1920] Ridley : Peninsular Siamese Plants. 69 



through rice fields with ckimps and hnes of Borassus pahns 

 and then turning towards the left traverses undulating coun- 

 try for a couple of miles before reaching the town, passing 

 various houses and huts with, on the right, a good police 

 barracks in a line grassed enclosui'e and a gaol and, on the 

 left, a post and telegraph office. 



The present town is almost entirely of wood and palm 

 thatch for the old town beyond it and nearer the river was 

 burnt down about a year ago and the substantial brick walls 

 and cement floors are all that remain — no attempt apparent- 

 ly having been made at rebuilding. 



Beyond the old site lies the river — a clear shallow 

 stream in a very broad sandy bed probably full of water in 

 the summer season. The further side is fringed with a tall 

 feather-like bamboo concealing houses and gardens and 

 beyond rises a lofty precipitous range of limestone which 

 is less regularly duplicated on a smaller scale on the near 

 side of the stream. Between these two the main road runs 

 on through fruit orchards and rice fields (divided into un- 

 usually small units) to Takuapa. Where the town street, 

 which is only a branch, joins it stands a wat or monastery 

 in charming grounds. 



The shrine is a very plain building with an iron roof 

 and contained three well gilt images : to the large central 

 one a white elephant is offering a bottle of beer lifted high 

 in its trunk. The Abbott's house is a pleasant attap building 

 and there is also a good wooden bungalow and a large un- 

 walled shed, while scattered about in the shade are sitting- 

 platforms. Shady trees, red acalyphas, slender areca palms 

 and grass lawns make a pretty foreground to the limestone 

 cliffs which shelter the spot. The Abbott came to talk with 

 us and sent us glasses of tea : there are too few Siamese 

 in the town (the population of which is largely Chinese) to 

 supply sufficient novices to keep the wat in proper condi- 

 tion : many sick people were refuging with him (influenza) . 



Though perhaps I expected rather more after reading 

 Warington Smyth's description* this is certainly a most 

 charming place, especially the pretty and restful wat. One 

 perhaps looked to find the cliff's rather more dominant ; but 

 though they are very beautiful and striking they do not 

 overshadow the town. 



Fish, vegetables and fruit were for sale and one or two 

 Indian cloth-merchants had shops : there is now no rest- 

 Iiouse. On tlie road ply two-seated gharries drawn by 

 sturdy little Bandon ponies in excellent condition wearing 

 well-padded collars and saddles. 



We got back to the launch at 2.30 p.m., coming down 

 at dead low tide with many sand and mud banks exposed 

 along the edge of the mangroves : in the fairway there are 

 rocks and heavy snags at one or two places so if small 



4 Vide Five Years in Siam, Vol. II, p. 15 (1898) In this book the 

 author recounts his experiences while travelling between Trang and Chump- 

 orn — the area dealt with in this note (Vol. I, p, 314 — II, p. 33). 



