Muong

Muong (Mu'ong la), a large semi-independent nation of thirteen tribes occupying the neutral zone between Yunnan and Annara from the Mekhong to the Hong-Kiang (" Red River"), each under a separate chief, but all recognising a paramount lord, who resides at Shien-tien, and claims sovereignty over all the aborigines of Yunnan, Kwei-Cheu, and Kwang-si; they are a tall, strong, Well-made race of a bronze colour, possessing a considerable degree of culture, good weavers and dyers, with some knowledge of letters and a peculiar syllabic alphabet of thirty-six characters. Since 1886 they have become French subjects.