10 MESSRS. ROBINSON AND KLOSS ON 



work is now complete, wliile tlic road is also metalled in parts. 

 Except for the fact tliat the bridges are tem2:)orary and much below 

 the general level of the formation, the road would even now be 

 available for light motor cars in dry wej.ther. For the last few 

 months the work ha.l be'en under tlie supervision of the Siamese 

 Department of Ways, but it seems doubtful when the road 

 Avill finally be open to traffic. The route practically follows the line 

 of the Kra ship-canal — a project nmch mooted in the first half of the 

 19th century. Thougli the summit level is Ioav, less than 300 feet, 

 the country is very rugged, and it does not require the eye of an 

 engineer to see Avhat a stupendous undertaking a sea-level canal 

 would be, rivalling even the Panama Canal, while lack of adequate 

 ■water would probably render a lock system impossible. The idea, 

 howe\er, has long entered the limbo of forgotten and chimerical 

 projects and is not likely ever to be renewed. 



From Tapli the road follows the river to the village of 

 Pakchan through rice fields, a distance of some 2i-3 miles. It then 

 leaves cultivation and runs for some miles through dry, thorny and 

 deciduous jungle, lacking in interest, until it reaches a narrow gorge, 

 with a pleasant little stream purling through it, where the vegetation 

 is more of an evergreen character. This is maintained to the summit 

 level, about ten miles from Tapli, and on to Tasan about a mile 



furtlier. 



Tasax. 



Tasan, which is in the province of Chumpon and outside the 

 Monthon of Puket in which we had hitherto been working, is pleasant- 

 ly situated among low hills covered with evergreen forest at the 

 confluence of two clear-water streams, and had been made his "head- 

 (juarters by the Engineer-in-charge of the road, who courteously 

 assisted us in many ways. Here, by the banks of the lesser stream, 

 in the shade of some large trees, we established a camp which was 

 cool and pleasant and free from intrusion. We collected many interest- 

 ing species of birds, mammals and rejDtilcs, including the rare 

 warbler, Tribura, the clouded leopard, Fells nebidum, and the most 

 northerly known specimen of the long-nosed sc^uirrel, Hhinosciurus, 



JOURX. XAT. HIST. SOC. SIAM. 



