The Cochin Chinese soldiers are, from all accounts,
docile and obedient ; and, though short of
stature, strong, active, and capable of enduring
hardship. Disciplined like our Sepoys, led by
European officers, and serving a Government under
which they would be treated with fairness
and justice, I should think them capable of making
very good troops ; but at present, personal
courage is not a virtue to be expected from
them. In fact, I am led to believe, from all I
saw, that although the discipline of the Cochin
Chinese army may render it, in the hands of
the Sovereign, a powerful instrument of oppression
towards his subjects, or even of aggression
against his smaller native neighbours, it would
prove no defence at all against the invasion of
an European power. On the contrary, I make
little doubt, but that Cochin China, with its E u ropean
fortresses, and its army disciplined on the
European model, would fall an easier prey to the
attack of an European power, than any other
considerable kingdom of Asia, and this for reasons
which will appear sufficiently obvious. The subjugated
countries of Kamboja and Tonquin lie rat
the two extremities of the empire, and being discontented,
are peculiarly liable to insurrection.
All the strong-holds and arsenals, including thé
capital, lie close to the coast, and are either accessible
to a fleet, nr liable to be taken by a coup-
de-main. They could not, at all events, resist the
science and courage of an European force for any
length of time; and their fall, which would leave
the government without resource, would be really
equivalent to the conquest of the kingdom. There
are other circumstances which would contribute
to facilitate this event. The central part of the
kingdom depends for food and other supplies
upon Tonquin and Kamboja, which are almost
exclusively conveyed by sea. These supplies
would be readily cut off by a fleet; for these two
countries, but especially Kamboja, could be most
effectually blockaded by a very trifling naval force;
while the least support given to the inhabitants of
either would drive them into insurrection against
the Cochin Chinese Government. Mr. Chapman,
who saw the Cochin Chinese during the distractions
of a long civil war, was of opinion, that,
by taking side with one of the contending factions,
a force of fifty European infantry, half the
number of artillery, and two hundred Sepoys,
would be adequate to the conquest of the kingdom.
Matters are certainly different at present;
but still I make little doubt, but that a force of
five thousand European troops, and a squadron
of a few sloops of war, would be quite sufficient
for the conquest, and even for the permanent
maintenance, of the whole empire.
Were Cochin China and the countries dependent
upon it placed under the skilful rule of an
European Government, according to the scheme