HANOI TO MONGTSE 



companions' fancy ; the proposal was carried unanimously, and 

 our plan was made. 



After a month or so in Cochin China and Cambodia, in 

 the provinces of Battambang and Angkor, and in Annam, we 

 were to make Tonkin our base of departure. Skirting the 

 northern or Chinese boundary of Tonkin and the Laotian States, 

 we would endeavour to strike the IVIekong at the point where 

 it enters Indo-China — that is to say, not far from where Garnier 

 quitted it. Thence we should follow the valley of the river, 

 keeping as near as possible to its stream in order to determine 

 its undefined course in China. Our highest croal was to be 



o o 



Tsekou on the frontier of Thibet. Above Tsekou the Mekong 

 is known through the labours of missionaries. We should halt 

 at Tali Fou, the chief western mart of Yunnan. And for our 

 homeward route we would make the attempt to march due 

 west. 



Such were the general outlines of our journey. For an 

 undertaking of this magnitude all available subsidiary chances 

 should be assured. One important factor was uncertain, — time. 

 Roux had only a year's leave ; and as this would not suffice, 

 it was imperative that he should be "seconded" for colonial 

 service of indefinite duration. Given this, and resolution, there 

 seemed to be good hope of ultimate success. 



But on our subsequent arrival at the rendezvous at Tonkin, 

 in the end of December, sad news awaited us. M. de Grand- 

 maison, who had gone for a week to Hong-Kong whilst 

 we were visiting Hue, was fated never to rejoin us. He had 

 succumbed to a sudden illness. Death, in thus cutting off our 

 comrade, had taken heavy toll of us at the outset. I cannot 

 refrain from rendering brief homage here to the memory of his 



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