And possibly the name of Pegu (in Burmese
Bagoh) may have contributed to his error, as well as the probable fact
that the Kings of Burma did at this time claim to be Kings of Bengal,
whilst they actually were Kings of Pegu.
Caugigu. - We have seen reason to agree with M. Pauthier that the
description of this region points to Laos, though we cannot with him
assign it to Kiang-mai. Even if it be identical with the Papesifu of the
Chinese, we have seen that the centre of that state may be placed at Muang
Yong not far from the Mekong; whilst I believe that the limits of Caugigu
must be drawn much nearer the Chinese and Tungking territory, so as to
embrace Kiang Hung, and probably the Papien River. (See note at p. 117.)
As regards the name, it is possible that it may represent some specific
name of the Upper Laos territory. But I am inclined to believe that we are
dealing with a case of erroneous geographical perspective like that of
Bangala; and that whilst the circumstances belong to Upper Laos, the
name, read as I read it, Caugigu (or Cavgigu), is no other than the
Kafchikue of Rashiduddin, the name applied by him to Tungking, and
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.
