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Siam; and the whole territory has been brought, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the Court of Hue, under the immediate control of the Siamese, who are anxious to have it peopled by other tribes. Those Laos nobles who yielded to the Siamese at the first onset, are at present kept confined in the spacious buildings of the Samplung pagoda, a temple erected by the father of Paya-meh-tap, on the banks of the Meinam, near the city of Bankok. I paid them a visit there, and found them exceedingly dejected, but open and polite in their conversation. They cherish the hope that they shall be sent back to their native country, relying on the compassion of his Siamese Majesty, who forgives even when no offence has been given.

Although the Laos, generally, are in a low state of civilization, yet there are some tribes, amongst their most inaccessible mountains, inferior even to the rest of the nation. One of the most peaceful of these are the Kahs. The Laos, imitating the Siamese, are in the habit of stealing individuals of this tribe, and bringing them to Bankok for sale. Hence I have been able to converse with some of the Kahs, who stated to me, that their countrymen live peaceably and without wants, on their mountains, cultivating just so much rice as is sufficient for their own use; and that they are without religion or laws, in a state of society, not far superior to that of herding elephants. Nevertheless, they seem capable of great improvement, and, under the hand of a patient misnister of Christ, may be as much benefited by the divine Gospel, as have been the lately so savage inhabitants of Tahiti or Hawaii.

Some Laos, who were sent by their chiefs, a few years ago, with a Chinese Mandarin from the frontiers of China, appeared a superior class of people, though speaking the same language as the other tribes. They have been greatly improved by their intercourse with the Chinese, to whose Emperor they are accustomed to send regular tribute, by the hands of an ambassador.