FAUNA AND FLORA, BATBURI, PETCHABURL 133 



on the boundary in N. Lat 12° 54', and as a rule in that district the 

 boundary is over 1100 metres in height, rarely fa\ling below SCO 

 metres. There is an entire absence of plateau-like or undulating 

 ground, the mountains being steep sided, and the ridges or summits, 

 seldom more than 10 to 30 metres in breadth, falling away on either 

 gide to the valleys at slopes varying from 25 to 60 degrees. Generally 

 speaking the summits of ranges or ridges are from 300 to 500 metres 

 higher than the valleys directly beneath them. 



There is, thus, very little deep humus or water holding soil, 

 the greater part of the rainfall finding its way immediately to the 

 rivers, and accounting for the sudden floods to which these streams are 

 subject, it being no uncommon occurence for the Petchaburi river in 

 the rainy season to rise 20 feet in 12 hours, and 30 feet has been known 

 in the same period. The formation is granite with a few small and 

 isolated limestone outcrops. 



With the exception of iJ. offorafa, which is mainly confined to 

 the banks of running streams, and a species of Salix growing both on 

 the banks and in the shallows, the jungle is ver}' varied, but the 

 greater portion is dark and gloomy — the utidergrowth varying in 

 intensity according as the overhead foliage is light or heavy. Once off 

 the main game tracks it is usually necessary to cut one's way 

 when ascending to mountain tops for work. As previously 

 atated, the ridges slope away sharply on either side of the crest, but 

 no view is obtainable until extensive clearing has heen done. In the 

 same wa}'' in the valleys, if one required sunlight in camp to dr}' 

 clothes or dry up the land leeches, it was always neces.saiy to spend 

 some hours felling the timber and jungle, and then fre(jiieiitly, owiny 

 to the depth of the ravine, it was only possible to obtain 3 or 4 iiours 

 sunshine. 



The Karangs make a few paths in the vicinity of tlieir houses 

 and clearings, but otherwise the only paths available are those made by 

 the wild elephants. These cross and recross the streams every 50 or 

 100 yards but are otherwise frequently quite good. A few main tracks 

 ■were found leading over the less steep ranges — paths used by the ele- 

 phants during the rains when in search of bamlioo shoots, and leading 

 over dividing ranges from one valley to another, 



I propose to describe a couple of trips in that country which 

 will indicate its nature away from the main stream. 



