The First 'farangs' In Chiang Rai

[Limbo]

During the time that the people of Chiang Rai didn't know yet that they were Thai, the Great King Rama V relied for a great part on foreigners, sooner than local strongmen, to keep Chiang Rai within the sphere of His influence.

(30 years ago, in the Nan area, people would still describe themselves as 'khon muang' rather than 'Thai", see Richard Davis, Muang Metaphysics)

An example is the first modern policeman of Chiang Rai. He was Danish and his name was Thorwaldsen (family of one of Denmarks most famous sculptors).

He married here. His descendants later changed the name to Thorangkoon.

(also Chiang Mai had its Danish policeman, his remains rest on the International Churchyard of Chiang Mai, a gift of the Great King to the foreign community of Chiang Mai, whose members prefered to be buried above to be cremated)

Limbo, not from yesterday.

[Joel Barlow]

During the time that the people of Chiang Rai didn't know yet that they were Thai, the Great King Rama V relied for a great part on foreigners, sooner than local strongmen, to keep Chiang Rai within the sphere of His influence.

(30 years ago, in the Nan area, people would still describe themselves as 'khon muang' rather than 'Thai", see Richard Davis, Muang Metaphysics)

An example is the first modern policeman of Chiang Rai. He was Danish and his name was Thorwaldsen (family of one of Denmarks most famous sculptors).

He married here. His descendants later changed the name to Thorangkoon.

(also Chiang Mai had its Danish policeman, his remains rest on the International Churchyard of Chiang Mai, a gift of the Great King to the foreign community of Chiang Mai, whose members prefered to be buried above to be cremated)

Limbo, not from yesterday.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Limbo, ChiangRai people still refer to themselves as Khon Muang, instead of Thai, today!!! And those who do are proud of it (in my opinion with good reason).

This town, though, was arranged in the form it grew from to today by the founder of Overbrook Hospital, Dr Biggs, Baptist missionary (who shot cannon at 'rebellious' Shans). The whole area might be Chinese, but for Wa headhunters notoriety, mystique and hard-headedness. Mangrai himself was pretty clever, as good as any Thai at avoiding foreign domination, but clearly was not Siamese.

Rama V also relied on a Belgian, I think it was, to negociate in Europe for Thai sovereignty... had to, as the French were grabbing everything they could make any lame claim on.

[chang35baht]

I thought that Khun Limbo V was the first foreigner in Chiang Rai.

[Limbo]

Joel wrote:

Rama V also relied on a Belgian, I think it was, to negociate in Europe for Thai sovereignty... had to, as the French were grabbing everything they could make any lame claim on.

Limbo adds:

Yes, Gustave Rolin-Jaquemijns. It was Prince Damrong who met him in 1892 at a lunch at the house of the British Ambassador in Caïro. He persuaded him, at that time one of the world's most renowned specialists on comparative legislation and international law, to accept the funcion of General Advisor in the reign of King Chulalongkorn. Soon after he arrived in Bangkok he was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary.

Less than a year later the Pak Nam incident took place, generally considered a pretext created by France to annex Siam by declaring it a French protectorate.

Gustave played a generally acknowledged and extremely important role in preventing Siam losing its independence. He was actually a kind of Prime Minister and Foreign Minister at the same time.

When the danger was over Prince Damrong took a ring from his finger and gave it to Gustave.

It's funny, the first foreigner who entered the class of nobles in Siam (or Ayudhaya) did his best to get the French in, its Jesuits and later even the army under Desfarges. We talk the eighties of the seventeenth century, King Narai's time: Phaulkon the Greek, 'Vichayen' Gerakis. It was his dream to make 'Thailand' the first Catholic country in Asia.

The second, our dear Belgian Gustave, Chao Prya Aphai Raja was his Thai noble title, kept them out. It is for sure that alot of people would have been speaking French here now, if it wouldn't have been for our Gustave.

And it still might have been the same mess as in some neighbouring countries.

Cheers Gustave, our hero, on the indepence of the Free Thai!

Limbo.

[Limbo]

I thought that Khun Limbo V was the first foreigner in Chiang Rai.

My uncle was Prince Harry the First, the first carnaval prince of Eindhoven, the Philips town. That's the only 'nobility' we ever have had in our family.

The first westerner in Chiang Rai is supposed to have been Marco Polo.

It was probably found out by officials of the Tourist Authority Thailand, not by scientists or historians. I came not earlier than in 1987.

If he came from the North he must have had his first kweetiou at HaaYek.

He was so impressed that he introduced the noodle in Italy, which they for some reason called it spagetti.

Limbo.

[Limbo]

This town, though, was arranged in the form it grew from to today by the founder of Overbrook Hospital, Dr Biggs, Baptist missionary (who shot cannon at 'rebellious' Shans).

.... Joel wrote.

Dear Joel,

Do you have any information on the town Overbrook? I suppose it is in the USA.

It was there that Dr Briggs pocketed the money which enabled him to found the first hospital of Chiang Rai (around 1905).

What I understand is that his formal position was something like 'envoy' of the governor of Payao. He also had the town hall built, nowadays the Sala Klang Kao, the big (neo colonial style) building behind the postoffice (also about hundred years old).

And, as you mentioned, he laid the base of present-day Chiang Rai's streetpattern by building three East-West roads in town, most central the Tannalai Road.

To pave them he used the stones of the remnants of the town walls of Chiang Rai, as the story goes. I never got that confirmed.

The piece of supposed town wall near the statue of Phaya Mang Rai is about thirty years old, it has a concrete frame. Just as the marking points of the old gates of Chiang Rai and the city navel pillar it was a present of the German Government to the population of Chiang Rai.

Limbo.

[Joel Barlow]

Years ago a doctor at Overbrook gave me a hardback but thin book on the history of the hospital. I believe it says Briggs was from Pennsylvania. I think he had Canadian connections too. Haven't looked at the book in a while, but still have it.

At the time, the town was down to very few residents (maybe 500), and tigers were reportedly sometimes seen roaming the streets at night. The city walls hadn't been tended in a long, long time, war and disease having ravaged the population (under Burmese rule for about 250 years before the first decade of the 1800s). Nobody says it, but clearly what was important enough to bring Briggs here was the teak industry (robbery).

I know a family that's been here since 1926, but my friend's name, justifiably, is "Air" and her aged, Chinese father very difficult to approach. He's the big landlord accross from the Business College on Old Airport Road. Air's a very nice lady, but if you really want to know this town's past details, her brother and sister might be better. They have little English though!

Have you heard the rumor of Kit's recent suicide, in Chiang Mai?

[chang35baht]

Yes Joel I did hear about that today from his best friend Kevin. I told him to try and get proper confirmation as he heard it from some Thais at Ban Bua. Sometimes mistake can be made. also Kevin`s thai isn`t that clever.