Six Kings in Two Years.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 130, 28 November 1885, Page 3

Six Kings in Two Years.

Pkince Chang-Mono is the sixth sovereign of Annam in twenty-five months. King Tu-Duc died on the 17th of July, 1883, after a reign of qver thirty years, during which time his dislike for the French had be°n growing into active hatred. Though he had the Oriental profusion of wives, he left no legitimate sons. Due-Duo, one of his nephews, was therefore named King ; and his adherence to his uncle's polioy led to the occupation of Hue by the French. DueDue then disappeared, and Dr Barman d put Hiep Hoa, a brother of Tu-Duc, on the throne Three months later he was poisoned bv the national party. "The French Resident then setup another nephew of Tu-Duc. With him M. Tricou concluded a ratification of the treaty of the previous August, in which Annam recog nised the French protectorate and banded over Tongking to be pacified by the republic. In August last year the antiFrench mandarins killed this new puppet ; and on the 17th of the month Ham Nghi, another boy, succeeded hi, m It is he who is now in the camp of the insurgent Thuyet, and with, him ended the nephews — at any rate the eligible nephews of King Tu-Duo. Prince Chang-Mong is said to be the adopted son of that monarch : which probably means that he is illegitimate. In any caße he i&.'no doubt, as complete a cipher as is wanted'; and he is said to speak in very satisfactory terms of his attachment to France. So does every Annamese with whom a Frenchman talks. But the oountry is none the' ' nearer pacifioatiori for that* and it remains to be seen howloog the "hew [Sovereign, who is to take 1 the "reigning > name" of Me-Trieu, will last. : '