Page:Notes of a journey across the Isthmus of Krà.pdf/21

 signs of a coming change in the western sky; the weather was exceedingly hot at this time. After remaining one night with our friends, we left them to continue their work, while we pushed on to Rehnong, to commence a survey of the entrance to Pakchan river. We met rain on the way, and, of course, the looups had a good swearing from us before we reached Krà, where we had all arrived before to 11 a.m. Here we found a steam launch and boat in waiting for us, belonging to H.S.M.'s gunboat Apollo. The day looked dark and squally. Boats being obtained from Luong Pen, the head man of the place, the Commandant, with his small party and luggage, started off in the evening during a heavy shower of rain for the British police station at Naa Lang Chan, where they remained all night, and continuing their journey the following morning in the steam launch, arrived at Rehnong the same day.

I remained behind, as the accommodation was very limited. On the following day, March 29th, I took solar observations for my chronometer; they were obtained, however, with difficulty, as the weather was dark and cloudy, and according to the reports of the people here, the rainy season had set in.

The following day I started, in a leaky boat, during heavy rain in the afternoon. Called at the police station for an hour to give the boatmen rest and food, and again started pulling down the Pakchan. About 9 p.m. I met the steam launch returning for me, to which I made my boat fast, and grounding once on the way down, reached the Apollo at daylight, where I found my worthy colleagues had been most kindly received by Koon Tu. (a son of His Excellency The Kalalaome Prime Minister of Siam), the commander of the gunboat. I may remark here that His Majesty the King generously sent the Apollo (a new paddle yacht of the late ex-Regent) to enable the Expedition to make the survey of the Pakchan river.

In the course of the day we arranged plans for carrying out the survey of the entrance to the Pakchan as expeditiously as possible, and had scarcely commenced our work when an urgent letter was received from the jungle announcing