find out the points in the horizon by means of the compass. 

 In drawing their maps they used those made by Europeans which they 

 either reduced or enlarged in scale ; then they added the different 

 places omitted or unknown to the Europeans. Although this map is 

 not without errors, yet I think it is and may be, unfortunately for a long 

 period, the best and most detailed that has as yet appeared. 



For 200 years a number of Europeans of different nations have inha- 

 bited Cochmchi?w, others Tonquin, and others again Gamboge. Some 

 had factories and were occupied with commerce ; others were mis- 

 sionaries and attended to the instruction of the infidels and to the relief 

 of the Christians. How happened it that in those happy times, when 

 these strangers were protected and even enjoyed liberty, none of them 

 have given us any knowledge of the geography of the country? About 

 this period the Jesuits at the court of Pekin were giving to the enlightened 

 world the most exact and most complete plans of an immense empire. 

 In my opinion if the different kingdoms that I have enumerated had had 

 as their chief a man like Gang Hi, who protected the fine arts, we should 

 have enjoyed the same advantage. But to the eyes of an ignorant 

 prince and people he who dared to construct any geographical instru- 

 ments so as to make observations, might have paid rather dear for such 

 a temerity, either by death or at least by exile. I will give you an 

 example of what I have just said. In the year 1818 or 1819, the offi- 

 cers of a French frigate " Le Henri^ which was anchored in the river 

 Hue, and who had been very well received by the king Gia Long 

 father of the reigning prince, wished to regulate their chronometers 

 and had come ashore and prepared an artificial horizon. The day after 

 the king having been informed of the preparation of these extraordinary 

 instruments, had called into his presence the two French mandareens 

 Messrs. Vannier and Chagneau, who were in his service, and said 

 to them in the presence of the assembled council : " It appears that the 

 officers of the frigate are making a map of the country, order them to 

 discontinue their attempt." If Gia Long, whose sentiments towards 

 Europeans were so different from those of his son, acted in this way, 

 what hope can we have of being better acquainted with the interior of 

 this country so long as things are in this state ? 



It was a pity that Captain Macleod was unable to carry his 

 researches beyond the 3rd degree of longitude. His services would have 



