CONTENTS

List of Illustrations

Map of the Principal Routes of the Mekong Explorers

A Note on the Spelling of Geographic Names

Introduction

A Brief Chronology

I.  Phnom Penh

II.  Great River, Great Idea

III.  The First Rapids

IV.  One Step Backward and One Step Forward

V.  Passports for China

VI.  Middle Passage

VII.  Before the Gates of China

VIII.  Across the Red River

IX.  Missionaries and Muslims

X.  Lagrée Comes Home

XI.  Post-Mortem in Paris

XII.  One More River

XIII.  Epilogue—A Hundred Years Later

Authors Postscript

Sources

Index

Biographical Note