| ThereportdescribesthePurpose,Procedure,andobtainedResultsofamissiontoBangkok(Thailand)undertakenonJuly16-18,2009.ThemaingoalofthemissionwastoinspectthefirearmslocatedintheMuseumofWeaponryoftheMinistryofDefenseinordertoidentifythecannonsproducedbyJoaodaCruz(1610?-1682),ahalf-PortuguesefounderemployedbytheKingofCochinchina(CentralVietnam)andtotakepicturesoftheinscriptionsmadebyJoaoonthecannons.Whenthispartofthemissionwasaccomplished,theinvestigatorvisitedthreemoreexhibitionsofoldweaponrylocatedinBangkokanddiscovered,intheNationalMuseum,twomorecannonsmostlikelymadebyJoaoin1651duringhisstayinCambodia(identifiedbytheMuseumstaffas“cannonsofSpanishorigin”).TheresultsofthemissionwillbeusedinaforthcomingpaperonthetransferofWesterntechnologicalexpertiseintoVietnaminthelate17th-early18thcenturies. |