FAUNA AND FLORA, RATBURI, PETCHABURI. 141 
Paan Din, he having received orders to bring in the reported “ angel.” 
With the water rising steadily, the old route for supplies along 
the bed of the Petchaburi river becaine impossible, and a new route 
had to be cut over the mountains. In three days we progressed two 
iniles and regained the East bank of the Petchaburi river again. I 
ascended two hills here to get the lie of the country and find a possible 
route tu the boundary, and while camped here an emaciated party 
rafted down in search of food. 
We endeavoured to bridge the flooded river by felling trees, but 
finally had to cross on a pontoon raft of bamboos, hauling it to and fro 
with giant rattans. Even thus it was a perilous journey, and all 
valuables had bamboo floats tied to them before being put aboard. 
Arrived at the far bank, further path cutting was necessary, and 
while we were doing this a pair of porcupines ran out of their burrow 
and, gazing for a second, ran off. The burrow was situated some 100 
metres up the hillside, and later on, endeavouring to smoke them out, 
the half-gnawed lower jaw of a pig was discovered in the burrow. No 
records were kept of porcupines obtained, but I presume they are of the 
same species as those obtained at Hua Hin, viz, Hystriw grotet. 
Crossing a ridge, we descended into a tributary stream flowing 
from the West, and ascending this for a day’s march, made camp at a 
spot showing fresh tracks of tapir, and the bed place of one of them 
was found some 150 metres up the hillside. Tapirs appear to have the 
habit, in common with the great cats, of scratching up the ground with 
the hind feet, and frequently deposit. their excrement at the bases of 
trees. They are never, I believe, intentionally shot by jungle folk, who 
look upon these rather defenceless creatures as peculiar. They allege 
that the Creator, having devised all other beasts to his entire 
satisfaction, had left over numerous remnants of clay. Taking 
these in his hands, he rolled them all up together, exclaiming 
“‘p’som-sett”.* Hence the tapir, with four toes in front, and three on 
the hind feet as in the rhinoceros, and in other parts superficially 
resembling some other animals. 
On the return of the coolies sent back to the depot for rice, 
camp was again shifted up on to a ridge of 900 metres elevation. 
* Literally, “‘ the mixing is finished.” 
