588 Excursions to the Eastward. [July, 



The Chinese of Penang export from Trang tin, a little ivory (which 

 is contraband,) bird's nest, hogs, poultry, and rice. A Chuliah or jaur 

 Pakan* manages the raja's mercantile transactions. The river is quite 

 undefended. From Khoan Tani Ligor can be reached in seven stagesf. 

 Tigers abound on the route. Expresses are generally conveyed by 

 parties of seven men, who make the best of their way without always 

 keeping together, the strongest carrying the express last and leaving 

 the weaker behind. 



21st. About midday the Than Palat or superintendent of the dis- 

 trict with his two colleagues came on board. They appeared under 

 considerable alarm. 



Letters were despatched by their assistance to their master at Ligor, 

 for it was found that these men had less authority vested in them than 

 the Governor of Keddah possessed. The apprehensions of an attack by 

 the Burmese had not yet subsided here, and the news of the British 

 having gone to war with that people gave evident satisfaction to these 

 officers. The Than Palat observed, that although the Siamese and 

 the Burmese had a common origin, and have now one religion in com- 

 mon, yet their minds never in any manner allied. The English, they 

 observed, could easily accommodate themselves to Chinese and Siamese 

 customs, because they eat the same kind of food. These men were 

 well dressed in white silk crape vests, with short sleeves. The under 

 dress was composed of checquered silk. They partook freely of wine 

 and biscuit, and became soon so loquacious that some state secrets escap- 

 ed them, or which they doubtless considered such, although in reality 

 as regarded us amounting to nothing. 



We left Trang on the 26th, and after encountering rainy and boiste- 

 rous weather, rendered more annoying from the want of any decent 

 accommodation on board, we reached Junkceylon on the 29th. 



The harbour of this island is too well known to require a description 

 here. There is neither village or hut on the beach, and at first sight 

 a stranger might suppose that the island had been deserted. After 

 searching about for some time in the boat for the Thartia stream or 

 creek, we observed a boat with natives in it close to the beach. On see- 

 ing us they took to flight although armed with muskets and other wea- 



* The descendant of a Chuliah or Coromandel man and a Malay woman, 

 f 1 Tha cheen. "} 



2 Don thamrna praang. | 



3 Kroong mo-an. )• No population. 



4 Kassang. 



5 Chong khatu J 



