June 27, 1859.] KING'S TRAVELS IN SIAM AND CAMBODIA. 365 



The foui-th Paper read was — 



4. Travels in Siam and Cambodia, By D. O. King, Esq. 



Mr. King's Paper is accompanied by a map, and- contains the result 

 of a year's travel through the hitherto imperfectly known lands of 

 Eastern Siam and the modern remnant of the old kingdom of 

 Cambodia. He travelled fiom Bankok to the Bang-ta-kong river 

 by a canal. This is a line of route in extensive use by tiavellers, 

 who would otherwise have to skirt the rocky and mountainous coast. 

 It passes through a flat alluvial country, entirely covered with rice 

 fields, and swarming with musquitoes. The Bang-ta-kong river was 

 then ascended : it is about 40 yards broad and winding, and there 

 is a broken strip of cultivation on either bank, while large tracts of 

 good land are allowed to remain waste. The Siamese have intro- 

 duced some coolie labour, though they are averse to its general 

 adoption. 



A military road was constructed, twenty years ago, from this 

 river to the Tasawai. Its bridges are now broken down, and the 

 road is a mere wreck ; nevertheless it is the only existing route 

 across the country, and Mr. King travelled by it. All travellers in 

 Eastern Siam use elephants : these beasts are in general employment 

 as far as Cochin China, and are remarkably cheap. A full grown 

 one costs only from 50 to 70 dollars^ But elephant riding in Siam 

 is very tedious. The roads are almost impassable by floods in 

 the wet season, and are parched with drought during the dry; 

 while the animals become sick and footsore if pushed beyond twenty 

 miles a day. 



No trace was found of the ancient capital of Cambodia, excepting 

 only its temple, with its immense quadrangle. It stands sur- 

 rounded by jungle, and is still considered a shrine : a few Buddhist 

 priests live there. Mr. King extended his travels to within the 

 frontiers of Cochin China, having visited a Eoman Catholic mission 

 establishment on the Oodoong river. 



He considers there is little new or strange in the fauna or in the 

 mineral produce of Eastern Siam. Wild animals are far from 

 numerous. The pest of insects and other creatures seems almost 

 unendurable ; the worst of them all being the ground leeches, which 

 fasten greedily on men and animals, and make sleeping in the open 

 air an impossibility. 



The President. — This, gentlemen, as you are aware, is the last meeting of 

 the present session. Before we part, I would make one observation. This 

 beautiful room in which we are now assembled has been lent to us by the 

 kindness of the University of London and the Koyal Society, I am sure you 



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