Haiphong, 17th December.
Nearly a month ago it was currently reported in Haiphong that a large Chinese force was assembled on the Red River a little above Sontai, and the rumour went ao far as to affirm that Hung H the extreme French position in the west had been taken by the Chinese, fore went up to Hanoi to find out for reports and upon my arrival there found them to be pure canards, I found the position of affairs in the wear to be un months past. 'I'he Black Flags still continue to give acme trouble the neighbourhood of the river Claire and skirmishes between small bodies of them id detachments of French tree, a a infrequent, Two companies of ivfautry and a battery of from Sontai month, of this rumours of the propinquit So far as I could learn, however, were only sent to the western to fill up the gaps made in the there by sickness and the departure of time-expired mon.
Finding, therefore, that the nothing to' be gained by continuing my journey westwards I decided to take the first opportunity of paying a visit to the Brenchjposts along the northern front, and; after waiting for several days, a chance offered of getting a passage as far as Phu long-Thuong on a small steam-launch pro ceeding thee with stores and pro the property of storekeeper and doing a flourishing business with the troops at the front.
The Canal des Rapides, which offers by far the most direct route to Bacninh, is not navigable at the present time of the year, and although the native or Annamite authorities have undertaken to deepen the channel at its shallowest points, the work cannot be completed in time to render the route available during the present We had, therefore, to descend the led River as far as Hong-yor, thence through the Cua Lee, or Thai-Binh Canal, into the river, or Grande Thai-Binh, up the Song-can tute the Thuong, thus' trovering two his roundabout way communicating with the advanced posi-
military edministratiou, particularly as is lows inconvenience to the much delay frequently occurs through running @ ground on the mud banks and shallows in the different streams navigated. The French Government have, therefore, come to the decision to lay downs amall tramway from Hanoi to Langson along the course of the present native road, Some of the materiel for this line, his, I hear, already arrived from Europe, and a two fo lus already been laid between the concession and citadel at Hanoi, a distance of about 24 miles. As far as Phu-long Thuong the difficulties to be overcome will not be great, Several streams will have to be crossed, over which light temporary bridges w I huve to be constructed, while in the case of some, ferries will answer the purpoto, with a deydt on either bank, The passage down the Red River has been frequently described, and therefore calls for no remarks, At tle Bamboo Post, where busy all thr suppressing the piracy at one time ao rife upon the river, we stopped a short time to tuke mails on board for the front, and proceeded on again through a low flat country of rice fields and villages surrounded with palms and bamboos to the Seven Payodas, this has been, from a period before the occupa: tion of Bacninh until the present, @ most important post, for the immediate neighbourhood constitute meeting place of five different rivers, viz, the Thui-Blub, Canal des Rapides, Song-can, Thuong and Lock-nam. The latter is, properly ing, ® continuation of the ha stream which winds down from the tains which border the Quang-yen province to the enst. At its junction near the Seven Pagodas with the other rivers mentioned, it chungas its name to the Loch-nam. iver that the guuboal Trombe, while reconnoitring, about two 0, was attacked by a con: force, and her com a led to the affair at Chu, about les to the south-oast of Kop, the detachment sent out to look for the force which ind attacked the gunboat, encountered the Chinese and routed them aft ro fight. It is thought by many of the officers that the tration of @ large body of Eh troops at Chu was effected by their com: mander for the purpose of drawing the French from Kep, which commando the road to Langson, The Fre ch force at present at Seven ts of bout four hundred: wuboat and they find plenty to do carrying on a ing campaign with the numerous bands of pirates, or upper descend from west. Itis rarely, however, that launch is attacked, the worthy retainers of the great Ba-Bo, as the pirate chief is called, generally confine their attention to craft, upon which they levy coutri-8 for the support of the Chi After leaving the Seven Pagodas we steamed a short up the Loch-nam and then turned westwards int Thuong. The water here was of a greenish hue and flowed between ever narrowing banks through sri undulating country, Low grasey hills alternately approached and receded from the river side, which was in many places lined with trees and brushwood. Human habitations were few and far between and the country appeared to be given over to the powers of nature. Birds, of different species, were numerous amonget them the stately heron, the snowy wagrette, the kite, crow, ce,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.