PROVINCES DE L'ANNAM
TOURANE
The port of Tourane is situated about 40 miles to the south-east of Huê, the capital of Annam, but on account of the Thuan-an Bar it is accessible by sea for large craft during only six months of the year-from the end of March to the end of September. From Huê to Tourane there is a very comfortable railway along the sea- shore or passing through the mountains and woods, for a distance of 68 miles There is also a very picturesque road passing over the Nuages range of hills which is practicable for horse and foot traffic and motor-cars. The extensive bay of Tourane is surrounded by hills and affords anchorage to the largest vessels. The Government transports and the steamers of the Messageries Maritimes and the Chargeurs Réunis find an anchorage here at all states of the tide and in all weathers. The Tourane · River, which rises in the small mountains of the interior, empties itself into the bay. It is navigable only for small boats and junks, by which the traffic with the provinces of Quang-nam and Quang-ngai is carried on. The town, which is well built, extends for a length of nearly two miles along the left bank of the river. It possesses many public buildings, including the French Residency, a fine Military Hospital, spacious and well-ventilated Barracks, the Custom-house, the Treasury, the Post Office, and the Municipal Offices, also a number of well-appointed business establishments, amongst which may be mentioned the Bank de l'Indo-Chine, the Messageries Maritimes offices, the Hotel Morin, etc. The Markets, built of brick and stone, are large and contain several hundred stalls. On the right bank of the river, also, there are a few buildings which are included in the French concession. A quarter of an hour's walk from this district is the village of My-khé, which has given its name to a magnificent beach much frequented by the European population. The trade of Tourane is considerable, and several steamers a month arrive from Hongkong, taking full return cargoes of canella sugar, rattan, bamboo, areca nuts, silk, cassia, etc. The Messageries Maritimes and the Compagnie Chargeurs Réunis have agencies at Tourane, and the vessels of these Companies, together with those arriving from Hongkong, give a total of about a dozen entering the port every month in normal times. Besides these vessels a large number of large sea-going junks from China, Hainan, and the ports of Annam, Tonkin, and Cochin-China carry on an active and considerable trade in the products of the country. Tea, coffee, and the mulberry tree are cultivated on a large scale in the neighbourhood. Less than one hour's journey by motor car from the town are the Marble Mountains, an object of interest for travellers, who should not pass through Tourane, without paying them a visit.
VILLE DE TOURANE
DIRECTORY
ENREGISTREMENT
M. M. Valette, administrateur de lère Mas, receveur de 2ème classe
classe, resident-maire
Gentès, secrétaire-municipal
GARDE INDIGÈNE
COMMISSION MUNICIPALE
Valette (résident-maire), président. Cuénin, vice-président
i t
Gentès, sous-inspecteur hors classe, chef Chauvin, Ray, Vacherot, Layras, Trân-
dedetachementourane
Thái et Ng Binh Ngô membres'