K A ST RUN nKriflUAlMIV, 



and hate no ethnical valuo whatsoever. The wild tribes aru vx jioswd to 

 tliu constant attack especially of tha Lao princes, who organise regular 

 c«3C(>wtitifH].H n^iiiuit tliL'in tn order to nrocuru slave* for the Sjiuhl-si' mul 

 Cambojnti markets. But apart from the passions fostered by this ha famous 

 tralfir, the Laos, like all the Thai-Slmu peoples, arc an inolfensivr, unwar- 

 like, and pua*."43-luviiiJ5 race, fond of music, audi living cttiully ou a diet of 

 rice, vegetables, fruits, fish, and poultry. 



Tub Anxam in . 



Under the general name of Annittnese are now usually comprised 

 all the Bettted inliabitnnts both of Tonkin and Cochin-China. They 

 constitute essentially one homogeneous people, nowhere presenting 

 any marked differences in type, speech, usages, or religion. Of uU 

 tlio civilised nations of Indo-Chiun tliey are certainly the least 

 favoured, both physically and morally, presenting so many disagree- 

 able traits that few observers luive anything good to way for litem. 

 To the Chinese tltey have been for ages known by the designation of 

 Gitio-ahi (Kiao-shi), occurring bo early as the year 2285 and 

 Stippofceil in lui'iili " RifnrcuJod, 1 ' or " Cruss.-d Tues/' from lint 

 abnormal space between tlte great toe and aU the others, a peculiarity 

 by which tltey arc still distinguished. The Annamese ure described 

 as the ugliest artd most ungainly race lit the peninsula, with a coarse 

 dirty yellow skin, broad head, flat, angular features, small snub nose, 

 thick lips, small pig eyes, and bow legs. The moral picture is 

 scarcely more flattering, and the Abb6 Gagelin, who lived fur years 

 in their midst, tells us that they are at once insolent and dishonest, 

 and dead to all the line feelings of human nature. There is so little 

 affectum rummgst them that the nearest kindred never think of 

 embracing even after an absence of years. The missionaries are not 

 iftowed tu fondle the little children, nor is the slightest gesture 

 tolerated in llm pulpit. M. MuuhM, who is iiEAvrlholoss iriclinnl ti> 

 speak well of them, confesses that "they are headstrong, revenge- 

 ful, ilc:oiif id, thieves und liars. Their dirty habits surpass anything 

 I have ever seen, and their food is abominably nasty, rotten fish and 

 dogs being their favourite diet. 1 ' Hence on recently noticing the 

 absence of lite Annnmesc clement amongst the highland populations 

 towards the Chinese frontier, Mr. J. G\ Scott not unnaturally ex- 

 claims: "This is satisfactory from one point of view. The fewer 

 Annnmese there are the less taint there is on the human race."' 



NeverthcU'Sfl, the saute observer tells us that at least in on** n*j)*&t the 

 TonkintttM (Northern Anu&mese) aru almost without rix r nlf. They are 

 surprisingly 'skilful Li the ctuial ruction of utukuikmc-nts, and tlui ilyko.n 

 built to guard the Hat delta of the Song-koi against floods in thu n&Kj 

 season are moat admirably oenstrueled— aa a national Tort , fax more astonish- 



