Directory_and_Chronicle_1889 — Page 677

TONQUIN.

Anciently an independent kingdom, but since 1802 a province of Annam, situated between lat. 19 deg. and 23 deg. N. and long. 102 deg. and 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 granted 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 now administ- ered 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, Thai-nguyen, 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 1887 amounted to 38,368,724 francs, as compared with 28,808,505 Trance in 1886, and the exports to 10,051,801 francs, as against 9,112,433 francs in 1886. A grant-in-aid is required from France to meet the cost of administration.

HANOI.

Hanoi, the capital of Tonquin, and the head-quarters of the French Protectorate, is situated on the Song-koi, or Rod 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. 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 French Settlement is separate from the city proper, and stands on the river bank to the south of the native town. Since the occupation by the French in 1882 great improvements have been effected in the laying out of the town and the formation of roads and streets.

When the French established themselves in Tonquin it was believed that the Song-koi was navigable into Yunnan and that a considerable trade could be conducted by this route, but subsequent experience has proved it to be of little value as a com mercial waterway, as the upper reaches are navigable only by boats of extremely light draught.