1830.] Dr. Richardson’s journey into Northern Laos. 21 1 
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March , 1830. 
III . — Notice of fjr . Richardson’s recent journey into Northern Laos. 
Between the Burmese territories and northern part of Siam on one side, and those 
of Tonquin on the other, there is put down, in most of our maps, a district or coun- 
try called Laos, or Len s£n shan. Of this country scarcely any information is to be 
obtained in our best and latest geographical works, and the little they do contain is 
evidently not of the most authentic nature. The following particulars, therefore, 
of a visit to that country by Dr. Richardson, of the Madras Establishment, attach- 
ed to the Residency at Mulindn, will, we doubt not, he read with interest. 
To the gleanings made from Dr, Richardson's journal we are happy to be al- 
lowed to prefix the following letter, by a gentleman well acquainted with those 
countries, as containing some of the most interesting particulars established by 
the journey, and related in a more entertaining style than we could hope to give 
to the mere abstract of a journal. Some few particulars will be found perhaps 
repeated ; though, in general, we have endeavoured to confine our abstract to those 
points not mentioned in the letter. 
“ You are already aware of Mr. Maingy having sent Dr. D. Richardson, of the 
, Madras Establishment, on a mission to Northern Laos. As that gentleman has 
just returned here after an absence of three months, and as I have had a good 
deal of conversation with him, I think I can give you some account of liis mission, 
which, in the absence of the more detailed account he is preparing for Mr. Maingy, 
may serve to interest and amuse you for half an hour. 
About four months ago a Laos chief sent a party of men to Mulm§n with a 
letter to Mr. Maingy, inviting him to send a British Officer up to the Laos coun- 
try ; and Mr. Maingy availed himself of this opportunity of acquiring some infor- 
mation regarding that territory. He could not have selected a better person for 
his envoy than Dr. Richardson, who to an intimate acquaintance with the Bur- 
mese language and customs, joins an excellent temper, and remarkably conciliatory 
and prepossessing habits and manners. Dr. Richardson went up the Salain river for 
four days, and then travelled in about an E. N. E. direction. He was altogether 44 
days on his journey : but of these he was in motion 27 days only. The Laos men 
whom he accompanied, told him frankly that they could not think of taking him 
by the easy and direct route to their country, as he might hereafter guide an 
English army to them ; and that, for this reason, they thought it “ right to move 
like an elephant over a difficult road, to feel with the trunk first, and ascertain that 
it will be safe to move the body forward." 
Upou arriving at the residence of the Laos chief. Dr. Richardson immediately 
discovered that the invitation sent to Mr. Maingy was intended only as an empty 
compliment, the chief believing firmly that no English officer could or would be 
able to make a journey to him. The arrival of the calaphyu, or white stranger 
excited a strong sensation throughout the country; an old prediction being current 
here, as well as in most of the other Indo-Chinese nations, that they wilfone day 
be conquered by white men. Dr. Richardson’s arrival excited still more dread* 
from the circumstance of the Laos country having, daring the past year, been 
subject to great inundation, and when the waters subsided, white fish, a’white 
crow, and several other white animals, had been taken. 
I must now tell you the name of the place to which Dr. Richardson went. It is 
called by the Burmese Labfin or La-bfing, and is situate about half a day’s journey 
from the capital of Northern Laos, called by the Siamese and Laos men Ch’hiung-. 
me, by the Burmese Zerni, by the old Portugueze and English travellers, Jangamf* 
Jamfihe, J,haiud, Chifimd, Zangome, &c. You may see an account of this pl ace 
the 7th vol. of the Modern Universal History, in which it is called Jan>oma 
