Captain Charles Pfoundes, the" well-Orientalist of Kobe, who has been cars in the East, and made half ges round the world, has been ting the Hanoi Exposition. On his home, calling at Shanghai, he has favoured us with some account of his trip ossians it made upon him, to Hanoi," said Captain Pfoundes, "to attend the International Congress of Orientalists, with the sanction and approval of the Lord Abbots of five of the principal Buddhist sects and sub-scots of Japan. I spoke on the iconography of Buddhism, ete., and its art, ¢lyptic and pine tic. By the hospitality of the Hanoi officials the Orientalists were taken on several excursions, notably to the Mausoleum of the late dynasty. The Congress was a decided success and its notable feature was that the French recognised, by their invitation to the Orientalists, the practical use of the investigations of savants in assisting state: men in dealing with native races, especially with conquered races. I particularly noticed the attitude of the French towards the indiggnes and how favourably it contrasts with that of our American cousins in the Philippines. The French attitude is as towards brave men, who have been conquered, and having been dued are to be treated as worthy and as future colonists; especial-this the attitude of the soldiers, the non-commissioned officers, and the A Surprise.
"As regards the Exhibition, it. was a surprise because nothing so extensive had been anticipated. It was quite astonishing to find, in such a short space of time since the occupation, so much solid progress had been made.
"Tt is only a very few years ago that it was decided to found a city surrounding the old citadel of the Annamese and to make it the city of government for Franco-Indo-China. Everything is being done with an eve to the future; certainly the ship isnot being spoilt for a ha'porth of tar, There are wide boulevards, macadamized, herbed and channelled, kept very clean, and well lighted with electricity; solidly built public offices; hotels and clubs, some of which are ial; comfortable and roomy private residences. The sanitary arrangements leave nothing to be desired.
"The central building of the Exhibition is simply superb- it would be a credit to riy capital in Europe. This will be the! centre of the future scientific study of the ethnology, languages, and other matters connected with the country; and of the natural resources, agricultural, mineral, ete., of this vast territory which has now become a sphere of activity of the French, and their future colonial empire in the Extreme Orient. From the main building of the Exhibition extend two wings enclosing an extensive ormnamental garden. Here, every afternoon, concerts are given by a band of 100 Tagalo Filipinos, whose music, played us-mally from memory, is ample proof of intelligence on the part of the Filipinos. ye Interest.
The Annamese swarm to the Exhibition with their families and appear to take keen interest in everything. It is worthy of note that they are extensively employed by their rulers in confident positions. There is a large and, it is said, quite efficient body of native police, besides troops, including cavalry and art Jers, which are, of course, officered by Frenchmen. The railway system is beg rapidly extended; and suitable boats are being put on the rivers and canals. Ib must be remembered that the delta of the Red River is a vast network of navigable streams.
Mineral Wealth.
"To the north of one of the river mouths there is a rocky district with a mountainous background, where coal exists in large quantity and is now being worked; 300,000 tons were raised during the last twelve months. The coal is anthracite, and combined with 10 per cent to 15 per cent bituminous coal of fair quality, such as medium or good Japan, xives the very best results for merchant steamers and men-of-war. The briquettes made with this combination yield the very highest results, in fact "equal to Wallsend. There is only from 6 per cent to 7 per cent of ash, no clinker, the fire is easily kept clean, and the steaming poitentiality is as 10'to 8 in case of Wallsend, or 7 of good Japanese or medium Neweastle, N.S.W.
General Resources.
"There are other important minerals and metals awaiting the capitalist and ardent exploiter. The natural resources are simply incalculable when we consider the vast area of highly fertile land and the climatic conditions. Two crops of rice are gathered and, with the aid of cheap fertilizers, heavy harvests are assured. Everything that can be grown a semi-tropical climate is possible, either on the low-lying land or on the surrounding hills. Any land that cannot be otherwise cultivated can be planted with valuable trees; and: afforestation will become one of the great. sources of wealth, in the future.
word or tivo as to the back country. The watershed of the Meikong, i.e. bo-tween Siam and the coast, including. Laos and Annam, from Cambodia to Tongking, is a vast, alluvial, highly fertile, area, {which only requires to be tapped. This an conveniently be done either from the Gulf of Siam or the China Sea.
For the Tourist.
"To the tourist this is an untrodden tract, and although the mere pleasure-seeker slay not, find all ho wants, travolling can be performed in comfort within a reasonable area; to the explorer, ethnologist, and other specialists, hero is an inexhaustible mine of material; while the practical man will find ample work. All this is illustrated by the exhibits which have been brought: fopotiee at Hanoi; and therefore a mere hasty glance, or a globetrotter's walk round, will not be sufficient to enable the visitor fully to appreciate their importance.
The ex-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.