Page:Notes of a journey across the Isthmus of Krà.pdf/17

 Shops and roads are on the increase. The British India steamers call here regularly to trade, and, under the excellent administration of the Governor, Kaw Sim Kong, who is a just man in his dealings, and has a small but well organized body of soldiers and police, it bids fair to become a thriving province. There are two small hot springs near the town, and this part is entirely submerged by rushing torrents from the neighbouring mountains towards the close of the S.W. monsoon.

February 15th.—The remainder of the gentlemen of the expedition arrived from Langsuen. At 8.30 the same evening I took leave of our hospitable host, and started in an eight-oared boat for Muong Krà. The mornings were very foggy, and the days getting hotter. After a tedious passage, the boat grounding twice on the way up, I reached the British guard station, Naa Ling Chan, at 5.35 p.m., and remained the guest of Mr. R. Leslie (the active Superintendent of Police in these parts) for the night. On the following morning I reached the village of Krà at 9 o'clock, making thirty-seven hours on the Passage including stoppage. The French party, with all their luggage and instruments, arrived a few minutes afterwards in the steam launch, having grounded on the way several times, and took up their quarters in tamneaps prepared for them by the head man of the place. In the evening I determined the latitude carefully by circummeridional altitudes of Sirius, and on the following morning solar observations were taken for the longitude by Commandant Bellion and myself, which agreed very closely. Throughout this day I noted with great care the atmospheric fluctuations, as we expected to leave on the morrow to examine the Krà Route, elephants having arrived from Chumpon for that purpose. Mr. Schlüssel also devoted the entire day to the same duty.

Muong Krà is a good sized village in an open place amongst the hills at the head of the Pakchan river. It appears to be of little importance, as the cultivated parts are limited, and produce only sufficient for the wants of the people. Tin also is scarce in this neighbourhood. Krà has, however, greatly improved within the last few years, under the able administration of His