INDO-CHINA
773
INDO-CHINA
(Cambodian, Annamite, and Chinese) councillors, all
of whom are appointed by the Resident Superior on
the recommendation of the mayor. Kampot, situ-
ated opposite the Island of Fu-kwok, is an important
port of call for coast-traders. Situated near the
northern shore of Tonli Sap in the midst of dense for-
ests are the ruins of Angkor Thom (Great Angkor),
once the capital of the Khmer Empire. Its former
extent can be traced from the remains of the fortifica-
tions, fifty feet Inroad and thirty feet high, and from
the ditch 380 feet wide, which surround the ruins.
There were once four entrances to the town, across
bridges supported by gigantic statues. Within the
walls still remain superb palaces, bastions, terraces, a
glorious temple of three stories with concentric gal-
leries, above which rise forty-two turrets (covered hke
the walls with delicate carvings) and a central tower
130 feet high, looming above the circular colonnades.
Between these ruins and the lake stands the temple of
Angkor-Wat, perhaps the vastest and most glorious
monument raised by the hand of man in the Far East.
It is constructed of massive blocks of sandstone, many
weighing more than eight tons and fitted together
with the greatest accuracy although no cement was
used. The surrounding galleries, the towers, the gi-
gantic and seemingly endless staircases, the square
and round columns are covered with carvings rivalling
the most beautiful remains of Hindoo art (cf. Clifford,
" Further India ", pp. 146-66). It is impossible to fix
definitely the date at which this temple was built, but
we may assume that its erection must have occurred
during the golden period of the Khmer power and
civilization. Whether the temple was consecrated to
Buddha, or whether the sanctuary in the central tower,
ornamented with gigantic statues looking towards the
cardinal points, contained an enormous lingam is also
disputed, liut, in view of the numerous lingams found
in various parts of Cambodia, the latter opinion is the
more probable.
The Camljodians or Khmers, although their type is in general greatly modified by intermarriage with other races, still preserve the Aryan characteristics. Taller than the Annamite or Thai, their eyes are rarely ol>lique, their nose is straight, and, though their complexion is now yellow, they preserve their aggluti- native or polysyllabic language intact in the midst of races speaking isolating or monosyllabic tongues. Though lazy, given to opium-smoking, and unfit for almost every employment, they have, apart from their mysterious and glorious past, a great attrac- tion for the sociological student owing to their gentle- ness, courtesy, loyalty, and their naive pride which makes them prefer to submit to any misery rather than labour for another. They practise Buddhism slightly tinged with Brahminism. Very supersti- tious, they believe that the noise of trumpets drives away the evil genii, and that a man seen in the open country silhouetted against the sky above the horizon is doomed to an early death. Attached to each pagoda is a college of bonzes, who are highly esteemed by every class. The bonzes are easily distinguished from the rest of the people by their shaven heads and yellow robes; they are bound to celibacy, live in com- munity, and depend for their sustenance on the rice which they receive each day ready-cooked in the vil- lages. At definite periods they assemble the men in the pagoda and read from the sacred books, written in a language not seldom unintelligible to both reader and audience. Besides the religious books and ro- mances concerning the past existences of the Buddha, the liliraries connected with the pagodas contain ancient works dealing with astrology, chiromancy, the vulgar CamV)odian tongue, and Pali, together with works on education and historical treatises, unfortu- nately relating only to recent times. The bonzes are also the teachers of the Cambodian youth, and the only teaching body in the kingdom, excepting of course
the Catholic orders. The Khmers are monogamous,
and greatly attached to their families. JIarriages,
religious ceremonies, the celebration of the first day
of the year, the ceremony of the first cutting of the
hair, which occupies an important place in the social
life, are all occasions of great rejoicing. The theatre
is the great national amusement, from the Royal
Theatre at Pnom-penh to the little travelling shows
which play under the palm or fruit-tree. The parts
are enacted by little girls of about fourteen, dressed
in costumes exactly like those seen on the bas-reliefs
of the ancient ruins.
(5) Laos. — The principalities of the Laos or Lawa nation included at the most flourishing period of its history the whole valley of the Me-kong from China to Cambodia, the upper basin of the Me-nam, and por- tion of the basin of the Salwin. To-day its extent is confined to the valley of the Me-nam (Western Laos), which is subject to Siam, and the valley of the Me- kong (Eastern Laos), which, being under the protec- tion of France, alone concerns us in the present article. French Laos is bounded by China on the north, by Tong-king and the Annamite Range on the east, by Cambodia on the south, while on the west it is sepa- rated from the Siamese and British territories by the Me-kong, except that a narrow strip of country on the right bank of the Me-kong and to the west of Luang Prabang, averaging about fifty miles in breadth, is in- cluded in French Laos. Within these limits Laos has an area of 98,000 square miles, and a population of perhaps 1,000,000. The whole north of the country is occupied by a lofty and compact group of mountains, between ridges of which the Me-kong has hollowed out a narrow and rocky course. At about 18° north lati- tude, the basin widens and thenceforth the river pur- sues its course through undulating plains which keep on enlarging until the delta is reached. The whole country is covered by an immense forest, which covers the sides of the mountains, crowns their sum- mits, descends into the deep gorges, and stretches over the plains. Almost every genus of tree grows on this wonderfully fertile soil. Teak, benzoin, cinnamon, gamboge, and carilamom are furnished by the plains, while the higher altitudes supply varieties of oak, chestnut, elm, and other trees, usually associated with countries in a more northern latitude.
The Laotines have established themselves in little villages along the banks of the rivers. Their planta- tions of cabbage-palm, banana, and cocoa-trees stand out in welcome relief from the gloomy background of the forest. In these little settlements, rescued from the forests, the cultivation of rice occupies the foremost place. Buckwheat, potatoes, peaches, pears, prunes, and various other fruits are also grown. Tea is pro- duced in considerable quantities, and, as an indication of its unrivalled quality, it may be mentioned that here are grown the famous teas reserved for the Em- peror of China. Laos possesses no coast-line, but its river-fishing is of great importance. The Me-kong yields a gigantic fish, called by the natives the pla-beuk, which, when dried, forms an important element of the native dietary. Another industry of the Laotines is the raising of cattle and buffaloes for the Cambodian and Siamese markets. Laos contains some very im- portant iron mines, exploited by the natives; depos- its of sapphire, copper, and gold are very numerous — gold being also found in the beds of various streams. Sulphurous thermal springs abound in the country, and there are several notable salt-mines. Many con- cessions have been recently given to French mining companies, but progress is at present greatly retarded owing to the almost inaccessible position of the coun- try for commercial purposes. The construction of the long-canvassed railroad to connect Laos with the coast would afford the country an opportunity of competing in the outer markets, but a tremendous development of the coimtry would have to be effected
