Directory_and_Chronicle_1888 — Page 661

TONQUIN.

Anciently an independent kingdom, but since 1802 a province of Annam, is situated between lat. 19 deg. and 23 deg. N. and long. 102 deg. aud 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 Tonquin. 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 is believed to possess valuable mines of silver, and gold is also known to exist. A concession was grinted in 1887 for the working of the coal mines at Hongai. By the Treaty of Hué, dated the 6th June, 1884, the Annamite Govern- ment placed Tonquin under a French Protectorate, and its affairs are in future to be administered under the supervision of French Residents. The country is, however, still in a somewhat disturbed state. Tonquin is divided into seventeen provinces, namely, Quang-yen, Hai duong, Bac-ninh, Thainguyen, Lang-son, Cao-bang, Tuyen-quang Hong-hoa, Son-tay, Ha-noi, Ninh-binh, Hung-yen, Nam-dinh, Thanh hoa, Nghé-an, Ha-tinh, and Bo-chinh. 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 10,000,000 to 12,000,000. The imports of Annam and Tonquin in 1886 amounted to 23,808,505 francs and the exports to 9,112,433 francs. Tue protectorate's (Annam and Tonquin) budget for 1887 gave the receipts as 44,860,000 francs, of which 30,000,000 was a grant-in-aid from France, and the expenses 44,758,230 francs, including 31,255,000 for the army and navy.

HANOI.

Hanoi, the capital of Tonquin, and the head-quarters of the French Protectorate, is situated on the Song-koi, or Red River, 110 miles from its mouth. The city is built close on the river, here about a mile in width, and, being embowered in trees, presents a pleasing appearance on being approached by water. The citadel occupies the highest site, and is surrounded by a brick wall twelve feet high and a moat. Five gates give access to it, and in front of each is a redan strongly defended and manned by troops. Three of the five gates have been walled up since the occupation of the citadel by the French in 1882. The Govern nent buildings and barracks are all inside the citadel. The city is situated between the citadel and the river. The principal streets occupied by Chinese are wide and the houses well built of brick; in the other quarters of the city the shops and houses are mat erections. The streets, with the exception of the Chinese quarter, are mostly unpaved, and in wet weather are simply impassable on account of the mud, but great improvements are being carried out by the French. The French Settlement is separate from the city proper, and stands on the river bank to the south of the native town.

The Song-koi is navigable for ships of very light draught as far as Mang-hao, a considerable trading city in Yunnan, some 300 miles above Hanoi, but the disturbed condition of the frontier has hitherto prevented any systematic attempt to open communication by this route with Western China. The French Government purpose to open up this route to trade when they have restored order and fully established their authority, but there is strong re son to doubt that as a waterway the river will ever be of any great value.