FA rNA AND FLOFA, EATBURI, PETCHABUFL 141 



Paan Din, he having received orders to bring in the reported " angel.'' 



With the water rising steadily, the old route for supplies along 

 the bed of the Petchaburi river became impossible, and a new route 

 liad to be cut over the mountains. In three days we progressed two 

 miles and regained the East bank of the Petchaburi river again. I 

 ascended two hills here to get the lie of the country and find a possible 

 route to the boundary, and while camped hei'e an emaciated partj?" 

 rafted down in search of food. 



We endeavoured to bridge the flooded river bj' felling trees, but 

 tiually had to cross on a pontoon raft of bamboos, hauling it to and fro 

 with giant rattans. Even thus it was a perilous journey, and all 

 valuables had bamboo floats tied to them before beiug put aboard. 



Arrived at the far bank, further path cutting was necessar}', and 

 while we were doing this a pair of porcupines ran out of their burrow 

 and, gazing for a second, ran off. The burrow was situated some 100 

 metres up the hillside, and later on, endeavouring to smoke them out, 

 the half-gnawed lower jaw of a pig was discovered in the burrow. No 

 records were kept of porcupines obtained, but I presume they are of the 

 same species as those obtained at Hua Hin, viz, Hi/strix grotei. 



Crossing a ridge, we descended into a tributar}' stream flowing 

 from the West, and ascending this for a day's march, made camp at a 

 spot showing fresh tracks of tapir, and the bed place of one of them 

 was found some 150 metres up the hillside. Tapirs appear to have the 

 habit, in common with the great cats, of scratching up the ground with 

 the hind feet, and fi'equentl}^ deposit their excrement at the bases of 

 trees. They are never, I believe, intentional!)' shot by jungle folk, who 

 look upon thest^ r.ither defenceless creatures as peculiar. They allege 

 that the Creator, having devised all other beasts to his entire 

 satisfaction, had left over numerous remnants of clay. Taking 

 these in his hands, he rolled them all up together, exclaiming 

 '•p'som-sett".* Hence the tapir, with four toes in front, and three on 

 the hind feet as in the rhinoceros, and in other parts superficially- 

 resembling some other animals. 



On the return of the coolies sent back to the depot for rice, 

 camp was again shifted up on to a ridge of 900 metres elevation. 



* Literally, -'the uiixing is finished." 



