Hanoi, 12th August, Larrived at the ancient capital of Ton-gum on the 4th, by the Lun-mare he country improves in appearanen and cultivation us the: coust lauds are lo hind, and on entering the Red river itself, at tis point nearly two miles wide, the richest and most populous district of Ton quin is opened out, In this part of the country two crops of rice are raised every your, the second crop bei: i of planting out, and, with oon tint, imparting to the fields a defightfully fresh and rich appearance, The tantinl buildings of brick and stone, most Ble oF the yamora of the local mandan of these being either joss-houses and for
"ho soil on the banks of the Songkoi is a rich chocolate-coloured loom without a atone to be seen in it, and light enough to be worked with " primitive plough with wooden share. In addition to rice, the cultivation principally consists of the cas-for-oil plant and a kind of mulberry for roaring the silkworm, with cotton, sorghum or sugar-cane, plantains, sweet' potatoos and a score of other descriptions of fruits and vegetables. There are in th part of the country, plenty o! timber-trees, in addition to the areca palms which surround every village, The Rurwmaru, the day after her arri here, left for Namdinh with two compa: of Annamite tirailleurs on board, to rei force Colonel Badans's garrison preparatory tos aottio in force from that post. It is expected that they will be back again at Hanoi to-morrow.
Thio weather here suited for any extensive operations in the field, the heat during the day being li we, with occasional heavy thuuderstorms and torrents of rain.
Thoro are now five gunboats lying here, the Fanfare, Leopard, Eclaire, Prombe, the two latter being stern-whoelera specially constructed fur the river, and Carabi a small bent of the armed launch class.
On the 7th instant, the Yellow Flags, as the regiment of Chinese auxiliaries under the command of Captain George la called, marched outforareconnaissance on the Sot tai rond and had a few shots fired at them from some straggling patties of Black Flags in ambush, but received no injury, and on the following day a village occupied by Catholic Annamites, some: three miles to the south of Hanoi, was burnt by a force supposed to be composed of Annamite irregulars and Chinese. It was therefore deemed advisable by General Bouet to ascertain the strength of this detachment direction supposed to be occupied by the enemy on the morning of the 9th. The expeditionary corps was divided into three detachments, each of which consisted of three companies of marine infantry, a fon of Annamite tirailleurs and two pieces of field artillery, numbering all about 1,500 men, who were all s with rations for one day. Betweer and four o'clock in the morning the three columns marched out from Hanoi by Aifferent routes running parallel with exch other, but keeping up the communication along the front. The village, which had been set on fire, was entered by the central column, and the intervening country scoured by the tirailleurs, but the enemy had entirely disappeared, and after the advance had been continued for five or six miles the force returned to Hanoi, A few bullocks were. picked up on the line of march and were bought from the natly owners for commissariat use. The expedition was under the command of Colonel Bichot, of the marine infantry, The health of the troops in Hanoi just now may be considered fairly satisfactory, when the unfavourable climatic conditions are taken into consideration. There are now about 100 men in hospital from various causes, but comparatively few of these are serious cases, It has been found necessary by the authorities to institute some regulations similar in their action to the D. Ordinance in Hongkong. There are some cases of fever and some few of dysentery, but heat-apoplexy and sunstroke wre the most dangerous forms of sickness prevalent among the men. The Commissaire General of Tonqy Harmand, left here yesterday for Haiphong, where he will probably romain some tin but the question as to which of th will be inde the permai civil government is not yet decided. M. Bonnal has been appointed Resident Admlistrator at Hanoi, I have reason to believe that the bombardment or occupation of Hué las boon decided upon by the Government, and that Admiral Courbet, squadron, will probably have left Halong Bay for that purpose by this time, but we have received no news from Ha One of the first rench troops to tal campaign against the Annami Black Flag allies in Tonquin will be to take possession of Phonhai, which is about six miles to the south-west of Hanoi, and which is a strongly fortified post in possession of the enemy, and it is probable that an advance will be made on this place the course of a few days, preparatory to the operations against Sontai and Bachninh,—China Mail Cor.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.