Page:Notes of a journey across the Isthmus of Krà.pdf/16

 stream. The tide reaches a short distance above this point and no further. On the following morning we mounted our elephants at 7h 9m., and followed the course of the river. This leads through open breaks between towering hills, rendered picturesque by numerous neat little villages fenced in, and surrounded by patches of cultivation. The ground and track so far were undulating, and the latter tortuous in a high degree, ascending abruptly as the actual neck, or entrance of the river valley was approached. At 9h. 10m., I reached this spot (the other elephants were rearward), and halted. Looking ahead in an E.N.E. direction, I saw a narrow wedge-shaped valley, bounded by mountains several hundred feet in height. The outline of their steep slopes appeared distinct from each other, and blending together at their base in regular succession, resembled the letter W continued, more than anything else I can think of. On the right bank of this valley we marched slowly along, twisting and turning, rising and falling, until 10h. 4m., when we halted for consultation and breakfast, in a bend of the little stream we had followed so laboriously.

My aneroid gave the elevation of this point 110 feet above sea level, which I believe corresponded with Mr. Bourgery's reckoning. Kow Kye is a high, steep, and dangerous pass, with a narrow track round its southern slope, only wide enough for an elephant's foot. Accidents are not unfrequent in the rainy months, when the edge of the track gives way, precipitating man and beast to the bottom of the chasm never more to be heard of.

Kow Kye was still a long way from our halting place, which was situated on the verge of the backbone range, and here, the gigantic hills towering above our heads, convinced us of the inutility of going further in this direction. At 11h. 20m., we remounted and returned to Chah Hoon, where the Expedition arrived at 1.22 p.m. Boarded the steam launch at about 3 o'clock, and started for Rehnong where we arrived at half past eight the same evening. Rehnong is an important tin district, situated at the foot of a range of mountains two miles from the coast. It is inhabited by Chinese, of whom there is a goodly number.