Laos Folk-Lore of Farther India

These tales gather the living voice of the Laos people, a region once part of Siam, preserving stories that have been passed around campfires for generations. Collected by a long‑term missionary who learned the local dialect, the volume presents each narrative as it was told, accompanied by rare black‑and‑white photographs that show villages, temples, and everyday work in the rice fields. Listeners will hear a blend of humor, mystery, and moral teaching that reflects both the natural world and the aspirations of a community on the brink of change.

In the opening story, a fierce young woman abandons her village in a blaze of anger and retreats deep into the northern jungle, where she lives among the trees and befriends a tiger that watches over her through the night. As days turn to weeks, the wilderness softens her heart, and she gradually learns to trust the creatures that surround her. The tale offers a vivid portrait of Lao belief in the harmony between humans and nature, while hinting at the deeper yearning for peace and belonging.