Travels in the Central Parts of Indo-China (Siam), Cambodia, and Laos (Vol. 2 of 2)

vince of Pechabu

Y TO B

ok, but, on different pretexts, I was detained more than two months before I could get away, in spite of the assistance of the viceroy. At last, on the 5th March, I set off with

in my room, and he could amuse himself with the numerous children and other visitors whom curiosity brought to look at him, he was very gentle; but as I was obliged on the journey to fasten him at the back of one of th

port as we skirted the forest. As for my other servant, when we reached Pinhalú he begged to be allowed to return to Bangk

n, and travel part of the night. I at once consented, knowing it to be a custom with the Cambodians, before departing on a long journe

o save them from robbers, and give them medicine if they had a headache. They all then took their evening meal together, washing it down with some glasses of arrack which I g

uty it is to arrest the depredators who lie in wait for the buffaloes and elephants coming down here from the lake and neighbouring d

pelled to halt at the outskirts. The next morning, as we were leaving the place, we fell in with a caravan of thirty waggons conveying rice to Muang-Kabine, whither we we

h March, and only reached Muang-Kabine on the 28th; and oh! what we suffered from ennui, from heat, from attacks of mosquitoes, and want of water. In addition to these mi

hing but the water from the muddy pools, serving for baths and drinking-places to all the buffaloes of the caravan. When I drank it, or used it for cooking or tea, I

ich had attracted to the place a number of Laotians, Chinese, and Siamese. The mines of Battambong, being less rich, a

tier, from a ske

THE GULF

following we were able to lay aside our poles, and take to the oars. The stream takes a bend towards the south, and empt

ese general, the same who, twenty years ago, retook Battambong from the Cochin-Chinese. He is also noted for having constructed a fine road from Paknam to Ongcor-Borig

l, on either side, is a mixed, and for this country numerous population, of Malays, Laotians from the peninsula, and Lao

ertain air of well-doing which reigns in these villages, the inhabitants must enjoy some degree of

s much impeded, and we were three days in the canal; while, afte

L AT B

hes, I have had to pass whole nights by a fire at the foot of a tree; yet I have not had a single attack of fever, and been always happy and in good spirits, especially when lucky enough to light upon some novelty. A new shell or insect filled me with a joy which ardent naturalists alone can understand; but they know well how little fatigues and privations of all kinds are cared for when set against the delight e

tch taken by M. Mouhot in the r

AMESE COMING OF AGE, OF

FROM

g at Bangkok, an enormous packet, telling me all the news of my distant family and country. It is indeed happiness, after so long a period of solitude, to

when at daybreak I rose and saw the ships lying at anchor in the middle of the stream, while the roofs of the palaces and pagodas reflected the first rays of the sun, I thought th

TOWN OF

the port of Bangkok is certainly one of the finest in the world, without excepting even

ommerce between the two countries will increase. It is scarcely a century old, and yet contains nearly half a million of inhabitants, amongst whom are many Christians. The flag of France floati

tier, from a Ske

PORT AND DOC

by the Nékong to Cambodia, and then to pass through Cochin China, should the arms of France have been victorious there. However, the rainy season having commenced, the whole country was inundated, and the forests impassable; so it was necessary to wait

ocourt, from

NG, ONE OF THE BROTHE

E FOR PE

lent it to a valued friend of mine. There is no reason for concealing the name of this gentleman, who has proved himself a real friend in the truest meaning of the word; but I rather embrace the opportunity of

d streamers, and peacocks' tails, attracted the attention of all the European residents, whose houses are built along the banks of the stre

NG'S B

called to us from his pretty little house; and as soon as we had put on more suitable dresses we waited on him, and he entered into conversation with us till breakfast-time. He is an excellent man, and, of all the dignitaries of the country, the

hérond, from

ENCE, PALACE

HAB

pean construction, presents a very striking appearance; and the winding path which leads up to it has been adm

. Beyond these rise a number of still higher peaks. On the low ground are forests, palm-trees, and rice-fields, the whole rich and varied in colour. Lastly,

No beings can be less poetical or imaginative than the Indo-Chinese; their hearts never appear to expand to the genial rays of the sun

TTO

ld believe it to be natural. The rocks, long in a state of fusion, have taken, in cooling, those singular forms peculiar to scoria and basalt. Then, after the sea had retreated-for all these rocks have risen from the bottom of the water-owing to the moisture continually dripping through the damp soil,

st of all the advantages offered to him by nature. A hammer touching the walls would have disfigured them; he had only to level

ocourt, from

AT PE

de into a temple. All along the sides are rows of idols, on

most singular and ridiculous costumes imaginable. The emperor Soulouque himself would have laughed, for certainly his old guard must have made a better appearance than that of his East Indian brother. Nothing could give a better idea of this set of tatterdemalions than the dressed-up monkeys which da

n, were on horseback, leading this band of warriors, whilst the king, att

OF MOSQ

rthy of nobler beings. I speak of mosquitoes. Thousands of these cruel insects suck our blood night and day. My body, face, and hands are covered with wounds and blisters. I would rather have to deal with the wild beasts of the forest. At times I howl with pain and exasperation. No one can imagine the frightfu

LAOT

, like those of the Cochin Chinese, and they have the Siamese tuft of hair. The women wear the same head-dress as the Cambodians. Their songs, and their way of drinking through bamboo pipes, from

they soon grow coarse, and lose all their charms. Isolated in their villages, these Lao

urt, from a Sket

MOUNTAINS