FRENCH INDO-CHINA
thirty varieties of each, then corn and sugar in the order of their im-
portance. But the country is essentially one of monoculture—a danger for
which the Khmers have only their indolence to blame. Only recently
has an industrialized crop like rubber become important. As the climate
is uniform throughout Cambodia, it is only the differences in soil tad
proximity to the Mekong that makes for the variety in crops.
The country produces more than it consumes and is consequently
able to export fish, livestock, and rice. It has also a great future in cotton
and rubber. Yet in spite of the country's potential and actual wealth^
and the relatively small population, the Khmers are miserable. The
thatch of Cambodia contrasts with the tiled roofs of her rich Cochin-
Chinese neighbours. Fundamentally the Khmer is neither farmer*
functionary, merchant, nor labourer, but an artisan whose Innate
aestheticlsm comes out in the fashioning and decoration of even tbe
humblest tools. Khmer indolence and independence is both historical
aad natural, and has a good side in its docility. The climate aids and
abets, and the abundance of nature is such that the Khmer can earn t
livelihood by scratching the earth or dangling a fishUne into the river.
Their disdain of activity is genuine. They are perfectly willing to have
tbe Chinese, the French, and even the Annamites control their country's
economy,
The population of Cambodia has teen terribly decimated by ferelf^i
strife. By the beginning of the twentieth century it bad
to 1,200,000 and since then has only slowly increased. In the
recent census (1936) the Khmers formed only 50 per cent of the popur
in	capital, Paom-Penh. The aborigines and iznmigriBts
numbered about half a milon more. The indigenous peoples, vaguely
to the Khmers, lived peacefully beside them, yet
This attitude of indulgence is far from diaractermng
for the Mois, the ak»rigine$ east of the Mekong, whom
as	and hunt as slaves. Chinese immigrants
100,000 and, unlike their status in Annan*
are	farmers than merchants in Cambodia. No people
tetter than do the Chinese. To ofset
thrift,	will-power, and a sense of
The €3iiaese	to Ckmbodk as coolies but they do
for	They spring up any place where there is
to be	of the acfl pacifically:
3ft