MALAYAN PENINSULA. 145 



inundations of its river. The first rocky formation of any consequence 

 northward of Banlcok, the capital, is at Prahdt, three days by water, 

 north-east of the old capital, and where there is a famous impression of a 

 foot of Buddha. The Siamese priests have long imposed this sculpture 

 on their followers, who never doubt their assertion, that the legislator 

 alluded to stamped the impression with his own foot. 



This Prahdt has been made on the solid rock [a granite, if my in- 

 formation is correct], which protrudes at top, and a stair has been cut out 

 of the rock to ascend by. A copper ore is said to be found on the flat 

 grounds near this place. About fifteen or sixteen miles above Prahdt, 

 there is alow hill called Phra Chauja, where granite, from my information, 

 prevails, and where the natives fancy they can trace on the face of a rock, 

 the lineaments of Buddha. Iron ores are found here. At Napphahuri, on 

 the south of the road to Laos, large quantities of a very white argillaceous 

 earth are obtained, and red ores of sulphur are said to be brought from 

 this quarter. At Khorat they use, it is said, a plum-pudding stone, or 

 breccia, for building ; and at Napphahwi, in this quarter, they find yel- 

 low, red, and white ores of arsenic ( Realgar?) a metal which enters largely 

 into the Siamese Pharmacopoeia. The range of hills, stretching N. E. 

 from a point in about N. Lat. 16° on the east bank of the river of Siam, 

 yields ore of iron in great abundance ; and the Chinese have, therefore, 

 established a large party at TJiasung, a town lying on a branch 

 of the river. They manufacture various coarse articles of cutlery, 

 which are rejected by the Siamese themselves, in favour of foreign 

 importations of that metal. Iron mines exist also at Sokkothai, higher 

 up the river. The range of hills dividing Siam from South Laos, is 

 continuous, according to every account I have received from native 

 travellers, who invariably go most of the journey by land. They 

 affirm, that there is no water communication across the country ; so 



o 2 that 



