INDO-CHINESE CIVILIZATION. 103 



god Indra, accompanied by the two Apsaras, or celestial dancers of his paradise. 

 M. Delaporte had succeeded in collecting 300 photographs, forty casts in plaster 

 and a small number of original pieces of great value, when, on the ist day of 

 January he, as well as his second in staff, M. Farut, engineer, and one of his 

 draftsmen, M. Tille, were compelled to yield to the fever of the country and re- 

 turn to Saigon and enter the hospital, thence to embark on the first transport for 

 France. Although much reduced in strength, he was enabled to endure the 

 voyage, and is now a convalescent. 



The Commission, notwithstanding the departure of the chief officer, still con- 

 tinues its work. M. Delaporte delegated his command with his instructions to 

 Dr. Ernawhit, physician in the navy, assisted by M. Ghilardi, in charge of the 

 castings, and M. Laedhric, draughtsman and photographer. 



At the date of the i6th day of January the investigation of these explorers 

 was in active operation. The party, reduced to three Europeans, accompanied 

 by two interpreters, twelve native soldiers and several Cambodian and Siamese 

 mandarins, took the route of Batta-Bong, whence the party was shortly to embark 

 upon the frigate placed at his service by M. Le Myre de Vilers, its destination 

 being to reach the ruins northeast and to visit, afterward, the monuments situated 

 on the banks of the Me-kong. The operations may be continued until the mid- 

 dle of March, when the heat will become too intense and the weather too stormy 

 to permit Europeans to endure the severities of the climate. The Commission 

 will probably return to France by the end of April or the beginning of May. 



We hope that the entire recovery of M. Delaporte will soon permit him to 

 present, in person the results of his mission to the Socioty. At the same meet- 

 ing the Society received a very interesting communication from M. Lion Dru, 

 engineer, upon the opening of the Isthmus of Krou and the Peninsula of Malac- 

 ca. The Indo-Chinese Academic Society, desiring to assure to itself the neces- 

 sary aid in the explorations which it proposes to undertake in the Philippines, 

 Carolines and the Marianne Islands, as well as the researches which it is prose- 

 cuting in the archives and libraries of Spain, has solicited the patronage of H. M. 

 Alphonso XII, begging him to to take an interest in its proceedings, and to ac- 

 cept the title of High Protector. A member of the Council, Count Alphonso 

 Dilkan, has repaired to Madrid to present to the King a collection of the pro- 

 ceedings and a diploma of membership in the Society. His Majesty promptly 

 accorded to him the kindest reception, accepting the title thus presented him. 

 The King promised to the members of the Society his most cordial aid in its ex- 

 plorations in Spanish Malasia, and in their researches in the archives and the 

 libraries of his kingdom. 



