representing the KIAOCHI-KWE of the Chinese.  D’Anville’s Atlas brings Kiaochi up to the Mekong in immediate contact with Che-li or Kiang Hung.  I had come to the conclusion that Caugigu was probably the correct reading before I was aware that it is an actual reading of the Geog.  Text more than once, of Pauthier’s A more than once, of Pauthier’s C at least once and possibly twice, and of the Bern MS.; all which I have ascertained from personal examination of those manuscripts.[1]

Anin or Aniu.—­I have already pointed out that I seek this in the territory about Lin-ngan and Homi.  In relation to this M. Garnier writes:  “In starting from Muang Yong, or even if you prefer it, from Xieng Hung (Kiang Hung of our maps), ... it would be physically impossible in 25 days to get beyond the arc which I have laid down on your map (viz. extending a few miles north-east of Homi).  There are scarcely any roads in those mountains, and easy lines of communication begin only after you have got to the Lin-ngan territory.  In Marco Polo’s days things were certainly not better, but the reverse.  All that has been done of consequence in the way of roads, posts, and organisation in the part of Yun-nan between Lin-ngan and Xieng Hung, dates in some degree from the Yuen, but in a far greater degree from K’ang-hi.”  Hence, even with the Ramusian reading of the itinerary, we cannot place Anin much beyond the position indicated already.

[Illustration:  Script thai of Xieng-hung.]

Koloman.—­We have seen that the position of this region is probably near the western frontier of Kwei-chau.  Adhering to Homi as the representative of Anin, and to the 8 days’ journey of the text, the most probable position of Koloman would be about Lo-ping which lies about 100 English miles in a straight line north-east from Homi.  The first character of the name here is again the same as the Lo of the Kolo tribes.

Beyond this point the difficulties of devising an interpretation, consistent at once with facts and with the text as it stands, become insuperable.

The narrative demands that from Koloman we should reach Fungul, a great and noble city, by travelling 12 days along a river, and that Fungul should be within twelve days’ journey of Ch’eng-tu fu, along the same river, or at least along rivers connected with it.

In advancing from the south-west guided by the data afforded by the texts, we have not been able to carry the position of Fungul (Sinugul, or what not of G.T. and other MSS.) further north than Phungan.  But it is impossible that Ch’eng-tu fu should have been reached in 12 days from this point.  Nor is it possible that a new post in a secluded position, like Phungan, could have merited to be described as “a great and noble city.”