Directory_and_Chronicle_1908 — Page 1227

INDO-CHINA

The French possession of Indo-China lies between 8 deg. 30 min. and 23 deg.23 min.. N. lat. and 97 deg. 40 min. and 107 deg. E. long. (Paris), and comprises the colony of Cochin-China, the protectorates of Cambodia, Annam, Tonkin, and the Laos, and the territory of Kwong-chow-wan leased from China, the whole being under the direction of a Governor-General, who is assisted by the" Conseil Supérieur de L'Indo-Chine.' The latter is a moveable body, meeting in any of the chief towns according to the

the summons of the Governor-General; but Hanoi, the capital of Tonkin, has become the principal seat of the administration. According to a decree of the 8th August, 1898, the Council consists of the Governor-General, President, the General Commanding the Troops, the Commander-in-Chief of the China Squadron, the Lieutenant-Governor of Cochin-China, the Residents Superior of Tonkin, Annam, and Cambodia, a representative of the Laos Administration, five other officials, the President of the Colonial Council of Cochin-China, the Chairmen of the Saigon, Hanoi, and Haiphong Chambers of Commerce, of the Cochin-China and Tonkin Chambers of Agriculture, the Chairmen of the Annam and Cambodian Mixed Chambers of Commerce and Agriculture, and two native members appointed by the Governor-General. The full Council meets once a year, and provision is made for a permanent Commission to transact such business as may arise between the sessions.

The deltas of Cochin-China and Tonkin are fertile; Annam, connecting them, is a long mountainous tract, with a narrow littoral on one side, and a wild sparsely populated hill tract stretching to the Mekong on the other. Rice, cotton, sugar, seeds, tobacco, spice, and fish are the principal productions of the alluvial districts. The principal mineral production is coal, which is mined at Tourane, on the coast of Annam, and at Hongay and Kebao on the Tonkin coast. Other minerals, including gold, silver, tin, copper, lead, &c., exist in the Protectorate and are more or less mined. The principal harbours are Haiphong in Tonkin, Tourane and Thuanan (for Hué) in Annam, and Saigon. The climate in general is hot and humid. The year is divided into two seasons, the wet and the dry.

A loan of 200,000,000 francs was approved by the French Chambers in 1898 fort the construction of railways in Indo-China, as follows:-Lines in course of execution (1) Haiphong to Vietri: This line was completed in 1902. Its length is about 158 hilons. (973 miles). (2) Hanoi to Ninh-Binh: This line is of a length of about 118 kiloms. (73 miles) and was finished in 1902. (3) Saigon to Tanlinh: This line will be 132 kiloms. (82 miles) long. The following works are now being proceeded with: Vietry to Luhay, a length of 225 kiloms. (140 miles); Ninh Binh to Vinh, a length of 215 kiloms. (133 miles); Tourane to Hué, of a length of 105 kiloms. (65 miles); Panlinh to Lam-Biang and to Khanhoa, 468 kiloms. (290 miles); Hué to Quang Tri, 85 kiloms. (53 miles); Laokay to Yunnansen, 460 kiloms. (285 miles).

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The population is estimated at 20,200,000, most of whom are Annamites, the Cambodians and Laotians coming next in about equal numbers. The Chinese number 150,000, and Europeans amount to a little over 8,000. The Tonkinese are larger and more robust than the Cochin-Chinese, and more intelligent and active. The Chinese have immigrated in large numbers to the south of Cochin-China, where they have obtained almost the exclusive possession of industries and commerce. The Cam- bodians are naturally apathetic, and have given way to the Chinese and Annamites. The Laotians and Mois, oppressed by their neighbours and by their mandarin system, are lazy, timid and suspicious. The Muongs, who occupy all the basins of the River Noire and Song-ma, are more handsome and robust than the Annamites. The Nuns resemble the Chinese and the Thos belong to the Kmer race.

The actual political situation of Indo-China has for many years been satisfactory in all respects, but the granting of a native Consultative Chamber seems to have created a spirit of unrest, and developed aspirations towards independence which many fear will lead to trouble. Outside events, such as the operations in China in 1900, had no influence upon the imagination of the Annamites, and the fears once entertained as to its effect upon the populations of the borders of China proved unfounded. The exhibition at Hanoï (Tonkin) opened in November, 1902, of all products, manufactures, industries, &c.,from France, French colonies and Far Eastern countries, was a pronounced success. The perman-

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