VISIT TO PUKET, ETC. 9 



try seems fall of tin. Among the low jungle bills cuttings 

 have been made and in the wet season the tin is washed down. 

 Naito has a large Chinese mining population and consists of a 

 long street. Hundreds of coolies were assembled and the 

 Gambling Farm was densely packed. Only Chinese are allowed 

 to gamble, not the Siamese. We looked in at the Ampur's 

 Office and then walked on a mile or so along a sort of road in 

 the direction of the highest hills (about 1,700 feet) through 

 which there is a pass where there is a wonderful acqueduct on 

 trestles across the valley constructed by Chinese for bringing 

 water to the mines. We had no time to go there but I have 

 seen a photograph of it. Returning to Naito we had some tea 

 at a Chinese Toukeh's. I asked what he thought of the road 

 He seemed hopeful and said it would be all right next year. 

 He added that it used to be worse but this I think is impossible. 

 There is a great deal of traffic on it, a stream of mining coolies, 

 a good many buffalo carts and some gharries such as are used 

 in Province Wellesley. Naito is famous for its water melons 

 which are sent to Penang. One of the duties of the Ampur, 

 who is a sort of District Officer, is to report on mining applica- 

 tions and find out if the land is owned by anyone. They get low 

 salaries, and are often corrupt. 



After saying goodbye I entered a small dug-out which was 

 hauled by 8 Siamese over a mud flat (dry) into the river or 

 creek, whence in a boat we went off to the Damrong Rat which 

 SlM Bee kindly placed at my disposal. He came on board to 

 see me off and at 8-30 we steamed out of the harbour. The 

 nephew accompanied me and I felt quite at home once more on 

 the Rat. I had been solemnly warned in writing on good 

 authority that the boilers of the Rat were pronouuced to be in a 

 dangerous condition and I was warned not to go in her. I had 

 however arranged to go in her aud it was only an additional 

 peril to a voyage in this rock-studded sea. I mentioned to Joo 

 KEAT that I had been told the boilers were rather old. He said 

 the Engineer of the Ran Ruk had patched them up and there 

 were to be new boilers next year. This was consoling. It was 

 blowing fresh but was not very rough. As we dodged among 

 some rocky islands I said " I suppose the Captain knows the 

 way?" 1 was informed that there were two Captains. After 



E. A.-Soc, No. 42. 1904. 



