Note 18 — Chapter XXI
Moreby Acklom translation
The "Slow Death" was, to be precise, invented by the emperor Gia-Long, founder of the dynasty of Nguyen. He practiced it on the daughters of Huë, chief of the Tay-Son rebels, and on thirty members of his family. Here is the description of the torture given by the Annamese historian, Truong-Vin-Ky: "First the flesh of the limbs is cut off strip by strip and the bones are broken. After which the abdomen of the victim is cut open and his viscera removed. Finally after his left hand has been cut off at the wrist the limbs are chopped off at the trunk. This left hand is then embalmed and sent to the family of the criminal in order that they may remember his fate and meditate upon it."