Directory_and_Chronicle_1894 — Page 696

HAIPHONG

This is the shipping port for Hanoi, Hai-duong, and Namdinh, the commercial centres of Tonkin. It is situated in lat. 20 deg. 51 min. N., and long. 106 deg. 42 min. E., on the river Cua Cam, which is connected by two or more channels or creeks with that great river connecting Yunnan with the Tonkin Gulf, called the Song-koi. The town of Haiphong is about sixteen and a half miles from the lighthouse. The light- house at the entrance of the river, on the island of Hon-Do, 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 mud, from which the present town has with great labour and expense been reclaimed.

Haiphong proper is situated on both sides of the creek above referred to, and is in the midst of an extensive rice swamp with low lying, swampy land all around it for miles, having in the distance the monotony relieved by rugged ranges of low limestone hills, and beyond these to the northward, at a distance of some sixteen miles, is a range of mountains, the loftiest, known as the Grand Summit, being about 5,000 feet high. Most of the native buildings are wretchedly constructed of mud, bamboo, and matting, but a well built European town with broad boulevards has sprung up and is fast assgunms the aspect of a prosperous city. The Hôtel du Commerce is a large and handsome structure, its lofty mansard roof dominating every building in the town. There is a church attached to the Roman Catholic Mission. A small dock and some fine wharves with extensive godowns, with some miles of Decauville railway, have recently been made, but these are not much used at present. A Public Garden of rather limited area with a band stand in the centre has been neatly laid out at the end of the Boulevard Pau Bert. The Cercle d'Haiphong, which is a well managed Club, has its modest domicile in the Boulevard Paul Bert. The Race Course is about a mile from the town on the Do Son road. The news is supplied by the Courrier d'Haiphong, published twice a week. The population of Haiphong in 1890 was 15,000, of whom 600 were Europeans, 5,600 Chinese, 8,700 natives, and 200 other Asiatics. A regular service of river steamers is maintained between Hanoi and Haiphong by the Messageries Fluviales. Haiphong is connected by submarine cable with Saigon and Hongkong.

RÉSIDENCE

Résident-G. Tirant

Vice-Résident J. Quennac Chancelier-P. Simoni

DIRECTORY

Commis-Van Ravescot, de Brancion Inspecteur, Comdt. la Milice-Vincilioni Commissaire de Police-Grataloup

TRÉSORERIE

Payeur particulier-Boucher

Commis de Trésorerie-Ch. Demortreux Commis-N. J. Sailley, commis de Rési- dence, detaché; Commis auxre.—Levilain

DIRECTION DU Port de COMMERCE

Capitaine du Port-Grégoire Lieutenant de Port-Robin

Gardien, chef de Phare à Hondau-Gervais Pilotes-Lecoq, Georges, Crochet, Biard,

Gardonne, Henensal, Lormier

SERVICE DES DOUANES

Direction à Haiphong-Coqui, directeur !Secrétariat-Cotton, contrôleur Duhoux, Wickel, commis Rougetet, préposé

Comptabilité Rivayran, contrôleur

Courty, Danion, Jammes, Berne, commis Dandrade, journalier

Statistique Bonnemaille, Decusse, Lecau-

chois, Lafferrayrie, commis Repton, préposé

Masson, journalier

Bureau du Receveur-Salabelle, recev.pp! Honoré, Jardonnet, Salomon, Marty,

Bertrand, Michaud, Millard, commis Verification-Corras, Preteigne, Bouzan- quet, Parrot, Ray, Corby, commis Cloëss, brigadier

Ferrari, commis Cabotage-Roubert, commis