Directory_and_Chronicle_1920 — Page 1184

ANNAM

The Kingdom of Annam is under French protection. It extends along the Eastern coast of the large Indo-Chinese peninsula, between Cochin-China on the South, Cam- bodge and Siam on the West, Tonkin on the North, and the China Sea on the east. It is an extensive territory bordered by a chain of granite mountains covered with forests and having well-watered and fertile plateaux.

The kingdom is administered by a Privy Council whose members are nominated by the Sovereign. Each Ministry has the assistance of a Council. Since the Treaty of 6th June, 1884, France has had a resident superieur at Hué. For administrative purposes Annam is divided into 13 provinces: Than-Hoa (Th-H), Nghé-An (Vinh), Ha Tinh (H-T), Quang-Binh (Dong Hoi), Quang Tri (QT), Thua Thien (Huế), Quang

Nam (Faifo), Quang-Ngai (Q-Ngai), Binh Dinh (Qui Nhon), Kon-Toum (RT), Nha Trang (Nh-Tg), Binh-Thuan (Phan Thiét) Langbian (Dalat). The agricultural land bordering on the coast is almost exclusively devoted to the culture of rice, of which two crops a year are raised. Imports consist of products for consumption such as flour, wine, Liquors, rice, spice, also iron manufactures, all kinds of hard wood, articles de luxe, cotton goods, etc., the annual value being about 7,250,000 francs, of which about one- fifth come from France and Indo-China. Exports comprise silk, raw and filatured, silk manufactures, and waste silk, ginned cotton, lace, cinnamon, gummed lacquer, oil d'arachides, precious woods, ox hides and horns, dried and sal. fish, etc.

HUE

Huê, the capital of the kingdom of Annam, and the seat of government, is situated about 12 km. from the sea on a large but scarcely navigable river named Huong-giang, and called by the French the Huê river, which debouches on the coast in about lat. 16 deg. 29 min N., and long. 107 deg. 38 min. E. The grand mountain chain of Annam, rising in four successive lines, approaches the coast North and South, forming, round the town, an immense belt broken only by the sea, giving to the city a smiling and picturesque aspect. Huê consists of two distinct parts on each side of the river. On the left bank is the citadel, an immense quadrilateral, measuring on each side 2,400 metres with the front bastioned after the type of the fortifications at Vauban. Within are the palace of the King and the offices of the Annamite Ministers. Tourists are allowed to visit the palace on obtaining a pass from the French administration. Inside the palace is a very interesting museum of ancient Annamite works of art (chiefly gold and jade jewellery). The palace is kept in good order and visitors will find it very interesting. On the right bank of the river are the official buildings of the French government, and the houses of the European officials and merchants. The population of the city and suburbs is estimated at 52,000, of whom about 232 are Frenchmen, and 500 Chinese. The environs of Huê are picturesque and pleasing. A favourite excursion is to the tombs of the old kings of Annam, some few miles from Huê. The buildings are magnificent in the style of the tombs of the Chinese Emperors.