740 Note on the Geography of Cochin China. [Sept, 



and best known to the inhabitants: for there are provinces -which 

 have received new names from his majesty, though such are only 

 employed in edicts and in the writings of the mandarins, the people 

 adhering to the ancient appellations. For example the prefecture of 

 Dongnai, or province of lower Cochin China, is now called Bien hoa, 

 and the part known by the Europeans under the name of Sai gbn is now 

 called Gia dinh*. (In writing the native names in Roman characters, I 

 follow the method adopted alike by all missionaries of different nations 

 for the last 200 years. The same may be said of the Tongking 

 names, but as in the latter language there are sounds foreign to the 

 European ear, it is necessary to introduce new symbols to express 

 them. For this purpose the letter nearest approaching the sound has 

 been modified by the addition of some accent or diacritical mark, 

 which will be found explained in the preface of my dictionary now 

 under publication, but which it would be out of place to enter upon iu 

 a note on geography.) 



Central Cochin China commences about lat. 16°; extending to about 

 10° 45'. It comprehends six provinces, or prefectures, viz. Quang nam 

 or cham : in this province is situated the fine port of Touron named 

 Han by the Cochin Chinese. Four or five leagues south of this bay is 

 the city of Phai-pho which was for a long time the focus of the commerce 

 with foreign countries. The wars which desolated this kingdom 



* If it be asked why are the3e changes ? I will answer, that frequently super- 

 stition has most to do with it. Sometimes the old name has not been thought 

 noble enough — and sometimes simple caprice has guided his majesty's will which 

 none dare thwart. Tota ratio est voluntas facientis. It is thus that from a 

 whim the king will rase a whole city and re-erect it at some distance, or on an 

 opposite bank of the river t Can one then accuse a geographer of ignorance if at 

 the epoch of his making a map, the city was placed on. the left side of the river, 

 because it happens now to be on the right ? I make this remark in reference to 

 the map of Cochin China which will appear with my dictionary. In 1835 the 

 strong town of Sai gbn in lower Cochin China has been utterly destroyed because 

 his majesty chose to build another at some distance, but I know not yet the 

 precise position of the new town. Why is this ? 1 have said above. Again in 

 1833 the town of Sai gbn was taken by a pagan mandarin who withstood a siege 

 for near two years. When the king's troops succeeded in October 1835, in retaking 

 the place, his majesty guided by superstition, discovered that the situation of the 

 town was not propitious : — and that a diviner should select a better, whither it 

 was accordingly transferred. The diviner will have assured the king that 

 under the new spot dwelt the great dragon for which they have so great a venera- 

 tion. It is thus that the king revenged himself on the infidelity of his subjects 

 in this province, who were made to labour night and day for 10 or 15 years in 

 constructing this new town, — their only recompense being the cangue and th* 

 ratan. 



