LAOS

[s. 407] : The name Laos is the French method of writing the name Lao, given by the Siamese to a people of the Shan stock, often called Eastern Shans, and found in North Siam and in the French The word has become territories of Indo-China. naturalized in English through the adoption of The the French spelling by writers in English. northern limits of the Laos tribes have not yet been fixed, but they are said to form the majority of the population as far north as the southern part of the Chinese province of Yun-nan. The hill tribes of the Chinese island of Hai-nan also speak a dialect which can be understood by the Laos of Siam. The general theory of the Shan race is that they lived in China before the Chinese appeared, were crowded into the hills first, and so gained their name Shan (mountain), and were next crowded gradually southward, those who took the western river valleys becoming the Shans of Eastern Burma, and those who followed the eastern valleys becoming the Siamese and Cam- Laos Lepers bodians, the later comers becoming known to the world by the name Lao, applied to them by the Siamese. They call themselves “Tai,” which means the free. The number of these people is variously estimated at from five to ten millions. Estimate in any case is little better than a gue , since the northern regions of their domains have not been Various hill tribes inhabiting fully explored. the same regions as the Laos are often confounded with them because those of them who write use But they are not the Laos written characters. of Laos blood and their languages are entirely Of these hill distinct from the Laos dialects. tribes several are found in Siamese territory, such as the Musu, the Kamu, the Meo, the Yao, and Lwa. The first two of these hill tribes have been reached to some extent by mi ionaries. They are worshipers of ancestors or of spirits, and some of them are notable exceptions to the rule They also of lazine which governs the Laos. show considerable mechanical aptitude in a rude way. In stature the Laos are rather short, averaging about five and a half feet in height. In complexion they are rather tawny, with brown eyes but blaclc hair. In bearing they are manly, and they have considerable pride of race. The peasants are attached in feudal style to some lord, but with considerable liberty to change their relations For this reason, perhaps, to a lord le severe. the feudal lords are somewhat restrained in Slavery exacting labors from their retainers. Slaves exists to some extent among the Laos. are handed down by inheritance, or purchased, In their slavery, too, there or captured in war. is some amelioration in the fact that the slaves allowed to live by themselves, merely are often answering when called upon for service for a few days or a week at a time. The Laos treat women as equals, and upon marriage it is quite common for the husband to leave his father and mother and join the family They are hospitable to strangers, rather inclined to lazine , and pa ionately fond A curious custom in reference to of gambling. the disposition of their dead, is that the body of a deceased friend is embalmed and kept at the of his wife. house for weeks and perhaps months, as is done in some parts of China, and the final disposition of the body is by cremation. Mi ion work among the Laos of Siam was commenced by Me rs. McGilvary and Wilson of the American Presbyterian Board (N.) in 1867. After a careful exploration of the country, they selected Cheung Mai as the first station, and from the first marl’ced succe met them. The Laos mi ion of the PN is now in a very flourishing condition. Curtis (Lillian J.), The Laos of North Siam Philadelphia. Westminster Presa, 1903: Mi ionary Review of the World, Vol. X., 214; XII.,268, 332, 337; XIV., 355, 358; XV., 349, Funk & Wagnalls, New York; Picanon (E.), Le Laos Franc a is, Par s, 1900. The region belonging to Norway and Sweden lies in the northern and northeastern part of the Scand in avian peninsula, and includes the provinces of Norrland and Finmark in Norway, and North and South Bothnia in Sweden. Ru ian Lapland lies in the northwestern districts of the empire, and is included in the grand duchy of Finlancf In Norway the area of Lapp territory covers nearly 26,500 square miles, with 5,000 true Lapps; in Sweden, 50,600 square miles, 4,000 Lapps; in Ru ia, 11,300 square miles, 8,800 Lapps. In addition to the natives, Finns, Swedes, Norwegians and Ru ians are found in large numbers. For the greater part of the year the climate is severely cold, tho that of the coast regions is tempered by the Gulf Stream. During July and August the sun never sets for several weeks in the northern districts, and the heat is great. Forests of birch, pine, fir, and alder abound, but large tracts of country are utterly barren. The Lapps or Lap landers belong to the same branch of the human race as the Finns and Esthonians, and physically are undersized, with straight blaclc hair, somewhat yellow skin, low foreheads, small eyes, and beardle chins. Tho somewhat despised by their Norwegian neiglibors, they have good mental powers and are manually dexterous. Honesty, a strong affection for their native land, and great religious depth and constancy characterize their best men. The Swedish Church embraces, nominally, about the whole of the population of the country; but a large portion of the people, partly because of indifference and partly because of the distance from the churches, seldom participate in religious services. With an area of nearly 116,000 square kilometers, and with a population of 60,000, only seventeen churches hold services every Sunday. 408