Among the French one feeling prevailed.
The result obtained in having in any way induced the Government of Hué to accord this audience, which might have the most serious consequences, was so far satisfactory that all desired to see the ceremony terminated, and the victory definitely assured.
The sun shone brightly; the rain of the preceding days had cleared the atmosphere; the air was pure and sweet. Quiet calm reigned, in the midst of which was distinguished from the distance a low murmur from the Annamite troops assembled in the interior of the citadel. They felt that something unusual was about to happen; while the high black walls of the city frowned upon them, imparting to the scene the appearance of an immense necropolis.
At a quarter to eight o'clock the first chamberlain of the kingdom arrived at the legation; the introducteur of the ambassadors came to seek the Minister of France and the Resident of Hué to present them to the King. The cortège started from the legation on foot between the ranks of soldiers of the infantry marine, who presented arms while the trumpets sounded the advance. At the head were M. Tricou, Minister Plenipotentiary of France, Envoy Extraordinary to Hué, and M. de Champeaux, Resident of France at the Court of Hué. Afterwards came M. Lejard, Capitaine de frégate, commander-in-chief of Thuan-an, M. Caly, secretary to the Minister, and M. Radiguet, captain of infantry marine, commanding the troops of the legation. They embarked in the large barge of the legation, which, towed by a steam launch sent from Thuan-an, crossed the river followed by sampans bearing the Vietnamese and his suite. On arriving at the other bank, the French trumpeters again saluted the plenipotentiaries. A section of twenty men of the marine infantry, commanded by a lieutenant, remained to escort them as far as the interior of the citadel.
A short distance from the landing place, palanquins were prepared, richly ornamented with that blending of brilliant colours which is characteristic of the peoples of the Far East. Each one took his place in the palanquin provided for him, and the procession continued its course. On each side of the road the Annamite garrison formed a line. Miserable and dirty as the uniforms are when closely viewed, they nevertheless have a picturesque and charming effect. The red tunics of the marines followed the blue jackets of the soldiers, which were again succeeded by warriors in many colours, with the arms of a bygone age, immense pointed hats, long bamboo spears, rusty old flint guns, and painted wooden sabres, the whole presenting from a distance a spectacle not wanting in grandeur and originality.
They passed the first gate, from which the King is accustomed to pass out when he goes upon the river, between the lines of the royal troops which stood motionless and silent, and after traversing a considerable space arrived at a second wall and a second gateway. Following the ceremonial fixed of old, the escort of marine infantry stopped to await there the return of the minister. The Court of Hué had, however, managed matters well; a collation was served for our soldiers, all of whom were proud to be of the small number of western barbarians who were able to enter the outer precincts.
A turn to the left, along fortifications furnished with European and Chinese cannon, and the cortège arrived at an immense court, where were gathered the guards of the King. In the centre, the elephants of war, armed for combat, the driver mounted on the neck, stood motionless as giants cast in bronze. Not one stirred; they appeared as if petrified; only their quick, restless, little eyes were directed to the cortège as it passed through the midst of them between a double line of flags and banners with colours flying. Behind these was the cavalry, mounted on the small horses of the country, drawn out in line, and behind these again, the artillery. The cannon themselves were of the most curious patterns, side by side, and the gunners, dressed in blue, were ranged beside their pieces, solemn and mute. The silence was profound. Above the walls could be distinguished the red and grey outlines of the temples and apartments of the palace. The grinning dragons of stone which ornamented the cornices seemed scarcely out of place in the general grotesque solemnity of the scene.
All this architecture of another age and of a civilization of which we have no knowledge formed only an appropriate frame for this oriental ceremony. Leaving this first court, a second was traversed before arriving at the palace of the King, where, in the middle of a square of troops, with strange banners, were the war horse and the elephant of the King, all equipped as if for a parade. At the end of this court the cortège stopped, and after descending from their palanquins the French were invited to partake of a collation, which was served to them in an antique pagoda.
There they awaited until His Majesty was ready to receive them, and, upon being requested, deposited their arms, the oriental custom not permitting arms to be borne in the presence of the sovereign. After a short time the Regent of the kingdom arrived and invited the Frenchmen to follow him to be admitted to the presence of the King.
They then arrived in the last court, a place of great grandeur. On either side of the door which gave access into this court, paved entirely with marble, were two enormous bronze vases, carved and engraved with that finish and patience peculiar to the people of the East; without doubt a present from some Emperor of China to the kings of Annam who were formerly considered to be the vassals of the former.
A richly-dressed and imposing throng filled this last chamber. On the right were the civil, and, on the left, the military mandarins, all in gala costume. They were grouped by classes; here the robes of yellow, there those of blue, then black, then red. Those clothed in brocaded materials followed those in silk, black turbans and white turbans, original Mongol hats and bonnets with the wings of the dragon of Annam.
In the middle of the court were placed five carpets for the guests of the King, and in front a large stone staircase led to the grand hall of audience, at the end of which was the throne. Above, the roof of the palace, with brightly varnished tiles of yellow and green, resembled a dome of gold under the rays of the bright sun, giving an air of richness to this grand and ancient palace, over which ever seems to hover the odour of the tomb.
A great shout announced the arrival of the King, who seated himself on his throne. He was clothed in the yellow robe of the sovereign.
King Kien-phuc is a youth of fifteen years, whom the course of events has only about a month since placed in power. He is, however, the direct heir of the Emperor Tu-Duc and of his successor Hiep-Hoa. The new emperor of Annam is of slight build, with an intelligent and soft eye, and his whole physiognomy is marked by that air of gravity which is possessed by the people of Asiatic race and which becomes a monarch who holds in his hands the destinies of twenty millions of men.
Behind the throne the ministers were ranged in a half circle. All at once a voice was heard. The grand master of the ceremonies advanced from the ranks of the mandarins to present to the King the Minister of France. M. Tricou advanced, followed by M. de Champeaux and the persons of the suite. After saluting the King, each took his place on the carpet reserved for him. The premier mandarin then presented to his sovereign the representatives of the Government of the Republic, who again saluted and retired backwards.
The King then retired into the Chamber of Audience, to which the Minister of France and M. de Champeaux were introduced by a side staircase. M. Tricou opened the conversation by expressing his best wishes for the welfare of the King in the name of the President of the Republic. The Emperor Kien-phuc in response inquired after the health of M. Grévy. He said that he looked upon France as a friendly nation and that he desired only to see the good relations which had always existed between the two countries continue.
A treaty had been made at Hué by M. Harmand after the capture of Thuan-an, but certain clauses of this treaty bore so hardly on the Annamite nation that he was very desirous of seeing some amendments made. He counted on the kindness of the President of the Republic to consent to some slight modifications in favour of the people of Annam, who were devoted to him.
M. Tricou then replied that he was much gratified with the words uttered by the King and that he would faithfully report them to the President of the Republic. He had no doubt as to their reception by M. Grévy.
The Minister saluted the King for the last time and the cortège reformed in order to leave the palace.
At the gates of the city an immense crowd was assembled, which now regarded us no longer as enemies but as allies. The Annamites who had deserted Hué at the approach of the French had all returned; it was clear that their confidence had been regained; tranquility had succeeded to terror; war had been replaced by peace.
As a proof of his attachment to France, H. E. the Regent Nguyen Van Tuong accepted, with pleasure, an invitation to breakfast, which was given him by M. Tricou. The Minister of France having proposed a toast to King Kien-phuc, the Regent responded by proposing the health of M. Jules Grévy. After the breakfast the Regent carried on a long conversation with the Minister, in which he showed his good feeling towards France. Understanding that it was to the interest of Annam to conform to modern ideas, he promised to use his influence to induce the council of ministers to join in these views. Afterwards certain clauses of the treaty were discussed, and when their Excellencies separated in the evening, France counted one more ally.
180
}
Among the French one feeling prevailed.
The result obtained in having in any way induced the Government of Hud to accord this audience, which might have the most serious consequences, was so far satisfactory that all desired to see the ceremony termi- nated, and the victory definitely assured.
A
The sun shone brightly; the rain of the preceeding days had cleared the atmos- phere; the air was pure sud sweet. quiet calm reigned, in the midst of which was distinguished from the distance a low murmur from the Annamite troups assem bled in the interior of the citadel. They felt that something unusual was about to happen; while the high black walls of the city frowned upon them, imparting to the scene the appearance of an immouse necro- polis.
At a quarter to eight o'clock the first chamberlain of the kingdom arrived at the legation; the intraducteur of the ambassa- dors came to seek the Ministor of France and the Resident of Had to present thei to the King. The cortégo started from the legation on foot between the ranks of soldiers of the infantry marine, who pre- souted arms while the trumpets sounded the advance. At the head were M. Tricou, Minister Plonipotentiary of France, Envoy Extraordinary to Hue, and M. Valasne de Champeaux, Resident of France at the Court of Hué. Afterwards camo M. Lejard, Capitoine de frégate, commander-in-chief of Thuan-an, M. Caly, secretary to the Mi- nistre anul M. Radiguet, captain of infantry marine, commanding the troops of the legation. They embarked in the hate bange of the legation, which, towed by a steam launch sent from Thuan-an crossed the river followed by sampans bearing the Vian-niu and his suite. On arriving at the other bank, the French trumpoters aguin saluted the plenipotentiaries. A section of twenty, men of the marine in- fantry, commanded by a lieutenant, re- mained to escort them as far as the interior of the citadel. A short dia- tance from the landing place, palanquins were prepared, richly ornamented with that blending of brilliant colours which la characteristic of the peoples of the Far East. Each one took his place in the palanquin provided for him, and the proçession continued its course. On each side of the road the Aunamite garrison formed a line. Miserable and dirty as the uniforms are when closely viewed, they nevertheless have a picturesque and charm- ing effect. The red tunics of the marines follow the blue jackets of the soldiers, which are again succeeded by warriors in many colours, with the arms of a bye-gone age,
immense pointed hats, long bamboo spears, rusty old flint guns and painted wooden sa. bres, the whole presenting from a distance a spectacle not wanting in grandeur and originality. They passed the first gate, from which the King is accustomed to pass out when he goes upon the river, between the lines of the royal troops which stand motionless and silent, and after traversing a considerable space arrived at a second wall and a second gateway. Following the ceremonial fixed of old, the escort of marine infantry stopped, to await there the return of the minister. The Court of Hue had, however, managed matters well; a collation was served for our soldiers, all of whom were proud to be of the small number of western barbariana" who were able to enter the outer precincts.
A turn to the left, along fortifications furnished with European and Chinese can- on, and the cortége arrived at an immense court, where were gathered the guards of the King. In the centre, the elephants of war, armed for the combat, the driver mounted on the neck, atuod motionless as giants cast in bronzo. Not one stirred; they appeared as if petrified; only their quick, restless, little eyes wero directed to the cortège as it passed through the midst of them between a double line of apes and flags with colours flying. Behind these was the cavalry, mounted on the small horses of the country, drawu out in line, and behind these again, the artillery, The cannon themselves were of the most curious patterns, side by side, and the gunners, dressed in blue, were ranged beside their pieces, solemn and mute. The silence was profound. Above the walls could be distinguished the red and grey outlines of the temples and apartments of the palace. The grinning dragons of stone which ornamented the cornices seemed scarcely out of place in the general grotesque soleranity of the scene. All this architecture of another age and of a civilization of which we have no knowledge, formed only an appropriate frame for this oriental ceremony. "Leaving this first court, a second was traversed before arriving at the palace of the King, where, in the middle of a square
of troops, with strange banners, were the war horse and the elephant of the King, all equipped as if for a parade. At the end of this court the cortege stopped, and after descending from their palanquins the French were invited to partake of a collation, which was served to them in an antique pagoda. There they awaited until His Majesty was ready to receive them, and, upon being requested, deposited their arms, the oriental cast in not permitting arms to
be borne in the presence of the sovereign. After a short time the Regent of the
kingdom arrived and invited the Frenchmen to follow him to be admitted to the presence' of the King. They then arrived in the last court, a place of great grandeur.
"On either side of the door which gave i access into this court, paved entirely with marble, were two euormons brunze vases, carved and engraved with that finish and f patience peculiar to the people of the East; without doubt a present from aome Em- peror of China to the kings of Annam who were formerly considered to be the vassals of the former. A richly-dressed and im- posing throng filled this last chamber. On the right were the civil, and, on the left, the military mandarins, all in gala costume. Those were grouped by classes; here the robes of yellow, there those of blue, then black, then red. Those clothed in brocaded materials followed those in silk, black turbans and white turbaus, original mongol' hats and bounets with the wings of thp, dragon of Annam,
15 In the middle of the court were placed five carpets for the guests of the King, and in front a large stone staircase led. to the grand hall of audience, at the end of which was the throne. Abore, the rawf
the palage, with brightly varnished tiles of yellow and green, resembled a domne,
of gold under the rays of the bright sun, giving an air of richness to this grand and ancient palace, over which ever seems to hover the odour of the tomb.
"A great shout announced the arrival of the King, who seated himself on his throne. He was clothed in the yellow robe of the sovereign,
"King Kien-phuc is a youth of fifteen years, whom the course of events has only about a month since placed in power,
44
He is, however, the direct heir of the! emperor Ta-due and of his successor Heip- hos. The new emporr of Annaur is of slight build, with an intelligent and soft eyo, and his whole physiognomy is marked by that air of gravity which is possessed by the people of Asiatic race and which be- comes a monarch who holds in his hands the destinies of twenty millions of men.
Behind the throne the ministers were ranged in a half circle. All at once a voice was heard. The grand master of the cerc- monies advanced from the ranks of the mandarins to present to the King the Mi- nister of France. M. Tricou advanced, followed by M. De Champeaux and the persons of the suite. After saluting the King, each took his place on the ourpot; reserved for him. The premier mandarin: then presented to his sovereign the repre-
sentatives of the Government of the Re- public, who again saluted and retired back- wards. The King then retired into the Chamber of Audience, to which the minister of France and M. De Chapeaux were introduced by a side staircase. M. Tricou opened the conversation by expressing his best wishes for the welfare of the Ring in the name of the President of the Republic, the Emperor Kieu-phuc in response cu quired after the health of M. Gravy, He said that he looked upon France as a friendly nation and that he desired only to see the good relations which had al- ways existed between the two coun- tries continue. A treaty had been made at Hue by M. Harmand after the capture of Thuan-an, but certain clauses of this treaty bore so hardly on the Annamite nation that he was very desirous of seeing some amend. ments made. He counted on the kindness of the President of the Republic to consent to some slight modifications in favour of the people of Annam, who were devoted to him. *M. Tricou then replied that he was much gralified with the words uttered by the King and that he would faithfully report them to the President of the Republic. He had no doubt as to their reception by M. Grévy.
"The minister saluted the King for the last time and the cortége reformed in order to leave the palace.
"At the gates of the city an immense crowd was assembled, which now regarded us no longer as enemies but as allies.
The Annamites who had desortod Huè at the approach of the French had all returned; it was clear that their confidence had been regained; tranquility had succeeded to terror; war had been replaced by peace. As a proof of his attachment to France, H. E. the Begeat Nguyen Vin Tường accepted, with pleasure, an invitation to breakfast, which was given him by M. Tricu. The Minister of France having proposed a * toast’ to King Kien phuc, the Regent responded by proposing the health of M. Jules Grévy. After the break- fast the Regent carried on a long conversa. tion with the Minister, in which he showed his good feeling towards France. Under- standing that it was to the interest of Annam to conform to modern ideas, he promised to use his influence to induce the council of ministers to join in these views. Afterwards certain clauses of the treaty were discussed, and when their excellencios separated in the evening, France counted one more ally."
180
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