Page:Notes of a journey across the Isthmus of Krà.pdf/28

 and undulating in itself, but makes a deep southerly bend at the pass; from which point it tends in an E.N.E. direction for about five miles as the crow flies. It then runs due east to the end of the hilly district and the beginning of the open country. It must be understood that the elephant track on this route does not pass over the tops of the hills, but through the valleys between them. It is therefore obvious, if a canal were excavated in this direction, it would have a very objectionable kink in it, and a greater bulk of material would have to be removed if the route were aligned. As already mentioned, the top of the pass is 250 feet above the level of the sea.

Distances.—From tamneap at Krà to end of hilly district, by the elephant route, twenty statute miles. From Krà tamneap to observation tree near the Governor's house at Chumpon, as the crow flies, 20.7 statute miles. The direction S. 87° 03' E. From Krk tosses' to the late Ex-Regent's house at Palmam Chumpon, as the crow flies, 07.5 statute miles, and direction S. 8o° 57' E. A healthy elephant will travel from Krà to Chumpon at its natural pace in twelve hours.

Geological Formations.—The ground through which the projected canal would require to be cut is chiefly of hard rock. Captains Fraser and Forlong state that the rocks across the pass are mostly of a quartzose sandstone. Dr. Oldham, the disinguished geologist, who examined this district in order to report on the Tenasserim coal fields, stated that the rocks through which the proposed canal would require to be cut belong to what he calls the "Mergui series." These appear to he tolerably simple geologically; indeed, the structure of the whole of Tenasserim appears to be such; notwithstanding, they are anything but easy of being cut through. The "Series" is said to consist of highly metamorphose rocks, resting on granite, and exhibiting every variety from perfect gneiss and mica slate to hard silicious slates occasionally chloritic, and to black and earthy but micaceous and glassy slates. Numerous veins of granite of all sizes penetrate and ramify in every direction through these, which are only seen near to the immediate junction of the granite and the bedded rocks. Where this