CHOLON ("

See also:

• GREAT

great

See also:

• MARKET (Lat. mercatus, trade or place of trade)

market ")  , a town of French Indo-China, the largest commercial centre of Cochin China, 31 in . S.W. of Saigon, with which it is united by railway, steam-tramway and canal . Cholon was founded by Chinese immigrants about 178o, and is situated on the Chinese arroyo at the junction of the Lo-Gom and a canal . Its waterways are frequented by innumerable boats and lined in some places with native dwellings built on piles, in others by quays and houses of French construction . Its population is almost entirely Asiatic, and has more than trebled since 1880 . In that year it had only 45,000 inhabit-ants; in 1907 it numbered about 138,000 . Of these, 42,000 were Chinese, 73,000 Annamese, and 155 French (exclusive of a garrison of 92); the remainder consisted of Cambodians and Asiatic foreigners . During the rice season the town is visited by a floating population of 21,000 persons . The Chinese are divided into congregations according to their place of origin . Cholon is administered by a municipal council, composed of French, Annamese and Chinese traders . An administrator of native affairs, nominated by the governor, fills the office of mayor . There are a fine municipal hospital and municipal schools for boys and girls .

The

principal thoroughfares are lighted by electric light . The rice trade, almost monopolized by the Chinese, is the leading industry, the rice being treated in large steam mills . Tanning, dyeing, copper-founding, glass, brick and pottery manufacture, stone working, timber-sawing and junk building are also included among the industries .