THE SIAMESE MALAY STATES. 55 



during' dinner. His wife knew a few words of English learnt in 

 Penang where their son is being- educated at the Brothers' 

 »School. The Commissioner is a person of great importance 

 being over the local governors and corresponding with Bangkok 

 frequently. 



Sunday, 16th December. — We had arranged to go early 

 with Mr. ROSS CLUNIES, Superintendent of Mines, to see a new 

 road, but we found carriages ready and the Commissioner pre- 

 pared to show us round himself. We were driven about a mile 

 along a grass covered road till we were brought to a stop by an 

 unbridged stream. This afforded a good example of what we 

 found very common in these Siamese places. Roads, bridges, 

 and improvements generally are talked of but not made. Every- 

 thing bad is attributed to the late Governor. All sorts of 

 wonderful schemes are going to be carried out by the present 

 man. The old Governor for instance allowed Chinese to bury 

 where they liked. The hills were allowed to be cleared of 

 jungle for hill padi. Anyone could dig for tin anywhere, etc. 

 The old Governor is said to be responsible for the tumble down 

 building which serves as the Post Office aud so on. 



The explanation for allowing this stream to be unbridged 

 was that all the timber obtained from Penang and Singapore 

 which was lying ready was burnt one night owing to a lamp 

 falling. We were told there was no stone available though I 

 saw plenty within a quarter of a mile. We passed the house of 

 the Superintendent of Police. Mr. HAETNELL, lent from the 

 Burma Police, who is at present on leave in England, 

 Mr. Clunies was also to have a house there and we climbed a 

 small hill chosen as the site for a house for the King of Siam. 

 It is nice open grass country interspersed with scrub. The 

 plans are said to be all ready but it is very doubtful if the house 

 will be built or the road ever completed as there is a newer 

 scheme for moving the town about two miles further away to 

 the bay near the Light- house island which is sheltered and is 

 said to have deep water. If this scheme is ever carried out 

 the site of the present towu will be given up to mining as it is 

 known to be rich in tin. We then drove to the Central Police 

 Station which was prepared for me to hold a Consular Court 

 and I arranged to be there at 11.30. From there we drove to 



