The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-07-09

| Bits of these cities seem veritable
parts of Paris set down barely outside
( the Jungle Well-shaded and per-
fectiy maintained boulevards cross
both cities, and lining them or set in
nearby parks are monumental public
buildings in the best French archi-
lecture.
Industries Are Flourishino.
The major parts Of both Saigon and
Hanoi are given over to native quar-
tiers, but those portions of the cities
are apart from the beautiful and Eu-
ropeanized sections. AS in Chinese
cities, the native stores are confined
to special quarters. There is thus a
section in which dwell copper and
brass smiths, another for potters, an
other for cabinetmakers, etc.
Railroads serve both Saigon and
Hanoi; and monumental union sta
tions,' putting locomotives. and the
familiar long spans of steel, vaulting
broad rivers, take ones thoughts again
back to the West.
Because Western civilization is
based on industrialism even when 1t is
transplanted to the ends of the earth,
it was inevitable that Hanoi should
supersede Saigon in Importance. In
the region tributary to Hanoi are
those two great essentials to modern
development: coal and iron This is
the only French overseas possession,
incidentally, that is rich in these
minerals. Available, too, are tin, zinc
and tungsten. Silk worms flourish in
Tongking, furnishing still other ma
terial for industry, and mills have
been set up to utilize Cambodian and
Chinese cotton.
On the agricultural side, in addition
to its huge rice crop and its sugar,
Indo- China furnishes large amounts of
tea, cocoa and coffee. From its warmer
regions, too, come considerable guam
titles of spices Cabinet woods are
foated down the streams from the
interior forests.
Four-ffths of the inhabitants of
French Indo-China are Annamese, a
people in characteristics midway be-
tween the Chinese and the Hindus.
They have borrowed in culture and
religion from both the latter peoples.
In the rough, inaccessible parts of the
country are the Laos, a people not
far above savagery.
Mekong a Great River.
The great river Of French Indo-China
IS the Mekong which rises In central
Tibet and flows south, finally running
through the center of the French pen
nsula. In the rainy season this stream
,arries tremendous volume of water,
,verf1owing its banks and turning |
arge areas of forest into marshes.
The river is connected with a large
axe, Tonic Sap, in central Cambodia, |
which is fed by an arm of the Mekong |
,art of the year and in turn feeds
hat river the remainder of the year.
The jungles and forests of French
ndo- China, like those of Siam. har-
or wild elephants. tigers, wild boars.
nd rhinoceroses. Crocodiles frequent
he Mekong. and numerous snakes are
ound in the forests.
Frances influence in Indo-C China
rev from missionary activity in the
seventeenth century. In 1774 the king
AMMAN took refuge with the French
ishop in Saigon. In 1902 French
Military aid was given to this fugitive
lonarch and he regained his throne.
rfvileges were extended to the
rench. but later monarchs began to
ersecute them. Because of this the
rench began military operations In
ochin-China in the sixties of the
nineteenth century. at the same time
lat their armies We're seeking on the
Their side of the world to make Maxi
lillian emperor of Mexico.
BY 1867 they had conquered Cochin
hina and had established a protecto-
6e over adjoining Cambodia. Other
have been set up in the
sninsula IN the succeeding years, the
st over Laos in 1893. The cover !
)r generalship of the Indo-Cbmesa
mon was established in 1873!