HISTORIC EXPLORATION OF THE MEKONG RIVER
by NGO THE VINH
NGC DNG SNG MEKONG THI HOANG D - 1866- 1873

ABSTRACT: Only some one hundred years ago, the Western world did not know the source of the mighty Mekong river and the nature of its course. River Road to China, the Mekong River Expedition 1866-1873 by Milton Osborne is a book based on the explorers'own writings. It is not only a story but also a history. It traces the adventure of Doudart de Lagre, Francis Garnier and their friends.These six Frenchmen headed a heroic expedition in an attempt to solve the Mekong mystery and to search for a navigable route from Saigon to China. They left Saigon in 1866, moved slowly forward, never knowing what lay ahead. Obstacles like falls,floods, forest fever, dysentery and death took their toll. When the expedition ended in 1868, two long years after it had begun, the search for a trade route to China still unachieved. Francis Garnier was the dominant and fascinating figure of the French Expedition Team.For Garnier, the advance of France into the countries of the Far East for Mission Civilisatrice - was a cause to dream about, to sacrifice for and finally to die for.On June 29, 1868 by way of Shanghai Garnier returns to Saigon with Lagres coffin and with the disappointment of an incomplete mission.On October 11, 1873 Garnier left Saigon for Tonkin (North Vietnam).On November 20,Garnier captured the Hanoi Citadel.A century after the French Expedition, the Mekong river has not changed dramatically.However,the waning of war in Indochina brings about hope for regional cooperation and prosperity.This has consequently given rise to project of series of dams and reservoirs.The turbulent Mekong once again becomes a river with promises to keep.

T Ty tng ti Vit nam, dc theo sut chiu di ca con sng Mekong (ng hng th 7 ca chu v hng th 12 ca c th gii) ang c nhng d n xy dng v pht trin cc p thy in em li hy vng thnh vng cho 6 quc gia trong vng nhng ng thi cng gy mi e ngi v nhng tc hi khng th l߶ng tr߾c c trn mi sinh.

DNG SNG ИNH MNH

Cu chuyn sng Mekong v ang ngy mt gn b vi t߽ng lai vn mnh ca Vit nam. Sp qua ri thi k hoang d ca con sng di hn 4000 cy s chy qua lnh th ca by n߾c (nu k c Ty tng) nhng ngt mt na chiu di chy ngang trn lnh th Trung quc. 6 nm k t ngy Thomas O'Neill k gi t National Geophaphics hon tt chuyn du hnh xui dng sng Mekong bt u t thng ngun cao nguyn Ty tng xung h lu sng Cu long ra ti ca bin Nam hi; v cng hn 130 nm k t ngy mt nhm nh ng߶i Php khi hnh t Si gn ngc dng sng y i tm mt thy l m ߶ng giao thng vi Trung hoa. Cng vi Milton Osborne, tc gi "River Road to China - The Mekong River Expedition 1866-1873) chng ta th tm li khong thi gian mt trong chuyn i ho hng nhng khng km phn bi thm ca on thm him Php vo hu bn th k th 19 trong bi cnh tng b߾c thc dn Php tin ti thuc a ha ton ci ng d߽ng. T߷ng cng nn lu bn c tn tui vin s quan hi qun Francis Garnier khng ch l ph tr߷ng on thm him sng Mekong, cng chnh Garnier l ng߶i ch huy cuc nh chim H ni ngy 20 thng 11 nm 1873, p t nn h ca Php trn c ba k ca Vit nam.

VI NHNG TN KHC NHAU

Do con sng chy qua nhng vng dn c ni bng nhiu ngn ng, c t nht 5 ngn ng chnh: Hoa, Min in (Myanmar), Thi (bao gm c Lo), Cambt v Vit nam; l cha k nhng th ng ca cc sc dn thiu s sng ri rc trong vng. Cc hc gi cng tng tranh lun v ngha nhng tn khc nhau ca con sng. Ban u v khng bit c thng ngun, ng߶i ta gi tn bng lnh th n i qua, nh ng߶i Php dng tn le Cambodge gi khc sng chy qua n߾c ny. Ring ng߶i Trung hoa khi th gi l Lan Th߽ng giang hay sng Cung, khi th sng Long phi hay Thch h; ng߶i Lo c tn sng M Khong, ng߶i Cam bt c tn ring Tonle Thom c ngha l con sng ln, hay ng߶i Vit nam c tn Cu long ch con sng ca h.
Nhng ri do nh h߷ng ca Anh Php v Thi lan, tn sng Mekong c gii chc ngoi giao chp nhn trn bn , c l bt ngun t mt tn gc Thi, theo cch phin m ca ng߶i B o nha, vi tn gi Mecon, Mecom hay Mekong - c ngha th mng l "m ca cc con sui.
T nay v trong sut bi ny Mekong s l tn gi ca con sng t thng ngun xung ti ca bin Nam hi.

MI QUAN TM T SI GN:

Nm 1860, Php thit lp c nn hnh chnh bo h Si gn. Nhng theo bo Courrier de Saigon lc y th cuc sng nhng ng߶i Php y chng sng sa g: h lun lun b e da bi cc loi bnh min nhit i, nhiu ng߶i cht rt tr ci tui mi ngoi ba m߽i v nhng loi bnh st, st rt v kit l. Mt s ng߶i sng st th c thi chu ng; nhng mt s khc th t v bt mn v gi tr th߽ng mi ca thuc a Nam k lc nn mun tm ti mt trin vng lm n kh hn cho chnh h v cho c n߾c Php v h bt u quan tm ti kh nng khai thc con sng Mekong. Cng thi gian c nhng cuc tho lun v iu m h gi l "l t߷ng ln ". Ng߶i khi x߾ng v h߾ng dn cc cuc tho lun khng ai khc hn l Francis Garnier lc mi 24 tui ang gi chc v tr߷ng Ch ln. L mt s quan hi qun tr tui vc ng߶i thon nh nhng li y tham vng nn c cc bn ng s gn cho bit danh "c gi N ph lun - Mademoiselle Bonaparte." Garnier khng ch am m vi vin tng cc cuc phiu lu ti "nhng vng cha bit khng th cng li c y ", nhng anh ta cn c nim tin rng "mt quc gia - nh n߾c Php, m khng c thuc a l mt quc gia cht." Ti nm 1865, ߾c mun khm ph sng Mekong hu nh c rng ri chp nhn t c gii chc thuc a Nam k ln pha bn Php. V kt qu nhng cuc hp y a ti s hnh thnh mt on thm him. H gm su ng߶i, tui tr rng r v c hc thc, sng gia th k 19 - th k ca chu ng v khc k. H c chung tham vng v m mang thm thuc a, tranh ginh nh h߷ng vi ng߶i Anh v c tin v chc nng khai ha - mission civilisatrice, ca n߾c Php i vi cc dn tc Phi m h cho l cn bn khai. iu ngc nhin Garnier khng phi l tr߷ng on m l mt ng߶i khc: Doudart de Lagr, 42 tui, mt con ng߶i trm tnh, tt nghip tr߶ng Bch khoa, cng l s quan hi qun, lc ang l i din ca Php triu nh Nam vang t hai nm.
Francis Garnier, c tnh i nghch vi Lagr, am m si ni, tin t߷ng mnh m tim nng sng Mekong nh mt thy l dn ti s tr ph ca min nam n߾c Trung hoa, ph on.
Louis Delaporte, s quan hi qun, 24 tui nhc s ti t v l mt ha s k ha mi ti Nam k mt nm, vi nhim v ghi li hnh nh sinh hot ca on thm him.
Clovis Thorel v Lucien Joubert khng ch l hai bc s trong on, Thorel l nh nghin cu thc vt cn Joubert gi vai tr chuyn vin a cht. Louis de Carn, ng߶i tr tui nht c nhp on vi t cch i din b ngoi giao Php do gc gc l chu ca La Grandire ang l thng c Nam k lc .
D nhin phi k ti con s 16 ng߶i c tuyn m lm thng ngn v phu phen thp tng theo on trong c 7 ng߶i Vit nam.
Ngoi vng bc thi, la v tin Thi dng lm l ph cho on, h cn mang theo 150 kin dng v thc phm, d nhin c c ru gm 700 lt ru vang cng thm vi 300 lt ru mnh khc. H khi hnh t Si gn trong b߾c u ca mt cuc hnh trnh hon ton m thm v y p lc quan ti th Nam vang, bt u mt s mng ln lao m c hi qun Php Paul Reveillre cho l: "C tm vc xng ng vi am m ca th k.".

SAMBOR THC GHNH ЅU TIN TRN ЄT MIN:

Nm 1866: ngy 05 thng 06, on ri Si gn trn mt chin hm c v trang, khi u i Kompong Luong ngay pha bc Nam vang, h cng n thm khu n i Angkor tr߾c khi ti Nam vang . Ngy 07 thng 07, on t Nam vang i Kratie theo h߾ng ng bc. Tr߾c mt khng xa l th trn Sambor vi mt vng ghnh thc u tin r rng khng th vt qua bng tu. H phi cn ti 2 ngy rng chuyn t tu ln b ri cht xung nhng chic thuyn c mc, ph߽ng tin duy nht a on thm him ngc dng v h߾ng bc. Ch l nhng thuyn nh khng c ng c, sc y ch l do ng߶i cho chng nhng ri h cng ti gn c chn thc Sambor. l mt con thc mnh mng chy sit vo ma n߾c l nhng vo ma kh th chi ln nhng cn bi gia v s nhng con thc nh. By gi l gia thng 7 ang ma l, con sng tri rng ti hng dm, n߾c dng cao hn thm nm mt so vi mc thp bnh th߶ng, ngp ht cn bi, ch cn thy nh ln t mt n߾c l nhng chm cy vt v trong gi. Sc n߾c th chy sit, thuyn ch chm chp nhch ti c bng sc ko ca on ng߶i i dc theo b sng pha ng. Cha thc c nhng kh khn khc ang ch h pha tr߾c; ti thc Sambor, Garnier vn lc quan tin t߷ng rng khc thc c th vt qua vi tu c m lc ln. Nhng ch cn sang ti ngy hm sau, h ti khc th thch nht ca con thc. H chng cn thy gii hn u l b bi, u l dng chnh, ch thy nhng on nng su tht bt cht. Khng c c bi ngh, on phi li trn thuyn qua m khng ng trong sm st v ma bo. Qua bao nguy him, cui cng h cng vt qua c 50 cy s ca thc ghnh ti c Stung Treng. Ti y trong khi Lagr tr߷ng on mun thm him ph lu Se Kong, th Garnier li chn cuc phiu lu kh k cc l xui tr li theo con thc bn pha hu ngn vi hy vng tm cho c thy l an ton i t th trn Sambor ti Stung Treng. Mt mun m nhng ng߶i Min thp tng giu kinh nghim cho l in khng nn khng tun lnh cho d c ha hn tr cng gp i. Cui cng Garnier phi rt sng hm da nn h phi min cng i theo. Sau y l my dng nht k ca Garnier ..trn dng n߾c chy sit v qu tr quay tr li. Con n߾c lao ti nh mi tn bn, gin d cung n si bt khi gp sc cn ca nhng ngn cy hay m . Ch mt s xut con thuyn chng ti c th v tan ra thnh tng mnh vn. V by gi th Garnier thc c rng chng c tu b no c th vt qua c con thc Sambor y. Khi Garnier tr li c Stung Treng th cuc hnh trnh ko di gn hai thng, v bao nhiu hy vng ban u gn nh l tiu tn. Nhng h vn tip tc cuc kho st v tin ti. Trong khng kh chng my lc quan y, th Garnier v Joubert bt u ng bnh. Khng phi kit l m l bnh "st rng - forest fever", trong khi Joubert may mn hi phc trong m߽i ngy th Garnier b hn m ko di sut ba tun l. Cho d Garnier trong tnh trng tnh mng b e da, Lagr tr߷ng on quyt nh tip tc cuc hnh trnh mang theo ng߶i ph on trn thuyn d cn ang bt tnh. Bn ngy sau on ti gn chn thc Khone v cng l ngy Garnier bt u tnh li nhng sc khe th suy kit vi tc rng da bong v chn tri hu nhb lit. Garnier ch thc s hi phc su thng sau bng tt c sc mnh ca ch v lng ham sng. Bn t߶ng trnh ca on tht vn tt khng cht xc cm gi v cho thng c Nam k La Grandire vi dng ch cui nh sau "Tnh hnh sc khe on ni chung l tt so vi iu kin m chng ti hin sinh sng."

THC KHONE, LI MT TH THCH TRN ЄT LO:

H nghe ni ti thc Khone, h tng t߷ng tng nh mt Niagara th hai, ngha l mt thc n߾c duy nht trt xung t trn cao. Nhng ri chng phi mt Niagara, m li l mt chui nhng ghnh v thc tri di gn 12 cy s an mc vo vi nhau t b bn ny ti b kia. Cnh tng tht ngon mc vi vang m ting n߾c si bt tung te trn cc ghnh xa gn khc nhau. Qua chuyn thm st s khi, Lagr nhn nh rng khng th no di chuyn theo dng chnh, cc con thc cao nht th b pha ty, ch cn b pha ng l kh d on c th dng thuyn nh di chuyn. Sc mnh ca con n߾c c th thy r t chn thc vi xc cht ca c v c c su t trn cao b cun p vo nhng khe . H cn phi ߽ng u vi c nhng him nguy cht ng߶i khc: nh cp d v cc loi c th, ring Delaporte cng sut cht v nn ct ln, l cha k ni kinh tm hu nh hng ngy ca mui v a vt. Nh d tnh, on men theo b ng tin mt cch chm chp ngc dng n߾c chy sit; v phi mt hn mt ngy tri vt mt on ߶ng ch c vi dm ti c o Khong pha trn con thc. Ti y on c tip n nng hu, ln u tin li c n tht b t߽i sau hn hai thng ri Nam vang. H tip tc i thm 5 ngy theo ߶ng sng ti c Bassac. l mt th trn kh ln pha ty ngn ca con sng. T y Garnier dn mt on nh i kho st ph lu Se Don chy vo sng Mekong pha bc Bassac. H cng c tm m bc y theo li n nhng khng c. Kho st sinh hot dn c Bassac, ng߶i Php ghi nhn np sng nhn nh m h cho l "l߶i bing" ca ng߶i Lo ti y. T߷ng cng nn ghi nhn l on thm him lun lun phi tch ra thnh cc ton nh do nhu cu kho st thc t v v bn tng vng. Lagr ph trch thm st cao nguyn Bolovens pha ng sng Mekong, ri Attopeu. Nay n lt n lt Lagr b ng bnh nng. Li vn bnh st rng ng kinh s ca x Lo khin Lagr r lit c tay chn. Sau hn 4 thng k t ngy ri Si gn, ngy 25 thng 12, on ri Bassac i Ubon thuc vng ng bc Thi lan.
Cho ti giai on ny, ngoi s quyt tm, lng can m v sc chu ng ca on thm him, hnh nh h vn cha chu chp nhn mt s tht r rng l con sng Mekong khng th l mt thy l trao i th߽ng mi gia namVit nam v Trung hoa.

. Nm 1867: ngy 10 thng 01, Garnier tch on i Angkor, tr li Nam vang trong n lc kim giy thng hnh cho on c th vo Trung quc. Ngy 20 thng 01, on ri Ubon i Uthen. Ngy 10 thng 03, sau 2 thng ri on, Garnier vt qua chng ߶ng hn 1500 cy s phn ln bng ߶ng b trong nhng iu kin ngt ngho. Garnier tr li nhp on ti Uthen cng i Vn tng. Sau hn 9 thng Delaporte ghi ch c my trm bc k ha tuyt p bng bt ch v mu n߾c, sau ny chuyn vo bn khc g nh nhng trang k s bng hnh sng ng nht v thnh qu hot ng ca on thm him sng Mekong vo gia th k 19.
Ngy 02 thng 04, on ti Vn tng, chng kin du vt tn ph ca ng߶i Thi trong qu kh trn th trng l ny; nhng ring ngi cha Pht Wat Phakeo ca hong gia vn cn , duy ngc x li b ly mt, c l b a v Thi lan. on thm him Php cng t ly i nhng b sch c qu gi trong th vin cha Si Sakhet vi l do bin minh "v li ch khoa hc." Cui cng h ti thm That Luong, ngi n ni ting nht ca Van tng c dng ln t th k 16 - l nim hnh din v cng l biu tng ca n߾c Lo; (ngay c vi ng߶i cng sn Pathet Lo sau ny cng in hnh That Luong trn ng bc mi ca h bn cnh hot cnh cc chin s chng my bay trn Cnh ng Chum.) Ngy 04 thng 04, on ri Vn tng tr li vi ߶ng sng t Pak Lay i Luang Prabang. Nhng hn 150 cy s dc theo con sng l i ni trc tr khng c ng vo, con sng thu hp li vi nhng thc ghnh chy gia nhng khe ni v nu vo ma l th v ph߽ng di chuyn. By gi ang cn l thng 4 ma kh, di chuyn cng tht l chm chp v kh khn, ch trng vo sc ng߶i ko. Rng r sut 3 ngy h ch mi nhch ti cha c 20 cy s vi giy dp th rch b߽m do b sng y si . Tip n l khc b sng c mc trn bn ly vi nhung nhc by a i nhng ri cui cng on cng ti c Chiang Khan, danh gii pha nam ca Luang Prabang. on thm him Php cng ang tin gn ti vng nh h߷ng ca ng߶i Anh t pha Min in, vi nm np ni lo ngi s b ng߶i Anh phng tay trn tt c cng lao nh nhng ng߶i u tin kho st vng thng ngun sng Mekong v vng nh h߷ng chnh tr ca h. Lagr tr߷ng on phi trn an cc bn ng s l chnh h s lm hn i th ng߶i Anh bng cch hon tt cuc kho st con sng Mekong ln ti ngn ngun bn cao nguyn Ty tng. Thi gian sau ny chng t li tuyn b ca Lagr ch l li ha xung.
Sang n ngy 23 thng 04, on li phi i u vi mt khc ghnh thc na. Mt ln na h li phi r xung khi thuyn c th tip tc cuc hnh trnh cho d v cng chm chp. Nhng ri cui cng h cng ti c Luang Prabang, mt th trn ang pht trin v th߽ng mi, c bo h bi c Thi lan v Vit nam nhng li kh xa 2 th Bangkok v Hu. Sau 4 tun l lu li th trn ny m thi gian nh nhng ngy hi -en fte, sinh lc ca on nh c hi phc nhng ng thi con ߶ng tr߾c mt l y nhng bt trc.

CA VO TRUNG QUC:

T ngy ri Si gn, on hu nh b c lp vi mi ngun tin tc. Nhng h߾ng dn m h nhn c t c La Grandire c t mt nm tr߾c ngy khi hnh. Ngha l cng rt m m, khin Lagr vi t cch tr߷ng on chn thi "phn ng theo hon cnh". Tr߾c mt tnh cnh hin gi ra sao h khng c bit. H ch nghe ni c phong tro ng߶i Hi gio ni lon dai dng tnh Vn nam t nm 1855; nay nu on tin vo vng tranh chp y vi giy thng hnh t triu nh Bc kinh cp th qu l iu thiu khn ngoan. th sc khe ca Lagr ci tui 43, b suy gim trm trng qua cuc hnh trnh y gian kh, li thm b cc cn bnh min nhit i hnh h, khin a ti cu hi l liu Lagr cn sc lnh o on thm him hay khng, bn cnh mt Garnier y tham vng v c tnh cng rt khc. Khi u Lagr mun chn mt l trnh khc nhng ri cng phi theo kin Garnier l vn tip tc cuc hnh trnh doc theo con sng Mekong. V on ra 2 tun l chun b ngy ln ߶ng vi s hnh trang tht ti thiu. Cc mu t v ti liu su tp by lu vn mang theo on th nay c ng thng gi v tr߾c qua ng Bangkok. Nhn li chuyn i ko di gn mt nm vi b߾c tin trin chm hn xa mc d tr v s tin vng d tr em theo cng sp cn.
Ngy 25 thng 05, on ri Luang Prabang i Chiang Kong, Mong Lin, Mong Yawing, Keng Khang, Keng Hung. Sau hn 5 thng gian kh t߷ng nh n kit sc, ngy 18 thng 10 on thm him qua c bin gii Trung hoa vo T mao (Ssu-mao).
Sau 15 thng ri Si gn, c l h l nhm ng߶i u u tin thnh cng vo "t ha Trung hoa" hoa qua ng bin gii ny. C on cm thy nh nhm cho d tnh hnh ti a ph߽ng cng khng sng sa g: v ng߶i Hi gio ni lon vn cn, li thm bnh dch t ang honh hnh khp tnh Vn nam. T y, Lagr quyt nh tip tc i Nguyn giang (Yuan-Chiang) trn ߶ng ti Cn minh, th ph ca Vn nam. Bt ha vi tr߷ng on, Garnier th lc no cng nung nu vi mun tm cho ra ci ngun con sng Mekong ng thi lm sao tm cho c mt thy l ti Vn nam. Ngy 16 thng 11, on ti Nguyn giang, mt th trn nm bn b ca mt con sng khc. Sau hn mt gi vt ln mt con dc cao, c on bt ng ng tr߾c mt khung cnh hng v: trong kh hu rt ging min nhit i, c mt dng sng lp lnh d߾i nng chy cun t ty bc v h߾ng ng nam m h bit rng l con sng Hng chy vo min bc Vit nam. Ti Nguyn giang on c tng qu v tip n nng hu. Sau l chng ߶ng ti Cn minh. Ngy 26 thng 11, on xung thuyn xui dng ti Pa-Y. T y on phi chuyn sang ߶ng b i Kin thy (Chien-Shui). T Kin thy cn phi mt 3 tun l na ti c Cn minh. Ring Garnier c s ng ca Lagr, th vn tip tc sui dng m cuc thm st sng Hng. Cha bao lu h phi i vo mt vng vch cao, ri tip theo l nhng ghnh thc - m theo Garnier th vo ma l v ph߽ng c th i qua c bng thuyn. Nh vy nim hy vng trn tr ban u l khng c c s. Nhng by gi khng phi ma l nn Garnier quyt nh tip tc xui dng sng Hng trong khi m phu thp tng hon ton khng mun. L do rt d hiu l ngay sau , h ti gn khc sng chy tht sit tr߾c khi vo mt thc ghnh vy quanh bi nhng vch cao ngt. Garnier hiu rng by gi chng c tin bc hay e da no c th bt m phu ty tng phi i ti. Cuc kho st sui dng sng Hng ti y k nh chm dt. Nhng cng ch rt sm sau ny Garnier c bit rng nu xung xa hn na t Lo cai khc sng l ߶ng thy thun tin giao thng i li.
Garnier sau quay tr li Kin thy v vn khng ngng bn tn v tim nng ca con sng Hng. Bt ngun t kiu cng v lng yu n߾c qu khch, khi cp ti vn ny, Garnier ch ngh ti quyn li em v cho n߾c Php v cho rng " thun ty l vn ca ring n߾c Php.". Ъn lc ny th Lagr khng th khng ng vi ng߶i ph tr߷ng on nn tr߾c khi cht, trong bn t߶ng trnh cui cng gi v Si gn, Lagr li nhc ti sng Hng trong trin vng th߽ng mi t Bc k vo Trung hoa. C l chnh c Lagr v Garnier u khng bit rng cng lc con bun Jean Dupuis - c tn Vit nam l а Ph Ngha cng ang thm st kh nng lu thng ca sng Hng i t bc Vit ln Vn nam. Vy ai l ng߶i u tin c " t߷ng ln" ? Sau ny th chnh Jean Dupuis ln ting nhn l phn cng lao ca mnh. Ngy 23 thng 12, on ti Cn minh, l th trn ln nht m h t chn n t ngy on ri Si gn. Ti y cng l ln u tin h c gp li ng h߽ng l cha Potteau v phi on truyn gio Php. Vn theo Garnier th chinh phc thuc a hay truyn o Kit u ch l nhng ng ߶ng khc nhau dn ti s vinh quang cho n߾c Php.

. Nm 1868: ngy 08 thng 01, on ri Cn minh v cng bit rng h ch cch con sng D߽ng t v i khong hai tun l ߶ng b. Nu xui theo con sng ny on s nhanh chng t chn ti Thng hi b bin pha ng Trung hoa. Chn la hp dn c ngha l i ngc li mc tiu ban u: thm him min vin ty cha bit ca chu . Sc khe ca Lagr lc ny hon ton suy xp - n mc khng th ngi vng m phi cng i theo on; di chuyn chm chp trn khung cnh cao nguyn tr tri y gi lnh. Mi ti tun l th ba, vi chng cui i bng ߶ng sng, on ti Hi trch (Hui tse). Ti y bng nhng c gng phi th߶ng, Lagr vn gng gng dy tip xc vi gii chc a ph߽ng vi t cch tr߷ng on. Cng mt lc b vim hng, st rt v nht l bnh kit l gy bin chng pxe gan, gn nh kit sc, Lagr phi lm vic vi on ngay ti gi߶ng bnh, nghe theo kin Garnier on i i l (Ta-li) tip tc cuc kho st ln thng ngun sng Mekong. V c l y l ti liu cui cng mang ch k Lagr vi t cch tr߷ng on.
Ngy 30 thng 01, nh lng phi b ri Lagr ti Hi trch cng vi bc s Joubert; Garnier dn on ln ߶ng i i l. Lagr cho d vi mt c th ang cht dn y vn khng ngui khc khoi v s tht bi tm mt thy l trn sng Mekong "khng l thi gian v ni chu ng ca chng ti l hon ton lng ph chng em li li lc g cho n߾c Php.". Ь b p li, Lagr khng ngng nhc ti con sng Hng nh con ߶ng dn vo Trung hoa.
Chng kin gia ci sng v ci cht tr߾c mt ca ng߶i tr߷ng on, Joubert khng cn chn la no khc hn l em Lagr ln bn m trong nhng iu kin lm vic th s nht v dng c v v trng. Vng gan pxe c rch ra vi na lt m v mu trn ln, vi kt qu tc thi Lagr bt hn cc cn au v my hm sau gng dy i li c. Nhng thc ra trong l gan Lagr cn mt pxe th hai m Joubert khng bit v khng ng dao ti. V vy m sang thng 3, bnh tnh Lagr mau chng suy xp tr li v kt thc bng ci cht khng th trnh. Khi gio nghim t thi, Joubert mi tm ra pxe th hai b b st. Xc Lagr c mai tng tm gn mt ngi cha ngoi vng th trn Hi trch.
Mi ti ngy 2 thng 4, Garnier mi nhn c tin Lagr cht. Khi ti i l, tuy c gp chc sc Hi gio nhng h khng tin on ch thc l ng߶i Php m l ng߶i Anh. Vi Garnier th l mt s xc phm cng cc. Tin xu tip theo l on b v sultan - vua Hi t chi tip kin, ng thi buc on phi ri i l ngy hm sau. Khng cn chn la no khc hn, Garnier ra lnh cho on ri i l t sng tinh s߽ng v phi mi 11 ngy sau h mi thc s thot ra khi vng kim sot ca ng߶i Hi gio. Tr li Hi trch, sau ci cht ca Lagr, cuc thm him sng Mekong ti y k nh thc s chm dt. on cn li 14 ng߶i ri Hi trch, em theo quan ti Lagr; ngy 20 thng 04, h xung thuyn trn mt ph lu ca sng D߽ng t. Ngy 09 thng 05, on ti Hn Khu, ti y ln u tin Garnier gp Jean Dupuis, mt tay th߽ng li Php ci tui 40 vi 8 nm sng Vin ng, mc y phc ng v thng tho ting Trung hoa. Lc Jean Dupuis chun b xung Vn nam th߽ng lng cuc bun bn ln v v kh. Mi 5 nm sau Garnier v Dupuis mi gp li nhau ln th hai.
T Hn khu on i Thng hi ri xung tu v ti Si gn ngy 29 thng 06 nm 1868 vi chic quan ti ca ng߶i tr߷ng on sau cuc hnh trnh y gian kh ko di hn 2 nm 24 ngy vi kt lun r rng l sng Mekong khng th no l thy l giao th߽ng t nam Vit nam ti Trung hoa. Nm nm sau, Garnier t Si gn ra Bc k v ch thn ch huy cuc nh chim H ni ngy 20 thng 11 nm 1873.

SP QUA I THI HOANG D

Thi gian tuy qua i hng trm nm - gia hai chuyn i, mt ca on thm him Php vo gia th k 19, v mt chuyn i mi y ca k gi Thomas O Neill cui th k 20 - xen vo l ngt mt na th k chin tranh v bom n, vy m con sng Mekong hu nh vn di chuyn vi nhp ca tha xa xa y: qua ma kh ri ti ma ma l, vi con n߾c ln xung v khng ngng em ph sa t bi cho cc vng t ai v nui sng nhng ng߶i dn sng quanh . Theo sut chiu di 4000 cy s ca con sng y cng ch mi c mt thnh ph l th Nam vang, cng thm vi con p , my cy cu c v cha c mt khu k ngh ng k no.
By gi th cc cuc chin tranh tm qua i v "Nhng Cnh аng Cht"vn cha phi pha trong k c ng߶i sng, nhng ri ng߶i ta cng phi c m qun i nhng au th߽ng v th hn ngh ti hp tc v pht trin. cng l bt u giai on chm dt thi hoang d ca con sng Mekong. Con sng y s c khai thc bin i song song vi s bin i ca cc ch chnh tr v ca chnh m dn c trong vng. Nhng l bin i th no? em li hnh phc iu ha chung cho ton vng hay pht trin cc b ca n߾c ny li l ph hoi s cn bng mi sinh ca nhng n߾c khc. Cu tr li i hi mi quan tm v nhiu cng sc khng phi ch nhng thnh vin ca y Ban Sng Mekong, cc nh lnh o m cn l ca tt c nhng ng߶i Vit chng ta bn trong cng nh ngoi n߾c. (04/97)

NG TH VINH

Tham Kho:(1) River Road to China, The Mekong River Expedition 1866-1873, Milton Osborne, Liveright New York 1973.(2) The Mekong River, Thomas ONeill, National Geographics, Feb.93.(3) The Mekong Currency, Lives and Times of a River,Liesbeth Sluiter,International Books, The Netherlands 1993.


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