EMBASSY TO SIAM
ones were more obedient. They urged that in ^
Europe disorders and insurrection were most frequent
among poor and needy nations. The brief
answer to this was, that the matter was different
in Cochin China. Of this prince some traits of
generosity are recorded while he was yet struggling
for his throne; but as soon as his authority
was fully established, he committed acts of ferocity
and revenge equal to any on' the records of
Eastern tyranny. He caused the bodies of the
Taysons to be disinterred, decapitated, and otherwise
brutally insulted. Their whole families were
put to death by being trod upon by elephants,
while their members were exposed in chains, or
scattered over the country. I was assured that even °
women and children were not spared on this occasion;
and that of the former, several in a state of
pregnancy were crushed to death by the elephants.
Gia-long had but one legitimate son, the prince
who accompanied the Bishop of Adran to France
in 1787, and who died in 1799, at the age of twenty
two ; a decided convert to the Christian reli-
gion,—much to the grief of his father. This
prince had evinced no talent or energy of character,
and left no legitimate issue. The crown, by
$ie will of Gia-long, devolved to his present Majesty,
an illegitimate son. This prinCe, who took
the name of Meng-meng, was thirty-two years of
age at the period of our visit In personal appearance,
he was represented to us as being rather