Directory_and_Chronicle_1901 — Page 881

INDO-CHINA-HANOI

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The trade of the colony is rapidly increasing, the value having risen from 139,078,174 francs in 1888 to 205,231,545 francs in 1897. The exports, which reached a value of 67,665,437 francs in 1888 amounted to 117,048,554 francs in 1897. The principal article of export is rice, of which 13,720,824 piculs were shipped in 1897. The total imports amounted in value to 39,388,286 francs in 1888, and to 51,922,684 francs in 1897, the large increase being mainly in goods imported from France, the value of which rose from 9,687,119 francs in 1888 to 20,825,931 francs in 1897, while imports from foreign countries only rose from 29.701.167 francs to 31,096,753 francs. In the important item of piece goods, which seem to be the staple most severely hit by the differential tariff, the trade is being rapidly monopolised by France. Thus in 1888 goods of this class from France figured for 1,944,138 francs only, while in 1897 the value had risen to 10,662,422 francs, foreign goods, on the other hand, falling from 13,452,917 francs to 7,248,983 francs.

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 coal of good quality from the last-named is now 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 administered under the supervision of French Residents. It is, in fact, now practically a French Colony. Tonkin is divided into seventeen provinces, namely, Quang-yen, Haiduong, Bac-ninh, Thai-nguyen, Lang-son, Cao-bang, Tuyenquan, Hong hoa, Son-tay, Hanoi Ninh-binh, Hong-yen, Nam dinh, Thanh hoa, Nghé, Hatinh, and Bochinh. 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 railway was some years ago constructed from Phu Lang-Thuong to Langson, a distance of 64 miles, but it was little better than a tramway. The gauge of this line is now being widened from 60 centimetres to 1 metre and extended to Hanoi, a distance of 45 kilometres, and a concession has been granted for a further extension from Langson to Lungchow, in the Chinese province of Kwangsi.

The imports of Tonkin in 1897 amounted to 31,540,958 francs, of which 14,732,857 francs were of French origin, and the export to 19,803,948 francs. The quantity of rice exported in 1897 was 2,263,116 piculs.

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 to 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, 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