TRAVELS
IN THE
CENTRAL PARTS OF INDO-CHINA
(SIAM),
CAMBODIA, AND LAOS.
Drawn by M. Bocourt, from a Photograph.
THE KING AND QUEEN OF SIAM.
TRAVELS
IN THE
CENTRAL PARTS OF INDO-CHINA
(SIAM),
CAMBODIA, AND LAOS,
DURING THE YEARS 1858, 1859, AND 1860.
BY THE LATE
M. HENRI MOUHOT,
FRENCH NATURALIST.
IN TWO VOLUMES.—Vol. I.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS.
LONDON:
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET,
1864.
LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET,
AND CHARING CROSS.
DEDICATION.
TO THE LEARNED SOCIETIES OF ENGLAND, WHO HAVEFAVOURED WITH THEIR ENCOURAGEMENT THEJOURNEY OF M. HENRI MOUHOT TO THE REMOTELANDS OF SIAM, LAOS, AND CAMBODIA.
I trust that the members of those scientific societies who kindlysupported and encouraged my brother in his travels and labours,will receive favourably the documents collected by the family ofthe intrepid traveller, whom death carried off in the flower of hisage, in the midst of his discoveries.
Had he been able to accomplish fully the end at which heaimed, it would certainly have been to you that he would haveoffered the fruits of his travels: he would have felt it his firstduty to testify his gratitude and esteem to the worthy representativesof science in that great, free, and generous Englishnation who adopted him. Half English by his marriage, M.Mouhot still preserved his love for his own country: there,however, for various reasons he did not receive the encouragementhe anticipated, and it was on the hospitable soil of Englandthat he met with that aid and support, which not only herscientific men, but the whole nation, delight in affording toexplorations in unknown countries, ever attended by perils andhardships. The journal of the unfortunate traveller shows hisfeelings of affection for the two countries which he lovedequally, and his devotion to science, art, and the progress ofcivilization.
I therefore feel it an imperative duty to express to you and to[8]the whole English nation the sentiments of gratitude to whichthis good and loyal Frenchman so often gave utterance, whileengaged in the work to which he spontaneously devotedhimself, and in which he was sustained by your counsels andassistance.
Receive therefore from Madame Mouhot and m