The Haws
It was reported that the Haw were at M. Yiw, so we could not return to Bangkok, as a move in
that direction would make the fellows imagine we were afraid of
them, and our action would certainly provoke an attack on Luang
Phrabang
. We had to do the best we could, and immediately set
about having a hospital constructed, as nothing could save the
men from getting ill. As there was nothing special to be done
during the rains, I persuaded Leonowens to return to Bangkok.
Bush wished to remain, and I sent seventy soldiers down to Nawng
Kai
, a comparatively healthy place, to be at the disposal of Phya
Rat
, the General, who after the rainy season sent them back to
Bangkok, although he was marching to fight and dislodge the Haw,
such was his confidence in the men given to us as soldiers. Not
long afterwards Bush got fever and died. He was only twenty years
of age, and a young man of great promise. At this time the Governor
of Pichai was very kind; as we all had fever, he made all the
arrangements for the burial on the grounds of Wat Luang, and builtover
the grave a brick-and-mortar tomb. Phya Pichai, in his turn,
became a victim to fever, and died in Luang Phrabang, but he was
one of a host of Siamese who lost their lives in their efforts
to drive off the Haw and restore order in the distracted districts
over which the depradations of those marauders extended.
Who and what were these Haw
that brought so much misery on large tracts of country, and established
such a name for cruelty as to terrorize a whole population?
They were, in a word, Chinese brigards. The term Haw originally
meant any Chinaman who appeared from the north, and at one time
they came down in great numbers, trading with Luang Phrabang,
and about twenty years ago, the Chao Luang tells me, in the winter
the banks of the Nam Kan were crowded with Chinese who had come
down to trade. The term Haw in these parts has come to mean the
brigands, and since their appearance all these countries have
been thrown into confusion, and communications and trade have
ceased to exist. Thier robberies have been on such an extensive
acle that it is more than likely they were acting as an irregular
advance of some great movement, and in fact the information I
was able to pick up showed that Chao Fa Wong, as he is called,
the Governor of Yiwnan, was head and centre of the scandalous
movement. When the French were at war in Tonquin he sent orders
to the band of ruffians wandering over the Luang Phrabang division,
to attack the French,saying, if they failed to do so, it would
be at their peril. Tonquin was tributary to China when the bands
of Haw were let loose on it, so that whatever authority Annam
held disappeared. As China was about to complete the game by
changing Tonquin from a tributary to a province, France stepped
in and annexed it.
When the Haw were ravaging
Tonquin they overflowed into the outliying provinces of Luang
Phrabang
, Sipsawng Chua Tai (twelve provinces of Tais or Siamese),
and Hua Punntang Ha Tang Hok (the five divisions, to which a sixth
was added), and also into Chieng Kwang or M. Puann; this was about
the year 1870. Up to this time these provinces were fairly peaceful,
and the taxes were regularly collected by an official, who is still
living. The Haw started on their depredations, and the whole
scene was changed. Then began a period of misery for the people
of these countries, for which it will take years of good government
to make amends.
The pillaging march of the Haw
was rapid and without interruption. They ravaged and destroyed
the whole of Sipsawng Chua Tai, Hua Punn Tang, Ha Tang Hok, then
passed over Chieng Kawng and reached Wieng Chan on the Nam Kawng,
where they received a wholesome check, but not before they had
effected an immense amount of mischief.
Continued
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