HAIPHONG.
This is the shipping port for Hanoi, Hai Duong, and Namdinh, the commer-- cial centres of Tonquin. It is situated in lat. 20 deg. 51 min. N., and long. 106 deg. 42 min. E., on the river Cua Cam, a branch of that great river connecting Yunnan with the Tonquin Guif, called the Song-koi, about sixteen and a-half miles from the light- house. The light-house at the entrance of the river, on the island of Hon-Dar, is visible at a distance of about six miles. The entrance to the port is obstructe i by two bars; the outer one sand, the inner one mud. Haiphong is accessible, however, by vessels drawing from 19 to 20 feet. There is plenty of water in the river. Vess 1s anchor about a quarter of a mile from the shore in from 40 to 60 feet of water abreast of a creek communicating with the Song-koi. The banks of the river are low and consist of alluvial mud, from which the French Settlement and the town have with great labour and expense been reclaimed.
The
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Haiphong proper is situated on both sides of the creek. The streets are narrow, repulsive, and dirty, and show no improvement under the French supervision. The native buildings are wretchedly constructed of mud, bamboo, and matting. only decent buildings are those occupied by foreigners and Chinese, There are one hundred French troops stationed here, beside two river gunboats, and there is generally a man-of-warin port. The bulk of the foreign residents are French. Tere is a French representative stationed here. The Custom House is under Frosch supervision, similar to that in the Treaty ports of China. The population of Hai-- phong is difficult to estimate, but certainly does not exceed 6,000. There are about 1,000 foreigners and Chinese.
Haiphong is distant from Hanoi, the former capital of Tonquin, about sixty miles as the crow flies, but by the main river (the Song-koi) the route is about 150- miles, and by the Cua Cam about 90 miles. There are six river steamers plying regularly between Hanoi and Haiphong.
The port of Haiphong was opened in 1875, and for the first three years trado largely increased, by latterly has been less progressive. The nominal value of the imports in 1880 was 5,467,315 fr. and of the exports 7,507,528 fr. making a total of 12,974,838 fr., but this amount is far from representing the real volume of business. The duty of five per cent, ad valorem is calculated on a scale of prices considerably below the real one, and 25 per cent. may added on this amount. If to the sum thus obtained 2,000,000 fr. be added for specie mported, and 1,500,000 fr. for opium, which is not taken cognisance of by the Mixed Customs, 20,000,000 fr. may be taken as representing the real movement of the port for 1880. This result is a sensible improvement on that of 1879, but this is solely owing to the export of grain, which was strictly prohibited in 1879 on account of scarcity. Of the imports Eug- lish cotton goods and yarn account for 34 per cent. of the total value. Of the ex- ports, rice accounts for 39 per cent., and raw silk and silk piece goods for 21 per cent. The value of the German trade, import and export, was about 4,000,000 fr.
During the year 1880 there entered and cleared 253 European vessels withʼn totaḥ tonnage of 114,197 tons, and 205 Chinese junks of 9,616 tons, the grand total being 123,813 tons, an inc ease of 4,500 tons on the preceding year. Nearly all the European vessels wer steamers, with an average tonnage of 450. The trade was divided between the different flags as follows:-British, 35 per cent. of the total; American, 20 per cent; Chinese (vessels of foreign build, excluding junks), 231 per cent.; German, il per cent.; Dutch, 5 per cent.; French, 5 per cent.
The carry-
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ing trade is almost entirely with Hongkong.
The following vessels entered in 1881 bere up to date of the 1st December- last:-
Steamers-British, 46; German, 25; American, 23; Chinese, 20: French, 13, . Sailing vessels, nil.