June 11, i860.] SCHOMBURGK'S REPORT ON THE TRADE OF SUM. 213 



construct a canal for sailing-vessels of a dranglit of 16 feet ; so that 

 without farther investigation it is not implicitly to be trusted. 



The Gulf of Siam is destitute of fine harbours ; the larger rivers 

 are obstructed by sandy bars which prevent vessels of a greater 

 draught than 13 feet to cross the same. This refers likewise to the 

 Menam, the principal river of Siam, on the banks of which lies 

 Bangkok, the capital of that kingdom. 



The Menam possesses three outlets : the bar of the deepest 

 branch has only a depth of 3 feet at low water ; and as the tide at 

 springs amounts to 10 feet, larger vessels of a deeper draught than 

 11 J- feet can scarcely venture to cross it.* 



It is customary that ships bound for Bangkok to take in cargo 

 proceed to that port, where they load to llj^ feet, and return after- 

 wards to the roadstead outside the bar, where they fill up. 



The distance from the roadstead to the anchorage of Bangkok is, 

 following the windings of the river, about 33 nautical miles. After 

 the ship has passed the bar and has reached the mouth of the river, 

 distinguished on its right or western bank by a small mount, the 

 water deepens. About 3 miles higher up lies the town and port of 

 Paknam, the seat of a governor. The place is fortified, and upon a 

 sandbank which rises out of the water near the western or right 

 bank of the river batteries and other fortifications have been 

 erected. 



The shores of the river Menam are fringed with forest-trees, and 

 here and there a habitation surrounded with orchards. Behind that 

 fringe there are sugar and rice fields, extending for a considerable 

 distance inland. 



About 6 miles above Paknam lies, on the right bank of the river, 

 the settlement of Paklat; its inhabitants consisting principally of 

 Peguans, who during the war between Siam and that country were 

 led by the Siamese into captivity. The number of inhabitants of 

 Paklat has been estimated at seven thousand. 



Immediately above that settlement the river makes a great turn, 

 describing almost a circle ; the land being, at its shortest extent, not 

 much more than half a mile in breadth, while following the course 

 of the river it is about 10 miles. A canal, only deep enough for 

 boats, passes from Paklat to the upper part of the bend or Upper 

 Paklat, but the same has not been constructed through the narrowest 

 neck. 



This canal, on both its banks, is studded with houses, among 



* The bar is composed of sand, soft on the southern side and hard on the 

 northern^ It has the form of a horse-shoe. 



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