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On the Banks of the Red River. 



CHAPTER I 



HANOI TO MONGTSE 



My Companions — Plan of Travel — Death of M. de Grandmaison — M. Briffaud — At 

 Hanoi — -Final Preparations — Our Men — Ascent of the Red River by Steamer — 

 Yen-Tay — Laokay — By Junk to Manhao — First Difficulties with the Chinese — 

 On to Mongtse — Stay at the Consulate — Situation of the Missionaries — We organise 

 the Caravan — A Walk in the Town — The Market — General Ma — Customs Officials — 

 Life of the Europeans at Mongtse — Climate — The Plague — Food Resources. 



Ox the 13th of September 1894 M. de Grandmaison and 

 I, having just returned from traveUing in Madagascar, picked 

 up M. Roux at Aden, where he had arrived direct from 

 France. 



Although his duties as a naval lieutenant had hitherto 

 prevented our personal acquaintance, a correspondence of several 



