JOURNEY THROUGH LAOS FROM BANGKOK TO UBON. 109 
proaching a chain of mountains which we should have to 
cross in order to reach the plateau of Ubon. About half past 
four we emerged in an extensive clearing covered with reeds 
which were still green; we judged that we should here find 
the water we wanted so much, and we found accordingly a 
clear and abundant supply. 
a 
Friday, 7th—We reached Puthai-saman at a tolerably 
early hour. Puthai-saman was formerly an important town, 
or perhaps rather an imposing temple erected to the worship 
of Buddha. It is one of those monuments of Cambodia which 
are so much renowned, and which astonish all travellers by 
their original and beautiful architecture. These monuments 
indicate the existence, among the people who conceived and 
carried them out, of a very advanced degree of civilization. We 
were tempted to inspect one of these precious specimens of the 
architecture of the KAmers, as savants would say. 
It was not more than eight o’clock when we reached the 
east gate of the ruined city, which is flanked on its four sides 
by an enormous moat filled with water, the breadth of which 
is at least from thirty to fortv métres. The sides of the moat 
are composed of enormous blocks of Bien-hoa stone and have a 
slope of about forty-five degrees. Everything was hidden from 
view by large trees, creepers, shrubs, and high grass which 
have taken possession of the locality. We eamped outside the 
east gate. While breakfast was being got ready, I penetrated 
into the middle of the ruins. I shail not undertake to give a 
very exact description of them. ‘This has already been done 
by the numerous learned travellers who have written about the 
ruins of Angkor-vat and Angkor-lom. The plan, the build- 
ings, the details, are the same in all. Everything has been re- 
produced, down to the smallest piece of carving. These ruins 
differ one from another only in area. Puthai-saman seems to 
be Angkor-vat on a reduced scale. 
Follow me then step by step through the midst of colossal 
statues lying on the ground, stepping over a fragment of fallen 
wall, or a tree lying prostrate on the ruins. I reached the 
east gate by an immense causeway or bridge spanning the 
moat which I have just mentioned. On both sides, and an- 
