A PECULIAR TREASURE BOX.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5213, 1 October 1885, Page 2

A PECULIAR TREASURE BOX.

A,, correspondent, writing to th« Paria Temps from Cochin China, reveals a curious custom which is stated to be still in use in the kingdom of Annam. Whenthe AnnnmiteConsulwasexpeHedfrom Sagiou last Juue be was obliged to dispose hastily of his furnitnre, his carriages, and hit belongings generally. Included in these were fifteen living orocodiles, which sorely embarrassed him, for he could find no purchaser for them. He had bought them for the Emperor TuDuc, who not only had a partiality.Jbut a use for these amphibious animals. In his palace, it it narrated, there is a large pieca of water, | which may be described as the Hojal strong box. Here the sovereign keeps his reserve treasure, which is only to be touched in case of absolute necessity. Trunks of trees are hollowed out, and the money not intended for immediate use is placed in them, the trees being thrown into the water. To keep away thieves, and prevent the king himself from being tempted to draw upon this referve fund without sufficient cause, a number of crocodiles are kept in the water, their presenoe there and the certainty of being eaten alive acting as a wholesome restrainer, and insuring the ■eeurity of the Royal treasure in a most effectual manner. When it becomes iodispensible to draw upon this novel sort of bank, the crocodiles have to be killed: but this can only be done with the emperor's permission, and after the matter has been'duly deliberated upon and approved of by tjg Minister of Finance.