stated that Tungking was called Kiao-chi meaning
“crossed-toes,” because the people often
exhibit that malformation (which is a fact), but we
may be certain that the syllables were originally
a phonetic representation of an indigenous name which
has no such meaning. As another example, less
ridiculous but not more true, Chin-tan, representing
the Indian name of China, Chinasthana, is explained
to mean “Eastern-Dawn” (Aurore Orientale).
(Amyot, XIV. 101; Klapr. Mem. III.
268.)
The states of Laos are shut out from the sea in the
manner indicated; they abound in domestic elephants
to an extraordinary extent; and the people do tattoo
themselves in various degrees, most of all (as M. Garnier
tells me) about Kiang Hung. The style
of tattooing which the text describes is quite that
of the Burmese, in speaking of whom Polo has omitted
to mention the custom: “Every male Burman
is tattooed in his boyhood from the middle to his
knees; in fact he has a pair of breeches tattooed on
him. The pattern is a fanciful medley of animals
and arabesques, but it is scarcely distinguishable,
save as a general tint, except on a fair skin.”
(Mission to Ava, 151.)
[1] Indeed documents in Klaproth’s Asia Polyglotta
show that the
Pape state was also
called Muang-Yong (pp. 364-365). I observe
that the river running to
the east of Pu-eul and Ssemao (Puer and
Esmok) is called Papien-Kiang,
the name of which is perhaps a
memorial of the Pape.
[The old Laocian kingdom of Xieng-mai
[Kiang-mai], called Muong-Yong by the Pa-y,
was inhabited by the Pa-pe Si-fu or Bat-ba
T’uc-phu; the inhabitants called themselves
Thai-niai or great Thai. (Deveria, Frontiere,
p. 100. Ch. ix. of the Chinese work Sze-i-kwan-kao
is devoted to Xieng-mai Pa-pe), which includes
the subdivisions of Laos, Xieng Hung [Kiang Hung]
and Muong-Ken. (Deveria, Mel. de Harlez,
p. 97.)—H.C.]
CONCERNING THE PROVINCE OF ANIN.
Anin is a Province towards the east, the people of
which are subject to the Great Kaan, and are Idolaters.
They live by cattle and tillage, and have a peculiar
language. The women wear on the legs and arms
bracelets of gold and silver of great value, and the
men wear such as are even yet more costly. They
have plenty of horses which they sell in great numbers
to the Indians, making a great profit thereby.
And they have also vast herds of buffaloes and oxen,
having excellent pastures for these. They have
likewise all the necessaries of life in abundance.[NOTE
1]
Now you must know that between Anin and Caugigu, which
we have left behind us, there is a distance of [25]
days’ journey;[NOTE 2] and from Caugigu to Bangala,
the third province in our rear, is 30 days’ journey.
We shall now leave Anin and proceed to another province
which is some 8 days’ journey further, always
going eastward.
