CHAPTIiR \II 



TSEKOU TO KHAMTI 



Choice of Homeward Route — Caravan Re-formed — Start in the Mekong Valley — Fears 

 at Landjre — Early Obstacles — Francis Garnicr Peak —Valley of the Salwen— Loutses 

 and Kioutses — Tionra : Crossing the Salucn — Relations with tlie Lamaserai of 

 Tchamoutong — Mules Abandoned — On Foot— Tamalou — In the IJasin of the Irawadi 

 — The Kiou-Kiang — The Kioutses — At Toulong — Difficulties of Recruiting and Re- 

 victualling — Mosquitoes on the Banks of the River — Rock Climbing — Dcidoum — Aspect 

 of the Kiou-Kiang Valley — Our Men — Gold-Washing — News of a Large River and a 

 Plain— The Du-tchu-mu — Perilous Position — Saved — Leeches— The Big River; I'eli) 

 and Dublu — On all sides Mountains — Painful Torrent March — Death of " Dianiai" — 

 Duma— Apon Explained — Equatorial Scenery — A Large Village — Beside the Nam Tsan 

 — Fish-Dam — A New Race — Pandam — No Salt — Melekeu — People of Moam (Khaniti) 

 — One more Col— \'illage Fete— The I'Kiiii. • 



OuK Stay at Tsekou was longer than we had anticipated. The 

 need of rest (for a fortnight fever only left me to be succeeded 

 by neuralgia and other ills), the despatch of our men. preparation 

 for further advance, and the enjoyment of repose in the congenial 

 society of our fellow-countrymen, all combined to detain us. 



Now arose the question as to what routes were open for 

 selection. Having rejected the idea of returning by the south to 

 Burmah, which would involve retracing a portion of our steps, 

 and having negatived the already known eastern roads through 

 Yunnan, our eyes were fixed upon the west. 



If, after ascending the Mekong for several days from Tsekou, 

 a turn should be made in this direction, we should fall upon 

 the Thibetan province of Kam, a dependency of Lhaca. The 



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