The Kingdom of Laos

Laos was historically known in China as the Kingdom of Lan Xang, or "The Kingdom of a Million Elephants."

Jiaozhi Northern Vietnam A historical name for the region of northern Vietnam, used since the Han Dynasty, also known as Annam, is inhabited by a people said to be the descendants of the mountain-dwelling wild dogs. Their nature is cunning and crafty. They cut their hair and go barefoot; they have sunken eyes and protruding mouths, appearing extremely unsightly, with a physical form resembling macaques. People often refer to them as "Barbarian Ghosts." Those among them whose appearance resembles the Chinese are descendants of the soldiers led by the Han Dynasty general Ma Yuan Ma Yuan (14 BCE – 49 CE) was a famous military leader who led campaigns into the south to suppress rebellions and solidify Han control over the region.

Regarding the customs of the land, fathers and sons do not live together or share the same hearth. In matters of marriage, they do not utilize matchmakers; instead, men and women couple together of their own accord. They use the betel nut betel nut; the seed of the areca palm, chewed throughout Southeast Asia for its mild stimulant effect and used here as a traditional social and betrothal token as a pledge of commitment before returning to their homes. If a wife has an affair with another man, she divorces her husband and tells him to marry someone else.

The country was once a subordinate commandery of Champa original: "Zhancheng," an ancient Hinduized kingdom located in what is now central and southern Vietnam. The people served the Kingdom of Champa and paid annual taxes and rents to it. The men hold thievery in high regard, while the women are said to be prone to licentiousness.

Since the time of the Han Dynasty...