Directory_and_Chronicle_1934 — Page 1214

B68

INDO-CHINA-TONKIN

The trade of the Colony is rapidly increasing and nearly 50% of the imports are of French origin. Less than 4° of the remainder comes from Europe, as much of the import consist of natural products from neighbouring countries. Indo-China has its own customs tariff governed by ah Act signed by the President of the Republic on the 29th of June, 1929 and the amount of the duties charged may by said to be somewhat the same as that of France. By far, the largest export is rice.

Indo-China should attract the attention of travellers from all parts of the world, as it is an ideal field for tourists. The bay of Along (Baie d'Along), in the gulf of Tonkin, is widely famed for its scenery. Running along the Annamese coast by a motor road, the tourist reaches Hué, the residence of the Emperor of Annam, and finds the sepulchres of Emperors Gia-Long, Ming-Mang, Thieu-Tri, etc., a mine of interest. From Nhatrang the railway runs down to Saigon through the mysterious forest land. Express trains starting from Saigon every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, run to Phanrang Station, where motor-cars are waiting for travellers to go, after a splendid trip of three hours, amid fir-clad hills, to Dalat Station, about 4,000 feet above sea level. They can find there a large Hotel offering excellent accommoda- tions. In the neighbourhood of Dalat, sport of every kind, including big-game hunting specially organised, may be indulged in, as well as excursions and motor trips. Nor must reference be omitted to the famous ruins of Angkor, which will bear comparison with those of the ancient kingdom of the Pharoahs.

TONKIN

Originally the seat of Annam Kingdom under the Lês, but since 1802 when Gia- Long, the first Emperor of the actual Dynasty, the Nguyên, had been enthroned. Tonkin has become a part of Annam Empire under a Vice-Roy. It lics 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 west by Laos, on the South by Annam, and on the East by the gulf of Tonkin. The country near the sea is a rice alluvial plain; well watered by numerous rivers, it produces large crops of rice and maize, while sugar, cotton, spices, indigo, silk, arecquier, coffee and various other articles are also raised. It possesses valuable mines of silver, lead, antimony, phosphates, coal and zinc, and gold and copper are also known to exist. Concessions were granted in 1887 for the working of coal mines at Kebao and Hongay, and 800,000 tons of coal of good quality from the lastnamed is now exported annually. By the Treaty of Hue, dated June 6th, 1884, the Annamite Government placed Tonkin under French Protectorate, and its affairs are adininistered under the supervision of French Residents. It is, in fact, now practically a French Colony. Tonkin is divided into 21 provinces, namely: Bac-Giang, Bac-Kan, Bac- Ninh, Ha-Dong, Ha-Nam, Hoa-Binh, Hung-Yen, Kien-Ăn, Lang-Son, Lao-Kay, Ninh Bing Phuc-Yen, Phụ-Tho, Quang-Yen, Son-La, Son-Tay, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, Vinh-Yen, Yenbay; 4 municipalities namely: Hanoi, Haiphong, Nam- Dinh, Haiduong, and 4 military cercles: Hai-Ninh, Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Lai Chau. Hanoi, the capital, is the Chief-Town of the province of same name and appears on old maps as Ke-Sho.

Although a country newly colonised, Tonkin has several modern plants, such as the manufactures of cement, glass-ware, cotton spinning and rice mills, match, soap, leather and spirits, etc.