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    Bernard Bourotte Book On The Mong People

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    Hsiung Tze
    This document provides a history of the mountain peoples of Southern Indochina from ancient times to the mid-20th century. It describes the diverse ethnic groups that have inhabited the mountainous regions and their interactions with neighboring civilizations like the Khmer, Cham, Vietnamese, and Siamese empires. The mountain peoples established some early principalities and confederations but were later incorporated into the expanding Vietnamese state. The document also discusses French colonial administration of the highlands and missionary activity among the tribes.

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    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Bernard Bourotte Book On The Mong People

    Uploaded by

    Hsiung Tze
    316 views168 pages
    This document provides a history of the mountain peoples of Southern Indochina from ancient times to the mid-20th century. It describes the diverse ethnic groups that have inhabited the mountainous regions and their interactions with neighboring civilizations like the Khmer, Cham, Vietnamese, and Siamese empires. The mountain peoples established some early principalities and confederations but were later incorporated into the expanding Vietnamese state. The document also discusses French colonial administration of the highlands and missionary activity among the tribes.

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    Bernard Bourotte Book on the Mong People

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    This document provides a history of the mountain peoples of Southern Indochina from ancient times to the mid-20th century. It describes the diverse ethnic groups that have inhabited the mountainous regions and their interactions with neighboring civilizations like the Khmer, Cham, Vietnamese, and Siamese empires. The mountain peoples established some early principalities and confederations but were later incorporated into the expanding Vietnamese state. The document also discusses French colonial administration of the highlands and missionary activity among the tribes.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    316 views168 pages

    Bernard Bourotte Book On The Mong People

    Uploaded by

    Hsiung Tze
    This document provides a history of the mountain peoples of Southern Indochina from ancient times to the mid-20th century. It describes the diverse ethnic groups that have inhabited the mountainous regions and their interactions with neighboring civilizations like the Khmer, Cham, Vietnamese, and Siamese empires. The mountain peoples established some early principalities and confederations but were later incorporated into the expanding Vietnamese state. The document also discusses French colonial administration of the highlands and missionary activity among the tribes.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 168
    At a glance
    Powered by AI
    The document discusses the history and origins of the mountain people of Southern Indochina.

    Some of the main structural features mentioned include the mountainous regions and central plateau. Tribes mentioned include the Ma and Jarai. Coastal plains were formerly occupied by other tribes.

    Some early confederations mentioned include the Fan Wen, the principality of the Ma, and the Jarai and their 'Sadet'.

    H I S T O R Y O F THE

    M O U N T A I N PEOPLE
    OF
    ,

    S O U T H E R N INDOCHIfNA

    Age~lcy for Tnterbntltionixl Dovelop ment

    Washington, D.C.

    DEPARTMENT OF STATE
    O I V I S I O W 8F LAICUAQE

    SEWVICES

    CIlAFTER

    OE N

    THE COUNTW

    Main Struc-tnral. F e a t u r e s of t h e Mountainous Regions The T r i b e s of .the kiLerG.or E'or.merl:y Occupied t h e Coa.sta1 P l a i n s of C e n t r a l and SouLhern Viet,nam , 3. The Hi.nterland , 4. Doundar*ies of .the tIinteubland Depressior! 5 , The C e n t r a l P l a t e a u of hLndochj.n.a and t h e (;~:ri.L~*a.i.
    3.. 2.

    ..... . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .......................................... . .. . .. . . . . . . ... .. . .. .... .. .

    :PA GE;
    1 .

    3
    11

    I. 2.

    3.

    4.. 5.
    6

    7.

    Mountain .People of t h e NorLh and. t h e Sou.th Fi.rbst H i s t o r i c a l Record of -the Mountain PeopLf. 0r:igins o.f t h e Moun'tain I'eop1.e Melanesians Indonesians . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . o , . a . . . . . . . + . . . Mourrtain People of S o u t h e r n Ind.ochina 12el.al;ed t o C o a s t a l I'eopl-es of t h e P a c i f i c D i v e r s i t y of t h e Mountain Peop1.e , *.

    . ..... . . ..... . ....... ... .. ....................... . ............,............................*... . ..... ..... .... . . ... . . . .. .... ... . ...... ... ...... ... . .
    11 1

    CIIBPTER

    THE SETTmG OF l3-E MPS AND THEIR mU.TIONS WITH NEIaIBORLNG COIJNTRES

    1. I n Ancient Times 2. R e l z t i o n s w i t h I n d i a 3 F i r s t Hindu Se.ttlements and t h e i r E f f e c t s 4. Funan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a . . . . . . . . . o . . 5. Hinduized I n d o n e s i a n s and I n d o n e s i a n s of t h e Mountains 6. The Champa . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . , . e . . . . . a . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ . . . 7. Ekpansion of -the Champa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a . . 8. R e s i s t a n c e by t h e E a r l i e r C o a s t a l 1lwell.ers 9 Trade and Wars ........,........................~....t... LO. The Cham and t h e Mountain People 1 . I n f l u e n c e of t h e Mountain People on t h e Cham 1 C u..h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t h e Cham Occupation and i t s B e r i e f i t s 13 The Vietnamese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . ~ . 4 , ~ . . . . e
    4

    ........................................ ...................,............*... ...............


    .. ... . ... ...... .

    ........................ ............

    3.

    CHAPTER

    IV

    FIRST CONFEDEMTIONS O M U T I PE0PI.B F O N AN

    . . 3.
    1 2

    4 5

    . .

    Formation and D i f f e r e n t i a t i o n of D i a l e c t s Fan Wen The P r i n c i p a l i t y of t h e M a The J a r a i and t h e i r "Sadet" The Patau Pui and t h e Cambodians CEIAPTER V

    .................. .................................................... ................................. ................................ ...........................

    20

    21
    22 22 23

    M U a AN T E I N CAUGIT E l W E R WARRmG K M R O PT I Z GO S H ES AND CHAM F O .11th TO -L5th C N U Y RM ETR

    .. .
    .

    3. &

    AreaIiuled'bytkleKhmers The Pla-teaus. B a t t l e r i e l d 01' Lhe Warring Khmer and Cham. Peop1.e~ Western P a r t of t h e P l a t e a u s Occupied by t h e Cham IJoss of .the Iijnterland by t h e Cham

    ......................... ......... . ................................................... .......... ............................

    25 26
    27

    30

    T E %:AS?'EFiNP R O T1-IE: H I N T E ; m N D F O T E H AT F RM H 15th TO SPITE I ~ E G ~ N I N OF THE 19i;h CENTURY G The Mountain Peop1.e from .the 1 5 t h .to t h e l7-Lh Century , Waning of t h e Sadet s Inf 1-uence Downfa1.l of .the Che M P r i . r i c i p a l i t y a The Organization of t h e Moi. Courstry by .the Vietnamese, and the Expansion of Vietnam Toward .the South A i m and Proce&u.res of .the Viei.namese Administration Adminis.tra.t5.ve and. I?iscal. Organization Commercial. Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . e . , . . . The IZevolt of 1761 The Tay Son and .the Mountain People The Administrative Achievements of Gia Long The Vietnamese, t h e Cham and t h e Mountain People of Binh Thuan Province Po Cheun Chan

    . .... .......................... .. ........................

    ................ ........ ..................... ......................................... ........................ ................ .................................


    CIUYI'ER V I I

    T E WSTEIW P R O 'ME HINmRIABD H AT F F O THE 1 5 t h TO TEE E R Y 1 9 t h CENTUEIY RM AL

    . . 3. 4. 5.
    1 2

    Slave Raids The R e t r e a t of .the Khmers The Advance of t h e Laotians Siam and Laos a t War The Siamese Invasion Revolts

    ................................................ .................................. ................................ ..................................... . ....................................... .....................................................

    53
    54

    55 56 57
    58

    TElE MOUIVI'ABQ PEOPLE F O TIE RESrmMTION O THE RM F NGWEN I A N M M UfaTIL 1859 N

    The S t i e n g Panduranga ...................................a...-a-... Son Phong : t h e Mi.1itary A ccornp1iskunen.t s; Pisca.1. Reorg:iyij.~,a,t i o n ; Admrinis-trative Iteorganization; Trade arid !;i~rrui~i::~-cc. . . The 'i'ribes of -the HighLa.nci PLa-tet~us Sedarig , Bahnn.r, : J a r a i , Iihade, e t c . Establishment o.C t h e Ca.thol.j.c Mit;sion i n lior~tun~

    ..................................... .........

    The Mounl;,air\ People Du.r:i.~ig the 1:'rench Occuyti.t:j.o!. I ' Cochi-rl-.Ch.i.riil. Tay Ninh 1'o.u Combo a ; + e . + r , i h e Canbod.i.n.r:i:; a-L Srelc !E"kv-~ri 'I'he MLssi-on 01.' A. (;an't,:ier !The Mouri-La.:i.ri '1'r:ibtis i.n -the Annc-trn:i-1,s Il.t,&'. or1 :3 * 71 , . 'S.'huan Klianh IS.ua.ng Ngai. . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . ~ . . e . , . . . . . . s a - . e . Se F3ang Iii.erig ,. . . The Mi.s:c:ion
    c j

    ......................................... . ................................................ .........................................

    ............................. ............................... .. . ............................................. ........................,.. .... ... . . ............................................

    Revolt of t h e Sc)?o.l.aro Siamese Encroachment The Koritum Mission 'The Balilriar-Roxigao Coni'edera Lior~ Mxyrena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . e * . , h . The Pavie Mission Cupet Se Dori and Se Barigg 1i:i.eng

    ................................ .. .................................... ......................................


    . ...................... . .

    ....................................... ................................................. ................................


    :I.89.3-1925 mSITANCY - C N U 1O - mTIGATS O T S: N ' .PE.Ti-iEAPOSTLES AhTD TIE VICTmS '

    Revolt of Phu Yerl (1900) The Bo:l.ovens (%901--07) .Assassirlation of IIo'be.ri; a .the River P s i Post (1.901) t The J a r a i . 'The Sa.det. Lose Thei.r P r e s t i g e A s s a s s i n a t i . o n of Oderid ha:/Orgai?i.zation of t h e I i i n t e r l a r i d The Pi.oneers M Sao e
    , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , , , . ~ . . . ~ . L . . . . L . . L . ~ . . ~ n . ~ . . . o

    ................................. ................................... .., , . ................ . ....... . ................... . . ........................... .............................................

    The End of t h e Son Phong . . . , . . . . . . , . . . , . . . . . . . . . e . . e . . e * Sabatier ...............,.........e.........~+e.......*.a The Southern H i n t e r l a n d ...,,.....,..,.......,,.....,,.,t

    I . CIFI C A T JON A ' The C i r c u l a r of July 30, 192% A t t h e F r o n t i e r s of Cochin-China--Progress A g i t a t i o n i n Kontum The Kha T h

    ..................................... ..............................................

    ...........................s and I n c i d e n t

    LS 110.

    51833

    C/R-XVII French

    The p r e s e n t study, b e p n i n 1951, was conti.nt.ted a t t h e s u g g e s t i o n of H,E. t h e D i r e c t o r of t h e I n l p e r i a l Cabinet, Having 23.ved f o r t h e p a s t

    t h r e e y e a r s f a r from t h e p l a t e a u s of t h e "montagnards" and t h e l i b r a r i e s y of Saigon and Hanoi, I have been u n a b l e t o c o n t i n u e m documentation beyond 1945-46, and I t h e r e f o r e c h o s e , t h i s point: a t ,which t o b r e a k o f f m narrative. y This accounts f o r t h e absence of r e f e r e n c e s t o d i s p o s i ~ . i . o n s

    and docunlents compiled by a u t h o r i t y of t h e I m p e r i a l Cabinet: and o f h i s Majesty. M thanks a r e due t o M r c F r a a ~ o i sPaul. Antoine, H, M, Commissio~~er y f o r t h e Education of t h e WS, who was kind enough t o encourage t h i s paper, review t h e text:, and g i v e me t h e b e n e f i t of h i s val-uable e x p e r i e n c e w i t h t h e mountain t r i b e s , The geographi.ca1 s k e t c h e s a r e reproduced by c o u r t e s y of M r . Delacour, A s s i s t a n t t o t h e D i r e c t o r of t h e Ptxb1i.c Works Department i n Phnom I?cnh, and of 'Messrs. Bui-Quang-Tra and Nguyen-Bao-Loc, both e n g i n e e r s with t h e Cambodian P u b l i c Works Department.
    I should lilce i n t h i s foreword t o

    p l a c e on r e c o r d m s i n c e r e g r a t i t u d e t o them, y Bernard B o u r o t t e

    DEPARTMENT OF STATE
    DlVlSlON OF
    Lh#CUhQE

    SERVICES

    LS

    ~0.54701 T-~~/K-zv French

    Appendix

    I n d e x o f V i e t n a m e s e Names

    Maps
    Fjg. I

    The "mc,nLagnardl'

    p e o p l e s o f SouLhcrn r n d o c h i n a

    . . . . . . .

    Page 1

    "
    "

    2
    3

    Fi.ghti.ng .i.n [:lie v i c i n i . L y of Y a l - i S e a r c h f o r eaglewood

    . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
    . .

    ?;

    Ir?:

    "
    "

    'The S6 l3ang I4i$ng R e g i o n . The Son Phong

    56
    61

    6
    7

    . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    "

    Movenlerit of t h e t r i bc?s Ilrom t h e 1.81Jil Iro t h e 7 9 t h c e n t l l r y W g i n n i n g s oE t h e I<onl.ur~~ i s s i o n M

    67
    'T L

    " "
    "

    . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    LO 11.

    Pavi-e Mi-ssion.

    C u p e t ' s 1.ti.nerary

    . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    91
    11 6
    1 27

    Southern Hint:erland. Operations

    "

    1.2

    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - 1945-1947 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    THE ZlISTOKY OF 'CIZE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE


    OX;' SOUTIERN TNDOCHTNA U 1'0 1.945 P

    CWP%'ElI ONE

    ---.7.'1.112 C otIwrl<y

    1.

    M A I N STKIJCTUIUL FEATURES OF rIlilJ3 MOUNTAINOIJS 1IEG:CONS


    The mountains of Asia a r e t:he h i g h e s t i n t h e world. I n prelti.:;toric
    t i n ~ e ? t h e southernmost of t h e s e rallges were thrust:

    a g a i n s t the v e r y anc.i.ent , tltick, r e s i s t a n t mass:i.E of s o u tlzerrl Ch:i.na, '[.'heir mountain f o l d s , close-packed ant1 d e f l e c t e d toward t h e croutll, extend a c r o s s T.ndoclii.ua u n t i l they r e a c h a f r a c t u r e marked by the, Ai.1.ao" Pass and t h e c o u r s e of t h e Se Bang Itieng r i v e r . South of t h i s l i n e , whi.ch runs c l o s e t o t h e 1 7 t h p a r a l l e l N, the
    L .

    physl.cal. s t r u c t u r e of Indoch.i.ria changes : i n c o n t r a s t t o t:he c l o s e s u c c e s s i o ~ l of parall.e:l. fol.ds fotmd I n the n o r t h , s o u t i ~ e r nZndoc11j.ni~resembles a v a s t sandstone t a b l e l a n d , S t a r t i n g from t h e e a s t , i t s l o p e s gent1.y toward t h e

    Melcong i n a s e r i e s of broad t i e r s punctui~teclby s m a l l e r s t e p s . Like t h a t of t h e 1~k1ssi.l: Ceutral.


    i.11

    France, t h e ens t e r n edge of t h i s

    p:Lateau drops away abrupt:Ly t o t h e e a s t , a s a r e s u l t oE e a r l i e r subsi.detlce,, onto t h e c o a s t a l p l a i n of:' Vietnam, When s e e n from t h e open s e a , t h i s

    e s c a r p n e n t 1001~s l i k e a g i g a n t i c w a l l and i s son~eti.mesmj.stalcet1 f o r a mountain range. Li.ke our Massif Central., t h e Lndochl.~.iesep3.a t:eau c o n t a i n s

    e x t i n c t volcalzoes, i n some of whose c r a t e r s pl.ncid lnlces may be round; subsidence has hol.l.owed out the? sur.face sandstone t o form o c c a s i o n a l marshy d e p r e s s i o n s , some of whi.ch have been developed a s i r r i . g a t e d paddyfields.

    (1)

    *For t e c h n i c a l . r e a s o n s , t h e names t h a t appear i n t h i s e s s a y i n tlie guoc-gnu t r a 1 1 s l i t e r a t i o n have been wri.t:ten w i t h o u t d i a c r i t i c s . For those of our r e a d e r s who a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e i r e x a c t orthography, we inc%ude a s an appendix a n a l p h a b e t i . c a l l i s t of a l l t h e s e names. N.I).L.R. (1) This t e c t o n i c f o r e l a n d , t o u s e t h e term proposed by geologisLs t o d e s c r i b e souther11 Indochina, has t h e advantage of c o i n c i d i n g approximately w i t h t h e r e g i o n i n h a b i t e d by t h e mountain p e o p l e of t h e soutli. Care s h o u l d be t a k e n iiot pursue t h i s comparison between s o u t h e r n Indochina and t h e Massif C e n t r a l of France t o o f a r . i t was i.ntroduced h e r e f o r t h e sake f simpl!.ficatton a s well. a s t o combat t h e 13elie.E i n t h e e x i s t e n c e of a n 'Annam~t IC ~ h a 1 n " ' - n o t t o say c o r d i l l e r a wlii.ch text:bookr; and maps imported from France seem una11l.e t o shed. Unlike t h e Massi.f Central. of France wt1:iclr culmiizates i n the southear;;t: t h e h ~ g h e s te l e v a t ~ o n sI n s o u t h e r n ~ n d o c f i i n aa r e found i n t h e northeast: ok t11.e forelaizd; moreover, t h e p l a t e a u s a r e covered by a t h i c k l a y e r of s a n d s t o n e , whereas g r a n i t e preclomi.nates i l l our Massif C e n t r a l .

    - 2Near t h e Krong Ana r i v e r , t h e r e g i o n around Lake Dak Lak p r o v i d e s a t y p i c a l example of t h e s e f e r t i . l e pockets. Bere and t h e r e , on t h e Bolovens,

    P l a t e a u , i n Kassex~gc o u n t r y , from Kontum t o t h e soutlzern p a r t of t h e 1)arJ.a~P l a t e a u , on t h e D j i r i n g p l a t e a u and t h e s l o p e s of t h e Zof t y Chhlong, t h e r e d and b l a c k t o p s o i l s of t h e d e p r e s s i o n s , formed by t h e decomposition of t h e b a s a l t s , a r e used f o r c r o p growing and nowadays even plantations. These s c a t t e r e d e n c l a v e s of f e r t i l i t y s t a n d out i n s h a r p c o n t r a s t l a g a i n s t t h e remainder of t h e h i g l ~ands, which b r i s t l e w i t h impenetrable j u n g l e , and a g a i n s t Lhe v a s t expanses of savanna11 anil s p a r s e woodland. These p l a t e a u s , t h e s e seemingly i n f i . n i t e t r a c t s of f o r t h e m o s t p a r t poor l a n d , a r e now t h e Zioine of t h e mountain people whose h i s t o r y i s su.nunarS.zed
    it?

    t h i s study.

    2.

    TI-IE TRIBES O THE INTERIOIi FOllM'EIILY OCCUPIED THE COASTAL PLAINS O F F CENTRAL A D SOUTFERN VIEYNAH N

    1.t seems p r o b a b l e t h a t a t . f i r s t t h e mountain tril3e:i

    inhabited the

    C narrow s t r i p o low-lying and relatively f e r t i l e plains which hugs t h e c o a s t l i n e , because some o f t h e i r 1.egends s t i l l speak ol' t h e sea. out by i n v a d e r s , they rook reiiuge i n the mountains, I'lrivcn

    S a f e behind t h e

    mountain r a ~ n p a t s overhanging the c o a s t , they s e t t l e d i n t h e hi.ghlands, r where f e v e r and f e a r of t h e S p i r i t s r e i g n . The appall-i.ng r e p u t a t i o n of

    t h e s e r e g i o n s , t h e forniidable s l o p e s b a r r i n g a c c e s s t o them, and t h e impoverishment of t h e s o i l r e p u l s e d would-be conquerors and d e t e r r e d them from p u r s u i n g t h e f u g i t i v e s , who had become "mountain people." This term "mountain people" o r MS l ' (_Mountain p e o p l e of S o u t h e r n

    ~ n d o c h i n a ) c a l l s f o r c l a r i f i c a t i o n : t:he WS a r e n o t confined t o t h e peaks, Z a s a r e t h e Ka Taouat and t h e I a Tu from t h e s o u r c e s or t h e Len and t h e Banao, o r t h e Meo, t r u e mountain t r i b e s which came f r m l SouCh China. t h e Meo, a l t i t u d e i s a n e c e s s i t y ; t h e y a r e n o t a t home a t sea l e v e l . t h e y a r e f o r c e d t o s t a y below about 5,000 f t . , t h e i r systems r e a c t To If

    -3d a n g e r o u s l y ; i n any e v e n t , tiley Ilave s o f a r shown l i t t l e i n c f i . n a t i o n f o r c u l t i v a t i n g i r r i g a t e d paddyfields.

    O t h e o t h e r hand, numerous t r i b e s of n

    s o u t h e r n I n d o c h i n a ( t h e S r 6 , Bih, Mnong Rlam of Dak Lak) make e x c e l . l e n t r i c e growers; some of tl~em, f o r example i n Quang Ngai, s t i l l l i v e i n delta areas, By and l a r g e , i f men from t h e h i n t e r l a n d llappen t o be b r o u g h t More-

    t o t h e c o a s t , t:l.tey a r e n e i t h e r s u r p r i s e d n o r unduly awed by t h e s e a . over, i.f t r a n s p l a n t e d t o t h e ba~ilts of t h e Mekong, t h e y g e n e r a l l y s t a n d t h e move v e r y well.. 'Chis happened i n t h e c a s e of some of Po Cheun's

    companions: d r i v e n o u t of t h e i r c o u n t r y by t h e J a r e i . , they have Laen thri.vi.lzg f o r more t h a n 50 y e a r s now i n t h e neigl~borhood ul^ Veam Chi Lang i n Lower Caliil3odi.a. l'lie Tiorn Pueum and t h e Bih, t o o , ,who were c+xpell.ed

    f r a u t h e i r vil.l.nges by tlie Mnong &cen.g i n 1887, s e t t l e d i n lowland a r e a s t h a t had been l e f t v a c a n t by s u c c e s s i v e wars, r a i d s and :i.~rvasions. I n real.i.ty, t h e r e f o r e , tl-le mountaln p e o p l e a r e pln teau people.

    3,

    'CTIF HINTER.~CANU

    lIint:erlarld

    i s t h e term a p p l i e d t o t h e r e g i o n s o.C t h e i n t e r i o r that:

    l i e between t h e c o a s t a l pl.a%ns of t h e Sout:h China Sea and t h e banks of t h e Mekong. Prom a n a l t i t u d e of 8,125 f t . a t Ataouat i n t h e n o r t h e a s t and of 6,825 f t , on t h e La M8re e t l1I3nfant (Mother and C h i l d ) m a s s i f , t h e h i g h e s t p o i n t in. t h e s o u t h e a s t , t:he land drops away gradual.ly t o 1.,950 f t . west of t h e C e n t r a l P l a t e a u anct on1.y a. few hundred f e e t i n t h e s p u r s and f o o t lriills of t h i s p l a t e a u . The a d m i n i s t r a t i v e l . i m i t s of i ~ h ep r e s e n t - d a y MPS d o n o t incl.ude aL1 t h e mountain p e o p l e of s o u t h e r n I n d o c h i n a ; t h e i r t e r r i t o r y f o r m e r l y comprised f i v e p r o v i n c e s . From n o r t h t o s o u t h , t h e s e were:

    1, IContum, i n whi.ch t h e Rahnar and t h e Sedang were predominant,


    2, P l e i k u , i n h a b i t e d c h i e f l y by t h e J a r a i . ,
    3. D a r l a c (Ban M Timot), .in which t h e most i m p o r t a n t groups were e t h e Rhade and tlle Mnong.

    4 , Lang Bian and 5, Upper Donnai, b o t h t e r r i t o r i e s b e l o n g i n g t o t h e former p r i . n c i p a 1 i . t ~


    of t h e Che Ma. I f one were t o c o n f i n e oneself s t r i c t l y t o tlze h i s t o r y of t h e s e p r o v i n c e s , s i z a b l e groups o r undeniable importance wouLd be passed over, f o r ex,lmple t h e Da-Vach o f Quang Ngai, s o u t h of t h e CoZ des Nuages (Pass of t h e Clouds), who a r e t r a d i t i o n a l p i c k e r s o f cinnamon and were f o r m e r l y s u b j e c t s of t h e Sonphong i n Quang-ngai. Under c o v e r of t h e f o o t h i l l s t h a t run seaward from t h e mountains of Annarn, mountain p e o p l e a r e sometimes round r i g h t up t o t h c s e a shore.
    11 1

    Binh-din11 ( 2 ) , Phu-yen, IZhanli-hoa and Ninh-thuan,

    they occupy

    l a r g e a r e a s , and I:he e n t i . r e western p a r t of t h e s e provi.rices i s t h e i r domain. I n t h e s o u t h w e s t , t h e lZuoy, t h e Mahdi and t h e Antor a r e spread o u t n5, f a r a s t h e Mekong and even beyond, a l t h o u g h they f a l l o u t s i d e Llie scope oi' t h e p r e s e n t e b s a y ,

    4.

    EOTJNDARTES OF THE IIZNTER'LANI) To t h e e a s t , t h e h i n t e r l a n d begins w i t h t h e l i n e s of r i d g e s t h a t

    s k i r t and clominate t h e p 1 a i . n ~ of c e n t r a l Vietnam.

    Along t h i s e a s t e r n

    boundary t h e s t e e p s c a r p f a c e of t h e p l a t e a u e f f e c t i . v e l y .i.solated arid protecl:ed t h e fiahnar, t h e Sedang, t h e J a r a i and t h e Rl~aile: t h e boundary i s 'l'he r a c e s whi.ch i n h a b i t t h e p l a t e a u s have remal.ned

    st:r:ikFngJ.y c l e a r - c u t . r e l a t i v e l y pure..

    'So t h e s o u t h , t h e boundary i s i r r e g u l a r : i t reaches almost to t h e coast near Ba-ria, t h e n moves northward t o beyond t h e Donnai r i v e r .

    To tlze e a s t of ttie median c o u r s e of t h i s r i v e r and a s f a r a s t h e 13i.nhthuan e x t e n d s a r e g i o n of h i l l s broken by rnarshes, " f i l t h y mudholes" and i m p e n e t r a b l e f o r e s t s . It i s h e r e t h a t t h e Che M took r e f u g e a f t e r a

    being d r i v e n from t h e p l a i n s oi' p r e s e n t - d a y Vietnam. (2) M r . Antoine h a s v i s i t e d v i l l a g e s west of t h e LJ. IIai. v a l l e y , where t h e p e o p l e , who d e s c r i b e themselves a s 13ahnar-Cham and Jarai-Charn, have maintained some r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e i r p a r e n t s t o c k on t h e p l a t e a u s .

    -5W i t h i n t h e s h e l t e r of t h i s " i n f e r n a l " r e g i o n , c e r t a i n groups of Che M managed t o r e t a i n t h e i r o r i g i n a l c h a r a c t e r and q u a l i t i e s f o r a l o n g a time, Next, t h e o b l i q u e bouildary t w i s t s i t s way toward Ilon-quan. Ta-Lai, s i t u a t e d on t h e R, Donnai (Done?--Translator), Between

    and t h e Song Be,

    i t s l o p e s g e n t l y upward t o meet t h e C e n t r a l ~ l a t e a u .

    The same t r a n s i t i o n a l c h a r a c t e r i s foulnd r e f l e c t e d i n t h e i n h a b i t a n t s of t h i s r e g i o n : they a r e t h e S t i e n g , a p e o p l e whose o r i g i n a l c h a r a c t e r changed on c o n t a c t w i t h t h e Vietnamese and Cambodians, Ease of a c c e s s

    a t t r a c t e d o u t s i d e r s i n t o t h e a r e a and, i n a way, encouraged them t o examine i t and f i n a l l y s e t t l e t h e r e . From t h i s q u a r t e r , laclting i n p r o t e c t i o n f r m t h e ruountai.ns, t h e h i n t e r l a n d has f r e q u e n t l y been c r o s s e d by t r a d e r s and nligrating t r i b e s , a s w e l l a s by o t k r s engaged i.n wars and p i . l l a g i n g .

    5.

    TEE CEN'CIW, PP,ATEAU OF LNDOCIIINA A D TIlE CENTMI, DEPRESSION N


    The s l o p i n g Land o f n o r t h e r n Indochina r i s e s toward a r e g i o n which

    has been c a l l e d t h e C e n t r a l P l a t e a u of Indochina, lcnown a s t h e Yok Laych by tlte p e o p l e who i.nilabit i t ,


    It i s h e r e t h a t t h e Song Be r i s e s and h e r e ,

    t o o , i s t h e m e e t i n g p o i n t o f t h e Three F r o n t i e r s (South and C e n t r a l Vi.e tncim and Cainl3od l a ) ,


    %'lie foothil.'l.s o this p l a t e a u extend a s far a:; S r e Khi~un~ C and almost

    t o 1Crati.e on tlle R, Mekong,

    Air 3.50 Icm. n o r t h of t h e h i g h e s t p o i n t o.f t h e

    " ~ o kLaych," Lialfway between t h c Ya Liau and t h o Se San, the t e r r a i n d i p s t o form a d e p r e s s e d a r e a whiclt s t r e t c h e s a s f a r a s t h e o u t s k i r t s of Koni:um, These lowlands s e p a r a t e t h e n o r t h e r n p a r t of t h e i n t e r i o r from t h e mouritains of t h e s o u t h (Darlac, Lang J3ian and t h e C e n t r a l P l a t e a u ) . East

    of tlzis i n t r u s i o n , t h e width of the h i g h - a l t i t u d e s t r i p .fran e a s t t o west: b a r e l y exceeds one hundred lci.l.o~neters; a t no ot,fler p o i n t i n the whole of Indochina a r e t h e Hi.ghlands s o narrow. The f l a t hnd a l o n g t h e lower and c e n t r a l r e a c h e s of t h e Srepok i s covered by s p a r s e f o r e s t t h a t i s v i r t u a l l y u n i n h a b i t e d . The h i g h l a n d s ,

    -6and w i t h them t h e mountain people, r e a p p e a r around the 1 4 t h p a r a l l e l N i n the r e g i o n s watered f i r s t by t h e Se San and t h e n by t h e Se Kong, t h e Se Don and t h e Se Bang Hieng r i v e r s . P e a c e f u l i n v a s i o n by t h e T ' a i came l a t e t o thehe p a r t s .
    T h e 'broad

    t r i b u t a r i e s of t h e Mekong (Se San, Se Kong, Se Don and Se Rang Hieng) favored t h e i n f i l t r a t i o n of o u t s i d e r s i n t o t h e i n t e r i o r . From Stung

    Treng t o t h e Se Bang Hieng River, t h e w e s t e r n edge of t h e h i n t e r l a n d , which hugs t h e g r e a t r i v e r , i s never f a r t h e r t h a n 50 km. from i t . -0-0-0-

    THE LNIWRLTANTS

    1.

    MOUNTAIN PEOPLE O TIB NOKTB ANI) T'kE SOSOH F The p o p u l a t i o n of t h e mountains of n o r t h e r n Indochina c o n s i s t s mainly

    of groups of Mongol o r i g i n , i n p a r t i c u l a r t h e M.eo, 'Man and Tho t r i b e s , b u t i n between t h e i s o l a t e d bl.ocks t:liey f o n ~ za r e found t r i b e s whose p11ysLcal t y p e , cus toins and language a r e r e m i n i s c e n t of t h e more s o u t h e r l y MCS. T h i s i s t r u e of tlie i3olovells, t h e Ta Woi ancl t h e Ka Lu; o t h e r s wExo l i v e s t i l l f e r t l i e r nori:ii, e,g. t h e So, t h e Sck o r tlle Sue, have undergol~e t h e

    in.Cluence of tile l , a o t i a n s , whose :Language t h e y speak i n a d d i t i o n t o [:heir own, whi.cli a p p e a r s t o be oli Moll-l<hmer o r i g i n . t h e L a o t i a n rnet:llod of wri.ti.ng, 'Clicy have a l s o talien over These

    i.n addj.ti.on t o numerous customs,

    K1 peopl.c, a s t h e y a r e cal.l.ed by tile 'L,anti.tins, a r e found i.n tlle n o r t h 1a a s f a r a s Nape, and even beyonrl t h e 'I'rnil-ninh. ?:'lie limest:onc rna:jsi.E o f Kebang, howc?ver, s i . t u a t a d west of Dong-hoi, forms a n a t - z ~ r a l a r r i e r between t h e people of t h e 110rth and of tlle soutii. b

    1 s f i a l l be inent.:i.oning t h e former oitly i.nciclent:illy,

    :is tiley a r e iIound i.11

    small.ish group:; and l i t t l e i.s kn0~1-1 1:l-iem; 1:lley a r e n o t p a r t of tlie MPS of and t11ei.r h i s t o r y .i.s bo1.1nd up niorc wi.t.l~ Laos.

    My s t ~ r d yw i l l . he concerned

    t o sollie e x t e n t wit.11 t l ~ et r i b e s now dwellitlg soutll of t h e Icehang massi.f, b u t above a l l wi.tl~ the pe0p:l.e w l l o a r c liound sout:h o f tlie 1.6th paral.:lel, wil.icll runs tchrough tllc approachc?~t o Da Nang (iCournne) and t h e Col. des Nuages (l'as:; of t h e Cl.ot1cls).

    2,

    FIRST IiISTOIlICAT, RECORD OF 'I'llD MOUNTAIN PEOI'1,E European maps make


    110

    mention of t h e mountain people u n t i l t h e 27th I t was t h e missioriari.es who f i r s t r e v e a l e d

    c e n t u r y , i n 1645 t o be p r e c i s e , tl-ieir e x i s t e n c e .

    'rhe f i r s t peop1.e t h e y recorded on t h e i r maps were t h e Moi..


    ttiiit:

    N a t u r a l l y , i n showing Europe name.

    t h e s e peop1.c~ e x i s t e d t h e y gave them a

    The Chinese, tlie Vi.etnamese and t h e Cham ltncw o f them because t h e y

    had I-lad t o fight: a g a i . n s t them t o t h e west of t h e c o a s t a l p l a i n s of Vietnam,

    -8-

    b u t on t h e whole t h e y d i d n o t d i f f e r e n t i a t e among t h e v a r i o u s t r i b e s which we d i s t i n g u i s h t h e r e today, The Chinese r e f e r r e d t o then1 under t h e c o l l . e c t i v e name of K'ouen Louen; t h e Vietnamese under t h a t of Moi Tliuoc and Moi Da-Vech, a c c o r d i n g t o whether o r n o t they were s u b j e c t t o t h e Icing of Hue; and t h e Cham u n d e r t h a t of M'Lecchas (savages) o r K i r a t a s ( h i l l people), However,

    t h e Cham, wtlo of a l l t h e peop1.e of t h e p l a i n s became t h e most a c t i v e l y involved i n t h e l i f e of t h e h i g h l a n d p e o p l e , a l r e a d y Itnew the Rhade, t h e J a r a i and t h e Ma,

    3.

    ORIGINS O T f E MOUNTAIN PEOPTJE F Where do tliesc pcoples s p r i n g from? Even they do n o t know. Some

    13ill and Kliade Legends clai-m t h e y emerged from t h e bowels of t h e eert:h tl~roug'n t h e Bang Itiregne h o l e , The I3olovens, Alalc and some 01 t h e Iiliade,

    a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i r own t r a d i t i o n s , o r i glna red i n Vientiane o r Muong 'rheng (Dien 13ien Plzu). L e t u s remember simply Lhat they c l a i m t o come from t h e

    n o r t h ; t h e most i n t r i g u i n g of t h e s e legends s u g g e s t t h a t tlle peoples lzow i n h a b i . t i n g t h e p l a t e a u s of t h e i n t e r i o r f i r s t l i v e d a l o n g t h e s e a s h o r e . O[:her (Alalc) v e r s i o n s i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e y came from i s l a n d s i n tlic Pac2.f i c Ocean t h a t have now v a i ~ i s i i e dbeneath t h e w a t e r s . 'Uhis ~?art::i.c~ilar versi.on, which t a l l i e s f a i r l y c l o s e l y w:i.th p r e s e n t g e o l o g i c a l d a t a , would a3.so s e r v e t o e x p l a i n t h e Eamill.arity wl~.i.ch s p r i n g s up s o clui.ckly between t h e niountain f o l k and t h e s e a ; a t t h e same tioie, i t would a c c o u n t f o r d i s c o n c e r t i n g s i r n i . l a r i t i e s between c e r t a i n people on t h e A s i a t i c and American s e a b o a r d s of t h e P a c i f i c Ocean. "The most obvious c o n c l u s i o n t o draw from t h i s f a c t i s t h a t t h e o r i g i n a l . i n h a b i t a n t s o f Indochina and t h e Malay Archipelago were a k i n t o t h o s e s t i l l l i v i n g on t h e :isl.ands of t h e Pacif i.c toclay."(3)

    4,

    MEUNES IANS I n t h e l i g h t of p r e s e n t - d a y e t h n o l o g i c a l knowledge, t h e r e i s s e e n

    t o be a n e x t r e m e l y wide v a r i e t y of p h y s i c a l types and languages i n t h e hinterland. (3) CoedBs, " H i s t o i r e des pays h i n d o u i s d s d e l l E x t r e m e - O r i e n t , " p. 4 ,

    -9Bone remains found i n t h e lowest l a y e r s of p r e h i s t o r i c d e p o s i t s , Tor example a t Linh Cam, s u g g e s t t h a t h d o c h i n a was o r i g i ~ l a l l yi n h a b i t e d and McLa~ies,ians s i m i l a r t o t h e a b o r i g i n e s of A u s t r a l i d by Negroes, Pdp~~arls ,jnd New Guinea, These people have now d i s a p p e a r e d frotn S o u t l ~ e a s tAsia,

    In former times they a p p e a r t o have spread from otle si.de o i t h e P a c i f i c


    Occan t o t h e o t h e r .
    111

    Lndochi.na, t h e chipped s t o n e t o o l s that: i.t has been p o s s i b l e t o

    cl.nssi l y prove t h a t t h e s e r a c e s extended northward ar; Far a s Tonkin, 'There a r e probably s t i l : l . 11ygnti.c.s i n tlie 11i.ntcr:l.aud of 1)oilg Iloi. n e a r tile approaches t o the. M Gia Pass (Col d e Mu-gi.a), w11il.e f a r t h e r t o u soutli ce1:tai.n do1.i.choceph~zli.c i.11di.vi.dual.s w i t h c u r l y o r f a p p e a r t o be sc1rvival.s itroln a .very d i s t a n t p a s t .
    t-.i

    z z y Ilail: now

    Sl:ilI. i.11 v e r y remote t:i.mes, tllougli at: a s:l.ightly :I.al:er sl:age, peo1)l.e of 1ndone:;ian r a c c bcc.:~mc sul?eri.mposed upozi and -in.i:errni;ted wi-th (:lie former Wegrico s t o c k , o l whoru o11l.y s c a t t:erecl t r a c e s reniaixl.

    It

    i:i

    t h i s Indvnesi.ar~ r : ~ c c wlii-cll i s ilow ~?rcdcril~:i.uml~t t l ~ ep % w t e c l u s on

    o L .Iildoch.ina ; i. t i : a:Lso foutid i.n :I:i~doz~esian d on tile i.sLanc1:i of L'ol.yr-les La, .: a


    Perhaps i t was tl1i.s r a c e wlri.cli Jii.rs t brought neol..i.i:liic ant1 "po'li sheds tone" i.ndus t r y t o tlie F a r E a s t , l'lle Malays arri.ved La t e r , but., s e t tl.j.il$:

    al.ong t h e c o ; l s t , they c r o s s - b r e d v e r y cxtensi.vel.y , According t o some scliolarc; (Kern, Cabahon), s o u t l ~ e r i lIncfoclli.na. was t h e b i r t h p l a c e 01 the Austrroncsian o r L'olynesian race. "'fhc: cave-dwelf.c!-:i

    of Pho Kinh Gia seem t o represent: tlte e a r l i e s t : type oE t i i i s r a c e " (Mansuy), which presurnab3.y then spread throughout !:he l'acif i.c Ocean.
    : The p a t h followed by t h e s e p e o p l e s appears 1o b e lilarkeci by t h e Bac Son

    massif i.n Toilkin and by t h e c a v e r n s of Annai~l, 600 icii~. f a r t h e r s o u t h .

    'l'liese

    e a r l y i n h a b i t a n t s of T.ndoc11ina may be cornpared w i t h t h e Wacljak of .Java, Others llo3.d t h a t t:llese Indonesi.ans came from tile ivlirlay i.sl.ands o r p o s s i b l y from Borneo, f roin where t h e y r a d i a t e d westward t o Jndochi.na - some c l a i m even t o India-,-and eastward t o tlie irjlands of t h c IJaci.fic.

    -10-

    6.

    MOUNTAIN PEOPLE O SOUTHERN INDOCHINA R E U T E D TO COASTAL PEOPUS F


    OF THE PACIFIC

    The d i a l e c t s , a r t and c e r t a i n f e a t u r e s of t h e customs of t h e mountain p e o p l e of Indochina a r e r e m i n i s c e n t of t l ~ o s eof c e r t a i n P a c i r i c peoples. For example, t h e s a c r i f i c i a l p o l e s of t h e upper Quang Narn and t h e way i n which they a r e d e c o r a t e d c a l l t o mind t h e a r t of t h e Maori oE New Zealand. The b r e e d i n g of hogs w i t h curved c a n i n e s i s connnon both t o t h e P o l y n e s i a n s and t o t h e Ka Tu who l i v e a t t h e f o o t of M t . Ataouat and M t , Bana, In

    two f a c t - f i l l e d a r t i c l e s i n t h i s B u l l e t i n , Mr. P i e r r e P a r i s drew a t t e n t i o n t o some d e t a i l s t h a t a r e common b o t h t o the mountain people of Indochina and t o some t1:ibes of American I n d i a n s : f e a t h e r s a r e used to , d e c o r a t e t h e

    tur1.1ans of t h e J a r a i ; i v o r y o r .wooden e a r r i n g s a r e common t o t h e 'Iildians of Honduras and t o t h e Che M of t h e Dji.ring r e g i o n . a Like t h e S r e , t h e

    I n c a s a l s o b e l i e v e t h a t t h e sun c o n t a i n s t h e s o u l s of t h e d e p a r t e d . Coedks w r i t e s : "Long b e f o r e t h e a r r i v a l of f o r e i g n s e a f a r e r s (he was r e f e r r i n g t o t h e I-Iindus), t h e s e p e o p l e s lzad t h e i r own navi.es." The voyage r e c e n t l y u n d e r t a k e n by Norwegian s c h o l a r s , who c a s t o f f from Peru and were c a r r i e d a s f a r :is P o l y n e s i a by t h e winds and t h e c u r r e n t s , g i v e s some i n s i g h t i n t o how t h e s e n a v i g a t o r s were a b l e t o 11l;ike u s e of t h e n a t u r a l elements. Far from b e i n g t h e savages t h e i r conquerors c l a i m , t h e

    t r i b e : ; of t h e h i n t e r i a n d of Incloclii.na probably represent: a l o s t : c i . v i l i z a t i o n , "which de.veZoped c:Lose t o t h e s e a , a l o n g t h e c o a s t a l r i v e r s of Annam" (Coedks)

    .
    'In t h i s r e s p e c t , But o t h e r s came from

    Some of t h e s e Lndo~-iesi.ans came from t h e n o r t h .

    e t l z n o l o g i s t s a r e i n agreement wi.th what c a n be unraveled from t h e Legends of tlte Iialazzg, t h e Niaheun, tlle P,ol(>verts, e t c .

    is:Lancls i n t h o Ocean, and i t j.s t h e r e f o r e impossi.ble, w i t h o u t some

    r-servatiolls, t o a c c e p t tile c l a i m t h a t t h e mountain t r i b e s of s o u t h e r n


    I n d o c h i n a o r i g i n a l l y formed a sing1.e people.

    -11-

    7.

    DIVERSITY O THE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE F Widely d i f f e r i n g p h y s i c a l t y p e s a r e found w i t h i n each t r i b e , The

    J a r a i a l o n e have such a l a r g e number of men of t a l l s t a t u r e t h a t i n former t i m e s r e c r u i t i n g p a r t i e s u s e d t o l e a v e behind men l e s s t h a n 5 f e e t 7 i n c h e s tall. On t h e p l a t e a u s one comes a c r o s s f a c e s whose f e a t u r e s have a d i s t i n c t l y European c a s t ; o t h e r s c a l l t o mind the A u s t r a l i a n a b o r i g i n e s , and y e t o t h e r s t h e American I n d i a n s . Their h a i r , though g e n e r a l l y s l e e k , Among t h e Sek a l a r g e number

    i s o c c a s i o n a l l y wavy and sometimes f r i z z y , of men w i t h reddi,sh-brown h a i r a r e observed.

    As a r u l e , a 1 1 t h e t r i b e s deny t h e ascendancy of t h e mother w i t h i n t h e family s t r u c t u r e , a l t h o u g h t h e r i c e growers form a n e x c e p t i o n t o t h i s rule. This f a c t makes i t i n a c c u r a t e t o a t t r i b u t e t o a l l t h e mountain The

    p e o p l e t h e custom of m i g r a t i n g slowly w i t h i n a confined a r e a .

    o n l y c h a r a c t e r i s t i c common t o t h e s e people seems t o be t h e i r r e l u c t a n c e o r i n a b i l i t y t o a c c e p t a h i e r a r c h y o r a u t h o r i t y ext-raneous t o t h e i r own villages. For c e n t u r i e s , kingdoms o r even c o n f e d e r a t i o n s a r e found only

    very exceptionally i n t h e i r history. -0-O-oCHAPTER III

    T E SETTING O THE MPS AND THEIR RELATIONS H F WITH NEIGRBORING COUNTRIES

    1.

    I N ANCIENT TIMES
    Very l i t t l e i s known of Indochina i n a n c i e n t times. The mountain

    p e o p l e have n o h i s t o r y , n o r d o t h e y a t t a c h any importance t o i t , t h e n o t i o n of e v e n t s b e i n g spread o u t i n time being e n t i r e l y f o r e i g n t o them. T h e i r Legends, altElough f r e q u e n t l y p i c t u r e s q u e , g i v e s u s v i r t u a l l y no i n s i g h t i n t o t h e i r d i s t a n t past. A Mnong legend speaks of a f l y i n g man, and r e f e r e n c e has a l r e a d y been made t o t r a d i t i o n a l evi.dence t h a t t h e Indonesians s p e n t some time n e a r t h e s e a s h o r e , and t o t h e i r advanced n a v i g a t i o n a l s k i l l s .

    -12The legends b a r e l y spread beyond t h e immediate domain of t h e t r i b e s ; e a c h group has i t s own b u t more o f t e n t h a n n o t i s i g n o r a n t of t h o s e of i t s neighbors.

    It i s t o t h e r a c e s w i t h h i s t o r i e s , t h e IIindus and above a l l t h e


    C h i n e s e , t h a t we must t u r n f o r c l u e s as t o how t h e mountain p e o p l e now l i v i n g on t h e p l a t e a u s of Indochina were l e d t o s e t t l e t h e r e . Populated by Melanesians and l a t e r by Indonesians, a n c i e n t Indochina, t o u s e t h e e x p r e s s i o n of both Hindu and Chinese l ~ i s t o r i a n s , was "inhabited by naked men," As Al.fred Fouclier poinLs o u t , nakedness i s n o t a measure of "savageness." These p r i m i t i v e t r i b e s possessed
    '3

    certain civilization Moreover, i t i s

    t l t a t was n o t enLireZy u n l i k e Lllat of pre-Aryan I n d i a ,

    s b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e s e e a r l y i n h a b i . t : a ~ ~ tmaintained r e l a t i o n s by s e a n o t only wil:h I n d i a but a l s o w i t h t h e s h o r e d w e l l e r s o.C t h e I'acili.c and w i t h Indonesia.

    The r e l a t i . o n s o.E t h e Il.i.~.iduswitlz t h e Indochincse penillsula a r e t h e first


    011

    recol-d.

    rtvcn b e f o r e t h e great: re.volutions of tha secoilcl c e n t u r y

    had d r i v e n the vanquished p a r t i e s t o what i s c a l l e d Outer I n d i a , tlindu ~ i t e s c l i a n ~cniiie t o r e c o n n o i t e r t h e c o a s t of IndochFna. s 'Cttey l e a r n e d t h a t

    i:he courltry prodttced s p i c e s , perfumed woods and r e s i n s , and above a1.l gold.
    Wc know t11aL t h e counLries of S o u t h e a s t A s i , ~ were r e p u t e d t o con-

    LLtin i n e x l l a u s t i b l e r e s e r v e s or t h i s metal., hence t h e name "Golden Chersonese.

    ,,,i.

    A c c o r d i r ~ g i y , t h e Iiindus s e t up t l a d i n g s t a t i o n s i n t h e

    Mekong e s t u ~ j r yand dlong t h e c o a s t of Vietnam. Conversely, Indonesian t r a d e r s frolit Indochinj. s a i l e d t o t h e s h o r e s


    o f I n d i a and 1:oundecl s m a l l groups i n some of t h e major p o r t s ,

    This sea-borne t r a d i n g paved t h e way f o r the s e t t l e m e n t of rrinctus a l o n g t h e Indochinese c o a s t . They a r r i v e d a t a time when t h e " g r e a t

    p r e l l i s t o r i c m i g r a t i o n s of t h e Melanesians, Pndonesians and Austro-Asians

    ;'<Old word f o r p e n i n s u l a , .Era11 t h e Creek: c h e r s o s

    d r y ; and ngsos

    island.

    had come t o an end," i n o t h e r words, a f t e r the Indonesians had become e s t a b l i s h e d a l o n g t h e c o a s t of t h e Indochinese peninsula. Trade and the q u e s t f o r l u x u r y a r t i c l e s , i n t e n s i f i e d by t h e c r e a t i o n of t h e Empire of Alexander t h e Great, caused t h e Hindus t o p r e s s on i n t o S o u t h e a s t Asia, which extends from Burma t o t h e i s l a n d s of Indonesia and t o China. The r i s e of Buddhism, t h e s t r u g g l e s , and p a r t i c u l a r l y the

    weakening of the c a s t e system which ensued, gave added impetus t o Hindu m i g r a t i o n s toward Indochina.

    3.

    FIRST I-IINDU SETTLEMENTS AND THEIR EFFECTS The Hindus s e t t l e d c h i e f l y n e a r t h e e s t u a r y of the Mekong River.
    It

    was h e r e t h a t they had t h e i r t r a d i n g posts.

    What they brought w i t h then1

    dm t h e way of a r t , c u l t u r e and language had p r a c t i c a l l y no i n f l u e n c e on


    t h e l o c a l i n h a b i t a n t s , b u t , simply f o r t h e sake of t h e i r b u s i n e s s , t h e Hindus were unable t o put up w i t h t h e p a r t i c u l a r i s m and anarchy of t h e s e tribes, From t h e s e t r a d i n g p o s t s they promulgated t h e i r p o l i t i c a l views
    It i s n o t known today whether t h e people

    and t h e i r conception of r o y a l t y .

    merely o f f e r e d no r e s i s t a n c e , whether they a c t i v e l y sought t o e l e c t a I-iindu l e a d e r (as would appear t o have been t h e c a s e with t h e Brahman Kaundinya, founder of Funan), or whether f o r t h a t m a t t e r the s e t t l e r s gave t h e i r backing t o an i n f l u e n t i a l l o c a l n o t a b l e who subsequently c o n s o l i d a t e d h i s p o a i o n by a d o p t i n g t h e Hindu f a i t h ; t h e f a c t remains, however, t h a t t h e f i r s t kingdom, o r r a t h e r t h e f i r s t c o n f e d e r a t i o n of s c a t t e r e d p r i n c i p a l i t i e s , was formed i n t h i s way i n t h e 2nd c e n t u r y of the C h r i s t i a n e r a : i t was Funan,

    4.

    FNN UA Funan was t h e name given by t h e Chinese t o what we now c a l l Cambodia.

    I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e l a k e r e g i o n , i t appears t o have included present-day Cochin-China, t h a t i s , t h e a l l u v i a l land of the Mekong d e l t a , where r i c e

    growing was p o s s i b l e .

    - 14O r i g i n a l l y , Funan a l s o encompassed t h e s o u t h e r n p r o v i n c e s of C e n t r a l Vietnam (south of Cape V a r e l l a ) ; a f t e r t h e 3rd c e n t u r y A.D., t h e Cham.


    it f e l l t o

    5,

    I'IINDUIZED INDONESIANS A D INDONESIANS O THE MOUNTAINS N F Those of t h e n a t i v e s who were u n w i l l i n g t o submit t o t h e new r u l e r s

    of t h e p l a i n s , o r t o a c c e p t t h e i r monarchical. s y s t e m and t h e customs they had brought: w i t h them, were l e d by t h e i r l i k i n g f o r independence t o w i t h draw i n t o t h e mountains and f o r e s t s ,

    A d i f f e r e n c e t h e r e f o r e began t o s p r i n g up between t h e h i n d u i z e d and


    t h e o t h e r Xndonesi.ans, and i t was t h e l a t t e r who f or~ned t h e f i r s t groups
    of ~ n o u n t a i npeople,

    The d i s t l . n c t i . o n , however, was n o t always c l e a r .

    Thc s e a r c h f o r

    p r e c i o u s p r o d u c t s sontetimes t o o k t h e Funanese Ear up i n t o t h e mountains, where t h e y found t h e i r o l d t r i b a l k i n s f o l k . Prom them t h e y endeavored t o

    o b t a i n n o t only gold b u t a l s o some of t h e h i g h l y p r i z e d c o m n o d i t i e s t h a t a r e found i n t h e mountains, s r ~ c ha s i v o r y , r a r e woods and r e s i n s . What

    i s more, t h e need f o r l a b o r l e d t o r a i d s t o p r o v i d e s l a v e s .for t h e r u l e r s of Funan, By reason of t h e s e f o r a y s and e x p e d i t i o n s , and of t h e r e p r i s a l s and p i l l a g i n g t h a t r e s u l t e d , t h e mountain f o l k remained i n touch w i t h t h e " c i v i l i z e d t ' people of t h e p l a i n s . It may be supposed t h a t , s t a r t i n g a t

    t h i s remote peri-od of t i m e , t h e Punanese language must have l e f t i t s imprint: on t h a t of t h e n a t i v e s : "Their d i a l e c t and t h e i r blood w i l l by t h i s time have r e c e i v e d such a heavy Mon-Khmer admixture t h a t i t w i l l no l o n g e r b e p o s s i b l e t o r e c o g n i z e them a s t h e o r i g i n a l b r o t h e r s of t h e Moi of t h e Annam h i n t e r l a n d " (Maj
    6.

    Nyo).

    THE, C I W A
    During t h e time t h a t Funan was b e i n g e s t a b l i s h e d and was g a i n i n g f i r m

    c o n t r o l of t h e Hekong d e l t a , o t h e r Hindu immigrants and s e a f a r e r s , c a r r i e d by t h e c u r r e n t which had b o r n e them eastward from I n d i a and urged on, no

    -15doubt, by t h e d e s i r e t o e s t a b l i s h l i n k s among t h e t r a d i n g p o s t s t h e y had s t r u n g o u t a l o n g t h e c o a s t , began t o advance a l o n g t h e s o u t h e r n seaboard (present-day Vietnam), subduing u n r u l y n a t i v e t r i b e s as t h e y went. They

    organized them t o form a new c o n f e d e r a t i o n which t h e Chinese a t f i r s t c a l l e d t h e L i n Y i , b u t which we know under t h e name Champa.

    7.

    EXPANSION OF THE C A P H MA T h i s kingdom comprised t r i b e s of Indonesians who had n o t y e t become

    hinduized.

    A c e r t a i n ~ ' i u i e n formed a n embryonic v e r s i o n of what might L


    I n 136 A.D. a thousand " b a r b a r i a n s from s o u t h of

    b e termed a Cham s t a t e .

    t h e Pass of t h e Clouds" a t t a c k e d t h e Chinese s u b - p r e f e c t u r e of Siang Lin, which appears t o have occupied t h e s o u t h e r n p a r t of t h e p i e s e n t province of Thua Thien.

    By 192, t h e Cham had e s t a b l i s h e d themselves i n t h e s o u t h i n what a r e


    today Ichanh I-loa, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan, t a k i n g land from Funan i n t h e process. I n t h e n o r t h , t a k i n g a d v a n t a g e of t h e t o t t e r i n g Han d y n a s t y , t h e Cham a g a i n a t t a c k e d J e Nan (between t h e Gate of Annam and t h e Pass of t h e Clouds) and one of t h e i r c h i e f s proclaimed himself king of Siang Lin. According t o M r . CoedBs, t h e Cham who l e d t h i s oLSensive i n 193 were p r o b a b l y hinduized. In

    248 t h e y conquered t h e r e g i o n of Hue.

    8.

    RESISTANCE BY THE EARLIER COASTAL DWELLERS

    I t i s u n l i k e l y t h a t t h e e a r l i e r occupants allowed themselves t o be


    d r i v e n o f f good land w i t h o u t r e s i s t a n c e : "Before r e l i n q u i s h i n g t h e c o a s t a l a r e a s and r e t r e a t i n g t o t h e c o v e r of t h e mountains and t h e Darlac p l a t e a u s , t h e J a r a i and t h e Rhade f o u g h t many b a t t l e s a g a i n s t t h e i r former Cham b r o t h e r s , now t u r n e d invaders." At a l l e v e n t s , t h e memory of t h e i r cmmoli "We and t h e Cham a r e b r o t h e r s

    o r i g i n s has s u r v i v e d t o t h e p r e s e n t day: w i t h t h e same mother."

    As i n Punan, t h e a d o p t i o n of a f o r e i g n c u l t u r e by a s e c t i o n of t h e p o p u l a t i o n had t h e e f f e c t of t h r u s t i n g back i n t o t h e mountains t h e t r i b e s

    -16f a r t h e s t from t h e c o a s t and most j e a l o u s of t h e i r independence. Iler

    a g a i n , t h e e a r l i e s t i n h a b i t a n t s of Indochina tended t o s p l g t up i n t o two groups: t h e mountain p e o p l e , who s t u c k t o t h e i r age-old c u s t o t h e i r k i n s f o l k who s t a y e d behind on t h e c o a s t , They, t h e Cham, changed

    on c o n t a c t w i t h t h e Hindus, whose i n f l u e n c e was most pronounced i n t h e m a t t e r of language. The Khmer-ized mountain people occupy t h e h i n t e r l a n d

    n o r t h of a l i n e drawn between Qui Nhon and Stung Treng, w h i l e a second group s t r e t c h e s s o u t h of t h e 1 2 t h p a r a l l . e l . The a r e a between t h e s e two b r a n c l ~ e s o r i g i n a t i n g i n t h e w e s t , i.n Cambodia, g r a d u a l l . ~came t o be f i l l e d w i t h t r i b e s spreacljng l i k e a wedge from t h e e a s t and From t h e Annam c o a s t . These t r i b e s - - L h e Blao, fro11t

    IJhn Yen, tlic Mdhur, Chur <ind IZrung, and r i n a l l y two major groups, t h e

    Siirai i n t h e n o r t h and t h e lihacle i n Llle soul-h--show s i g n s 01 being


    j

    n Cl.uenced by t h e Champa and i L s larigudge,

    S e p a r a t e f rcxn t l l i s n u c l e u s ,
    ,I

    buL sirnil a r l y i n luenced by t h e C'tlarn, t h e l i o g l a i F om?

    s u m i c i r c l e round

    tile last: s u r v i v i n g b a s t i o i l of Clje Cham a t Phan ~ i / P h a nliang.

    9.

    'I'RADF: AND W R AS Despite t h e s t e e p mountain w a l l p r o t e c t i - n g t h e t r i b e s which had

    r e t r e a t e d t o t h e s a f e t y of t h e p l a t e a u s , ?he Chntn aLtemptecl t o remain i n touch w i t h t'iicm. sought a f t e r , The Ch'im had remained a warli-ke people; t h e i n r o a d s which t h e i r a c q u i s i t i v e urge 1.ed them t o u n d e r t a k e toward t h e w e s t - - t h e country of gold, i v o r y and aloes-wood?-aroused a c o n s i d e r a b l e r e a c t i o n on t h e p a r t For t h e mountail1 p e o p l e , t h e appearance W know w l ~ a thighland p r o d u c t s t h e t r a d e r s had always e

    of t h e i n h a b i t a n t s oT t h e h i n t e r l a n d .

    oT t h e Champa and i t s a t t e m p t s t o encroach on t h e p l a t e a u s l e d t o wars t h a t were t o 1Lare up p e r i o d i c a l l y Tor a s long a s t h i s kingdom remained powerful, *The French "bois d ' a i g l e " has two meanings i n E n g l i s h : ( 1 ) dloes-wood: t h e h e a r t oT t h e A s i a t i c t r e e A q u i l a r i a Agallocha, which when burned g i v e s o f f a f r a g r a n t , r e s i n o u s odor, much a p p r e c i a t e d by t h e a n c i e n t s and s t i l l used widely i n I n d i a and t h e E a s t ; and (2) eagle-wood: t h e i n n e r s e c t i o n of t h e t r u n k of a t r o p i c a l A s i a t i c t r e e which i s used f o r f u m i g a t i o n and a s an incense. The two E n g l i s h terms a r e thus v i r t u a l l y i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e , a l t h o u g h ( 2 ) will. be p r e f e r r e d i n t h i s t r a n s l a t i o n on account of i t s unnlist-akable s i m i l a r i t y t o t h e French term.

    -1710,

    THE CHAM AND THE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE


    T h e i r s k i r m i s h e s w i t h t h e Cham d i d n o t p r e v e n t t h e mountain people

    from developing f e e l i n g s of r e s p e c t and g r a t i t u d e f o r t h e i r masters. They were t o miss them when, a f t e r t h e c o l l a p s e of t h e Cham hegemony, t h e i n h a b i t a n t s of t h e h i n t e r l a n d came under t h e domination of new r u l e r s .

    It i s known t h a t when t h e p e o p l e s of t h e p l a t e a u s were r e q u i r e d t o pay


    tribute-money t o t h e Vietnamese, t h e l a t t e r h a v i n g overrun t h e e n t i r e t e r r i t o r y of t h e Champa, t h e y n o n e t h e l e s s c o n t i n u e d t o pay t h e i r t a x t o t h e Cham mandarins, who t r a n s m i t t e d i t t o t h e Court of Hue. Moreover,

    a s t h e g u a r d i a n s of t h e r o y a l i n s i g n i a and l a s t t r e a s u r e s of t h e Cham, t h e mountain people have always had g r e a t r e s p e c t f o r t h e s e p r e c i o u s relics. Indeed, u n t i l r e 1 . a t i v e l y r e c e n t l y , a c a l l f o r h e l p from a l a t t e r -

    day p r i n c e s s of t h e Champa r o y a l house--who had a d m i t t e d l y f a l l e n on v e r y hard times--was a l l t h a t was needed t o b r i n g t h e people of t h e f o r e s t s

    r u s h i n g t o o l f e r h e r a l l t h e s c r v i c e s a t t h e i r command, w i t h o u t e x p e c t i n g any form of reward Tor t h e i r t r o u b l e . Such d e v o t i o n i s accounted f o r more t h a n a n y t h i n g by t h e approach which t h e Cham a d o p t e d ; t h e y behaved l e s s l i k e concluerors t h a n l i k e g u a r d i a n s and a d v i s e r s : "Far from being wiped o u t by t h e conquerors, t h e n a t i v e s round i n t h e Hindu s o c i e t y - - t r a n s p l a n t e d from i t s s o u r c e and grown more P l e x i b l e - - a f ramework w i t h i n which t h e i r own s o c i e t i e s This i s s o t r u e t h a t whereas

    were a b l e t o r i n d i d e n t i t y and develop."

    t h e Cham a r e now reduced t o only a few thousand s o u l s , t h e mountain people a r e f a r more numerous t h a n t h e y were b e f o r e , The C h a m merely sought t o They a c c e p t e d

    e s t a b l i s h t r a d i t i o n a l t i e s , w i t h o u t p o l i t i c a l dependence.

    t h e mountain people a s t h e y were and r e s p e c t e d t h e i r customs, w i t h o u t f o r c i n g upon them e i t h e r t h e i r c h i e f s o r t h e i r h i e r a r c h y .

    11.

    INFLUENCE O THE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE ON THE CIUM F L t i s almost c e r t a i n t h a t t h e Cham even a c c e p t e d t h e mountain people

    a s kings.

    T h i s much we a r e a b l e t o g l e a n from c e r t a i n legends.

    The

    Cham were q u i t e happy t o marry t h e d a u g h t e r s of t h e mountain people;

    - 18though t h e m a r r i a g e of Choi Koho t o t h e Cham Nai T o l u i was r e p u t e d t o be

    a bad match, such u n i o n s l a t e r became s o much t h e a c c e p t e d p r a c t i c e t h a t


    G l u i Glah, a Cham c h i e f , s o u g h t t h e hand of a h i g h l a n d g i r l i n marriage. W a l s o l e a r n from t h e legend of D Droe t h a t t h e husbands of two mountain e u g i r l s were chosen by t h e Cham t o be r e g i o n a l c h i e f s , This l e g e n d , one of t h e most s t r i k i n g i n t h e e n t i r e f o l k l o r e of t h e S r e , c e l e b r a t e s b o t h t h e h a p p i n e s s and t h e s t r e n g t h t h a t such m a r r i a g e s between mountain g i r l s and t h e Cham brought t o t h e c o u n t r y . For confirma-

    t i o n ok t h i s we can t u r n t o h i s t o r y i t s e l f , r a t h e r t h a n t o legend. According t o M r . Rolf S t e i n , tile a c c e s s i o n uT Llle Fan family t o t h e Champa Lltrone (Fan Hiong ascended t h e t h r o n e i n 270, was succeeded by
    Fan Y i , e t c . ) marlied t h e assumption of power by File indigerlous element,

    p o s s i b l y w i t h Lhe s u p p o r t OL t h e people.

    I n t h i s Eami l y , a s wi l h the

    Lndonesians, p r i n c e s i n h e r i t e d t l l e i r r i g h t t o the t l ~ r o n c through t h e i r mother and n o t t h e i r TaLlier.


    l'he Ilindus, on t h e o t h e r tldnd, and tlze p e o p l e s

    t o whom t h e y b r o u g h t c i v i i i ~ a t i o n , remained Cait1hfu.k t o Liieir custom of handing t h e crown down from LaLlrcr l o s o n ,

    12,

    C1JAZIACICER:LSIULcS OF TlTE C1-IAN OCCUPATION AND I:'l1S 13ENFP:C'CS What i s more, t h e b e n e f i t s which t h e MPS owe t o t h e i r former

    c o n q u e r o r s have n o t been f o r g o t t e n by them: t h e end of human s a c r i f i c e , and t h e e x p a n s i o n of t h e 1nountai.11 people whi.ch PoSSowed; tile a r t of t r a i n i n g e l e p h a n t s and, i n a l l . ~,robabi.l.i.ty, t h a t of metaSworlii.ng, a s w e l l a s t:hat of c u l t i v a t i n g the p a d d y f i e l d s and i r r i g a t i n g , i.n wl~icl?n o t only t h e S r e b u t a l s o t h e Bill, t h e Cop, t h e Mnong Rlam a n t [ the. Mdllur of t h e l.oweu Song Ba v a l l e y e x c e l l e d . Mernori-es such a s t h e s e e x p l a i n t h e l.oyalty of t h e p e o p l e s of t h e 1iiiite.rl.and toward t h e i r conclueuors; even tlle t a x e s were usual.ly agreed t o w i t h o u t undue r e s i s t a n c e . And i f t h e Cham were a b l e t o send l.arge

    q u a n t i t i e s of i v o r y , rhi.noceros horn, eagle-wood, perfumes and medici.nal p l a n t s a s t r i b u t e t o t h e Chinese Court, then t h e s e p r o d u c t s undoubtedly

    -19came from t h e h i g h l a n d s . So much gold accumulated i n t h e Cham c a p i t a l

    t h a t when i t f e l l t o t h e Chinese i n 446 i t y i e l d e d 100,000 pounds.

    13,

    THE VIETNAMESE
    Thus f a r , we have s e e n t h e l a n d around t h e mountain people of t h e h i n t e r -

    l a n d g r a d u a l l y becoming occupied by p e o p l e from I n d i a .

    The g r e a t t h r u s t

    which c a r r i e d them e a s t w a r d became d e f l e c t e d toward t h e n o r t h a l o n g t h e c o a s t of Vietnam and seemingly p e t e r e d o u t n e a r t h e Gate of Annam. "Nowhere a r e t h e Hindus on r e c o r d a s having u n d e r t a k e n m i l i t a r y conquest and a n n e x a t i o n s y s t e m a t i c a l l y i n b e h a l f of a S t a t e o r m e t r o p o l i s " (CoedEs), Subsecluently, a n o t h e r wave of i n v a d e r s was t o sweep through t h e
    .
    / ,

    c o u n t r y , t h i s time from t h e n o r t h : having s e t t l e d i n Tonlcin around t h e 4 t h c e n t u r y 13.C. and undergone c h l o n i z a t i o n by t h e Cliinese i n t h e 2nd

    c e n t u r y , t h e Vietnamese were t o a c t n o t through i n f i l t r a t i o n , nor through t r a d e , a s t h e Hindus had done, b u t by conquest. Freed from Chinese control.

    i n 934, t h e y succunibed a l m o s t a t once t o t h e a t t r a c t : i . o n of t h e r e g i o n s of t h e s o u t h and t h e i r r i c h r i c e - f i e l d s . I n e v i t a b l y , they came up

    a g a i n s t : t h e Cham, whcm they began t o d r i v e b a c k i-n 1003; by 1301 t h e y had pushed them s o u t h of t h e Pass o f t h e Clouds. The c o n q u e r o r s must have hugged t h e e a s t e r n edge of t h e h i n t e r l a n d f a r t h e r and f a r t h e r s o u t h , s i n c e by the 1 7 t h c e n t u r y t h e y occupied the e n t i r e c o a s t of Annam a s f a r a s p r e s e n t - d a y Cochin-China. Their t e r r i t o r i a l

    c o n q u e s t was accompanied by i n c u r s i o n s i n t o t h e mountains, r e s i s t a n c e by t h e men of t h e p l a t e a u s , and rai-ds by b o t h s i d e s . But t h i s s t r u g g l e rlcver

    r e s u l t e d i n r a c e s b e i n g a n n i h i l a t e d , n o r i n t h e i r w h o l e s a l e and c o m p l e ~ e e v i c t i o n , a s happened w i t h t h e Red I n d i a n s i n Ameri-ca, t h e a b o r i g i n e s i n A u s t r a l i a , o r t h e Yukaghirs i n S i b e r i a . h a v i n g been wiped o u t among t h e MIIS. There i s no r e c o r d of any r a c e

    - 20CHAPTER LV

    FIRST CONFEDEUTIONS O MOUNTAIN PEOPLE F

    1.

    FORMATION A D DIFFERENTIATTON O DIALECTS N F W have d e s c r i b e d how one branch of t h e Mal.ay-Polynesians, which e

    became t h e Cham p e o p l e , y i e l d e d t o t h e c o n t r o l of t h e 1.Xindr.i~ and allowed i t s e l f t o be c i v i l i z e d . The o t h e r s , f a r t h e r away i n t h e I n t e r i o r ,

    r e t a i n e d t h e i r p r i m i t i v e customs and c o n t i n u e d t o be regarded a s tile "savages.


    "

    To b e g i n w i t h , t h e Cham were n o t t o f o l l o w them i n t o t h e i r "impene-

    trab3.e" domain, al.though " c o n t i n u i n g r e l a t i o n s arid a deep-seated a f f i n i t y


    , ,

    were der;tined t o s u b s i s t 'between tl.iese two q u i t e d i f f e r e n t oEfs1ioot:s firom t h e p a r e n t stock." "Thus, c l o s e t o t h e Champa kingdom, t h e r e was t o develop t h e nucleus of a l a r g e Moi fami1.y t h a t was t o produce descendant:; embodying many Cham e l e m e n t s ,
    It i s t h i s fainily which has s p r e a d over t h e J a r a i and Darlac

    p l a t e a u s and a l o n g t h e Annam%ti.c range from Phu Yen t o Binki Thuan--the Jarai., t h e Rhade and t h e Roglai. I t i s a l s o the family t h a t bears the

    closer;t resemblance t o t h e Malay type. "In t h e meantime, on t h e Melcong s i d e , t h e Ma:lay-Polynesi.an indigenous t r i b e s , c u t off from t h e ori.gina1, branch by t h e kingdom of Funan and l a t e r by t h a t o:f Tclic!~lla, were undergoi.ng v e r y d i f f e r e n t : d e s t i n i e s t h a t were t o n~alcethem Inore and more u n l i k e t h e i r s i s t e r t r i b e s on the Annamitic s l o p e s .
    "By

    a b o u t t h e 6 t h c e n t u r y , t h e kingdom of Tchen3.a extended a s f a r a s

    Chantaboun, Battambang, t h e Dangrek, t h e Khone f a l l s , Bassac, and Attopeu,

    "In Tclzenla t h e monarchs of Mon-Khmer stoclc were t o change proCoundly t h e n a t i v e s t h e y s u b j u g a t e d , 13y t h e time t h e l a t t e r , i n o r d e r t o

    e s c a p e from t h e i r bondage, f l e d t h e pJ.ains and r e t r e d t e d toward t h e i n t e r i o r , they hdd a l r e a d y aLLered t o an enormous e x t e n t . Their d i a l e c t

    and t h e i r blood must by now have r e c e i v e d such a heavy admixture of Monthey Khmer o r i g i n t h a t / c o u l d no l o n g e r be recognized a s t h e o r i g i n a l b r o t h e r s

    -2lo f t h e Cham and t h e Moi of t h e Anngp h i n t e r l a n d . "

    It i s t h e s e f a m i l i g s , a p p a r e n t l y t h e l a s t s u r v i v o r s of t h e t r i b e s
    of Funan and Tchenla, which make up :

    t h e w e s t e r n groups: Che Ma, S t i e n g , Mnong o r Phnong, w i t h t h e i r numerous s u b s i d i a r y p e o p l e s , such a s t h e Preng, ttte B i e t , t h e Noong,

    t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n groups: Bqhnar, $edang, R o l ~ e n s , Tahoi, efc., whose d i a l e c t i s s h o t w i t h Khmer e l e m e n t s and whose s k i n on occasion i s deeply tinted.

    Mr. P. Guil.l+mineL p o i n t s o u t , on f h e oLher hand, t h a t t h e Kllmer


    i n f l u e n c e "made
    <I

    l a r d e e p e r i m p r e s s i o n on t h e Bahndr and Sedang of Kontum

    t h e n on c e r t a i n t r i b e s oL t h e Upper Donnai, and w ~ u l da p p e a r t o have been e x c e e d i n g l y weak, i f n o t n i l , on t h e Rhude and t h e J a r a i U ( 4 > . "Ilowever

    , primi.tivc

    and independent pri n c i p a l i t l e s - - m o r e w a r l i k e i n

    natcire o r b e t t e r p r o t e c t e d by t h e i n a c c a s s i b i L i t y of t h e i r t e s r i t o r y - must have c o n t i n u o d t o e x i s t s i d e by s i d e w i t h t h e two g r e a t lcingclo~ns l:hafi r u l e d s p u t h e r n Indochina botween them, t h e T c l ~ e n l .and t h e Idin Y i ~~ (Cgmbodia and Champa). "(5)

    2.

    F N WEN A T h i s Wqn, a n a t i v e of Kiang Sou i n Ching, becon~cd d v i b a r t o the. Cham

    k i n g Fan Y i and s e r v e d him s o w e l l t h a t he beqanie more and more powerful. When h i s m a s t e r d i e d i n 3 3 6 , he usurped t h e crown. F i r s t of a l l , Wen

    p a c i f i e d t h e s a v a g e t r i b e s i n t h e i n t e r i o r of t h e kingdom who s t i l l formed independent s t a t e s , and l a t e r went on t o a t t a c k t h e t a i l and t h e s h o r t Kik'iai, t h e Che Pou, t h e S i u Lang, t h e K'iu Tou, t h e Kcin Lori and t h e Fou

    Tan, a l l of whom were s a v a g e s who spoke a p r i m i t i v e tongue (Maspero). "They t a t t o o t h e i r f a c e s and b o d i e s and r u n naked.
    Of a 1 1 t h e Moi

    conquered by Wen, t h e J a r a i and Khade were t h e most w a r l i k e " (Elenri. M a i t r e ) . Among t h e c h i e f s which t h e tnountain p e o p l e e l o c f e d t o r u l e them-fol.lowing t l example s a t by t h e Cham and t h u s r e a c t i n g a g a i n s t t h e i r own ~ ~

    (4) P. Guillcmi.net, "Recherches s u r 3.es c r o y a n c e s d e s t r i b u s du ildut-pays dlAnnam, l e s Bahnar du Kontum e t l e u r s v o i s i n s , l e s magiciens," R,T.I.E.JI., 2941, pp. 9-33.

    (5) Maj. Nyo, " x p 6 n k t r a t i a n f r a n q a i s e d a n s l e s pays n ~ o i , " B.S.E.I., L

    xrx,

    2, 1937, pp. 48-49.

    n a t u r a l t e n d e n c y t o a n a r c h y - -we sflould p e r h a p s mention t h e p r i n c e s of t h e M and t h e " s a d e t " of t h e J a r a i , a exceedingly precarious, The power of b o t h k i n g l e t s was a t b e s t

    3.

    THE PRINCII'ALITY OF TIE M A The i i z d i c a t i o n s a r c t h a t t h e M abandoned t h e p l a i n s of Cochin-China a

    only a f t e r a prolonged p e r i o d of domination by Funan by which t h e y became deeply influenced. They s e t t l e d i n a v e r y i n h o s p i t a b l e r e g i o n , i n t h e

    t r a c t of h i l l s , f o r e s t s and swamps t h a t e x t e n d s from t h e c o a s t n e a r p r e s e n t - d a y Uinh Thuan (Binh Thanh?) a s f a r a s t h e m i d d l e and upper r e a c h e s of t h e R. Donuni (Done?). T h i s uq,rcdc tive s t r i p of land forms a l i n k For a l l i t s u n p l e a s a n t -

    between s o u t h e r n Annam and t h e c o u n t r y of t h e S t i e n g . n e s s , i t n o n e t h e l e s s provided a p a s s a g e t o Cambodia.

    Each of t h e groups (Chrau, Kollo, Chasre, Cop, Chato) belonging t o t h e p r i n c i p a l i t y grew what c r o p s i t c o u l d on i t s s o i L and t r a d e d i t s produce w i t h i t s n e i g h b o r s . The Che M were renowned l o r t h e i r s k i l l i n a

    h a r v e s t i n g and weaving c o t t o n , from which they made b l a n k e t s and c l o t h i n g . T h i s S t a t e , which was t.o s u r v i v e u n t i l t h e 1 7 t h c e n t u r y , was a Cree p r i n c i p a l i t y , a l t h o u g h under t h e s u z e r a i n t y of Cambodia. The sway of t l ~ e

    Che M p r i n c e s s t r e t c h e d southwest t o t h e Lagna b a s i n and northward o n t o a t h e p r e s e n t - d a y p l a t e a u s of D j i r i n g and Lang Bian.

    4,

    TEE JARAX A D THEIR "SADET" N F a r t h e r t o t h e n o r t h t h e J a r a i had s e t t l e d , o r t h e Mada, a s t h e Cham

    c a l l e d them.

    T h i s s t u r d y and w a r i i k c t r i b e r e t a i n e d i t s independence.

    As c h i e f s i t had two s o r c e r e r s : t h e P a t a u Ya o r Water King and t h e P a t a u P u i o r P i r e King. n e v e r t o meet, on the country. They l i v e d a p a r t From each o t h e r and were supposed

    I f t h e y d i d , i t would b r i n g down u n s p e a k a b l e c a l a m i t i e s For t h e same r e a s o n s , t h e y s i m i l a r l y took c a r e n o t t o be

    s e e n by t h e i r s u b j e c t s , The P a t a u Ya, l o r d of t h e w a t e r s , p o s s e s s e d t h e power t o c a u s e r a i n , f l o o d s and even a d e l u g e t h a t would c o v e r t h e e a r t h .

    -23T h e i r a u t h o r i t y was p u r e l y n l y s t i c a l and n e v e r concerned i t s e l f w i t h t h i n g s temporal.

    It extended t o t h e J a r a i , a l l t h e Bahnar and sonie of t h e


    "Though r a r e l y w i l l i n g t o submit t o

    Setiang, t o oiention o n l y t h e n o r t h .

    dny LluLllorit y , t h e y a l l recogni ~ e d h e Sddet."(6) t

    5.

    TlIE PATAU 1'117: ANU 'TIIE CAMIIODIANS IUlie I 3 r e lci-np, was t h e d e p o s i t a r y and g u a r d i a n of n magic s a b e r ( 7 ) ,

    tlic

    =I,

    --kllan

    oC t h e Cambodians.

    Legend has i t t h a t a Char11 king had

    drawn t h i s s a b e r o u t of a r i v e r i n which, a l t h o u g h submerged, i t c o n t i n u e d t o glow. L i k e t h e Cambodians, both t h e J a r a i and t h e Rlhade clai.nled Po The e n t r u s t e d t h e b l n d c t o the F i r e Lord of

    pos:;essi.on of tlic s a b r e ,

    tlic? J:lr~ii., w h i l e tlie I(hn1e.r a p p a r e n t l y g a i n e d pos:ie:;~ion o f ' the scctbbard,

    wlli.cli

    l ~ e yc:!i-r i cd o f f t o (:lrei.~:capi. t a l .

    Juyavnnnan 1.1 (002-854) Ilad

    t ;

    labulou:; p:il a c e b u i l t t o liousc tlle t a l i s m a n .

    By thus d i v i d i n g ownership

    cif tile I.)l,icle <ind 1 . 1 1 ~:<cnbb;~rd,lleaven wa:; showing t h a t i t wished t o s e e

    t l ~ c. l a r a i and t l ~ cCanibodians :Live on good terins w i t h each o t h e r and exchange gi I-t!;. ':'i-lcse precept:; werc observed u n t i l t l ~ cend of t h e 1 9 t h c e n t u r y . :u'orotIonl, i n 1860, t h e Sadet c e a s e d t o r e c e i v e

    ilurilig 1-I?(? rcigir or i1.M.

    tiic convoys iiiii.cli tile Khmer n~onnrcils used t o d e s p a t c i l witli g r e a t potlip


    Ti:c)iii

    Liie 11ionar;~cry :;ambok t o tile r e s i d e n c e of tl-ie Patau l'ui anii tile Z'ntau of t h e A y ~ n ~ l p nrr g i o n , " t l ~ n ti:;, i n the r e g i o n o l t h e Ayun, a t r i l ~ u t a r y e (Y,ip:l). 'Nle Sndet::; had tlrereEorc s e t t l e c l n e a r t h e confl.uence (8).

    Y a

    ''ill

    of tl.le Song I! : ;

    ( I , tlie Ayun and Song I;a ri:vcrs

    As l a t e a s t . 1 1 ~ I ~ e g i n r ~ i nof t h e 19tl1 c e n t u r y , t h e !;ndct, who were g


    Linditi.onnl:l.y s e l . e c t e d From t h e S i u c l a n ( t h r o u g h t h e i r m o t h e r ) , s t i l l p r e s e r v e d t h e i . r attacliment: t o t h i s r e g i o n . When t h e icings of Cambodia

    stcippcd s e n d i n g t i i e i r o l l e r i n g s t o t h e two magician-cl-tieEs, t h e l a t t e r a l s o rcfritinccl il-oxo d i s p e t c i t i n g t h e i r s , whi.ch were of v e r y l i t t l e v a l u e


    ( 6 ) P. Ciri.'lleininct, u p , c i t . ,

    pp. 9-33.

    ( 7 ) "Tliis weapon was noL a merc o b j e c t , o r a s i gn of a l l i a n c e w i t h Ll~e


    ! , p i s i t s . I L w'~.ls, and t h i s i s u n i q u e , a r e l i c , Lhe p o s s e s s i o ~ iof which ~naclc t h e SadeL Lhe h e i r o l tlie yang ( s p i r i ~ s ) . " (P. G u i l l e m i n e t , i b i d . )
    (8) The l i s L o t Ll~e g i i t s s e n t e v e r y t h r e e y e a r s by t h e 1Chmer k i n g : 2 b u l l e l e p h a n t s , 2 sLar-spangled p a l a n q u i n s i n which Lo r i d e on Lhem, 60 b u l L a l o e s , c e r e m o n i a l l a n g o o t i e s , s t r i p e d c l o t l i i n g , m a t t r e s s e s and c u s h i o n s , 2 r i c e and 2 w a t e r s e r v i c e s , 2 red costumes w i t h a c c e s s o r i e s , n ~ u s i c a li n s t r ~ ~ m e n t slong-tiandled p a r a s o l s , p o t t e r y , 100 n a p k i n s , , 1 0 0 bowls, 2 wagonloads of s a l t , 500 i n g o t s o f i r o n and 20 of Lead, c l o t h e s and b o l t s of s i l k , 200 n e e d l e s , e t c .

    - 24anyway i n comparison w i t h t h e r i c h flow of p r e s e n t s they r e c e i v e d from Cambodia. L e t u s compare them f o r a moment: t h e Sadet s e n t t h e i r s o v e r e i g n

    a l i t t l e i v o r y and a r h i n o c e r o s horn on b e h a l f of t h e two Patau; and, from


    e a c h of them, a c a k e of beeswax b e a r i n g t h e i m p r i n t of t h e r i g h t thumb. T h i s p a u c i t y of t h e v a s s a l s ' dues makes t h e l a v i s h n e s s of t h e s o v e r e i g n ' s g i f t s even more a s t o u n d i n g by comparison. e x p l a i n t h i s anomaly. H i s t o r i a n s have long s o u g h t t o

    Some assume t h a t on some unknown occasion, p o s s i b l y

    b e f o r e t h e Cham i n v a s i o n , t h e S a d e t s had helped t h e i r k i n g o u t of a d i f f i c u l t predicament. To t h i s day, however, t h e g r e a t e s t a u t h o r i t i e s on

    Cambodian h i s t o r y admit they have n o i d e a what form t h i s s e r v i c e could have t a k e n , Nor does f o l k l o r e d o much t o clarify maLters: "By g i v i n g t h e

    Cambodians t h e scabbard, which i s l e s s e r t h a n t h e sword, could Po The have been t r y i n g t o s u g g e s t t h a t i n t h e exchange of g i f t s between tlie Khmer k i n g s and tlie S a d e t s , t h o s e from t h e Cambodians were Lo be g r e a t e r ? " In

    t h e message which accompanied the shipment of p r e s e n t 5 every t h r e e y e a r s , t h e Cambodian s o v e r e i g n e n j o i n e d t h e magician-cliiers oS Ayonapar: " t o remain ammdchas ( r u l e r s ) of a l l Rhade, J d r a i and Phnong t e r r j tol-y, a s you have been from a n t i q u i t y t o t h e p r e s e n t , and t o guard the rodds inti Lllc f o r e s t s w e l l a g a i n s t a l l enemies." The S a d e t s were tllus p u t i n c h a r g e of
    fir t h i s a s i t may,

    d e f e n d i n g t h e o u t e r l i m i t s of t h e 1Climer realm.

    Chc

    Cambodians seemcd t o a t t r i b u t e magic powers t o t h c g i f t s they receivecl from Ayonapar, which c o n s i d e r a b l y enhanced t h e i r v a l u e , I n grave

    emergencies, t h e k i n g s of Angkor o r Lovelc used Lo ilivolie t h e s e p m c r s : "Whenever t h e king, i n a n a t t e m p t t o break t h e drought, decided Lo pray t o the f i v e Kshatriyas--protectors of t h e kingdom--the p i e c e of i v o r y , t h e

    r h i n o c e r o s h o r n and t h e costume s e n t by t h e F i r e King and t h e Water King would be b r o u g h t o u t and s p r i n k l e d w i t h l u s t r a l w a t e r w h i l e t h e f o u r Maharajahs s q u a t t e d underneath them, c r o a k i n g l i k e f r o g s . g r i p s w i t h t h e miraculous.
    "

    W are a t e

    It i s recorded t h a t i f t h e 13ok Redau (Patau Pui) was on t h e p o i n t of


    d y i n g h i s a t t e n d a n t s would "help him on h i s way" by d e l i v e r i n g tl-I(>

    -25coup d e grGce; moreover, i f h i s s u c c e s s o r was n o t designated by t h e yang,

    as r e q u i r e d by t r a d i t i o n (9),

    t h e new P a t a u P u i would be s e l e c t e d from

    among t h e d i g n i t a r i e s who had a s s i s t e d h i s predecessor d u r i n g h i s l i f e t i m e ,

    A c h i e f t a i n of t h e Ksor family would t h e n t i e q b r a c e l e t of c o t t o n t h r e a d


    around h i s w r i s t , a f t e r which t h e new Sadet s e l e c t e d t h e o f f i c i a l s who were t o s e r v e him, His j u r i s d i c t i o n embraced t h e Hagou, t h e Golar, t h e His t r i p s i n t o t h e i p t e r i o r of h i s f i e f were

    Habau, t h e J a r a i and others.

    r e g u l a t e d , a s were t h e o f f e r i n g s t h a t each v i l l a g e v i s i t e d was expected t o make t o him i n t h e course of h i s o f f i c i a l t o u r s .

    CHAPTER V

    MOUNTAIN REGIONS C U H BETWEEN WARRING KI2ERS AGT AND C l W F O 1 1 t h T 1 5 t h CEN'IURY RM O

    1.

    AREA RULED BY T E W R S H Besides t h e Sadets of t h e J a r a i people, t h e King of Cambodia held

    sway over t h e t r i b e s along the banlcs of t h e Prelc Te, t h e Prek Chhlong, ancl the lower reaches of t h e r i v e r s Se San, Se Kong, Se Don and Se Bank Hieng, although, i n t h e case of t h e l a t t e r , only u n t i l the end of, t h e 1 3 t h century. This d a t e marks the beginning of t h e gradual. r e t r e a t of the The i n v a s i o n by t h e l ' a i , Laotians o r
    I

    Khmer empire toward t h e south.

    Siamese Iran t h e n o r t h was t o weaken and subsequently c u r t a i l the domination of t h e Khmers, which, i n t h e 1 0 t h c e n t u r y , extended over the n o r t h e r n p a r t of the Malay peninsula, t h e Menam b a s i n , the norLh of p r e s e n t - d a y Laos a s f a r a s the d i v i d e between t h e Black River and t h e Song
    Ma, and f i n a l l y t h e highland s t r i p overlooking the p l a i n s of Annam.

    By t h e beginning of t h e 1 4 t h c e n t u r y , t h e Khmer had l o s t a l l c o n t r o l of t h e r e g i o n s s i t u a t e d n o r t h of a l i n e drawn between the i s l a n d of Kl~ong and Q u i Nhon.

    (9) When t h e Sadet d i e s , t h e young w a r r i o r s g a t h e r i n the longhouse; w h i l e they a r e a s l e e p , one of t h e e l d e r s suddenly c r i e s out: "Who will. be t h e Bok Redau?" S t i l l a s l e e p , one of t h e young men answers, "It i s I." When they wake up t h e n e x t morning, they n o t i c e t h a t on h i s w r i s t h e i s wearing a b r a c e l e t , a t h r e a d of c o t t o n t i e d t h e r e by t h e ~ a n gspirits). (

    -26Throughout i t s r u l e , Cambodia had m a i n t a i n e d " r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e Moi t r i b e s i n i t s h i n t e r l a n d , p e n e t r a t i n g a s f a r a s t h e Darlac p l a t e a u ,

    ...,

    s i n c e it was p o s s i b l e f o r wagons from Cambodia t o r e a c h t h e h e a r t of t h i s p l a t e a u " (Henri Maitre). F a r t h e r t o t h e s o u t h , t h e Mnong and t h e Che M t r j b e s , d a r k e r - s k i n n e d a and more o r l e s s i n t e r b r e d w i t h t h e Khmers, were f r e q u e n t l y p i l l a g e d by t r o o p s l e d by t h e k i n g s of Angkor, and i t was t o them t h a t Cambodia t u r n e d for slaves, Accordingly, t h e s e t r i b e s "sought t h e i r s a l v a t i o n i n w i t h -

    s drawing i n t o t h e h e a r t of t h e ~ t ~ o u n t a i n" .
    311 a d d i t i o n t o b l a v e s , t h e Callibodiari arid t o a Tar g r e a t e r e x t e n t t h e

    Chinese t r a d e r s took back from t h e s e r e g i o n s deerslcins and f o r e s t p r o d u c t s (wax and gamboge), a s w e l l a s g o l d a n d , of c o u r s e , r h i n o c e r o s horn and ivory. IIere, a s was t r u e t h r o u g h o u t t h e i n t e r i o r , the main t r a d i n g

    conunodity was s a L t .

    2.

    'rlE PLATEAUS, I3A'L"CLEPIF~LlI0 " TlIE WARRING ICIlMER AND C A PEOPLES 1 HM

    I<Iinier t r o o p s Crccjuen t L i~i~ircticd y through t h e i n t e r i o r . a g a i n i n 1065, t h e k i n g of C,intbodia had t o q u e l l u p r i s r n g s .

    In 1051 and The l e a d e r of

    t h e second r e v o l t , c r o s s i n g LIie mountains of t h e i n t e r i o r , Tlcd t o the Champa kingdom w i t h l i i s arnly. The y e a r 1113, when Suryavarman II ascended t h e Lhrone, marked t l ~ e s t a r t of a "hundred y e a r s ' war" between t h e Khmers and t h e Cham. occupred t h e Champa Itingdom, I n 1123 and 1145, when t h e Cc~m~~l)odians and a g a i n i n 1148, t h e w a r r i o r s o i Lhese c o u n t r i e s swept a c r o s s tlie p l a t e a u s , and we know t h a t any t r i b e s who hdppened t o be i n t h e i r way p a i d d e a r l y . I n 1150, y e t a n o t h e r Cambodian f o r c e c r o s s e d t h e mountains, t h i s time i n t h e d i r e c t i o n of Tonkin. I n 1177, t h e Cham once more t u r n e d t o t h e o f f e n s i v e , d r i v i n g t h e i r c h a r i o t s from Binh Din11 toward Angkor. The expeciit i o n was i l l - f a t e d ,
    t ~ ~ t '

    i n t h e f o l l o w i n g y e a r a n a v a l f o r c e , p r e s s i n g i n l a n d from t h e co,ist of t h e Champa, s e i z e d t h e Khmer c a p i t a l . The Khmer kingdom was t h e r e u p o n

    annexed and remained a Cham p r o v i n c e u n t i l 1181.

    It took t h e g r e a t k i n g

    -27J a y a v a m a n V I I (1181- a f t e r 1200) t o l i b e r a t e Cambodia, a s u c c e s s which h e followed up by t a k i n g c o n t r o l , i n h i s t u r n , of t h e kingdom of h i s enemies. A g r e a t b u i l d e r of temples, Jayavarman V I I a l s o b u i l t r o a d s t h a t

    l a t e r drew words of a d m i r a t i o n from Tcheou Ta Kouan, t h e c e l e b r a t e d Chinese t r a v e l e r : "Along t h e road a r e r e s t i n g p l a c e s r a t h e r l i k e our own relay stations." One of t h e s e r o a d s r a n c l e a n a c r o s s t h e h i n t e r l a n d ,

    l i n k i n g Angkor w i t h tk c a p i t a l of t h e Champa kingdom.

    3.

    WESTERN PART O TIE PLATEAUS OCCUPIED BY THE CHAM F The mountain people played a n extremely i m p o r t a n t p a r t i n t h e h i s t o r y

    of t h e Champa.

    From 939, t h e y e a r i n which Vietnam succeeded i n throwi-ng

    o f f t h e Chinese yoke, t h e n o r t h e r n . f r o n t i e r of t h e Champa was t h e s c e n e of c o n t i n u a l turmoi.1. I n 1069, t h e k i n g of t h e Chaiu, Rudravarmatz 1x1, was forced t o yk:Ld Quailg 13inh and Quant T r i t o t h e 14y; t h i s event heralded t h e beginning o t t h e Vietnamese advance toward t h e s o u t h . Seventy-si:: y e a r s l a t e r ( s i c ) , i n 1149, tlic IZl-imcrs liad invaded t h e

    Char~pa, a s mentioned e a r l i e r , and t h e f i r s t t a s k of Jaya Ilarivarman 1 was t o d r i v e o u t t h e Cambodians trorn l l i s c o u r ~ t r ya g a i n , Ile t:lien had t o

    r e a s s e r t hi.s a u t h o r i t y over t h e "IZirata" (mountain people) : t h e Rhade,

    Mads, and o t h e r s , who had t a k e n advantage of t h e d i f f i . c u 1 . t i . e ~plagui.ug


    t h e Cham t o come down from t h e p l a t e a u s and s e i z e c o n t r o l of t h e p l a i n . These i n s u r g e n t s found a l e a d e r i n Vamcaraja, b r o t h e r - i n - l a w of t h e ki-ng of t h e Champa. Vamcaraja aslced t h e Vietnamese f o r h e l p , and i n t h e t e n t h

    month of t h e y e a r 1150 t h e y s e n t t r o o p s From Thank1 1Ioa and Ngtle An. The mountain p e o p l e and t h e Vietnamese p u t up a tremendous f i g h t , b u t were u n a b l e t o triumph over t h e enemy armies, Varncaraja, t h e i r c h i e f ,

    d i e d on t h e b a t t l e f i e l d , a l o n g w i t h h i s a l l y Nguyen Mong, t h e Vietilamese leader. The d a t e 1150 i s a n import-ant irilestone i n t h e h i s t o r y of t h e t r i b e s of t h e h i n t e r l a n d , s i n c e i t marks t h e s t a r t of t h e conquest and o c c u p a t i o n

    -28of p a r t of t h e p l a t e a u s by t h e Cham. T h i s o c c u p a t i o n was t o l o s t f o r

    300 y e a r s ,
    P r e s s i n g home h i s v i c t o r y , J a y a Harivarman pursueu t h e K i r a t a i n t o t h e h i g h l a n d s , and i t was t h e n t h a t t h e Cham won c,ontrol of t h e n o r t h e r n D a r l a c p l a t e a u by advancing up Lhe Song Nang v a l l e y ; t l i i s a d m i r a b l e p e n e t r a t i o n r o u t e f o r g e d by t h e c o u r s e of t h e Song Ba and t h e Ayun r i v e r s b r o u g h t them t o t h e l a n d of t h e J a r a i and t h e Kongao. They a p p e a r t o
    ,I

    have e x e r t e d a n i n f l u e n c e o v e r tlie J o r a i and t h e SadeL reglor' Crl c o n s i d e r a b l e ti.me,

    Although t h e s o u t h e r n p a r t oT tile 1 ) a r l . n ~ p!at-cau was

    s p a r e d , t h e i r i n r l u e n c e seenis t o have been pnrti.cul:irl.y s t r o n g 01.1 tile t r i b e s t h a t had set-tlecl i n tlie mountains ruriil.i.ng from l'hy Yell Thuan (tlle Bl.ao and t h e Kog%.ni). Cham moriuments abounded t h r o u g h o u t tt1i.s empire, and t h e i r r u i n s a r c h e l d i n awe and r e v e r e n c e even t o d a y ; t h e r e a r e t h e towers cif Yank:
    Mil141

    i o

    'ii.nti

    and 1)rang L a i , n e a r Cheo Keo; tile towers and t h e smnl.1 wal.l.ed I:owil 01: Plnong on Lhe E:ilil.co (Yang l'r uril:)

    tire

    , 40

    krii, n o r t h of I:iin 11011;

    ;I

    fi!:j~i?& j?&t;il>. (LO)

    n e a r Ban Ple l'huot and IZeu Deu (Iio D o ) ,

    b e s i d e t h e Meteung (:[I.),

    e o s L-

    oi:

    P l e i k u , and l a s t b u t n o t l e a s t t h e a f . t a r s t h a t can s t i . 1 1 be seen today h e r e and t h e r e up t o t h e appro;iciicr; t o ICoc1i1i11i. 'i'lle conc~iicst11i;iy c:ven hovti extended a s Tar a s Veun Sui. i.n tilt: w e s t ,
    CIS

    Ilonri Maitre w r i t e s thiii: fie

    has heard report.:; oT reninins, "l)os:i i.bf y of i : l i ; ~ m o ~ : j g i i ~ , irl Llic vi.c iiii 1.y " of t h i s town.
    'So f a c i . l % t a t e iiii>veiiiei~t . J t~: l ~ iii ihi: wh0l.e 01' t h e areit they itad inken L

    o v e r and t o enab1.e t h e i r s e t t i.ers t o becoiile iistabl. isliad, t h e Cham opened up r o a d s . French explorc?rs cliscovered t h e one whicli I.ecl Ercrn~ iZonLu111 t o

    Ouang Nnm, a l t l ~ o u g i la t t e n i p t s mode s i u c o t o reopen t h i s ro;td [love proved unavailing

    .
    t!

    T h i s control. of t h e c o u n t r y , tant-awoiinl: t o

    ~Crangleliold, explains h y

    tile Cham Icing, Indrnvarman V shou1.d have Laicel, r e f u g e i n t h e ii-iountains i n 13.83, a t t h e time of t h e Mongol i n v a s i o n t:<ward t:he encl of t h e 13Lii century. E i t h e r by persuasi.on o r c o e r c i o n , he a p p e a r s t o have prevai.led

    ---.. --...
    (10) Rasung bo t a u : cereinonial washing u r n t r a n s p o r t e d n e a r l y t o Ban M e 'Chu o t (11) Meteung o r Po 'Tong. These r u i n s a r e found aL il?e edge o l tlie swamps from which tlie Meteung draws i t s w a t e r s .

    -29on t h e p e o p l e t o s u p p l y him w i t h a r m i e s , which he despatched t o f i g h t t h e i n v a d e r : "Entrenched i n h i s ~ n o u n t a i n i a s t n e s s , h e c o n t i n u a l l y r e b u i l t h i s f o r c e s which were proniptly p u t t o r o u t by t h e Mongols. The i n v a d e r s ,

    however, were unab1.e t o ~ n a k cany r e a l p r o g r e s s i n a c o u n t r y where t h e y s u f f e r e d from t h e h e a t , front siclcness and (ro111 Lack of p r o v i s i o n s ' ' (12). Indravarman V came down t o t h e p l a i n s a g a i n j n 1285, when S a g a t o u , t h e g e n e r a l conlnianding t h e enemy forces;, had been deleatred by tlte a r m i e s of Tran Nhan Ton i n Thanh Hoa p r o v i n c e . Nonethel.ess, t h e dynamic t h r u s t Chat had e a r l i e r c a r r i e d t h e Cham deep i n t o t h e h i n t e r l a n d fi.naLLy p e t e r e d out. To t h e n o r t h , t h e J a r a i

    and t h e Rougao s t i l l ctterisli (:he nleinory or t h e d e f e a t s they i n f l - i c t e d on tlrr: i n v a d e r s . 1Ienri M a i t r c 1.i.sts t h e b a t t 1 . c ~ Sought by 1:lie mountain peop1.e a g a i n s t tlle rel:reati.ng Cl~an~, tlic fol.lowi.iig ci!ron~>',l.og.i.caL r d e r ("Jungl.es Moi," i.n o

    p. 443):

    1. 1 h t t l . e oC T,;llie Tenueng, norl.11 of P l e i l i u ,


    drowned; 2. B a t t l e of t h e P i v e r P e t o (Po 'Song), 5 km.

    a t wlii.ch t h e Cham wcre

    s o u t h of IContum;

    3. B a t t l e of t h e .Jrai. L.i (Ya J , i ) faL:Ls on tlte Dali R l a .


    I<now'l.edgeable a u t h o r i t i e s Itnve poi.rtted o u t t h a t t i i i s s u c c e s s i o n of e n c o u n t e r s wou2.d have t h r u s t t h e (:lr;!iii back ttward t h c w e s t o r tlortlrwest, b u t t h e r e a p p e a r s t o be no r e a s o n wiry tlie fu~;.i.tives s h o ~ r l dhave r e l - r e a t e d i.n t h i s d i r e c t i o n . The ';alinur consul.ted by M r . Antoinc a r e c a t e g o r i . c a l on I'rorn Ya L i t h e y a r e

    one p a r t i c u l a r : t h a t t h e Cham came f r a i l t h e west.

    s a i d t o have moved f i r s t toward Lake Tenueng arid l a t e r toward t h e road t o


    A n Khe s o a s t o r e a c h t h e c o a s t .

    T h i s r o u t e a p p e a r s l:o be tlte more l i l c e l y . t h a t tlie Cham

    11: may t h e r e f o r e be assumecl, a s t h e Rahnar contend,

    were i n t e n d i n g t o c r o s s tile Dzilc iila upstreant of the Ya L i f a l l s , where the r i v e r i s easy t o ford. 'l'lie ~ n o u n t a i npeoplc? l a i d i.n w a i t t o r t h e enemy

    a t tl1i.s poi.nt, very c l o s e t o llom (n~arkeda s Po:l.ei. 'l'um on t h e 1:400,000 road map), and c u r them t o pi.eces.
    p

    -----"

    (12) G , Maspkro, "llis t o i r e du Champa.

    The s u r v i v o r s were pursued i n t o t h e r e g i o n t h a t t x t e n d ~becween t h e Dak Bla and Lake Tenueng; t h e l a t t e r hugged t h e p a t h t h a t l e d on from t h e r e t o An Khe, The Bahnar who have been asked a b o u t t h e m a t t e r

    have heard no s t o r i e s of Cham b e i n g drowned i n Lake Tenueng.

    Mr. H.

    M a i t r e g i v e s t h e f o l l o w i n g a c c o u n t : "At t h e v e r y bottom of t h e l a k e , say t h e J a r a i , l a y t h e g r e a t j a r of t h e La TFaou, t h e Seron Yuan; now, by d i v e r t i n g a l l tlie w a t e r i n t o t h e Menam p l a i n (a v a s t swamp a r e a 5 km. n o r t h of T,ake Tenueng), t h e Cham had g r e a t l y lowered t h e w a t e r level., The j a r , Itowever, was blocki.ng Che mouth of t h e s p r i n g and t h e r e f o r e , when t h e Cham t r i e d t o remove i t , t h e w a t e r s came gushing o u t i n t o r r e n t s , e n g u l f i n g Llic? Cllnrn and r e f i l . l i n g t h e l a k e .
    I'

    WiI.1luut u c c c s s a r i l y w i s h i n g t o g i v e more weight t o t h e Balinar v e r s i o n t h a n t o t h e ,Jarai


    '8,

    we s h a l l assume Zilco Mr. Antoine, l o r the reasons oL

    p r o b a b i l i t y o u t l i n e d above, tlia t Lhe b a t t l e s taolc p l a c e in tlie l o l l o w i n g order: 1, Ya L i f a l l s 2 , R i v e r Fevo


    3 , Lake Tenueng,

    'She poem of 'hin

    Di.siak t e l l s us ~f tl)e r e s i s t a q p e put; up by Che men

    of t h e s o u t h e r n h i p l ~ l u n d s , I n 1328, tlie "Vrla:;" (Occult: GlaF) e s p e c i a l l y t h e Chrau, ICo'ho and S t i e n g , revolt;ud, p u t down t h e r e b o l l i o n .

    , and

    more

    A g e n e r a l named Nok

    4,

    LOSS OF THE HINTERLAND BY TILE C A HM I n 1471, when t h e v i c t o r i o u s Le TIlanlt Ton became r u l e r of t h e Cbampa

    ntj f a r a8 V a r e l l a , t h e Cham t r o o p s and s e t t l e r s wito had been c u t o f f i n IContum and t h e n o r t h of t h e h i n t e r l a n d by tlie Vietnamese advance a l o n g t h e c o a s t , were f o r c e d t o a b ~ ~ n d otn e r e g i o n s o f tile i n t e r i o r where they h had s n t t l o d , The p r o v i n c e s o f Icaurana (Khqnh 1103) and Panduranga ( p r e s e n t A f t p r an u p r i s i n g

    day Ninh Thuan) became t h e b a s t i o n of Cham resitiLunce.

    by t h e V r l a s (Orzing C,lai, Chrau and S r s ) against: tile Lroops of t h e Cliampa

    -31kingdom, t h e advance of t h e Annamitee had the e f f e c t of b r i n g i n g the " ~ i r a t a " c l o s e r t o t h e Cham f o r t h e purpose of defending t h e region together. The Roglai legends t e l l of t h e b a t t l e s which t h e mountain

    people of t h e s o u t h fought s i d e by s i d e w i t h t h e i r old masters a g a i n s t t h e new invaders. It was thanks t o the "Kon Cau" t h a t t h e Cham were The s t o r y of Tamrac

    a b l e t o hold out f o r almost 200 y e a r s i n Panduranga. may be t r a c e d back t o t h i s period.

    Sunka, t h e Cham c h i e f , c a l l e d on the The Cham a t t h i s time were

    men of t h e p l a t e a u s t o f i g h t a t h i s s i d e , f i g h t i n g w i t h crossbows.

    W know what e x t r a o r d i n a r y a r c h e r s t h e Roglai e

    a r e , f o r example, and even more s o t h e

    Fil.

    According t o legend, t h e According t o I n t h e end, t h e

    b a t t l e of Mount Jodong l a s t e d seven days and seven n i g h t s . some, Tamrac was taken; o t h e r s a v e r he committed s u i c i d e ,

    Cham gave up t h e s t r u g g l e and renounced t h e i r hegemony over t h e mountain people. The l a t t e r remained f a i t h f u l t o t h e memory of t h e i r former r u l e r s . The Cham i n f l u e n c e can b e d e t e c t e d i n some a s p e c t s of t h e customs and language of t h e J a r a i , t h e Rhade, t h e Krung and t h e Roglai, j u s t as t h e Khmer i n f l u e n c e l e f t i t s mark on t h e d i a l e c t s of t h e Che Ma, t h e Stieng, t h e b o n g and t h e Bahnar. CHAPTER V I T E EASTERN PART O T E HINTERLAND F O THE H F H RM 15th T THE BEGINNING O T E 19th CENTURY O F H

    1.

    TIiE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE F O THE 15th TO T E 1 7 t h CENTURY RM H

    Even though t h e Mongols had been unable d u r i n g t h e 1 3 t h century t o conquer e i t h e r t h e domain of t h e Tran i n Tonkin, o r t h e Champa, or Cambodia, which then h e l d sway over t h e peoples of present-day Indochina, t h e o f f e n s i v e s launched by Kublai Khan had l i b e r a t e d t h e T ' a i and had s t a r t e d them moving toward t h e s o u t h ; moreover, they had brought t o l i g h t t h e f i g h t i n g a b i l i t i e s of t h e Vietnamese. L a t e r , too, they were t o

    p r e c i p i t a t e the downfall of t h e Khmer empire, a l r e a d y under f i r e from t h e n o r t h by t h e Laotians and from t h e west by t h e Siamese, w h i l e t h e Champa,

    -32which faced a l e s s immediate t h r e a t from t h e Cambodian s i d e , was t o succumb t o t h e o n s l a u g h t of e n e r g e t i c and ambitious a d v e r s a r i e s - - t h e Vietnamese from t h e n o r t h . C a r r i e d a l o n g t h e c o a s t of Annarn a s Ear a s V a i e l l a by t h e momentum of t h e i r triumph i n 1471, t h e Vietnamese reduced t h e Champa t o a small. t e r r i t o r y boxed i n between Phy Yen t o t h e n o r t h and t h e n o r t h e r n boundary of "Cambodia of t h e Water" (Cochin-China). Halfway through t h e 1 6 t h c e n t u r y , While t h e Vietnamese,

    t h e Cham k i n g s were r e c o g n i z e d by t h e Court of Hue,

    a l m o s t immediately a f t e r t h e i r v i c t o r y , came i n t o c o n t a c t - - a n d c o n f l i c t - w i t h t h e mountain p e o p l e , t h e l a t t e r , a s we have a l r e a d y s e e n , turned a g a i n s t t h e i r former m a s t e r s and a t t a c k e d t h e Cham. The Cham, i n ' t u r n , t h r e a t e n e d

    by t h e advancing Vietnamese, evacuated t h e p l a t e a u s t h e y s t i l l . occupied and r e t r e a t e d toward t h e c o a s t of t h e South China Sea.

    2.

    WANING O T I E SADET s INFLUENCE F Although they d i d n o t assume o v e r a l l com~and of t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t

    '

    t h e Cham, t h e S a d e t s n e v e r t h e l e s s played a s u b s t a n t i a L p a r t i n i t ,

    Led

    a f t e r a f a s h i o n by t h e P a t a u P u i o r t h e Patau Ya, whose r o l e Westerners always tend t o o v e r e s t i m a t e , t h e J a r a i and t h e Rhade dogged t h e Cham t r o o p s a s they l e f t t h e r e g i o n s around PleLku and t h e n o r t h e r n p a r t of t h e Darlac plateau. F a r t h e r t o t h e s o u t h , around t h e middle oE t h e 1 5 t h c e n t u r y , t h e Orang G l a i , t h e Churu and even t h e Sre (Koho'), s e e i n g t h a t t h e k i n g s of Panduranga and t h e i r p e o p l e were s t r e a m i n g back i n t o t h e i r t e r r i t o r y , f i r s t f o u g h t t o keep them out. by t h e Vietnamese, L a t e r , faced w i t h t h e t h r e a t of i n v a s i o n

    t h e Cham and t h e Roglai (Orang G l a i ) j o i n e d f o r c e s To t h i s day, a t G l a i Jaboung (west

    i n what o f t e n became h e r o i c s t a n d s .

    of Phan ~ a n g ) , t h e Roglai proudly p r e s e r v e t h e head of Po Binh No Svor and t h e ornaments from t h e temples abandoned by t h e i r f o n n e r Cham masters. W lcnow, a l s o , how p i o u s l y t h e Chrau and t h e S r e have guarded t h e t r e a s u r e s e of t h e Champa p r i n c e s .

    A t about t h e same time, t h e mountain people, having l e s s t o f e a r now


    from t h e Cambodians, whose power was beginning t o d e c l i n e , s t a r t e d t o s e t t l e i n t h e h i n t e r l a n d formerly c o n t r o l l e d by t h e Khmers, and e s t a b l i s h e d t h e i r i n f l u e n c e over t h e r e g i o n bounded by t h e Prek Chhlong, the Mekong and t h e Se Bang Hieng r i v e r s . The Khmer empire began t o t o t t e r under t h e blows of t h e ~ ' a advancing i from t h e north. West of t h e Great River (Mekong), t h e Siamese had seized

    Lovek i n 1587, w h i l e e a s t of t h e r i v e r the Laotians were i n f i l t r a t i n g along the v a l l e y s of t h e Se Don, and l a t e r of t h e Se ICong and Se San r i v e r s , spreading t h e i r i n f l u e n c e where e a r l i e r t h e Cambodians had held sway. Giving up t h e lowlands t o t h e s e new a r r i v a l s , t h e 'L'a Hoi, Bolovens, Brao, tialang and Champuon withdrew t o t h e high-lying p a r t s of t h e h i n t e r l a n d ; under the s h e l t e r of t h e i r f o r e s t s , they r e t a i n e d a l a r g e measure of freedom and independence. Early i n t h e 1 7 t h c e n t u r y , the Laotian advance southward came t o a temporary h a l t , Seeing t h i s , the Khmers under Chey C h e t t a 11 attempted In the s o u t h , i n Cocllin-China, the

    t o r e g a i n p a r t of t h e i r former domain,

    Vietnamese toolc advantage of the absence of t h e Cambodian t r o o p s , mustered elsewhere, t o a t t a c k s i n t h e n o r t h and n o r t h e a s t , In 1641, the Dutchman

    Van Wusthof found the Cambodians had regained c o n t r o l of t h e Mekoug a r e a south of Bassac; they had s e t up a t r a d i n g s t a t i o n a t Somboc, where they were doing a b r i s k and p r o f i t a b l e t r a d e i n s a l t , f o r which the t r i b e s of t h e i n t e r i o r paid e x o r b i t a n t p r i c e s or gave s l a v e s i n exchange. The

    Khmer empire a t t h i s time once a g a i n extended a s f a r a s t h e Phonough (Darlac) p l a t e a u , some of whose i n h a b i t a n t s were paying t r i b u t e t o Oudong.
    It was presumably d u r i n g t h i s o f f e n s i v e comeback by t h e Cambodians toward

    t h e n o r t h and e a s t t h a t t h e kings of Cambodia received such v a l u a b l e a s s i s t a n c e from t h e Sadets t h a t an agreement was drawn up i n 1601 s e t t i n g f o r t h t h e g i f t s which t h e Khmer kings were t o exchange every t h r e e years w i t h t h e magician-chiefs of F i r e and Water (Patau Ya, Patau Pui), W e

    mentioned e a r l i e r t h a t i n both v a l u e and volume t h e p r e s e n t s from Cambodia

    f a r o u t s t r i p p e d t h e i n s i g n i r i c a n t o f f e r i n g s from t h e mountain c h i e f s . These exchanges were carrjed o u t t o t h e l e t t e r f o r 250 y e a r s , u n t i l 1I.M. Norodom p u t a n end t o them i n 1860. Furthermore, t h e p r e s e n c e of t h e Vietnamese a l o n g t h e c o a s t , coupled wit11 t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l s y s t e m t h e Le lcings had by 1540 imposed on t h e mountainous r e g i o n s o f Quang Ngai and l a t e r Dinh Dinh and Phu Yen, wi.th t h e a b l e a s s i ~ t ~ ~ of i Bui Ta Han, and p o s s i b l y a l s o o c c a s i o n a l f l y i n g ~ cc columns despatched a c r o s s J a r a i c o u n t r y prompted t h e Sridets t o acknowledge t h e s u z e r a i n t y o i t h e Nguyen. Indeed, n o sooner had Wguyen iIoang been

    a p p o i n t e d governor of Y'huan Hoa (1558) than t h e S a d e t s a g r e e d t o pay hini


    t

    I-i buLe.

    'l'his roy,ilLy, which c o n s i s t e d i n i t i a l l y of e l e p h a n t tuslcs and

    r l ~ i n o c e r o sh o r n s , was p a i d t o t h c C o u r t of liue u n t i l 1841. Ry


    K~OLJ he t

    in.Fl.ue17ce of t h e S a d e t s , who were paying tri.l>ut:e t o both

    Phnom Penh and Ilue, had dwindled t o a mere shadow o f t h e p o l i t i c a l power (which had always been r a t h e r i L 1 d e f i ~ i e danyway) Lhat t h e Lords o i F i r e and Water had once excrtecl o v e r t h e , J a r a i and t h e 13altnar (Ilagu and Golar) <ind even o v e r the Sedang (13). however,
    iii

    'i'hc Vietnamese showed them sonie r e s p e c t ,

    e v ~ d e n c e dby t i ~ e i rs e n d i n g a f u n e r a l u r n made of m e t a l ,
    I L wcis a Loken of t h e d i g n i t y c o n f e r r e d on Lhe 11ew1y

    repriLQclly s i l v e r .

    e IccLed S a d e t , and d c l ega tel; from Pl~uYen brought i t Lo liirii f o l l o w i n g h i 3 ~ppoinl.mcnL. 'l'lie
    111051

    obvious m a i n s p r i n g s o i t h c i r ncitl~orilry, however,

    were I c < ~ol t h e e v 1 s p e l l s t h e p e o p l e beLieved t h e y c o u l d c a s t and t h e i r r ~ ~ ~ 1od ita n s l ~ i pof s t h e l e g e n d a r y sword o r oi: a flower-decked r a t t a n c a n e ,

    boLt1 of which were s p e c i a L "Yd" a t t r i b u t e s .

    n Nearly a c e n t u r y l a t e r , r e l a t i o n s between t h e n t o ~ ~ n t a ip e o p l e and t h e p r i n c e s of Panduranga r e c o v e r e d much of t h e i r former l o y a l t y , and t h e Cham p r i n c e s of Bhan Rang r e g a i n e d s u f f i c i e n t power t o e n a b l e then1 t o t r a v e l through t h e h i n t e r l a n d v e r y much a s t h e y p l e a s e d , a p p a r e n t l r o ~ r iLhe s t o r y of Po Rome (1627-51). T h i s much i.s

    From D a r l a c , t o which he

    had ddvancetl, t l ~ eItjng b r o u g h t baclc a w i f e from t h e Rhade t r i b e : Bia Tau (13) "South of Cheo Reo, Lhe a u t h o r i t y of t h e P a t a u Ya was unknown t o t h e J a r a i r ' (p. G u i l l c m i n e t , "Recherches 5 u r l e s c r o y a n c e s d e s t r i b u s du I t ~ u t p , t y s dlAnnam," B. I.I.E.1-I., 1941).

    -35Chan, L a t e r , when t h e Vietnamese had invaded Panduranga, some of Po

    ~ o m e ' s o f f i c e r s s o u g h t r e f u g e antong t h e mounrain p e o p l e , b u t t h e Icing tiimse1.f t r i e d t o r e s i s t t h e i n v a d e r s . I-le was k i l l e d , anci Bia Tan Chan The s t a t u e e r e c t e d i n honor The Vietnaniese,

    f l u n g h e r s e l f o n t o h e r l ~ u s b a n d ' s funeral. p y r e ,

    ol: t h i s exemplary w i f e c a n s t i l l Itc seen n e a r Phan Rang. liowever, c o n t i n u e d t h e i r pus11 t o tlie s o u t h .

    C a r r i e d a s Tar a s V a r e l l a by Llieir v i c t o r y i n 1471, they s p e n t Llle y e d r s t h a t i o l lowed c ~ n s o l i d ~ ~ t il n ig ~ ro ~ c u ~ ~ l t -ofo tlle i n t c l - i o r of l e i ~i I3inh Dinh and Pliu Yen p r o v i n t c s .
    1 lie

    'They succeeded i n doin!; i,o l ~ y iiiul L ~ p l iyi c : i

    numher of ~ g r ~ - ~ din11n d j r il ~ ;ill 1654 ~ t

    , l.c?,ivin;:

    VClrclL,r ttciiind

    I Ilanr,

    ~l~cy concluered IZlld~lll710~1, n'jnll 'llllui\n d~ld Tiin11 'l'lluan, dntl t Ire lcing
    111

    of the Cll;inl>a w a s f o r c e d t o rcoogni.zc: t:lie ascendancy o f t11e Nguycil,

    1696

    , iiiilr.i.t:i.nie Cnnll.)odia nl.:;o

    f e l l . L-o Llrc Vi.etilan~esc t h e year 1.699 witnc:;:;i?tl ; 'l'lre jurisdic:.

    t11e i1ppoi.utment of t h e 1f.ir s (: A~lnrrii~i.t:c govel:nor cr t G i.a Di1,ll.

    ti.on of t h e Court oii Il~ta t l ~ c naxlrendccl a l l . a l o n g t.hc c o a s t oi: Al~ilani, and tlie i11ocml.ai.n pril1c.i pal. i.ty o C
    I:Ii(?

    (:he? M was t l l ~ ~ s a cloomcti t o T;idc :~wuy.

    F o r a s l o n g a s tlie s o ~ t t l i s r ncoas 1 had been occupi.ed ,joi.nl:l.y by tlie : Clram :i.n tlic n o r t h aild t h e I(11iners i n the s o u t h , t l ~ epri.ncipa2LLy 01: tile Clle

    M sc?parntecl the two empires by a 1ci.ncl of wedge, lirom wl~i.ch wotrl.tl-be a


    al;gressors were d e t e r r e d I)y t h e mount-sins l y i n g insliore
    iiiicl

    t h e swamps.

    1dit.h t h e estriblislmn~ent oT Vietnamese rcginietlts and s e t t l e r s i.n Pai~eluranga and l a t e r i.n tlle 1)onna.i. c l c l t a , t . 1 ~lautl of t h e Che M was fi.nal.ly a eiici.rcled. 'Cl~econtj.nued cixi.s t e n c e of sucll an enemy e n c l a v e , l~owever,

    iiii glxt l i ~ ~ vJeopardi.zed t h e ; ~ r r i v ; i of Annami t e rei.nf orcement s hat1 t h e e L s i t u a t i - o n i n Gin Dinh made i t n e c e s s a r y t o send f o r theiii. The s u p p r e s s i o n

    of tile Cl~eMa a p p e a r s t o d a t e lroni the end of t h e 1.7ti1 ccnllury: "Alas,"


    r u n s a Chrau war song, " t h e r e was once a lting of 'Ci.orria, t h e r e was once a n Annamite k i n g . 'Tl-ie Annamite lci.ng carri.ed o f f t h e k i n g of ~ i o m a ' swi.fe, and 'Ylie bgcnds o f t h e Chrau, t h e only ones t o

    t l l a t was t h e s t a r t of t h e war."

    mention tlle s u b j e c t , speak o n l y of g i a n t t u r t l e s , enormous e g r e t s , aucl v a r i o u s 1ci.nds of c y c l o p s , and Llic perj.1. i n which t h e s e iiionsters placed

    -36t h e people sometimes l e d them t o s e e k h e l p from t h e Vietnamese. These

    l e g e n d s a l s o t e l l of t h e o c c u p a t i o n of t h e h e i g h t s s i t u a t e d two d a y s ' march from Krontuk, t h a t of a mountain o v e r l o o k i n g t h e lower r e a c h e s of t h e Danibre, a t r i b u t a r y of t h e Da Boue, and f i n a l l y t h a t of t h e s o u r c e of t h e Lagna. The territorial p r o g r e s s of t h e Vietnamese westward made a

    g r e a t i m p r e s s i o ~ lon t h e minds of t h e mountain p e o p l e ,

    A t t h e end of t h e 1.8th c e n t u r y , t h e surrounded p r i n c i . p a l i t y f e l l


    a p a r t ; t h e d i s t a s t e of t h e s e t r i b e s f o r any form of o r g a n i z a t i o n hastened t h e i r r e t u r n t o t h e i r n a t i v e anarchy, Where t h e p r o c e s s of b r e a k i n g up only a

    d i d n o t proceed s o f a r a s t o l e a v e o n l y i-ndependent vi.ll.;tges,

    few groups of Ma, S r e , I;op and Gi.1, tri.besmen were 1.e.ft i.n t h e a r e a of t h e former con.Eederati.on. The Vietnamese l o s t no time i n s t r e n g t h e n i n g At tttc c l o s e of t h e 1 9 t h

    t h e i r domination, and began t o l a y out r o a d s ,

    c e n t u r y , L t , G a u t i e r r e t i i s c o v e r e d s e c t i o n s of t h e one which led f r a u 'l'ri An t o t h e old t e r r i t o r y 01 t h e Clie and Donnai r i v e r s . Another road hugged t h e r i v e r J.,ngna a n d , a f t e r slci.rti.ng t h e Nui Ong, l e d i n t o Khan11 IIoa. I t was tlle mountain peop1.e who s u p p l i e d frllc lnl)or t o
    Mil

    ,via t h e confl.tlence 01 t h e D Iloue a

    b u i l d t h e s e f o r t i f i e d roadways t h a t cnabl.ed t h e Viet:nai~iese t o avoid Pandurnnga, of which they were n e v e r Loo c e r t a i . ~ ~ .1:n 1755, t e n 1:housancl Chrau and Che M t r i b e s m e n wl~ohati been t : r a n s p l a n t e d t o t h e (;o Vap r e g i o n a were set: up011 hy tllc? Canil~otli.:~iis. or1 [-.he i.nstructi.olis ol' a n Annanli.L-c g e ~ l c r i ~ l , F i v e tl~ousaiidof [:hem were rescued by t h e Major-General. ?'ri.nll, ab1.e t o witlidraw i . n t o t h e a r e a Itear M t . Tay Ni.nh.
    11 1

    They were

    1757, a number of

    Moi c o n s c r i p t s a c t i . n g under Annamite order:; were among t h e t r o o p s who e n t e r e d Phnom Penil. Blthougti t h e S a d e t s and t h e Cl-ie M had bee11 f o r c e d t o submit t o t h e a growi.ng power of Vietnam, t h e Sedang, t h e I)a Vach and t h e l<oiitu, i n t h e s l l e l t e r of tl-1ei.r ~ l ~ o u n L n i n swere t o I ~ o l dour; f o r a 1o11g t:i~ne agai.nc;t any , ouLside i n f luence.

    -374.

    THE ORGANIZATION OF TI-IF, MOf COI!YtrRY ;3Y T1E VIETNAMESE, AND THE EXPANSLOE OF VIETNAM TOWARD ':'!1Ii, SOU'i'li
    iiarely t h i r t y y e a r s had e l a p s e d

    - ince

    t h e v i c t o r y of I,e 'i'llanh Ton

    (1471) and iiie e s t a b 2 i s h m e n t oT 'l'onlcinese c o l o n i e s i n Cham c o u n t r y , b e f o r e t h e Cliam and t h e Moi i n t h e sout11 r e v o l t e d a g a i n s t t h e i r conquerors d u r i n g tlrc r e i n of Le U Muc, y h e u p r i s i n g was ciuashed and t h e mountain people

    evi.ctcd Erom t h e p l o t s they s t i l l lle3.d i.n Lhe c o a s t a l . p l a i n s (1504-1509), I t had taken l e s s t h a n 1:hi.rt.y y e a r s f o r r e l a t : i o l ~ s t o become strai.ned betwec:n Irhe Vietnamese and t h e Sectone ;ind Bahnar l i v h g a l o n g t h e edge of tho ~nuuntzrj.ns
    ill

    Quang Nam ant1 0ua:lg N g ~ l j .

    111

    no o t h e r a r e a was t h e r e Accordi.ngLy,

    s r ~ c lc~ n s t a u t rcba'l.lj.on a g a i n s t t:he lle,w o~:cupati.on f o r c e s . o

    i.11 1.5ft0 t h e emperor a p p o i n t e d Bui Ta Han governor of t h c p r o v i n c e of Qunng Nan). T h i s .Leader proved a s a b l e a n adrni.nis t r a t o r a s Ile was a n I-Le 11ui.l.L f o r t s on t h e w e s t e r n Cronl-i.er of p r e s e n t -

    c!nterp~:ising s o l d i e r .

    tl;iy yuang Ngai ( t h e p r o v i n c e was n o t act:ual.ly creal:cd unt:i.l. a llundred

    years :I.ater).
    B11i

    'i'llnnlcs t o t h i s l.:i.ne of tlef:el~t;eand t o the Eear t h a t governor

    Ta llan was ab1.c t:o i n s p i . r e , pence was r e s t o r e d I:o t h i s t r o u b l e s p o t "Mc~tly ~rlouiztain p e o p l e became s e r v a n t s

    f2ar:l.y i n thc 1 6 t h c e n t u r y ( s i c ) $

    of t h e VI.e.t:ncirnese arld tended t h e i r o r c h a r d s f 1 ( l 4 ) ,


    111

    tlte 1.7tll c e n t u r y , t h e mi-litavy o r g a n i z a t i o n was f u r t h e r s t r e n g t l i e n e d .

    S i x &cq (IronLiel- p r o v i n c e s ) were e s t a b l i s h e d a l o n g t h e b o r d e r w i t 1 1 ~ ' n c

    Lcrr L ~ D L Y occu1)ied by t h e :nounLain people. 1 1 1750, wtlen Nguyen Iloanp, Lllc' fottnder o i tlie Cochin-Chinese dynnsly, 1 became g o v e r n o r , he seems t o have r e s p e c t e d and r e t a i n e d t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n i.nsti.t:uted by Bui %'a Iian. He liacl placed a n a t i v e g i a o d i c h i n c h a r g e of

    tllc nloimtain c l i s t r j c t under l i i s c o n t r o l ; two c e n t u r i e s of peace ( a c c o r d i n g t o t h e Annals) i i r n i l y e s t a b l i s h e d t h e v i r t u e s of t h i s system, which was l a t e r extended t o tile s o u t h e r n p r o v i n c e s a s Vietnamese i n f l u e n c e s p r e a d southward. -;iT,N. I f ttie governor E u i Ta Wan was n o t a p p o i n t e d u n t i l 1540, t h e r e s t o r a t i o n of peace a t tile beginni.ng of tlte 1 6 t h c e n t u r y c a n h a r d l y be a t t r i b u t e d i s u g g e s t "cikbut" i s a n e r r o r f o r "mi.li.eu," which would b r i n g t o liim. 1)acif i.ca tioii Lorwnrtl t o so~iietimei n tlie l 5 5 O 8 s , a much more l i k e l y chronology. (14) "Phu Man I,uc," by 'l:i'& Phu Su (18721, R I , 1.904, p. 456 e t seq.

    -38-

    THE S E BANG B I E N G REGION, AND VIETNAMESE PROGRESS WESTWARD


    A r a t h e r s p e c i a l s y s t e m of government was l a t e r g r a n t e d t o t h e Pou

    T'ai,

    So and "Kha" t r i b e s m e n of t h e Se Bang Hieng r e g i o n . L a o t i a n s Prom t h e u p p e r Mekong had t a k e n l r e f u g e t h e r e under t h e

    l e a d e r s h i p of t h e i r phaya t o e s c a p e irmn t h e H i dnd t h e Rur~nese. The Icing of V i e n t i a n e had g r a n t e d t h e s e f u g i t i v e s h i s p r o t e c t i o n and t h e r i g h t Lo occupy t h e t e r r i t o r y of t h e Plleng M (from t h e Se Bang F a i t o Ban T h a t ) . y

    A r e v o l t by t h e n a t i v e s , t h e So of t h e v a l l e y s and t h e Khd of tire h i g h l a n d s ,


    was c r u s l ~ e d by t h e LaoLians. So~neof t h e vanquished Pheng M emigrated y

    e'isLward ,ind s e t t l e d i n t h e Cam Lo r e g i o n occupied by t h e Vietnamese. i'hc


    (:OIILL

    01

    1,.10s I l ~ dl e T t Lhe a d ~ ~ ~ i n i s t r a t i01n t h e people i n t h e Se o


    J 1 1

    Ii'tllg l!iciiii: r c g i 01%


    l~'~l1. - +-

    Lile liands of Lhe ir iormer herecii t a r y c h i e f s , t h e

    &

    T,'kLer,

    around Ll~e beginning o r t h e 1 8 t h c e n t u r y , t h e k i n g s or Iluo,

    \JIIO

    priclr 1.u tile det'e,it o f Lhe I'heng M by t h e T ' a i , h a d r e c e i v e d e l e p h a n t s y

    Lroill t l t e ~ ia s an a n n u a l t r i b u t e , s u c c e s s f u l l y p r e s s u r e d V i e n t i a n e i n t o ~ r c v i v i n g Lhe t r a d i t i o n . Vo Vuong (1738-65) c r e d t ed f i v e iitrlong iil t h e

    r e g i o n , I)uL s e l e c L c d L h e i r c h i e f s f r t n n t l ~ e e r y f a ~ u i l i c sfrom which t h e v


    1,110

    ban wl~o s e r v c d t h e L a o t i a n noverei gns

    lldtl

    been chosen.

    The i n i l u e r l c e

    of t h e s e o L i i c i a l a g e n t s , who were dpprvved simulLaneously b y Lhe Courts oL V i e n t i a n e and ihie, was t o have Llie e L f e c t of h e a r t e n i n g and p a c i f y i n g ~ l l e~ O ~ L O I I wilere VieLnamese ,
    i

    o i t ~ n i ~ ~ i tl d t e r took ton

    c(

    s t r o n g Iiold,

    W i Lli

    I.lle ~ I c q u l e , t e r l c e o l Lhe I,'ioLidn5, t l ~ cNguyen tlrus came Lo c u u t r o l Liie 1,esL of tlie r o a d s l.inlti.np tlie s e a cvilsL wi.th t h e banks 01: t h e Mekong. '1'11is

    'U11i.s roild s t a r t e d I-'ruil Cam Lo and went through t h e Ai Lao p a s s ,

    outcoi~lei s a ' l l tile illore remarkab1.e because s i n c e 1421. and e s p e c i i i l l y si11ce 3.479 r c l a t i o ~ l sbetween Ann,-tiitit e s and Laoti.ans had been marlted by IIII:;,L il i Ly

    .
    15,

    5.

    A I M AND PKOCEDUlXS OF THU VJE'I'NMSE ADMLNIS'I'IW'J'LUN Froni tlle Lime o l t h c 1)inli (967-9/9), t h a t e v e r s i n c e t h e AnnLlmiLes

    g,i 1 i ~ e d Llre i r

    l t d e p e n d e t ~ ~ etile quest i o n 01 t h e tnoilnLain people iiad ,

    c o n f r o n t e d a l l t h e d y n a s t i e s which s u c c e s s i v e l y r u l e d Vietnam.

    'Che

    a t t i t u d e and b e h a v i o r of t h i s n a t i o n toward t h e t r i b e s of t h e i n t e r i o r llave been e v a l u a t e d i n w i d e l y d i f f e r i n g terms, a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i n d i v i d u a l s a p p r a i s i n g Lliem and t h e p e r i o d o r t h e r e g i o n c o n s i d e r e d .

    In t l i e j r r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e p e o p l e of t h e h i n t e r l a n d t h e Manddrius
    lidd t h r e e o b j e c t ~ v e : t o c o n t a i n tile t r i b e s which had r e t i r e d t o t h e h i g h s l a n d s , and t o deny them a c c e s s t o t h e f e r t i l e l a n d s u i t a b l e Tor i r r i g n t c d pc~cidyLiclds,e . ; p e c i < l l y ~
    ~ 1 6t h e

    Moi, who f o r n i e r l y ow~lecl t l ~ e b ep l a i t l c ; , tcnded 'Ille

    t o r e t u r n t o r a i d them wllcnever they had Llie l e a s t chance t o do s o ,

    ~ i i i Z i t a r yo r g a n i ~ n t i o ~ i ,tl.ong llle f r o n t i e r t h u s began t o 1-alce sIl;ipe, and wi ill i L


    ,I

    rigid ac,par.~ti~,~~ 1)etween t h e Annamite t ~ o r L d and t h a t of t h e Near t h e a p p r o n c l ~ e s t o t h e demarcatioll l i n e , t h e

    uiollntain peoplc.

    I . i - t -5 ) d17d ; y e , tnbllbl~nrcnt or c 2J ( 1 ~ i-on clie~?. (LO) was t h e ~ t ~ s t o m a rlriethud the Anndnlitci used i n s p r e a d i n g t h e i r i n f l u e n c e . l'roni t h c I ribe:, ~ l ~ c - y c oiicluered t h e Vietn;lmese dcrria~~ded payment o i iribute, eitlrer
    L L ~s

    i l vcr o r i n produce: r a t t a n , r i c e - s t r a w f i i b r i c ,

    iiicLal:, and lurnl~er (c,+leiiibac or eag1.e-wood) i n t h e s o u t h e r n rcgi011. F u ~ a L l y , L l i e ~ rdim w d s aLso t o rebcrvi:


    L O

    tllc Court or llue dnd i t s

    rn~incl~irinsh e p r o f i t s f r m i t r a d e w i t h t h e inhLibitant:i of t h e p l a t e a u s , n t t r a d e which was CLL'J el imlnated. t h e more p r o f i t a b l e s i n c e c o ~ n p e t i t i o n was e n t i r e l y

    In Llleir f a v o r , t h e Victnnmesc c a n adduce t h e [ a c t t h a t - - c o n t r d r y t o


    what I ~ d d t a k e n pL:icc d u r i n g t h e I<hlner o r Cham doniinat i o n ancl t o what c o u l d l,e n i l e g e d r e g a r d i n g t h e l " a i , Sicjmese o r L a o t i a n s - - s Lavery w i t h t hen1 A d m i t t e d l y , t h e missionaric::

    remained tlie e x c e p t i o n r a t h e r t h a n t h e r u l e ,

    nritl, l a t e r on, tile French t r o o p s were t o come a c r o s s niany slave:, i n Vietnamese t e r r i t o r y , e s p e c i a l . l y i n s o u t h e r n Vietnam, and t h e r e was

    --

    indeed a i l n v e market i n Saigon ( l $a t h a n g %


    + -

    &

    (17), n e a r t h e s t u d - f a r n i s ) ,

    ---

    (15) Farming s e t t i e m e n t s ,

    (L6) M i l i t a r y f a r ~ n s ,

    (1.7) L. MalLerct, R.S.E.C.,

    1935, Mo. 4 , p. 18.

    -40b u t s u r v i v a l s of s u c h p r a c t i c e s a r e h a r d l y o u t of p l a c e i n f o n n e r Cambodia of t h e Water (Cochin-China)

    Whereas t h e Khmers and t h e Cham, f o l l o w e d a f t e r t h e 1 5 t h c e n t u r y by t h e L a o t i a n s , made t h e i r way i n t o t h e h i n t e r l a n d and mixed r e a d i l y ( i n t h e c a s e o f t h e Cham and t h e L a o t i a n s , anyway) w i t h t h e mountain p e o p l e , t h e Vietnamese made o n l y f u r t i v e e x c u r s i o n s w e s t of t h e f r o n t i e r , which was drawn r o u g h l y a l o n g t h e s c a r p edge over1.ooking t h e c o a s t a l ranges. The o n l y road by whj.ch t h e t r o o p s and a g e n t s of t h e Court of IIue were a b l e t o advance a s f a r a s t h e Mekong was t h e one n o r t h of Flue t h a t l e d o u t of Quang 'Cri through t h e Ai Lao p a s s . J u s t p r i o r t o t h e r e v o l t of t h e

    Tay Son, t h e Annamites occupied t h e l e f t bank o i t h e Grdat River between t h e 1 6 t h and t h e 1 7 t h p a r a l l e l s , r o u g h l y between Kenmarat and Ran Don. A g a i n s t t h i s background we s h a l l a t t e m p t t o p i n p o i n t some f e a t u r e s o r t h e c i v i l and c o n m e r c i a l o r g a ~ l i z a t i o nwhich t h e Vietnamese imposed on t h e mountain people.
    I t was c l e a r 1 y u n d e r s t o o d , t o b e g i n w i t h , t h a t t h e non-Annami t e

    members of t h e p o p u l a t i o n wou.Ld n e v e r be r e g a r d e d a s s u b j e c t s of t h e Court of Hue. The emperor Gia Long r e j e c t e d a r e q u e s t t o t h i s e f f e c t "because

    n o n o t i o n of s o c i a l o b l i g a t i o n c a n be d e t e c t e d i n t h e s e b a r b a r i a n s . " The c o n q u e r o r s d i d indeed s e e k t o expand o n t o t h e f e r t i l e l a n d which had been c u l t i v a t e d by t h e mountain p e o p l e , b u t t h e v i l l a g e s t a k e n over i n t h i s way were f a i r l y r a p i d l y b r o u g h t under t h e common system of a d m i n i s t r a tion. The Nha Kinh-ly became j u s t one more huyen, and t h e f r o n t i e r was

    pushed a l i t t l e f a r t h e r westward t h a n i t was b e f o r e .

    6,

    ADMlNISTIiATIVE A D FISCAL ORGANIZATION N However, b e a r i n g t h e s e g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e s i n mind, t h e regime a p p l i e d


    i

    t o t h e mountain p e o p l e was one of g r e a t f l e x i b i l i t y , The b o l d n e s s arid u n r u l i n e s s of t h e t r i b e s of t h e Quazlg Ngai, h i n t e r l a n d l e d t h e Nguyen t o make t h i s p r o v i n c e something of a n e x p e r i m e n t a l a r e a , and t h e o r g a n i z a t i . o n a 1 system developed h e r e was l a t e r t o b e extended a l l a l o n g t h e mountainous l e d g e of Annam from t h e Col d e s Nuages t o t h e o u t e r m o s t f o o t - l ~ i l l r ; of Binh Thuan.

    -41 A Moi r e g i o n was c r e a t e d w i t h a n a t i v e

    d l i

    as chief.

    First

    i n s t i t u t e d rnidway through tlie 1.6th c e n t u r y , t h e g i a o (Iich was riot a b o l i s h e d u n t i l 1863, wlicli t h e Son Phong was c r c a t e d . control. of t h e g i ~ The d i s t r i c t placed under t h e

    was s u b d i v i d e d in1.o f o u r me7, where t h e pro-

    .vi.nci.al Annaii~it:e adminis t r a t i o n was r e p r e s e n t e d by a


    01:

    & ,quali w i t h

    one

    rnore h ~

    ELI cis d e p u t i e s .

    T h e i r primary f u n c t i o n was t o s e l e c t t h e

    t ---

    &, a

    who were t h e only persons autliorj.zcd t o t r a v e l i n t h e i.nterj.or

    of t h e s t x e s . f o r t h e purpose of t r a d i . r ~ g ; a few mountai.n pcop1.e were given tile r.i.glii: to tratlo i n Anrtamite c o u n t r y , actcci a s t a x col.l.ectors. I n addition, the $ -

    &

    Apart f r a n tlie t a x p a i d i n s i l v e r (wl~ost: v a l u e

    \%la!; rrrugl~ly ~ c i ~ ~ j . v n l . e n t 3., S O 0 p i a s t:crs f o r t h e foul: nguyen of! Quang Nga i to


    provincci), i.1.: was Jiorl~i.dclen (to Jc?~iianda n y t l ~ . i n gEurtller froill the mounl.;i-i.n peq).l.c I. i.\ri.ng bcyc?nd t l ~ cIrotcntlari.cr; of t:lie ~? J,I % ,!! * niol:e Iron1 tlri?se : ; t u r d y peop1.e 3.ccl 10. revol.f::s. Any ~atl:cmpt t o oxt.rac t 'I'i~ep~:ol.i.l!erat.i.o~~ L:he of

    coi\ait(?,c i a.1. o !;ell l : ! ~ oi: (:lie ~ ~ \ ! :~ s~ 2;&,& !;&xqc r k~ ! ~ ~


    lizitl
    [:hi:

    &L

    a n d , 1.~1 e r , h

    &u_ &&IL,

    same ri::;~i.l.ts,

    'i'liii; ;idmi:i1i,strativi? systclli was subsec~uent'Ly exteilded sout:hward t o

    L:iri.

    (:~ii; i

    l:e was Lcrn eilgc 01: t h e t t : r r i . t o r i e s occupied 1)y t h e An~tatni.ies ;

    niorec)ver, i L was mod.i.fi.ed anti adiiptecl t o tile parti.cul:ic contlit:i.o~is ol' each i1i:itricL.
    1 I ? a n t i rarlgn, t h e l a s l r ! : i n i n g s tronghol.cl of t h e Champa Ici.ngcIorn % ~~ : cml

    iri t:'I~c sout:h,


    \iic!re

    tlicl name:; g:i.vc~~ I.11(? t : r a t l i . ~ t g - ; ~ g a r ~ t s - c i ~ ~ ~ i - t ~ ~ x - ~ c o ~ ~ e c t c ? r s Lo

    riot the o n l y tl-li.zzg;ij t o bi: c l ~ n n g e d : t h e t:ax sy:.; tell1 ant1 t h e extent: of

    t h e cxtor:ti.on p r a c t i c e d by t h e c o l . l e c t o r s ~ l n d t11ei.r d e p u t i e s v a r i e d I.ocal3.y ncc o r d i n g t:o how fearsome o r h a r m l e s s t h e mountain peop1.e appeared. I n I'ii.nh Hoa, t h e Blao were f e a r e d f o r tI1e:i.r st:orrriy 11ature. , ~ l t h o u g l iit
    wcls

    Accordingly,

    :,eLdoni poss i b l c t o g a t l i e r even h:~LT of t h e t a x d u e , t h e Lndeeil, t l ~ etax-farnlers ever1 p a i d

    col.l.c?ctors n e v e r r e s o r t e d t:o vio1.euce. f o r le;lst:si,

    fiowevcr, i.n a d t l i t i o ~ l t o L:hc oTl.i.ci.a:l. a r n o ~ ~ n t tlle t r i bu t:e, of gifts,

    t h e prov.i.nci.al a u t h o r i t i e s "had t1iemsel:ves ofl!c!red"

    Dhc Iloglni o f Nha. ' h a n g , weaker arid more w r e t c h e d , d i d n o t r e c e i v e

    s t ~ c hkid-g3ove t r e a t m e n t : t h e g.l

    k i recouped ~

    themselves, a s we can

    -42only imagine, f o r t h e c o n s i d e r a b l e t r o u b l e t h e y went t o i n t r a v e l i n g g r e a t ciis t a n c e s t o c o l l e c t t h e i v o r y , r h i n o c e r o s h o r n s o r eagle-wood i n which t h e t r i b e s t h e r e p a i d t h e i r dries. With t h e p a s s a g e of t i m e , t h e a b u s e

    grew s o s e r i o u s t h a t i n t h e 1 9 t h c e n t u r y t h e C o u r t of Hue i s s u e d a n edict: Corbiddirlg


    SLIC~Ipractices.

    Vict1'1tors r a n t h e r i s k oL b e i n g beheaded,

    Fk~ny of t h e mountain pcople l i v i n g v e r y c l o s e t o t h e f r o n t i e r used t o :jati:;fy free of cllarge t h e needs and even t h e whims o f t h e mandarins, who somet:i.mct.s r e s o l d t . i ~ e i r s u r p l u s . IJl.tirnat.e'l.y, however, i.t was t h e

    C l ~ i n e s ewho p r o f j . t e d . from t h i s 1busi.ness by buyi.ng t ~ pc1ieapl.y tlle merchandise olltn-i.11c.d i n tfl1J.s f a s h i o n , Ulouting t h e o r d c r s issued by t h e r o y a l governmen$, 1.11 133.1ih ' t ' h ~ ~ a tnh~ Chiil~l, tile Ilogl,ai., t h e Mu, e t:he S r e ( d e s p i t e tzheir
    i.11

    inclre ;itlvanccd de.velopnrent) i~ricl t:li(? Cllrau fieem t o have been :;orry prociic;ln~ci!,t: t:licrc, Cllrce .-1.0% s c r v c d a s :jutlges, A'i.t:bou g11 p o o r e r ,

    an even more

    dicll both c o l 2 e c t e t l t h e t a x e s and


    L lle:;c

    n~ourlLain t r i . b c s paid a s heavy a

    (:ax a s r.11eir b r o t l ~ c r s i n IZhonll Ilrja,

    'Chey paid e x t r a I-axe:; (11: l)eeswax,

    rlri.uocer~t)s liorns, i.roin, eagle-wootl (al.so lcnown a s cal.enrbac o r I~oriey.

    Lx c

    nncl

    'So t h i s were added, f o r t.11~e n t i . r e former t e r r . i . t o r y of I'nnduranga,

    tlw srrrn:;

    [ x i i d by way oi' ! ! I .

    iind

    !=

    %I&

    (1.8), t h e b r u n t of which f e l l

    on tlie mos t doc i - l e .

    7.

    COMMERCIAL, ORCANIZA'IIZIIN 'Uhe org;%ni~,..n n c r e a t e d by Dui Ta IIan ( d i e d 1568) had :;uccessfnll.y tio

    p a c i f i e d t h e mountai.ri people.

    'i'tie peace l a s t e d f o r 200 y e a r s ,

    Even t h e

    ways between t h e Trinlt <3nd t h e Nguyen (1627-77)

    f a i l e d t o e l i c i t any

    s c z i ouca rc-,rr t i on oii tile p a r t of Ll~ep e o p l e of t h e I-iinterland, even i n t h e d i r e s t moiiients f o r t h e Coc1ii.n-Chinese, &liec i v i l w'rrs, trheir m a s t e r s , Moreover, nei.tlier

    n o r t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e Champa, were s e i z e d upon by

    t h e niountain p e o p l e '1s a n o p p o r t i ~ n i t y f o r a g e n e r a l u p r i s i n g .
    *

    -.----

    (1.8)

    ! 52: &

    tlle f u r n i s l i i n g o f matrerials and c o o l i e clay-labor f o r t h e cons true t i o n anci niai.ntenance o f p u b l i c buj.l.dings. lloa -mai: goods procured f o r t h e p a l a c e f e a s t s and t h e needs of t h e r o y a l fami.l.y, r a n g i n g from t o r c h e s t:hrougli l o g s of proci.ous woods t o r11,inoceros h o r n s . The p r i c e s , f i x e d a t rock-bottom l e v e l by t h e c e n t r a l admi.nistrati.on, were s u b j e c t t o conimission p a i d t o t h e m%ddl.enion. I n practi.ce, n o payment: a t a 1 1 found i . t s way back t o t h e :;upplier:;.

    -43During t h i s p e r i o d , t h e Vietnamese conquerors a p p e a r t o have r e s p e c t e d t h e custonis 01 t h e i r s u b j e c t , t r i b e s . Ul.timatel.y, t h e ViePnanlese were s a t i . s -

    fi.ec1 a s l o n g a s t h e l a b o r of t h e s e p e o p l e provi.ded the~iiw i t h t h e wllerewi.thal t o pay t h e i r t r i b u t e a.nd a s l.ong a s t h e bu1.k o.E t h e p r o f i t s Erom t h e i r trad:i.ng a c t:i,vit:ies ended up i.n tlie r o y a l t r e a s u r y and t h e mandarins c o f f e r s .

    '

    'Ilhe f o l l o w i n g i s an a c c o u n t of tile proceclure adopted i n Ninli Thuan p r o v i n c e i n s e a r c h i n g f o r and c u t t i n g eagle-wood (the "se1.1f of t h e Arabs" cal.etiiba, lv~ s ) , " t h e lnost p r e c i o u s corrunodity t o be e x t r a c t e d frotn Cochinn China f o r e x p o r t t o , f o r e i . g n l a n d s " (19). Cham manda t:-itl, 3.0 lcm. The s e n r c h was ent:rustecl t o a

    t h e Po Cal.linis, c h i e f of tlie mos Len1 v i . l l a g e of l!al.ei iial.np,

    n o r t h o C T'lla11 Rang. s u p e r v i s e d t:he Kogl.ai anrl t h e i r c h i e f , Prccecletl

    Under h.i.3 orclcrs, si.xl:cei~

    lllle ,1??,x&cC, wlio was 1:espon:;i.bl.e f o r 'l.ocatint; and c u t t i . n g tile wood,

    and l:oll.owc?tl by sacri.i:'.i.ccri t o tlic? dei.t:.i.c?s worshi.ped i.n t:llc vnl.:l.sy, t:lie e2c~?eCli.t:i.ous:i.n quest: of c!ag%c-.wood were conducted -i.n ~ % l . e n c e .it was ; 11eli.eveci t h a t t h e :iuund oli a I~urntin voi.ce wo11l.d i.mpa.ir t h e f r a g r a n c e of t h e trcc, "'i'he cal.eiiiba i.:;
    itri

    e s s e n c e wll:i.ch beloixgs t o t h e i(:i.ng (of Ilt~e) al.i)ne,

    I J vi.rirue of t:he esteern i n whi.cll i t s perfume and powers a r e held." ~


    As f o r c.i.niimion, tliotlgl~ i t : was ICIIOWII
    and was meut:i.oned i n t h e e a r l i . e s t

    r e p o r t s o E t h e ii~i.ssionar.i.cs, :i.t was n o t rea:l.ly expl.oited u~lt.i.:l.l a t e r . 'Clle Vietnamese and ii~oc.intai.n pctop1.e Ilave, .i.n .[act, r c c o g r ~ i z e d its: commercial. val.ue f o r :Less; than 200 yc;lrr;, t h e Chinese. I t i.s s a i d that: t:hc:y I.enrncc1 of i . t tlirougl-I

    Iiefore tlie rcvo1.t of t h e Tay Son, the v a l u e of t h e t r i . b u t 8 i n t h e form of


    ~i . l v e r i

    demanded o. t h e m0untai.n pe0pl.c of w a n g Ngai pi:ovince

    cinnamon was l e s s t h a n o11e sevenky- f i f t h of t h e amounts l e v i e d i n

    (20 L i g a t u r e s * worth of ci~inanioni n t h e nguyen 01 Cu-bCt < $ l o n e , ~ o ~ n p a r e d w i t h a l e v y o r 1,470 l i g d l u ~ ' e s Lor Ll-ie f o u r nguyen t o g e t l ~ ~ i - ) .111 addi.ti.on, f r a i l t h e 1.7th c e n t u r y onward, r a t t a n , woods, r11j.noceros h o r n s ,

    -------.-..-----.---

    (L9) R.1). C h r i s t o f o r o B o r r j , " K e l a t i o n de L ~zouvc l e mi & & i o n a l au lioyaume d c l a Cochinchine," 13.Atl.V.H., Nos. 3 and 4 , 1931, p. 299,
    I

    J .

    ,.i.ransl.at:or's n o t e : The " l i . g a t u r e t ' was t h e I.ocal. form o.f c u r r e n c y . It seems t o ha-ve consistecl o.E a ~zunil>er p i e c e s o r coi.ns of si.l.ver ( o r of g o l d ) t h r e a d e d on a s t r i n g ,

    i v o r y , e l e p h a n t s , b e t e l , beeswax, e t c . ,

    n o t t o mention t h e o c e l l a t e d p h e a s a n t s

    f o r t h e emperor of China, a 1 1 came t o s w e l l t r a d e between t h e Moi and t h e Annamites. D i r e c t t r a d i n g i n t h e s e p r o d u c t s , which accounted f o r a l a r g e The thuong ho

    p a r t of t h e Vietnamese economy, was n o t t o l e r a t e d anywhere.

    of Quang Ngai, c a c I a i of Binh Dinh and Phu Pen, thu ngu and thuoc l a i , thua b i e n --of Nha Trang, and t h o n g d i c h of PEtan T h i e t , t h e o n l y s o c i e t i e s The e x a s p e r a t i o n

    o f l i c e n s e d t r a d e r s , f r e q u e n t l y abused t h e i r monopoly.

    which e n s u e d , t h e i r r i t a t i o n c a u s e d by t h e imposit.ion of h e a v i e r t a x e s , and, t o a n even g r e a t e r e x t e n t p e r h a p s , a n awareness t h a t t h e Nguyen were g r a d u a l l y weakening d u r i n g t h e second h a l f o f t h e 1 8 t h c e n t u r y , were e v e n t u a l l y t o l e a d t o renewed u p r i s i n g s by t h e mountain people. 8.
    T I E REVOLT OF 2761

    The r e i g n of V Vuong (1738-65) was a t r o u b l e d one, and t h e m a i n s p r i n g o of t h e t r o u b l e l a y i n o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e p o l i c y of Truong Phuc I,oan, t h e regent. Ttie muuntain people of Quang Ngai--the Hre, T a r e and Icare, who were a i n t e r b r e d w i t h Cham and J a r a i s t o c k ; t h e Xa Giang and K Giong, of t h e Sedang f a m i l y ; t h e Bonom, of t h e Rahnar f a m i l y ; and f i n a l l y t h e 'l'ava and t h e Talieng--were luit~ped t o g e t h e r by t h e Annamites under t h e c o l l e c t i v e

    name of Da Vach ( c f , t h e Dayaks of Borneo).

    In Hue, t h e y were r e g a r d e d

    a s r e l a t i v e l y p e a c e f u l , f o r g e t t i n g t h e d e f e a t which t h e s e " ~ o i "had i n f l i c L e d on t h e Vietnainese n e a r M t . Da Vach. These t r i b e s , though

    c o ~ n p l e t e l yd i v o r c e d from t h e p o l i t i c a l a g i t a t i o n going on i n Annam, may n o n e t h e l e s s have d e t e c t e d a c e r t a i n l o s s of a s s u r a n c e among t h e m a n d a r i n s , who a c t e d a s a g e n t s of t h e C o u r t o f Hue. anlong groups of I<ang-y A g i t a t i o n immediately grew r i f e

    , Nuoc- t o ,

    Nuoc- t r u and Nuoc-gia, whom Vietnamese F a r t h e r t o t h e w e s t , t h e Cuoi

    r e c o r d s d e p i c t a s b e i n g t h e most u n r u l y . 'I'rang "Moi" were p a r t i c u l a r l y troublesome.

    A l l of them grew i n c r e a s i n g l y

    r e l . u c t a n t a b o u t paying t h e i r t a x e s , which were becoming s t e a d i l y more burdensome. The r o y a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n began t o p e s t e r t h e thuong

    & more

    and more, and i n 1761 t h e Annamite v i l l a g e s which had s o p a i n s t a l c i n g l y

    been e s t a b l i s h e d a l o n g t h e f r o n t i e r , under a peace t h a t had l a s t e d through e i g h t s u c c e G v e r e i g n s , had t o b e evacuated.

    It was n o t u n t i l . 1770 t h a t l ' r a n Ngoc Chu, i n v e s t e d w i t h t h e r a n k of


    lcllam s a i , was f i n a l l y a b l e t o q u e l l t h e r e v o l t . Having once a g a i n clriven

    t h e r e b e l s back i n t o t h e i r mountains, he b u i l t f o r t i f i e d p o s t s a l o n g t h e f r o n t i - s r t o hold them back. IIe r e s t o r e d t h e vollagec; t h a t had been

    e v a c u a t e d i n 1761 t o t h e i r Lormer owners, s t r e n g t h e n e d them by p u t t i n g i n new s e t t l e r s , and ordered a resrrnlption of r i c e growing.

    A t a b o u t t h i s time, t h e Nguyen were swept from power by a n i . n s u r r e c t i o n s t a g e d by t h e Tay Son (1773) and t h e c a p t u r e of liue by tile T r i n h . I n t h e i r d o w n f a l l they b r o u g h t down 'l'ran Ngoc Chu and a3.1 h e iiad a c h i e v e d . 'Many mountain peop1.e p l a c e d then1se:Lves under t h e o r d e r s of Mguyen Van Nliac and his: b r o t h e r s , who were t r y i n g t o muster col~lcl f o r t h e concluest of t h e Antlam p l a i n s .
    :IS

    many F i g l i t i n g men a s they

    I n 1775, under t h e assau1.L

    of t h e niountain people and t h e Ctraiil, ttic Vietnamese were once niore repel.let1, t h i s time a s Ear a s t h e s e a .

    9,

    T11E 'YAY :>ON A 1 'IiiIE MOIINTAIN PEOPLIS N1

    l l a i l i n g froin Nghe An, t h e Nguyen Van Nhac f a m i l y had been e s t a b l i s h e c l on t h e An Klie pl.ateou i n Tay Son f o r f o u r generation.s. Nguyeri Van Nhac
    '

    llarl begun by t r a d i n g i.n b e t e l w i t 1 1 t h e Moi and Xahnar tr.i.bes i.n t h e t e r r i t o r y i n which he I.i:veil, and l ~ a dl a t e r 1)ecome a t a x c o l l e c t o r i n Val1 Doll. When, a f t e r squanclering t:he money e n t r u s t e d t o him, Nguyen Van Nhac f l e d i n t o t h e mountains, Ile promptly recrui.t:ecL a bank of "CI-~i.nese, j u n g l e b a n d i t s , and Cochin-Chinese r e b e l s . " S u p p o r t e r s f l o c k e d t o h i s c a u s e , urged on by tlie i n c r e a s i n g burden
    of t a x a t i o n and 1ty t h e s i t u a t i o n of such a b j e c t d e b t i t u t i on t h a t i n 1774

    a handlul of h u l l e d r i c e c o s t one l i g a t u r e and human 1 l e s l i was on s a l e i n


    lie marlcets (20)

    .
    I n t h i s way he won r a p i d 1906, p. 238, n. 1.

    'I'hougll he robbed tlle r i c h , Nhac gave some of h i s booty t o tl-le p o o r , and thus became lcnown a s t h e c h a r i t a b l e robber.

    - (20) Caclikre, "Le Mur d& Dong lioi," B.E.F.E.O.,

    -46p o p u l a r i t y ; w i t h t h e h e l p of c o n t r i b u t i o n s from c e r t a i n l o c a l n o t a b l e s , h e b u i l t up h i s f o r c e s and i n 1773 succeeded i n t a k i n g Qui Nhon. I n November of t h e same y e a r , t h e Tay Son r e v o l t e d and f o u g h t a p i t c h e d b a t t l e on t h e boundary of Binh Dinh and Quang Ngai. The r e b e l s

    comprised t h r e e b o d i e s of t r o o p s : "one C h i n e s e , t h e second b a r b a r i a n s d e p l o y e d on e i t h e r wing, and t h e t h i r d t h e r e b e l Cochin-Chinese sandwiched i n t h e center1'(21). For t h e f i r s t time s i n c e the beginning o f t h e u p r i s i n g , The b a t t l e l a s t e d

    t h e r o y a l t r o o p s made a s e r i o u s a t t e m p t t o r e s i s t . t h r e e days.

    F i n a l l y , t h e C h i n e s e f o u g h t t h e i r way through t o t h e b r a v e s t Be, a c c o r d i n g t o t h e Spanish m i s s i o n a r i e s ) and

    of tile mandarins ( t h e c-i &

    t h e rebeLs c a r r i e d t h e day. I I i s t o r y r e c o r d s t h a t t h e mountain p e o p l e and t h e Cham s e r v i n g w i t h t h e Tny Son l a t e r toolc c o n t r o l of t h e n o r t h of t h e p r o v i n c e of Quang Ngai a s Tar a s t h e p o r t of Co Luy Tan on t h e s e a c o a s t . "In c e r t a i n

    oE v a l l e y s i n t h e s e r e g i o n s one f i n d s a l a r g e n ~ ~ m b e r c u l t i v a t e d p l o t s wlhich f o r m e r l y belonged t o t h e Cochin-Chinese, who were f o r c e d t o abandon them on accc)uut of the a l m o s t d a i l y t h e f t s and murders by t h e nlountain bandits..

    ..

    Only one who lias c r o s s e d t h e mountain r e g i o n c a n r e a l l y know

    t h e c r u e l t y oP i t s i n h a b i t a n t s " ( 2 2 ) , and t h e m i s s i o n a r y goes on t o mention t h a t "no c l o t h i n g p r o t e c t s them a g a i n s t t h e t l l o r n s , i t b e i n g t h e i r : custom t o f i g h t naked."

    On December 21, 1773 a n o t h e r b a t t l e toolc p l a c e , b u t f a r t h e r t o t h e


    n o r t h t h i s t i m e , i n Quang Nan. "On t h e l e f t , t h e mandarins, who were t u r n e d t a i l and f l e d w i t h a l l t h e

    supposed t o hold back t h e b a r b a r i a n s , e l e p h a n t s " (22).

    However, t h e r o y a l t r o o p s r a l l i e d and t-he Tay Son were

    o b l i g e d t o withdraw i n t o t h e mountains. There i s n o c a l l h e r e t o r e t r a c e t h e h i s t o r y of t h e Tay Son; i t w i l l s u f f i c e t o h i g h l i g h t j u s t some of t h e e p i s o d e s i n t h e war a g a i n s t t h e r e b e l s i n which t h e mountain p e o p l e a p p e a r t o have been i n v o l v e d . C o n t r a r y t o what we had hoped, t h e book by M r . Hoang Xuan llan throws n o l i g h t on t h i s s u b j e c t . (21) "Les Espagnols dans 1'Empire dtAnnam," B.S.E.I., p. 75. (22) "Les Espagnols dans 1 ' E m p i r e d'AnnamY1'R.S.E.1. pp. 72 and 76. 1940, Nos.

    3 and 4 ,

    1940, Nos. 3 and 4 ,

    A f t e r t h e d e c i s i v e s u c c e s s e s of Nguyen Anh i n t h e s o u t h , " t h e r e b e l s s o u g h t t o move down t h e Melcong; i n p u t t i n g t h i s p l a n i n t o e f f e c t , t h e y doubt:less passed through t h e Ai Lao gap and t h e h i n t e r l a n d of t h e Se Bang I-Iieng, which they c o ~ ~ t r o l l e d .However, upon a r r i v i n g i n Cambodidn t e r r i t o r y they came up a g a i n s L a Siamese amly which promptly Lo]-cecl the171 t o r e t u r n t o Ann'im by t h e way t h e y had come" (23) I n 17'30, t h e r e wds a n u p r i s i n g i n t h e r e g i o n round B a s s a c ; t h e
    i Vietnamese g a r r i s o n was u n a b l e t o ~ o n t r o l t , and p r i n c e Iloi had t o r t s b u i L t

    a l o n g t h e new d e l n a r ~ r i t i o n3 i n e .

    I n t h e c o u r s e of t h i s some y e a r , t h e province

    of Binh Thuan changed hands s e v e r a l times, I n 1794, a i t e r t h e d e a t l ~of N g ~ ~ y eVdn I-Iue, rollowed by t h a t o l n Nguyen Van Nliac, Llle 'ray Son, ~ ~ l were l a y i n g sicage t o Dien IZhdn11) were lo Corced t o t a k c t o Llze rnoulltain road i n o r d e r t o r e a c h Qui Nhon.

    In 1797, t h e mounl a j n p e o p l e o l 13inh 'l'huan r e v o l t e d agclir]st Lllc Lroops


    o f IJg~~yt'n Auh, arid mi l i l n r y columns Irad t o be o r g a w i ~ e dt o ~ubcluc I liem.

    'rwo y e a r s l a t e r , Mguyen An11 deiuantled that: a Sianiesc army c r o s s Ihc h i g h l a n d s ; t h e A I ~ 1~ ~l is t oizl y Lhe S i d n i e ~ e ,IChmer and 'Ida t i ,~riuniL s of i I o i.11i.s army, but: i n al.1 probabi.l.ity i t aI.:;o numbered some mou~tta-inpeople i n i t s ranlcs, 'l'lli:; f o r c e was supposed t o atirack Nghc An, wl1il.e t h e (:ochFn-

    Chi.ncse, adv;incing from t h e sotltll, t r i e d t o clrive baclc t h e i r a d v e r s a r i e s norf:l~ward. 'Ch-i.:; opera t i o n prov:i detf yet: c~nothel:opporl:uni.t'y .for levy i.ng t r o o p s .

    :In t h e fol.lowi.ng ycwr, :L800, [.he Siamese, twcnty e l e p h a n t s l e d by C:i~nt.~ocl n s , ant1 above a l l ~ 1 1 e ia Z,anti.ans, having reached [:he n o r t h e r n p a r ir of Annarn, i n c i t e d r e v o l t s ~n Nghe An and Thanh Hon. By way of r e p r r s , r l ,

    tl-ic Tny Son d i d t h e i r b e q t t o t u r n t h e t r i b e s ol: Tran N i ~ i ha g a i n s t Nguyen

    Anh, and t o t h w a r t t h i s a t t e m p t a t s u b v e r s i o n t h e L a t t e r had Lo send


    r e i n i o r c e r n e n t s u n d e r t h e command of I,e Pln~cTuong by Lhe mountain road p a s s i n g through Cam Lo ancl Lao Bao. Thereupon, t h e ~ > r i n c c n j o i n e d 1 he e The f u t u r e emperor Gia Long

    L a o t i a n s and Lhe Moi t o guard t h e clef'iles.

    toolc atlvantage of t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y t o o r g a n i z e b o d i e s of. t r o o p s i n t h e Annami t e nloun t a i n!;.

    -----------

    (23) 11. m i l r e , " J u n g l e s bfoi," p. G68.

    -48F i n a l l y , a f t e r t h e Tay Son movement had been f i n a l l y c r u s h e d i n 1802, t h e r e b e l s who had escaped Lrun Qui Nhon f l e d i n t o t h e mountains l e d by t h e i r g e n e r a l s Dieu and Dung. Le Van Duyet and Le Chat pursued them and

    f o r c e d t h e i r s u r r e n d e r ; w i t h them, 150 e l e p h a n t s f e l l i n t o t h e hands of t h e Nguyen. Another v e r s i o n h a s i t t h a t a f t e r b e i n g crushed by Cia Long t h e Tay Son took r e f u g e i n Sedang c o u n t r y , where t h e y remained f o r q u i t e a l o n g t i m e (24), I t would be n e c e s s a r y t o examine t h e p a r t played by e a c h of t h e m i l i t a r y l e a d e r s i n o r d e r t o i i n d o u t how, i f a t a l l , t h e mounLain people were i n v o l v e d i n t h i s c o n f l i c t . The f o l l o w i n g , f o r example, i s what we a r e a b l e t o ;:lean Lrom t h e b i o g r a p h y oL Chau Van T i e p ( 2 5 ) . Rinh Dinh. Ile was a n a t i v e oL l'hu My, i n p r e s e n t - d a y

    I n Lhe c o u r s e of h i s t r a d i n g , he s t r u c k up r e l a t i o n s w i t h

    Nguyen Van Nhac, a n d , w i t h h i s t h r e e b r o t h e r s , 'L'iep mustered more t h a n a thousand Moi and took up a p o s i t i o n on M t . brother-in-law, 'i'ra Long. Le Van Quail, h i s

    had m a r r i e d Le T h i Dau, t h e c e l e b r a t e d Chau Muoi Nuong,

    who was g i i t e d w i t h a p a r t i c u l a r f l a i r f o r war, a s a r e a l l t h e g i r l s of Binh Dinh p r o v i n c e a c c o r d i n g t o a l o c a l p r o v e r b . Nhac, w o r r i e d by t h e T r i n l ~i n t h e n o r t h and t h r e a t e n e d i n t h e s o u t h by Tran Cia Dj.nh, who was s e r v i n g t h e Nguyen, concluded a n agreement under t h e terms of which Tiep was t o p l a c e h i s t r o o p s a t t h e d i s p o s a l of pri.ncc Duong, t h e s o n - i n - l a w on t h e l e a d e r of t h e 'Tay Son, However, when t h e l a t t e r b e t r a y e d t h e c a u s e of p r i n c e Duong, Chau Van Ti.ep r e t u r n e d t o occupy M t , Tra Long, t h i s t i m e a g a i n s t t h e Tay Son. On b e h a l f oL Due Ton

    (Hue Vuong), he defended Phu Yen and Binh Dinh p r o v i n c e s i n 1776 and Binh Tliuan i n 1778. higher." " T h e r e a t t e r , t h e i m p e r i a l army h e l d i t s head a l i t t l e

    T i e p d i e d i n t h e s e r v i c e of Nguyen Anh i n 1784,

    Nhac had a l s o found a n o t h e r a l l y i n a c e r t a i n Duyen, who had f i r s t d i s t i n g u i . s h e d himse1.f when d e f e n d i n g Nam Ngai a g a i n s t a t t a c k s by t h e Moi. (24) L a v a l l k e , "Notes e t h n o g r a p h i q u e s s u r d i v e r s e s t r i b u s au S. -E. B.E.F,E,O., 1901, p. 291 e t seq. I n d o c h i n o i s , I'

    (25) B.S,E.I,,

    1910, and B.A.V.li.,

    1.914, pp.

    134 and 135.

    -49During t h e r e i g n of Gia Long, t h e Siamese t o o k control. of t h e Cambodian p r o v i n c e s of Melou Prey, Tonle Repou and Stung Treng, and t h e i r r u l e t h e n extencied a s f a r a s tile r i g h t barllc of t h e Melcomg soutl-2 ot: t h e Kltotle f a l l s , The former ascendancy of t h e Cambodians over tlie t r i b e s of t h e h i n t e r l a n d gradual1.y gave way t o dorninatj.011 by tl?e T ' a i p e o p l e s , n o r t h and t h e Siamese i n t h e soutliwesk. t h e L a o t i a n s i.11 t:lle

    A t around t h e same t i m e , t h a t i s , 1800, " t h e Atmamite arinies p e n e t r a tect


    i n t o t h e 11interl.and of c e n t r a l Annatn, s p r e a d i n g thei.r cont.rol. Srorir Iiue on t h e c o a s t t o tlie Meltbng and a l o n g t l ~ i sri.ve,r fro111 t h e 1.6th t o t h e 1.7th 1~acal.lel.n o r t h ; t11j.s i.ncl.uded t h e e n t i r e b a s i n of t h e r i v e r Se Rang Ilieng, t h e sl?:Lenclid nil t u r a l . r o u t e down wllicl~ ILlle Annanii. t e s advanced" (26). [:he F;e Bang Ilierig r e g i o n , f i v e d i . s t r i . c t s e s t a b l i . s l ~ o dby t h e Court o l lhre were subdi.vi.cletl i n t o n i n e inuong, i.11 whi.ch autliori.t:y was v e s t e d i n thc?
    (

    In

    I?ou 'Y'ai, who col.l.ec tetl tlic i:ri.l,ui:c treasury.

    (27) and clespat:cl~ccl i t t o t h e imper:iul.

    Tlie bu1.k of t h c revelltie carne from t a x e s on I.ztnbering i.n the 'Che r o y a l . t i e s corlti.nued t o be p a i d unti.1

    f o r e s t s of t h e Anuan~i.tc: r a n g e . tile Si.anlese i-nvasion,

    To t h e e a s t oT t h e 11i.ne m m ,

    t h e r e were n i n e

    Lt coveri.ng

    a total

    o f 6 7 Moi vi.l.l.ages under t h e juri.sclicti.on of t h e tri:-pi11

    of Can1 T,o,

    road two t o f o u r m e t e r s wide was bui1.t from Cam Lo t o t h e Mekong, p a s s i n g t l ~ r o u g l lMai\l,anlr and Lao Rao, ant1 a n o t h e r vi.a La111 13tr:i., t a n g Sen and Xuong lChanh. "Thus, t h e t r i . b e s o f Can] TLo, tlic Moi t r i b e s of Annam, and t:he S a d e t s

    of F i r e and Water brought g i f t s t o tile c a p i t a l and cariie t o pay ho~nage t o the sovereign" (28)-

    10.

    TilE ADMZNISTRRIIVE ACIIZEVEMENTS OF G I A LONG.

    TiIE TRAN MAN.

    Gia 1,ong refilsecl membership i n t h e empire t o t h e b a r b a r i a n t r i b e s oT tile rnountain r e g i o n t h a t sougitt t o j o i n ; once r e s t o r e d t o t h e a n c e s t r a l .


    .--

    (26) Maj, Nyo, "'La p Q n 4 t r a t i o n f r a n q a i s e dans l.es pays moi.," 13.S,E.I.,

    No. 2.

    (27) For Ltte cli s t r i c t oC Song l<lione, t h i s c o n s i s i e d of one e l e p h a n t , w i l h


    cacli man p a y i n g h i s sllare of trhe c o s t ,

    (28) Mdybon, "1l.i s ~ o i r e lnoderne du pays d'linna~it," p. 386.

    -50t h r o n e , t h e p r i n c e ' s f i r s t c o n c e r n was t o r e a s s e r t h i s a u t h o r i t y over t h e ' ! Moi t e r r i t o r i e s and t o resume t r a d e w i t h t h e s u b j e c t t r i b e s . He was

    a s s i s t e d i n t h i s by Le Cong Duyet, from M Duc, who had s h a r e d t h e y e a r s o of o r d e a l w i t h him i n t h e s o u t h and on whom he had t w i c e had Lo c a l l . t o quash r e v o l t s i n Nam Ngai. As always, t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l s e t - u p was f i r s t e s t a b l i s h e d i n Quang Ngai. f n 1804, i n t h e w e s t e r n p a r t of t h e p r o v i n c e , t h e k i n g founded
    '1

    c o m p l e t e l y Moi d i s t r i c t c a l l e d Tran Man, which became Lhe appanage of Lhe Nguyen Cong Toan f a m i l y of Binh Son. I n t h e r e i g n of Due Ton, thaL i b ,

    b e f o r e t h e Tay Son, Nguyen Cong Toan had won fame by r o u t i n g a body of Moi t r o o p s who were r e t u r n i n g from a r a i d wit11 t h e i r s p o i l s , and by tliits s e t t i n g f r e e many c a p t i v e s h e l d by t h e mountain p e o p l e , J u s t a s b e f o r e 1.773, Tran Man comprised f o u r l?guycn w i t h f i v e ( f r o n t i e r p r o v i n c e s ) a t Cu-ba, Dao, Phu Ba and Ba To, and s i x lcien coo Nguyen Cong Tru and Nguyen Klzac Tuan f o r t i f i e d t h e f r o n t i e r by constructri.ng f r o n t i e r posts a t s t r a t e g i c points, The t r i b u t e f i x e d by tile C o u r t , which i n c i d e n t a l l y was p a i d i n a f a i r l y r e g u l a r manner, was lowered t o i t s 1773 level., Recollecti.ons of

    tlie t r o u b l e whicll t h e ?lay Son had encountered when they h a d t r i e d t o d o u b l e t h e t r i b u t e p a i d by t h e nguyen of D Bong e f f e c , t i v e l y r u l e d o u t a any q u e s t i o n of i n c r e a s i n g t h e t a x e s . Indeed, e x c e p t f o r t h e guang Ilri.

    r e g i o n , o n l y tlte mountain p e o p l e i n t h e e a s t were subject: t o t h e t a x . "The Annamites n e v e r d a r e d t o v e n t u r e v e r y deep i n t o t h e 11interl.nnd." I n 1819, t h e y e a r b e f o r e t h e g r e a t emperor dierl, Le Van I11tyet I)og:trl t o b u i l d t h e d e f e n s i v e w a l l t o ward o f f t h e i n c u r s i o n s ol t h e nlounLairl p e o p l e ; a l t h o u g h a s a f o r t i f i c a t i o n i t was n o t p e r t i c u l a r l y s i r o n g , stx11t: t r a c e s of i t c a n s t i l l be found toddy on maps and a t i t s i i t e . One hundred and f i f t e e n p o s t s , e a c h manned by t c n s o l d i e r s , were p l a c e d a t i n t e r v a l s a l o n g t h e 90 lcm, 01 t h i s t r u o n g p r o t e c t e d by d i t c h e s and a hedge. "The Annamite c o l o n i z a t i o n was t h u s d e s t i n e d t o c o n t i n u e , more unbending t h a n e v e r , and s t i l l based on t h e same system a s itad been e~iiploye(l
    ~ L I Y ~w ,

    h i ~ hwd'.~

    e v e r s i n c e t h e c o n q u e s t of t h e Cliampa kingdom, a s y s tem which t h e Moi u p r i s i n g s had o n l y t e m p o r a r i l y been a b l e t o thwart.. The Moi withdrew

    f a r t h e r and f a r t h e r i n t o t h e mountains b e f o r e t h e c o n q u e r o r s , y i e l d i n g t h e v a l l e y s t h e y s t i l l occupied i n t h e p l a i n t o t h e , n e w arrival.^, who were more t e n a c i o u s , h a r d e r w o r k e r s , and above a l l inore p r o l . i f i c , il.ill.sides, The

    b a r e l y scratclieci by tire p r i m i t i v e d i b b l e s whicb tlie tribesmen

    u s e d , now began t o be t:urnecl over d e e p l y by Annamitc plows ( 2 9 ) , and a t t h e c e n t e r o L t h e ctllt:i-vat:ed p l o t s f i r s t one, tlien two, t h e n t e n h u t s would s p r i n g u p ; f i n a l l y , a n d , a s t i m e went on, w i t h growi.ng e a s e , a c e n t r a l longhouse o r

    &+i

    wou1.d appea.r, s y u b o l i z i r l g clle e a r l y b e g i n n i n g s of

    comn~unity l i f e i n t:he buddi.iig vil.l.nge ( 3 0 ) "

    12.

    'I'IiR VIEZI'NAML3SI3, 'I'HE CllhM AN1) TlIE MOUNTAIN PI<OPI,E OF liIN11 TI11JAN PROV TNCE.
    1'0 ClUilJN CllAN,

    Throughout t h e c1i.CEerent: t l i . s t r i c t s o f cent.ral. Anllain, from Qunng 3:ri t o soutll of Vare:ll.a, Llie Annamitos' p o l i c y of expilnsi.on cont:i.nued it.s r e g u l a r advance al.ong t l ~ cf r i n g e o f t h e niountain p e o p l e ' s terri.tory,

    Conducted wi. t:ki gi:ca t e r b r u t a l . : l t y t11i111 i.n Rintl 'Ilhuan, .i t mcl. wi.th s e t b a c k s n o t encount:erecl elsewhc.l:e. I t was a g a i . n s t t h i s background t h a t

    t h e s t o r y o f one of: tlie l a s t Clianl p r i n c e s of l?ancluranga, Po Cheun Chan, unf olcled

    .
    The l a t t e r was c o n s t r u c t e d a t B a r i n g , but i t s 'Locciti.on

    I n 1.799 Gia I.,ong had p l n c t d h i m i n commancl of a l l t h e Cliain and a1.l t h e I<oho ( S r e ) , g i v e n hi.~n tlle t i t l e of a e u lzl~im, and i n s t r u c t e d 11i.m t o bui-ld n large citadel.

    llris been Lost Lo p o s t e r i t y , W do, however, lcnow t h e name of & h e p r i n c e ' s w i r e , which was Rrah; e we a l s o know t h a t ize was t a k c n ill and withilrew t o 13'ilok Cham i n soutllern 13inh 'fl~uan. lie was n o t laclcing i n e n e r g y , howevcr, and i n d e e d o c c a s i o n a l l y

    ( 2 9 ) P, Lechesne, "1,es Moi du C e n t r e ~ n d o c t i i n o i s , " li.I., 1924.. Arnong tlie Bahnar i t was f o r a l o n g time regarded a s s a c r i k g e t o u s e a plow. A, Raudenne, I:.I., 191.3, p. 238: "Pl.ows a r e used o n l y by t h e neophytes of' t h e m i s s i o n a r i . e s The o c h e r s would f e e l bound t o o f f e r a l l k i n d s of s a c r i f i . c e s i f t h e y v e n t u r e d t o breolc tile grouild i n t h i s fashion."

    .,,.

    -52resorted t o violence.

    An Annamite mandarin found t h i s o u t t o h i s c o s t when


    These

    h e t r i e d t o r a v i s h h i s d a u g h t e r : Po Cheun Chan had him k i l l e d ,

    e v e n t s seem t o be contemporaneous wi.th tile d e a t h of Gia Long and t h e accessi.on of Minh Mang (1.820).

    I t was undoubtedly b e c a u s e of t h a t murder t h a t wRi1.e on a reconnaissallce


    t r i p i.n t h e t e r r i t o r y of t h e Chrau B a l a , i n t h e southlwest of t h e p r o v i n c e , he r e c e i v e d i n s t r u c t i o n s through a n envoy from t h e Icing t o g i v e a n a c c o u n t of liis a c t i o n s b e f o r e t h e governor. Po Cheun Chan was t o b r i n g h i s sons

    aizcl grandsons w i t h ldm; however, the Clirau s e i z e d t h e Vietnamese messenger. Al.ong w i t h t h e summons t o a p p e a r , t h e messenger had b r o u g h t g i f t s of cl.othing and r o l l s of m a t e r i a l a s a mark of t h e esteem whioh t h e Court of li~ie i n t e n d e d t o show i t s vassal.. 'The dj.eu lcIii1~1 u l y s e t o f f f o r tlie p l a i n and tlie c a p i t a l . d On 11i.s way,

    a [minor mandarin s t o p p e d llim a t Busai and had a cangue'c p l a c e d round h i s neck, a l t h o u g h i t was l a t e r o r d e r t o be removed by a more s e n i o r o f f i c i a l . tiowever, t h e p r i n c e was f o r c e d t o remain i n c a p t i v i t y f o r two months. I-te

    was t h e n s u b j e c t e d t o v i o l e n t t r e a t m e n t a t t h e hands of a c e r t a i n Ong ']'a, who was a p p a r e n t l y o u t t o e x e c u t e him. On t h e morning of t h e day s e t f o r

    t h e execut.j.on, a higl-1-ranking ol'f i . c i a l s e n t f o r t h e p r i s o n e r f o r ques t i o n i n 5 . Po Cheun Cl1a11 f i n a l l y made good h i s e s c a p e from t h e v i o l e n t c l u t c l l e s of the provincial authorities. As soon a s Re was f r e e , weary of a l l t h e s e scruggl.es, he planned t o :I.ecld 11i.s foll.owers (Cliam and mountain p e o p l e ) t o Cambodia.

    The Annamites

    t r i e d t o s t o p him, b u t a f t e r winning t h e e n s u i n g b a t t l e he was a b l e t o evade them. He f l e d t o t h e I<oho ( S r e ) and asked them what r o u t e he should The f i r s t Koho he met gave him a warm

    f o l l o w t o r e a c h Khmer c o u n t r y .

    welcoiiie, b u t a l i t t l e l a t e r a f o r c e of 200 w a r r i o r s of t h e same t r i b e - c o n c e i v a b l y a t t h e i n s t i g a t i o n of t h e Annami.tes-"attaclced 11i.m.

    A Cham

    o f f i c e r , Juk Bang, managed t o brealc through t h e l i n e , whereupon t h e Koho took t o f l i g h t . struggles. Po Cheun Chan f i n a l l y subdued them a f t e r f o u r months of

    9cT.N.:

    See W e b s t e r ' s Third I n t e r n a t i o n a l D i c t i o n a r y .

    -53I n Llle end, t h e I c ~ n goT Anna~n a u t h o r i z e d t h e exodus of t h e s e moslern


    C!ic~m tribesmell i n t h e d i r e c t i o n of Cambodia, and t h e Dong

    guided

    LLleui a s L'tr

    a s t h e Bu Svai a r e a , w h i l e J u k Bang rentdined behind w i t h t h e After repulsing a

    1Zoho Lo r a i s e Llie n e c e s s a r y b u f f d l o e s and v i c t u a l s .

    I d b l - m i t ~ u t e a t t a c k by I<olio p i l l a g e r s , t h e Cham s e t t l e d a l o n g t h e Mekong r i v e r i n t h e r e g i o n oS Kolca Bn Bran (Feam C h i l e a n g ) ; they d r e i t i i l t o be found t h e r e


    ill

    g r e a t numbers today,

    :ioine t e n y e a r s I < i t e r (around 1830), t h e Siarnese i n v a s i o i l drovc some of them toward IZompong Luong and Ldt e r S O I _ I L ~of Pli~io~tt l'enll; o t h e r s wlio

    hdd rcacllecl t he l'ay Ninh r e g i on subsequentLy movecl bdck t o Po P1.ah Ian, e a s t of 1 lt11oiig IZl~~urm, dbou 1 8 l<m, TI o Kdndol Cllrcun m dred (31). pol1uLa1 i
    011.
    d l ~ t li

    n t h a t genc;ra 1

    llie l ) l L ~ L e a u Lilt C l ~ eM LliuC, losl- a l d r g e proport ion of i t s oL a

    11 0 . T I P 1.5t l ~ '0 'l'llt? l(Al.Cl,Y 1.9t:h CDN'SLIRY : 1 11 '1

    I.,

    !YIAVE ItATIlS I n tlie ear; I:, [:he t:ri.l)es of tile l ~ i n t e r l a n d , subject- t.o t h e suzeraint:y

    of t l ~ eVietnamese,

    s y s t e m a t i c a l l y drive11 from tlw p l a i n s arid t h e f e r t i l e

    crop 3.aud ;inti t r e a t e d gurlera1l.y a s i.uferi.or bei.ngs, were tiorced t o witli-

    clraw i.n[:o iiiount.nins tllnt: were t o o f o r b i d d i n g t o tenipt t h e conquerors t o i ~ l r t h e ~ :u r s u i t . p Altliougl~ t-he c o u t r o l of t h e Aniiamites had i t s h a r s h

    s , i d e , a t l.ctast t h e irttial-~itaill:,.; of t h e p l a t e a u s benet'i-ted from t h e o r d e r

    'i.'liii

    wes l..errl part: o i [.lie iij.l~terl.nnd, on t:he o t l i e r hand, e n t e r e d on

    jii:;L

    :!s cti.sastrous and c11aoti.c n p e r i o d of t:iiej.r 1lisl:ory n s d i d t h e 'She 1 7 t h and 1 8 t h The powerful and

    ri:g%on:; i ) o r d e r i n g on t h e Mekong a t t h e same time.


    i c , n t u r i c s were
    t.0

    p r e c i p i t d t e t h e d o w n f a l l of Canil>odia,

    s l ~ l c r ~ d l l,,in X,iilg OF tlie 1 7 t h centul-y was destinecl t o be c u t u p i n t o Lour tl

    --" -- 4--"-.wp------"-

    ( 1 3 ) A y m o n ~ i ~ e r"1,6gezldes h i s t o r i q u e s charn," E. o t K., ,

    XTX, L890, p. 148.

    -54Laot.i.a~ikit~gdoms ( V i e n t i a n e , h a n g Prabang, Xieng Khouang, and Bassac). Sinm, Elrtsl~ed wi.th i t s v i c t o r y over t h c Khmers an.d Z,aol:ians, seemed poir;etl a t [:lie t n r n of t h e 1.9tll c e n t u r y tro assilme c o n t r o l . of t h e e n t i r e Mekollg I,u s i.n

    I t was tlie mount-ail] t r i b e s which paid t h e p r i c e of t h e s e upheavals.


    Fal.ling i n t o tlte Iiands oT one master a f t e r t h e o t h e r , d i s o r g a n i z e d and d e m o r a l i z e d , t h e y i u e v i . t a b l y f e l l prey t o slave-11unti.ng r a i d s by t h e I<hlners, Siamese and T,aot:ians. The more a c t i v e and b e l l i . c o s e t r i b e s - - t h e

    Ta Iioi, Sedang an.d Jarai.--joinecl i n t h e s e rcianhunts f o r t h e i r own e n d s ,


    ant1 i t was tiley who b y d e p o p u l a t i n g the Champuon r e g i o n , and t h e banks of
    [:he Se' Sari and Srepolc r i v e r s , liep t the iitarkets of T'IIIIOIII

    Penh, Banglcok,

    Attopeu, Sienlpang, Bassnc and S [ : t l ~ ~ g Treng s u p p l i e d wi.tl-I s l a v e s from t h e nioilrl t n i n r e g i o n s . l'l-~eAnnalni t es, i t i s said

    o r d i n a r i l y r e f r a i n e d Ero~n

    t11c s l a v e c r a d e , alt:hough unwary Vietnamese were some1:ilues c a p t u r e d i n t.lle b~i:ih and kept a s sl.aves.
    111

    such c a s e s , t h e y endured a i a r h a r s h e r

    a i > r v i t ~ ~ ci-llan t~lirit s13CCered by t:he rnountaitl p e o p l e who were i n c a p t i v i t y . ie 'J'lle SLi,elig .in t h e s o u t h , f o r I-lleir p a r t , were a c t i v e purveyors of sn.;1vcs.

    2.

    '1'111.: KK'I'HISA'I' OF THE l<IIHEiZS

    Harassed by tlie Arul~amites i n t h e e a s t , t h e 1,aoti.ans i n the n o r t h ,


    .rrliJ

    'thovc

    < i l l

    by r h c Sjdmese jn t h e w e s t , t h e I<limers had l o s t a l l Llteir

    ir11

    l~~cancc vvcr t h e h i n t e r l a t ~ dwhich Lhey had forrnerly donlinated dnd

    wii 1c.h I)icbc, H e l l o s o , wllcll s e a r c l ~ i n gf o r King Sotha 1 wl~ohad taken r e i u g e


    i 11

    I,,LO<,,
    11-5

    ~ o u l dst111 c r o s s Trorn tlic Annam c o a s t t o t h e Mckong (32) i n t h e By t h e

    yt'

    I - i ~ a tf o l l o w e d tile c a p t u r e of Lovek by t h e Siamese (1593).

    l,c!gi.l~ri n g of t:he 1 7 t h cen t u r y t h e 1Zhmers had l o s t c:veryt:hi.ng t h e y once i co~)~.rol.l.ed uor(:h o f t h e I<ho~tef a l l s ; t h e L a o t i a n s , d e s c e n d i n g t h e v a l l e y s
    oF tllc Se Kong ancl Sc Son, 11ad i n f i l t r a t e d everywhere when Chey C h e t t a

    ZI

    (1618-28),

    o v e r l o o k i n g t h e t h r e a t from t h e Siamese, d e s p a t c h e d a s m a l l

    I(wce of J a p a n e s e , Chinese, Pkilays and Klumers i n t h e d i r e c t i o n of Attopeu

    ( 3 2 ) 1, % : i t r e 1

    (".Jungles moi")

    s t d L e s t h a t D.

    B e l l o s o and B. R ~ t i zt r a v e l e d

    1 rom Liue t o Llie Mekong by w<~y oL t h e r i v e r Se llaizg ilicng (1536).

    -55and t h e g o l d mines h e b e l i e v e d t h e y would f i n d t h e r e , The f i r s t : e x p e d i -

    t i o n was a d i s a s t r o u s f a i l u r e , b u t t h e n e x t b r o u g h t t h e Cambodians back i n t o t h e h i n t e r l a n d and a l o n g t h e G r e a t R i v e r n o r t h of Bassac, Dutchman Van Wustllof r e p o r t e d t h e i r p r e s e n c e t h e r e i n 3.641, The

    A c e n t u r y l a t e r , around 1775, two a d v c n t u r c r s , 'l'a Seng and 'I'a Piing,


    a t t h e head of a band of Khmer s l a v e I ~ n n t e r s , s e t up b a s e i n Seng Pang (how S i c n Pang) on t l ~ elower Se IZong r i v e r , T h e i r mass r a i d s
    011

    t h e Brae

    drove them northward i n t h e t l i r c c t i o n r ; o l A t t o p c u ,

    T,atcr, a t t h e bq$nning

    o l t h c 1 9 t h c e n t u r y , some Canll3od i a l ~ sL-rom Rorlleas Ilclc who were being

    p e r s e c u t e d by tllo govcrnor o L 'I'libn~tngI(hrnu~n cirrivocl t o s w e l l t h e numbers


    oI Llle Khrners
    ill

    Siem P'ing,

    Subsecluent event r, show how i n a s h o r t s p a c e

    oL tinlc tllc Si.amesc were t o c o n v e l t t h i s Ca~nlmclian o u t p o s t i l i t o a Laot i a n

    we
    3.
    C M AL)VANClS OI" TIIE lAO'C1ANS 'L
    AL t h e b e g i n n i n g oC Lhe 28th c e n t u r y t h e Laot:i,~ns, who were esi-ab'lished

    31011g t h e SD Rdng IIicng r i v e r aud had rul.ed ovel: AL t opeu s l n c e t h c end o t h e 1 6 t h c e n t u r y , i n t e n s i f i e d t h e i r i n f i l t r a t i o n tow'lrd t h e s o u t h e a s t , a l t l ~ o u g ht h e i r aclvance n e v e r assumed t h e p r o p o r t i o n s oL a r e a l conquest.

    A t home i n t h e f o r e s t which t h e Annam.Ltc?s s o clreadcd, t h e s u b j e c t s of t h c


    k i n g of V i e n t i a n e mixed r e a d i l y w i t h t h e Sue ( c r o s s - b r e e d s of t h e [<ha and L a o t i a n s ) of t h e v a l l e y s and c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e s p r e a d of L a o t i a n customs, The Se lZong and Melcong r i v e r s brouglit- them a s f a r a s Stung Treng, whicll t h e C:ambodians, who were a l s o under a t t a c k fro111 Siam, gave up struggle.
    wj

    thout. a

    The indo1nitabIe mourltain p e o p l e , f o r t h e i r p a r t , f l e d from t h e

    s l a v e h u n t e r s and s o u g h t asylum i n t h e h i g h - l y i n g a r e a s ; t h e s t r e a m ol L a o t i a n s , s p u r n i n g t h e s e mountainous o u t c r o p s , s o u g h t o u t t h e f e r t i l e Land and c l u n g t o tlie ndvi.gable waterways,

    I n t h i s way t h e y gained c o n t r o l of

    t h e Se Don b a s i n and t h e Bolovens p l d t e a u , Pollowi.ng down from t h e Se lcong, the Se Sn r i v e r b r o u g h t t h e ' ~ ' a i e a s t w a r d i n t o t h e h e a r t of t h e t e r r i t o r y of t h e ltalang; t l t e r o t h e y l e v i e d

    -56t a x e s and c h a r g e d g o l d - d u s t f o r t h e b u f f a l o e s t h e y b r o u g h t i n t o t h e c o u n t r y . F i n a l l y t h e y s u p p l i e d t h e o f f i c i a l s w i t h L a o t i a n Crading l i c e n s e s and seals, F o r a few y e a r s , Ban Ek a c t u a l l y became t h e c a p i t a l c i t y of t h e Applying once a g a i n tlie p o l i c y t h a t had served him s o well.

    province.

    i n t h e Se Bang I-lieng r e g i o n , t h e k i n g a p p o i n t e d a n a t i v e of t h e

    chau

    In cl~arge

    aof

    Sathan,

    S t i l l f a r t h e r t o t h e e a s t , a L a o t i a n p o s t was s e t up Ln Bahnur I . e r r i t o r y on t h e r i g h t banlc of t h e 13121 r i v e r o p p o s i t e p r e s e n t - d a y I<ontunl, Zn a d d i t i o n , a

    chau muon% was

    pLaced i n c h a r g e of t h e Icon Hard r e g i o n .

    The seckang, i n c i d e n t a l l y , c r e d j t t h e L a o t i a n b w i Lh l ~ d v i n gf i r s t i n t r o ~ l u c c d tllein t o t h e a r t oL Fron-working,


    'I'o
    he sou1.11, travelling a s f a r a s t h e r i v e r S ~ ~ e p o ktlie 'l"ai founded ,

    Ban L a i n and Uan Don, among tllc Mnong. Tlms, t o l . e r a n t and b e n e f i c i a l f o r t h o s e who acceptecl i t , b u t c a t a s t r o p h i c f o r t h e r e b e l l i o u s t r i b e s m e n t h r e a t e n e d by t h e s l a v e t r a d e r s , t h e i n f l u e n c e o f tlie L a o t i a n s had spread s o u t l ~ w a r da s f a r a s tlle 1 2 t l i paralle:L and e a s t w a r d t o t h e b r i n k of t:he s c a r p f a c e ovcrhangi.ng Annam.

    4..

    STAM ANI) LAOS AT WAR

    Ilowever, si.nce 1.771 t h e King of L,aos, S a i Ong Hue, had been a t war w i t h Siarn, w1ii.ch had e n t e r e d i n t o a n a l l i a n c e w i t h t h e kingdom of Luang Prttbang and
    tit

    tacked Vient:i.ane.

    Some ol. t h e mountain peop:le n e a r t h e a p p r o a c h e s t o t h e Se Bang llieng pref:'erred t o l e a v e a l l t h e i r c h a t t e l s 'behind tllc~na n d , r a t h e r t h a n remain i n s u b j e c t i o n t o t h e L a o t i a n s , s e t t l e down i n t h e e a s t n e a r Cam Lo under t h e a u t h o r i . t y and p r o t e c t i o n of t h e Vietnamese, w h i l e o t h e r s of t h e So t r i b e , f o r t h e same r e a s o n s , c r o s s e d t h e Mekong t o t h e west and s e t t l e d i.n t h e v i c i n i t : ~of Melou Prey and Tonle Repou. i.dc:iltified w i t h t h e Kuoy of modern ti.mes. The k i n g s of V i e n t i a n e , a t g r i p s w i t h t h e Siamese, joined i n t h e exodus of t h e i r s u b j e c t s toward Cam Lo, Chereby hoping t o win tlie s u p p o r t of t h e Vietnamese. 'I'hey a r e sometimes

    A f t e r c o n q u e r i n g Melou Prey, Tonle Repou and l a t e r Stung Treng (1814) t h e SLamese a c c e p t e d t h e s u r r e n d e r of Ponhea Huk, t h e Cambodian who was t h e commander a t Siem Pang and who t h u s became t h e f i r s t Siamese v a s s a l on t h e l e f t bank of t h e G r e a t R i v e r , ou - pailat a s the The Sidmese gave him a d e p u t y or:

    o i L a o t i a n n a t i o n a l i t y c a l l e d Tliao Oun, who r e p l a c e d Ponhea Mul~ the l a t t e r died, Once a g a i n , t h e r e f o r e , b u t t:his

    chau z o l l g when

    t i m e at: t h e i n s t i g a t i o n of Si.am, Lhe inE1.uence of t h e L a o t i a n s supplancod t h a t of tile Carihocli.ans i n t h e li.Lrit:erland. sized." Tlie l a t t e r rapid3.y became "Lao-

    F o r t h e r e s t , o n l y t h e s l a v e t r a d e r s and h u n t e r s were l e f t i n
    w j LIi

    Llie I-cgion; t.he c r o p growers, s a d d l e d r e f u g e i n Bassac,

    jntolerab1.e t a x e s , had taken

    A f t e r 1.827, wheu V i e n t i a n e w ~ sa k e n , t h e p l a t e a u s fci3.l r a p i d l y i n t o t tire power of t h e Siamese, IChe Vietnamese c1i.d atternpi. L o b l o c k tile i n v a d e r s

    p r o g r e s s and on t h e f i r s t o c c a s i o n (3.828) suceeded i n d r i v i t l g Lliern baclc; l a t e r , p u s h i n g lorward a second tiiiic, t h e Si.an~esedepopulat.ed tlle r e g i o n of t h e Se Bang liiclig r i v e r , w l l e r e i l p o ~t~ e s u b j e c t s oE I-Lue r e t i r e d i n t h e h d i r e c t i o n of Carn T,o, The enemy perse.vered w i t h i t s expansion, Iiowever, and

    when, b e g i n n i n g i u 1887, t h e French i n t e r v e n e d i n support. of Annamite c l a i m s , t h e y found t h e Si.ame:;e f l a g a l l a l o n g t h e Annamite r a n g e t o a s f a r s o u t h a s t h e l a t i t u d e of Nha 'Crang ( j u s t above t h e 1 2 t h p a r a l l e l . N). Tile most i m p o r t a n t Siamese d i g n i t a r i e s were s t a r i o r i e d i n A t t o p e u , Uassac, S t u n g Treng and Oubon. Occupation by t h e Siamese proved d i s a s t r o u s f o r t h e niountain p e o p l e , The Siamese l e v i e d a t a x p a y a b l e i n g o l d ( 3 3 ) on t h e i r s u b j e c t p e o p l e s ; t h e g i f t s made t o t h e minor mandarins c o n s t i t u t e d a n a d d i t i o n a l burden, whole, p o l i c i n g was e n t r u s t e d t o L a o t i a n m i l i t i a m e n , n o t h i n g t o enliance t h e w e l f a r e oil t h e p e o p l e , On t h e

    The new r u l e r s d i d

    Mass rrtigrations took p l a c e The e n t L r e I t i n t e r -

    iron1 Laos t o Siam, w l ~ i c hwas b e i n g r a i d e d by t h e Burniese,

    l a n d was l a i d w a s t e by tile s l a v e t r a d e which was t o l e r a t e d , when n o t a c t i v e l y encouraged, s i n c e ttie o f l i c i a l s r e c e i v e d a t i t h e on t h e p r o c e e d s ,

    ( 3 3 ) Some v i l l a g e s were r e q u i r e d t o pay, i n g o l d - d u s t , t h e w e i g h t o f 2, 5 o r e i g h t g r a i n s of r i c e p e r i n l - i a b l t a n t .

    Without hope, t h e i r f i e l d s o r t h e i r f o o d - g a t h e r i n g

    (s) grouvlds

    in utter

    n e g l e c t , t h e t r i b e s l e d an e x i s t e n c e of unspeakable wretchedness.

    6.

    REVOLTS Around 1820, urged t o a c t i o n by a L a o t i a n bonze, Ya Pu ( 3 4 ) , t h e Rlao

    of t h e Se Kong r i v e r sack& Attopeu and t h e larid of t h e IIalang.

    T'he L a o t i a n

    a u t h o r i t i e s , t e ~ n p o r a r i l ythrown o f f b a l a n c e by t h e suddenness of t h e a t t a c k , .inally managed t o i s o l a t e t h e l e a d e r of t h e r e v o l t on an i n a c c e s s i b l e peak, which has been, known a s Ya Pu e v e r s i n c e . There, i.n r e t u r n f o r

    p r o v i s i o n s t h a t were brought t o him by w i l l i n g s u p p o r t e r s , the r e b e l d:i.stributed mi.rac.ulous w a t e r , st:onni.ng h i s r e t r e a t : The p o l i c e f o r c e s eventual.ly succeeded i.11
    '
    8

    Ya Pu was talcen c a p t i v e and beheaded.

    Many

    :;j.mil.ar r i s i n g s ensued; t h e f a r t h e r t h e mountain people s:i.uk i n t h e i r mi.sery, t h e more t:hey tend t o loolc f o r a "messiah" who w i l l r e s t o r e t h e i r good f o r t u n e s . W shal3. have f r e q u e n t occasi.on L.o r e v e r t t o t h i s t o p i c , e

    and we s h a l l encounter t h i s same confidence, a s enduring a s e v e r , i n t:he magic powers of a p o t i o n t h a t p r o t e c t s w a r r i o r s and wards o f f a l l d i s e a s e .

    CI3APTER V I I I
    TIIF MOUNTAIN PEOPLE FROM TIIE RESTOWfLON OF T I B

    NGUYEN LN A N M UNTIL 1859 NA


    The r e v o l t l e d by Le Van Khoi, and the wars which had preceded i t

    s t a r t i n g i n 1830--wars between Siam, Cambodia and Annam fought i n t h e t h e a t e r s of Cambodia and Cochin-China--all t h e s e upheavals r e s u l t e d , when peace came i n 1846, i.n tile e v a c u a t i o n of Cochin-China by t h e v a s t m a j o r i t y of t h e Cambodians who had l i v e d t h e r e s i n c e t h e c l o s e of t h e 1 7 t h c e n t u r y . l-lowever, one Khmer e n c l a v e remained i n t h e n o r t h e r n p a r t of t h e p r o v i n c e of Tay Ninh. (34) According Lo P. G u i l l e m i n e t , a y i s a h e r o i c demigod born of a male a o r female g e n i e and a human being. I n former times, t h e peopled t h e e a r t h and l i v e d f o x hundreds of y e a r s . They were i n v u l n e r a b l e and p o s s e s s e d e l i x i r s of f a r s u p e r i o r potency t o t h e b e s t remedies t o be had today.

    1,

    THE STXERG T h i s demographic r e v o l u t i o n a f f e c t e d t h e b o r d e r of n o r t h e r n Cochin-

    China.

    F o r two hundred y e a r s Vietnamese l e g i s l a t i o n had been a p p l i e d t o

    3 t h e s u b j e c t zone, which l a y a p p r o x i m a t e l y soutll of a l i n e between b1ui 1 0 IZe arld Nui Tho Son. From 1850 onward, Annamite i n f i l t r a t i o n i n t e n s i f i e d

    on tlie s o u t h e r n edge of t h e g e n t l e and e a s i l y a c c e s s i b l e s l o p e wliictl r i s e s al toward t h e p l a t c a u o l c e ~ ~ t r Inclochina and whose p o p u l n t i on, o r i g inal1.y S t i e n g , had long been i n f l u e n c e d by t h e Khmer occupatiolz, The S t i e n g wllose blood was p u r e s t were s i t u a t e d f a r t h e r t o Ltie n o r t h and liad ijucti a L'ormi.dahZe r e p u t a t i o n t h a t t h e y 11ave some t i ~ ~ i e s been r e f e r r e g Lo a s t h e Scdar~gof t h e souC11, l:hc i.ric:e:isant g u e r r i l l a w a r f a r e a g a i n s t t h e Mnong t r i b e s profit:ed t h e s l a v e d e a l e r s more thali anyone el.se, Bands of Stierig t:ribesmon

    v e n t u r e d beyond tlie Che M p l a t e a u i.n s e a r c h of I;op o r T,at: capti:ves wllicll a they brought back from tlie Upper I ) o ~ ~ n a i .o r s a l e i n Cautbodia, and i n f C:ocl~i~?-CtiFna, o o , t
    111

    IZratie t h e s l a v e t r a d e was recognized t o s u c h an

    extent: t l t a t t h e Khmer government imposed a l e v y of 6 f r a n c s f o r every a c a p t i v e s o l d i n t h e c i.t y ' s s l a v e m rice t, On e i t l i e r s i d e of t h e Song Be val.l.ey and of tlte secl:i.on of t l ~ eprcscnj: lioute 1 3 t l i a t 1x111s p a r a l l e l t o i t , t:l~e primi.t.:i.ve t r i b e s , who hat1 up
    t:o

    t h e n bee11 plundered by axid conipel1,ed I:o i n t e r b r e e d wit.11 tllc Calulbodi.ans, t h e Cham a n d tlie Clie M ~ I , I ~ c n c e f o r w a r dnlet t h e same f a t e o t t h c hands of t h e Anna11iit:es.
    It1

    t l ~ i sway, t h e 'I'io Ma, Che Ma, Uudeh, Prezlg, Nonp, B i e t

    B e l e n and R i e t Bunur, a t l e a s t t h o s e c l . o s e s t t o t h e d e l t a , l o s t what few distincti..r7e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s t h e y 111ight s t i l l have r e t a i n e d , The crearru of

    t h e s e t r i b e s was s u b s e q u e n t l y skinmed o f f by tile Artnamite w o o d - d e a l e r s and tradesmen whose a v a r i c e was not- tempeued by even nominal s u p e r v i s i o u , liowcver, a l t h o u g h Cochi.n-China a t t h i s time r e c e i v e d Moi s l a v e s e i t h e l .

    -60-

    from t h e S t i e n g o r b o n g h i n t e r l a n d , o r from Hinh Thuan o r lClianh IIoa ('35),

    it must b e acknowledged t h a t by and l a r g e t h e c o u n t r y was s p a r e d t h e


    s c o u r g e of s l a v e - t r a d i n g , wllicli was r e p u g n a n t t o t h e Annaniit eb

    None-

    t h e l e s s , a s I-Ienri. M a i t r e p o i n t s o u t , "The p c a c e f u l i w a s i . o n of Lhe Annarnl.tes, who l e f t n o t h i n g behind them b u t d e g e n e r a t e d r e g s r i d d l e d w i t h a l c o h o l and c o n t a g i o u s d i s e a s e s and s a d d l e d w i t h t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e yoke, was i n f a c t f a r more damaging t o t h e Moi t h a n t h e b r u t a l r a i d s by t h e J,aof.ians and Cambodians. A g a i n s t t h i s backdrop 01 unbri.dled c u p i d i t y , on1.y a c a t h o l i c m i s s i o n , which was e s t a b l i s h e d a!: Brolam (36) around 1.851, appeared t o be i n s p i r e d by c h a r i t a b l e mol'ives,
    I t was d e s t i n e d t o be r a z e d t o t h e ground d u r i n g

    Llte revolt- of Pou Go~nbo i n 1865,

    The rebe:Llious muvement l e d by Lo Van IChoi i n CochL~z-Ch:i~la had r e p e r c u s s i o n s i n Hinh Tlzuan and, i n Clzam t e r r i t o r y .
    In 7.833, Tlla Va, a

    nloslem from Ninh Thuan p r o v i n c e , l e d a n u p r i s i n g of tile S r e and t h e Chrau the~:e. WLf:Il.in eiglzt d a y s t h e AnnamLtes had s t i f l . e d t h e movement, and 'The Chn~n, 11el.d r e s p o n s i b l e E0.r t h e

    c a p t u r e d an.d e x e c u t e d i t s r i n g l e a d e r . r e v o l t , were once a g a i n dec:i.rrlated. t h e province.

    These r e p r i s a l s were a d i s a s t e r f o r

    I t was t h e n t h a t t h e S r e and t h e Chrau, who had come down

    t o t h e p l a i n s i.n answer t o TZla Va's c a l l , r e t u r n e d f o r good t o t h e i r niountaizis, taki.ng w i t h them t h e t r e a s u r e s of t h e former k i n g s of t h e Chalnpa, which t h e y c o n c e a l e d and k e p t i n t h e f o r e s t .
    . ,

    (35) The French t r o o p s found Mnolig s l a v e s a t Sadec and Long Xuyen i n 1874; c h i l d h u n t i n g was o r g a n i z e d a l o n g t h e hanks of t h e Song lie. (36) F a t h e r Addmar, "T,es S t i e n g de ~ r o l a l n , " i n " V a r i Q t k s s u r l e s Moi," p. 125 e t seq. F. AzQmar a l s o compiled t h e f i r s t Sti.eng dictionary. The e f f o r t s of F a t h e r Azdmar had been preceded i n 1770 by a n a t t e m p t . t o e s t a b l i s h a m i s s i o n by F. .lugnet, who d i e d of e x h a u s t i o n a l o n g t h e I'relc ChhTong, a n o t h e r by I?. F a u l e t , who l e f t u s a few o b s e r v a t i o n s on S t i e n g customs, and a t h i r d by F, G r i . l l e t , who i:ravel.ed a b o u t 4 0 mi.les The i.~it~ab:i.t:ant:sd i d n o t t a k e readi.1.y t o b e i n g throzlgl~S t i e n g count:ry. converted. In F. Azkmar's view, t h i s t r i b e seemed i:o be h o s p i t a b l e , and l a z y and v a g r a n t r a t h e r t h a n w a r l i k e ; however, i t wannly welcomed d e f e n s i v e w a r s s i n c e a n a t t a c l c p r o v i d e d a good m o t i v e f o r r e p r i s a l s l a t e r . War The j u s t i . f i e d p i l l a g i n g , and t h e c a p t u r e and s a l e of women and chi.ldren. S t i e n g , F. AzBmar goes on, s u f f e r from i.ncorri.gi.ble l a c k oE f o r e s i g h t : e a c h y e a r p a r t of t h e h a r v e s t i s used i n making alcohol. and e a c h y e a r famine They work i r o n , grow a l i t t l e c o t t o n , lcnow how t o f i r e c r u d e results. p o t t e r y , and u s e t h e same t i n d e r - b o x a s i s found among tlie Meo. A c c o r d i n g t o P a t t e , 13rolam may b e l o c a t e d i n t h e n o r t h of Loc Ni.nh, n e a r Budop c l o s e t o t h e f o r k i n t h e p r e s e n t Saigon-Snoul r o a d , (Contd. a t f o o t of n e x t page)

    I n t h e p r o v i n c e s of Binh Thuan, Phan Rang and Khanh Hoa (Thuan Khanh) t h e Vietnamese e x t e n d e d t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e s y s t e m which t h e y had f i r s t d e v i s e d i n Quang Ngai, preeminently a s taxpayers, i n Khanh IIoa, and The mandarins of Hue viewed t h e Moi

    I'll3 jig

    i n Birili Thuan, p a t 3 " ~ and $2 2

    nguyen i n Ltie Nirih Ifoa r e g i o n c o l l e c t e d tlte t a x The Khade of

    and passed tlie p r o c e e d s on t o t h e p r o v i i i c i a l a u t l i o r i t i e s , t h e DarZac p l a t e a u were r e q u i r e d t o pay a r o y a l t y of 800 i n l i e u of any o t h e r t a x ,

    & 01 bccswax

    Everywhere, however, t h e t a x c o Z l e c t o r s doubled

    a s pedl.ars and, t:lio~.igh tcclinica1l.y p r o h i b i t e d t o a l l b u t t l ~ ca g e n t s l i c e n s e d by t h e Annarni.l-e yovernmeiiL, t r a d e w i t h t h e mountain p e o p l e was p r o f i tab:le busl.net;s. Il'lre eilorinou:j profl. t. w l ~ i c h t h e t r a d e r s ~nade on L:llc

    s a l e of s a l t : , eart:hi?~iware, gongs and c o t t o n guods, was inocc 1:llan doub:Lcxi by t h e e x o r b i t a i l t cluant:.i.l:les oll f o r e s t produce wliicll t h e y dernanded in

    I n Pllu Yen and Bin11 llinh t h e t a x p a i d by t h e mountajn p e o p l e was c o l l e c t e d by


    1.11~

    viJ.J.age c h i e f s .

    3.

    S N PIIONG O Quang Ngai had been t h e s c e n e of t h e f i r s t experimerltaL atteznpts by

    t h e C o u r t ok tlue

    LO

    d e v i s e a n a d n ~ i n i s t r a t i v esystem whereby i t cou1.d 'Chis had g i v e n r i s e t o t h e T r a n Man i n t h c

    c o n t r o l t h e mountain t r i b e s . r e i g n oE Gi.a Long.

    I3ut t h e mountain p e o p l c of Quang Ngai a r e u n r u l y ,

    I t proved

    d i f f i c u l t t o c o l l e c t t h e t a x e s , and r e b e l L i o n was brewing,

    '"rile

    f r o n t i . e r v i l l a g e s were t h e n d e v a s t a t e d by i n c u r s i o n s launched by t h e tribesmen. of t h e e i g h t Most of t h e s e v i l l a g e s were abandoned. (regi.ments) was v e r y d e f i e i e n t 1 ' ( 3 7 ) . 'ihe t r o o p s t r e n g t h

    (Note 36 c o n t . Lran f o o t of p r e c e d i n g page) M d i t r e p l a c e d Brolam 1 8 km WW of Budop, t h a i i s , slight:2y t o l11e c,tbt S of t h e p o i r t t i n d i c a t e d by P a t t e , 011 t h e 1:400,000 road xilap t h i s s p o t i s now niarlced by ICohor B r e t M a i t r e d e s c r i b e d t h e S t i e r t g h u t s : "'Chey s t a n d on p i l e s , and zesemblc t h e h u t s of t h e J a r a i , e x c e p t t h a t t h e p a r t i t i o n s , i n s t e a d oS b e i n g a t with i t . " r i g h t d u g l e s t o t h e f l o o r , forin a v e r y pronounced ubLuse a l ~ g l e

    (37) "Phu
    seq,

    Md11

    'l"11)

    Luc.," by 'l'ieu pliu su (Ng. Thanti), R , 1 , ,

    1904, p. 4Sb c l

    -52-

    I n 1842 the

    $& &

    (gE l w e n

    Ninh b e l i e v e d h e c o u l d p u t a n end

    t o i t by Cerror,
    and peace,

    Thirty mountfain n a t a b l e s , t r i c k e d by p r o m i s e s o f pardon

    came down to b%8hAn,

    T1.mi.r throaks ware proluptly s J . l t on t h e


    'the n l a j o r i t y of Lhe tribe!;

    vary daorsrey o f the Vietnamlir~etznding agant,


    thereupon

    refused t o pay CheLr taxas,

    Wax wna declarad immedintaly*

    In

    1844,

    a Pew v i a t ~ z i e eby eka Vieenarnwe r a ~ ~ r c ~ c d peace,

    'In an o f f a r t

    a C appeaa@inentr, tha tlatk@rLtlae eirL the r~mnbwr o f t h ~.trl mL2J Bary pusLa,
    hackad clew&% h e a p s protee &Lag @he the

    &, and

    tll~banclslrl the r n l 1 , F t i a s
    wslct

    A ~ c a ~nine year@ Eytcar, kewevar, i n 1853, the aetnnLry l ;

    agrr l n up Lm

    arma,
    clis'trrii

    Whan a r o d u a r i o n i n &lie total rnxca tn 1,320 f Lgnburau SnLlod to


    ilie

    sgvol t

    b110 Botirl, ctf

    fiue coaorted t o Larco: 80

    ix@w

    19nsl.s wblre

    I ~ u i l t l o retn1'orcu the 7 1 w11Lcl1 h a d been rotalnocl i r x 1,844,

    'l'lre ;4u[hur113c!13

    wcre r o u z ~ t l n g011 500 r e c r u L t ~ , ZevLed Ln t h e I r n n t L o r r o g f o n , L o pi~cLl"y Lhc c n ~ t z L ~ y , but t h e l r c t n c - t i r e u r o of T r a n Tru, t h e mandarlti whom [.lie C o u r t had charged w i t11 p u n i s h i n g t h e i n s u r g e n t s , l o s t t h r e e b d t t l e s i n t11e I,arlg-y r c g l on,

    In 1.855, t h r e e y e a r s b e f o r e t h e f i r s t Prencli a t t e m p t Lo t a k e Da
    Nang (Tnurnne), t h e r e w a s a m i l i C a r y o p e r a t i o n a g a i n s t Minb Long t h a t a t f i r s t seemed c e r t a i n
    LO

    s u c c e e d , b u t t h e Vietnamese were d e e p l y t r o u b l e d As t h e column

    by the b r u s h , which t o them was l i o s t i l e and f u l l of g e n i e s . wound back on


    j Lse

    11, " t h e w h i s p e r i n g of t h e b r e e z e and t h e c r i e s of t h e

    bwansl' (38) s m e d p a n i c among t h e r a n k s , and t.he s o l d i e r s k i l l e d e a c h o t h e r i n t h e dark. I n 1859, t h e b a t t l e s a t f i r s t began t o t a k e a heavy t o l l of t h e mountain p e o p l e , and t h e r e g u l a r t r o o p s advanced a s f a r a s Nuoc To i n t h e h i g h l a n d s , which had r e s i s t e d a l l a t t a c l c s up t o t h e n , Once a g a i n , however, t h e

    Annamites cllowed t h e m s e l v e s t o b e t a k e n unawares, and t h e campaign c o s t them many arms, men and o f f i c e r s .

    In 1863, f i n d i n g hilnsnsclf a t g r i p s i n Cochin-China w i t b t h e French


    e x p e d i t i o n a r y f o r c e which, a f t e r t a k i n g Saigon, had e x t e n d e d i t s c o n t r o l t o t h e e a s t e r n p r o v i n c e s of Cochin-China, H M .. Tu Duc, a n x i o u s t o r e s t o r e

    c a l m t o c e n t r a l Annam, d e c i d e d t o a c c e p t t h e s e r v i c e s of Nguyen Tran, t h e

    (38) I b i d , p. 456 e t seq.

    a n s a t i n T h a i Nguyen i n a T t a i province of Tonkin.

    This mandarin was

    i n s t r u c t e d t o "subdue t h e Moi by f o r c e of arms and o r g a n i z e t h e country.'' He was given s i x y e a r s i n which t o accomplish t h i s t a s k . The s i t u a t i o n

    had by then reached a p o i n t where i t was necessary t o o r g a n i z e a powerful r e p r e s s i v e column. Nguyen Tran was a d i r e c t descendant of Nguyen Cong Toan, t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r of t h e Tran Man; h o l d i n g t h e rank of t i e u phu s u , h e was n o t merely a n e x c e p t i o n a l m i 1 i t a r y man; i n a d d i t i o n , h i s assignmelit gave him a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o show h i s s k i l l s a s a p o l i t i c i a n and a d m i n i s t r a t o r . Annam

    owes t o him t h e i d e a o f t h e Son phong, of which h e remained t h e c h i e f u n t i l h i s d e a t h and which was i m i t a t e d a s f a r a s t h e b o r d e r s of CochinChina and a l l . a l o n g t h e f r o n t i e r t h a t s e p a r a t e d the Annamite l a n d s from t h e t r i b e s of t h e h i n t e r l a n d . I n a d d i t i o n , he was t h e founder of a

    d y n a s t y ; f i r s t h i s s o n Nguyen Do, then h i s grandson Van Minh, t h e son-inlaw of H M .. T11anh Thai, succeeded him i n h i s p o s t u n t i l t h e Son Phong The l e s t of t h e s e g r e a t mandarins wrote a d l s s e r t a -

    was a b o l i s h e d i n 1904,

    t i o n t h a t i s i n d i s p e n s a b l e Eor anyone wishing t o s t u d y t h e Son PIiong (39). "The Son Phong i s a n e x t r a o r d i n a r y j u r i s d i c t i o n . Its principles a r e

    s t r i c t l y m i l i t a r y , and i t d i d n o t assume t h e d i r e c t c o l l e c t i . o n of t h e t a x e s p a i d by t h e Moi u n t i l tho a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of Nguyen Thanh, when i t d i d s o by s e t t i n g up t h e

    a The .

    Son Fhong remained t h e a l n ~ o s te x c l u s i v e

    appanage o r one landowning Eamily because of t h e s e r v i c e s i t had rendered." This i i l s t i t u t i o n operntecl under t h e d i r e c t c o n t r o l of t h e c e n t r a l government.
    It covered t h e e n t i r e province of Quang Ngai., t h e r e g i o n of

    Tra M (cinnamon), i n Quang Nam, and extended throughout t h e h i n t e r l a n d of y n o r t h e r n Binh Dinh, THE MILITARY ACCOWLISWNTS O THE SON PHONG F The t i e u phu su r a i s e d 3,600 r e g u l a r t r o o p s and s t r e n g t h e n e d t h e i r ranks w i t 1 1 p a r t i s a n s . He e l i m i n a t e d t h e g i a o d i c h ( t a x c o l l e c t o r s ) and

    (39) R. P. Durand, "Les Moi du Son-phong," R.I., 1907, pp, 1055-58. Haguet, "Notice etlinique s u r l e s Moi de l a r k g i o n d e Quang Ngai, R.I., 1905, p. 1419 e t seq. Maj. Nyo, "PBnktration E r a n ~ a i s ee n pays 1937, No. 2 , yp. 45-67 (and l map). T r i n q u e t , "Poste moi," B,S.E.I., a d m i n i s t r a t i f d e Lang Ri," R.1., 1908, I T , p, 346 e t seq. (and 4 good maps). Laborde, "Monographic d e l a province de Quang Ngai," B.A,V.II., 1925, pp. 153-192, and above a l l "Phu Man Tap Luc," R.I., 1904, p, 456 e t seq.

    -64c a n c e l l e d a whole y e a r ' s taxes. Subsequently, he e s t a b l i s h e d t h r e e (and

    l a t e r f o u r ) l a r g e f o r t i f i e d s t a t i o n s under t h e command of M Duc, t h e o m i l i t a r y and p o l i t i c a l c o r e of t h e d i s t r i c t . Prom Tra My (Quang Nam) t o

    Chi Doc (Dinh Dinh) a b o u t t e n f o r t s were c o n s t r u c t e d , To a s s i s t him, t h e c h i e f had a s t a f f composed of a n i n s p e c t o r - g e n e r a l , 'd a & d%c, two chau l a n h b i n h ( d i v i s i o n a l ) , and two pho l a n h b i n h ( c o r p o r a l s ) . The c o u n t r y was d i v i d e d i n t o two comands: Nghia Bien (Quang Ngai and s o u t h e r n Quang Nan?), comprising 7 regiments and 7 f o r t s , and Dinh Bien ( n o r t h e r n Binh Dinhy, conrprising 3 regiments. The recommendations i s s u e d t o t h e f i e l d o l f i c e r s g i v e q u i t e a n a c c u r a t e i d e a o f t h e p r i n c i p l e s u n d e r l y i n g t h e p o l i c y oL t h e Son Phong: "Sound icnowiedge of Llle mountain people, c i r c u ~ n s p e c t i o n , and s o l i c i t u d e , b u t a l s o unwavering f i r m n e s s i n c e r t a i n cases. (40) "1Ceep your o p e r a t i o n s s e c r e t ; do n o t a l l o w t a x e s t h a t a r e overdue t o remain i n Llie c o C l e r s of t h c c o l l e c t o r s , h a r v e s t t h e i r crops. I f t h e mountain t r i b e s a t t a c k ,

    On t h e o t h e r hand, once t h e enemy has been d e l e a t e d ,

    d i s t r i b u t e food and c l o t h i n g , and have t h e s i c k taken c a r e of.

    1 f they

    do n o t resume t h e i r t a x payments t h e n , cut: down t h e i r r i c e ; b u t , t u r n i n g t h e well-known l o y a l t y of t h e t r i b e s of t h e h i n t e r l a n d t o good account, always a c t i n a n u p r l g h t manner. Keep your word; i f r e b e l s s u r r e n d e r , The ~ h u was aware su

    do n o t demand r e p a r a t i o n f o r e d r l i e r misdeeds."

    o t h e couragc of t h e Moi: "They s l a s h t h e i r t h i g h s and hold a burning C c o a l on t h e LZal of t h e j r hand w i t h o u t a murmur. Those of t h e mount air^

    regiolls a r e w e i l lcnown f o r t h e i r u n r u l y n a t u r e ; t h e i r g a i t i s l i g h t and a g i l e , l i k e t h e speed of w h i r l i n g l i g h t n i n g , a c c o r d i n g t o Vuong I(hoi, a p o e t of t h e Ilan e r a . "Without a sovelrign and w i t h o u t any form of government, t h e s e Moi inhabit impenetrable regions. N a t u r a l l y given t o a c t s of h o s t i l i t y and I f we u s e e n e r g e t i c means

    a g g r e s s i o n , t h e y l i v e by p i l l a g e and plunder.

    t o subdue them, they f l e e ; i f we a t t e m p t t o win them over by a p p e a l i n g t o (40) "Phu Man Tap Luc," R.I., 1904,

    -65t h e i r emotions, t h e y become i n s o l e n t , I f we k i l l any of them t h e y w e a r

    h a t r e d , and i f we a r e magnanimous, they show no g r a t i t u d e . "The taslc c a l f s f o r a n e n e r g e t i c approach, and faint-hearted a c t s must be shunned. The commander-in-chief of t h e e x p e d i t i o n must be a

    resourceful. man, w e l l loved by h i s men, f a i r , a s generous w i t h h i 6 rewards a s he i s h a r s h i n h i s punishments, Be must p l a n h i s o p e r a t i o n s w i t h

    c a r e , and r e c o n n o i t r e roads and p a t h s w e l l , i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e p o s i t i o n of t h e enemy's h i d e o u t s ; he must s t r a i n h i s s o l d i e r s i n t h e u s e of r a t t a n s h i e l d s , j a v e l i n s , arquebuses and cannons, and i n w i e l d i n g t h e s c y t h e , because c l u b s , s a b r e s and l a n c e s a r e o i no use." By 1866-67 t h e t i e u phtl nu had subducd a l l Lhe Moi T h u o ~w i t h t h e excepl-ion o i t h o s e i n Nuoc To and Nuoc Xanh, whi.cll, t o g e t h e r Cia and Coi Nam, formed tl.le Ldng-y region.
    wit.11

    Nuoc

    'I'hese peoplc "prolecl.ei1 by

    t h e i r mountain f a s t n e s s e s , s t i l l showed t h e ~ n s e l v e s Lo be indomitable." 13y 1869 t h e u p r i s i n g had been comnp3 e t e l y q u e l l e d . PLSCAL KEORGhNXZATiON The

    &2

    began by s u p p r e s s i n g t h e &o

    dich, trading agents

    and t a x c o l 1 e c t o r s d o c ted from among t h e luountain people themselves. T h e i r d u t i e s were thereupon talcen over by ton_g nguon under tlie d i r e c ti011 of Lhe Vietnamese c a n t o n c h i e f ; i n o t h e r words, t a x g a t h e r i n g became all A n n , ~ a ~ i taef f a i r , Following i t l s t r u c t i ons l r o ~ nt h e tong

    M ,

    tile dau muc, cllosen from t h e mountain people, and t h e s a c h Lruong, who were r a t h e r l i k e mayors, were 111adc r e s p o n s i b l e f o r d e l i v e r i n g t h e t a x monies (1,350 l i g a t u r e s , i n s t e a d of 1,470, f o r t h e e n t i r e t e r r i t o r y of t h e Son Plnong) t o t h e torlg npuon. t h e cac l a i . h$c - of 't'he t a x e s payable i n kind were brought i n by

    As i t happened, t h e t i e u phu su had imposed a t a x of 1,200

    paddy; t h e o r i g i n a l t r i b u t e of one m i l l i o n l e n g t h s of r a t t a n was

    l a t e r abolished. NfMINISTXATLVE KEOKGANIZKrION Tlie Tlia ngu and thua b i e n were e l i m i n a t e d , and t h e d i s t r i c t was s p l i t i n t o four

    chau

    ( d i s t r i c t s ) i n 1887 (Ha Tinh and Tra My, Ng11i.a Hanh, Duc

    Pho, and Bong Son).

    -66T h e i r c h i e f , t h e t r i chau, was a s s i s t e d by f i v e o f f i c i a l s . Under

    h i s o r d e r s h e had Annamite chanh t o n g and pho tong, i n a d d i t 3 o n t o

    tol?g

    M,

    c a n t o n c h i e f s , who were i n command of "montagnard" dau m c ,

    and of sac11 t r u o n g , r a t h e r s i m i l a r t o mayors i n f u n c t i o n , and a l s o of "montagnard" o r i g i n . Whether o r n o t t h e dau muc and t h e s a c h trt10118 were

    t r a c t a b l e depended on t h e i r mood a t any g i v e n tirne. The formed appendages t o , r a t h e r t h a n i n t e g r a l p a r t s o f , t h e

    p r e f e c t o r a l a d m j n i s t r a t i o n ; t h e t r i chau, a l t h o u g h r e s i d i n g i n t h e same ci.vi'l. t e r r i t o r y a s t h e p r o v i n c i a l mandarins, were o n l y p e r m i t t e d t o d i s c h a r g e t h e i r f u n c t i o n s w i t h i n t h e p r e c i s e l i m i t s oC t h e i r powers, which i n e v i t a b l y gave r i s e t o o c c a s i o n a I L r i c t i o n (41). Tn o t h e r words, w i t h i n t h e p r o v i n c e t h e Annamites were a d m i n i s t e r e d by t h e p r o v i n c i a l mandarins; only t h e c h a u and t h e i r a s s i s t a n t s were

    charged w i t h t h e arlminis t r a t i o n of t h e mountain people.

    TRADE AND COMMERCE


    B a r t e r markets known a s truong were opened by o f i i c i a l o r d e r Indeed,

    c l o s e t o e a c h t;ong nguon; t h e y a t t r a c t e d few p e o p l e , however.

    a l l . t r a d e and b u s i n e s s was r e s e r v e d t o Lhe a g e n t s of t h e Son Phong, who s u b l e t t o each tong t h e mountain r e g i o n . As everywhere e l s e i n t h e h i n t e r l a n d , t h e penLars imported s a l t , e a r t h e n w a r e , g l a s s b e a d s and t r i n k e t s , c o t t o n goods, e t c . , b u t a l s o gongs, t h e r i g h t t o t r a d e I n one o r more v i l . l a g e s i n

    s i n c e only t h e Moi, who were u n a b l e t o malce them, knew how t o t u n e them. The highl.ands y i e l d e d cagle-wood, i v o r y t u s k s and r h i n o c e r o s h o r n s , The Ta ICua of Son

    b u t above a l l cinnamon Lrorn Quang Ngai and Tra My.

    Tho, Son Thuan, and Soxi Bong, who spoke a d i f f e r e n t l a n g u a g e , l i v e d i n liouses of a n u n u s u a l s h a p e and had s p e c i a l i z e d i n g a t h e r i n g cinnamon. I a Ciong (Sedang) a l s o grew i t , d l t h o u g h tlley p r e f e r r e d t o r a i d t h e Ta C Kua v i 1Lages once Ll~e l a 1 Lcr had g,lr~iered t.heir h'lrvesl The

    'Trade i n cinnamon, which had been f r e e under Cia Long, became t h e monopoly of t h e r o y a l f a m i l y
    (112).

    Minh Mang placed h i s b r o t h e r Kien A n

    (43.) F. Durand, "Le son-Phong," R.I., 1907. (42) The p r o v i n c e of udng Ngai and t h e d i s t r i c t of T r a M (Quang Nam) y
    produce a l m o s t a 1 1 t h e cinnamon e x p o r t e d t o China.

    Frc. 7

    -67i n c h a r g e of i t , and t h e l a t t e r ' s a g e n t s , o r &h_ t r u s t t o t h e i r descendants.

    e, passed
    & i &

    on t h e i r

    I n t h e early years, these

    & grew

    r i c h without r e s o r t i n g t o dishonesty i n t h e i r trading.

    But t h e i r r o v i n g

    a g e n t s , t h e l a i buon, f e l l b a d l y i n t o d e b t t o t h e Chinese b u y e r s , who then quickly cornered t h e market, A f t e r t h a t , t h e cinilainon t r a d e gave A f t e r a copious meal, t h e c r o p Whilc t h e v i l l a g e r s c a r o u s e d ,

    r i s e t o such abuses a s t h e f o l l o w i n g :

    was g e n e r a l l y purchased p r i o r Lo c u t t i n g .

    t h c c o o l i e s , a c t i n g on o r d e r s from t h e c o l l e c t o r s , s e t about s t r i p p i n g t h e b a r k a t random from t h e r e s e r v e p l o t s a s w e l l , w i t h o u t k e e p i n g w i t h i n t h e boundary l i n e s ' t h a t had been marked out. The mountain p e o p l e , who

    had o f t e n r e c e i v e d n o t h i n g b u t an advance a g a i n s t t h e h a r v e s t , t h e n discovered the lraud. Skirrnishcs were LhereEore f r e q u e n t a t Tra M and y

    Pliuoc Son, t h e n~ajrlc i n ~ z a n r om ~ r k e t s , ancl a t Tinh Son, Plru 'Yhanh Gia and ~a
    1.0 Dong, t h e secolldary m a r k e t s .

    I n summary, t h e most realistic e s t i m a t e s p u t t h e t r a d e r s ' p r o f i t on e x p o r t s a t 25 t o 30 p e r c e n t , b u t t h e p r o f i t t h e y e x t o r t e d lrom imports was t h r e e times a s l a r g e , S a l t , which i t 1 terms of volume a c c o u n t e d f o r

    t h e b u l k of s a l e s t o t h e mountain p e o p l e , was s o l d t o then1 f o r a t l e a s t twice the p r i c e paid f o r i t a t t h e coast. W i t h i n t h e b o u n d a r i e s of t h e d i s t r i c t of t h e Son Phong, s l a v e r y was p r o l l i b i t c d , a s were a l s o t h e system (food g a t l e r i n g ) ancl t h e t r a n s -

    m i s s i o n o i messages by beacons and gong-heating (43). Iienri M a i t r e d e p l o r e d t h e f a c t t h a t " t h e most e n c h a n t t n g of Indoc h i n a ' s w i l d r e g i o n s was r u i n e d by t h e Son ~ h o n g . " THE TRIBES OF THE IIIGICLAND P ~ A T E A U S SEDANG, RAHNAR, J.AR1, RIWE, ETC, : From 1827 onward, t h e Siamese i ~ l v a s i o nf a v o r e d a n a r c h y among t h e mountain p e o p l e and t h e d i s p e r s i o n of t h e t r i b e s . The more b e l l i g e r e n t

    4.,

    anlong them took a d v a n t a g e of t h i s s t a t e of a f f a i r s t o s t e p up t h e i r r a i d s and s l a v e - t r a d i n g a c t i v i t i e s . Some of them, i n p a r t i c u l . a r t h e Sedang and

    J a r a i , d r o v e back t h e i r n e i g h b o r i n g t r i b e s and s e i z e d what good l a n d they could. The two s k e t c h e s a t t a c h e d ( s e e f a c i n g page 46 o f t h e o r i g i n a l )

    show how t h e J a r a i and Arap and some of t h e ~ o d r u n gs e t upon t h e Bahnar, -

    (43) F. Durand, "Les Moi du Son-Phong," R.I.,

    1907,

    -6 8who were f o r c e d t o abandon t h e l e f t bank of t h e Rrong Bla and withdraw o n t o t h e r i g h t bank, g i v i n g up t h e s o u t h e r n p a r t of t h e l u s h p l a i n watered by t h e middle r e a c h e s o f t h e Krong B3.a and by t h e M Tung. o F a t h e r Dourisboure d e p i c t s (44) t h e J a r a i Rodrung a s b e i n g p a r t i c u l a r l y w a r l i k e and more given t o c r u e l t y t h a n t h e o t h e r mouritain t r i b e s . Con-

    trol.l.ing r i c h va'l.leys, t h e y l e f t t h e i r wo~nenfolk t o c u l t i v a t e them and c o n c e n t r a t e d on what seemed t o thein t h e o n l y o c c u p a t i o n s t r u l y worthy oE w a r r i o r s : r a i d i n g t h e Bahnar, k e e p i n g t h e i r p r i s o n e r s a s s l a v e s , o r s e l l . i n g them on t o t h e Laoti.ans. T h e i r incursS.ons n e v e r t h e l e s s liad one

    beneficial. s i d e - e f f e c t : tlic Balinar a d m i t t e d l y l o s t e x c e l l e n t l a n d a s a


    r e s t r l t , wliich was tlien l e f t i d L e , b u t a f t e r al.ways leadi.ng a s c a t t e r e d cxi.stcnce tliey came t o rec:ognize t h e advantages of unit:i.ug f o r t h e i r conunon deltensc?; they s e t t l e d down toget:he.r banlt o.C t h e ])la.

    i n vill.ages along the r i g h t

    The Uahnar t r i b e t h u s a c q u i r e d cohesion.

    A f t e r be.i.ng s e t upon by t l i e i r forrncr a l l i e s , t h e IIodrung, (:he . l a r i a h : a p I:urnecl a g a i n s t t h e Ilalang (who worked i r o n , but: ~ r i n c i p a l l ypanned

    t h e r i v e r b e d s . f o r g d ) and t h e Cliorn Puon, wlio r e c e d e d - - t h e beyond che ' k n g Mrai Mts.,

    f i r s t norttlward

    and t h e o t l i e r s between t h e Se San and Srepok lower Dale 1Cri.eug n o r t h o f Sa~nbor ( t h e

    r i v e r s , i.ndeeci even a s f a r a s !:lie

    I<.roi a r c a n oECs11oot of t h e Chorn Puon, a l t h o u g h tl1e.i.r d i . a l e c t h a s s i n c e untlecgone laimer :influence)

    Fillal.ly, j u s : a t tile time t:lie Jarai.-Arap were f i.ghti.ng a g a i n s t the I Ual~~iirr, tilie 'I.iit:L:c!r were a1:iraclied from t h e n o r t h by t h e r e d o u b t a b l c Sedang, anci i t was on3.y thankx t o t h e be1.p of t h e Frencli t n i s s i o n a r i e s t h a t they were a b l e t o ward o f f t h e i n v a s i o n . The Sedang t h e n t u r n e d a g a i n s t t h e

    Brao, w110 were f o r c e d t o e m i g r a t e westward, s o u t h of t h e Se Su r i v e r , Raids by tlic J a r a i compelLed tllc B i e t t o l e a v e t h e a r e a t h e y occupied, a f l:er whiclx tliey s e t t l e d some 50 km. e a s t of ICrat.i.e, Y:hrough Zornphat a n ~ iBan D o n , wi.Ct~Mnong of Prek Y'e. t h e J a r a i . mai.ntained t r a d i n g rel.ati.ons

    . -

    -------..

    (44) P, Dourisboure, "Les Sauvages Bahnar," P a r i . s , :LS7!5.

    -69The J a r a i push westward was s t i l l i n p r o g r e s s j u s t b e f o r e t h e second world war broke o u t . J a r a i s t i l l occupy t h e e a s t e r n f r i n g e of t h e Veun

    S a i d i s t r i c t , b u t some groups have worked t h e i r way forward t o r e a c h a s f a r a s t h e approaches t o t h e p r o v i n c i a l c a p i t a l i t s e l f , e.g. of Ban I-Iuoi Lay, 5 km, n o r t h e a s t of t h e c i t y (45). Though t h e J a r a i showed c o n s i d e r a b l e a g g r e s s i v e n e s s toward t h e elid o f tlie 1 8 t h c e n t u r y , t h e i r Sadetti were n o l o n g e r powerful enotlgl.1 t o have played t h e i n f l u e n t i a l r o l e wh:ich some w r i t e r s have a t t r i b u t e d t o thein d u r i n g t h e J a r a i ' s campaign a g a i n s t t h e Cham, I-lowever, i n I 8 5 8 t h e S a d e t s won inclependeace froin t:he a u t h o r i t y of If~ie. 'i'11c:y even suppor teci t h e 1ci.ng of Calnbodia the village

    , Ang

    I)uong, wlio was


    ,

    l.i:acling i:he war :in JClliner counl:ry a g a i n s t t h e A11naini.tre t r o o p s . of F i r e s e l ~ tn i n e e'l.ephanf:s wLt:li wi.shes f o r a Cambodian v i c t o r y .

    'IXe Sadet

    1:heir J a r a i . mahouts, a:l.orlg wi.tl-i 11:i.s 'The accessfioii of Norodorn i.n 1.860, however, Norodorri took

    p u t a n s u d t o t h e exchange o l g i l ' t s w i t h tlke Court of Oudollg.

    t h e i.nil:i.ati.ve i n tliFs b r e a k iiritli t r a d i t i o n , anti tlm h a l l - h e a r t e d reinonstrati.ons by t h e Sadet .fail.etl t:o e1i.c:i.t: any response. I)ecadur~cewas al.so t o

    s t r i l c e a t one o f t h e i ~ l o n n t a i nt r i b e s which could i n 1.945 [si.c 1845?] be regarded cis among t h e inost h i g h l y evolved: t h e Rliade,
    I t i.zi on r e c o r d t l l a t t h e Icings of Cambodia s e n t c a r a v a n s t o t h e

    Darl.ac pl.al.cau, wh.i.:l.e tlie Vi.etnarne:;e Lrovn Song Ca o r Tuy Hoa, t r a d e r s i.n :;earcli o.E horses;, made the:i.r way t:oward Rhade c o u n t r y v:i.a l:lie M'Urac pa:;.';o
    lilrci I<l~;~tle serrt tlle a u t l l o c i t i e r ; i n IUlanh Iioa a n a n n u a l t r i b u t e of

    800 pounds of wax.

    About half-,way t h r o u g h t h e 1 9 t h c e n t u r y , accordi.ng Thereafter, the annals

    t o Moura, t h e Annnmites i.llsrnded t h e Darlac regi.on.

    of t h e a r e a a r e f i l l e d w i t h l i t t l e e l s e b u t r a i d s , v e n d e t t a s , and wars Between v l . l l a g e s , S a b a t i e r , t h e e n t i l u s i a s t i c champion of t h e 1)arlac a r e a ,

    planned t o o r g a n i z e a conlmeunorat:ioi~ f o r a v i . c t o r y whi.ch 1:lie lihade had won over t h e J a r a i , b u t t o o few d e t a i l s a r e known of t h i s e v e n t .
    U11 t h e o t h e r

    hand, we know .Eor s u r e t h a t t h e Illlade v i l l a g e s , a t t h a t t:ilile s t i l l . a v e r s e These t o any form of authori.t:y, were t y r a n n i z e d by t h e M'tau ( ~ 5 % ) . -." -.(45) See t h e v e r y f i n e e t h n i c and l i n g u i s t i c map of t h e Veun S a i regiori by F. B i t a r d , B.S.E,T,, X X V I I , No. 1, 1952.

    -70a d v e n t u r e r s , many &whom owed t h e i r f o r t u n e s t o tlte s l a v e t r a d e , i n s p i r e d s u f f i c i e n t f e a r t o i n s t i l obedience i n t o a number of v i l l a g e s , which t h e y t h e n l e d i n a t t a c k s on p e a c e - l o v i n g t r i b e s o r s u r p r i s e r a i d s on Annamite traders. I n t h i s way, one p a r t y o f %lade-Kpa t r i b e s m e n was f o r c e d t o

    f:Lee from t h e s o u t h e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e D a r l a c p l a t e a u and talce r e f u g e among t h e mountains t h a t r i s e s o u t h of L,alce Tak Zalc. These r o v i n g p a r a s i t e s of t h e pl.ateaus i n c l u d e d t h e J a u and t h e Nlau, who l i v e d I.n t h e u r b a n a r e a we now lc11ow a s Ban Don. They r a i d e d and

    p.i.llaged t h e middle. r e a c h e s of t h e Srepok t o such a n e x t e n t t h a t they have been b a r r e n e v e r s i n c e ( 4 6 ) .

    Thu, a d c s c e n d a ~ r toC mixed Mmng and


    A f t e r sI~ow.i~igx t r e ~ ~ l e e 110stil.i.ty

    :I,aotian s t o c k , corrtihued t h i s pl.unilering,

    i.n% t:inl.l.y t o C a p t a i n Cupet

    , who

    had bec+n s e n t l:o malcc t h e Sia~ricsee v a c u a t e

    t:lle c o u n t r y , ?Illtt 1.a t e r becalm, under t h e name I<un Y u Nob, one of 1:he most reinarkable c h i e f s of tlie h i n terlancl, Cheva:l.ier de 1.a r,kg:i.on cl ' Ilonneur, etc. Prom a s l a v e t r a d e r , h e became a n e l e p h a n t h u n t e r . Another n o t o r i o u s band was t h a t of: IZhaii~Lu. i.nvulnerable.

    Hc. was rcpuLcd t o bc

    Wi t h some f i f t y f e l l o w Burmese, twenty I,aotians and a .

    hundred Mnong L'reng r e c r u i t e d by Thu, ICham Zu s e t o u t Lo a t t a c k the Hi.11. IIowever, 800 Bih t r i b e s m e n , l e d by Ngeuh, l a y i n waj.t Tor n e a r 13an 'llur. Preng,
    lljm

    a t 13an Phok, The Mnong

    1Zham I,L~ was s h i n , and t h i r t y Burmese w i t h h-im.

    EeitrEul of r e p r i . s a l s , s c a t t e r e d , some toward t h e Se IZong i n t h e

    n o r t h w e s t , and t h e r e s t a~nong t h e S t i e n g i n t h e i n h o s p i t a l b e mountains of Lhe soutli, Ngeuh t u r n s up a g a i n on t h e o c c a s i o n of t h e Rih r e v o l t from

    1.900 t o 1.903. Descendi.ng r a n t h e upper r e a c h e s of t h e Srepolc by way of Ban Don, Loinpllat and t h e Cl-ihlong, t h e Mnong o r tlie S t i e n g would b r i n g e l e p h a n t s , l a c , wax anc1 s3.aves f o r s a l e t o t h e Khmers or Chinese l i v i n g on t h e Mekong. The ~narlcet a t Sarnbor p r o s p e r e d . The Siamese burned i.t down, b u t t h e

    Carnbodiaus bui li a n o t l l e r f a r t h e r s o u t h a t Rolca Krindal; from i t, Icrati e grew. The Mnong h a m l e t s p a i d t h e c h i e f s a p p o i n t e d by t h e Cambodian a u t l t o r i t i e s a due oE 4,000 k i l o g r a m s of wax and s t i c k l a c , e v e r y t h r e e y e a r s .

    ( 4 6 ) 1 . M a i t r e , " J u n g l e s Moi.," p. 71: "The Mnong d i d n o t r e t u r n t o t h i s 1 a r e a u n t i l a f t e r t h e Frellch llad e s t a b l . i s h e d tlleniselves i n t h e HighLands."

    -71To r e t u r n t o t h e S t i e n g , t h e o c c u p a t i o n of t h e u p p e r Chhlong by t h e Cambodians between 1868 and 1875 c o n s t r a i n e d them t o withdraw eastward beyond t h e s o u r c e of t h e Chhlong r i v e r ,

    5.

    ESTABLISFII43NT O 'L'I-IE CAIClJOI:,IC MISSION S K N U F N OTM The e a r l y y e a r s of t h e 1 9 t h c e n t u r y , s o ricXi i n upheava3.s f o r t h e

    niountain t r i b e s , were t o w i t n e s s t h e appearance of a new f o r c e s o dynamic t h a t even today Lhe d i s r u p t i o n s brought a b o u t by tlie second world war a r e n o t enough t u impede i t s development. a t IZontum, I:[. wat; Mgr 'Chat f o r c e was t h e Mission

    Cuijnot s iciea t o e s tab:i.i.sli c h r i s tencloni i n t h e v e r y h e a r t The pre:I.at:o, u p s e t by t h e persecut:i.ons that: marlced

    '

    oli I:lio 11 i ntcrl.nnd.

    t l ~ e1 : e i g n ~ 01: Mj.nll Mang and iCI1:i.e~7l.'ri., p:Lannetl t o Co~~ild re:Cuge f o r t h e a Cai.l;liful., . i E they should need i t , and f o r t h e c l e r g y i.n t h e e v e n t t h a t l i f e hecame i.nt:olerahle f o.c thein on the c o a s t .

    I n 1842, on tlic i . n s t r u c t i o n s of t h e b i s h o p , F a t h e r s Miche and 1)uclos


    s e t out from Pliu Yen bound f o r t h e i n t e r i o r , was b a r r e d and t h e front:i.er w e l l guarded. 'Ilheir a c c e s s t o Moi. c o u n t r y

    A r r e s t e d by c a c l a i , t h e two

    riiissj.onaries were handed o v e r t o t h e iiiandarins ancl were on1.y r e l e a s e d froni p r i s o n thanks t o t h e a r r i v a l of t h e HQroine a t ])a Nang i n 184.3. Once

    Iueecl, tile two p r i e s t s a g a i n endeavored t o c a r r y out tlie o r d e r t h e y Ilncl rc+ce.i:vecl Ercrn~ t21t: b i s h o p . wl~ei-1 tllcy 3.t:Ct from Cjuang Narn. 'Cllcy d i d r i o t succeed e i t h e r t h i s second t i m e ,

    Crorn (luanp Ngai., n o r t h e t h i r d time, when they d e p a r t e d

    I t was a Vietnamese deacon, F a t h e r Do, who e n a b l e d them t o succeed.


    lie d i s c o v e r e d a n a l ~ n o s ti.mpassable path t h a t was l i t t l e t r a v e l e d .
    Along

    t l i i s , he let1 F, Cornbes and l a t e r F. F'ontaine i n t o t h e 1Cont:um r e g i o n , wllerc, a s chance wo~11.dhave i t , ICieni, a. Bahnar c l l i e f and a f r i e n d of t h e deacon, had been t h e appointeil r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e Court of IIuc s i n c e 1.840. illhough ,very devoted t o t h e i\lintlni.ites, ICiern none thel.ess s t r u c k an agreement w i t h tlie mi.ssi.onaries and al.l.owed them t o b u i l d a h u t i n t h e midd1.e of t h e f o r e s t a t ICelang.

    -72Such were t h e b e g i n n i n g s of t h e Kontum Mission. The t e r r i . t o r y of

    t h e Bahnar e x t e n d e d f o r a b o u t 60 t o 80 k i l o m e t e r s from n o r t h t o s o u t h and from e a s t t o w e s t , The e a r l y missionaries e s t i m a t e d t h e sl:rengtl-i of t h e

    t r i b e a t some 25,000 s o u l s , s c a t t e r e d among v i l l a g e s c o n s i s t i n g OF t e n t o one hundred h o u s e s each. N a t u r a l l y , t h e s e v i l l a g e s were c o n s t a n t l y

    w a r r i n g w i t h e a c h o t h e r , which was h a r d l y conducive t o e v a n g e l i z a t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y a s t h e c o n v e r s i o n of one group a r o u s e d r e l i g i o u s h o s t i l i t y i n i t s neighbors. The Bahnar-Rongao, who r e a d i l y band t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e Serlang, lkgu

    and IIalong of t h e P l e i k u r e g i o n , who a r e r a t h e r . f i e r c e and prone t o forrning federat:i.ons, which gave thtm t h e reput:ation of b e i n g formidable

    ol?pone~~l:s, h e Jol.ong, arid, cl.osc:r Lo Quang Ngai, t h e I3onom, i:'arnicrs and t : e x p l o i t e r s of t:he Cores t , wlio were d e p i c t e d a s r e l a t i v e l y g e n t l e by n a t u r e , and f i n a l l y t h e I)a Vach-ma3.3. t h e s e Bahnar t r i b e s , e x c e p t f o r a few s c a L t e r e d groups f a r t h e r t o t h e e a s t , were r e p u t o d 1.0 be more peace-

    l o v i n g than t h e i r n e i g h b o r s : t h e Sedang i n t h e n o r t h and tlie Jalrd i n t h e south.

    A s~niallAnnamite c h r i s t i a n colony l i v e d by t r a d i n g .

    Long y e a r s

    of Cambodian o c c u p a t i o n had l e f t t h e i r i.mpressi.on on t h e d i a l e c t : spoken

    o Cut o f f froin t h e e x c e l l e n t p l a i n of t h e M Tong r i v e r by t h e Jarai., tlie Hnhnar pract:ic.ed ttiei r c r u d e Carming methods between t h e moderately

    Cort:ile hi1.l.s t h a t u n d u l a t e n o r t h of t h e Dla r:kver; t h e i r c r o p s i n c l u d e d r i c e , tobacco, c o t t o n , arid a v e r y smal.1 amount of s u g a r cane. 'Co t h e

    e a s t , t h e Bonom had s p e c i a l i z e d i n r a i s i n g and c u t t i n g a c h o i c e grade of c innamon. T h e i r i n d u s t r y was l i m i t e d t o making crossbows, c a n o e s , and above a l l gray o r white c o t t o n blankets. Even though t h e d w e l l i n g houses may 'nave

    been d i r t y , e a c h v i l l a g e b o a s t e d a canmunity house w i t h a b r a i d e d roof t h a t was , n o t witllout e l e g a n c e . According t o F a t h e r Coml~es, t r a d i n g was Prom

    i n h i b i t e d by t h e i r f e a r of d e b t s and t h e s l a v e r y which r e s u l t e d .

    t h e Annami.te merchants who came f r a n Quang Ngai. o r Binh Dinh t h e y bought salt:, i r o n inipletnents o r copperware, gongs and e a r t h e n w a r e p o t s .

    The M i s s i o n was founded i n 1849,

    It i s p e r h a p s w o r t h d w e l l i n g f o r

    a moment: on t h e c h o i c e of KO Lang, t h e n of KO Xam, when F a t h e r s Dourisboure and Desgouts a r r i v e d , and f i n a l l y of Rohai f o r t h e e a r l y e s t a b l i s h m e n t s . The m i s s i o n a r i e s d i d n o t s e t t l e i n t h e h e a r t of Bahnar c o u n t r y , b u t on t h e s o u t h e r n f r i n g e of t h e t r i b e , between i t and t h e a g g r e s s i v e Jarai-Hodrung, s o a s t o form a b a r r i e r . The f a t h e r s d i d t h e i r own c l e a r i n g and then, a f t e r

    t h e i r f i r s t b a p t i s m s e r v i c e s , i n 2853, encouraged t h e i r C h r i s t i a n f o l l o w e r s t o t a k e t o t h e plow. Oxen and b u f f a l o purchased from t h e Iiagu were l'hi.s method o f c u l t i v a t i o n was a v i c t o r y

    h C ~ r n e s s e d e f o r e t h e plows. b over s u p e r s t i t i o n (47).

    It gave t h e c o n v e r t s t h e a d v a n t a g e of a t e c h n i c a l
    t h a n [:hose of "pagalls,

    r;uperi.ori.ty and guzirnntectl t:llem b e l i t o r harvest:s

    wllicil, i n a c o u n t r y where 1aan.i.n~ i s a n e v c r - p r e s e n t tlrl-eat:, En.i.:L t o draw t h e p e o p l e .

    could not

    By t h e end of 7.851, t h e f o u r mi.ssi.onari.es ( t l i r e e

    French and one Vietnamese) were firm1.y e s t a b l i s h e d i n f o u r vi.l.lages, a l l v e r y c l o s e t o t h e confl.uence of t h e Bla and t h e Poko r i v e r s . Some Annamj t e Ci2the1.s rrom llinh 1)inli and Phu Yen d i d succeed i n
    .* t . , l c h i n g t h e ~ >,

    upper Srepok, where tlley Eoutid a Chrj.st:i.an settl.ement at:

    'Tin11 J u , which i s b e l i e v e d t o ll'lve been n e a r p r e s e n t - d a y I3u Jctt I)laorn, i n Mnong c o u n t r y (48). p a i d a vi.:;i.i: Fntlrer Bou.i.l.7.evilux ( L I ~ ) , s e t t i . n g oul: 1:roni Sond~or,

    t o t h i s short-l.i.ved mi~;si.ou. Ultl.mate'l.y, o ~ ~ l .IContum remained y

    i~iibi.tabl.e by t h e m i s s i o n n r i . e s .

    I t was h e r e t h a n i.n 1.854, when t h e aut:hol:i.-

    Lics i n Bin11 l)inh, where a new p e r s e c u t i o n was rampant, senL s o l d i e r s o u t


    L.O

    a r r c s t the p r h s t s oE tlic hi.nterl.and, t h e mountain people--even t h e Jar;i.--

    -------

    --

    ( 4 7 ) ,From a s e a r l y a s 1856-58 plowi-ng was t a u g h t i.11 tZie C a t h o l i c vi.l.l.ages:


    tt1i.s was a tremendous s u c c e s s , especia1l.y i n view of t h e t e r r o r i t i n s p - i r e d i n t h e Bahnar. Accordi-ng t o t1-lei.r f e t r i s l i i s t i c b e l i e f s , t h e god 01 fllunder was c e r t a i n t o show h i s w r a t h a t s e e i n g b u f f a l o e s t h u s d i v e r t e d Erom t h e p u r p o s e f o r which they were c r e a t e d ; t h e Moi. b e l i e v e d t h e s e a n i m a l s were p l a c e d 011 e a r t h f o r t h e s p e c i . f i c purpose of b e i n g e a t e n i r t r i t u a l s a c r i . f i c e s , and n o t t o be used f o r work a t a l l . T h e r e f o r e , o n l y convert:ed v i l l a g e s a g r e e d (and t h e n only v e r y rel.uctant::Ly) t o u s e t h e pLow; t h e p a d d y f i e 3 . d ~ made i.n thj.s fas11i.on made a. s i n g u l a r c o n t r i b u t i o n t o devel.opiitg a g r % c u l . t u r e among t h e t r i b e s , which had up t o t h e n been o n l y v e r y r u d i m e n t a r y (H. H a i t r e , " J u n g l e s Mo.i., " p 21.4.)

    (48) TEle Mnong had u n p i l e d h u t s r e s t i n g d i r e c t l y oil t h e ground ( i b i d . ,

    p.

    91).

    (49) F o r a bi.ograp11y of F. Boui7.levaux who discovcrecl Anglcor b e f o r e Mouhot


    and who, a.f t e r two a d v e n t u r o u s t o u r s i n Indoclii.na, remained a humbk canon i n Montier-en-l)er ( t i n y French v i l l a g e ) f o r some f o r t y y e a r s , 1949, No. 4 , pp. 59-62. s e e B.S.E.I.,

    - 74.threw t h e d e t a c h m e n t o f f t h e s c e n t and r e f u s e d t o s u p p l y g u i d e s ; t h e p a r t y grew weary and p u l l e d out.

    The Annamites, on t h e o t h e r Ziand, piqued by t h e c a p t u r e of Saigon


    ( l 8 5 9 ) , c u t tlie f a t h e r s o f f frolil a l l . r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e c o a s t a l a r e a s and from t h e i r s o u r c e s o:f p r o v i s i o n s , I n 1862, t h e r e f o r e , when appeasement

    came, F a t h e r s Cornbes, V e r d i s r , Besornbes and S u c h e t were dead, exhausted by d e p r i v a t i o n and d i s e a s e , F a t h e r 13eson1bes, a mti of g r e a t courage--he sett1.ed a t [Con So:lang

    had actual1.y been s e e n t o out-wrest:l.e a t i g e r - - h a d

    i n a n a r e a a p p a r e n t l y occupied a t t h e time by t h e S a r a i , l a t e r moving on t o Tower, on t h e r i v e r of t h e same name.

    In addi.ti.on

    1-0 t h e difficu:l.t:ies

    sl:eiimii.ng from a n unlcnown I.anguage, he was f a c e d wi.tli a t r i b e t h a t was more 110s ti.1.e and more reclotlb t a b l e even than t h e Bahnar, s l u i t h s , ancl knew liow t o temper i r o n ancl c a s t copper. The .lariii were Quite a b r i s k trade

    was done i n t h e i r w h i t e , r e d , b l u e , and checkered L a b r i c s , b u t f o r t h e menfol.lc war toolc p r i d e of pl.ace over any o t h e r o c c u p a t i o n . 011 F a t h e r

    Besombes' d e a t h , h i s p l a c e was talcen by P, D o u r i s b o u r e ( 5 0 ) , who c o n t i n u e d thework of t h e m i s s i o n i n J a r a i c o u n t r y . iChe end of t h e p e r s e c u t i o n i n Bin11 Dinh s e e ~ i ~ ea l l . s e t t o b r i n g d C1tri.stiani.ty a p e r i o d of tranquil.i.ty, e x i s t e r l c e i n 1862, The C o u r t of I-lue recognized i t s

    Zn t h a t same y e a r , however, tlie Ualmar were deci.~nated'

    by smallpox and t h e w i t c h - d o c t o r s blamed t h e m i s s i o n f o r t h e epidemic.


    I t was a l s o i n 1.862 t h a t a p a r t y of 400 Sedang came down from t h e n o r t h

    and s e t upon Lhe 13ahnar, who were a1.ready under a t t a c k from t h e i n v a d i n g J a r a i - l I o d r u n g i.n t h e s o u t h .
    By chance, t h e b i r d s , t i g e r s and e l e p h a n t s

    which t h e Sedang column came a c r o s s a l l p r e s a g e d d i s a s t e r , and t h e aggressors halted. The a d v a n t a g e s of t h e p r o t e c t i . o n a f f o r d e d by t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s appeared indisputable.
    It i.s c e r t a i n t h a t t h e C h r i s t i a n v i l l a g e s , h e l d t o g e t h e r

    by t l i e i r p r e s e n c e , had d i s p l a y e d r e s i s t a n c e i n s t e a d of s c a t t e r i . n g i.nto t h e

    forest.

    (50) D o u r i s b o u r e , "Les Sauvages Rahnar,

    "

    P a r i s , Tkqui..

    -75These Sedang, a l s o a metalworlcing p e o p l e (it w i l l b e r e c a l l e d t h a t

    t:he L a o t i a n s Ired i n i . t j . a t e d ti>en>i.u t h e a r t of working i r o n and u s i n g


    b ~ ? l 1 0 ~ 6 were i f a n y t h i n g inore forn1idabl.e t h a n t h e J a r a i . . ),

    The l a t t e r

    savored t11e cxci.t.einent that: war b r o u g l ~ t , b u t t h e Sedang, r e l i e d on it: al)o.ve a1.3. f o r t h e i r s u p p l y o f s l a v e s .


    a ttaclc iLsolated g r o u p s .

    They c o n s e q u e n t l y p r e f e r r e d t o

    On. t h e whole, l.hey d i d n o t m a l t r e a t t h e i r s l a v e s , t ~ l r e i rc h a t t e l s . they a t e the

    f o r f e a r of recluci.ng t h e v a l u e 01:

    l i v e r s of 1:lrc.i.r enemies a n d , when they b u i l t a l.iouse, t h e base <.if tire m a s t e r p i l l a r iiad tro c r u s l i a s l i ~ v ea:l.i.ve-,- t o theni, t l ~5; i was ttie pri.cc? of c1urabl.e cons t r u c t j 011.
    ,>

    1.l.ioy c:ou'l.d eitsi.l.y havc: tlonc a lirislc t r a d e i.n t l ~ ea x e s , weapons and

    fariiii.11g iiul>'lamt!nl:s t h a y ia:ilri.oned, b u t , s tubboriily i11c;i.stirlg on usj.ng sto~-~c:r; ;.IS Ii~tnur~ors and ailvj.l.s, t h e y 1'n.iI.otl
    tc7

    ~ ~ r o d u cany a r t i c l e : $ I.i.kc?ly e

    t o tcrni:l: rrc~!;pcct:i.vc buycr:;,

    Accortli rr);

    1.0

    I:llo u ~ i s ~ ; . i . o n a r i e s1:Iie Sedang s l ~ o v e d tlie~n110 hos t i 1 . i . t ~ ; ,

    l~ttl:rI1i.y rai.tfc!ci tltc: Ctrrist:.iani: n1I t h e same, n o t b e c a u s e of t h e i r r e l . % g i o n b u t bi?can:;c? t.licy wc~:t?linhntir.


    'l'tic J a r a i , t o o , r a r e l y passecl u p a chance

    t o p3.tintler convoys bounci f o r tlie C l i r i s t i a n s i n I<ontnm a s t h e y passed by.

    'rl-re lCovlt111rt set:i:'lernent: i:l~.ri.ved.

    O h i s a r r i v a l . t.here i.n 1883, n

    F a t h e r C:lrcrr'locir found 1.,500 Annauri.te C a t l l o l i c s and f o u r vi.:ll.ages where i:he nvljori t y of 1:he p e o p l e were liahrrar coiTverl.s. In deference t o the

    1nemol:y o f 1-lloi;e Eir:st ni.ghf:s and 1.11(? e a r l y weeks t h a t t:he:;e pi.oneers livecl t l l r o u g l ~ , L o s t i n t h e f o r e s t among w.i.1.d b e a s t s , eneini.es and s t r a n g e t r i b e s , t h i s outli.ne ought- p e r h a p s t o Iit~vetree11 l e s s oratter - o f - f a c t.

    'I'HE llIN'llERLANL! P O 1859 TO 1885 RM I n 1859 t h e c a p t u r e of Saigon b r o u g l ~ t t h e French i n t o lower Coctlin-China; i n 1863 Cambodia p1accJ i.tse3.f uncler t h e i r p r o t e c t o r a t e , and, i n 1867, wi.th t h e irldd i Lion of wtis t e r n Cocl1l.n-Cl~i.na, t h e t r o o p s o.E t h e e x p e d i t i o n a r y f o r c e occupied t h e 1.ower r e a c h e s and t h e d e l t a of t h e Mekong River.
    Up t o 1885,

    llowever, tliti wavering a n d c o ~ z t r a d i c t o r ya t t i t u d e of P a r l i a l n e n t i n P a r i s made nrly occupat:i.t>~t of [:he 1iitlirer:l.and o u t 01:' t h e q u c s t i o r ~ . 'fhe bl.ow wl~icli tlie atlvent o f tile I+'rencli struclc against: t h e C o u r t s oT: Iluc and Oudong, i..omb.i.nc:d w i . t l ~i:he ti:ortb:Lc wlii.ch tlhell eusued and t h e r e s u l t i n g wcalceuing of Ann;{rn o11tl Ct~r~tbotli.;i, and t h e Jiact t h a t Siam endeavored .i.n t h c meantime t o exi:cnd i.ts 1~oundar:i.e:; a c r o s s t h e Se Bang i l j e r ~ gand tlle ~,iarcly sc?rvc:tl tribes.
    !;c?

    11o11 r i v e r s ,

    I:<, acccant.ucirc

    I:I)i-

    p a r t i c u l a r i s r r ~aiicl {inarchy oC tlic inountni.11

    'i'l~c:prcldatory :;c:darrg, 'lla ILoi., J a r a i , Khade ulld St:i.eng bantlits


    : i.tual:i ;

    tooli. otlvniit::igtr o f t11:i:;

    or1 l..o i n t e n s i fy tlici r ra i.tls and s l a v e I n 1887,

    Ituntiiig e x c u r s i o n s air

    tltt?

    c?xpen:;e of tlle l e s s w a r l i k e t r i b e s .

    alriler l:lie a ELni.rs o i 'i~vnlci.~~ Annam, encroacli~i~enl- 1:lie Siatnese ancl by 1:llxenl:enecl t l ~ ee n t i r e h i n t e r l a n d and, Il:orn sor.tt:l~of Llie U'l.ac1c R i v e r t.o t h e iioritlic~rn p ; ~ l : t o f tlre p e n i n s u l a , t:lleir a c l v a ~ > ~ o s t s r a p i d l y began t o occupy pe t h e I.inc: o pcalts whi.cli Torn t.lie w e s t e r n b o r d e r of t h e Annainitc plai.11~. C

    3,

    'l'llli, 'MOIIN'I'A'I'N PEOPLE 1)LJlVI:NC: 'I'IIE FRENCH OCCIJPATION 07 COCHIN-CIIINA 1 'Clie pol)~t'Liir d i s s a t i s Iclc ti.on which fol.lowecl t h e occupati.on of e a s t e r n

    Cochi.n-China a f t e r I859 was e x p l o i t e d by tlle C o u r t of ihte, which o r g a n i z e d


    ;I

    vi.o'Lt:nt: a n t i..- French r e a c l i o n and hei.gilteried t h e pcrsectrtioil of t h e By i n t e n s i f y i n g t h e b r i g a n d a g e ,

    C h r i s t i a n s wllicli ii~id been r a g i n g si.ricc 1847.

    tile Annami.tu ~uandiiri.nswere out t o make t h e c o u n t r y ungovernable f o r t h e


    7-7

    I :

    l..e ~ l c h~~11tl e i r s u p p o r t e r s . th

    'I'lle t i g i t a t i o n even s p r e a d L:o some of t h e

    l u o u n t a i ~ lt r i b e s .

    Some groups ok S t i e n g fro111 t h e n o r t h of Thu 1)au Mot and

    Iiien I-foa a n d of C l ~ r a ufrom tlie east: of Ba R i a j o i n e d i n t h e g e n e r a l r e v o l t of 1862,


    A l l [:he f r o n t i e r p o s t s i n t h e n o r t h and nortrheast of Cochin-China

    Frc. 9

    -77e r e t h u s blocked.

    "lt was c h i e f l y i n t h e f o r e s t s t h a t s e p a r a t e u s from

    Binh Thuan t h a t t h e i n s u r g e n t s a t t e m p t e d t o r e o r g a n i z e themselves" (52).

    l t h e province of Ba Ria Colonel Coquet, a f t e r r e c e i v i n g a few h


    r e i n f o r c e m e n t s , r e p u l s e d the a t t a c k e r s a s f a r a s t h e borders of Annam, w h i l e Col. LoubBre won a s i m i l a r s u c c e s s i n t h e n o r t h of Bien Hoa and Thu Dau Mot. Throughout t h e following y e a r , 1863, t h e enemy t r i e d every imaginable r u s e t o unnerve t h e occupation f o r c e s : "Vietnamese t r o o p s , charging out of t h e Moi j u n g l e s , would come swooping down on t h e French p o s i t i o n s and c l e a n them out" (52). For t h e mountain people, t h e s e a g g r e s s i v e measures on t h e

    p a r t of t h e r e b e l s brought n o t h i n g b u t f o r c e d l a b o r ; i n the c a s e of t h e S t i e n g , t o o many f o r c e d t a s k s of t h i s k i n d l e d t o o u t b u r s t s of anger a g a i n s t t h e Annamites, This e x p l a i n s how t h e quall (outlaw c h i e f t a i n ) Su, "the

    f e a r e d a s s a s s i n and b a n d i t , " came t o be handed over t o t h e French by t h e "savages." He was executed n e a r Ba Ria on May 9 (53). Other b a n d i t l e a d e r s

    met t h e same f a t e .

    A f t e r they had s l a i n more than 200 of t h e r e b e l s , t h e Such a c t s of v i o l e n c e

    Che Ma paraded t h e i r heads on t h e endSoE t h e i r pikes.

    e f f e c t i v e l y p u t an end t o t h e a g i t a t i o n from t h i s q u a r t e r . 2. TAYNLNH I n 1869 t h e t r o u b l e began a f r e s h , t h i s time i n t h e n o r t h of t h e province of Tay Ninh. I n s p e c t o r Reinhart--who had s o e n e r g e t i c a l l y cleaned o u t t h e

    r e g i o n of Trang Bang i n 1866 and was l a t e r t o become t h e f i r s t French charge d ' a f f a i r e s i n Hue--and t h e warlord s n , c e l e b r a t e d an account of t h e l e a d i n g r o l e he had played i n t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t h i s c o u n t e r p a r t Dinh, pursued t h e S t i e n g , The l a t t e r were i n t e r c e p t i n g t h e c a t t l e from Cambodia

    d e s t i n e d f o r t h e e x p e d i t i o n a r y f o r c e , and t h e i r i n r o a d s i n t o t h e p l a i n s were growing i n c r e a s i n g l y f r e q u e n t , i n t o the f o r e s t . Hunted down, t h e S t i e n g poured back

    ~ e i n h a r t ' s men d i d n o t g i v e up t h e p u r s u i t u n t i l they The v i l l a g e s

    had passed through t h e a r e a where t h e a g i t a t o r s had been. surrendered.

    Covering t h e i r r e t r e a t by e r e c t i n g a b a t i s and showing

    (51) V i a l , "Les premikres annkes d e l a Cochinchine," I, p, 234. (52) I b i d , p. 236. (53) I b i d . , p. 277

    -78f e r o c i o u s r e s i s t a n c e , t h e i n d o m i t a b l e S t i e n g r e t i r e d t o j o i n t h e remnants of Pou combo's f o r c e s . As t h i n g s , t u r n e d out, t h e Cochin-Chinese r e v o l t i n Tay Ninh was complic a t e d by a n o t h e r s e r i e s of i n c i d e n t s r o o t e d i n ~ a m b o d i a ' s h i s t o r y .
    3.

    POUCOMBO Norodom, a s mentioned e a r l i e r , succeeded h i s f a t h e r i n 1860 and,

    s e e i n g h i s lcingdom t h r e a t e n e d s i m u l t a n e o u s l y by t h e Annamites and t h e Siamese, placed i t under t h e p r o t e c t i o n of t h e French. A bonze by t h e name of Pou Combo, who some say was a n a t i v e of t h e
    ,

    Kuy r e g i o n , spread t h e word t h a t h e was t h e grandson of King Ang Chan I11 (1806-34). I n 1865 he l a i d c l a i m t o t h e crown and revolted. Having

    e s t a b l i s h e d h i s a u t h o r i t y over t h e r i g h t bank of t h e s o u t h e r n Mekong, e x c e p t f o r Thbong Khmum, h e formed a n army of 2,000 mencomposed of Khmers, Annamites, Tagals and S t i e n g (54). His p r i n c i p a l r e t r e a t was a t Chhrey After

    Meang, on t h e r i v e r of t h i s name, some 15 km, s o u t h e a s t of Snoul. h i s d e f e a t a t Kan Chor, he took r e f u g e among t h e Mnong.

    On J u n e 7 , 1866 h i s r o v i n g bands massacred t h e i n s p e c t o r of Tay Ninh p r o v i n c e , De Larclauze (55), a s w e l l a s t h e c o l o n e l s e n t t o r e l i e v e the provincial capital. They a l s o wiped out t h e mission a t Brolam. Later,

    Pou Combo t h r e a t e n e d Phnom Pen11 and was s l a i n a l o n g w i t h 34 of h i s f o l l o w e r s i n Kien S v a i province, Cambodia, i n 1875. 4. THE CAMBODIANS A SREK T U T HM These e v e n t s were t o have r e p e r c u s s i o n s on t h e t r i b e s of t h e h i n t e r l a n d . The Khmers, a s we have a l r e a d y s e e n , had evacuated t h e approaches t o t h e C e n t r a l P l a t e a u of Indochina.
    A s calm was g r a d u a l l y r e s t o r e d t o t h e

    i n t e r i o r , i n a n e f f o r t t o p a c i f y t h e S t i e n g and t h e Mnong and p r e v e n t them from resuming t h e i r i n r o a d s i n t o Thbong Khmum they reoccupied t h e mountain (54) That t h e S t i e n g took p a r t i n t h i s u p r i s i n g i s a l l e g e d l y due t o t h e ill f e e l i n g aroused by Xnspector R e i n h a r t when he was i n charge of t h e province. The e x i s t e n c e of such a grievance, which was r e f e r r e d t o by c e r t a i n m i s s i o n a r i e s , h a s been questioned. It i s s t r a n g e l y a t odds w i t h what we know of R e i n h a r t and of h i s p a t i e n c e and unders t a n d i n g of t h e c o u n t r y , b o t h of which q u a l i t i e s brought him s u c c e s s i n t h e d e l i c a t e , t o p - l e v e l assignments e n t r u s t e d t o him i n Tonkin i n 1874 and l a t e r i n Annam ( s e e Sogny, M., " ~ e i n h a r t , " B.A.V.H., 1943, Nos. 1-2. (55) See B.S.E.I., 1939, Nos, 3 and 4 , p. 185.

    - 79r e g i o n a s f a r a s t h e middle r e a c h e s of t h e T i o Ba and c o l o n i z e d t h e v a l l e y of t h e m i d d l e Chhlong between 1866 and 1875, I n 1884, t h e y i n s t a l l e d a

    g o v e r n o r a t Srek Thu~n, which f o r many y e a r s was t o remain t h e e a s t e r n m o s t p o s t h e l d by t h e Can~bodians. Those of t h e Mnong and S t i e n g who were s t i l l unsubdued y i e l d e d ground b e f o r e them and found themselves c u t o f f from e a c h o t h e r b y a zone t h a t was t h e r e a f t e r s u b j e c t t o t h e a u t h o r i t y of Phnom Penh.

    5.

    THE MISSION O A. GAUTIEK F B e f o r e e n d i n g t h i s account of Cochin-China's neighboring t r i b e s , it

    111~1s he mentioned t h a t Le Myre de V i l e r s was t l ~ ef i r s t governor t o c o n c e i v e t what: was t h e n termed a Moi. poli.cy. (56)

    It i s t o hirn t h a t t h e c1:edj.t

    bel.ongs, among o t h e r t h i n g s , f o r t h e m i s s i o n e n t r u s t e d t. I,t, An16dtZ.c G a u t i e r :o from 1881 t o 3.885 (5'7). Al.ong t h e n o r t h e a s t f r o n t i e r of Cochi.n-China, stil.:l. vi.utual.1.y u n e x p l o r e d , a g i t a t i o n was s t i l l s e e t h i n g . r e c o n n o i t r e and c r o s s t h i s f r o n t i e r . ilue, p a s s i n g west o f t h e Donnai. Ffnong and Bahnar. o v e r t h e Jarai.. G a u t i e r was instructed t o

    From Bien IIoa he was t o advance t o

    He expected t o come a c r o s s t h e S t i e n g ,

    He was a l s o t o s e e k o u t one of t h e Sadct who had a hold I n 1880 t h e Sadcr had v i s i t e d the governor i n Sai.gon.

    Le Myre d e V i l e r s had warned G a u t i e r t h a t h e would f i n d t r i b e s b e i n g h u n t e d down by t h e Annamites, L a o t i a n s and Cambodians, who were Lrying t o r e d u c e them t o s l a v e r y . I n f a c t , G a u t i e r advanced up t h e Donnai f r a n l l r i a u a s f a r a s t h e c o n f l u e n c e w i t h t h e Da Houe. There he found t r a c e s of t11.e m i l i t a r y r o a d s

    and camps l a i d o u t by t h e Vietnamese j u s t a f t e r 1 4 7 1 (58), b u t h i s g u i d e s r e f u s e d t o l e a d him northward and always b r o u g h t 11i.m back t o f a m i l i a r ground a g a i n , f o l l o w i n g t h e i t i n e r a r y a l r e a d y t a k e n by N&is i n 1880.

    (56) Dubourg, "Georges Bloy" ( b r o t h e r oE LQon ULoy), Peyronnet, 1950, p. 58.

    (57) "La M i s s i o n d'An1QdBe G a u t i e r : Une t e n t a t i v e de c o l o n i s a t i o n e n pays


    ~ o i , "Rev. d'llist.. d e s Coloni.es, X X X V I I , 2nd q u a r t e r , 1950. (58) See above, Chapter V I , 4.

    -80-

    During t h e months t h a t followed, t h e e x p l o r e r made a r e c o n n a i s s a n c e of t h e Da Glun, a t r i b u t a r y of t h e Song Be. The i n t e r e s t of t h i s s u r v e y does n o t

    l i e m e r e l y i n t h e f a c t t h a t G a u t i e r was a b l e t o move around f r e e l y i n a r e g i o n which a few y e a r s l a t e r , when p a c i f i c a t i o n was f a r more w i d e s p r e a d , neither TJt, Gknin n o r t h e Marquis of BarthBlemy was a b l e t o c r o s s ; we

    a l s o owe him many p a r t i c u l a r s regarding t h e s e Stiertg t r i b e s which Le Myre d e V i l e r s had d e s c r i b e d t o hi111 a s b e i n g unsI.rakably 11ostil.e. ~ a u t i a r ' s o p i n i o n o.f t h e s e t r i b e s a g r e e s c l o s e l y w i t h t h a t of F a t h e r Azkn~ar. I3e dep:l.cts them ns pI.ac:id, courageous, honost nnci Izard-work.i..ng, b u t adds t h a t t h i s p i c t u r e a p p l i e d o n l y t o t h e peol?:Lc of [:he v i l l a g e s t:ixat l a y deep i n t h e f o r e s t , c i t t o f f from a3.l d e a l i n g s w i t h t h e o u t s i d e world. F a r t h e r t o tlre soutll arlcl c l o s e r t o t:he plain:;, when t h e s e p e o p l e

    mixed w i t h t h e Cambodians and even more s o w i t h t h e Annamites, t h e y l o s t t h e i r s t e r l i n g q u a l i t i e s and became l i t t l e b e t t e r than a r a b b l e of " d e g e n e r a t e and s u p e r s tzitious d r u n k a r d s , L i a r s and t'tlieves.
    I'

    llhey g o t

    i n t o d e b t and f e l l i n t o t h e g r a s p of t h e i r c r e d i t o r s , whom t h e y were f o r c e d t o keep suppli-ed w i t h dug,-outs, t o r c l l e s and c a r t s , which t h e y e x c e l l e d i n rnalcing. They tencled t h e i r m a s t e r s

    '

    gardens and s u r r e n d e r e d

    t o them t h e r i c e they h a r v e s t e d .

    T h i s r i c e was then reso1.d t o t h e f r e e

    S t i e n g a t a n e x o r b i t a n t p r o f i t when t h e a n n u a l famine p e r i o d was a t i t s h e i g h t and t h e gap between h a r v e s t s had t o be bridged. C a u t i e r gave u s a p o r t r a i t of one of tliese expl.o.i.ters. Tong ]$en,
    lle was a p a t r i a r c l l ,

    111s name was

    75 y e a r s o l d , and known throughout t h e

    r e g i o n a s t h e "I<i.ng of t h e Moi," llis knack of a p p r o a c h i n g t h e r i g h t p e o p l e , h i s s k i . l l f u l r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e m a n d a r i n s , and t h e p r e c a u t i o n he took of r e s e r v i n g f o r himself: t h e most b e a u t i f u l g i r l s i n t h o s e parts--which had

    e a r l i e r a s s u r e d him o.f t h e d e v o t i o n of t h e v i l l a g e c h i e f s , h i s f a t h e r s - i n l a w - - t o g e t h e r w i t h h i s u n d e n i a b l e p e r s o n a l p r e s t i g e , were t h e fact:ors a c c o u n t e d f o r t h e s e a t t r i b u t e s of " r o y a l t y . " T r i a n t o t h e Nui Ong and t o t h e u p p e r 1,agna. that

    I-lis j.nl-'l.uence extended fro111 For sl.aves, t h e s u b j e c t s of

    Tong lien were n o t t o o b a d l y o f f ; t h e i r l a b o r b r o u g h t them, f i r s t and f o r e most, food and s a l t , b u t a l s o t o o l s , f a b r i c s and ornaments, a l l of whicll were beyond t h e r e a c h of t h e o t h e r S t i e n g .

    L a t e r , when h e was sent: t o Lang Bian on a t o p o g r a p h i c a l m i s s i o n and c h a r g e d w i t h mapping t h e r o u t e of a t r a n s - I n d o c h i n a r a i l r o a d (from Lang Bian t o Cung Xom (Song Darang)), G a u t i e r l e f t t h e army, He tools up

    r e s i d e n c e a s a s e t t l e r and d i e d s u d d e n l y one n i g h t from a n a t t a c k of malaria,


    6.

    THE MOUNTAIN TRIBES I N THE ANNAMLTE REGIONS


    Annam (now Central. Vietnam) i n due c o u r s e f e l t t h e backwash of t h e

    e v e n t s t h a t were d i s r u p t i n g Cochin-China. On t h e p l a t e a u s , t h e Ta Hoi, Sedang and J a r a i stepped up t h e i r wars, p i l l a g i n g and r a p e of young g i r l s , a c t s which i n t u r n provided p r e t e x t s f o r f r e s h wars.
    A l l t h i s merely added t o t h e p r o f i t of t h e s l a v e t r a d e r s .

    I n r e g a r d t o t h e Moi, t h e C o u r t of Hue stuclc f a i t h f u l l y t o t h e p o l i c y


    i t had f i r s t d e v i s e d i n t h e Son Phong, e x t e n d i n g i t southward t o t h e f r o n -

    t i e r s w i t h Cochin-China.

    The Annamite l e a d e r s were out t o e s t a b l i s h a

    b a r r i e r (symbol.ized by t h e t r u o n g

    9i n

    Quang Ngai) between t h e world of

    t h e Moi rind t h a t of t h e Vietnamese, b u t t h i s b a r r i e r c o u l d , of c o u r s e , always be pushed back a t t h e expense of t h e mountain p e o p l e , e s p e c i a l l y i f t h e c o v e t o u s n e s s of t h e i n h a b i t a n t s of t h e c o a s t a l p l a i n s was j u s t i f i e d by f e r t i l e land t h a t c o u l d be made i n t o p a d d y f i e l d s . c o l l e c t o r s a c t i n g on t h e mandarins' P e d l a r s and t a x

    i n s t r u c t i o n s spearheaded t h e p e n e t r a t i o n ; They

    l a t e r , m i l i t a r y s e t t l e r s were e s t a b l i s h e d a l o n g t h e d e m a r c a t i o n l i n e .

    c o u l d b e r e l i e d upon t o e x t e n d t h e i r t e r r i t o r y i n t h e d e s i r e d d i r e c t i o n .

    7.

    THUAN WNI-I I n Thuan Khanh, t h e system of don d i e n , o r m i l i t a r y c o l o n i e s , grew

    more o p p r e s s i v e and e v e n t u a l l y spawned t h e Homos.

    I n 1887, t a k i n g a s h i s

    p r e t e x t t h e r e c e n t c o n q u e s t of t h e c o u n t r y and t h e i n s e c u r i t y of t h e Annamite s u b j e c t s , one of t h e l a t t e r had organized b o d i e s of " s o - c a l l e d c l e a r e r s of f i e l d s , sworn d e f e n d e r s of t h e empire, and s e l f - s t y l e d permanent m i l i t i a m e n , " The p i o n e e r s of t h e don d i e n themselves h a r d l y

    r e p r e s e n t e d t h e e l i t e of t h e Vietnamese, b u t t h e Homos were t h e scum of

    -82t h e don d i e n . Unquestionably a d v e n t u r e r s , y e t e n t i r e l y w i t h o u t s c r u p l e s ,

    t h e s e men were ready f o r a n y t h i n g , and i t must n o t be f o r g o t t e n t h a t t h e y were armed. One of t h e r e l a t i v e s of t h e founder took over command of He s e t up camp i n t h e mountainous As t h e

    a l l t h e Homos and became t h e w a r l o r d Tuong.

    a r e a west of Phan Rang i n t h e v i l l a g e s of Tavek and IIamoeu Barau.

    s o l e s u p p l i e r of s a l t , Tuong had t h e mountain people under h i s thumb, and f o r c e d them t o r e t u r n e v e r y two months t o r e p l e n i s h t h e i r suppl.ies from h i s own r e s e r v e ; he n e v e r s o l d enough t o e n a b l e them t o b u i l d up a s t o c k of t h e i r own, 'riAwever s m a l l . He began by e x p r o p r i a t i n g t h e land of

    t h e d e f e n s e l e s s Cham and t h e R o g l a i , and t h e n compelled them t o work "liis" ri celields. S l a c k n e s s was punj c;hed n ~ e r c i l e s s l y : Ilerds and farmyards would I n 1884, a n e p i z o o t i c

    be c o n f i s c a t e d and b a r n s burned t o t h e ground.

    d i s e a s e s t r u c k t h e buf Caloes, l e a v i n g t h e mountain people wi tli n o t h i n g b u t t h e s k i n s of tlie dead a n i m a l s . everything. The b a n d i t l e a d e r Tuong c o n f i s c a t e d

    Ayrnonier (59) has f u r n i s h e d u s w i t h copious documentation on Undoubtedly, t h e most g r i s l y e p i s o d e was t h e For f a i l i n g t o s u p p l y

    t h e ~ n i s d o i n g s of Tuong,

    t e r r i b l e f a t e of t h e v i l l a g e c h i e f of 1)arui i n 1883.

    a l l t h e l a b o r e r s demanded by t h e Itomo, h e and h i s w i f e were b e a t e n f o r F i v e d a y s on end. burned a l i v e . By t h e s i x t l ) day h i s w i f e was d e a d ; t h e man was t h e r e were many--

    The g r i e v a n c e s o l t h e mountain people--and

    w e r e t h e r e c o r e d i r e c t e d toward s e e k i n g p r o t e c t i o n from t h e misdeeds of Tuong, However, tlie p l a i n t i r f s were c a s t i n t o p r i s o n and l a t e r f o r c e d t o V i s i t i n g t h e a r e a i n 1893, Y e r s i n s t i l l h e a r d

    s u p p l y gongs and s l a v e s . t a l k oT t h e s e g r i e v a n c e s .

    The Cham and t h e Koho ( S r e ) wore t h e m s e l v e s o u t s u p p l y i n g t h e f a m i l i e s Some y e a r s , of o f f i c i a l s w i t h r h i n o c e r o s h o r n s , c a t t l e and f o r e s t p r o d u c t s . bars t h e mandarins s o l d f o r a s much a s 1,00O/of s i l v e r t h e s u r p l u s t h e y had e x t o r t e d by t h e methods d e s c r i b e d e a r l i e r . With t h e c h o i c e of b e i n g b e a t e n

    or s o l d i n t o s l a v e r y , t h e R o g l a i of Nhao took t h e c o u r s e of l e a v i n g t h e i r
    l a n d s and s e e k i n g r e f u g e i n t h e mountains of t h e upper Donnai, of Binh Dinh and of Phu Yen. These a r e a s were f e e l i n g t h e e f f e c t s of t h e b l o c k a d e of

    (59) Aymonier, "Notes s u r l1Annam: l e Binh-thuan," E. e t R.,

    1885, NO.

    24.

    -83t h e c o a s t by t h e French v e s s e l s , and t h e mountain p e o p l e t o o k a d v a n t a g e of t h e r e s u l t i n g famine t o a t t a c k t h e t r i b e s l i d n g on t h e p l a i n s . From

    Ninh Boa, t h e Annamite p e d l a r s reached t h e D a r l a c p l a t e a u v i a ~ ' D r a c . Those from Phu Yen followed t h e Song Darang u p s t r e a m toward Cheo Reo; s t i l l o t h e r s t r a v e l e d u p t h e Song Nang v a l l e y t o r e j o i n t h e road t o t h e Darlac plateau.

    8.

    QUANG NGAI

    I n Binh Dinh and Quang Ngai t h e i n s t i t u t i o n of t h e Son Phong had been i n o p e r a t i o n s i n c e 1863, and b u s i n e s s was t h r i v i n g from thLs s i t u a t i o n . 'The IZa ht of Quang Nam were, a s always, responding t o t h a t s t r a n g e c o n ~ p u l s i o nt h a t d r i v e s them c o n t i n u a l l y toward t h e s o u t l ~ ,

    9.

    SE B N IilENC AG F i n a l l y , i n t h e r e g i o n of t h e Se Rang Hieng r i v e r , the Siamese

    c o n t i n u e d t o expand t h e i r i n f l u e n c e .

    I n 1885, t h e So and t h e IZha Lung

    of t-he Se Bang Hieng s t o p p e d p a y i n g t r i b u t e t o and t r a d i n g w i t h Annam. T h i s r e g i o n , l i k e t h a t of t h e Se Don r i v e r , was t o be used a s t h e s t a r t i n g point: f o r t h e Siamese advance uf 1886. During t h i s p e r i o d , t h e Ta Woi, Sedang and J a r a i c o n t i n u a l l y c a r r i e d o f f women and c h i l d r e n from n e i g h b o r i n g t r i b e s and k i l l e d anyone who r e s i s t e d them. raids. etc., Even t h e Annamites on t h e p l a i n s were noL inmune from t h e s e

    On t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e c a p t i v e s from Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh D i n l ~ , w e r e even t r e a t e d w i t h a s p e c i a l s e v e r i t y . According t o M a i t r e , they

    were b e i n g made t o a t o n e f o r t h e c r i m e s of t h e b a n d i t l e a d e r Tuong, whom, a s i t happened, t h e y d i d n o t know any more t h a n d i d t h e i r a b d u c t o r s . 10. THE MISSION I n t h e m i d s t of a l l t h e s e d i f f e r e n t dramas, t h e M i s s i o n a t Kontum performed t h e m i r a c l e of s u r v i v i n g . I t was even e n l a r g e d w i t h a n i n f l u x Isolated i n the

    of immigrants from Quang Nam and Binh Dinh i n Annam.

    m i d d l e of t h e p l a t e a u s , which were b e i n g scoured and p l u n d e r e d by t h e J a r a i and t h e Sedang, t h e i r communications w i t h t h e c o a s t f r e q u e n t l y c u t by t h e

    -84J a r a i , t h e C a t h o l i c f a t h e r s , even i f they were never a c t u a l l y a t t a c k e d by t h e surrounding t r i b e s , were n o n e t h e l e s s l e f t t o fend e n t i r e l y f o r themselves. Despite t h i s , t h e y undertook t h e t a s k of t e a c h i n g t h e c h i l d r e n The c o m p i l a t i o n of a method f o r t r a n s c r i b i n g t h e Bahnar n a system, d a t e s from

    i n the vicinity.

    language, based on t h e p r i n c i p l e s u n d e r l y i n g t h e &c 1861.

    The Bahnar p u p i l s were t a u g h t t o w r i t e and t o d o s i m p l e ari'thmetic. The immunity which t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s owed t o t h e i r p r e s t i g e and good

    works d i d n o t , however, extend t o s t r a n g e r s .

    Mr. Navelle, t h e r e s i d e n t i n On h i s way back,

    Q u i Nhon, paid a v i ' s i t t o t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t a t Kontum.

    t h e J a r a i a t t a c k e d him a t P l e i Chu n e a r t h e confluence of t h e B l a and t h e Peko. One member of h i s e s c o r t was k i l l e d and n i n e o t h e r s wounded,

    Mr.

    Navelle was a b l e t o s c a t t e r h i s a s s a i l . a n t s , b u t n e i t h e r he n o r h i s s u c c e s s o r s i n Q u i Nhon were t o r e t u r n t o Kontuin b e f o r e 1889. I n 1883 t h e ranks of t h e small. group of missionari.es were c o n s i d e r a b l y s t r e n g t h e n e d by t h e a r r i v a l of F a t h e r Guerlach. p r i e s t , and h i s s t a t e of h e a l t h o f t e n d e l i c a t e . Ile was then a young His photograph can be seen tiis c h a r i t y ,

    on page 27 of t h e t h i r d volume published by t h e Pavie mission.

    courage, s p i r i t of d e t e r m i n a t i o n and p a t r i o t i s m made him a t r u l y exccptionctl personality. deal. cleric. Both Prance and t h e p r ~ p a g a t i o nof t h e f a i t h owe him n g r e a t

    The li.ves of rnany a d v e n t u r e r s i s l e s s f a s c i n a t i n g t h a n t h a t of t h i s W s1~aI.lhave o c c a s i o n t o s e e h i s achi.evernents l a t e r , e

    F a t h e r GuerlacZi d e s c r i b e d t h e s t a t u s of t h e C h r i s t i a n church i n Kontum when he toolc up h i s p o s i t i o n t h e r e : "four C h r i s t i a n v i l l a g e s and a s m a l l Annamite colony. 1,500 C h r i s t i a n s hemmed i n by t h e Bahnar and t h e Rongao. The e n t i r e remainder of t h e popul.ation was f e t i s h i s t i c . S o c i a l l y speaking, t h e r e was no cohesion; i.t was e v e r y man f o r h i m s e l f , and t h e r e was no s i n g l e c h i e f whose a u t h o r i t y extended t o a3.l t h e v i l l a g e s belonging t o t h e same c l a n . I n a word, t h e s i t u a t i o n was b u t one s t e p away from anarchy" (60).

    Kiem, t h e Bahnar c h i e f whose sons had been t a u g h t t o r e a d a t t h e Missi.on, had been appointed Annamite d e l e g a t e t o t h e r e g i o n ; h i s assignment appears t o have c o n s i s t e d c h i e f l y i n s t i m u l a t i n g Annamite t r a d i n g i n t h e a r e a and improving c o n d i t i o n s of a c c e s s . (60) F, Guerlach, "I,'oeuvre n & f a s t e , " Saigon, 2906.

    -85CHAPTER X 1885 AND AFTER The e v e n t s t h a t took p l a c e i n Tonkin and Annam between 1882 and 1885 were sanctioned by t h e t r e a t y of 1884, by which France was charged w i t h m a i n t a i n i n g Annamite t e r r i t o r y i n t a c t . I n Annam t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of t h e French p r o t e c t o r a t e l e d f i r s t t o t h e r e v o l t by t h e S c h o l a r s . Moreover, Siam s e i z e d upon t h e o p p o r t u n i t y

    a f f o r d e d by t h i s t r o u b l e t o sweep along t h e l e f t bank of t h e Mekong a s Tar a s t h e mountains dominating t h e c o a s t a l p l a i n s of Annam.


    1..

    REVOLT O TI-IE SClIOLARS F 'Chis movement was d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t King Dong Khanh and t h e French;

    i t a l s o toolc up i s s u e w i t h t h e C a t h o l i c s .

    The i n s u r g e n t s had had themselves made h i d e o u t s by t h e mountain peop1.e oL t h e Nhatrang and Ninh IIoa region. I n 3.887, i n Ninh Hoa, t h e u p r i s i n g organized and l e d by Gia broke out; t h e p r i n c i p a l b a s e and r e f u g e of Gia and h i s f o l l o w e r s l a y deep i n Ulao c o u n t r y on t h e " l a M&re e t 1 ' ~ n f a n t " (Mother and C h i l d ) massif. of arms were f r e q u e n t l y l e f t on t h e p l a t e a u s . Caches

    A cache of r i f l e s from

    Laos had been made a t a p o i n t e i g h t daysf march i r o n Ninh Hoa i n a w e s t e r l y direction. Mai Xuan Thuong, c l a i m i n g t o be a descendant of t h e Tay Son, had e s t a b l i s h e d h i s concealed h e a d q u a r t e r s i n t h e v i c i n i t y of Cheo Reo. t h e r e , h e would sweep down on Phu Yen. From

    A f t e r b e i n g pursued by Tran Ra

    Loc, he was c a p t u r e d and executed i n 1887. Thuan Khanh, where t h e Homos a b e t t e d t h e r e b e l s , was a l s o p a c i f i e d by Tran 13a Loc between J u l y and l a t e September 1886. This e n e r g e t i c c h i e f a l s o Before r e l i n q u i s h i n g

    subdued Phu Yen and Binh Dinh i n March and A p r i l 1887.

    & h i s command, t h e p

    Loc made arrangements n o t only f o r t h e appeasement of

    t h e mountain p e o p l e , b u t e s p e c i a l l y f o r t h e i r p r o t e c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e i r traditional exploiters.


    It h a s a l s o been mentioned that: i n 1887 t h e Bih

    of s o u t h e r n Darlac were t h r e a t e n e d by Kham Leu and t h a t t h e Preng, f e a r f u l of r e p r i s a l s by t h e Bih, l e f t t h e a r e a .

    L a t e r , Dr. Y e r s i n and t h e r e s i d e n t Bourgeois were t o have d e a l i n g s w i t h t h e Bih, who had f i n a l l y won t h e day, and w i t h t h e i r c h i e f , Ngeuh. F a r t h e r t o t h e n o r t h , t h i s p e r i o d was c h a r a c t e r i z e d by King Ilam Nghi, a f t e r abandoning h i s c a p i t a l a f t e r t h e f a i l u r e of t h e ambush i n Hue ( J u l y 5, 1885), t a k i n g r e f u g e n o r t h of t h e Se Bang Hieng; t h e Selc and t h e So showed him t h e most l a s t i n g f a i t h f u l n e s s (61). L a t e r , I-Ian1 Nghi s e t o u t e m i s s a r i e s a c r o s s t h e s o u t h e r n p a r t of t h e h i n t e r l a n d , bound f o r Siam. There, they were t o a s k f o r h e l p . The At

    o f f i c e r s of t h e Pavie m i s s i o n met w i t h s e v e r a l of t h e s e e m i s s a r i e s .

    t h e end of January 1887, t h e r e s i d e n t a t Q u i Nhon managed t o a r r e s t t h r e e of them. a cannon. %he most c e l e b r a t e d , Ang Ciianh, l i v e d among t h e Rhade and owned Kun Yu Nob r e f u s e d t o l e t him have t h e guides he wanted t o

    c a r r y t o Siam t h e g i f t s which t h e f u g i t i v e lcing was sending t o Lhat country.

    Following t h e f a i l u r e of tlie r a t h e r gauche ~nissi.on of Montigny i n 18-56, Siam won s u p p o r t r a n t h e English. Determined t o w r e s t from Bangkok

    whatever t e r r i t o r i a l g a i n s i t c o u l d i n t h e Malay p r o v i n c e s , England suggested t h e Icing might seek compensation f o r t h i s l o s s by laolcing eastward. 1Iowever , t h e Franco-Siamese p a c t of 1867 precluded annexation

    a t t h e expense of Cambodi.a, s o t h a t King Chu La Long Korn, s t i l l on t h e a d v i c e of the E n g l i s h , once more s e t h i s s i g h t s on t h e l e f t bank of t h e Mekong. 1 e clai.med t h e e n t i r e t e r r i t o r y bordered t o t h e e a s t by tlie T

    mountain s c a r p of Annam, n o r t h of t h e 1 4 t h p a r a l l e l . T h e i r f r o n t i e r would UP t h u s j o i n l w i t h t h e Melcong n e a r Sambor. Encroachment by Siam would thus encompass Kontum and t h e Se San region. These ambitious c l a i m s v i o l a t e d t h e t e r r i t o r i a l . r i g h t s a c q u i r e d by Annam. Although t h e Court of IIue had e x e r t e d only tolcen a u t h o r i t y o v e r

    t h e Se Bang Hieng v a l l e y s i n c e t h e Siamese advance of 1828, i t i s n e v e r t h e l e s s t r u e t h a t e v e r s i n c e t h e 1 7 t h c e n t u r y t h e s u b j e c t s of Laos l i v i n g i n t h e v a l l e y of t h e Se Bang Hieng had i n s i s t e n t l y demanded r e u n i f i c a t i o n w i t h Annam, i n i t i a l l y because t h e Annamite regime s u i t e d them b e t t e r and, (61) G o s s e l i n , "Le Laos e t l e P r o t e c t o r a t f r a n ~ a i s , " p. 133. n o t swear a l l e g i a n c e t o France u n t i l 1897. The So d i d

    - 87l a t e r , i n o r d e r t o o b t a i n p r o t e c t i o n against: o c c u p a t i o n by t h e Siamese,


    The people of t h i s r e g i o n had p a i d t r i b u t e t o Annam r e g u l a r l y s i n c e t h e 17th century. Siam, on t h e o t h e r hand, was i n t e n d i n g t o t a k e , a d v a n t a g e of t h e u n r e s t t h a t was brewing i n Annam, Talcing t h e Se Rang Iiieng and Se Don

    v a l l e y s a s s t a r t i n g p o i n t , i t had r e s o l v e d t o push forward i t s advance s t a t i o n s a s f a r a s t h e d i v i d e and t h u s c o n f r o n t France and Annam w i t h a f a i t accompli. As i t happened, an i n v a s i o n by Chinese b a n d i t s i n t o Laos provided a n "honorable" p r e t e x t f o r t h e o p e r a t i o n : Siam, a 'Thai power, claimed i t was occupying t h e c o u n t r y o n l y i n o r d e r t o p r o t e c t t h e L a o t f a t ~Thai. The o r d e r s from Bangkok were passed on v i a Bassac and, e a s t of t h e Mekong, v i a Attopeu, S a r a v a n e , on t h e Se Don r i v e r , was adrninis.tered by
    I1 1

    a chau inuon& contralled 'by t h e Siamese.

    1885, t h e t r i b e s of t h e Se

    Bang Elieng who were s t i 1 . l p a y i n g t r i b u t e t o Annam were f o r b i d d e n t o c o n t i n u e t h i s a c t of .vassalage. was t h e n t h a t , a t Bangkok's b e h e s t , Moulapoumok

    ( p r e s e n t - d a y Veun S a i ) was founded on the Se Sail,

    A Siamese f o r c e was

    garrisoriecl a t Siem Pang, t h e former t r a d i n g c e n t e r of Cambodia, on t h e Se Korig

    .
    However, i.nimedi.ately f o l l o w i n g t h e c o n f l i c t t h a t had brought i t up

    a g a i n s t Annam i n 1885, P r a n c e d e c l a r e d i t s w i l l i n g n e s s t o e n f o r c e t h e t r e a t y of August 28, 1883, whereby i t had u n d e r t a k e n t o e n s u r e t h a t both t h e r i g h t s and t h e f r o n t i e r s of Annam were r e s p e c t e d . C o n s u l a t e was e s t a b l i s h e d i n Luan Prabang i n 1895. f i r s t h o l d e r of t h i s new p o s i t i o n .
    A French Vice-

    Auguste P a v i e was t h e

    IIe and t h e French o f f i . c e r s o f t h e m i s s i o n

    under h i s d i r e c t i o n , n o t f o r g e t t i n g t h e t e n Cambodians o r s o who from t h e o u t s e t proved such v a l u a b l e a s s i s t a n t s t o Pavie, s e t a b o u t mapping t h e cont e s t e d a r e a s and e s t a b l i s h i . n g t h e f r o n t i e r s on t h e b a s i s of t h e r e s u l t i n g maps,

    3.

    THE IWNTIJM MlSSlON


    I n opposing t h e Siamese c l a i m s i n t h e h i n t e r l . a n d of I n d o c h i n a France

    was f o r t u n a t e t o b e a b l e t o c o u n t on t h e s u p p o r t of t h e Kontum niissioil,

    -88which was s t i l l i n a l l i a n c e w i t h t h e Ralmnr of Kiem. The o f f i . c e r s of t h e

    P a v i e m i s s i o n found i t a c e n t e r t h a t formed a c o n v e n i e n t c o u n t e r w e i g h t f o r Attopeu, which was i.n Siamese hantis. t h e mos 1: e f fect.i.ve arid cIc;voted llelp, I t may be r e c a l l e d t h a t w h i l e tlle mountain p e o p l e , duri.ng t h e r e v o l . t o.f t h e S c h o l a r s , s t e a d f a s t l y r e f u s e d t o suppLy g u i d e s f o r t h e Annamites who had been o r d e r e d t o s e i z e t h e mi.ssi.onaries a t Kontum, t h e l a t t e r were Ilic 'vi.cti.ms of a s t r e n u o u s bloclcade by t h e Vietnamese, a s wel.1, a s by t h e
    .I,li:ui.

    From t h i s c e n t e r t h e y ol)ta:i.nad

    brrndi.t:s,

    t h a t was t o : l a s t unt:i.l. :L897.

    Father G ~ ~ e r l a c h , I.eacli.ng

    200 Chri.:;ti.ans, r o u t e d a detach~mento f Annnmites a t Kori Cllorah, n e a r An IZhe,


    ai~cl i.nipri.soneci a ~ n a n d a r i r land 1li.s s e r v n l ~ t . 'iilie occnpati.on of An lille by Prenclr t r o o p s p u t a n end t o t h e isof.ati.on ol:
    Irlli?

    mlssi.onaries.

    '.1'11(>l a t t e r had n o t s p e n t t h e i r long y e a r s of s e c l t s i o n w i t h o u t protect:i

    lie

    i.hci.r n o r t h e r n s i d e from a t t a c l c by s i g n i n g a p a c t of al.l.iance .in They t h u s s a f e g u a r d e d themselves Ln a d d i t i o n , they k e p t open

    iieccmbc:~.1885 w i t h t h e r e d o u b t a b l e Sedang.

    agaiiisi, any r e c l i r r e n c e of t h e a t t a c l c of 1862.

    1:1it, pa 1:li t l i a t l.ed t:o thc: banlcs of t h e B l a , whi.ch was u s e d t o evacua t:e
    fJ11i:i:j t. i.iii?:i

    J':l.cei i ~ g[:he p e r s e c u t i o n i.11 Quang Na~n. tlrc k~znaru:i.te t h r e a t : cl.i.sposed o f , t h e r e remai.ncd t h e J a r a i , and A l t l ~ o u g h t h e l a t t e r had r e f u s e d t o l e a d t h e

    Wi.[:ll

    tltc tlodrtlng i.n p n r t % c u l . a r .

    Annainites t o I<ortt~im,t h e y werc nevertltcletis incapab1.e of i'orgoi.ng a chance


    01
    I i ,

    'I'iley came clown and saclced a n i m p o r t a n t c:onvoy bound .for the

    Mj.ssj.on,

    At- or~cc: I?ntller Guerl.ach cal.3.scl t o arms a3.1. t h e Bahrlar who were 1,200 answered h i s call.. Never, i.n

    nursl:ng gr:i.evanccs a g a i n s t t h e J a r a i ,

    a l l . the. 11i.st:ory of t h e rno~tntain r e g i o n , !.lad such a l a r g e f o r c e been s e e n rcspondi.~lg t o tile co~~unnnd:; a sjng1.e man. of The b a t t l e t:ook p:l.ace i n midIt was

    Ircbruary m t h e vanqui.sliecl J a r a i . were f o r c e d t:o beat:, a re1:reat. d ~ : r o lt:llj.s v:i c t o r y that: 1iat:ller (;uerl.aclr ' s p r e s t:i.ge ~~
    ti

    l:cxrm~ed :[.atel: t h e ;
    011

    moulltaj.11 people were t o c o n f e r t h e s p e c i a l name Boc Can11

    him.

    Seei.ng t h a t h i s w a r r i o r s from ICon Mouey had capturcid a ~ a r a woman, i

    F. Cuerlach s e n t h e r baclc t:o tier p e o p l e wit11 some r i c e and

    ;I

    111essage

    "89f i x i n g t h e d a t e f o r a meeting, t o the a p p o i n t e d p l a c e . Seven days l a t e r , a J a r a i d e l e g a t i o n came No f u r t h e r

    Peace was concZuded w i t h t h e J a r a i ,

    i n c i d e n t s o c c i ~ r r e d t o d i s t u r b it. was s a f e .

    From t h e n on, t h e road t o Rinh Dinh

    4.

    TI312 XA'lNAK-RDN(:AO

    COWEDIIIWTLON

    lChe Missi.oi~'s s p h e r e of p o l . i t i c a l i n f l u e n c e was lat:er extended s t i l l further. 1Ci.eii1, now advanced i n y e a r s , was succeeded I)y 11i.s son I?i.m. On

    t h e a d v i c e o t h e f a t l l e r s and a n o f f i c e r from 13inh Dinh, Pim brought about C tlle con.fedcrati.ou s o desi.red by Nave:l.le, t h e governor i n Qui Nl1o11. The

    Bahnar of LZont~tm reached a n agrcernerit wi.th t h o Kongao and the I%orrorn. The obji?ct of t h i s 1.uag11e w a s t o 11ol.tl t h e J a r a i . 1.11 check. ~:acojinizctl t w o yi..a.rs :1,;1te1: by Rr!i.nliilrL:, I t was ofI:i.ci.al.l.y

    t h c govr?rnor-.i;encral i n Huc.

    M Y 1N A R3 A Mal.1.e L , 1C:i.ng oi: I:lic Sotlilng! .".' 'Illlcrc was n o t a to~tr:i.st a t t h c L:i.me

    who d:i.cl n o t d e v o t e a paragrnl>h i.n 11i.s t r a v e l . rloLcri t o 1:hi.s Iielgian


    a t l v e ~ ~ t ~ ~ r e r - - l ~ a i t d sui~erj:i.l~g i t ~ n ( ~ , marltsrnun, and "LZi.ilg of tlie Moi."

    A Illan of

    intc:lli.gence and e n e r g y , he u r l l o r t u i ~ a t c ? l y became n o t o r i o u s lior 11i.s crooked de;tl.i.ngs, wl1i.ch d i s c r e d i . t c d hi.ii1,


    H i c ; dea1:l.l was a s pi.tifu1. a s i t was

    111ysc r i . o u s . t ':[:he cpi.sode nc>nethel.ess m e r i t s s e r i o u s s t u d y , :l.'lie MayrBna inarlced t h e

    f i r s t o c c a s i o n on wh.i.ch t h e Si.amese encroachrneilt was e Efec t i v c l y t ~ a l t e d ;

    his was i n 1888.


    IIaving come i n t h e o r y t o survey gold mi.nes i n tlie a r e a around Attopeu, Mayrkna had been assf-gned a n u n o f f i c i a ' l . mi.ssion by t h e French Government : Siam was o ~ t ~ u n i t e t h e t r i b e s of t h e h i n t e r l . a n d under I t s own c o n t r o l , o t d e s p i t e t h e Eact t h a t some of t h c n ~ , by v i r t u e of t h e h i s t o r i c a l . s u z e r a i n t y
    of A~ma~tl, were ciernanding r e m i i f i . c a t i o n wi.tti t h e C o u r t of Hue.
    ,

    Mayr6na1s

    t a s k was t o c r o s s t h e d i s p u t e d t e r r i t o r i e s , d i v i d e them intct g r o u p s , and p r o t e c t t b e ~ na g a i t i s t t h e i n t : r i g u e s of Siam. I f lie was s u c c e s s f u l , France,

    taiting ovcr fro111Milyrknil, was t o c o l ~ t i n u et h e ~xndertnltiitgand e n f o r c e tlie observance oi: Anilalii's r i g h t s .

    -90-

    To s t a r t w i t h , e v e r y t h i n g went iniracu1ousl.y w e l l .

    A t t h e r e q u e s t of
    Guerl.ach i n

    t h e governor of Qui Nhon, Lemire, t h e Kontum f a t h e r s and I?.

    p a r t i . c u l a r had a g r e e d t o a s s i s t Mayrena i n h i s e f f o r t s , s o t h a t i n t h i s was he had t h e b e n e f i t of t h e u n d e n i a b l e p r e s t i g e t h a t t h e mi.s:iionacies enjoyed i.n t h e h i g h l a n d s . On May 23, Mayrkna was a t Kontxm, where lie was asstired of t h e goodwi.11 of t h e C h r i s t i . a n Bahnar. 1Ie ral.l:ied t o g e t h e r a number of g r o u p s : t h e

    Kamrang, who a r e t h e Sedang of t h e j u n g l e , and t h e FIamong, who 1.ived along t h e r i g h t bank of t h e Pelco E l v e r , 0pposi.t.e t h e c o n f l u e n c e w i t h t h e Bla.

    On June 3 , t h e s e d i f f e r e n t Sedang u n i t s formetl a c o n f e c l e r a t i o n which t h e y


    terinud i:l-le 1Zi.ngc1 of t h e Sedang, cund Maric? I was proclaimed i t s ki.ng. orn An a l l i n r l c e was t h e n s t r u c k between t h i s f e d e r a t i o n ancl t h e u~ti.on of t h e Uahnar and t h e Rongao, whi.ch had heen forrned t o coni:al.n t h e .lal-a.L. 'Che

    e n t i r e al;senibl.y was p l a c e d under t h e general. chai.rmai1shi.p of ~Crbi., who was a p p o i n t e d by t h e conibined c o u n c i l of e l d e r s . The Siamese n a t u r a l l y found tliese a c t i v i . t i e s l i t t l e t o t h e i r l i k i n g . A c h i e f of t h e Koyo1-1 (between t:l-re Halang and t h e I a Seng) a r r i v e d a t t h e C i n v i t a t i o n of Mayrkna; lhe was 1lilu:l.ed over t h e coa1.s by tlle Siamese o f P F c i a l i n Attopcu and t h e g i f t s I-ie had r e c e i v e d from t:lle French envoy were conf iscat:etl. Mnyrkria a l s o was t o jeopardi.xe t h e s u c c e s s or 1:llc.: work t h a t 11nd s t a r t e d o f f s o well.. C a s t i n g a s i d e tllc agreements, he endeavored t o keep f o r There was taLic of a German %'lie k i n g of

    ili.ri~::~l.f"Itis t e r r i t o r i e s " o r e l s e s e l l . them.

    group t h a t l~acl supposed:ly come forward a s a p r o s p e c t i v e b u y e r .

    t h e Sedang was s h o r t of money, and h e attemptecl t o r a i s e some a l o n g t h e c o a s t by rnethocls remi.ni.scent of a common c r i m i n a l . A r r i v i n g i n Europe, he

    s e t o u t t o d o e v e r y t h i n g i n r o y a l s t y l e , arid t o r a i - s e t h e wherewithal. he sol.d d e c o r a t i . o n s , t i t l e s of n o b i l i t y and e s t a t e s t o gul.li.ble buyers. The

    Serlang St:at:e was g i v e n i t s own f l a g , and up t o 1945 t h e Khai. Di.nh Museum i n Hue used t o d i s p l a y t h e c o l l e c t i o n of p o s t a g e stamps i s s u e d by t h i s s h o r t l i v e d kingdom. Wtlen Mayrkna r e t u r n e d from Bel.giuin i.n 3.889, t h e goverlllllenll of Indocllina f o r b a d e him t o s e t f o o t i n Annam o r h i s "kingdom" a g a i n , Subpoenas were

    Pavie Mission,

    Cupet's i t i n e r a r y

    -91a w a i t i n g him i.n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h h i s f r a u d u l e n t conduct, Mayrkna was un-

    wFl.ling t o t r y h i s l u c k a g a i n ; h e met h i s d e a t h suddenly on t h e stnall i s l a n d of Z30u3.0 'llio~nanwhere he liitd talten r e f u g e (63). :t'lie l.teadwey made in t h e tiinterl.and was by no m a n s l o s t , however. In

    1889, t h e Governor-general R e i n h a r t , who approved of t h e i d e a of t h e f e d e r a t i o n and was a n x i o u s t o s c e .i.t expantled, t?ntrentecl t h e p r i e s t s t o lend L:liei.r a s s i s t a n c e t o t h e governor i n than Mr. Nlion. The l a t t e r , Inore f o r t u n a t e The c h i e f s of t h e A f t e r i t had been

    Navel.le, a r r i v e d i u I<on Trang i n March 1089,

    mountain p e o p l e were gatfiered t h e r e f o r t h e occasi.011.

    proclaimned t h a t t h e 'Icing' o.E t h e Scdang was of C-i.ci.ally d e t h r o n e d , t h e governor was e l e c t e d i n 1ii.s s t e a d by t h e two u n i o n s , t h a t of t h e Sedang and t h a t of tile fiat~rlarand Lylte Rongao. R r u i was recogni.zed by t h e government

    a s president:, o.C t h c confederation, which was t o :Last 1 1 n t i l 1895; c o n t r a r y t o what h a s sometimes been a l . l e g e d , i t s menibers remained u n i t e d t o t h e end. Aduli.t:tedly, t:l~e bond t:l.rat ti.ed tkcm was n o t over1.y s t r o n g , h u t i n a l a n d

    of indiviclua l.ism and anarchy such a n acli~i.evoment a t a 3.3, repl.:esented a r e ~ i i a r k a b l e s t e p forward. The Siamese were t h e f i r k i t t o f!ind had been made. o u t f o r tl~eiiiselves t h a t p r o g r e s s

    The b a s e a t Rontum had m a t e r i a l i z e d opposi.te t h e i r own a t

    Attopeu, a n d , i n s t e a d of a nu~nl,er of s c a t t e r e d t r i b e s t h a t they c o u l d have' absorbed oxie a t a time, 1:lle cruissarj.es o f Ilnnglcolc fou~lcl a c o h e r e n t who1.c

    wRi ch, on t h e s trcrlgtlt of it:s e x p e r i e n c e of p a s t a n n e x a t i o n s , dreaded


    n o t l ~ i n gq u i t e a s n~trch a s Siamese "protect:i.on" o r dominati.on.

    Siam had e v e r y i.ntenti.011 of e x p l o i t i n g tlie temporary c o l l a p s e of Laos and tIie t r o u b l e t h a t was s a p l > i ~ l g h e s t r e n g t h of Annam, i n o r d e r t o asscmnie t c o n t r o l 01: t h e lc.Et: bank of t l ~ c Mekong a s f a r a s tllc pealcs o v e r l o o k i n g

    p l-, n c e a p p o i n t e d Pavie t o oppose t h e s u b s t a n t i a l . f o r c e s d i s p a t c h e d a


    4

    eastward by S:i.a~ii.

    (67) See .J. Mc~rquet, "UII a v e n t u r i e r du XLXe s i h c l e , Marie Seddng," B.A.V.II., 1927.

    xer,

    roi des

    -92So f a r a s t h e p l a t e a u s a r e concerned, t h e work of t h e Pavie m i s s i o n c a n be d i v i d e d i n t o t h r e e phases. The f i r s t (1887-89) does n o t d i r e c t l y a f f e c t t h e r e g i o n s under consideration here. P a v i e performed t h e remarliable, f e a t of f o r c i n g r e c o g n i -

    t i o n of L a o t i a n r i g h t s from t h e v a l l e y of t h e Melcong a s f a r a s t h e Black River. T h i s forms t h e s u b j e c t m a t t e r o f : "A :La conquGte d e s coeurs."

    But t h e s u c c e s s e s of t h e French Vic:e Consul were s o r a p i d l y won and seemed s o p r o d i g i o u s t h a t Siam r e s o l v e d t o p u t up t h e most s t r e n u o u s possib3.e r e s i s t a n c e ko any f u r t h e r deployment o.E French a c t l . v i t i e s .

    Lt

    hardened i t s a t t i t u d e t o such a n e x t e n t t h a t t h e t r i b e s i n t h e d i s p u t e d regi.ons stepper1 up t h e i r r e q u e s t s t o t h e French t o i n t e r v e n e and p r o t e c t Llhem .Eronr t h e Si.arnese i.ncuraions, 'Che object:i.ves of l ? a v i e ' s second missi.on (1890-93.) were, among o t h e r s , e i t h e r t o f o r e s t a l l t h e Siamese by occupying lcey p o s i t i o n s i n t h e i n t e r i o r o r t o .force t h e Siamese t o e v a c u a t e t h e p o s t s t h e y hacl a l r e a d y taken over..
    i t c a n n e v e r be r e p e a t e d o f t e n enough that: t:he g o a l was accomplished w i t h

    3.tidi.crotrs:l.y smnall r e s o u r c e s ,

    A t the o u t s e t of Itis l o n g excursi.on from

    1Cont:um t o Ban Don, Cupet had w i t h hirn s i x mili.tiamen and a reli.al2l.e a i d e l e n t 1.i:i.m by F a t h e r Guerlach. By the time c o n t a c t was luade w i t h t h e enemy, ,

    o n l y t h r e e men were sti.1.l. a t h i s s i d e !


    The h e r o e s of t h e m i s s i o n were Capt, Cogniard, Lt. Dugast, t h e p o l i c e it1i;pcctor Garni.er, who came down fronr I h ~ e , b u t above a l l Capt. Cupet, I:n t h e c a s e 6f G a r n i e r , Ft-. shou1.d be borne i n mind t h a t even today rtra1ci.ng t h e d i r e c t t r i p from I'luc o r Jla Nang i:o LContu~n i s s t i . 1 1 a demanding feat. One c a n n o t b u t admire t h e d a r i n g o f men who v e n t u r e d t o n e g o t i a t e

    t h e j u n g l e o.f Ibntum and of t h e Scdang when, behind them, t h e r e b e l l i o n t h a t was Layi.ng w a s t e t h e lowlands made r e t r e a t o u t of t h e q u e s t i o n . 1Jni~ortuaa t:el.y, wit11 t h e i r m i s s i o n comple t e d , t h e companions of I?avie were recal.led t:u t h e p l a i n s . f o r what t h e y had l o s t . The Siamese i1n111ediatel.y s e t about making up

    The t h i r d and f i n a l phase (1892-93) marlcs t h e resumption of French activity.

    It i s i l l u s t r a t e d by t h e o c c u p a t i o n of Laos.

    The i n c i d e n t s

    i n Hanglcolc i n J u l y 1893 l e d t o LZte s i g n a t u r e on Oclrober 3, 3.893 of t h e t r e a t y betweeu F r a n c e and Siam,

    7.

    CU1'ET Leavi.ng K3:ati.e i.n Decernber 1890 w i t h t e n Cambodian militi.arnen, Cupet The Siamese "assi.gnedl' t h e luong siak11011

    s e t o f f f o r Ban Dort ancl Ronturik. t o him.

    Accorcling t o t h e l a t t e r , he would have needed a n e s c o r t of a t

    l e a s t 300 t o 4.00 men and r e c o u r s e t o arms t o have been a b l e t o e n t e r t a i n any hopes of s u c c e s s , His t a s k was t o re:joi.n Ditgast, Cogniartl and G a r n i e r ,

    who liacl a l s o i:ecc?iveci o r d e r s t o proceed t o #onturn.

    The capta.i.n and I1:i.s siiia1.l. cletacllrllent met w i t h a f r i e n d l y we:Lco~ne f r m r


    t h e t r i b e s t h e y cntnc a c r o s s , who were . f e a r f u l of t h e Sialnese and t h e i r e s c o r t .
    At: Rat1 Don h e c r o s s e d swords w i . t l i :llhu, '1.ate.r lcnown a s 1<11n Y1 Nob, 1 .

    "wllose f a c e wi &

    a picture of s11,rewdness and g u i l e . "

    C u p e t ' s r e q u e s t s were

    all. uncoritpromi.si.ngl.y deni.c:d 1)y t h e Mnong l.eacler : no guides, no i.nf orma t i o n ,


    and no b o a t s i.11 wlii.cl1 t o c:ross t:lie rPc/er, ire clai.nied tic was a f r a i d of

    y repri.sa1.s by t h e Rhadc: " I f :l: 1icl.p you t o c r o s s i n t o tl1ei.r t e r r i t o r y , m vi.l.l.age w i l l he p i l l a g e d . t e n thousand Rlincle. Tliere a r e o n l y a few of you, b u t tllerc a r e

    The Rhade only a l l o w freedom of p a s s a g e t o t:liose t h e y

    Itnow or t o o u t s i d e r s wl~oseconduct i.s vouched f o r by someone t h e y t r ~ ~ s t( 6 4 ) . " Ila.vi.ng found a I a o t i a n t o .gtxi.de him, t h e senang ycow, Cupet wished t o v i s i t e n r o u t e t h e S a d e t of F i r e , " i n c h a r g e of t h e Annamite s l o p e , j u s t U a s t h e S a d e t o Water kept: watch over t h e T,aoti.an si.cle." 13y c h a n c e , between Ban Mewan and Ban Mehang, they met t h e widow of a d i g n i t a r y whoin t h e L a o t i a n knew,
    A v i l l a g e c h i e f t a i n , who was a r e l a t i v e

    of tile S a d e t and "curious1.y f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e pol.iti.ca1 r;it:uation," t:o l.ead t h e p a r t y t o I3an Blasotn (93 lcm, n o r t h of 13an Don).

    offereti

    A t Ban i<haso~n,

    ttiey f e l l f o u l of a n i n s o l e n t y e t p k t u r e s q u e one-eyed man, who cl.aimed he was t~o:I.dj.ngCr.~pet l i a b l e f o r t h e suppresssioli of t h e g i . f t s JFormerly s e n t by t h e King of Crirnbodia ( i n 1860, of c o u r s e , Cupet was stil.1. a c11il.d and had

    (64.) "Mi.r;sLon P a v i e , " 111, p. 256 e t secl.

    -94n e v e r s e t f o o t i n I n d o c h i n a ) ; he rumnaged through t h e off.i.cer's baggage and made o f f w i t h p r a c t i c a l l y e v e r y t h i n g . was


    11 1

    Fortunate1.y f o r Cupet, t h e S a d e t

    t h e vil.l.age.

    tie had come t o v i s i t a re:l.cit.ive.

    C.upet r e c o r d s t h a t t h e Lord of F i r e ' s r e t i n u e showed no partir:r~l.ar r e s p e c t JIor t h e a g i n g c h i e f : "JIc! tal.:Ler t h a n t h e a v e r a g e European. i s n o n e t h e 1 . e ~ ~ rnan of i.mposing st:nture, a tle h a s a cunning face."

    To b e g i n w i t h t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n was fa]: froin c o r d i a l , but Cupet tiad a way of g e t t i . n g what he wanted. "If t h e sun h a s been hidden s i n c e lay

    a r r i . v i ~ l . , % t i s b e c a u s e 1 wanted t o tillow you t h a t tlie ,pi& (spi.rit:s) of [:he Fvencll a r e more powerful than t h a t : o f the S a d e t , M pig;. a r e f a r s u p e r i o r . " y

    J e pron~p l y pul.l.ed our h i s compass, and tlie onl.ookers were . d u l y amazed. T t

    lille outcome of t h e s e 1.i.t:tl.e i.nci.derits--wlii.ch a~:c annising t o read a b o u t , l,ut: were i ~ c t : ~ i ~ l . Z y tra8.i.c when viewcd a g a i n s t tlie baclcground of i.sol.ati.on
    i n t l ~ em:i.dsi: o.C s u c h forbiddi.ng 'ountry--was

    thalr Cupct won t h c round. Many

    Ile

    tiad :;eel1 t h e Sndet: and I-lad succeeded

    i.r.1

    wi.nning h i s confidence.

    d i f f f . c u l t i c s were l a t e r smoothed over Lhanks t o ttle goodwi-ll, of t h e old magici-all. Continui.11g through tlie t e r r i . t o r y of t h c 1Iadrong 2 n d llul~au, members of
    tllci

    J a r a i . tr.i.be, Cupet . f i n a l l y entcircid I<ontum. 011 Marell 2 , 1.890 he s e t ocf a g a i n , t h i s time lbouncl f o r At1:ope.u. News

    trllat a Siamese col.u~nnwas b e i n g formed on t h e lower Sc San caused him t o cliange d i r e c t i o n . Without Y, Guuerl.acltfs ai.tle, t h e c a p t a i n d e c l a r e d , hi.s

    rilinisc1ilc: tlctachzi~enl: cou1.d izevc~: Ilavc g o t t l ~ eb e t t e r of t h e Siamese f o r c e s


    LJ~ICIIIIi

    t was hi.:; t:a:;k

    to rout.

    l1ni1bl.c t o l e a v e t:he m i s s i o n , E'atlier Guer2.ach Sanli

    sccollded Sauh, h i s trlrstecl a i d e , t o t h e detachrncnt of mi.lit:i.amen.

    s p o r t e d a s u p e r b red j a c k e t w i t h p l e n t y of tri.mmings; i.t made a g r e a t hat i m p r e s s i o n on t h e t r i l ~ e s ,b u t m i s f i r e d s o ~ ~ ~ e w when i.t came t o tlie .Jarai. A3.3. t h e same, Sank saved t h e capt:ai.n by s e t t i n g o f f a l o n e I:hroirgh 1:he jun.gl.e, i n s e a r c h of r e i n f o r c e m e n t s , bound f o r K o n t ~ ~ m , wlr.icli was se.vera1. d a y s ' march away. Tlle s i t u a t i o n grew more cmipli.cated. Cupet was t o ol.low t h e Se San

    downstream and t h u s p r e v e n t t h e f o r e i g n e r s who had s e t out from Hassac

    -95from r e a c h i n g t h e road t o Attopeu, when a message from Hue warned him t h a t

    400 L a o t i a n s , u n d e r t h e o r d e r s of t h e
    on F e b r u a r y 23, 1890, bound f o r Ban Don.

    sakhon, had l e f t Stung Treng These r e i n f o r c e m e n t s would r a i s e

    t o 700 t h e nuniber of men statianed on tlie D a r l a c P l a t e a u who were i n t h e s e r v i c e of Siam. Cupct s e t hi.~nself t h e t a s k of heading o f f t h e Siamese The l a t t e r had a l e a d o f 15 days. Cupet had o n l y

    o f r i c e r and h i s Lroops. s i x men at- h i s disposal.,

    At P l e i R'de a r e q u e s t f o r hel.pagainst t h e

    Siamese was handed Iii~n;he l ( ? f t f o r t h e s o u t h a f t e r a s k i n g t h a t 60 r e s e r v e n i i l i t i a m e n i n ~ ~ o n t u m ' bsee n t a s r e i n f o r c e m e n t s . Ilugast, who remained

    behind on t h e Se San, was t o h a l t t h e advance of a n o t h e r Siamese f o r c e t h a t was on i t s way from Attopeu.

    A band of Jdmi. overpowered and robbed a small. detachment commanded


    by a L a o t i a n i.n tlic s e r v i c e of t h e Siamese.

    On t h e 1.4th, Cupet, passi-ng v i a L'lei Bi.a, reached tlie Srepok b a s i n . At Gong Rouel: I:hc t r i b e s appeared c l i . s t r r ~ s . l f u l . It see~ued t o them t h a t t h e srnilll. I ~ ~ c I ~ c d I~ f f i ~ ~ l ~ l ~ l e n t ,was i n a h u r r y , I WII Fc11 b e f o r e t h e Siamese and 1,oot i-ans. To a v o i d the cou11t:ry ravaged by t h e misdeeds of t h e m'tau i n t h e s o u t h , thti c a p t a i n was f o r c e d Lo d e t o u r t o t h e s o u t h e a s t and t a k e a l o n g e r r o u t e by c1er;crit~ing an a r c s o a s t o f o l l o w t h e l i n e of v i l l a g e s from which he mi.ght e x p e c t t o o b t a i n prov~sisions. W<itcr ( 6 5 ) , Nei t h e r
    ill

    ITIUS t

    have been f l e e i n g

    Cupet d i d n o t s e e t h e S a d e t of

    casli nor among l i i s baggage could lie r i n d t h e

    w11erewit:lial. t o buy t h e g i f t s r e q u i r e d of p e r s o n s wishing t o a p p e a r b e f o r e tlie Patnu Ya, but: he, s e n t word t o t h e old c h i e f t h a t he p r o f f e r e d h i s fri.el.ldship. The S a d e t a c c e p t e d i t . From hi.~n, t h e c a p t a i n r e c e i v e d a

    c o p p e r b r a c e l e t and a bag of s a c r e d r i . c e p o s s e s s i n g magic powers, a s a t o k e n of a l l i a n c e .

    By now, I~owever, t h e luong salchon had reached Nong Te on t h e Srepok


    p .. v e r Time was r u n n i n g o u t , and a l o n g t h e p a t h of t h e French o f f i c e r , ~ ~ .

    t h e n l i s t r u s t of t h e i n h a b i t a n t s was t u r n i n g i n t o open h o s t i l i t y : t h e Si.amese and 1 , a o t i a n f o r c e s seelned t o o c l o s e t o v i c t o r y . Leaving behind

    (65) M i t r e , ".Jungles Moi": "'Che P a t a u Ya h a s l o n g ceased t o e n j o y tlie a p r e s t i g e and auLhou'ity t h a t i n c e n t u r i e s p a s t he shared w i t h t h e S a d e t of F i r e . The p r e s e n t I'dLau Ya i s a t a l l f e l l o w , d r y , p l a c i d and u n r u l f l e d , who c e r t a i n l y has n o t h i n g r o y a l a b o u t him; h i s v i l l a g e i s n o t f a r from t h e one occupied by t h e S a d e t when Cu e t v i s i t e d him i n 1891. He a c c e p t e d our a u t h o r i t y f r p t h e v e r y l e g i n n i n g and had n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h O d e n d f h a l ' s murder.

    h i s baggage and t h e men r e q u i r e d t o guard i t , Cupet continued h i s journey w i t h o n l y t h r e e men: a Cambodian, Ro, and h i s two boys. 22nd, he r e a c h e d Ban Don, F i n a l l y , on t h e
    [him

    iiati b e a t e But t h e luong &~~~~ n

    t o it.

    f1e

    had w i t h him 370 L a o t i a n s , 22 Siamese s o l d . i e r s , 14 e i e p h a t l t s and some horses. Despj t e a l . l t h i s , he was t:o g i v e up, Assured by Cupet t h a t t h e r e

    was n o t a v i l l a g e i n t h e e n t i r e r e g i o n t h a t would pay t r i b u t e t o t h e Siamese a u t h o r i t i e s , t h e 3.uong saklion o r d e r e d h i s detachment t o r e t r e a t , The e f f e c t on t h e mountain people was trcmenclous: "'She news of t h e a r r i v a l of L-l~eI<ing of Hassac' and the number of t r o o p s invol.ved lzad caused wiclesprcad u n r e s t a n d , i n many pl.aces, a n atmosphere b o r d e r i n g on relrrelli on." "Cupe~'s

    mornl, -vi.ctory was ~ ~ 3 . [:lie g r e a t e r b e c a u s e p e o p l e fourid i.t %ncredi.ble, I t 1 was 1:hm 1:Liot t h e i<un Yu Nob, suddeul.y thawing out., came over t o t h e I;'ri:~lch s:i.del' (66).
    It. wa!; l<on Yu Nob who inforrrred Capt. Cupet of what Ong Chanll was up

    t o ; U~ig, a s u p p o r t e r 017 H m Ng'rri, was e n t r e a l i t r g , from M6lioum wliere he a was based, t h e l<i.ng of S:i.am come t o a s s i s t h i s p r i n c e .

    Cupet, c a r r y i n g o u t l ~ i so r d e r s , r e t u r n e d t o tha c o a s t o.f Annarn w i . t l 1 t h e r e i n f o r c e m e n t s who hdd a r r i v c c l , 11js m i s s i o n acconiplished. 'Slie =ng ac1v:ulced salci~on, however, tl-tough h e tiad l e f t t h e 1)ariac PJ a t e a u ,

    up tlle Se !;an a g a i n w i t h hi.s f o r c e s .

    At Se~nct:, a f t e r b e i n g begged by t h e i.nl~abitant:s of a l l . t h e v.i:l.lages al.ong t:l~e Narn S a t h a y t o h a l t t h e Siamese i n v a s i o n , Lt. llugasl:, :;uccecdcd i n cau:;:i.ng t h e l.l~vadcrs t o r e t r e a t (March 2 , 1.891). AlloL:l~er tl~l:;~chmenl; t h e eneliy, a d v a n c i n g Eroni Attopeu, di.cl notof even w a i t f o r I n s p e c t o r Garni.er t:o show up a t I)ak Ii'cle. B e f o r e i.he t h r e a t of t h e mil.itiamen of U e l i n g e t t e , t h e Siamese had abandoned t h e "Gate of Sianr," a monuniental f r o n t i e r stoclcade b u i l t on t:he 1,anlcs o f tlre Dalc I-loni.ong, among t h e Koyon. 'I'l~e ntl:i.t:ude o.f t h e p e o p l e , t h e i r a v e r s i o n t o t h e izroops c o n t r o l l e d too,

    by R;jnglcolc, and t l i e i r r e f u s a l . t o pay tlzern t a x e s had a l l . made a p o w e r l u l

    corrtri.l>uti.on towarcl our o f f i c e r s ' s u c c e s s ,


    -"---.-

    (66) M a i t r e , op, ~ i t . ,p. 529,

    -97It would be unforgFvabl.e n o t t o mention t h e o t h e r s who h e l p e d t o


    b r i n g a b o u t t h e 'happy e n d i n g ' of t h e drama of t h e p l a t e a u s : Capt. Cogniard, wlio liad e x p l o r e d t h e t e r r i t o r y of t h e G o l a r , JJricourr:, De PLal.glaive,

    D c l i n g e t t e , and Odend'hal, who was l a t e r t o p l a y a very import r a l e b e f o r e succumbing i n 1904 t o a n a t t a c k by t h e men o.f t:he Sadet of P i r e . The t a b 1 . e ~had thus been t u r n e d . The i n i t i a t i v e no l o n g e r l a y w i t h '['he Siamese t h r e a t had

    Bassac o r Attopeu, b u t w i t h IContnn~aiid Ban Don. a p p a r e n t l y beet1 sfaved o f f ,

    tiowever, now t h a t t h e i r p r a i s e w o r t h y t o u r was a t a n end, t h e o f f i c e r s


    of t h e I'avie mi:;sion,

    t o o few i n number, were posted e2sewhere.

    Their

    a d v e r s a r i . e s s e t a h o u t ta1ci.rtg a d v a n t a g e of tt1i.s t o rnalce good t h e i r setbactcs. Pnthe~:.Guerlacli s t i l l . liad o c c a s i o ~ lt o h o l d baclc t h e Ifal.ang t o prevent: them from att:.aclti.ng t h e Si.an~ese,h a t , b e l . i e v i t ~ gthemsel.ves f r e e d from a1.7. d a n g e r , t h e tri.l)es Ecll. a p a r t a g a i n ;
    i.11

    1893, t h e J ' a r a i ancl Rhade, who f o r a along

    ti.tine hati (21):; t r u c ted our detncllmc~lt::i, r e t u r n e d t o ttie.Lr fclr111e.r i so:l.ntion. 'The Siamese s e l l t out t h e Si.arnese ; t h e s i.tci;i t:iou

    kI.3 ,?i~Ichet "1:o

    mapff tlie land invaded by t h e

    1.1:itl

    onci: more grown t h r e a t e l l i.ng.

    1:t was n o t u n t i l 1893 i:liai: F r a n c e f i n a l l y decided t o a c t ; 1)e Lanessan

    was governor-general. a t tlic: ti.me. of s o u t h e r n Idnos. Eeng


    ;IS

    1.t was lie who ordered t h e occupat:ion

    G a r n i c r l . i b e r a t e d 'Ilcliepone a n d t h e vall.ey of tl-ie Se Bang S e t t i n g o u t Erom Cambodia, C a p t a i n s 13asl;arcl

    f a r a s t h e Meltong.

    and. Ilhoreux e s t a b l i s l i e d po:;i.Lio~~s t Stung Trcng and l a t e r a t Khoilg. a :T.nspector Cuosgctrin, who i n 3.892 had p1.antc.d tlie French l l a g a l o n g t:lie Song

    Ba, Ayun, B l a , Peko a n d Nnrn Sathay r i v e r s , l e f t : from Vi.nl.1 and toolc c o n t r o l


    of t h e Canmou. Jle was a s s a s s i . n a t k d a t Keng IZiec along w i t h 20 mi:liti.amen

    on t h e o r d e r s oC t h e Kha-luo,ng P h r a y o t , d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t t h e l a t t e r had j u s t a g r e e d t o e v a c u a t e t h e a r e a . Si.am d e l i b e r a t e l y del.ayeti t h e n e g o t i a t i o n s de:;ignetl


    to establish the

    compensation t o be paid t o t:he fami1.i.e~of victi.ms and s e t t l e o t h e r out-standi.ng i s s t i e s , whi.ch pronlpted F r a ~ z c c t o send Le Myre de Vil.ers a s p l e n i . p o t e n t i a r y

    t:u 13angltolc,

    The Siamese rerrtained hosti1.e; two French gunboats were


    113 .1

    bombarded i n [:he Mellam e s t u a r y , b u t lat:er. s a i . l e d

    t o Banglcolc and lcept

    -98t h e i r cannons t r a i n e d on t h e r o y a l p a l a c e . Siam s i g n e d t h e t r e a t y of

    Bangkok on October 3, 1893: "The Moi h i n t e r l a n d of Annam and Cambodia becilnle French.
    "

    8.

    SE DON AND SE BANG I-IZENG D e s p i t e t h e i n s i s t e n c e w i t h which t h e p e o p l e pleaded t o be r e u n i t e d

    w i t h Vietnam, i n t h e y e a r s t h a t f o l l o w e d 1828 t h e Annamites e v a c u a t e d t h e regi.on t h a t had been depopulated by t h e t r o o p s of Rangtcok. I n 1888, Siam occupied Nong and P h i n , i n 1889 Muong Chanh, Tabang and Lang T r i n h , and l a t e r Nabon.

    I t was from t h e s e p o s i t i o n s t h a t t h e

    Siamese launched t h e i r o f f e n s i v e aimed a t occupying t h e i n t e r i o r a s f a r a s the a p p r o a c h e s t o t h e Cam Lo pass. ossist:ed t h e invncters i n t h e i r e f f o r t s . I n t h e b e g i n n i n g t h e Ta Iloi For a few months a n e x c u r s i o n

    l e d by two French o f f i c e r s managed t o h o l d t h i s advance i n check, b u t Banglcok, e a r l y i n 1890, ordered a new push eastward. 'The Siamese t o o k

    up p o s i t i o n s a l o n g t h e lower Tchcpone and a t t h e approaches t o A i Lao p a s s , whicll had been f : o r t i f i e d by t h e Vietnamese i n 1837 b u t e v a c u a t e d when t h e i r a d v e r s a r i e s advanced. Grosgurin, the f u t u r e victim of Phra

    Yot, f o r c e d t h e Siamese t o r e l i n q u i s h t h i s p o s i t i o n , i n a d d i t i o n t o p u l l i n g o u t oC Nabon and Thuong Khe. I n t h e meantime, De M a l g l a i v e , a

    member of t h e P a v i e m l s s i o n , a r r i v e d from t h e s o u r c e of t h e Se Kong where, i n i t i a l l y , t h e h o s t i l i t y shown by t h e Veh had o b l i g e d him t o s e e k t h e s u p p o r t o f r e i n f o r c e ~ n e n t scommanded by ~ d e n d ' h a l . I n November 1890,

    De M a l g l a i v e r e o c c u p i e d A i Lao and t h e n r e t u r n e d southward t o c o n f r o n t t h e Siamese from Saravane, who were e n d e a v o r i n g t o g a i n c o n t r o l of t h e s o u r c e of t h e Se Kong. With t h e a i d o f t h e Kontu, he f o r e s t a l l e d h i s

    a d v e r s a r i e s and occupied A Roc b e f o r e hem. The f a i l u r e of t h e i r columns a t Ban Don and i n t h e Kontum r e g i o n had e x a s p e r a t e d t h e Siamese, who proceeded t o reoccupy a 1 1 t h e i r former p o s i t i o n s a l o n g t h e Se Bang Hieng. A f t e r t h e s u c c e s s i o n of advances and r e t r e a t s

    t h a t have been o u t l i n e d , t h e y were f i n a l l y d i s l o d g e d f o r good by Lemire, t h e governor i n Dong Hoi, and a b w e a l l by t h e t r e a t y of October 3, 1893.

    CHAPTER

    X I

    IIESLTANCY

    CONFLJSlON

    RETREA'L'S

    THE APOS111,F:S AND THE: VLCllIMS

    The p e r i o d t h a t followed w i t n e s s e d a repetition, m more s e v e r e form, of t h e v a c i l l a t i o n , c o n t r a d i c t i o n and r e l i n q u i s h n ~ e n t t h a t ltad pcevaileci d u r i n g t h e p c ~ v m i s s i o n . ~e The work, which seemed well

    i ~ n d e rway, was suddenly c u t s h o r t , and e r s t w h i l e h e r o e s were f o x g o t t e n or vilified, I h r l ac. Take Bourgeois, f o r example, Lhe f i r s t p a c i l i e r of t h e S a b a t j e r lrad t h e e x c e p t i o n a l

    Who lias heard of I l i ~ n Loday?

    good r o r t u n e t o make h i s drcatu

    --

    t h e r e v i v a l of an e n t i r e p e o p l e

    --

    a realily.

    llow i n t a m o ~ ~ s l11e was r e p a i d f o r h i s p a i n s I,y t:hose who y

    b e n e f i t e d from fii s achievements, i n c l u d i n g t h e lZ11;tde and t h e Mnong (though t h e French oci trl i d evcv~ them) ! O t h e r g r e a t names s t a n d o u t b e s i d e t h o s e o f t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s (I?. Cuerlaclz, F, Krmlin): Ode~iti'hal Y e r s i n , 11, Mait r e , S a b a t i e r (67), ,
    01 tlzose j u s t merit-ioned,

    Odkra.

    T l ~ ehiglilaztds a t f . r a c t e d men of' c a l i b e r ,

    t h e ,larai < t s s a s s i n a t e d Odend ' h a 1 and t h e Nollg llcnrj M a i t r e ,

    For

    attempting t o lceep t h e 1):trl.a~: pl.atea~c f r e e from [:he swi.ndlers who


    descended on i t from a l l s i d e s , S a h a t i c r d i e d i n u t t e r n e g l e c t , f o r c i b l y removed from t h e c o u n t r y hu lxad sing1.e-handed1.y given a nc3w l e a s e of life. Y e r s i n , f o r h i s p a r t , was a s c h o l a r and, a f t e r t h e f l u s h o f

    h i s youth had p a s s e d , he l i v e d on a t Nha Trang t o g a t h e r t h e l a u r e l s and homage t h a t were h i s r i g l t t f n l . clue. Rut wlto knows today t h a t Y e r s i n "The p i t y of i t i s

    was one o f t h e g r e a t e x p l o r e r s of t h e plateaus'!

    t l x t t.tie erltllusiasn~of suc11 champions d r i v e s them t o e x c e s s i v e t r u s t and g e n e r o s i t y , which in such a n environment- a r e a c t u a l l y a t h r e a t T h e r e i s a young abbot c u r r e n t l y making t h e accluaintance oC t h e mounlain people and w r i t i n g a b o u t them, who does n o t lttzow dbout S d b a t i e r . Tn t h e "Chanson de I)amsantt Lhc llalne o f t h e P d t h e r of t h e Khctde i s n o t mentioned once i n t ' t ~ i so t h e r w i s e p l e a s i n g volume on t h e L r i b e s o f t h e hinterland.

    (67)

    t o survival" (68). I n d o c h i n e s e p o l i c y r e s t e d w i t h t h e governors. Le Myre de V i l e r s ,

    De Lanessan, Doumer and P a u l Beau, w i t h h i s d i s c i p l e F. P a s q u i e r , a l l showed c o n c e r n f o r t h e mountain p e o p l e and e a c h drew up a c h a r t e r f o r t h e i r protection, But g o v e r n o r s o f I n d o c h i n a d i d n o t s t a y p u t f o r long.

    The French e f f o r t tended t o p e t e r o u t a s soon a s P a r l i a m e n t c e a s e d berating the pioneers. The u n p r e d i c t a b l e changes i n t h e p o l i t i c a l s t a t u s of t h e mountain r e g i o n s were a t once a c a u s e and r e f l e c t i o n o f t h i s i n s t a b i l i t y , F o l l o w i n g t h e t r e a t y of October 3 , 1893, t h e h i g h l a n d s were f i r s t a t t a c h e d t o s o u t h e r n Laos (Khong). Then came t h e d i s s o l u t i o n of t h e The t e r r i t o r i e s

    c o n f e d e r a t i o n of t h e Bahnar and Rongao i n 1895,

    i n v o l v e d were f i r s t p l a c e d under t h e control. of t h e governor i n Qui Nhon, Guiomar. But t h e h i n t e r l a n d o f Binh Dinh was t h e n brought under t h e

    commissioner o f Attopeu, who d e l e g a t e d h i s powers t o F a t h e r V i a l l e t , t h e f a t h e r s u p e r i o r of t h e Kontum Mission. The s o u t h , i n c l u d i n g t h e

    D a r l a c p l a t e a u , was governed from S t u n g T r e n g , b u t , a s t h e L a o t i a n o f f i c i a l s had s u p p o r t e d s e v e r a l of t h e r e v o l t s t h a t took p l a c e j u s t a f t e r t h e t u r n o f t h e c e n t u r y , Kontum and Ban Don were t r a n s f e r r e d t o Annam on J u l y 4 , 1905. A f t e r 1893 t h e g e n e r a l c o u r s e followed was t o i g n o r e a l l b u t t h e L a o t i a n Bahnar and Kha, t h a t i s , t h e l e s s r e f r a c t o r y elements.
    At

    t h e o u t s e t no a t t e m p t whatever was made t o approach t h e t r i b e s t h a t had remained independent o f t h e Siamese, L a o t i a n o r Annamite a u t h o r i t i e s ; t h u s , t h e Ta Hoi, J a r a i , Sedang, Rhade and Mnong were l e f t f r e e t o l i v e a s they wished i n t h e mountains. S l a v e r y t h e n underwent a s h o c k i n g r e s u r g e n c e . From 1900 onward,

    when columns o f m i l i t i a m e n p e n e t r a t e d t h e i n t e r i o r t o s u p p r e s s b a n d i t r y o r q u e l l r e v o l t s , they constructed f o r t i f i e d posts. To b e g i n w i t h ,

    t h e y were c o n t e n t merely t o occupy them, and d i d n o t s e e k t o probe

    (68)

    Gravelle, R.I.,

    f a r t h e r i n t o unsubdued a r e a s .

    But l a t e r , a t t a c k s on t h e s e s t a t i o n s o r

    a g a i n s t convoys o f t h e l n d o c h i n e s e Guard, coupled w i t h t h e a u d a c i t y of t h e b a n d i t s , were t o l e a d t o t h e expansion of t h e Frencli o c c u p a t i o n ,

    l.

    REVOLT O PHU Y N (1.900) F E T h i s e p i s o d e , which i s more a m a t t e r of Vietnamese h i s t o r y , c o u l d

    perhaps have been o m i t t e d a l t o g e t h e r were i t n o t f o r t h e f a c t t h a t t h e f o r c e s o f Le Vo T r u , " t h e k i n g o f t h e Moi," bonze and s o r c e r e r , i n c l u d e d some 200 "montagnards" r i g g e d o u t i n uniforms. Entrenched i n t h e Dong Xuan nlassif (inunetfiat:el.y west o f t h a t d e l i g h t f u l palm-fringed beach known a s Vung Lam), Le Vo Tru one day i n May 1900 t o a t t a c k Song Cau. by s u r p r i - s e them. s e t off

    The i d e a was t o t a k e everyone

    --

    t h e g o v e r n o r , h i s w i f e and t h e main guard

    --

    and massacre

    The a t t a c k came t h a t much c l o s e r t o succeeding because t h e b u l k

    o f t h e I n d o c h i n e s e Guard, w i t h i t s l e a d e r , had l e f t f o r Cung Son i n the south, The f i f t y mili.tiamerl l e f t behind i n t h e p r o v i . n c i a l c a p i t a l .

    were enough t o s t o p t h e " k i n g o f t h e Moi" d u r i n g t h e n i g h t o f A p r i l 1.41 5 , altl.iough h e and h i s 900-man f o r c e d i d advance t o w i t h i n a lcilometer of Song Cau. F i f t e e n days l a t e r , .Le Vo Tru fe1.l i n t o t h e hands o f a The r e b e l s were f o r c e d t o pay a "war tax."

    puni.ti.ve column.

    T h i s movement may be r e g a r d e d a s symptomatilc o f t h e renewed a g i t a t i o n t h a t had ravaged c e n t r a l Annanl s i n c e 1885.


    'The r e v o l t of

    t h e Bolovens, which was conternporaneous w i t h i t , was o f an a1t:og t h e r d i f f e r e n t n a t u r e and i n f i n i t e l y more s e r i o u s ,

    2.

    THE BOLOVENS (1901-07) The o r i g i n s of t h i s rnysterious u p r i s i n g must be sought i n Siam,

    where t h e t r e a t y o f 1893 had n o t been accepted w i t h o u t some r e s i s t a n c e . Oubon and Bdssac were t h e c e n t e r s oE t h e r e v o l t , and t h e phou m boun ------ y were i t s a g e n t s . The & u my % n were magicians. They claimed t h a t

    ---

    they a l o n e were worthy t o govern Inen and u s h e r i n a r e i g n o f j u s t i c e .

    i n proof o i t h i s , t h e y s l a u g h t e r e d anyone b r a s h enough t o r e f u s e t o j o i n t h e i r movement. The Bolovens and t h e Brao regarded them a s i f

    L l ~ e ywere ~ricssaiallsof t h e t y p e c x e m p l i f i c d by t h e

    & E.

    'The Lord of Rasbnc, a d e v o t e d f o l l o w e r of t h e Siamese, saw i n


    his a g i t a t i o n
    ;i

    cliance t o r e g a i n t h e importance which Bangkok had

    dcnlctl him by s j g n i n g t h e t r e a t y o f 1893, under which he had f o r f e i t e d


    hi.; i'ormer ascendancy over t h e a u t h o r i t i e s of Attopeu and Saravane.

    iic<,ides, t h e phou m boun had promised t o sweep a s i d e a l l o u t s i d e y


    powers, b e g i n n i n g w i t h t h a t o f t h e French c o m n ~ i s s i o n e r s .

    Worried by t h e a b o l i t i o n o f s l a v e r y , proclaimed by H.M.

    Chu La

    1,ong Koru of Siarn, and by t h e p r o s e c u t i o n of s l a v e - t r a d e r s b e i n g

    o r g ~ n i z c dby t h e Frenc11 g o v e r n o r s , t h e L a o t i a n officials were r e a d y


    t o s u p p o r t " t r a d i t i o n " and t h e r e b y s a f e g u a r d t h e p r o f i t s which t h e

    s a l e o f t h e i r c a p t i v e s b r o u g h t them; t h e Alnk, Nia Ilrun and Bolovens, whose i n t e r e s t s i n t h e r e s a l e of s l a v e s had been d e a l t a s e v e r e blow, t h u s iornted a ready-made a u d i e n c e f o r t h e p l a n s of t h e phou

    &.

    The c o n m i s s i o n e r o f S a r a v a n e , ll&my, was t h e f i r s t t o be a t t a c k e d , when Ize was a s s a u l t e d by 1 , 5 0 0 "montagnards," with flint-guns. some of whom were armed

    Trapped i n T h n Theng pagoda, R6my w ~ L h s t o o d t h e


    CI.

    a s s a u l t with f i f t e e n militiamen, b u t within

    few days ttic whole o f


    A very dynamic man,

    t h e Bolovens P l a t e a u had j o i n e d i n t h e revolt-. ~Qmy managed t o hold h i s own.

    D e s p i t e t h e pronllses m<ttle by t h e

    &

    my boun, t h e s t o n e s f a i l e d t o t u r n i n t o gold and t h e b u l l e t s s h o t by

    it-ie French r i f l e s d i d n o t blossom i n t o jasmine f l o w e r s .

    When i t

    became known t h a t t h e phou m boun were e n t i r e l y u n a b l e t o perform y t h e n ~ i r a c l e s they had c l a i m e d , t h e i r s u p p o r t e r s renounced them a n d , one by one, s u r r e n d e r e d . However, i n A p r i l 1902, t h e r e b e l l i o n f l a r e d

    up a g a i n a t Savannekhet, f a r t h e r t o t h e n o r t h .

    The commissioners were u n a b l e t o a g r e e on what p o l i c y t o p u r s u e , b u t when, by d i n t of c o u r a g e o u s r e s i s t a n c e , t h e Prench h a d , one a f t e r t h e o t h e r , succeeded i n s t a v i n g o f f t h e t h r e a t of encirclen~cnt: t h a t hung o v e r each of them, t h e r e b e l c:l.licfs reassemb:I.ed tt1ei.r 1:roops on t h e wooded h e i g h t s t h a t C l a ~ l kt h e Se Kong norrll of Atl.open. 1:hey remained u n t i l 'Fliere

    1907, when, d i s u n i t e d , famished, arid hounded by

    t h e French, who s t i l l had p l e n t y of dash ( o u t s t a n d i n g among whom was

    M r , Dauplay), t h e i n s u r g e n t s f i n a l l y s u r r e n d e r e d ,

    The &%

    9 @ were

    al.so rcsponsib1.e f o r i . n s t i g a t i n g t h e a t t a c k

    on t h e P s i River p o s t i.n Jtrne 1.90.1. As e a r l y a s 189/t, 1iluc61 I ' a r t h e r s o u t h i n (.lie v a l l e y o f t h c Krong IZno, Dr. Y e r s i n had beer1 s e t upon b y t h e 13i.h a t Peko. A f t e r a hosti1.e

    r e c e p t i o n from t h e Mdhur i n t.he v d l ley of t-hc Song Nang, t r i b ~ t t a r yok t h e Song Darang, two French colrrlnrls retctrnetl c a r r y i n g wounded s o l d i e r s , 'The p l a t e a u s were f a r f r o ~ np a c i f i e d a s y e t ( 6 9 ) ,
    A t t h e confl.tlence of t h e r i v e r s P s i and Peko, u o r t h w e s t of Iconturn,

    t h e commissioner of Attopell, C a s t a i l i e r , had founded a p o s t and p l a c e d t h e m i l i t i a o f f i c e r Robert i n collxnand. His assignment was p r i n c i p a l l y

    (69) The g e n e r a l u n r e s t was eCfe,c"ti.vel.y pro1.onge.d by t h e s p a t e of m e s s i a h s , who i n c l u d e d , i n 1:hi.s o r d e r : I n 1880, a French w a r r a n t o f f i . c e r who d e s e r t e d ant1 sett:l.ed i.n Icon IIer i n g In 1890, Khan1 and Khun, two L a o t i a n s who claimed t h e y c o u l d f l y . Out of a d m i r a t i o n f o r such e x t r a o r d i n a r y powers, t h e Moi showered them w i t h g i f t s of c h i c k e n s and p i g s . When an Annamlte c h a l l e n g e d Iaam t o f l y j u s t o n t o t h e verandah of a house on p l l e s , Lhe Imposture was unmasked. In 1901, an Anndmlte creLlrt had a temple b u ~ l tI n h i s honor and d e d i c a t e d t o him a t Dalc Uang. F a t h e r V i a l l e t o n d e s t r o y e d h i s p r e s t i g e . I n 1908, a tame c i v e t - c a t from 1 2 a b e r t t s p o s t was p r o ~ l a l n t e da mess i d h , T h a t same y e a r , t h e Bahnar and J a r a l paid homage t o a s e l f wtio c l a i m e d t o have i n s t gated t h e r e v o l t of t h e s h o r n h'iir styled I n t h e p l a ~ n soT C e n t r a l Annam. I1 1910, t h e p e o p l e w o r s h ~ p p e d d dwarf; i l l 1916, 1 glatlt. I n 1924, t h e a i r p l a n e s t h a t flew over Kontu~~io r t h e land survey f were s e e n a s " w h ~ t e - w i n g e d h e r o e s , " d e s i i n e d t o r e s t o r e t h e g o l d e n age and expel t h e French. l f~ I n 1939, a two-year-old c11.1 d a t t r a c t e d l a ~ t l ~ i c o l ll oweus, <nzd, i n 1941, a European employee of t h e Water and F o r e s t r y Bodrcl was b e l ~ e v e d t o be a magician. M a i t r e , " J u n g l e s Mo?," p. h l 7 , n o t e s . F. G u i l l e m i n e t , llRecherclles s u r l e s c r o y a n c e s d e s t r i b u s du Iiautpays dtAnnam," B.I.I,E.lI,, 1941, pp. LO-33.

    t o b a r t h e r o a d l e a d i n g s o u t h t o t h e t e r r i t o r y of t h e Halang and t h e J a r a i ; t h i s road was used by t h e Sedang when t h e y s e t o u t t o s e l l a s s l a v e s t h e Annamites t h e y had managed t o c a p t u r e i n s i d e t h e P r o v i n c e s of Quang N m o r Quang Ngai. a The a t t a c k took p l a c e a t a b o u t n i n e o ' c l o c k i n t h e morning, s h o r t l y a f t e r Robert

    --

    who a l t h o u g h a l e r t e d b e l i e v e d t h e r e would be no danger

    d u r i n g t h e day

    --

    had d i s m i s s e d t h e s e n t r i e s who had been k e e p i n g The g a r r i s o n c o n s i s t e d of Annarnite v o l u n t e e r s . The

    watch a l l n i g h t .

    a t t a c k e r s stormed through t h e wide-open g a t e and s p e a r e d t h e s t a t i o n commander twenty t i m e s w i t h t h e i r l a n c e s . Thereupon t h e Sedang r e t r e a t e d ,

    t a k i n g w i t h them n e i t h e r t h e t a x money which Robert k e p t i n h i s c h e s t n o r t h e boxes of c a r t r i d g e s . The m i l i t i a m e n , f o r t h e i r p a r t , evacuated t h e s t a t i o n , t a k i n g t o Kontum t h e i r f a t a l l y wounded commander; t h e l a t t e r was t a k e n I n by a m i s s i o n a r y , who t h e n went back t o r e c o v e r t h e money and t h e ammunition. The f o l l o w i n g n i g h t t h e Sedang r e t u r n e d and s e t f i r e t o t h e d e s e r t e d post.
    It was r e b u i l t l a t e r i n 1901.

    F i v e months l a t e r , a t t h e end of 1902, a f t e r t h e r e v o l t had claimed t h e l i v e s o f two more Frenchmen, Henri and S i c r e , F a t h e r Keinlin was a t t a c k e d a t D r e i , h i s p a r i s h , by 450 Sedang. The a s s a u l t was

    r e p u l s e d and t h e Sedarlg even l e f t behind one p r i s o n e r i n t h e hands o f the Christians. The governor i n Attopeu had a new p o s t b u i l t among t h e Hamong converts. I n a month-long campaign of e x p e d i t i o n s and f l y i n g columns,

    t h e guard commander M e s l i e r r e s t o r e d calm between Attopeu and Kontum. By r e p u r c h a s i n g a l a r g e number of s l a v e s i n o r d e r t o f r e e them, t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s added t o t h e i r p o p u l a r i t y i n t h e r e g i o n , which Governor P o u r n i e r found quiet: and p r o s p e r o u s . With t h e a d v a n t a g e of

    abundant manpower, r e l a t i v e l y hardworking and amenable, t h e p r o v i n c e boasted v a s t cleared areas. Use o f t h e plow s p r e a d s t e a d i l y . Distri-

    b u t i o n s of r i c e , m e d i c i n e s and f a b r i c s brought them c r e a t u r e c o m f o r t s

    which, w h i l e m o d e s t , s u r p a s s e d a n y t h i n g they had known i n t h e p a s t . Things reached t h e p o i n t where t h e Bahnar, i f they had o c c a s i o n t o v e n t u r e i n t o Sedang c o u n t r y , t o o k w i t h them t h e r i c e they needed f o r t h e i r meals; t h e y c o u l d no l o n g e r stomach t h e g r u e l o f m i l l e t and squash t h a t t h e i r h o s t s would have o f f e r e d them but i n a d i r t y trough. s t e a d i l y (70). 'The Sedang c o n t i n r ~ e d t o t r e a d v e r y w a r i l y a f t c r t h e Mayrbna incident. For a Long time t h e y opposed the c o n s t r ~ i t i o n o f r o a d s c

    --

    willingly,

    The number and e x t e n t o f t h e r a i d s d e c l i n e d

    n o r t h and n o r t h e a s t o IConturn.

    4,

    THE JAlUT,

    TIIE S A E LOSE THEIR PmSrI'lGE. S DT I t was none-

    I n t h e s o u t h t h e 130,000 S a r a i remdined u n r e l i a b l e .

    C t h e l e s s anlong them a t P l e i I u Der t h a t ~ ' l a n t i h , t h e t i r s t g o v e r n o r , e s t a b l i s h e d h i m s e l f a f t e r t h e p r o v i n c e had been t r a n s r c r r e d t o Annam (.July 4 , 1905). The p r e s t i g e of. t h e S a d o t was d e s i i n e d t o be d e a l t a s e r i o u s blow from whicti i t would n o t r e c o v e r . I n 1892, t h e g o v e r n o r i n Stung Treng, i n t e n d i n g t o p u t a n end t o t h e i n c u r s i o n s of t h e J a r a i a l o n g t h e t r a i l l i n k i n g ICratiB w i t h Ban Don, s e t o f 1 a t t h e head of a sniall e x p e d i t i o n and reached t.he h e a d w a t e r s 01 t h e Ya Hleo and, c l o s e b y , t h e s o u r c e o f t h e Ya Kt?. The S a d e t o f Water t h o u g h t b e t t e r of w a i t i n g Tor him and sought refuge near t h e Patau Pui; the l a t t e r did not atteinpt t o r e s i s t , e i t h e r . His v i l l a g e was burned: "Above t h e h u t which housed t h e fanious s a c r e d

    . sword (which P Guerlach c l a i m s was of v e r y c r u d e workmanship) a b a l l


    o f f i r e was s e e n t o r i s e and d i s a p p e a r southward. To t h e mountain a people t h i s w a s l s i g n t h a t t h e m a g i c a l powers of t h e S a d e t had been t a k e n from him." Baudenne, "Les Kha d ' h t t o p e u , " R . I . , 1913, p, 258 e t s e q ,

    (70)

    5,

    ASSASSINATION OF ODEND'HAL The S a d e t Oi A t was t o commit a f r e s h c r i m e , however, and t h u s

    b r i n g a b o u t t h e e f f e c t i v e o c c u p a t i o n of t h e h i g h l a n d s French t r o o p s o r by m i l i t i a m e n . T h e r e i s no d o u b t , moreover, t h a t t h i s murder was

    n o t e n t i r e l y unconnected w i t h t h e t r a n s f e r t o Annam o f t h e h i n t e r l a n d of Phu Yen and ~ i n h Dinh, which t o b e g i n w i t h had been a t t a c h e d t o Laos f o l l o w i n g t h e t r e a t y of 1893. E x p l o r e r , a d n z i n i s t r a t o r , s c h o l a r , and l e c t u r e r a t t h e E c o l e P r a n f a i s e d4Extr^eme-Orient (French C o l l e g e of Far E a s t e r n S t u d i e s ) , Odend'hal had talcen p a r t e a r l i e r i n t h e o p e r a t i o n s of t h e P a v i e mission. I n 1904, s e t t i n g o u t from Widn Rang, he c r o s s e d t h e Lang Bian and t h e Darlac Plateau. During a s t o p a t Cheo Reo, he met up w i t h S t e n g e r , E n t h u s i a s t i c and f u l l of v i g o r , and o v e r -

    t h e s t a t i o n commander.

    c o n f i d e n t s i n c e t h e s u c c e s s of h i s r e c o n n a i s s a n c e s u r v e y s , t h e p r o g r e s s
    of which he r e c o r d e d i n a f a s c i n a t i n g r e p o r t , Odend'hal was i n t e n d i n g

    t o make t h e S a d e t s u r r e n d e r ,

    Perhaps t h e o l d s o r c e r e r would even l e t

    him s e e and t o u c h t h e famous magic s a b e r s o p e r s i s t e n t l y covetecl by t h e Khmers and L a o t i a n s . Every a t t e m p t by t h e l a t t e r t o s e i z e t h e

    r e l i c had ended w i t h t h e m a s s a c r e of t h e presunlptuous c l a i m a n t s . Stenger l i s t e n e d anxiously. The J a r a i had been p a r t i c u l a r l y s u s p i c i o u s

    s i n c e 1903, when t h e V i n c i l l i o n i column, which had been charged w i t h r e p r e s s i n g b a n d i t a c t i v i t y i n t h e Ankhe r e g i o n , began t o a p p l y a new p o l i c y a n d , a l b e i t w i t h o u t outward v i o l e n c e , s t a r t e d t o occupy t h e a r e a permanently, Stenger, powerless t o dissuade t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r

    from h i s p l a n , d i d h i s b e s t t o p e r s u a d e him a t l e a s t t o t a k e a l o n g a n e s c o r t of m i l i t i a m e n . Odend'hal s e t o f f a g a i n . To no a v a i l ,

    A t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f A p r i l 1904,

    I f n o t h i n g e l s e , when he had t o h a l t a w h i l e

    a t P l e i Koueng on t h e Ya Pa, he d i d a c c e p t an e l e p h a n t from P. V i a l l e t o n .

    A t t h e o u t s e t , t h e S a d e t gave t h e e x p l o r e r a warm welcome, so


    warm i n f a c t t h a t O d e n d ' h a l , i n p a i n and e n e r v a t e d by t h e c o n t i n u a l l i b a t i o n s t o which h i s journey had exposed him, t h o u g h t i t would be

    a 1 1 r i g h t i f he r e f u s e d t h e t r a d i t h l a l a l c o h o l and c h i c k e n and passed them on t o t h e o t h e r s i n h i s p a r t y . Ptit on h i s guard by a g e s t u r e

    t h a t was i n t e r p r e t e d a s a mark o f d i s d a i n , t h e S a d e t became even more d i s t r u s t f u l when O d e n d ' h a l , w i t h t h e e a r n e s t i n s i s t e n c e o f a s c h o l a r a b o u t t o unmask a n enigma, begged t o be allowed t o Look a t t h e s a c r e d sword, Stenger.

    Tn t h e e v e n i n g t h e e x p l o r e r wrote a n o t e t o i n f o r m and r e a s s u r e
    The J a r a i , however, i n t e r p r e t e d i t a s an appeal f o r r e i n f o r c e -

    ments and on A p r i l .7 I-hey took t h e i r s p e a r s and c l u b s and b e a t t h e i r g u e s t t o d e a t h i n t h e v e r y Iiut where he was, a c c o r d i n g Lo t h c a s s u r a n c e s he had r e c e ~ v e d from t h e Sadet., was d w a i t i n g t h e l a t t e r w i t h t h e g ~ i L s which t h e a g i n g chiel. claimed he wished t o o f E e r him. Three Annamite

    members of. h i s e s c o r t were m a s s a c r e d , and t h e b o d i e s o f Lhe v i c r i r r ~ s were a l l consumed by f i r e i n t h e s,iurie s t r a w h u t . The mal-lout, who rnannged Lo escape, h a s t e n e d t o b r i n g news o f t h e drama t o ]'lei Koueng; Odend'llal's 1,'iotian s e r v a n t sounded t h e a l e r t i n Cheo Keo. V i n c i l l i o n i and h i s detachment soor1 a r r i v c t l on t h e scencx Udrdin, Ll~e governor i n lltirl~ic.,set- u p tlre To

    fro111 t h e r e g i o n o f Anlthc.

    s t a t i o n aL P l e i T u r , v e r y c l o s e t o t h e v i l l a g e of t h e Patau P u i ,

    b e g i n w i t h , Lhe S a d e t managed t o e l u d e h i s p u r s u e r s ; a f t e r b e i n g overt a k e n by l n s p e c t o r R e i n h a r t , h e Later surrenclered, were passed on t o 01 Tu. The powers o f O i A t

    " A t t h e present time t h e two ~ n a g i c i a nc h i e E s ,

    who must i n t h e p a s t have enjoyed unquestioned a u t h o r i t y , a r e t o t a l l y i n a c t i v e " (71). A t t h e t i m e o f O d e n d ' h a l ' s a s s a s s i n a t i o n , t h e mandarins i n t h e s e r v i c e o f V i e n t i a n e had shown n e i t h e r t h e v i g i l a n c e n o r d i s p o s i t j o n e x p e c t e d of them by t h e French a u t h o r i t i e s . the favorable

    6.

    ORGhNIZATION OF TIIF: I-llFEERIANI) O November 22, 1904, t h e Province of D a r l a c , administratively n

    p a r t of Laos s i n c e 1893, was t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e c o n t r o l o f Vietnam.


    W e M a i t r e , "Les RQgions MOT du Sud I n d o c h i n o i s , " p. 38.

    (71)

    Farther t o t h e n o r t h , i n J a r a i country, t h e Province of P l e i K u was c r e a t e d . A b o l i s h e d i n 1907, t h i s a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d i s t r i c t was Kontum a t t h a t t i m e was no more Cheo Reo came under

    n o t r e - e s t a b l i s h e d u n t i l much l a t e r .

    t h a n a s u b d i s t r i c t a d m i n i s t e r e d from Qui Nhon, Song Cau.

    V i n c i l l i o n i ' s r c l e i n t h e p a c i f i c a t i o n o f Ankhe was a c r u c i a l one, T h i s i n s p e c t o r managed n o t o n l y t o b r i n g peace and o r d e r b u t a l s o t o i n s p i r e t r u s t i n t h e mountain people. From t h e s t a t i o n a t P l e i T u r , which he had founded i n 1905 and from which f o u r r o a d s soon r a d i a t e d , Bardin brought a r e i g n of peace t h a t extended a s f a r a s t h e u n r u l y t r i b e of t h e Badrong.
    A t a b o u t t h e same time t h e r e n a i s s a n c e o f t h e Rhade o f D a r l a c

    began.

    The p r i n c i p a l a r c h L t e c t s of t h i s r e v i v a l were Bourgeois and

    S a b a t i e r who t o o k p l u n d e r i n g t r i b e s , c o n t i n u a l l y a t war w i t h e a c h o t h e r , and made them i n t o t h e most s o p h i s t i c a t e d , i m p o r t a n t and b e s t organized people i n t h e e n t i r e hinterland.

    7.

    THE PIONEERS I n 1899, B o u r g e o i s founded a new Ban Don b e s i d e t h e Ya Limin,

    There he won t h e s u p p o r t of Phet Lasa, a L a o t i a n c h i e f , and e s p e c i a l l y t h a t of Kun Yu Nob, t h e former m ' t a u o f t h e Mnong who till h i s d e a t h remained a n i n t e l L i g e n t and i n v a l u a b l e r i g h t - h a n d man t o t h e s u c c e s s i v e a d m i n i s t r a t o r s o f t h e P r o v i n c e of D a r l a c . Bourgeois f i r s t g a i n e d t h e f r i e n d s h i p of t h e Rhade-Kpa. After

    f o r c i n g Mewal t o submit t o h i s a u t h o r i t y (Mewal's h u t was 178 m e t e r s long!), and M Kheune, t o o ( b o t h o f whom were ~ n s c r u ~ u l o u s ' m ' t a u ) ,he e

    a l s o planned t o win o v e r t h e Bih, who worked t h e p a d d y f i e l d s t h e y had e s t a b l i s h e d i n t h e v a l l e y s of t h e lower Krong Hana and t h e lower Krong Kno. Having d i s t i n g u i s h e d hirnse1.f by h i s r e s i s t a n c e t o t h e p i l l a g e s of

    Kharn Leu, Ngeuh, t h e v i c t o r of 1887, had r e t a i n e d h i s ascendancy over t h e Bih. Y e r s i n , who had v i s i t e d him i n 1893 a t Ban T r e u a h , had found

    i n Ngeuh a n enemy of t h e r e d o u b t a b l e M Sao. e

    I n 1900, when Bourgeois

    t r i e d t o advance among t h e B i h , Ngeul.1 h i m s e l f took c h a r g e o f t h e resistance. 0 1 March I., 1900, Bourgeois s e i z e d IIan Tur a n d , t h e same day, 1 Ban Trap. F o r t y - e i g h t h o u r s l a t e r , a f r e s h b a t t l e was fought: a t Ban Treuah. Ngeuh f l e d and toolc r e f u g e i n t h e mountains; Bourgeois was unable t o follow. I.'nlci.ng wi.th them a'l'l. t h e i r p o s s e s s i o n s , even dorm t o t h e remains 02 t1lei.r . f o r e b e a r s , 250 Rih fami.l,i.es 2ol.l.owed t h e i . r c h i e f i n t o e x i l e , 'Illley ~ s e t t l - e d% I I t h e v:i rlrua1l.y rtniul~abi e d a r e a o f t h e middle Srepolc t aud f o r b a d e Europeans t:o e n t e r . Ngeuh d i e d i n 1.903,

    'I'lic p o s ~ :oii t h e 1ndochin.est. Guard e~;tab:Lished at: llan Don protec'tetl t h c subdued regiol-1 agr.inr;t rai.tls by I,aoti.a~lo r I<ht:luuer biiuds. When t h e

    g o v e r n o r ' s quarter:; were burned down, {:he provi.nc ia I. c c . ~ p i t a lwas t r a n s . f e r r e d t o Ban M 'Ilhuot, where i t h a s rernaiiletl e v e r s i n c e . e I n terms o f i t s c ? f f e c t i v e n e s s , t h e work of l l e n r i M a i t r e s u r p a s s e s t h a t of t h e ocller p a c i f i e r s , lfis energy and 11i.s s c o r n T0.r b o t l ~

    p e r s o n a l c o m f o r t and danger l e d l i i m al.ong t h e patrl~s i.n t h e mot~ntai.nous regions. :In ehe e x t e n s i . v e n e s s of h i s e x p l . o r a t i o n s he Ls t h e equal. of

    P a v i e , and Tor f11rt:y y e a r s h i s books have been recjuireti reac1j.ng f o r anyone w i s l ~ i n gt o sl:ucly tlie p e o p l e 01:' t h e i . n t e r i . o r , A s t h e r;oLo rewarii

    f o r t h i s prodi.gious e f f o r t : , M a i t r e was t o be murdered b y t h e Mnonp Nony i.n 1914. I l e n r i M a i t r e landed i.n Chj.na i.n 1902 a t t h e a g e o f 1.9. After

    servi.ng a s p e l l . i n t h e Cliincise Cust:oms he was t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e I n d o c h i n e s e C i v i l S e r v i c e and inmedi.ate1.y etnbarlced on a s e r i e s of journeys i n t o t h e unctxplorecl r e g i o n s of s o u t h e r n Ir~doclli.na. In 1.914, E r n e s t O u t r e y , who was conducti.ng h i s elect:ion carnpaj gn f o r t h e s e a t o f r e p r e s e n t a t i v e f o r Cochin-Clii.na, h i r e d him a s h i s s e c r e t a r y .

    -110S e t t i n g o f f from Cochin-China, M a i t r e had f i r s t e x p l o r e d t h e l a n d of t h e unsubdued B i e t and S t i e n g , tIe founded t h e s t a t i o n a t P e t Sa, t h a t

    a t Bou Mera, 30 kni. s o u t h e a s t 01 t h e nexus of. t h e T r o i s - P r o n t i h r e s , and t h a t a t 130u Pou S r a , t h e e a r l y days of which a r e n a r r a t e d i n t h e "Jungles Moi,
    "

    B a r e l y had t h e p l a n s f o r t h e l a t t e r s t a t i o n been p r e p a r e d , t h e e x p l o r e r e n t r u s t e d i t s c o n s t r u c t i o n and p r o t e c t i o n t o a h a n d f u l of mi-litiamen and he set: o f f himself t o s u r v e y t h e C e n t r a l P l a t e a u whichlhad d i s c o v e r e d , i.nclncIing

    1-he s l o p i n g land t h a t f a J.is away f coln t h e s e helgl.its Cowarcl Cochin-China,


    'Co f a l l o w him on 11j.s t r a v a l s from K r a t i o t o Phan ThLet, from Phan T h i e t on
    L o IZontum, Vcun Sa i and Tang 13iar1, one rleed on L copy o u t t h e t i t l e s t o y

    Llle chapLcrs of l h c ".Jungles Moi

    ." 'Chis bootc,

    w l ~ i c lwas awai-decl t 11e ~

    p t i ~ e r t h e S o c i d ~ 6d e G t i o g r a p h ~ e , i s crani~necl w i t h o b s e r v a t i o n s abouL o

    the Bill and t h e Prcng, t h e DSp, Ilchorlg, liodrnng, Ma, Fop and S r e , n o t
    1 orgeLti ng t h e S a d e t , t h o s e

    I egendary lord^, and even Llie "men w i t h t e i Ls, I '

    Lhe intended exposGre of ~iIiLchwds t o have such a n u p s e t t i n g e f f e c t on t h e ' r ~ i d i t c c o l l ~ b o r a t o r s01 t h e " l i u l l e t i n d e s Alnj 6 du Visux 1 3 ~ 0 , "

    B u C M J ~ r a was r e a c h i n g t h e c l o s e of h i s amazing c a r e e r , t

    Odund'hal

    Il.rd d i c d bcl luviiip LllaL Lli(? ]'at-au Pui war4 uboul t o surramdar t o him,
    g u l r i d oS Mni f r i l , llou 'Crang Lurig cleclded l.11aL he,

    'I'o

    t o o , wou1.d c r y q ~ r tjo .

    T h l s Biet t r Lbesn~an, g r e a r l y i e a r e d by tlie naighborLng t r i b e s , i s d e p i c t e d l o r uc,


    :IS

    nian of small sLaLure b u t stentorian v o i c e , who claimed t o be


    J.

    a b l e t.o tllnngc 111s l ~ i r g ci'ice inLo liave borne t h e e x p l o r e r ?

    s t a g ' s head.

    What grudge c o u l d lie

    Po11 Trang Lung had c : a r l i e r p u t Rou L'ou Sra t o

    t h e [lame, and, a s a r e p r i s a l , K ~ i L r ehad i n f l i c t e d a v e r y h a r s h punishment on him, allnost r u i n i n g him i n t h e p r o c e s s .


    O r p e r h a p s t h e B i e t was a f r a i d

    0 : b e i n g made t o a t o n e f o r t h e ~ t s s a s s i n a t i o nof t h e Cambodian 1

    of Bou

    I'oli I<lj.a, t h e r a v i s h e r of Fou Il'rang Lung's w i f e .

    O r was he ( a s some have


    Could he have been

    cla:Lul~cd)p u t up t o i t by German s p i e s E.~:om Bnngkok?

    p e r t u r b e d by t h e r e l a t i o n s s t r u c k up between M a i t r e and Nong?

    ding, a g i a n t

    Pou Trang Lung e v e n t u a l l y formed h i s own a l l i a n c e w i t h ~ l ' d i n g , who Be t h i s a s i t may, on August 5, 1914, M a i t r e

    was among t h e a s s a s s i n s ,

    found t h e g a t e s o f Eonner Bunor c l o s e d t o hi.m and was o b l i g e d t o camp o u t side the palissade. Accordilig t o scnile, t-he admi.ni.strator e n t e r e d t h e !e 'h better t o celebrate a

    v i . l l a g e a t t h e i n v i t a t i o n of h i s enemy's men, " g r e a t peace s a c r i f i c e , "

    t h e Nong l a i d ~ l o w tt~ i e i r arms and demanded t h a t l

    M a i t r e o r d e r 1ii.s ow11 ~ i . s t o l and t h e r i f l e s of h i s inil.i.t:i.aiiien t o be plcicecl

    on t h e p i l . e ,

    A t t h a t moineut:,

    Pou llrarig Lungt who ]lad bee11 a b s e n t up t o

    t h e n , a:I.legcd'l.y elit.,erecl trhe 111.it oiid slew t h e dei!ensc?,l.css Prenchriian (72). 0t:llers c3.ai.m tl~tit:. M a i t r e wa.s wr.i.t:ing when st:rucIt tltlwn 11:orii b e l ~ l n d . For yt?nxs a f t e r w a r d s , t h e d a s t a r d l y deat:ll of L1ii.s pi.oneor, w11n con1.d p r i d e lii.m:;cl.f o n h a v i n g subtlued t h e Mnong o f Ca~iillocli.l* n d (:he (;op and Dip a
    o f t h e I ) o ~ i r ~ a ~ i . , cle:;ti.necl t o prol.ong tlle l~ost:.i.li.ty of tllc Noni; ;trr[l was

    Kehong, who were s;l.~spece d of ccnupl.ici.ty i.n tlrc nssussi j.11~1 ion. t t

    l?ou 'l'ral~g

    c a p t u r e d u n t i l . 1193.5, by Mu:jor Nyo. saine y e a r

    12'di.rrg I)atl surrcntlorctl Ili.ii~:;ell: It11(:

    'L'hc: cl.osi.ng pagc?s of "3uny:l.c:s Moi" art-: satltlel.lecl l,y LIie .i~iill.Cft?rcnce
    of tlie autlioril:i.es I:o t h t i I'ati? o f t l ~ c p~!opI.(iof tlic lri.nt:c!;::l.;~iicI , l r i t l by the:

    wo~:ds, "Several. o (:hc poiits c!st:alj:l.i.shed ant1 C ~rani.sl~ecl" 7 3 ) (

    [:lit?

    provi.i~cc:; rourstlcd I ~ a v e

    .
    I:lke v c t:ernn who d e f e a tctl M Sao, e

    Orily s l1andfu:l. of apes L:I.e::-.-13cstial:d,

    and l a t e r Saba t-i e r csn t l ~ cI)i~r:l.ac p l . ; ~ t e a u ,and of cour:se tlie m.i.:;$;i.onari.es--. wcre a b l e t.o pursue [:he work tlley had u n d e r t a k e n , rnol:e oft:en t:l-ian n o t wS.th

    8.

    ME SAO
    Tlte s t o r y of M Sao i.:Ll.ustrates t:l~e Ic-inil of c11;ios anti danger from e

    w!li.cil t:Iicsc iso'l.atctl organi.zers prot:ected

    tlze mountain people.

    Tlie a u t h o r s of 1:be day were lavi.sii wi.th tl>ei:r u s e of t h e t-i.t:Le "i<i.ng oC tl-ie Moi."

    Me: Sao was erle o f tlie most f:ormi.clab:I.c i ~ u dpernici.ons men t o

    --

    (72) Version reco~inteclby Y T,iu, a survi.vor o f t h e ni:issacre, by A~~l:oit~arcIii

    ancl rccordcd

    (73) When :i.t was pr:onounced unfcnsi.ble t o c o n s t r u c t Cite proposed ra.il.roat1


    between Da1.a t rind Cung Xom, on tAie Sorlg Darang, Ilj irj.ng, cl:c?ii l:ed i n 3.899, was a t t a c h e d t o Y,.i.nl~'C ~ ~ U : I I ~ j.1) 1903. A t t:he same t i m e , D a l a t was j oi.ned t o tlla p r o v i n c e of I(11anh lIoa, The p o s t at: Buciop on t h e f r o n t i e r between CoChjn-Chi.na and Cambodia was s o t up i n :1.906, disnppeart!cl i n 1908, and was rcoper~ed i.u 191.3.

    -112whom i t was a p p l i e d . Y i Yene. 1)urirtg l i i s y o u t h M S a o ' s famil.y, r e l . a t i v e l y poor, fel.1 f o u l of e p i l l . a g c r s and t h e f u t u r e ''Ki11g of t h e Moi" was s o l d i n t o s l a v e r y . being ransoliied, he e n t e r e d t h e s e r v i - c c 01: a married. After T h i s Rhade a d v e n t u r e r went under t h e r e a l rtanie of

    u, d a u g h t e r lie whose

    Even t h i s p r o t e c t i o n clid n o t save h i s p r o p e r t y wliich 'he 1.ost

    I:or n second t i m e , and, around 1880, he took up a posi.t:i.on on a sma3.1 1inotinta:i.n between M'drac and Ban M Illltuot, a b o u t 35 Izm. e a s t of t h i s s t a t i o n . e Lie dul~l>edklis hideou;

    " e Sao"; t h o s e of h i s vi-ctims f o r whom he was u n a b l e M


    L1i.s 1ci.nsliip w i t h t h e mandarins

    t o cxt:ort: hi-gll ransoms he s o l d au sl.aves. of


    I'1tt1

    Yen ~incl IZhanh lloa Eaci.l.it:a i.ed f l1i.s kind of blrsiness

    Very soon l i i s Yersin lle was no

    g~-;iiiar i.c:; were overCl.owi.r-ig wit11 r j c e , i v o r y , and fore..; 1 produce, :


    1,;i.L

    o c c ~ i t ; i c ~ o i cxpcri.ence tlte e f f r o n t e r y of tl1i.s b a n d i t (74). t~

    oirdi.il:iry outlaw ; a d r u n k a r d and opium adtlic t: otllcr m ' t a i ~by h i s cruelt:y.

    , he

    ovarshadowed a 1.7. the.

    llis w i f e used t o ~,oi::o~i anyone whose propert:y

    sho h ~ d c s i g ~ l son, and between them they committed morc tliatz two hundred d iiiurdert;.
    B U L what c o n s t i t u t e d a nio.re s e r i o u s prol)len\ f o r tlie p u b l i c a u t i - 1 o r i . t i . e ~

    e was t.hat M Sao silowed h i m s e l f q u i t e c a p a b l e oE combining s e v e r a l v i l l a g e s

    ~cnclc,~: 1ii.s aut11ori.ty.

    Moreover, llc manageti t o exp1oi.t h i s l o c a t i o n on 137

    t h e b o r d u r s of 1,c)tli Ai~nsm and L,aos wllen the .frolltLers were al.teretl.

    hir; slircwd t;~ct:.ic o f g a i n i n g t h e 1)rotcct:i.on of t h e Govcrnor oC 1'1-IU Yell :P~:ovi.ncu, lie s u c c e s s . f u l l y avoi.tled r e p r i s a l s by t h e con~iuissi.oner of Stung 'r~:cng: "l'lte g o v e r n o r n e v e r Lai.led t o t a k e up t h e c u d g e l s f o r t h e b r i g a n d , wlto Loolc a d v a n l a g e o f t h i s facL i n o r d e r t o s t e p up h i s d e p r e d a t i o n s s t i L l f u r t:her" (H. Mai t r e )

    I n 1905, l ~ o w e v e r , Besnard, Lhe Govcrnor oS D a r l a c , unmasked t h e bandl e a d e r f o r wliat he was, wl~ereuponM Sao took t o t h e j u ~ l g l e , where he e proclaimed a r e v o l u t i . o n . llowever llis at:roci.ties hacl talcen a heavy t o l l

    o l t i s p r e s t i g e ; h i s s l a v e s and suppo.rters lla~lded hint over t o t h e a u t h o r i C

    ---

    t i e : ; , and he d i e d i n p r i s o n .

    (7Li) Yers i n , "Sept mois chez l e s ~ o i , " e t R . , E.

    1893.

    9.

    rL'l1E: E D O N F

    THE SON PBONG

    The c r i m i n a l a c t s of Bolc Mao and h i s p l u n d e r i n g e x p e d i t i o n s a g a i n s t y t h e cinnamon g a t h e r e r s i n tlte 'Cra M regi.on were remin.i.scent of t h o s e oE M Sao. e The Mr~rcjuis of 1)arthkleniy once became i.nvolved j.n a slcirrnish wi.tli

    h i s band, wl-lose acti.v.i.ties pronipted r e c o n n a i s s a n c e s u r v e y s c a r r i e d o u t by Capt, Ilebay


    i11

    190'2 and l.oter oc:cupat.i.on o l s o t i t h e a s t e r n Quang Nnm. otrt a s a .framework f o r o r d e r and appeasement,

    A l t h o u g l ~ i . t hacl etartc:d

    tlie o r g a n % e a t i . o n of t h e Son L'hong g r a t l u a l l y emerged a s the appanage of a siugl.e f'nmi.ly, Gove,rnor-genera :I. Dou~~ler, i s h i n g t o p u t a n end t o tlic w

    iiiile~crttleiiceof t h e n a t i v e s i.n cjue.sti.on and fro tlicic e x t r a o r d i n a r y regime, c)rt.lc~?adtl1:lt tilt! r e g i o n be pc?nel:ratcii, llis i.11tent:i.m was t o bri.ng t h e

    mouni.ai.n pcop1.e under t.l.ie ciil-ec :I c o ~ ~ t r o l t:lx Pr:etich prov.inci.al. nutliori. :t i e s of On October 1 0 , 1.898 a repol-1: suhmitt:cd by R o t ~ l l o c h ct o tihe approvcd by t ~ l ~ c ttillperor. 'Cl~c rcporl: reconunentied: "tlie e1:lru:i:nati.on
    was;

    of any

    011sl:acl.c:s t:ha t migli t i.rnpede i:rade w.i.tli tlte Moi, pnr:ticular:ly

    t h e hos t of

    m:i.dtl:Le~~ic..r~ l~c:l:weer~ h e Moi ;?ud tlic An~i:~niitc?s t who cxp1.o-i.t t:lie gul.li.b.i.l.i.ty o f the niouni-ai.n people."
    o f t h e .royal.tii?:; payable

    ?:he docunlent ifurttier czrl.:i.ecl f o r tlle aboli.t:ion


    i.11

    lci.itci and Llleir replacemerit by a f i x e d t a x

    l3ayablc i n c a s h . Iio%d:i.ng t h c i s s u e of tlle Sot1 Phong i n abeyance Tor t h e time be:i.llg,


    i n view of t:he v e s l:etl r.i.gllts, B a ~ l : l . o c l ~advocated immedi.ate settl.ement of c

    t h e stat:us of tile mounl:a.j..n p e o p l e establ.i.:;hed between Q u i Nhon and Binh Thuan, '1111is was how t h e @ x tllu --

    L-ni

    of B i n h Dinh came t o be e3.irni.nated.

    The

    a, b i e n t111,1i!

    and thong cliclk o f Thuan Khanh p r o v i n c e could be k e p t 'Chis

    on only a s i . n t e r p r e t e r s aucl thenceLorward were p a i d a fi.xed s a l a r y .

    marked t h e end of t h e t r i b u t e i n kind wl~iclihad g i v e n r i s e t o such g r a v e abuse. Under no c i r c u ~ i ~ s t a n c e s were tlze former middlemen allowed t o speak

    on beba1.f of elie Moi, nor t o c o l l e c t t h e t a x e s .

    I t was stipulat:ed that: tlie m0unt:ai.n p e o p l e should be made t o cmie t o


    t h e provj.nci.a:L cap:i.taJ. i.n p e r s o n t o s e t t l e t h e i r admini.strati.ve a f E a i . r s ,

    -13.4Markets s u p e r v i s e d by t h e s t a t i o n co~nmanders would s e r v e t o f a m i . l i a r i z e t h e mountain p e o p l e w i t h t h e t r a d i n g methods of t h e West, which were t o precl.ude g i f t s , bontlses and o t h e r forms of c o n t . r i b u t i o n s , I n t h e c a s e of

    t h e d e b t s t o t h e Annamites i n c u r r e d by t h e mountain p e o p l e , e f f o r t s would be made t o r e d u c e t h e i r number, s i n c e t h e y were t h e r o o t cause o f t h e .viol.ence t h a t s o f r e q u e n t l y turned t h e r e g i o n . i n t o a bl.oodbath.

    In s h o r t , t h e new o r g a n i z a t i o n was aimed l e s s " a t s e e k i n g r e s o u r c e s


    t h a n a t promoting t h e spread of our admi.nistrativc? procedures." I t was

    a p p l i e d immediately t o Lang Bian, D a r l a c and t h e h i n t e r l a n d of Phu Yen. L?ithi.n t h e t e r r i t o r y of t h e Son Pllong i t s e l f , a s t a t i o n tnanned by f j . f t y ii~i.li.tiamenwas estab:lislied i.11 t h e llra Bong r e g i o n and placed under i:lle co~unianciof I n s p e c t o r Fiaguet, "'Vhe mctndarins 1.ooked askance a t our i . n t e r v e n t i o n i.n Moi. c11Ifaj.r~;

    more p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e f e u d a l provi.nce of Quang Ngai, they regarded


    f i r s t supervi.sion by a French o f f i c i a l . and l a t e r e l i m i n a t i o n o.E t h c i r u d m i n i s t r a t i v e a u t h o r i . t y a s s e r i o u s tl.ireats t o t h e i r i m t e r e s t s , the 'Through

    t h e y encouraged t h e Mo.i t o d i s o b e d i e n c e ; every Irime a French

    o f i i c i a l went n e a r t h e c7al1, so~iicAn~lavnitreswere 1ii.dnapped or p i l . l a g e d ; d r o v e s o l bufiialoes were s t o l e n from t h e plni.ns, p a r t i c u l a r l y i.n t h e v i c i n i t y of 1)uc l'lto, t h e former itron.gho1.d 01 t h e Son Plrong" (75).

    I n c l d c n t s became i.ncrear;ingly f r e q u e n t i n t h e cani:oi~ of L'ho Triem; tit t h e boundary between J3i.nli Din11 and (luang Ngai, t h e s t a t i . o n of A Lao, n 1.o1.1ndetli.n Apri.1. 1.900, was p1.acccl untler t h e d i r e c t c o ~ ~ t r o l t h e Gove1:nor of
    oE Qui. Nhon.

    The Son Phong t h u s 3.ost t h e s o u t h e r n n ~ o s tp a r t of i t s t e r r i -

    tory. When t:he a g i t a t i o n grew even worse i n 2902, a d e l e g a t i o n was e s t a b l . i s h e d a t T r a M and a s t a t i o n s e t up a t Ba To t o k e e p t h e tnountain people under y control. I.rontrneiit. Lang IZi, M. 1 1 Long arid Nuoc Vong s u b s e q u e n t l y r e c e i v e d i d e n t i c a l i1 1 'l.'lic prov i n c e was t h u s divi.dcc.1: p u r e l y Vietnamese aflZai.rs

    conLi.nued t o be conducted by tihe ~ ? r o v i n c i a l , mnanclariizs, whereas t h e r e s i . d e n t t s

    ..-----.-

    (75) %'rinquet, "Le P o s t e a d m i n i . s t r a t i f de Lang-Ki,

    "

    ]<.I,, 1.908, IT., p . 346.

    -1l.5o f r i c e and t h e d e l e g a t i o n s r e s e r v e d t o t h e m s e l v e s t h e t a s k of a d m i n i s t e r i n g t h e t r i b e s of t h e h i n t e r l a n d . I n 1905, t h e Son Phong, s t r i p p e d of

    i t s f o m e r a t t r i b u t e s , was o f f i c i a l l y a b o l i s h e d ( 7 6 ) .

    10,

    SABATIEli L n s p i t e of i t s dran1iiti.c end, S a b a t i e r ' s c a r e e r was a remarkable

    success s t o r y , 'i'.'his peer1e:;s iilan was not. niucli t o 'l.ook a t : he wore a mustache, looked li.ke a f l o o r w a l k e r , and s p o r t e d a s e v e r e , c u r v i n g pince-nez bel-~i.ndwhich had s t r i k i n g b l u e eyes.
    L:l~ci

    For n small. p a r t of t h e 20th c e n t u r y Sabatieu: 11ad One 'ouglit r e a l l y t o hav<i

    l~c:ivil.ep,e of 1.i.vi.ng o u t h i s p e r s o n a l dream,

    s e e n 1l:i.m i r z hi.s prov.i.nce, d i s p e n s i n g j u s t i c e i n t h e 1.an.gt~age wh:ich he hat1 r e a ~ l i m a t e d and t r r i n s c r i b e d , j u s t a s he had codif:i.ed tlie c u s t o ~ ~ ~ st h e of Rf~ade; travel.Lng a l o n g t h e pa tlls and roads thal: 11e had openecl I:o 13au Don,

    M 13ac o r Ninh Hoa; ~ u p e r v i s i n gt h e h o s p i t a l ; s e t t l . i . n g tile day-to-day i s s u e s e


    i.11 a v i l l a g e l o s t i n t h e lieark o.f t;he forest:. rernoval, a c o l l e a g u e reproached
    11iill

    SometLme a f t e r hi.s ignominious

    f o r n o t maki~zg tllc~se roads wide enough,


    I l h i s I:irt?less inan

    t o which he r e p l i e d : 'IMy concern was t o ~ n a k ethem long."

    had c r e a t e d everytlli.ng, f r a i l t h e e l e c t r i c i t y p l a n t t o t h e schoo'1.s and t h e s y l l a b i t a u g h t i.n t:llose schoo1.s. B e f o r e ad~unb struclc v:isi.tor gaping a t t h e

    spectac1.e of 200 p u p i l s walking i n c l o s e o r d e r on thei.r hands a s a f i n a l e t o a p h y s i c a l . e d u c a t i o n s e s s i o n , S a b a t i e r 111used t o h i m s e l f , "Would t h e y b e d o i n g t h i s i f tlltiy h a d n ' t s e e n me s e t t i n g t h e example e v e r y morning?" Tllere was n o c o m f o r t , no wel.1-trained "boy" f o r him. of ' i ~ a v i n ga11 Annamite o r Cllinesc s e r v a n t b r o u g h t i.n. 'Chere was no q u e s t i o n Determined t o keep

    D a r l a c f r e e from a l l i n t r u s i o n s Ertrnl t h e o u t s i d e world, t h e head of t h e p r o v i n c e was n o t t h e t y p e t o s t a r t making e x c e p t i o n s t o s u i t h i m s e l f : D a r l a c was f i i s 1.ife. A f t e r he had been d r i v e n from i t , he hung on f o r a

    few more y e a r s of a i m l e s s e x i s t e n c e , and d i e d , A t l e a s t he s t i l l l i v e s on i.n t h e h e a r t s of t h e Kfiade, even among t h e young p e o p l e who nevex knew him: "Ae Ba Tik." Of a l l t h e t h i n g s he

    --( 7 6 ) ibi.d.,
    p. 346 e t seq.

    -116a c c o m p l i s l ~ e d i n f i f t y y e a r s s p e n t i n t h i s l a n d , perhaps t h a t name w i l l a l o n e endure. Perhaps a l s o t h a t of "Ae M Chii," t h e u n p e r t u r b a b l e a

    A ~ l t o m a r c h i , d i r e c t o r of t h e s c h o o l s , who l e f t Bart M Tliuot t o e n t e r t h e e h o s p i t a l , where he d i e d . p r e p a r e d by S a b a t i e r , lie had e d i t e d t h e DiL Ilue) a col.lect:l.on of customs

    Newcoiners a r e i g n o r a n t of t h e ach.i.evements o.E

    S a b a t i . e r , t h e p o e t who f e l l i n l o v e w i t h h i s a d o p t i v e l a n d : "X,a Chansori d e Damsnn" and t h e t r e ~ n e n d o u s l ymovi.ng " P a l a v r e du Darl.acn--who today h a s e v e r h e a r d of them? 1)uring t h e p e r i o d when ' t:lrese e v e n t s were t a k i n g p l a c e , peol,le o f t e l l lilced t o cont:rast: S a b a t i e r wit11 P o u r n i e r , ttie r e s i d e n t j.n Iconturn who 1'oll.owi.ng t h e i r

    c:onti.nuecl t h e worlc of E'cl tliers Vi.all.eton and Guerlacli,

    exti~irple, Ite openeil up t:lie t e r r i t o r y , whereas S a b a t i e r placed a r e l e n t l e s s


    gunrcl ;it tlie gal:es of Ii%s, 'Ilhe C a t l l o l i c A n n a m i t c ~attractc:d o t h e r C a t l l o l i c s
    from t l ~ cIbanlcs of t h e 1.3121.

    To tliern tlle arcs owes i t s p r o s p e r i . t y .

    With

    i.te v a r i e d and p a t i e n t l y t r a i n e d manpower, I<onh~m was a b l e t o summon more e a s i l y t l ~ a nDorlnc t h e s t r e n g t h t o r i d e o u t t h e upheavals of 1945. u s liopc t h a t i t s u f f e r e d l e s s from them.
    W i . t I 1 p o s s - i b l y sonicwlial: 3.e:;s I ) r i l % i a n c e 01:

    Let

    f o r c e of c l l a r a c t e r , t h e r e

    were o t h e r Frenchmeii who si.m:Llnrly devoted t:lle.i.r c a r e e r s t o tlie emergence 01:' tho mou11tai.n r e g i o n s of Centra:L Annain: ":'lkrusa1.4mny, G c r b i n i . ~ , and They

    I.)eremesse, who f o r many y e a r s was S a b a t i . e r l s f a i t h f u l . a s s i . s t a n t .

    inoved oli o r cIi.ed, b u t t h e i r s t a y anlong t h e n~ountai.n t r i b e . s o f t e n b r o u g h t I ra]>l~i.nes!j

    :I.l.

    'FIE SOU'UIfliIIN IIZN'IIRIILAND


    The l l i s t o r y of t h e t e r r i t o r j . c e of t h e s o u t h appeclrs Inore c o n f u s e d ,

    Near t h e f r o n t i e r w i t h Cochin-Ch:i.na, P a t t e surveyed tile land of t h e S t i e n g and i.n 1.904 founded t h e p o s t a t Nui. Bara.
    A t a b o u t t h e saine t i m e , Odkra,

    cliarged w.i.th t h e p r e p a r a t o r y work f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i . o n of a rai.:lroad l>el:weei~ Saigun and Ntia 'Ilrang, extended t1:i.s r e c o n n a i s s a n c e Lrips i n t o t h e l a n d of t h e Upper Donnsi and t o t h e Blao Pass. credit
    I L i s t o the undyi.ug

    6 t h i s p i o n e e r t h a t he ncvcr once r e s o r t e d 1:o armed force-, n o r f


    Tlie c i e l e g a t i o n a t Ilon Quan t o tile n o r t l i

    e v e r needed t o f o r t h a t m a t t e r .

    -117of Thu Dau Mot, and t h e p o s t s a t Nui Chua Chang (1902), Budop (1906) and

    An Binh (1911) e f f e c t i v e l y marked t h e l i m i t s o f F r e n c h p e n e t r a t i o n on t h e


    e v e of t h e 1914-18 war. At t h a t time, o n l y r a r e s o r t i e s were made i n t o

    t h e h e i g h t s b o r d e r i n g t h e Cochin-Chinese p l a i n s . Some of t h e t o t a l l y independent t r i b e s d i d n o t l a y down t h e i r arms. ltYo t h i r d s of t h e t e r r i t o r y of Rien Hoa remained unsubdued. The mountain

    p e o p l e showed t h e i r h o s t i l i t y by opposing t h e p a s s a g e of Lt. GBnin, who was t r a v e l i n g lrom t h e n o r t h i n t h e d i r e c t i o n of Bien Ifoa. It i s recorded

    C h i t i n 1900 t h e Marquis of Barth6lemy, who had l e f t 'TI-an Ninh and t r a v e l e d

    and t o wi~hi.11 f i v e d a y s t march ol: Thu Dau Mot, was stopped by t h e S t i e r ~ g Lorced t o r e t r a c e h i s sLeps toward K r a t i e . The a s s a s s i n a t i o n of M a i t r e by t h e Nong l e d by Pou '.[:ran Lung i n 1914 l a y heavy on t h e c o n s c i e n c e s of t1ri.s t r i b e , a s w e l l a s on t h e Uou Neur and t h e B i e t , and f o r y e a r s "any s t e p we t a k e i n t h e i r d i r e c t i o n t h e y cons t r u e a s h e r a l . d i n g a p u n i t i v e n i i s s i o n . I n c i t e d by t h e c h i e f s--8oun

    .Seng C h e t , Xing and IZ'ding--who had o r g a n i z e d t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n a t t h e time, a l l t h e v i l l a g e s i.n t h e r e g i o n s h a r e t h e same f e a r " (Capt. De Crkvecoeur)

    .
    Fifty

    I n 1915, T r u f f o t , t h e Governor of K r a t i e , a l s o met h i s d e a t h , a t S r e Chi. The C e n t r a l I?l.ateau was abandoned, and Srelchtum evacuctt:ed.

    k i l o m e t e r s t o t h e e a s t o f the Meltong, a l i n e of s t a t i o n s s t r u n g o u t througll Mil, S n o u l , S r e p i n g , S r e d e , and S r e Chi marked t h e l i n e of r e t r e a t u f Lllc police forces. Beyond ti1i.s l.i.ne, Llle cmfortuna t e tribesmen who had more

    o r l e s s welcomed t h e French p r e s e n c e were b r o u g h t low, one a f t e r t h e o t h e r , by t h e r e b e l s .

    I n 1922, t h e c r e a t i o n of t h e p o s t a t Chhoeung P3.al1 appeared t o h e r a l d


    a llew push forward on o u r p a r t , bttt t h i s s t a t i o n had no i n f l u e l l c e a t a l l on t h e t r i b e s l i v i n g a t t h e f o o t of t h e C e n t r a l plal-.eau.

    CHAPTER XIS PACmICATION I n 1925, t h e r u b b e r boom h a s t e n e d renewed p e n e t r a t i c n , W s h a l l be e

    f o r g i v e n i f we r e f r a i n from r e c a l l i n g h e r e t h e s o r d i d scheming by which t h e " l a r g e i n t e r e s t s " c r u c i f i e d Saba t i e r . THE CIRCULAR OF J L 30, 1923 UY P a s q u i e r , who was t h e g o v e r n o r - g e n e r a l i n Annam a t t h e t i m e , had a p r e m o n i t i o n of what t h e e f f e c t s of t h e r u s h would be: "They a r e g o i n g , " he lamented, " t o t r a m p l e u n d e r f o o t t r i b e s t h a t have j u s t s t a r t e d t o emerge from c e n t u r i e s of t o r p o r ,

    1 .

    I f i t i s t o b e made b e n e f i c i a l , t h i s i n f l u x of

    e n e r g y and c a p i t a l must be d i r e c t e d g r a d u a l l y i n t o t h e p r o p e r c h a n n e l s . W have been c a u g h t unawares, e n g r o s s e d a s we a r e w i t h ot:her w o r r i e s . e T h e . i m m e d i a t e r e s u l t of t h e c u p i d i t y of t h e businessmen w i l l be t h e d e s t r u c t i . o n of a l l we have a c c o m l ~ l i s h e d . It i s v e r y doubtful. whether p r o s p e r i t y f o r t h e m0unta.i.n p e o p l e c a n p o s s i b l y b e s a l v a g e d from t h e s e ru.i.izs," At any r a t e , P a s q u i e r s i g n e d t h e c i r c u l a r of J u l y 30, 1923, a b r a i n c h i l d of S a b a t i e r . 'The " g u i d i n g p r i n c i p l e s f o r t h e admi.ni.stration of t h e

    Moi t e r r i t o r i e s " appeared t o c o n s t i t : u t e a g u a r a n t e e of tile f u t u r e o f t h e tri.bes.

    L t t u r n e d out t o be t h e s i g n a l f o r t h e i r m~xti.l.ati.on.

    The document s u r v i v e s a s t h e e x p r e s s i o n of t h e government's i n t e n t i o n s ~ 5 . ~ 3 - 3 - v i s h e t r i b e s of t h e h i n t e r l a n d , and of t h e protect:ion which l.t t t h o u g h t i.t owed t o t h e nii.nor:ities who were f a c i . n g the dual. t h r e a t of oft:en o n l y h a l f - b a k e d c a p i . t a l . . i s t v e n t u r e s and of i.mperi.alist d e s i g n s wl~osenonWestern o r i g i n s d i d nothing: t o m i t i g a t e t h e i r r u t h l e s s n e s s . A f t e r Doumer and Pattier Beau, P a s q u i e r d e c l a r e d t h e time hacl come t o a c t a s a "montagnard" n a t i o n and t o p u r s u e "a r a c i a l pol.icy."
    Thc a i m was

    t o p r o t e c t t h e s e t r i b e s , whose a p t i t u d e f o r p r o g r e s s had been proved by D a r l a c , a g a i n s t a l l o u t s i d e r s ; t h e y s h o u l d b e p l a c e d i n a p o s i t i o n t:o d e f e n d t h e i r Land, U n t i l such t i m e a s t h e y were c a p a b l e of d o i n g s o on

    t h e i r own, t h e y s l ~ o u l dbe p.ceserved "from c o n t a c t s t h a t a r e tantamount t o exploitation." U n t i l t h e n , the mountain p e o p l e ' s " s o l e e x p e r i e n c e of French

    m i g h t was when t h e y saw i t used t o s u p p o r t t h e cldims bandied a b o u t by

    C a d a d i a n s , L a o t i a n s o r Annamites; t h e y had allowed t h e s e same f o r e i g n e r s t o i n v e i g l e them i n t o committing murders t h a t have s e r v e d t o p e r p e e u a t e t h e i r d i s s i d e n c e ever since," The v e n t u r e was t o be c h a r a c t e r i z e d by tlie utmost f l e x i b i l i t y . For

    e a c h group t h e approach would be a d a p t e d t o i t s d e g r e e of development: i s o l a t i o n s u i t e d D a r l a c , which by t h e n was c a p a b l e of p u r s u i n g i t s d e v e l o p ment u s i n g i t s own r e s o u r c e s ; i t was o u t of t:he q u e s t i o n , however, i n Lang Bian. I n Kontum, t h e c o l l a b o r a t i o n between t h e Bahnar and t h e

    Vietnamese had s t o o d t h e t e s t , b u t t o p r e v e n t t h e l a t t e r from s e i z i n g c o n t r o l of a l l t h e l a n d i t was e s s e n t i a l t o p l a c e c e r t a i n l i m i t s on s u c h cooperation. "In some p l a c e s t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i s f a c e d w i t h p a t r i a r c h y

    and i n o t l i e r s w i t h niatri.archy, w11j.l.e i n y e t o t h e r s c e r t a i n ,groups a r e r e v i v i n g t h e c l a n system. These d i f f e r e n t .forms of s o c i e t y w i . l l be used

    a s the s t a r t i n g point, as appropriate." Some of t h e zones t o be p a c i f i e d (beyond t h e Psi., t h e Dak Sa3. and t h e IZrong IZno) wou1.d be lcept s t r i c t l y s h u t oTL, 'Che heads of p r o v i n c e s had i n s t r u c t i o n s t o c o d i c y t h e customs of t h e t r i b e s , a s had been done i n Darlac. were t o h e g a t h e r e d and recorded. 'iiiie nomadi-c tri.beri g i v e n t o sl.ow ~ r ~ i g r a t r i o n would be s e t t l e d by tlie c s t a h l ~ . s i l m e n t o f .irri.gatecl ri.cefi.el.ds (77) and by p l a n t i n g f r ~ 1 i . t t r e e s
    ii ~:oz~ntl h e t

    Legends, f o l l t l o r c and s u p e r s i : i . t i o n s

    v.i.l.l.ages. parti.cc13.arl.y t h a t in s a l t , would be p r o t e c t e d from t h e s h a r p

    :lil:ade,

    p r a c t i c e s oE t h c Eorei.gn t r a d e r s : "l3y d i n t of t h r e a t s , t h e s e t r a d e r s f o r c e [.he g u l l i b l e Moi t o a c c e p t o u t r a g e o u s d e a l s which w i l l e v e n t u a l l y b e s e t t l e d by a n a b d u c t i o n o r by a n i n c u r s i o n i n t o t h e o u t l y i n g v i l l a g e s of

    I-lie Annamite r e g i o n .

    I*

    The I-leads of p r o v i n c e s were t o d i r e c t t h e col.ori.i.zation e f f o r t , "avoi.ding f r i c t i o n between t:he s e t l:l.crs and t h e na1:i~ves. I' Their conduct

    and t h e i r pre,sence "would b r i n g t h e Moi. t o u n d e r s t a n d t h a t o u r p o l i c y

    -. .-

    ---

    (77) One of t h e a d v a n t a g e s of i r r i g a t e d p a d d y f i e l d s i s that- they l e a v e t h e ruin i.t. I t is f o r e s t i n t a c t , whereas t h e E o o d - g a t h e r e r s seldom e a s y t o e s t a b l i s h tllem i n t h e .val.leys of t h e 1Iighlands. During t h e r a i n s , t h e w a t e r c o u r s e s t u r n i n t o t o r r e n t s t h a t t e a r o u t t h e s e e d l i n g s and wash away t h e l a n d t h a t h a s been p r e p a r e d ; t h i s i s more t h a n enough t o d i s c o u r a g e a p p r e n t i c e r i c e growers.

    ("d)

    toward them was n o t t o d r i v e them back t o make room f o r o t h e r r a c e s . " F i n a l l y , s p e c i a l i n s t r u c t i o n g i v e n by t h e d o c t o r s and t h e p i l o t f a r m i n g s t a t i o n s would h e l p t h e men of t h e h i n t e r l a n d t o a c q u i r e an awareness of t h e i r p e r s o n a l i t y . The s c h o o l c h i l d r e n would s t u d y t h e customs

    of t h e i r t r i b e s i n t h e i r own l a n g u a g e , i n a d d i t i o n t o s i m p l e a r i t h m e t i c and t h e rudiments of a g r i c u l t u r e . a s t h e i r pupils. The t e a c h e r s would be of t h e same r a c e

    These were p a r t i c u l a r l y w i s e p r e c e p t s i n r e g i o n s where

    t h e c h i l d r e n , s o e a s i l y p u t t o f r i g h t , f e a r n o t h i n g q u i t e a s much a s t h e s c o r n f u l i r o n y of Eellow p u p i l s o r t e a c h e r s who a r e c o n s c i o u s of b e l o n g i n g t o a s u p e r i o r race.

    2.

    A THE FRONTIERS O COCH'LN-CHINA--PROGRESS A D 1NCIDI":FTS T F N I-Iowever, t h e businessmen, backed by t h e French P a r l i a m e n t , speeded t h e

    p a c e of p e n e t r a t i o n .

    The mnetropoli.~s u d d e n l y became i m p a t i e n t and a v i d T t brooked

    t o g r a s p t h i s Moi c o u n t r y t h a t i t was bare1.y d i s c o v e r i n g . n e i t h e r discussion nor delay.

    I n t h e s o u t h new r o a d s were opened: one, from the Nui Chua Chang t o Vo D a t ; a n o t h e r , l e a d i n g froirr Bien Hoa t o beyond t h e Nui Bara, was extended a s f a r a s ' Budop; y e t a n o t h e z was made t o An Binlt. ThiBbaut, t h e r e s i . d e n t of Rien Iloa, a c t i n g t o g e t h e r w i tl-i OdBra, b o t h of them humane men, paci.fi.etl t h e ~ n o u n t a i n s of tile Chrau and t h o s e o f t h e Che Ma, Almost t h e e n t i r e b a s i n of t h e R.. Lagila was s u r v e y e d , subdued and

    administered,

    Three S1:icng c a n t o n s were e s t a b l i s h e d between Ba Ria and P k j o r C a r r i e r 1)uil.t t h e road t o t h e e a s t e r n a p p r o a c h e s The

    t h e Song Re r i v e r .

    of t h e Nui. Bara r i v e r f o r t h e a c c o u n t of a n i n d u s t r i a l company.

    v i l l a g e s a l o n g t h e m i d d l e r e a c h e s of t h e Donnai were won o v e r , and t h e r u b b e r p l a n t a t i o n s began t o s p r e a d . Around 1931, t h e accomplishments of Gerber (78), began t o a t t r a c t a t t e n t i - o n . h e r o i c band. t h e d e l e g a t e a t Rudop,

    Gerber i s one of t h e few s r l r v i v o r s of t h e

    To t h i s v e r y day, he h a s remained f a i t h f u l t o t h e r e g i o n which, No one succeeded b e t t e r t h a n he i n Hi.s method was

    twenty y e a r s ago, he f i x s t won o v e r .

    b r i n g i n g peace i n t o t h e v e r y h e a r t of t h e S t i e n g .vi.llages. a n o b j e c t l e s s o n i n t h e ri.glit approach t o adopt.

    H used t o malce v e r y e

    (78) Mr.

    C ~ r b e rh a s p u b l i s h e d i n BElTO (vol. XLV, 1.951-52) a r e a l l y o u t s t a n d i n g c o l l e c t i o n of St:ieng customs (Coutumier S t i e n g ) .

    f r e q u e n t v i s i t s along t h e jungle paths.

    B e f o r e approaching a n unsubdued

    l o c a l i t y , he n e v e r f a i l e d t o send on ahead a number ol: "montagnards" lc~-,own t o the local tribe, Even t l ~ e n , h e made i.t a r u l e n e v e r t o s e t f o o t i n s i d e Once

    a c l i s s i d e n t v i l l a g e u n l e s s f i r s t i n v i t e d t o do s o by i t s i n h a b i t a n t s .

    a c c e p t e d by them, h e would tend t o t h e s i c k and s e t t l e t h e i r d i s p u t e s ; he 1.istened t o t h e g r i e v a n c e s of t h e mountain people whose t r u s t h e had won, and p r e v a i l e d upon h i s militiame11 t o r e s p e c t t h e weak.
    'Vwo drama t i c i n c i d e n t s were unfortunat:ely

    t o make Gcrber ' s l i t e r i t s b o t h

    b e t t e r a p p r e c i a t e d and b e t t e r u n d e r s t o o d . On Hay 2 6 , 1.931, G a t i - l l e , t h e d e l e g a t e a t Snoul., who had been charged wii:lr b~~i.l.cl%ng road t o [:he upper Chlil.ong val.ley, was sl.a:in by t h e Kong trlie
    juii c a s tlie col~s1:ruction work he was d i r e c t i n g was r e a c h i n g t h e upper rim

    o f Lrhc? C e n t r a l 1'l;ilrenlt.

    On October 29, 1933, d e a t h a l s o came t o gendarmerie s e r g e a n t Morhre, n e a r t h e Nui


    Biiril.

    A man of ext.reme k i n d n e s s , Mochre llati t o 1ii.s c r e d i t


    ii

    t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of 13.5 1~111. of new t r a i l s i n

    Ei-ve-year p e r i o d ,

    Tlie

    great: speed (31: t h i s s u c c e s s lnadc t h e r e b e l s uneasy. !ii.s murder was pn~:ti.cuJ.arly I l e i ~ ~ o u s . 'Cwo days bofc,re 11:I.s deatrh, t l ~ e~;c:nciar~iie 11ad 11oen vi:;i.l:etl I)y ILhc men wlio were pl.ol.i:i.tig t o assnss:i.n;rle
    t:ci
    Ilirri.

    'I:hey :islcecL I1i.ru

    v.i.:i:i.i: t:llern.

    A tli.spuLe 1,etween two vi.ll.ages made i.t essent.i.al, he shou1.d

    go,

    On t h e way !:liere, a3.1. went wel:i., b u t on tile way bnclc a11 ii~>ibush w a i t e d a

    Iri.111~Ovcrco~ifi.dent:, Morbre llad o n l y one ~nj.l.it:i.arnnn wit11 11i.111. 3111%~ L::i.lnc tlie r e b e l l i o n w11i.cl1 had been Eermenl i.ng s-ince 1914 nl.ong t h e ; ~ p p . r o a c l ~ eL t h e Central, 1I.ighlands f ina1l.y came i.llto t h e open, especi.al.ly s : o a s t h e murders of G a t i l l e and Morere c a l l e d f o r - r e p r i . s a l s: "Over allnos t

    200 kin, froin niortii t o s o u t h and 50 E~:oni e a s t t o west, a l l t h e C r i b e s a r e


    j.11

    open re.vo:l.t or a r e unsubdued."

    llowever, tlie I;i.ot, Mnong, S t i e n g and f o r c e s , a:Lt:l~oupll t i i i s

    Nong c o u l d n o t make up t:hc:i.r ni.i.nds t o pooj. thei:e

    ctid n o t preveni. lbc~mboo s t a k e s from bei.ng pl.anted al.1 a l o n g tile trai.1.s. Although o r d e r s f r m i above had i n s t r u c t e d them t o d e a l s e v e r e l y w i t h no one b u t t h e food-ga t h e r e r s , t h e ~ t u n i t i v ecol.umns were iile t by showers of arrows. The r e b e l s were on t h e p o i n t of winning o v e r t h e R i e t and t h e Nong t o

    t h e i r side,

    An a s s a u l t mounted a g a i n s t Le Bolland camp was s t a v e d o f f by

    a s t r o k e of good f o r t u n e , b u t Bou Coh and Bu Nard b o t h f a c e d a t t a c k s t h a t were made a l l t h e more s e r i o u s by t h e f a c t t h a t t h e enemy were armed w i t h r e v o l v e r s and r i f l e s . The Mnong and t h e S t i e n g made common c a u s e . From

    Cambodia t h e l e a d e r of t h e Le Rolland s t a t i o n , e s t a b l i s h e d i n 1932, had r e p o r t e d t h a t i n t h e n o r t h of t h e d i s t r i c t s of Bien Hoa and Thu Dau Mot t h e t r i b e s were p r e p a r i n g t o r e v o l t .

    The d i v i s i o n of t h e r e b e l r e g i o n

    among Cambodia, Annam and Cochin-China had t h e e f f e c t of hampering o u r men i n t h e i r a c t i o n s . The Governor had w i s e l y g i v e n t h e g a r r i s o n a t l3ou The t r o o p s

    Kralc e n t i r e {reedom o f a c t i o n , w i t h o u t r e g a r d f o r f r o n t i e r s .

    froin Gochin-China a l s o a c t e d i n combination w i t h t h e g a r r i s o n s of t h e Le R o l l a n d and M a i t r e s t a t i o n s , whi.cI~ were under t h e c o n t r o l of Cambodia. These arrangements brought a b o u t n measure of r e l i e f . Trai.ls r a n a l l over t:he count:ry. C r e d i t f o r t l i c i r c o ~ i s t r u c t i o ni s
    '

    due t o G e r b e r , among o t h e r s , a s we3.l. a s t h e mi:l.itian~enof t h e D a r l a c p l a t e a u and Cambodia.


    A l l . of them met a t t h e 'J'rois-Prouf:ikres

    station.

    The meeting a t t h i s s t a t i o n (1933) of detachment:^ of lil~ade, Vietnamese and Khmers, who fiad come from Eou Jell Urom, Budop and Lc Rol.l.and, r e s p e c t i v e l y , &me tile B i e t , P\ehong, Gou Neur rind Noug food f o r thougilt, I n t h e end,

    t h c appointment of a s o l e cormnatid Tor t h e t h r e e c o u n t r i e s , coupled w i t h t h e v i g o r o f tlie o p e r a t i o n s conducted up t o t h a t time, b r o u g h t calm t o t h e r e g i o n w i tl1i.n t h r e e months.
    A y e a r l a t e r a. s u r p r i s e a t t a c k was made on t h e T,e 1Zoll.nnd s t a t i o n .

    T h i s t i m e Pou Trang Lung 11ad s t i r r e d up t h e Bi.et. a f t e r t h e assau1.t of E i r c h


    Lt,

    A b a r e t w e n t y - f i v e days

    1935, t h e same g a r . r i s o n was s u b j e c t e d t o a April. and May were marltecl by two

    second a t t a c k , which a l s o Eailecl.

    o f f e n s i v e s a g a i n s t G a t i l l e s t a t i o n , and on A p r i l 29 i t s d e f e n d e r s s t o o d i n p e r i l of t h e i r l i v e s . Unity o f cornn~nd was t h e n r e - e s t a b l i s l ~ e d . Once a g a i n , t h e r e v o l t was quashed. The d e a t h of Pou '1:rnng l:,ung, who had been capturecl by Major Nyo,

    b r o u g h t peace once more. T h i s l a s t , and s e r i o u s , c r i s i s had t h e e f f e c t of s h a k i n g t h e a u t h 0 r i t i . e ~ o u t oE t h e v a c i l l a t i o n and l a c k of c o o r d i n a t i o n t h a t had t r i g g e r e d t h e r e v o l t .

    -123A f t e r s u c h v a s t e x p e n d i t u r e of e f f o r t and s o many bl.oody i n c i d e n t s , t h e d e c i s i o n was t a k e n t o a c t ''with some v i g o r and w i t h c l e a r l y d e f i n e d objectives,


    I'

    "This renewed r e s o l v e l e d t o t h e submission of t h e most

    savage, w a r l i k e and i n d e p e n d e n t Noi t r i b e s who through t h e c e n t u r i e s had eluded a l l o u t s i d e domination and

    ...

    managed t o :lead a p r i m i t i v e l i f e of

    a n a r c h y and f r e e d a n i n t h e i r mountains and f o r e s t s , " The only r e m a i n i n g t a s k was t o p e n e t r a t e and subdue a few l i t t l e - k n o w n , b u t r e p u t e d l y w a r l i k e , t r i b e s a l o n g t h e w e s t e r n s l o p e s of t h e Annamitic Chain between t h e Sf Kong and Se Bang I-Iieng r i . v e r s , Prom t h a t moment on, p a c i f i c a t i o n was a dead i s s u e a s f a r a s t h e publ-ic was concerned. O c c a s i o ~ ~ a l . l yt ,h e iriount:ai.n people found tttemsel.ves

    d.i.spossessed of t h e i r food-gatheri.ng grounds, si.nce t h e pl.anters p r e f e r r e d then! t:o t h e jm1gl.e whi.ch t h e y f i r s t had t o c l e a r . Final.l.y, the t r i b e s

    which had h i t h e r t o h e l d a l o o f from a l l . c o n t a c t w i t h t h e workings and d o i n g s of t h e o u t s i d e world began t o s e e t h e i r r e f u g e hemmed a b o u t w i t h Westerners and t h e i r novel, techniclues, s o f a s c i n a t i n g t o such p r i m i ti.ve eyes. Keac t i o n s were i n e v i t a b l e .

    3.

    AGITRIC:ION I N I O T M Z NU 'Cltere i.s no way of r e l a t i n g a l l tl-tese i.ncidents i n d e t a i l , b u t we must

    reci~1.R. t h e s t r a n g e fcmienl:at%on t:hat i:he t c ~ r r i t o r yof the Bahnar. Lt


    if;

    oc:curred between 11936 ancl I938 around a m a t t e r of rc?corcl how pruclentl,y and

    c o i ~ s i c l e r a t e : l y t h e Ml.ssj.on had been opcni.ng up thi.s r e g i o n For more than a cc11t11.r~) Init t:l~.is dicl not: p r e v e n t sor~~ci i t h e Bnhnar (Uonorn, Alakong) irom o bec om.i.ng in.vo:Lved i.n t h e e v e n t s sumnmari.zcd bel.ow, At t h e time, t h e governor i.n IZont~mn~ was M r .

    P. G u i l l e m i n e t , a n e r u d i t e

    e t h n o l o g i s t a s w e l l a s a n o u t s t a n d i n g a d m i n i s t r a t o r (79). Cuil.l.eiminei: informs 1ii.s r e a d e r s t h a t a Sorm.

    "ya" can

    r e a p p e a r i n human

    The nlan i n wilon~ t h e spi.ri.t i.s i n c a r n a t e d i.s undisputec1l.y aclcr~owledged News of: such a mi.rac1.e becomes embellished

    t o be c a p a b l e of supcrhunian f e a t s .

    (79) P a u l Guil.leminet i.s t h e a u t h o r of a Bahnar Di-ctionary and Grammar.


    1li.s customary, p u b l i s h e d by E.F.E.O., has j u s t come o u t . His a r t i c l e s i n the U.I.I.E.H,, of which h e was s e c r e t a r y , and i.n t h e B.A.V.B. p r o v i d e r e s e a r c h e r s w i t h extreme1.y relkible and i n v a l u a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n on t h e customs of t h e mountain people.

    -124a s it spreads, He a l s o p o i n t s o u t t h a t "The people of t h e v i l l a g e where

    t h e p r o d i g y was born, h a v i n g s e e n him i.n h i s everyday l i f e , a r e t h e o n l y ones who d o n o t s h a r e t h e u n i v e r s a l enthusiasm," have f o r g o t t e n t h e d i f f e r e n t m e s s i a h s The r e a d e r w i l l n o t

    who succeeded e a c h o t h e r on t h e

    p l a t e a u s s i n c e t h e time of t h e Ya Pu i n 1.820.

    In 1935, a man from'Phu Yen was assumed t o be a n i n c a r n a t i o n o f S e t ,


    t h e bearded one; St?t i s t h e son of Uok Glai.11, t h e s p i r i t of Thunder whom t h e Sadet had t o t h a n k f o r h i s magic sword.

    It was suddenly rumored t h a t t h i s man's d a u g h t e r - i n - l a w had j u s t given


    b i r t h t o a python. That such a phenomenon should be b r o u g h t i . n t o t h e world No one would have t o

    s i g n i . f i e d a n i ~ ~ m ~ i . n c n t u r n t o t h e golden age, re

    work any more, and t h c N o i would once a g a i n beco~llem a s t e r s of t h e i r desti.n:i.es, Obviously, Ma Wj.h, t h e f a t h e r of t h e prodi.gy, hacl no t r o u b l e

    a t a l l i.11 : ~ c t a i l . i r l gthe news.

    It s p r e a d f i r s t among t h e J a r a i , and 1Ulade;

    i.u 1.937, procesr;ionc; of Rhe Croln Quang Wgai. and Ilontnil, peace-lo.v.ing i:'armers
    w l ~ ol i v e e a s t of IContum, b r o u g h t t h e i r offeri.ri&s t o ltlle vil.l.agc of t h e pychou. c11.i.l.d; u n a b l e t o o f f e r them a n y t h i n g e l s e i n r e t u r n , M Wih gave a them some b o t t l e s of nondescri,pt w a t e r . The p i l g r i m s werc rewarded f o r

    t h e i r p a i n s , and i1andsotnel.y at: tlia t : poised on t h e l:l~rcsl~ol.tlo l: t h e mon~entous e v e n t s t h a t were bound t o happen, h o l d e r s of t h e niirac:l.e w a t e r , and t:hcy a l o n e , would b c p r o t e c t e d a g a i n s t a l l d i s a s t e r s , Wllevl t h e y g o t bclc:b, t h o s e w11o owned 1~ott:I.e~ were :;w;~~upedw i t h o f f e r s ~ i n d s o l d t11e.i.r v i . a l s f o r 2 , 1.0 o r even 100 p i a s t r e s ; t:,l~i:j w a t e r showed
    LI~J

    a t Ilji-ri.rlg, F a i f o o and eve.n. Uass,lc, and everywhere i t s owners, u n i t e d i.11 ti1ci.r p o s s e s s i . o r ~o f t h e "t:aLi.ii;lnan," formed a si.ngle s e c t , rei;pondi.rlg t o 'Clien a g i t a t o r s

    t h e sarne words of command and siharing the sarne hopes.

    t o o k a hanil, and tile Sedang, D i e , Ilhe, Bonom ancl Ala1cong d e c i d e d t o w a i t no l o n g e r and brolce o f f al.1 r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e 1:reiicll admini.st:ration. Sedang s e t t l ~ eexample by att.nclci.ng r;oriie 1nil.itiame~1 c2~r:I.y i.rl iI.938, Nortller~h Kontum, t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e mountain peop1.e of Birlh Dinh and I?hu Yen, became d i . s a f f e c t e d and, t o stiL-1.c: any nagging d e s i r e t h e y mi.ght have The

    -125f o r a l a t e r r e t u r n t o p e a c e , t h e y burned t h e i r v i l l a g e s behind them, The

    J a r a i , a s s u r e d t h a t a l i f e of c l o v e r was j u s t around t h e c o r n e r , had n o t t r o u b l e d t o sow t h e i r f i e l d s , and famine was a l r c a d y ramp'5nt. When M Wih s t o o d t r i a l , t h e c o u r t c l . ~ a r e dhim of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a f o r t h e t r o u b l e he had caused. S e l l i n g a l i t t l e p e r f e c t l y ordinary water

    t o e x p l o i t t h e c u r i o s i t y of a n i d l e p u b l i c can h a r d l y b e h e l d a crime. The j u n g l e m e n t a l i t y , always l a t e n t , had caused a l l t h e t r o u b l e .


    i t Ls f a r from played o u t evcn today.

    Indeed,

    4.

    THE KFL4 T U The t r o u b l e t h a t had f l a r e d up i n Kontu~n spread nortliward t o t h e land

    o f [:he Klla 'Tu,

    'rhougli j . n i t i a t e d

    i.n 1.904 by lcief f e r and

    i.11

    part:icular

    by Sogny , t h e

    penetroL:ion ol: t h i s 2 5 , 0 0 0 - s t r o n g t r i b e 1:i.ving a t t h e approaches t o t h e A t a o u a t was n o t :;ystemat:ical.l.y resumed u n t i l 3.935. Worlc on t h e c o n s t r u c -

    t:i.ol~ of road 14 (80) which was t o l i n k Iconturn w i t h Quang Narn l~r:ovolcecl n .resurgence of t h e a t t a c l c s around t h e s t a t i o n a t A Dien~. The ICha Tu n "inurder i n o r d e r Lo appedsc Lhc c v i l s p i r i t s , " b u t a l s o t o p r e s e r v e t h e i r -indepe~rclencc. 'lliieir . t r i b e i s one of t h o s e i n which tiger-men a p p e a r . The U P uiurclers tliey caninit a r e n e v e r foll.owed/by t h e f t s , ancl t:hcre a p p e a r s t o be z ~ othought of vengeance i n tlle~na t a l l . : "'Chat: man i s b l e s s e d w i t h f o r e f a t t i e r s whose lance:; have passed a hundred times t h r o u g l ~human f l e s h .
    i.s t h e pri.cle of 11i.s v i l l . a g c and t h e wo~nenfollcadmire hiin" (8l.),

    Ile

    1 9 3 7 witnessed L . f r e s h outl,.realc of cri.minal. a c ti;, :

    The a d m i n i . s t r a t o r s

    of Quang Nam and t:he mil.i.tl.amen of Le Pichon acconipl%shed t h e twofoj.d f e a t of s u p p r e s s i n g a rebel. rnovement t h a t was t h r e a t e n i n g t o grow more s e r i o u s and of d o i n g s o w i t h t h e a i d of t h e c a c l a i and t h e Anna~ni-te woodsmen, wlio had become t h e b e s t auxi.1.iar.i.e~ i n t h e e n t i . r e p a c l . f i c a t i o n effort.
    ~ . ~ ~ , ~ ~

    ---- ~ -

    (80) E n j o l r a s , "Reconnaissance de l a r k g i o n d e Moi Xe e t du t r a c k de La 1932, No. 4 , r o u t e c o l o n i a l e 1 4 e n t r e 'fin-an e t Dac Main," B.A.V.II., 31. p a g e s , 2 maps, numerous p r o f i l e s . (01) Le Pichon, "Les c h a s s e u r s de s a n g , " B.A.V,II., 1938, No. 4 , pp. 357-404.

    - 126I wanted t o c l o s e t h i s h i s t o r i c a l e s s a y on t h e Moi c o u n t r y by d e s c r i b i n g a t r i b e which remained a l t o g e t h e r independent u n t i l t h e eve


    of

    WorldWarTI. The I(ha Tu a r e d i s t i n g u i s h e d n o t o n l y by t h e d i v e r s i . t y of t h e e t h n i c

    t y p e s Eound among them: "from t h e N e g r i t o t o t h e I ~ l d o n e s i a n t y p e and e v e n t o t h e American Apache, b u t a l s o by t h e numerous p o i n t s of s i m i l . i . a r i t y t h a t e t h n o l o g i s t s have n o t e d between t h e c i v i . l i z a t i o n of t h i s group and t h a t of t h e p e o p l e s of t h e New H e b r i d e s - - t h e i r method of p r e s e r v i n g meat, t h e u s e of comrnon house f o r tlre men, p i g s ' t e e t h used a s j e w e l r y " ( 8 2 ) . T h i s b r i n g s us b a c k t o t h e bonds of a f f i - n i t y t l ~ a tlirric c c r t a i n L-ri-bcs of Indo-Chiila's h i n t e r l a n d w i t h t h e i . n h a b i t a n t s of many i s l a n d s i n t h e Paci.fi.c, A t t e n t i . o n was drawn t o t h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p a t t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h i s unfj.ni.shcd s tucly, wl.i:i.ch, t o be comp1.e he, ought p r o p e r l y t o have .iacludcd a c l ~ a l s t e r on t h e s p r e a d of c o l o n i z a t i o n i n t h e Ili.ghlands, There, rrlany "~nont-agnnrds,"

    beizefiti.ng frorn c o n d i t i o n s and goods which at: one t:i.me they would n e v e r h a v e dreamed o f , l e a r n e d f o r t h e C i . r s t tinie a b o u t tlie West and t h e adv:tntages t h a t i t s p r e s e n c e can b r i n g .

    -127-

    i y x mwa
    The J a p a n e s e coup of Mixr?rch 9, 1945, was a s d i s a s t r o u s f o r t h e mountain p e o p l e a s i t was i o r Llic p r e s t i gc of t h e Whites, Pol: f o u r y e a r s t h e govern-

    mcnLkxi been doing i t s u t m o s t t o s t a v e o l f t h i s d i s a s t e r , t h e e x t e n t of which i t c o u l d we11 f o r e s e e ; t h e r e i s seal-cely tiny need t o go over t h e event:, Lliat l e d up t o i L , For t h e moc,t. p t r L , LLlc t r i b e s of 1.11~ ilinLerl.and ware thrown of i l)al.anct! by tlic eusui.ug upheaval. groups of:
    I I I ~ i . tiomen, l

    Adinittetlly, s0111e v i l l a g e s and a few

    w1ior;e 1nora1.e hat1 bet?n undc:rmi.lled by mon tlis of

    ~ . t n r e l u king prol>og;incia n

    , e~llowc.ic1t:hemsalve:;

    t o bt: cli.carrned by t h e J a p a n e s e

    t:~:oops and t l ~ c rj \riel-namese sympatl~i.zers, b u t .i.nriumerabl.e o t l ~ c l r s f o u g h t k~aclche~:oica:l.l.y, : i e q u i t t e d t l i c ~ n s e l v e shonorably,, and, t l ~ o u g lt~ e y f i n a l l y h 1ai.d down k l ~ c i rnrins, re:;ignecl t:hemselvcs t o do-i.rig s o o n l y when a l l had

    hc:i!n : l o s t ancl when o r d e r e d t o d o s o by t:h~? leadr?~::: t o wl~on~h e y had t ecma i.nc?ii l o y a l

    'r11o:je F r e ~ i c l ~ l r ~ e n ehc oneniy had i s o l a t e d i r ~ few of wliom a


    l ' i . 1 7 ~ exp:l.oit::,

    iltc? vi.l.l.:iges irr!;~rtl :itray I'ol)orl.:; oS L11ese

    and t h e i r ~i~t~riiorieri

    a r c CLI 1 . . of' i:r:a t:i tutlt?. 11


    Iought
    ;I

    011 t l i ~ !~ ) ' I . t it e a u s , elie m i l.i t:i.amcn and :;ol.tliers; 'i'lic Iieroi.s~u of t l ~ eIihade unit.:; s t a t i o n e d a t I t was almost: a:; i.f t h e "montngr~ards "

    Ilolic:l.c:ss batt1.e.

    Ilanoi. krew uns ti.nt.i.11g admi.ra l:i.on.

    II;I~I some lcind of prenioniti.c)n Llmt t h e c f f o r t s of t,wenty y e a r s t c ) awaken


    t:he gclii.~.[sof: t l i e i r r a c e were nl~out: t o be wi.ped out..
    ']lo begit1 w i . t l ~ , n synip;itl~r:tic ant1 gcncrous wel.corne was cxtendctl t o

    ttio:ie iironchrnen who escaped froin the iriterntnerit cmps t o f i g h t a g a i n i.n t:lle bu:;ll, I n t h e l o n g tun, hoticver , lleavy drawi-ngs by tile r e s i . s t a n c e f o r c e s Carrnyaril:; arid g r a i n s u p p l i e s of t h e mountain people, even i n

    on t h e h e r d s ,

    r e t u r n f o r payment, provctl t o o heavy a burden f o r tile .vi.l.l.ages t o b e a r . l'he J a p a n e s e and t h e i r ;tux.i.li.aries promised rewarti!; Tor any Prench~nan Irancied over t o tlicm. Soutli-wes t: of Ilue, t h e "montagnards" n e v e r t i l e l e s s

    reFrai.net1 from nt:trnclti.ng our nien; a l l (:he sanie, wtien rliey saw them s t a g g e r i n g i n arLcr in
    1 3

    <I

    ~ i i ~ ~ r ~r ~ , Lliei l sCrcngLii

    sapped by l e v e r and t h e i r f e e t baLhed


    d

    lootl, tlicy would a s s u r e tlie~ii Lltat

    Large J a p a n e s e detachment was on

    the p o l n ~ of ~11-rivil1g t h e bcene and i n t h i s way would conipel t h e on

    -128exhausted f u g i t i v e s t o move on a g a i n .

    I n Kontum, "throughout t h e J a p a n e s e

    o r V i e t Minh o c c u p a t i o n , i n t h e a b s e n c e of t h e French m i s s i o n a r i e s , t h e Bahnar and Annamite p r i e s t s k e p t t h e faith even i n t h e most remote C a t h o l i c v i l l a g e s " (83).

    A t l a s t , i n t h e c l o s i n g months of 1945, t h e French t r o o p s reached


    Saigon. T h e i r a r r i v a l had been a w a i t e d s i n c e b e f o r e March 9, and p a r t i c u l a r l y
    I n December 1945, t h e % s t P a r E a s t Brigade,

    a f t e r the Japanese surrender.

    whose r a n k s a l s o i n c l u d e d Cambodians and two Mnong and Rhade b a t t a l i o n s , r e o c c u p i e d Ban M ~ h u ' o t . By t h a t time t h e V i e t Minh had i n f i l t r a t e d everye where: from Ninh I-Ioa a s f a r a s Nam Dinh, i n Tonkin, t h e y h e l d t h e e n t i r e c o ~ u l t r y , d e l t a s and p l a t e a u s . Many J a r a i o r Rhade c h i e f s , known t o have With a n eye t o t h e main chance, a

    favored our c a u s e , had been removed.

    lew t u r n c o a t s h ~ d gone over t o t h e enemy, b u t t h e Lroops of Ho Chi Minh had been hard p u t t o i t t o round up even a Eew "montagnards" t o p l a n t 'imoag t h e i r detachments-- j u s t enough, i n f a c t , t o s p r e a d abroad t h e legcnd of t h e mountain p e o p l e having r i s e n up a g a i n s t t h e "coLoniaList oppressors." In poinL of f a c t , t h e V i e t Minh had f a i l e d t o keep t h e promises i t had bandied a b o u t a t L i r s t ; t a x e s , which i t had proclaimed would be a b o l i s h e d , once a g a i n l a y heavy on t h e p e o p l e of t h e h i n t e r l a n d , who r a p i d l y wearied of t h e r e q u i s i t i o n s and t a s k s handed o u t by t h e " l i b e r d t o r s . " From t h e

    t i m e t h e y r e - e n t e r e d Ban M T l ~ u o t , t h e r e f o r e , t h e F r e n c h t r o o p s encounLered e a s t e a d y flow of s h a r p s h o o t e r s and m i l i t i a m e n a n x i o u s t o resume t h e i r s e r v i c e , w h i l e young Rhade, Mnong and J a r a i demanded r i f l e s w i t h which t o f i g h t alongside us. The s m i l i n g and e a g e r welcome by t h e o l d Kun YU

    Bon a t Ban Don was a t y p i c a l r e f l e c t i o n of t h e d i s p o s i t i o n of t h e t r i b e s toward t h e r e t u r n i n g Frenchmen. F o r many, t h e i r r e t u r n h e r a l d e d a

    r e i u r n t o t h e p o l i c y f o r m e r l y followed by S a b a t i e r . The f i r s t s t a g e was t o reconquer a l l t h e ground l o s t s i n c e March 9. The commander of t h e 1 s t F a r E a s t Brigade had o n l y a s m a l l complement of men l e f t . The t a s k was now t o r e g a i n c o n t r o l of a n a r e a f a r l a r g e r t h a n

    t h e t h r e e s e c t o r s r e o c c u p i e d by t h e b u l k of t h e F r e n c h t r o o p s i n Tonkin and

    (83) G e n e r a l J. Marchand, "Dans l a J u n g l e moi," Peyronnet.

    -129C e n t r a l Annam, T h i s s m a l l h a n d f u l of men c o u l d n e v e r have occupied t h e

    p l a t e a u s had t h e p e o p l e n o t s u p p o r t e d t h e t r o o p s i n t h e i r e f f o r t s . By December 1945 o u r u n i t s had h a l t e d t h e i r advance some f o r t y lcilometers northeas!- of B~lnM Thuot, a t Ruon Ho, w h i l e t h e Chukti rnassii e remained i n enemy hands. To t h e n o r t h w e s t , tlie 5 t h 1 3 a t t a l i o n of "montagnard" r i f l e m e n , advancing Iron1 Stung Treng, 11dd reactled Uokeo; a s i t was t h e d r y s e a s o n , they were a b l e t o t a k e t h e t r a i l l e a d i n g Srom Khone through Siem Pang and Veun S a i . The agreentcnts o f March 6 , 1946 d i d n o t h i n g t o s t o p t h e V i e t Minh from s e i z i n g promineuL i2hade f i g u r e s , n o r , f o r LhCit inai tcar, irotn " i n t e n s i f y i n g t h e i r p r e s s u r e on t h e J a r a i L r i b c s . surprise at~dclt"(86). One of our ~ > ~ j t r o L s s e t upon j n a was

    By wriy o r I - c p r ~ s a l ,a p u n ~ ii v c tlcLathment wai

    desp'\l ~ ' i i t ~ cwestward Low'1rr1 tilts s o u r c e of t h e r i v e r li,r tl'lireo (N<rrn 1.jcrz) l and p roccr:tlccl
    ;I,.;

    i;:lr a:; P i e i . 'ikmg 'Cang.

    T.t was it lie^^, 31: [$an ivlo 'r'lr~rol:, tlrnt; t:l;e 1"rerich lligli Coniruj.ssioner'

    arv%\ictd t o a t t e r ~ t l [..he g r e a t oat-11-t:aicing ceremony' (Le i:rarld Scrrnent) , Tile splendor o f return
    I:()

    (rlic?.

    e v e n t might wcl.1 [lave bce.n i n t e r p r c t c d a s a s i g u Tor 1 s o l i c i . e ~oL 1.923.

    L I

    tlie j:tlnc:raS.

    'i'lie 1 s t llrignde a!: LIhat k-iiiie

    iitild t:llt: regi.c)n bountfcd t o tile uortlr by a Li-nc: r u n n i n g Iroin M1i)rnc Huon IJu l:o P1a j. 'I'u~lg'Vtrng, ant1 l%ok~O.
    'I'tlc:

    c onvt:rgi.ng,

    two-pronged
    i!i~:jl

    I ;

    t.tacic or

    .11~rlc?

    21. was I . ~ ~ L L I ~ c I I c ~ s i~i~ul.ti~i~cou!jl.y

    Iirolri 13uon lio i n tlw. ioolc cont1:ol. I)rcli rrvissj.f.

    ;111tl

    lloicc?o .i.u Lhe n(~rtlrwe:;t: Cwo MI~ildr: ~ o ~ ~ t p a r l i c l i


    Clliritl.j.

    I;~~ori I<r.ierig, tlie

    o1as;si.l a n d , on .Jullc 2 3 , tlte

    Clril

    l'ile i : o l u n i ~from 1:okeo ~:eachad Than Hinh de:;pi.t:e r e s i s t a n c e ~ O p e r a t i o n s proceeded i n

    nude worse by tlie p r e s e n c e oT .iapiinese t r o o p s .


    t:he getlcrnl d i r ~ i cito n of Pl.eiku.

    A t t h e :;ame time L ~ n o t l i ed e t a c l i n ~ c n t , r

    which liati ~itlv;i~icecl s f a r :is t:lico Reo, a:l.so swung round toward I?l.cil<t~ a and I)rolct: dowl-I t-iic? del-iinses
    t)E

    Cliu Ilodrung, s o u t h o f Cliis c i t y .

    On Juiic 2 6 , b y w11i.cli I:iilr~ [lie t r o o p s Il;~d re;iclted ICo~itum, t-Ire Viet Minli E n l ' l . bnclc t:oward Quang Ngai v i a lCo11 B r a i anti I<OLI Pl.ong.

    'i'hc [:act tliat

    dei'c?uclers 01; An IChc were s t i . f f ' e n e d wi.th .Japanese

    a d v i s o r s f a i l e d t o p r e v e n t t h i s ce11te.r f r t m Cal.li.u[: i n due c o l i r s e ; t h i s


    .----.--.."-

    ---

    (84) !:c:ricr;~l J

    . Marchand,

    1 . o ~ . c.i.i:,

    completed t h e r e o c c u p a t i o n of t h e t e r r i t o r y of t h e J a r a i .

    F i n a l l y , beyond

    Kontum, t h e e x p e d i t i o n a r y f o r c e gained c o n t r o l of Dak To and Dak S u t , i n Sedang c o u n t r y , and l a t e r of Dak Gle among t h e D i e ; t h e advance was pushed a s Ear a s t h e a p p r o a c h e s t o t h e t e r r i t o r y of t h e Kha Tu. The French t e a c h e r s r e t u r n e d t o t h e i r p o s t s i n t h e s c h o o l s , and t h e m i s s i o n a r i e s went back t o t h e i r p a r i s h e s . A l r e a d y , t o o , t h e p l a n t e r s were

    f e a r l e s s l y t a k i n g up t h e i r work a g a i n , a l l t o o o f t e n , a l a s , amid t h e d e v a s t a t i o n wrought by t h e enemy. The c o u n t r y began t o l o o k as i t had b e f o r e .

    An o f f e n s i v e comcback Launched a g a i n s t An ICtie on October 6 ended w i t h

    t h e repuLse o E t h e enemy.

    Tlie s i t c i a t i on appeared t o be s o w e l l i n hand t h a t when t h e V i e t Minh, on December 1 9 , made t h e i r v i o l e n t a t t a c k on Da Nang and Hue, b o t h c i t i e s were r e l i e v e d by t r o o p s drawn from among t h e f o r c e s manning s t a t i o n s on the plateaus. Yet o n o t h e r a t t a c k on A n Khe by tlie V i e t Minh was a l s o

    finally b e a t e n back on March 15. A l l t h e ssme, g u e r r i l l a w a r f a r e was b e i n g s t e p p e d u p behind o u r p o s i t i o n s , though t h e i n c r e a s i n g l y f r e q u e n t a s s a s s i n a t i o n s and a t t a c k s on convoys d i d n o t wealcen t h e a1,legiance of t h e mountain people. The o u t -

    s t a n d i n g c o n d u c t of two Sedang s e c t i o n s g a r r i s o n e d a t ]Ton Plane; will. l o n g be remembered w i t h emotion: n o t o n l y d i d t h e g a r r i s o n of t h i s s m a l l p o s t ward o f f a n a t t a c k by t h e V i e t Minh, b u t t o make t h i n g s worse i t was a l s o bombed by French a i r c r a f t , which b e l i e v e d i t t o have f a l l e n i n t o enemy hands. When a f t e r t h e I.as t bombs lucl f a l l e n , t h e V i e t Minh mounted t h e i r

    a t t a c k , t h e Sedang c o u n t e r e d w i t h such lieavy and w e l l d i r e c t e d f i r e t h a t t h e a t t a c k was h a l t e d . No compl.et:e l i s t c a n e v e r be made now of t h e s e h e r o i c e x p l o i t s - - t h e Sedang a t Kon Plong; t h e Sedang s t Ben Giang where, w i t h t h e h e l p of 60 Die t r i b e s m e n , t h e y f o r c e d t h e i r way i n t o t h e f l a m i n g p o s t , a f t e r s e t t i n g out from Dak Gle t o meet up w i t h a n o t h e r detachment t h a t had l e f t from Guang Nam w i t h a r t i l l e r y s u p p o r t ; t h e 3rd B a t t a l i o n of "montagnards" i n t h e a r e a of Phu Phong and Binh Dinh, i n June and J u l y 1947, and s o f o r t h . The

    -131b r i e f mention of them h e r e merely s e r v e s t o show how l o y a l l y t h e troops of t h e h i n t e r l a n d responded t o t h e c a l l of t h e French commanders. credit lies
    jn

    ~rance's

    tlie fact LhaL i t embodied t h e hope of t h e s e people, w i ~ o No Frenchman should e v e r f o r g e t i C .

    p a i d f o r th,it hope w i t h t h e i r l i v e s .

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