Directory_and_Chronicle_1890 — Page 786

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. and 108 deg. 30 min. E., bouuded 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 Hongay, and it is expected that coal of good quality will soon be exported. By the Treaty of Hué, dated the 6th June, 1884, the Annamite Government placed Tonquin under a French Protectorate, and its affairs are now administered under the super- vision of French Residents. The country is, however, still in a somewhat disturbed state. Tonquin is divided into seventeen provinces, namely, Quang-yen, Hai-duong, Ba-ninh, Thai nguyen, Lang-son, Cao bang, Tuyen-quang, Hong-hoa, Son-tay, Ha-noi, Ninh-binh, Hung-yen, Nam-dinh, Thánh hoa, Nghe an, Ha-tinh, and Bố. 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 as from 10,000,000 to 12,000,000. The imports of Annam and Tonquin in 1888 amounted to 28,243,382 francs, as compared with 35,760,086 francs in 1887, and the exports to 10,360,632 francs, as against 8,254,787 francs in 1887. A grant-in-aid is required from France to meet the cost of adminstration.

HANOI.

Hanoi, the capital of Tonquin, and the head-quarters of the French Protectorate is situated on the Songkoi, 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. The city is situated between the citadel and 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 mit 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 bats of extremely light draught. A small steamer especially built for the purpose made the ascent to Tokay last year.

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