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History of Laos

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History of Laos HISTORY OF LAOS (ineludlng tha hlrtory of Lonnathal, Chlangmal) bs M.1, Manlch Copyright : Chalermnit, 1-2 Erawan Arcade, Bangkok, 1967 sole dhtributor . Prlce : 1 PO bahtr. , PRE: FACE This is the first attempt to put down Lao history from the various sources which I have collec- ted ever since the days I spent in Laos from 1957 to 1960. Since then seven more years have gone by in searching for more materials on Laos without my being able to write down even what I gathered toge- ther, There is ever so much more to be read about this interesting country in the various libraries of the world, especially at the National Library of Paria, more than I expected, and I could apend my whole life on it without being able to find out and read everything on the subject, because after all the Laos came from a very big racial group of the Thai stock which originated, as far as history can tell, in Yunnan, i.e. at least as far as 2000 years back in history, Instead of waiting any longer, I have now come to the conclusion that I should better put the results of my findings down wen in a hurried way in the hope that later when I have more time to myself, and not so busy with other occupations, I could put in more details and also the results of further findings. My first real contact with Lao histoe was when I have spent three happy yeam in Laos. Of course I have made a study of the Thais long before this. During these three years I have come across 2 many materials in Lao language, most of which are extreme confines of Laos, covering the journeys mostly not yet printed. since printing in Laos in Lao language on foot over the numerous hills in order to be able is of recent date. Many families and many private to contact and talk with the villagers and priests far libraries in Laos still possess manuscripts among away from everybody, untouched by any modern their proud possessions, which they guard as great civilization, and where there are no means of reaching treasure, and which they would not discIose if they them except by walking days and days, 1 could find suspect that the foreigners are coming to take them old manuscripts in Liu, Youne, Thai Dam, or other away. These are boob written by hand-or which, on dialects of the Lao-Thai language among the villagers rare occasions were run off in few copies in mimeo. or in Buddhist temples. Although Lao literature has graphed form, to be privately circulated among friends not been encouraged in the past, there is no means of or for occasional official uses or reports. They were stopping these simple folks to study and write in not known to the outside world and they are becoming their own alphabets. Among the Thai Dams (Black more and more scarce, Some of the manuscripts are Thais)* although no schools have ever been opened quite old, written or copied out by hand, generation for them, yet the fathers would continue to teach after generation on local mulberry paper made from their children to read and write in their own language, tree barks by their ancestors quite a number of years --, , .. ,- ---,. .,. , .- back and still kept as family treasures, Some of * These are to be found in the following these valuable manuscripts were either taken away places : Muong Yang, Tuan Yao (Muong from time to time by collectors abroad and a number Kwai), Thbng t Dien-Bien-Phu), Ban Kung deetroyed during the country's umettled situation which Muong (Muong Mouie), Mai Soen (Muong ravaged the country continuously, and is unluckily Muo), Ban Mon, Sam-Muen, Muong Taen, still despoiling in this unhappy country, Ever since Muong Loi, Muong Hung, Muong Lam, the days when Laos has seemed able to reunite Ban Nangiu, Ian-chau (Muong Vad), Moc- through the happy understanding between the two chau (Muong Sang), Ban Souie Nacng, Ban opposing political parties, that of Soupanouvong and Na-Lai, Ta Kwa, Ban Chan, Son-La (Muong that of Souvanna Pouma, and when I could still travel La), ............ now in North Vietnam, on the to far-off villagee in the outlying provinces on the further side of Ha~loi. 4 so that the language though never put down in (or Sibsong Chutai) who have run away from the printed form is never dead. And then there are old Vietminhs in order to settle down in a village near wise men of the villages who would record the history Namtha. Again I have met the last prince of Xieng of their people from old memories as told to them by Khouang who is now Chaokhoueng (Governor) of their great grandfathers in to keep the history order that province. We know that his ancestors have of the happenings of their group, the doings of their always been ruling in Xieng Khouang as an in- heroes, the events of the important families, known dependent City State ever since the days of Khun to their children after them. I found that there are Borom, who founded Muon Th~ngover 12 centuries rich untapped materials everywhere in Laos, and when ago. All these men had much to tell about the I could not find written matetiah, old men in the glorious past of the history of their ancestors. Some villages stiIl have vivid memories of what their of them still have manuscripts preserved in their by of ancestors have handed down to them words family archives. Unfortunately the manuscript of the mouth, and wouId tell me with fires in their eyes principality of Xieng Khouang which was brought up and with great pride, the story of their past, the story to date by the present prince himself during his of how their men, their tribe have come to settie underground days was no longer available, it having down in such places, how the different towns were been lent out to a French coIlector who promised the built and so on. Thus in my travels 1 have been prince to have it printed, but was never found printed able to meet members of the different royal families to this day. In the South I have met with the whose ancestors used to rule as independent sovereigns princes of Champasak in their own home. A prince in the different parts of the country in by-gone days. told me that Pakse was built because the French Thus I have come across some of the princes of wanted to rule over his country without having their Sibsong Panna of the Lao side in Ou Neua and Ou family to interfere with them. It would be eml~nr- Tay. The preaent members of the royal family of awing therefor to set up administrative quarter of these ancient States were pensioned off by the Champasak in a place where the king of Champnsok French long ago, when the French appointed resided, so they moved the administrative quarter to a governors to rule in their stead. Then there are the new place and thus Pakse was built. Old people in descendants of the famous Deo-Van-Tri of Lai-Chau various localities atill remember about the history of 6 their part of the country. Thus a teacher in Attopeu It is not possible to record everything in this told me a moving story of how he himself and his short space various people have told rnc about the associates took over the town from the Vietnamese origin of their towns, the history of their various after the French had retreated and the Japanese had monuments, statues and temples. Many people in moved in. The Japanese had declared Laos . indepen- Khong still remember the days when the French were dent, but Attopeu was still under the Vietnamese. fighting the Thai in that area. In fact there are still During French occupation, they had employed Vietna- so much materials in Laos both from the mouth of mese soldiers to guard Attopeu, When the French people and from manuscripts which need further had gone, naturally the Vietnamese took over the extensive research before we ehould allow these old control. This patriot who was a simple teacher men to pasa away without leaving their stories behind, organized his men is order to return hia town back or before these old-time manuscripts should all be to Laos, seized the argenal, surprised the Vietnamese gradually destroyed by the wars which are atill raging soldiers and drove them over the borders into Vietnam. in that unhappy country. Thus an old man in Khong A villager in Namtha showed me a manuscript on told me that during the fight between the Thai and mulberry paper and then read out to me the history the French in 1893 how the French used to tell the of the Thai Dam race and of a certain great hero of local people that the King of Bangkok wal already their history called Pu Chao Ngu Hao (or Grandfather held captive in their hands. They have sent a Cobra). A villager in Thakhek toId me about the beautiful woman to Iure the kii into their boat and legend of old Thakhek or Sikot (or Kot-Trabomg). then they steamed off with the real king, sending up This town was moved about from place to place a~ ashore another person very like him who was sitting capital of a glorious kingdom of the past, Kammuon, on the throne and would soon stop all the fights and the heritage of one of the seven sons of Khun Borom; hostilities.
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