majority of the population lives in these two fertile plains. Separating these two plains is a narrow coastal plain, which broadens south of the 17th parallel, the line of partition separating Communist from non-Communist Vietnam.

In the Republic of Vietnam, to the south of the 17th Parallel, where this study is concentrated, the coastal plain broadens to the south of Saigon as it opens out Into the Mekong Delta and Camau Peninsula at the extreme south of the country. To the west are the mountains and hi an plateaus of the Annamite Mountain Range, which forms the border between South Vietnam. Laos, and Cambodia. These mountains run to within 50 mi les to the north-east of Saigon, where they rapidly dissipate Into the great fertile plains of the Mekong Delta.

The climate of the region is tropical, producing Jungles as well as a flourishing environment for rudder trees. In the flat and fertile delta region, rice was an abundant crop as was the bamboo, which farmers used to supplement their incomes when the rice crop failed.

DEMOGRAPHY

The population of the Republic of Vietnam in 1962 was estimated at 14.2 million.1 Of these, approximately 670,000 were of the highland tribal groups of the Bahnar, Rhade, and Jharl people, who made up the most important ethnic minority. These people, collectively known as the Montagnards. occupied the strategic Central Highlands.