New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-21
SOME ACCOUNT or HANOI.

From The London Times
The town of Hanoi, winch more IMAM ever
aimee their late repuse represents the principal position
OF French In ronquin stands upon size lht mas ~
Ways been recognized AS the most suitable Tor neir
tai by the people OF that country The excellence OF us
situation Is proved by its relation to the different
branches OF the songko iol as very %
on the right bank OF the BOde, or princlfh stream OF ho
Rcd Ryer-th ancient Tong uinese NAME II ,h ,nay Tc
esi maps OF tho French mssionaries-lt Is also III CLOSE
proximity with the songhat branch LOWING lnto inc
EnIf n Tonouiu few miles south OF the Important town
OF Nlnbinh; while the SongkO eanh connects tue
with the northern or Taibinh branch on winch y 70 ue
ionnd the town OF Hadzu0ng Considering tDe impor-
lance rs means OF internal and external conhuhGa-
ton OF these three branches OF tue same nNei anu a,so
~ the numerous other canals and streams In tue delta
which would only weary and coniuse he resuer 70 at
tempt TO name 1t will be allowed that me ion7anese
sboEed good Judgment In placing their capital NJ Hanoi
and the impression will DO confirmed ny closer sctuy
rue ns' name of tho original of Hanoi has not
been preserved But In the wars OF the last century,
which resulted, after many ycissluies OIL fortune 10 ,e
triumph OF the Nguyen dynasty unuer me Empe.Vr
Giooag It lost the prs-enneuce that nau oeeh aotY
allowed 1t for many previous centuries. lhe lonqunesG
Lingdom wus abs Orbed In an Anainese EMPIRE ana
Hanoi from being the capital sank INTO hesho or .ho
market place OF tributary d ot oxernmept we're re-
moved 10 Hue the Emperor Galong was 700 prueuI W
neglect any precaution toward maintaining ms authority
among the secretly disaected and naturally turbulent
people Of Tonqun. lie therefore slehstneheu t1e uo
s Gees of Hanoi and with aid OF the French officers
who had contributed much To his success Re naJe
and several other the delta ns well vi
considerable strength allowing for the CONDITIONS Oh the
conntry As elsewhere IN this region, the comlnereai
| town lies the river bank, While the Tor
titled portion is situated inland Al hahoi tno loi
nns are only more elaborate and larger scale tnan
AZ The other towns; aud the French nave uerl.eu
great reputation well as immediate advantages iron
tue possession OF what Is unynesaloll,oy .uo Eli
place IN Tonqun. La form the citadel Is s3uas MIL ~
bastons tie angles aud also along tue iaee o ,ne
ramparts Each dc measures three nafters OF ile
in % ,lrnight line, and the extent OF tue or az
d A. nt less than four miles. The walls are very SOL
JIv built In masonry resting Oh weH-seeureu iouhua
ZION MT less than twenty broad, while WI ae anu
deep ditch surrounds Tue place ine mos xiS 10
object In the citadel IL lofty tower whence view Is
oItaped OF the whole surrounding country inuIe ne
five gates two OF which are on me south sue anu each
H. protected redan but OF sucn uelectse oobsIIuv
ion "a IN he of little military value; ana tnls weak
on IA rendered the Bef10us IRON tnp nfo pIluHes
crnssng the nIoat the diereu gates being sololy
built OF brick, and being consequently When t
This fact sufficiently explains the ease with which ""
Frenen have twice captured what Is undoubtedly ih
many respects place OF strength .,,, o,.,.,s
Another pecuarity In the situation OF HANOI coslsts
4, the character of tho surrounding country. Only
few yards beyond the northern wall OF Tue citne anu
streicbing far 10 the west. Is vast lake OF reservoir
This forms an obstacle tue direct progress OF INC fehcn
on sontay, and explains why they nave 10 proceed
through the villages OF Hanoi III Ofuer 10 rchc tt
Mace -Four smaller but still OF tOnsidefbie
dimensions, occupy most or the country slmlnrufle3
ann of Tho citadel and the intervening space n utilized
for the cultivation OF rice. Indeed. Hanoi may NC su
IN he surrounded by and rice-ieds; but by PEE
culiar Arrangement the Town Dano W he r,ne
fields as well. The circumference OF tao Town. "a ,a
which do not the river mont IA not less Juan ~.
miles. or the French have never aase'P'T rsy
hold this vast extent OF what 10 known hs town
are content even to occupy tne cituoe 80.
muny OF their encounters with Tue enoi.f INV 1871
fouht IN fine Villages lying Just outside the iuItnet
..,s Al 1..ru,r for instance fell innediateD ont
aide hen near the village OF thue; h,r ,a
Balmy. at another village further on, ~" ,s,v w eshs
so m hs ve taken step calculated 10 improve tnei n
styy noston n MT 10 inspire the natives with nncii
aaeetion ior Them personally The sacs Of the eiaacl