Page:Notes of a journey across the Isthmus of Krà.pdf/6

 evident however that their survey was very hastily and roughly made. Indeed they say so themselves. On one most important point they made a serious miscalculation They stated the height of the Krà Pass to be 75 feet above the level of the sea, which is clearly a very great underestimate. Lieutenant Bagges, who was sent by the Indian Government in 1868 to survey the boundary between Tenasserim and Siam, stated the height of the Krà Pass to be 250 feet, which agrees exactly with my own observations. The opinion therefore of Captains Fraser and Forlong regarding the practicability of a railway must be received with caution. But whether a railway could be made or not, I think in these days of swift steamers, it could not compete with them, and would not pay. Without further preface I shall proceed with my notes.   On the 15th of January, 1883, the Expedition left Bangkok on board the gunboat Coronation, Commander Trail, generously placed at the disposal of the French party by His Majesty.

The passage down the gulf was fine for the season of the year, and on the afternoon of the 16th the party had the good fortune to land the greater portion of their, luggage and instruments, which were safely stored in a comfortable brick-built bungalow (formerly belonging to His Grace the ex-Regent) at Paknam Chumpon.

On the following day, after landing the heavy baggage, the gunboat left for Bangkok, with Dr. Harmand, the French consul, on board, who accompanied the Expedition to this place.

The French Expedition was under the command of Lieutenant Paul Bellion, of the French Navy, and consisted of five gentlemen besides the Commandant, viz.:-Messrs. Bourgery and Delaplanche. Civil Engineers; M. Delport. Secretary; M. Schlüssel, Mathematician; and M. Tournard, Leadsman. Its object was to examine that portion of the Malay Peninsula lying between the parallels of Langsuen and Krà, for the purpose of constructing a maritime canal, with a view of shortening the route between India and China. 