From Kenne Thao to Louang Prabang is a distance of seven geographical or ten ordinary leagues, and a journey of ten or eleven days, quick travelling.
Mg. Pakhaie is north of Kenne Thao. From this place to Bane-Na-Ine is one day’s journey; to Bane-Moun-Tioum two days.
Near this latter place, where I have found a greater number of insects than anywhere else in my travels here, is the river Nam-Shan. It is a continual ascent to this part.
Near Bane-Na-Ine auriferous quartz occurs. The jungle here is thick.
Villages in the neighbourhood of Moun-Tioume, consisting of from fifteen to thirty huts: Bane-Hape, a league to the north; Rape-Jâ, the same distance southwards; Tate-Dine, one league to the north-east; Nam-Poune, half a league south-east.
In Bane Moun-Tioume are twenty-six houses.
Route from B. Moun-Tioume to B. Kouke-Niéou:—This last village is composed of eighty houses. There is in it an abandoned pagoda, and it is environed by woods and hills. A stream, called the Nam-Peniou, flows past it and joins the Nam-Shan. There is plenty of rice on the hills, but not in the plains.
From Bane-Kouke-Niéou[7] there are continual hills. We are tormented by immense numbers of leeches and ox-flies. The jungle is as thick as in Dong Phya Phai. We passed the night on the banks of a stream, the Nam-Koïe, which we had several times crossed, but could get no sleep on account of the leeches; and the following night, by the same river, we were equally pestered.
Bane-Oué-Eu is a small hamlet in the immediate vicinity of Kouke-Niéou-Paklaïe, a very pleasant town, apparently prosperous. The houses are clean and elegant.