Directory_and_Chronicle_1894 — Page 687

TONKIN

Anciently an independent kingdom, but since 1802 a province of Annam, Tonkin is 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 Tonkin. 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 possesses valuable mines of silver, lead, antimony, and zinc, and gold and copper are also known to exist. Concessions were granted in 1887 for the working of the coal mines at Kebao and Hongay, and in 1890 to work the mines at Dongtrieu, and it is expected that coal of good quality will soon be largely exported. By the Treaty of Hué, dated the 6th June, 1884, the Annamite Government placed Tonkin under a French Protectorate, and its affairs are now administered under the supervision of French Residents. It is, however, now practically a French Colony, attached to Cochin-China, the two together being now officially termed Indo-China. Tonkin is divided into seventeen provinces, namely, Quang-yen, Haiduong, Bac-ninh, Thai-nguyen, Langson, Cao bang, Tuyen- quan Hong hoa, Son-tay, Hanoi, Ninh-binh, Hong yen, Namdinh, 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. A grant-in-aid is still required from France to meet the cost of administration.

HANOI

Hanoi, the capital of Tonkin, and now the seat of Government for Indo-China, is situated on the Songkoi, or Red River, 110 miles from its mouth. The city is built close on the river, here nearly a mile in width, and owing to the lakes and trees interspersed presents a rather picturesque appearance. The citadel occupies the highest site, and is surrounded by a brick wall twelve feet high and a moat. It contains the barracks for the troops, arsenals, Iospitals, magazines, &c., and the Royal Pagoda stands within its enclo- sure. The ancient city is situated between the citadel and the river, and its streets present a novel appearance, owing to the singular architecture of the houses. 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. The district nearest the river is gradually assuming the appearance of a Franco-Oriental city. Long wide new streets, planted with trees, and well lighted with kerosene lamps, have been constructed, of which the Rue Paul Bert is the principal business thoroughfare, containing the chief European shops, hotels, the Club, &c. The Mairie, the Post Office, the Résidence Supérieure, and the Bandstand are close to the Rue de Lac. The Cathedral, a large but ugly edifice, with twin towers, is situated in a narrow lane at the back of the Rue des Bordeurs, bat being very lofty is a conspicuous object from most parts of the city. A fine bronze statue of Paul Bert was erected in the Place facing the Petit Lac, and unveiled on the 14th July, 1890. The Petit Lac is a sheet of water in the middle of the new city, rendered picturesque by the quaint pagodas occupying the small islands which adorn it. There are two fairly good hotels, but the Hotel Alexandre is the largest and best. The native city is more crowded, but under French rule the streets are well kept, and very clean as compared with those of most Eastern cities. They are all lighted and drained. Some of the houses are very quaint and characteristic. Of the tempels, that of the Grand Buddha, on the shore of the Grand Lac, is perhaps the most important, as it contains a colossal bronze figure of the saint. A new Racecourse, opened for use in 1890, has been formed just outside the new town. The residences of the Governor- General and Commander of the Troops, the Government Offices, and some other public buildings are situated on what was formerly "the Concession," near to the river bank. The estimated population is 150,000.

There are two papers published three times a week, the Avenir du Tonkin and the Indépendance Tonkinoise; an Annamite paper, the Dai Nam Dong Van Nhat Bao; and also the Journal Officiel.