Page:Notes of a journey across the Isthmus of Krà.pdf/23

 house of His Excellency the Governor of Rehnong, who had requested on to use it during our stay at Penang. A doctor was immediately sent for by Commandant Bellion, to attend poor Mr. Delaplanche, who was somewhat better than when he arrived on hoard from the jungle.

Here the party rested in pleasure and plenty for a few days, enjoying an agreeable change from wild to civilized life. On the evening of the 10th invitations were accepted for an entertainment given by the hospitable Siamese Consul and his lady in honour of the Expedition, and late the following day we were on our way to Singapore in the fine steamer M. Meanatchy, belonging to Katz Bros. After thirty-eight hours' steaming, including a few hours stoppage near the Rabbit and Coney Lighthouse, we arrived at the Borneo Company's wharf in New Harbor. An hour afterwards we were all comfortably settled in that well regulated and respectable institution the Hotel de l'Europe, under the energetic and obliging proprietor, Mr. W. H. Siegfried. Here the Expedition remained a few days, preparing for their homeward journey. Mr. Delaplanche, I am glad to say, was recovering from his malady, and all looked forward with pleasure for a speedy return to their beloved France. Passage tickets for the crowded French mail steamer Sindh were obtained with difficulty. This, however, was managed through the kind offices of M. E. Meyer, the French Consul, and on the 17th of April we took a parting bumper together on board the steamer in New Harbor. After wishing my friends a hearty good-bye,—they were as good a set of fellows as any one could wish to travel took the first steamer and returned to dear old Bangkok, the capital of the rising kingdom of the White Elephant.

Having finished my journal, I shall now proceed to explain more particularly those parts examined by the Expedition which are paramount in importance to the subject in hand.

is small, and extends three and three quarter miles north of the river of that name, which is situated in its S.W.