to MESSRS. ROBINSON AND KLOSS CN 



work is now coinplctt.', while tlic njad is also metalled in parts. 

 K.Kcept for til'.' fact that the brid<^es are temporary and much below 

 the ;,a'neral level of the formation, the road wouM even now be 

 available for li^jht motor cars in dry we.ither. For the last few 

 months the work hal been under the supervision of the Siamese 

 Department of Ways, but it seems doubtful when the road 

 will linally be open to trafiic. The route practically follows the line 

 of the Kra ship-canal — a project much mooted in the first half of the 

 19th century. Though the summit level is low, less than 300 feet, 

 the country is very rui^ged, and it does not retpiire the eye of an 

 enijiiieer to .see what a stupendous undertaking a sea-level canal 

 would bj, rivalling even the Panama Canal, while lack of adequate 

 water would probably render a lock system impossible. The idea, 

 liowever, has long entered the limbo of forgotten and chimerical 

 projects and is not likely ever to be renewed. 



From Tapli the i-oad follows the river to the village of 

 J'akchan through rice fields, a distance of some 2^-3 miles. It then 

 leaves cultivation and runs for some miles through dry, thorny and 

 deciduous jungle, lacking in interest, until it reaches a narrow gorge, 

 with a pleasant little stream purling through it, where the vegetation 

 is m )re of an evergreen character. ^This is maintained to the summit 

 level, about ten miles from Tapli, and on to Tasan about a mile 

 fiu'ther. 



Tasax. 



Tasan, which is in the province of Chumpon and outside the 

 Monthon of Puket in which we had hitherto been working, is pleasant- 

 ly situated among low hills covered with evergreen forest at the 

 confiuence of two clear-water streams, and had been made his head- 

 quarters ))y the Engineer-in-charge of the road, who courteously 

 s assisted us in many ways. Here, by the banks of the lesser stream, 

 in the shade of some large trees, we established a camp which was 

 cool and pleasant and free from intrusion. We collected many interest- 

 ing species of birds, mammals and reptiles, including the rare 

 warbler, Triimm, the clouded leopard, Fdi.<! iwlndosa, and the most 

 nortlierly known specimen of tlie long-ncsed wpdrrel, Rhinosciuru.'<, 



JOURN. NAT. HLST. »0C. SIAM. 



