190 KEPOUT— 1871, 



gradually decreasing to four fathoms about half a mile from tlie Indian shore, 

 where the canal's mouth is proposed to be. This harbour lies between Mostapetta 

 Point and Moosel islet, lengthwaj's on the plan ; whilst its north and south limits 

 are respectively at Poonamudum town and Moolee islet, the entrance, in which there 

 is now a depth of three fathoms at high water, being about a mile and a half to the 

 east of the last-named islet. The anchorage is well protected against the southerly 

 swell of the monsoon by the coral islets and connecting reefs, extending from Vali- 

 nookani Point to Rameswaram. 



On the American Arctic Eccpedition . Bi/ Capt. Ward, jR.iV. 



Exjiloration of the Headivaters of the Maraium.. 

 By M. Arthur Wertherman. 



Captain Ga^mier's E.tpedition up the Ca^nhoja. 

 By Colonel Henry Yule, C.B., President. 



In this paper the author described the progress of the French Expedition up the 

 Camboja river, which was sanctioned in the end of 1805 by M. Chasseloup- 

 Laubat, then ISIinister of Marine, and also President of the Geographical Society of 

 Paris. The object of this Expedition was to discover the nature and resources of 

 the region in whicli the French had planted a colony, and also to extend French 

 influence in that direction. But few Europeans had previously ascen4ed the 

 river, so that the Expedition had practically a virgin field for exploration. The 

 party started from Saigon on the 5th of June, 1866, and included Capt. De laGrtSe, 

 the chief, Lieut. Garnier, second in command and geographer, Thorel and Joubert, 

 nav}^ surgeons and naturalists, Delaporte, a young naval officer, as artist, and 

 De Carn6, a young civilian. There were also four European soldiers and sailors, 

 but they were all eventually sent back, and natives employed in their stead. Pro- 

 ceeding first to the neighourhood of Udong, near the Great Lake, as it is called, 

 they then directed their course to Cratieh in 12° 28', distant 300 miles from the 

 mouth of the river. Here they took to canoes for the ascent, which was at first 

 favourable, but was afterwards rendered difficult by rapids and cataracts, the river 

 being also broken by a vast number of islands. Above the cataracts the channel 

 became nan-ower, and the islands gradually ceased. Difficulties with regard to 

 passports were also felt, and a variety of causes rendered travelling backwards and 

 forwards several times imperative. Instruments also that were necessar}' to suc- 

 cess, and that had been promised them, had not arrived, and now, to add to their 

 troubles, an insurrection broke out which closed the river below. Lieut. Garnier 

 volunteered to make his way by land to the Delta, where it was expected that both 

 passports and instruments would be found. lie started on the 10th of Januarj', 

 1867, and, after a perilous journey, reached the French gunboat stationed on the 

 frontier. The passports were found, though the instruments were still missing ; and 

 on the 8tli of February Garnier once more started for the upper country. On the 

 lOtii of March he rejoined his party at a place called Huten, in the pro-vince of 

 Khemarat, having travelled something like 1100 miles since quitting them. This 

 fatiguing j ourney has added a large and Ijefore quite unexplored tract to the surveys 

 resulting from the Expedition. On quitting Huten, the river turns more and more 

 westward and forms the first immense elbow, hitherto quite unsuspected (running 

 east and west for nearly 4° of longitude), in about the latitude of 180° north. As 

 far as Vienchang, the country traversed by the river is an immense plain, rarely 

 broken by a few mountain-ridges. A short distance above Vienchang, the Mekong 

 is found definitively shut in between two ranges of hills, and instead of its breadth 

 being measured by miles, it is contained in a channel of •'300 or 600 yards wide. 

 Having got on the borders of the Ava territory, the party found that their most 

 serious difficulties commenced. The Burmese officials offered obstructions, and the 

 rainy season added severely to the fatigues of the way, while the extortions of the 

 natives caused them additional trouble. But at last they reached Kiang Hung, 



