Directory_and_Chronicle_1903 — Page 1014

INDO-CHINA-TONKIN

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The actual political situation of Indo-China is satisfactory in all respects. The spirit of the native population seems to improve yearly. Outside events, such as the operations in China, seem to have had no effect upon the imagination of the Annamites, and the fears once entertained as to the populations of the borders. of China have proved unfounded. The exhibition at Hanoi (Tonkin) opened in November, 1902, of all products, manufactures, industries, &c., from France, French colonies and Far Eastern countries, and was a pronounced success. The permanent Archæological Mission instituted by the decree of December 15, 1898, is now working under the new denomination of "Ecole Française d'Extrême Orient." Its object is the search for ancient articles of artistic or historical interest, and the charge and preservation of monuments of public interest. It also studies the philology of idioms, dialects, and ancient languages of Indo-China and neighbouring countries."

The total force of the French army in Indo-China is composed as follows: 17 regiments of Europeans; 17 regiments of natives; 18 batteries of European artillery ; and sundry units.

The trade of the Colony is rapidly increasing, the value having risen from 139,078,174 francs in 1888 to 341,650,772 francs in 1900. The exports, which reached a value of 67,665,437 francs in 1888 amounted to 155,606,385 in 1900. The principal article of export is rice, which amounted to 111,502,500 francs in 1900. The total imports. amounted in value to 39,388,286 francs in 1888, and to 186,044,387 francs in 1900, the large increase being mainly in goods imported from France, the value of which rose from 9,687,119 francs in 1888 to 74,226,403 in 1900, while imports from foreign countries rose from 29.701.167 francs to 111,817,984 in 1900. 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.

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 seventy provinces, namely, Quang yen, Hai-duong, Bac-ninh, Thai nguyen, Tuyen- quan, Hong-hoa, Son-tay, Ha-noi, Ninh-binh, Hongyen, Nam dinh, Backan, Bac giang, Ha-nam, Hoa-binh, Phu-lien, Chai-binh, Van-bu, Vinh yen, Yen-bai, and four military territories, viz. 1st circles of Langson, Mon-cay, Van-linh; 2nd circles of Can- bang, Bao-Inc; 3rd circles of Ha-giang, Bac-quang; 4th circles of Lao-kay, Bao-ba. 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 about 15,000,000. A railway was some years ago constructed from Phu Lang-Thuong to Langson, a distance of 61 miles, but it was little better than a tramway. The gauge of this line is now 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 Lung- chow, in the Chinese province of Kwangsi. The new railway running from Haiphong to Hanoi was opened in July, 1902.

The spinning factory established in Hanoi by the "Sociéte Cotonière de l'Indo- Chine," with a capital of 2,500,000 fr., had 16,000 spindles in working order and is a prosperous concern.

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