68 Journal of the F.M.S. Museums. [Vol. X, 



With easterly winds there was a good deal of swell in 

 the south bay but the water was always beautifully clear — 

 shiny pale green over sand and reefs, darker green in greater 

 depths. 



On the 6th we proceeded to Puket in Junk Seylon Island 

 and were detained there until the 10th awaiting arrival of 

 a fresh supply of coal from Penang, but the hospitality of 

 Mr. J. F. Johiis, H.B.M. Vice-Consul, rendered our stay very 

 pleasant. 



On the 10th we left Puket for Pangnga at the head 

 of the Gulf of Junk Seylon. The wind was fresh but sea 

 quite smooth as we steamed north along Palau Panjang a 

 large island in the middle of the Gulf. Tharua on Junk 

 Seylon, which we soon passed, was once a Portuguese settle- 

 ment. In this part of the gulf' there are only two limestone 

 islets, Pipi and Sot, but nearer the head limestone becomes 

 dominant and is wonderfully picturesque northwards of 

 Koh Chanak. It occurs as islets of all shapes and } izes — 

 icebergs, towers, spires, clift's, serrated ridges, roundec hum- 

 mocks and overhanging knobs — partially covered with 

 greenery but showing surfaces of white, grey, buflf, red, 

 brown purple and slate, while the sea at its bases lies stiU 

 and deep, dark from shade and reflections. 



At the head of the Gulf are wide shallows whence rise 

 Koh Mak, a low island which is a guiding mark for the 

 mouth of the Pangnga River and, further north-east, two 

 limestone blocks between which lies the course to Paklao. 

 We kept on northwards passing twenty yards west of the 

 little Pulau Chetek and, stopping for a minute or two at 

 2.20 p.m. off the village at the seaward end of Pulau Pungi 

 to engage boats for the journey up river to Pangnga Town, 

 entered the river between tall limestone peaks and anchored 

 at 3.40 p.m. off the customs house. Hereabouts the river 

 runs tlirough mangroves and there are numerous waterways 

 but many great limestone masses tower above the swampy 

 level and relieve and beautify the scene. 



On the 11th we left for the town in a dugout, some of 

 which are here very large indeed. It took about an hour 

 and a half to reach the landing place, passing all the while 

 through mangroves above which rose limestone hills like 

 icebergs from a sea. One of these, a mile or more north 

 of the custom house, bears a likeness to an elephant and is 

 called Koh or Kao Chang — I don't know which : the one 

 means " island " and the other " hill " and both would 

 apply. 



At the landing steps, where lay several small cargo 

 boats, there is a double row of small shops, mostly Chinese, 

 and the road, rough but partly metalled, runs inland half a 

 mile till it meets another crossing at right angles ; the left 

 branch going to Kasom, the right to Pangnga : at the junc- 

 tion is the Governor's house of white-washed stucco. An 

 attempt has been made at an avenue. The road runs first 



