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ANAM. 339
afloat, most of them decorated with gilding and carved
work, presenting a very animated and pleasing spec-
tacle.
" The city of Saigon was formerly confined to the
western extremity of its present site. The part now
called old Saigon, bears much greater marks of an-
tiquity, and exhibits a superior style of architecture.
Some of the streets are paved with flags; and the
quays, of stone and brick-work, extend nearly a
mile along the river. Since the civil wars have ter-
minated, the tide of population has flowed rapidly to
the eastward, till it has produced one continued city,
which has spread itself on the opposite bank of the
streams on which it is situated, and surrounds the
citadel and naval arsenal. From the western part of
the city, a river or canal has been recently cut, to the
distance of twenty-three English miles, connecting
with the Meikong, by which a free water communication
is opened with Cambodia. This canal is twelve
feet deep throughout, and about 80 feet wide. It was
cut through immense forests and morasses, in the
short space of six weeks : twenty-six thousand men
were employed, night and day, by turns, in this stupendous
undertaking, and 7000 lives were sacrificed
by fatigue and consequent disease. The banks of
this canal are already planted with the palmaria-tree,
which is a great favourite with the Anamese.
" The site of the citadel of Saigon is the first
elevated land which occurs in the river, after leaving
Cape St. James, and this is about 60 feet above the
level of the river : it was formerly a natural conical
mound, covered with wood. The grandfather of the
present monarch caused the top to be taken off and
levelled, and a deep moat to be sunk, surrounding the
whole, which was supplied with water from the river