ABSTRACT
Cape St. Jacques was sighted early OIl the morniIlg of the 28th, and shortly afterwards we entered the river, which is not wider than perhaps a couple of hundred feet or so. On both sides of the river, rice (the staple product there) was in full cultivation. We dropped anchor at ten o'clock, and immediately after went ashore at Saigon. This was the first French colony I had ever visited: my curiosity was consequently at the highest pitch, as I was keen on making comparisons between English and French methods of administration. J inrickshaws and miserable little carts were at the landiIlg-place to convey passeagers to their destinations; we selected one of the latter, drawn by a tiny pony, to take us to the Hotel Continental, where, on arrival, I was horrified to hear that nothing eatable was to be had with the exception of cold meat. The reason given was that the shops and places of business, as well as the market, were always closed between ten and two o'clock. after which they remained open until eight at night. After much difficulty and no small amount of persuasion, the French manager turned out a fairly good breakfast at midday. The difficulty about meals was,
however, not the only one, for I found the rooms dirty and the beds so uninviting that it became imperative to look for other quarters. \Ve finally succeeded in getting fairly good rooms at a place called the Hotel Olivier.
