This illustration was one of dozens produced by Louis Delaporte during a two-year venture (1866-68) with the Mekong Exploration Commission, the intention of which was to lay the groundwork for the expansion of French colonies in Indochina. Of this leg of the journey in July 1867, an expeditioner later wrote: 'One [shower] was so heavy that it soon penetrated the frail roof of leaves and they were drenched under their blankets. However, that was not the main reason for their inability to sleep: besides the legions of leeches and mosquitoes, inseparable companions of travelers in forests in this season, their stopover was infested with innumerable winged fleas that crept on to their scalps and caused the most acute itching. Early next morning, they were only too happy to move out of this horrible place and to breathe more freely on the road.'.