The colored patriot., 1882-06-08
A Recent French Conquest in Cochin
China.

The Tunisian game is being repeated
bv France in a quarter of the globe so
distant as to attract but little attention.
Recently came the news from Hong
Kong that the French had captured
Hannoi after two hours bOmbardment.
For the second time the French are I'D
possession of the capital Of Tonquln,
and this time they will undoubtedly
stay. Tonuuin, or Tong King, is one
of the three Provinces of the Empire OF
Anam. OF Cochin China, which stretches
alone the China "a, with the Celestial
Empire to the norm, and the Kingdom
of Siam to the west. Tonquin is the
most northerly of these provinces, and
Laws along the Gulf of Tonquin. The
climate is subject to severe heat and
cold, and there are frequent and heavy
falls of rain, which cause disastrous IN
undations. But for all that the climate
is wholesome, and the whole region IS
one of great fertility. 1t contains mag
nificent forests of fine woods; produces
endless crops of rice, cotton, ginger,
Indian corn, sugar-cane and tea; ana
embraces vast plantations OF null
berry for the rearing OF sllk-worms'
producing the finest article OF silk
while the earth contains rich de-
posits of gold, silver, copper and iron
Adjacent to Tonquin is the French
colony of Cambodia, and for seY eral
years past the French have been moving
slowly, but deliberately, in the direction
of annexation. They have had an ex-
cuse for interfering in the operations of
pirates in the adjacent sea, and the ex-
pedition which was fitted out last year
for the ostensible suppression OF the
pirates is about resulting, as was ex-
pected, in the annexation OF the whole
province to the French dominion in
Farther India. Hanoi the city which
has lust fallen into French hands, is the
capital of Tonquin, and is situated on
Sank-Koi River, 100 miles northwest
from its confluence with the Gulf OF
Tonquin. 1t is a poOrly-built town OF
80, 900 inhabitants, most of the houses
being made Of lumber and mud. But it
is already the center Of valuable COM
merce. which admits OF vast develop
ment at the hands of the French. In
1870 NJ GARNER, at the head of only
$50 men, captured the citadel Of Han
moi, and with two colleages practically
annexed the whole province to the
French dominions. NJ GARNER and his
officers were assassinated, but his sue
| cessor had almost secured the formal
cessiOn of TOnquin when the arrival OF
q new Governor, M. Philastre, led to q
sudden reversal of the forward policy and
France contented herself with treaty
with the King of Anam, signed the 10th
of March, 1874, which recognized her
sovereignty over the six provinces OF
Lower Cochin China, and established a
sort of protectorate over Anam itself.
/ This nominal prOtectOrate, however,
has not satisfied the cOlonists and those
| at home who were interested in the
trade of Cochin China, and now the op-
erations of those convenient pirates
which have for years dominated the
whole country above HannOi have civ
en- plausible excuse for a prOtectorate
| that will be found more substantial
! The annexation of Tonquin will place
in the possession of France the whole
eastern coast of the China Sea, which
has many good harbors and scvera
outlets for the commerce of the region
The Meikone or Cambodia, the Saigor
and the Sang-Koi are magnificent
rivers. In 1873 French merchan
named Dupuis succeeded in ascending
the last named stream to a point within
the Yunnal boundary. He showed tina
it was perfectly navigable, and that the
only obstacles to traversing it were
caused by the disturbed state of th'
country on its banks. The French will
Of course, remedy this difficulty whe1
they obtain full possession of the cOun
try.--L0ndOn Paper.