1920] Ridley : Peninsular Siamese Plants. 71 



higher up the inlet were mangroves and sand or mud 

 exposed i^oals apparently blocking up much of the shallow 

 head : so we turned back and anchored in 5 fathoms 

 a mile and a half within the western cape near a little beach 

 and some coco-palms. We had a few visitors — Malay- 

 speaking Sam Sams. 



In the afternoon I walked to Lem Lajan which is on 

 the boundary between Takuatung, in which we were, and 

 Takuapa to the north. It lies about Sy^ miles north of 

 Ban Tapmo over firm sand or short dry gi'ass among the 

 Casuarinas. The forest behind shaded rather thorny under- 

 growth : many of the trees bore orchids but their flowering 

 season was over except for one pale crimson species. 

 Adjoining the hilly country south of Lem Lajan is a big 

 sandy lagoon backed by mangroves and the tide was pouring 

 into this along a channel through the beach : a reef with 

 rocks borders the shore. 



The western point is a low hill covered with open 

 forest : flowers were few, the most conspicuous being a pale 

 pinkish-white one spotted with crimson, borne by a plant 

 2-4 ft. high (Cystacanthiis pnlcherrimas). Fan palms and 

 Licualas were common and several species of orchids were 

 numerous above the shore rocks, but all flowerless. A 

 swampy depression almost cuts off the point and seawards 

 there is a curious mud and sand lagoon surrounded by 

 mangroves and littoral vegetation. Eastwards on the main- 

 land hills rise to about 3,000 ft. and these come down to the 

 sea at Lem Lajan and northwards. 



Traps with lines of stakes (Malay blat and kelong) 

 seem to be the only form of fishing practiced. The people 

 of the village, which is an extensive one, kept to themselves. 



We left early in the morning of the 16th February. 



There was little to be distinguished for some time as 

 we stood well off to clear the reefs. Approaching the 

 secondary or middle entrance to Takuapa Inlet, Pak Kruen, 

 its southern side was seen to be slightly hilly and in part 

 grass grown. Inland, more or less easterly, a fine conical 

 hill or small mountain stood out well. The island north 

 of Pak Kruen, Koh Pra Tung, is quite low and flat with 

 Casuarinas along its seaward beach. Koh Gab, the northern- 

 most of the islands forming Takuapa Inlet is separated from 

 the last by a very narrow entrance where the water showed 

 pale green and is high and hilly with long beaches divided 

 from each other by combs of rock : the shore is backed by 

 Casuarinas and in a few places are houses or little hamlets : 

 the northern point, Takuapa, or Kopah, Head (Lat. 9° 16' 

 N.) is rocky and bordered by a reef. On the mainland 

 opposite are small forested knolls coming down to the sea 

 and then a long low stretch with Casuarinas and a few 

 houses : south of this is a wide inlet and south again the 

 whole Strait seems edged with mangroves. There are many 

 hills and ranges inland, some of those visible being perhaps 

 3 to 4,000 ft. high, as is one near the sea with a good many 

 sloping rock faces on its south-west side. Within the north 



