288 THE SURVEY QUESTION IN COCHIN CHINA. 



those who hold the most optimist of opinions — as far as I am 

 concerned, I distinctly deny. 



Everything being taken into consideration, the immense 

 labour which the direct taxation of individuals will entail upon 

 the Government, will result in the reduction, in a sensible 

 degree, of the actual sum realised by the land-tax, and further, 

 in consequence of the transport charges which will have to be 

 incurred, will increase the burden on the native population. 



This, therefore, is w T hat would be the probable result of 

 effecting a cadastral survey, with its natural consequence, the 

 separate direct liability of each land-holder for the land-tax. 



I have already stated what a .large establishment it would 

 be necessary to keep up in order to secure the due working 

 of these institutions. I need not go on to point out how 

 greatly increased the Central Government will find their 

 work and responsibility to be, by having to control and direct 

 an entirely new financial department, with the public works 

 necessitated by it. 



Almost the whole of Eastern Indo-China is being laid open, 

 at the present day, to our action, and in order to fulfil the 

 mission thus imposed upon it, the Government has need of 

 all its liberty ; is this the time for the introduction here of 

 reforms, or rather of useless changes, the putting of which 

 into operation will absorb all our attention and the sole re- 

 sult of which will be to accentuate the differences which may 

 exist between Cochin-China and Tonkin, to the prejudice of 

 the administrative union of the two Colonies? 



Let us rather respect what still survives of the organisation of 

 the Annamite commune ; this institution will be invaluable 

 to us in Tonkin ; thanks to it, we govern Cochin-China easily. 

 But we take advantage of it in an ungrateful spirit, and we 

 shall not appreciate its benefits until the day when its dis- 

 appearance shall enable us to judge how well it served us 

 when we had it. 



III. 

 Means of introducing the Torrens System into Cochin-China. 

 I shall now pass to another subject, in which I trust to be 

 able to interest the Committee in a more special manner. 



