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 ANAM ANASTASIA 457 tlirough the whole length of the empire, paral- lel with the eastern coast, and about 30 m. dis- tant from it. From these flow numerous rivers, which, though generally too shallow for easy navigation, thoroughly irrigate the coun- try. The great river Mekong or Cambodia, emptying into the China sea and gulf of Siam by many mouths, richly fertilizes that part of Cambodia formerly subject to Anam, but now under French rule as a part of French Cochin China. Throughout the southern part of Anam, but especially near this delta, the coun- try produces great abundance of rice, sugar, spices, and tropical fruits. The mountains supply excellent timber for ship-building, besides ebony and other valuable woods. The inhabitants of the northeastern coast live in great part from the product of the fisheries. The Anamese are a people somewhat akin to the Chinese in language and in many of their most important customs ; but they also partake largely of the Malay characteristics, and evi- dently form a link between the Mongolian and Malay races. They are generally quiet and in- offensive, indolent and fond of gayety. They wear their hair long and gathered in a knot on the top of the head, have little beard, and dress in simple frocks and wide trousers of cotton or silk. Many Chinese merchants live among them, and carry on commerce, which the natives neg- lect, in rice, indigo, and silk. The last the Ana- mese manufacture with considerable skill, but they have few other industries. Their religion is professedly Buddhism, and the higher classes even adopt Confucianism ; but they are not a re- ligious people. The social customs of the Ana- mese are very similar to those of the Chinese ; but though the women are much oppressed, they are not obliged to live in seclusion. Wed- dings and funerals are celebrated with great ceremony. The mountain tribes already noticed claim to be the aborigines, and have their own religions and customs. (See LAOS.) Anam is governed by an emperor with absolute power ; and under him are the mandarins, or officials, forming a nobility sharply distinguished from the body of the people. Embassies are annual- ly sent to Peking, but Anam no longer pays tribute to the Chinese empire. Mandarins ap- pointed by the emperor govern the provinces, and control the standing army, which is com- paratively large. The capital of the country is Hue, at the mouth of the river of the same name. The early history of Anam is in- volved in obscurity. It is only known that frequent wars with neighboring powers de- termined its boundaries, and that the empire was formerly entirely subject to China. In the latter half of the 13th century Marco Polo visited the country. The Portuguese were the first Europeans who actually resided 'there. In the 17th century, when Anam was in its greatest prosperity, the Jesuits introduced Christianity, and propagated it with such ener- gy that by the close of the 18th century French priests had converted the emperor, Gya-Long, and established a hierarchy of great influence. The succeeding emperors, however, rejected its doctrines and persecuted priests and con- verts. The present emperor, Tu-Duc, has es- pecially opposed Christianity ; and the murder of several missionaries between 1854 and 1858 seemed to the French government a sufficient cause for revenge, while it served as a pretext for the acquirement of a French colony in the East. In 1858 a French fleet, assisted by sev- eral Spanish vessels, captured Turon, a town near the capital, Hue. In 1859 the French took Saigon, an important town on the river Saigon. After an obstinate resistance on the part of the Anamese, 'who succeeded in pro- longing the war for four years, the French, who had taken many towns and the whole province of Saigon, dictated terms of peace by which they became possessors of that province as well as of Bienhoa and Mytho ; these remain in their possession and form, under the name of Cochin China, the only important French colony in the East. (See COCHIN CHINA.) By the treaty, three ports hi Tonquin were opened, and Christianity was permitted throughout Anam. An insurrection took place in Decem- ber, 1862, but it was quelled by the French. ANAMBOE, a seaport town on the Gold Coast of Africa, 10 m. E. of Cape Coast Castle; pop. about 5,000. It is the seat of considerable trade, and formerly had a large traffic in slaves. The British fort here is the strongest on the coast. The exports are gold dust, ivory, palm oil, and peanuts; and the imports are silks, tobacco, wines, guns, and cutlery. ANANIAS, the name of three persons men- tioned in the Acts of the Apostles. I. A dis- ciple at Jerusalem, who, having sold his prop- erty for the common cause, conspired with his wife Sapphira to give in a part of the price and reserve the re.st, representing that he gave all. Peter is related to have discovered the im- pious fraud at once, and the Holy Ghost to have avenged it by striking both the deceivers dead. II. A devout man who dwelt at Da- mascus, and who is recorded to have been warned in a vision to go and find Paul, and restore him to sight, after he had been struck blind at his conversion. According to tradi- tion, he was afterward bishop of Damascus and a martyr. III. A high priest before whom Paul was brought for trial at Jerusalem, and who commanded Paul to be smitten on the mouth (Acts xxiii). Paul being sent from this tribunal to Felix, Ananias among others went up to accuse him of being " a pestilent fellow and a mover of seditions," &c. He was, ac- cording to Josephus, nominated to his office by Herod, king of Chalcis, A. D. 48, sent to Kome in 52 to answer before Claudius a charge of oppression brought forward by the Samaritans, at a later period deposed, and finally assas- sinated at the beginning of the Jewish war. ANASTASIA, the name of several saints of the Roman and Greek churches. I. Anastasia the Elder was a martyr of the tune of Nero, a pupil