AN ACCOUNT OF A JOURNEY ACROSS THE MALAY PENINSULA. 41 



in sight of Mergui next forenoon. The town contains about 

 15,000 inhabitants, and is the capital of the southern part of 

 Lower Burma. The Government houses are situated on a 

 small plateau that rises from the town with the native 

 houses — mostly built of wood — round it reaching down to 

 the water's edge. The inhabitants are mostly Burmese, but 

 Chinamen are the active traders. 



Nuan went ashore and procured me shoes and other 

 necessaries, and fitted me out more as a Chinaman than as a 

 European, to face civilization. I was most hospitably enter- 

 tained by Mr. BATTEN and Mr. HUGHES, and after a few days 

 left on board the S. S. Mergui to return to Bangtaphan via 

 the isthmus of Kra. 



