adult male inhabitants, above eighteen years of
age, at one-fourth of the whole, the total population
of the empire will amount to no more than °
one million two hundred and eighty thousand.
This however, I have no doubt, is on the other
hand greatly underrating it. Perhaps the safest
estimate may be drawn from comparing the
amount of the population of Cochin China with
that of countries similarly circumstanced in regard
to government, climate, and locality, and
where an actual census has been taken. The
neighbouring country of China is at present considered
to contain one hundred and fifty millions
of inhabitants; and, according to the map of the
Jesuits, contains in round numbers, exclusive of
Tartary, one million three hundred and ten thousand
square miles, which area.gives one hundred
and fourteen souls to a square mile.* Were the
Cochin Chinese Empire as densely peopled, which
is very improbable, it would still contain only a
population of eleven millions one hundred and
seventy-two thousand, or about one-half that ascribed
to it by M. De La Bissachere. Parts of
Tonquin are admitted, on all hands, to be very,
densely peopled ; but the reverse is the case with
Cochin China and the greater portion of Kamboja.
* This, it may be remarked, gives nearly the same density of
population as the British possessions in India ; so that it is probable
we have been in the habit of overrating the population of
China, or its general fertility is less than has been imagined.
[f we compare the population of the Cochin Chinese
Empire, therefore, with that of two of the
contiguous provinces of China, viz. Canton, and
Yu-nan,—the one populous and fertile, and the
other mountainous and thinly peopled—we shall,
perhaps, obtain a nearer approximation to the
truth, than by any other process of estimating it.
These two provinces of China, according to the
map constructed by the Jesuits, contain jointly,
in round numbers, an area of one hundred and
sixty-five thousand square miles, and a population
of eight millions eight hundred and seventy-six
thousand three hundred and ninety-nine, of which
Yu-nan, with a superficies of above one hundred
thousand square miles, has little more than two
millions. This gives only a population ot ifity-
three to the square mile. Assuming these data
for the Cochin Chinese Empire, its population
will be only five millions one hundred and ninety-
four thousand; and I think, under all circum- .
stances, this is more likely to be an over than
an underrated estimate.*
* « Tbe population of Cochin China is immense, especially
along the rivers. That of all the empire amounts to from fifteen
to twenty millions. Polygamy is allowed; but notwithstanding,
a man baa in feet but one wife i hi» other
bines, real servants; of whom the labour and the fruitfulness
,h . wealth of «be maater. Bn. tbere are other
i, • 1 and moral of which the influence contributes perhaps