Abstract
AT the last meeting of the French Geographical Society Dr. Paul Heis read a paper upon the results of his journey through the valley of the Meikong, and further north into the unexplored region which separates Indo-China, properly so-called, from Tonquin. Dr. Heis has made several discoveries likely to be of service to anthropologists, geologists, and mineralogists, and has brought back with him a collection of insects and reptiles, as well as a meteorological register, which was checked four times a day during the whole of his journey. Leaving Saigon on December 12, 1882, he ascended the Meikong as far as the 18th parallel, at which point he turned off from the main stream in order to go up its affluent, the Nancham, and endeavoured to reach Luang-Prabang through the hitherto unexplored region known in Annam as the principality of Tranninh. This region is infested by Chinese brigands, called Hos, who drove him back to the Meikong, and seized the greater part of his baggage. Reascending the river to Luang-Prabang he remained there for eight months, exploring the country in various directions, notably along the Nancham, which took him close to the region of the Hos, so that he was again compelled to retrace his steps. Being prevented from returning eastward, he went through the Siamese part of Burmah, reascended the Meikong as far as Chieng-sen, thence, passing from the basin of the Meikong to that of the Meinam, he reached Chieng-mai, and so made his way on foot to Bangkok, following the course of the Meinam. From Bangkok he went to Chantalun, on the west coast of Siam, and thence on foot to Baltambang, traversing the in of the Saphyrs, where 4000 Burmese are employed in the search for precious stones. After visiting the ruins of Angkor, le reached Saigon on June 12 last.
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Geographical Notes . Nature 31, 65–66 (1884). https://doi.org/10.1038/031065b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/031065b0