Directory_and_Chronicle_1884 — Page 298

ANNAM.

The Kingdom of Annam which also inclu les the ancient kin conquered and annexed by King Gialong of Annam in 1802, is boulon the cast by om of Tonquin, the Gulf of Tonquin and the China Sea, on the west by Siam, Camallia, and the Shan States, on the north by the Chinese provinces of Yunnan and Kwangsi, and on the south by French Cochin-Chinn. Annam proper is a narrow strip of country between the sea and the mountains, the territory beyond which is occupied by aboriginal tribes who are practically independent. Anam is to Tonquin it native parlance as the girdle to the tunic, the latter being a broad and rich territory. Annam proper is a poor country, and is dependent for part of its rice supply upon Tonquin. The population of Annam is uncertain, but, including that of Tonquin, it may be roughly

estimated at 20,000,0 10.

HUE.

Hue, the capital of the kingdom of Aunam, is situated on a small scarcely navigable river named Truong Tien and calles by the French the Hué river, which debouches ou the coast in about lat. 16 deg. 29 min N., and long. 107 deg, 33 min E. Hut is a walled city and has been built on lines similar to those of a fortified European town of the seventeenth century. According to M. Chaignean, Huê consists of two distinct parts-the city proper and the suburbs. The former stands in the middle of a square island, separated from the latter on three sides by a river and on the fourth by a canal. It is defended by a fortified enceinte, six kilometres in circumference, constructed by French engineers after the system of Vauban, and having six large gates. Within this enceinte reside all the Goverment officials. The walls are built of brick and are very lofty. Inside the outer enceinte is the citadel, similarly but less solidly fortified, and having eight, instead of six, gates. The six offices of the Ministry are in this quarter, as well as the Library, the Mandarins' College, the Courts of Justice, the Observatory, and numerous arsenals and barracks. Entering the second enceinte by the principal gate, the visitor emerges in front of the palace of the Council of State, standing amid a host of other edifices all of an official character. Behind these buildings is a wall of brick, which traverses the citadel throughout, separating it completely into two parts. This wall, which encloses the royal palaces and harem, has three gates; that in the centre being in the form of a pagoda, gilt and adorned with elaborate carvings. The mass of the houses and even the public buildings in Hue are, however, very mean and in a bad state of repair. The Royal palare, like that of Peking, has yellow tiles; those of the nobles are red. The population of the city and suburbs is estimated at 90,000. The ramparts are now in a ruinous condition. The mouth of the Huê river is defended by forts, which were bombarded and taken by the French last year.

DIRECTORY.

PROTECTORAT DE L'ANNAM ET

DU TONKIN.

RESIDENCE DE HUE.

L. G. Palasre de Champeaux, résident de France, representant du Protectorat de l'Annam

J. Idatte, chancelier

L. A. Mangin, médecin

Lieut. T. G. A. Boudonnet, commandant

de la garde d'honneur

Capt. A. J. Lejard, commandant supć. rieur du Corps d'Occupation de Thua-

nan

Capt. R. E. J. Radiguet, commandant de

place & Thuanun

TURON.

This Iort is situated al out 40 miles south-east of Iné. Turon has a fine harbour capable of giving shelter to any amount of shipping. The trade of the port is entirely in the hands of the Chinese. As no French Custom House exists, statistics are difficult to gather. The exports consist mostly of sugar, silk, betelnuts, and oil; the imports of rice, piece goods, &e. The trade is chiefly with Hongkong, Rice is imported from Haiphong, Hai Duong, and Namdinh. Turon was not, strictly speaking, an open port, until the treaty of 1883 with France. Coal mines have been opened here, but the quality proved rather disappointing, though it is believed that deeper workings would yield better mineral.

QUINHON.

Quinhon was opened to foreign trade upon the conclusion of the treaty between Frane and Annam, signed in March, 1874. It is situated on the coast of Annam in about lat. 13 deg. 54 min. N., long. 109 deg. 02 min. E. The entrance to the port is obstructed by a bar, which may be crossed, however, by any vessel with a draught not exceeding 16 to 16 feet. The chief article of export is salt. The population and country being very poor, the con-mercial prospects of the port are not very brilliant. A French What little trade exists is chiefly with Hongkong aud is at present all in the hands of、 the Chinese. There are no European merchants established in Quinhon, Consul and a body of troops are stationed there.

TONQUIN.

Anciently an independent kingdom, but since 1802 a province of Annan, is situated between lat. 19 deg, and 23 deg. N. and long. 102 deg. and 108 deg. 30 min. E., tounded on the north by China, on the west by the Laos country, on the south ly Annn, and on the east by the Gulf of Torquin. The country near the sea is a rich alluvial plain, well watered ly numerous rivers, and produces large crops of rice, while sugar, cotton, spices, indigo, silk, and various other articles are raised. It is believed to Lossess valuable mines of silver, and gold is also known to exist. By the Treaty of Hué, dated the 25th August, 1883, the Annamite Government placed Tonquin under a French Protectorate, and its affairs are in future to be administered under the supervision of French Residents. Torquin is divided into seventeen provinces, namely, Quarg-yen, Hai-duong, Bac ninh, Thai-nguyen, Lang-son, Cac. lang, Tuyen quang, Hồng hoa, Fon-tay, Ha-noi, Ninh-Linh, Hungyen, Nam dinh, Thanh hoa, Nghe an, Ha-tinh, and Do-chinh. Hanoi, the capital, is the chief town of the province of the same name, and appears on old maps as Ke-sho.

HAIPHONG.

This is the shipping port for Hanoi, Hai-Duong, and Namdinh, the commercial 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 Touquin Gulf, 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-Dav, is visible at a distance of about six miles. The entrance to the port is obstructed 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. Vessels 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 nud, from which the French Settlement and the town have with great labour and expensé been reclaimed.