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For a Historical Geography of Cambodia. The relations which the Khmer realm had maintained with its natural environment draw the attentions of the historian and the geographer. Certainly, during the course of its period of greatest expansion the Angkor government established itself in a region of relatively low ground, corresponding to the middle and lower basins of the Mekong. But this merely expresses a generality that has no very great importance. It is, on the other hand, very, remarkable that the Angkor government did not attach much interest to what to us appears to be the main hub of central Indo-China : the confluence of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap. This site, which we believe is of tremendous importance and value, did not draw the attention of the great Angkorians ; it became the capital only after the nation had entered its decadent period. The high Khmer civilization merits the geographer's interest because it had perfected a system of landscape organization, specifically, its creation of localities, both rural and urban, of which the Angkorian complex gives us numerous examples, but which had also existed in many other parts of the Khmer world. As much by its local real estate planning as by its overall organizational abilities, the Khmer civilization has strongly showed that, if it took into consideration physical conditions, it was faithful above all to its production and managerial techniques. and Tonlé Sap. This site, which we believe is of tremendous importance and value, did not draw the attention of the great Angkorians ; it became the capital only after the nation had entered its decadent period. The high Khmer civilization merits the geographer's interest because it had perfected a system of landscape organization, specifically, its creation of localities, both rural and urban, of which the Angkorian complex gives us numerous examples, but which had also existed in many other parts of the Khmer world. As much by its local real estate planning as by its overall organizational abilities, the Khmer civilization has strongly showed that, if it took into consideration physical conditions, it was faithful above all to its production and managerial techniques.

Hydraulic system and rural life in the delta of the Menam Chao Phraya. Settled in the delta of the Menam Chao Phraya for several centuries, the different human groups have gradually brought the milieu under control while giving it a number of original features. The wealth of the first Thai kingdoms, established in the alluvial and deltaic plains, with fertile soils and important water resources, was always based upon agriculture. Food agriculture in a first period, it became commercial through historical and political factors. The initial pragmatism had to be replaced by a better organization and equipping of the natural surroundings. This was a must in a country where, still nowadays, more than 80 % of exports are rice and its by-products. The modern hydraulic works have for some twenty years completely changed the rural life in the delta. The study of such works in different villages will help us understanding their complexity.

A French colonization town in Indian Ocean : Diego-Suarez Diego-Suarez, the fourth port of Madagascar and a large French naval base, is the major city in the northern part of the huge island. The character it possesses results from the large diversity of communities clustered within it as well as from its economic activities, tied almost entirely to the presence of the French military forces which, in view of the present political conditions, pose the sensitive problem regarding the city's future prospects.