JOURNEY THROUGH LAOS FROM BANGKUK TO UBON. 113 
cross the mountain. In two days we shall be there; the vil- 
lage of Phra Sat Sing, towards which we are advancing, is the 
last which we shall pass before arriving at the range. We 
passed the night under some large sheds, built to accommo- 
date a white elephant which is to ‘be brought down from Bas- 
sai to Bangkok. I went to look for water, and found a pool ; 
a wolf made off as I approached, leaving the carcase of a deer 
almost intact. This was at once flayed, and the meat spread 
out in the sun to be dried and salted. Pére Xavier then 
came in, having obtained the promise of two additional carts. 
Not tor f from Phra Sat Sing is a very ancient ruined pagoda. 
Local tradition makes it co-eval with the erection of Phuthai- 
saman, partly because of the similarity of the building ma- 
terials in the two places, and partly because of certain carvings. 
This ruin did not seem to me to present any great interest. 
Monday, 10th.—A journey under difficulties. The bullocks 
were vicious, the wheels came to grief, the spare cattle went 
astray and had to be hunted np, the rice was left behind in 
one of the carts which was in the rear, etc., etc. Evening saw 
us at Huai-pha-sai.tia. 
Tuesday, \lth.—A pleasent journey. Pére XavizR was 
lost, but turned up again safely. 
Wednesday, 12th.—At 8 o’clock we commenced the ascent. 
The little range of hills which we had to cross is neither high 
nor broad, the highest point does not exceed probably 200 
métres, and a good waiker could easily get across in four 
or five hours. But the road is something indescribable, a 
periect goat’s path; the carts had to follow it, nevertheless. 
We tackled it accordin nely, dragging the carts, one by one, 
from one boulder to another, by main force. At about 2 
o’clock we had got over about 200 métres of road and had 
attained an elevation of about 50 métres. A good meal 
awaited the labourers, and all did justice to it; the bullocks 
were sent to graze at the foot of the hills. In _ the evening, 
we continued our journey, following a little valley which led 
to another hill, which may be considered as one of the peaks 
of the pass over which we crossed. We passed the night at 
the top of this. 
