Chapter XXXI

Apathy of Siamese officials—Proposal to survey passes between Siam
and Burmah—Mr Webster’s offer—Preparations for boat-journey to
Bangkok—Boats and crew—Kindness of missionaries—Leave
Zimmé—Number of villages—Shan embroideries—Buying petticoats—An
evening bath—Shameless women—Preparing for the rapids—More
bargains—Scrambling for beads—Enter the defile—Magnificent
scenery—Geological changes—Underground rivers—Subsidence and
periods of unrest—An earthquake-belt—Limestone cliffs—A Chinese
smuggler—Roped down the rapids—Picturesque cliffs—Precipices a
mile high—A waterfall—Three pagodas—Offerings to demons—Spirits
of the jungle—Forming spirit-clans—Alluring travellers to
death—Lascivious spirits—M‘Leod’s route—Shooting dangerous
rapids—Kamook lumber-men—The pillar-rock—Pass to Ban Meh
Pik—Sketching the governor—Path to Maulmain—Searching for
rubies—A sambhur deer—Leave the defiles—Entrance of the Meh
Wung—Paths for the railway—Silver-mines—Reach Raheng, 390

CHAPTER XXXII.

The former governor in league with dacoits—Trouble on the
frontier—Dacoiting boats—Advice to a missionary—The governor of
Petchaburi—A petition to the king—Robbing the
people—Misgovernment of a Siamese province—Missionary’s opinion
of the king—Extraordinary floods in Siam—The seasons—Flood of
1878: villages washed away—Flood of 1831—Entering the palace in
boats—Boat-journeys from and to Bangkok, 406