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INDO-CHINA-TONKIN
The actual political situation of Indo-China is satisfactory in all respects. The spirit of the native population seems to improve yearly. Outside events, such as the operations in China, seem to have had no effect upon the imagination of the Annamites, and the fears once entertained as to the populations of the borders of China have proved unfounded. The exhibition at Hanoi (Tonkin) opened in November, 1902, of all products, manufactures, industries, &c., from France, French colonies and Far Eastern countries, and was a pronounced success. The permanent Archæological Mission instituted by the decree of December 15, 1898, is now working under the new denomination of "Ecole Française d'Extrême Orient." Its object is the search for ancient articles of artistic or historical interest, and the charge and preservation of monuments of public interest. It also studies the philology of idioms, dialects, and ancient languages of Indo-China and neighbouring countries.'
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The total force of the French army in Indo-China is composed as follows: 17 regiments of Europeans; 17 regiments of natives; 18 batteries of European artillery ; and sundry units-altogether about 8,000 Europeans, and 12,000 Natives.
The trade of the Colony is rapidly increasing, the value having risen from 139,078,174 francs in 1888 to 428,956,000 francs in 1902. The exports, which reached a value of 67,665,437 francs in 1888 amounted to 185,267,000 in 1902. The principal article of export is rice, which amounted to 134,096,000 francs in 1902. The total imports amounted in value to 39,388,286 francs in 1888, and to 215,163,000 francs in 1902, the large increase being mainly in goods imported from France, In the important item of piece goods, which seem to be the staple most severely hit by the differential tariff, the trade is being rapidly monopolised by France.
TONKIN
Anciently an independent kingdom, but since 1802 a province of Annam, Tonkin is -situated between lat. 19 deg. and 23 deg. N. and long, 102 deg. and 108 deg. 30 min. E., bounded on the north by China, on the west by the Laos country, on the south by Annam, and on the east by the Gulf of Tonkin. The country near the sea is a rich alluvial plain, well watered by numerous rivers, and produces large crops of rice, while sugar, cotton, spices, indigo, silk, and various other articles are also raised. It possesses valuable mines of silver, lead, antimony, and zinc, and gold and copper are also known to exist. Concessions were granted in 1887 for the working of the coal mines at Kebao and Hongay, and coal of good quality from the last-named is now largely exported. By the Treaty of Hué, dated the 6th June, 1884, the Annamite Government placed Tonkin under a French Protectorate, and its affairs are administered under the supervision of French Residents. It is, in fact, now practically a French Colony. Tonkin is divided into seventy provinces, namely, Quang-yen, Hai-duong, Bac-ninh, Thai-nguyen, Tuyen- quan, Hong-hoa, Son-tay, Ha-noi, Ninh-binh, Hong yen, Nam-dinh, Bac-kan, Bac- giang, Ha-nam, Hoa-binh, Phu-lien, Chai-binh, Van-bu, Vinh-yen, Yen-bai, and four military territories, viz.:-1st circles of Langson, Mon-cay, Van-lính; 2nd circles of Can- bang Bao-lac; 3rd circles of Ha-giang, Bac-quang ; 4th circles of Lao-kay, Bảo-ba. Hanoi, the capital, is the chief town of the province of the same name, and appears on old maps as Ke-sho. The population is estimated at from about 15,000,000. A railway was some years ago constructed from Phu Lang-Thuong to Langson, a distance of 64 miles, but it was little better than a tramway. The gauge of this line is now widened from 60 centimetres to 1 metre and extended to Hanoi, a distance of 45 kilometres, and a concession has been granted for a further extension from Langson to Lung- chow, in the Chinese province of Kwangsi. The new railway running from Haiphong to Hanoi was opened in July, 1902.
The spinning factory established in Hanoi by the "Sociéte Cotonière de l'Indo- Chine," with a capital of 2,500,000 fr., has 16,000 spindles in working order and is a prosperous concern.
Original from UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
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