JOURNEY THROUGH LAOS FROM BANGKOK TO UBON. 107 
Kabin to Battambang. Constructed originally by a Phya 
(high Siamese official) to secure easy communication with 
the Cambodian provinces subject to Siam, this road might 
be of the greatest use to travellers. But since the date of 
its construction it has not received any repairs whatever, and 
the forest therefore is taking possession of it again. In this 
very year (1884) a telegraph line hes been erected along this 
road, over its entire length, by the agency of Frenchmen from 
Saigon (this line goes from Saigon to Bangkok). In the 
evening we camped at a pool called Nong Salika. <A caravan 
of Chinese traders from Sourin had established themselves 
before our arrival, and among them was the nephew of an old 
Chinese Christian whom I had known at Bangkok. He was 
travelling towards Kabin to sell skins, silk, ete., and intended 
to bring back with him cloth, hardware, etc. His corres- 
pondent at Kabin being a Christian, | entrusted him with 
a second letter for Bangkok. 
Thursday, 28th.—At 3 p.m. we reached the frontier of the 
province of Vathana. We were all fasting, and we esta- 
blished ourselves in the sheds which had been built for the 
workmen employed on the telegraph line. Night had al- 
ready fallen when we heard the sound of a band of men advanv- 
ing in our direction. Pere Xavier got up to see what was hap- 
pening, and saw a black massa few feet in front of him. 
““Who goes there?” ‘Phra Aphai.” Torches were bought 
and Pere Xavier then saw that the black mass was an ele- 
phant of the largest size followed by two smaller ones. The 
travellers were in search of a lodging for the night, and as 
there still remained one large shed unoccupied, they settled 
themselves down in that. 
friday, 29th —To-day we rested, and watched at our leisure 
the travellers of last night. Their chief is a Cambodian 
mandarin subordinate to Siam. Of the three elephants which 
he had with him, two were intended for the King of Siam as 
presents. 
The mandarin came to pay us a visit, and informed us of the 
object of his journey. He is, he said,-the son of Phya Auu- 
phat (a high official) and the second mandarin of the Province 
