SA DEC – Cochinchina
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MARCEL BERNANOISE1
I. Physical Geography
SITUATION
Principal town: Sadec [Sa Đéc]. Distance from Saigon [Sài Gòn] 132km… The province of Sadec [Sa Đéc] is bounded in the North by the province of Tanan [Tân An], the principal town of which is 84km distant; in the East by the province of Mytho [Mỹ Tho] (distance 60km) and Vinhlong [Vĩnh Long] (distance 12km); in the South by the province of Cantho [Cần Thơ] (distance (50km), and in the West by the province of Longxuyen [Long Xuyên] (distance 25km). Its area is 1.320 square km with a cultivated surface of 89.000 hectares. The population of the province of Sadec [Sa Đéc] amounted on December 31st 1924 to 205.515 inhabitants, viz: 20 French, 199.204 Annamites, 2.695 Chinese, 3.481 Minh Huong [Minh Hương], 115 Annamites of Tonkin and of Annam [An Nam]. The climate of Sadec [Sa Đéc] is the same as that of the other provinces in the western part of Cochin-China.
II. Economical Geography
As the province of Sadec [Sa Đéc] is mainly occupied with the cultivation of rice, of cocoa-nuts, areca-nuts and other fruits, Sadec [Sa Đéc] seems to have an excellent future in rice production. The vast moors existing along the borders of Vinhlong [Vĩnh Long], Cantho [Cần Thơ] and Longxuyen [Long Xuyên], as well as the part called “sea- rush-country”, which cover this province, have only to be transformed into rice-fields by the aid of drainage which is now completed. Fishing starts as soon as the rice-crop is over. There are plenty of fish in the sea-rush-country and in some low parts of the province. The fish caught there is used to prepare the “mam” which forms the indispensable condiment of the food of the natives. Industry chiefly consists in a certain number of brick-works and saw-mills. The principal centres and market places are: The town of Sadec [Sa Đéc], Phu Huu [Phú Hữu], Phu Nhuan [Phú Nhuận], My Long [Mỹ Long], My Xuong [Mỹ Xương], My Tra [Mỹ Trà], Hoi An [Hội An], Lai Vung [Lai Vung], Long Hung [Long Hưng], My An Hung [Mỹ An Hưng], Hoa An [Hoà An].
THE TOWN OF SADEC
Pleasantly situated on the left bank of the rach Caolanh [Cao Lãnh] and 25km from Vinhlong [Vĩnh Long], amidst pleasant-looking gardens of cocoa-nut trees and cabbage-palms. Sadec [Sa Đéc] is a very rich commercial place, the streets are regularly laid out, and it has always been a matter of particular care on the part of the Administrations who have followed each other. It is especially Mr. Sylvester, inspector, who has left, in every respect, signs of his presence in Cochin-China. It is to him that the town of Sadec [Sa Đéc] owes its first drainage-works and its adornments. He laid out straight roads and vast wharfs and had drawn different canals the excavations of which were afterwards usefully employed to fill the numerous pools that abounded in the surrounding country. Since then numerous roads and wide avenues have been laid out, brick buildings have taken the place of the ancient straw- huts of the natives, and a modern iron bridge crosses now-a-days the rach Sadec [Sa Đéc], thereby uniting the different villages which form the town, and the European centre with the Chinese and Annamite markets. Indeed this western centre offers at present a very agreeable sight and the view that one enjoys from the top of the church tower, situated close to this chief town, justifies the name of “Garden of Cochin-China”, which is given to this small inland spot. The European quarters and the Offices of the different services are situated on a small island on the river rach Sadec [Sa Đéc], which divides it into two parts, one of which called “Passe-Nord”, joins farther on the great river. Just opposite its mouth is the landing place for the large steamers of the “Messageries Fluviales” forming the service of the western line and that of Pnom Penh [Pnôm Pênh]. This isle is bordered all round by a shady road and planted all along with all sorts of trees, especially mangoe trees, cocoa-nut-palms and is perfumed by the spices from the forests of the colony. At the extreme end of the island there is the Inspection-Hall, and in its neighbourhood there arc the prison, the Post Office, the collecting houses and the military barracks. A little further on there arc the Inspection Offices and the Custom-and Excise House. The Police Station, the court of law for the natives, the Bungalow and the Office of the Subdivision of public works. The native quarters, strictly speaking, arc situated opposite the European city on the other bank of the Rach Sadec [Rạch Sa Đéc]. The quay, bordered by an uninterrupted line of well furnished Chinese shops, is at least 2km in length. It is protected against erosion by water by granite walls. The principal market is situated at the extreme end of the town on a very large place near which is the Annamite Sporting Club. Nearly all the trade and all the manufactories are in the hands of the Chinese and of some Hindus. Nevertheless, there arc some Annamite dyeworks, watch-makers and numerous jewellers among whom is to be mentioned Ly Ngoc Son [Lý Ngọc Sơn], called Vinh, known by his famous carvings and inlaid enamel works (as well in gold as in silver). He obtained the golden medal at the exhibition of Hanoi [Hà Nội].
MONUMENTS AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL LIONS
In the province of Sadec [Sa Đéc] there are neither real monuments nor archaeological curiosities; these are moreover very rare in the whole of Cochin-China. The Pagoda of Nha Man [Nha Mân], situated nearly a mile from the chief town, is nevertheless worthy to be named. Let us also mention the tomb which king Gia Long [Gia Long] erected in memory of the Mandarin Nguyen Van Nhon [Nguyễn Văn Nhơn] who had faithfully followed him in his misfortunes and who contributed afterwards largely towards the restoration of his throne. The great Emperor, in order to reward him for his services, bestowed on him the title of marshal (Quan Cong [Quan Công]). This monument is erected on the territory of the village Tan Dong [Tân Đông] in the district of An Thanh Ha [An Thanh Hạ], the native place of the above mentioned marshal in whose honour it had been erected.
BAN TU THƯ
12 /2019
NOTE:
1: Marcel Georges Bernanoise (1884-1952) – Painter, was born in Valenciennes – the northernmost region of France. Summary of life and career:
+ 1905-1920: Working in Indochina and in charge of mission to the Governor of Indochina;
+ 1910: Teacher at Far East School of France;
+ 1913: Studying indigenous arts and publishing a number of scholarly articles;
+ 1920: He returned to France and organized art exhibitions in Nancy (1928), Paris (1929) – landscape paintings about Lorraine, Pyrenees, Paris, Midi, Villefranche-sur-mer, Saint-Tropez, Ytalia, as well as some souvenirs from the Far East;
+ 1922: Publishing books on Decorative Arts in Tonkin, Indochina;
+ 1925: Won a grand prize at the Colonial Exhibition in Marseille, and collaborated with the architect of Pavillon de l’Indochine to create a set of interior items;
+ 1952: Dies at age 68 and leaves a large number of paintings and photographs;
+ 2017: His painting workshop was successfully launched by his descendants.
REFERENCES:
◊ Book “LA COCHINCHINE” – Marcel Bernanoise – Hong Duc [Hồng Đức] Publishers, Hanoi, 2018.
◊ wikipedia.org
◊ Bold and italicized Vietnamese words are enclosed inside quotation marks – set by Ban Tu Thu.
SEE MORE:
◊ CHOLON – La Cochinchine – Part 1
◊ CHOLON – La Cochinchine – Part 2
◊ SAIGON – La Cochinchine
◊ GIA DINH – La Cochinchine
◊ BIEN HOA – La Cochinchine
◊ THU DAU MOT – La Cochinchine
◊ MY THO – La Cochinchine
◊ TAN AN – La Cochinchine
◊ COCHINCHINA