20 Mission to the Court of Siam. ["No. 97. 



ter as the last two or three days, still at an average distance of 

 about two days from the sea. Cutting across the skirts of the 

 plain, by which we have saved a day, as it is two days by the high 

 road from Ban-ta-chang to Nakouchathee, we crossed in the 

 course of the day eight muddy lakes or long pools of water, with 

 mud, weeds, and water, varying from 2 or 3 to 6 or 8 feet deep ; 

 the worst one we crossed in a small boat just capable of holding 

 two persons ; we passed also seven straggling villages, but as they 

 were within the belt of trees, we had no opportunity of judging 

 of their extent, except by inference, as though there was a good 

 deal of cultivation it was perhaps less than the two previous 

 days, the cattle and buffaloes rather more numerous. We saw 

 two herds of perhaps 200, the others consisting of a few, say 

 four herds of 10 or 12. I was told by our guide to-day, that 

 the best buffaloes sell for 10 or 12 tickels, and good bullocks, 

 about the same price, though as much as 20 tickels is some- 

 time paid for a choice cart bullock, inferior at 6 or 7> as cattle 

 are cheaper near Camboorie, but not abundant in any of the 

 southern provinces. There were a few people at work in the 

 paddy fields, but all their thrashing floors seem small, as if the 

 cultivation in the neighbouring villages was principally for 

 their own consumption ; the largest floor we have seen is at 

 this place, where there is a stack of paddy ready to be trodden 

 out, which my agricultural people estimate at 1500 Burman 

 baskets, and I was told in crossing the fields to-day that it 

 sold at about 9 tickels for 66^ Burman baskets, but their 

 measure seems arbitrary and uncertain. On arriving here 

 the first person we met in the village ( for it does not contain 

 more than 200 houses) told us that the Myo-won was at 

 the north end of it, preparing the zayat for us ; and on arriving 

 here we found by the chips and new thatch that it had been 

 new roofed yesterday. Just as my people were going in to the 

 Myo-won to report my arrival, the Tseetkay and town officers 

 came out to inquire who I was, where I came from, and where 

 I was going ; though by their preparations they were certainly 

 aware of our coming. I satisfied them on these points, and asked 

 if the Myo-won of Pra-pree had not sent, as he had promised me 

 he would do, to the officers here, stating the purport of my 



