CHINA TO BRITISH INDIA, VIA CHEUNG MAI.
Cheung Mai is one of the five northern
Laos provinces belonging to Siam. This
northern Laos country is bounded on the north
(lat. 20° 20´ N.) by the Shan states, tributary to
Independent Burmah; on the north-east by
some independent Shan states lying between
Laos and Tonquin; on the east by Anam; on
the south by Siam. The western boundary is
the river Salween, separating the Laos country
from British Burmah and Karenee. The extreme
distance from north to south is two hundred
and twenty miles; from east to west, about
four hundred and twenty miles. The entire
population of the five Laos provinces tributary
to Siam is estimated at about two millions.
These two millions are composed of about ten
tribes; all of them, however, excepting the remnants
of three or four aboriginal tribes inhabiting
the mountains, are branches of a common
stock, the Lou. Each of these five Lou provinces
is a kingdom, the ruler of which is always
