Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1869-10-28
Archaeological Discoveries In Cochin.
China.

The ruins which have been discovered in
Cambodia (says the Revue Coloniale ct
Maritime) prove that the inhabitants must
at one time have been as highly civilized
as they are now debased. Remains of
sculpture have been discovered rivaling
those produced in Greece in its best days.
The ruling principle which dominated
every other is supposed to have been a re.
iqious one, but this did not prevent the
government from paying attention to ma
terial matters calculated to benefit the peo-
pie by adding to their comfort and promo
ting their commerce. Magnificent roadsare
the interior of the country. and besides
these roads, at certain distances apart,
large sheets of water were formed for the
use, as is supposed, of the caravans which
traversed them, the animals which con-
veyed the merchandise, such as the eie.
plant and the buffalo, requiring frequent
baths, and the country being so parched
during several months by the great heat
that all the small streams, ponds and shall
low lakes are dried up.
Well built bridges have been discovered
in many parts, and the expedition conduct.
ed by M. Lagree found remains of the same
and other constructions as far as the 18th
degree of north latitude. Soextensive and
numerous are these remains that they arc
considered to prove beyond dispute that at
the time when they were built the country
must have been densely populated by peo-
pie rich and prosperous to very high de-
gree; indeed, there is positive evidence of
the fact in the writings of Chinese trav.
eler, who speaks with warm admiration of
the lavish manner in which gold was en-
ployed in the decorations of their monu-
ments.
The Successors of those who erected
these monuments are now few in COM
parison in the great territory of Cochins
China. Driven back from the mouth of
the great river which gave them access to
the sea by the Annimites, and from the
upper valley Of Cambodia by the Laothians,
as far back as the fourteenth degree on the
thirteenth on the left bank, and moreover
divided between the governments of France
and Siam, and only portion of them re-
tanning their own sovereign, whose rule,
aud that of their chiefs. is described az III
noway calculated to revive ancient civiliza-
ton and prosperity. they seem to have lost
heart, and it is only occasionally that their
innate energy is reused SO fur as to induce
them to escape from the oppression to
which they are subjected by taking refuge
in the forest.
How far the Incidence Of their character
may be attributed to tho oppressiveness Of
the governments they live under, it is, of
course, impossible to say; but saddening
idea of this distinguishing feature is deriv-
ed by travellers from the uncultivated state
of the country. Vast districts SO fertile
and SO we'll situated that immense crops Of
almost every kind could be grown in them,
are suffered to lie fallow year after year,
and this not because hands are wanting to
cultivate the land, but because they prefer
living in state Of misery and wretched-
ness to making the exertion necessary to
raise themselves out Of it, persuaded as
they are, that if they manage to acc--aulate
any little property they would only involve
themselves in possible danger and certain
them. The little relation they still have
with the countries outside their territory
they owe to the Chinese, who conduct. the
commerce, and the Annamites, who Enjoy
the highly remunerative monopoly of the
fishing.
The condition of those who live under
the rule of the Siamese is described as be-
ing much better than that of those who
live under native rule. This is attributed
to the terrible chastisements which follow
ed every atteH pit to throw off the yoke to
which they were subjected, until ut length
they became convinced of the futility Of
such attempts, and set to work to make the
best of the opportunities that still remain
ed to them. The entire race is described
as inevitably doomed to destruction from the
entertainments of Chinese, Annamites and
Europeans, just as the magnificent monu-
! ments Of their former greatness are from
the gnawing of decay.
The San Jose (Cal.) Patriot reports tho
discovery, by Il citizen Of Santa Clara coun-
ty, OF several groves OF liant redwoods, OF
the species famous in .alaveraS and Mari
posa, on the headwaters OF the Tulare and
San Joaquin. One Of thee groves is said
to contain trees measuring over 100 feet in
circumference, and even these monsters are
reported to be excelled by those Of another
grove. The new groves are about forty
miles eastward from Visalia., They are
| probably the same referred to by Professor
Whitney, which were found by the State
Geological Survey, several years ago, but
have not been Thoroughly examined and de-
scribed.
PERSONS In want OF rrusses. Supporters. ArtAici.
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Iowa has multiplied its population by
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