THE EAST OF LOUANG PRABANG--NOTES OF TRAVELS--OBSERVATIONS FROM
BANGKOK TO LAOS--END OF THE JOURNAL--DEATH OF THE TRAVELLER.
The dress of the Laotians differs little from that of the Siamese. The
people wear the _langouti_ and a little red cotton waistcoat, or often
nothing at all. Both men and women go barefoot: their head-dresses are
like the Siamese. The women are generally better-looking than those of
the latter nation: they wear a single short petticoat of cotton, and
sometimes a piece of silk over the breast. Their hair, which is black,
they twist into a knot at the back of the head. The houses are built of
bamboos and leaves interwoven and raised upon stakes, and underneath is
a shelter for domestic animals, such as oxen, pigs, fowls, &c.
[Illustration:
Drawn by M. Janet Lange, from a Sketch by M. Mouhot
LAOTIAN WOMAN.]
The dwellings are, in the strictest sense, unfurnished, having neither
tables nor beds, nor, with few exceptions, even vessels of earth or
porcelain. They eat their rice made into balls out of their hands,
or from little baskets plaited with cane, some of which are far from
unartistic.
The crossbow and _sarbacane_ are the arms used in hunting, as well as
a kind of lance made of bamboo, and sometimes, but more rarely, the
gun, with which they are very skilful.
A RHINOCEROS-HUNT.
In the hamlet of Na-Lê, where I had the pleasure of killing a female
tiger, which with its partner was committing great ravages in the
neighbourhood, the chief hunter of the village got up a rhinoceros-hunt
in my honour. I had not met with this animal in all my wanderings
through the forests. The manner in which he is hunted by the Laotians
is curious on account of its simplicity and the skill they display.
Our party consisted of eight, including myself. I and my servants
were armed with guns, and at the end of mine was a sharp bayonet. The
Laotians had bamboos with iron blades something between a bayonet and a
poignard. The weapon of the chief was the horn of a sword-fish, long,
sharp, strong, and supple, and not likely to break.
Thus armed, we set off into the thickest part of the forest, with all
the windings of which our leader was well acquainted, and could tell
with tolerable certainty where we should find our expected prey. After
penetrating nearly two miles into the forest, we suddenly heard the
crackling of branches and rustling of the dry leaves. The chief went on
in advance, signing to us to keep a little way behind, but to have our
arms in readiness. Soon our leader uttered a shrill cry as a token that
the animal was near; he then commenced striking against each other two
bamboo canes, and the men set up wild yells to provoke the animal to
quit his retreat.
A few minutes only elapsed before he rushed towards us, furious at
having been disturbed. He was a rhinoceros of the largest size, and
opened a most enormous mouth. Without any signs of fear, but, on the
contrary, of great exultation, as though sure of his prey, the intrepid
hunter advanced, lance in hand, and then stood still, waiting for the
creature’s assault. I must say I trembled for him, and I loaded my gun
with two balls; but when the rhinoceros came within reach and opened
his immense jaws to seize his enemy, the hunter thrust the lance into
him to a depth of some feet, and calmly retired to where we were posted.
The animal uttered fearful cries and rolled over on his back in
dreadful convulsions, while all the men shouted with delight. In a
few minutes more we drew nearer to him; he was vomiting pools of
blood. I shook the chief’s hand in testimony of my satisfaction at his
courage and skill. He told me that to myself was reserved the honour
of finishing the animal, which I did by piercing his throat with my
bayonet, and he almost immediately yielded up his last sigh. The hunter
then drew out his lance and presented it to me as a souvenir; and in
return I gave him a magnificent European poignard.
[Illustration:
Drawn by M. Janet Lange, from a Sketch by M. Mouhot.
A CHIEF ATTACKING A RHINOCEROS IN THE FOREST OF LAOS.]
DIRECTIONS AND DISTANCES.
Oubon and Bassac lie W.N.W. from M. Pimaï. It takes eight days in the
rainy season to travel from this last town to Oubon, two more to reach
Bassac. To return occupies at least double that period, the current
being excessively strong.
The Ménam-Moune at Pimaï is 75 metres wide in the dry season; in the
rainy season it is from 6 to 7 metres in depth. There are in this
district iron, lignites, and trunks of petrified trees lying on the
ground, which even from a very short distance look like fallen trees in
a natural state.
Mgi-Poukham, inhabited by the Soués, is six days’ journey from Korat in
a south-easterly direction.
In the dry season the navigation of the river is impeded by sandbanks:
at some points the stream is tolerably wide, but in others choked with
sand.
From Korat to Pimaï, on an elephant, occupies two days: from Korat to
Thaison, two; to Sisapoune, two; to Josoutone, two days; to Oubon, four
days; to Bassac, four.
Direction E.N.E. from Korat; Poukiéau, N. of Chaiapume; Pouvienne, ten
degrees E. of Chaiapume; Dong-kaïe, N.E. by E. of Chaiapume; M. Louang
Prabang, N. of Chaiapume.
From Chaiapume to Vien-Tiane is fifteen days’ journey on foot towards
the N. and nine degrees E. M. Lôm, N.W. of Chaiapume; Petchaboune,
W.N.W. of Chaiapume; Bassac, E.S.E.
Bane Prom, a mountain situated in a valley nine miles across, is nearly
300 metres high. Bane Prom, a town. Menam Prom, a river nearly 2 metres
deep and 40 wide, rises in M’Lôm, and empties itself in the Menam Chie,
in the province of Koukhine. Bane-Rike, between Poukiéau and Kone-Sane,
four geographical leagues from each place. Menam-Rike is a torrent
which empties itself into the Prom.
The vegetation is monotonous--everywhere resinous trees, chiefly of
small size. There is a complete absence of birds; insects are in great
number and variety, musquitoes and ox-flies in myriads. I suffer
dreadfully from them, and am covered with swellings and blisters from
their bites; and they torment our beasts so much that we sometimes fear
it will drive them mad. The sensibility of the skin of the elephant is
extraordinary, but these creatures are very skilful in brushing off
their tormentors by means of a branch held in their trunks. I do not
know what would become of me without these good and docile animals, and
I cannot tell which to admire most, their patience or intelligence.
From Kone-Sane to Vien-Tiane is eight good days’ journey in a
north-easterly direction.
To M’Lôm, four days W.N.W.
To Petchaboune, four days W.S.W.
To Kôrat, four days E.S.E.
To Chaiapume, four days E.S.E.
To Poukiéau, four days E.S.E.
To Leuye, three days’ rapid travelling N.N.E. over mountains.
From Kone-Sane to Koukhène, two days’ rapid journey E.S.E.
From Koukhène to Chenobote, one day’s journey S.E.
On the road from Kone-Sane to Leuye, near the former place, is a stream
called Oué-Mouan, and a torrent, Oué-Kha.
Bane-Nayaan, a village, five geographical leagues off, two days’
journey, with high mountains to cross, difficult of ascent for the
elephants. On the first day your course is over peaked mountains,
volcanic, and like those of the Khao Khoc. The next day you meet with
calcareous and volcanic hills; in the valleys sandstone, jungle, and
fertile ground.
Mgi-Lôm, four days’ journey west of Bane-Nayaan. From this last place
to Bane-Napitone runs the stream Oué-Yan.
Menam-Fon-Khau, passed over twice, a geographical league.
In the provinces of Kone-Sane and of Leuye a great number of the
inhabitants are affected with goître. Is this caused by the water from
the mountains and the mineral substances with which it is impregnated?
I suppose so.
From Bane-Napitone to B. Proune you have to cross high mountains. Half
way up one of these is a fine view extending over a wooded plain to the
north-west in the direction of Nong Khaï, and bounded at a distance of
twenty-five or thirty miles by a chain of mountains; whilst in every
other direction you are surrounded by hills varying in height from 300
to 900 feet. The sandstone and chalky rocks of these heights have taken
most picturesque forms.
From B. Proune to B. Thiassène runs a stream five leagues long, in a
north-westerly direction, and which is navigable for boats. It flows on
towards Leuye, and empties itself in the Mekon at M. Sione-Kane, which
is ten degrees N.N.E. of N. Thiassène. From B. Thienne to Leuye are
hills easy to climb, with vegetation similar to those of Chantaboune
and Brelum, forests of bamboo: the rocks are calcareous, with a small
mixture of sandstone.
The Menam-Rope and Menam-Ouaie are two large rivers, deep in the
rainy season, which empty themselves into the Menam-Leuye: also
several torrents. Villages: Bane-Kataname, Bane-Poune, Bane-Nahane,
Bane-Pathiou.
From Bane-Thienne to Nong Khane you go in an easterly direction.
Bane-Poua is the first village in a four days’ journey: here are
forests, jungles, and a small hill. The plain is barren and desolate in
appearance.
Towns and provinces of Louang Prabang in coming down: Thienne-Khane,
Nong-Kaïe, Saïabouri, Outène, Lakhone-Penome, Mouke-Dahane, Emarate,
and Bassac.
I am literally pillaged by these petty mandarins and chiefs of
villages, and have to give away guns, sabres, lead, powder, colours,
pencils, and even my paper; and then, after having received their
presents, they will not put themselves out of their way to do me the
smallest service. I would not wish my most deadly foe, if I had one,
to undergo all the trouble and persecution of this kind which I have
encountered.
The Laotian priests are continually praying in their pagodas; they make
a frightful noise, chanting from morning to night. Assuredly they ought
to go direct to Paradise.
Between Oué-Saïe and Thienne-Khane the villages are: Bane-Tate, B.
Oué-Sake, B. Na-Saor, B. Poun, B. Na-Poué, Nam-Khane, near B. Nmïen;
near Kenne Thao, between Bane Nam-Khane and Bane-Noke, is a torrent
called Nam-Kheme.
Observations taken at Kéte-Tao: Vienne-Thiane, eastward; Mg. Nane,
N.N.W.; Tchieng-Maïe, N.W.; Louang Prabang, N. of Kenne Thao.
Mg. Dane-Saie, four days’ journey W.S.W. of Bane-Mien; Lôme, four days’
journey W.S.W. of Bane-Mien.
Villages: Bane Thène, Nha-Khâ--two roads; Nâ-Thon--two roads; Nâ-Di,
Nâ-Moumone, Nâ-Ho, Bane Maïe, B. Khok.
The river Menam-Ouan runs in a north-westerly direction to within a
day’s journey of the Menam-Sake. A high mountain lies between them.
In Lôme the villages are: Bane Tali, B. Yao, B. Khame, B. Pouksiéau,
B. Name-Bongdiéau, B. Nong-Boa, B. Na-Sane-Jenne, B. Nam-Soke, B.
Ine-Uun, Dong-Saïe, Bane Vang-Bane, B. Nang-Krang, Mg. Lôme-Kao, Bane
Koué-Nioune. Between M. Lôme-Maïe and Thiene-Khame are Bane Oué-Saïe,
B. Rate, B. Na-Shî, B. Oué-Pote, B. Na-Sao, B. Loke, B. Na-Niaô,
Thiene-Khame.
Between Kenne Thao and Bane Mien are B. Kone Khêne, B. Pake-Oué, B.
Khène-Toune.
The Mekon is ten leagues east of Kenne Thao.
M. Phitchaïe eight days’ journey west from Bane-Nmien.
At Bane-Nmien I found the Laotians even more ungrateful and egotistical
than elsewhere; they not only will give you nothing--one has no right
to expect it--but after taking presents from you, they will make you no
return whatever.
The Menam-Ouan rises at Dane-Saïe, S.S.W. from Kenne Thao, and joins
the Mekon E.N.E. from that town.
From Kenne Thao to Louang Prabang is a distance of seven geographical
or ten ordinary leagues, and a journey of ten or eleven days, quick
travelling.
Mg. Pakhaie is north of Kenne Thao. From this place to Bane-Na-Ine is
one day’s journey; to Bane-Moun-Tioum two days.
Near this latter place, where I have found a greater number of insects
than anywhere else in my travels here, is the river Nam-Shan. It is a
continual ascent to this part.
Near Bane-Na-Ine auriferous quartz occurs. The jungle here is thick.
Villages in the neighbourhood of Moun-Tioume, consisting of from
fifteen to thirty huts: Bane-Hape, a league to the north; Rape-Jâ, the
same distance southwards; Tate-Dine, one league to the north-east;
Nam-Poune, half a league south-east.
In Bane Moun-Tioume are twenty-six houses.
Route from B. Moun-Tioume to B. Kouke-Niéou:--This last village is
composed of eighty houses. There is in it an abandoned pagoda, and it
is environed by woods and hills. A stream, called the Nam-Peniou, flows
past it and joins the Nam-Shan. There is plenty of rice on the hills,
but not in the plains.
From Bane-Kouke-Niéou[7] there are continual hills. We are tormented
by immense numbers of leeches and ox-flies. The jungle is as thick as
in Dong Phya Phai. We passed the night on the banks of a stream, the
Nam-Koïe, which we had several times crossed, but could get no sleep on
account of the leeches; and the following night, by the same river, we
were equally pestered.
[7] At Kouke-Niéou I sold my horse for 13 ticals, as he could no longer
climb the hills, which became more and more difficult.
Bane-Oué-Eu is a small hamlet in the immediate vicinity of
Kouke-Niéou-Paklaïe, a very pleasant town, apparently prosperous. The
houses are clean and elegant.
Paklaïe is two geographical leagues distant from Muang-Moune-Wâ. The
district is very mountainous, with rice-grounds on some of the slopes.
We several times had to cross the Laïe, which is 35 metres wide, and
rushes along like a torrent, with a great noise. There are, about here,
many precipices. It was wonderful to see the elephants climb, descend,
and hang on by their trunks to the rocks without ever making a false
step.
I have quite an admiration and regard for these noble animals. How
remarkable are their strength and intelligence! What should we have
done without them amidst these vast forests and rugged mountains?
Mgi-Roun, district of M. Louang, a day’s journey W.N.W. of
Mgi-Moune-Wâ; there are seventy houses in it.
The villages near to Moune-Wâ are Bane-Bia, 2 miles westward;
Bane-Name-Pi, two days’ journey; Thiême-Khâne, one day; B. Nam-Kang,
one day. These villages are all on the road from Mgi-Moune-Wâ to
Phixaïe. This place lies W.S.W. from Muang-Moune-Wâ, and five days’
journey off, and three days’ journey from Nam-Pate. The country between
Mgi-Moune-Wâ and Nam-Pate is mountainous; from the latter place to
Phixaïe is also hilly ground, and is part of the direct line from
Bangkok to Mgi-Louang.[8]
[8] These particulars were received by me at Moune-Wâ from inhabitants
of Nam-Pate.
From Mgi-Moune-Wâ to Bane-Nakhau is a good day’s journey over a
mountain country, through woods of resinous trees and high grass; but
the jungle predominates. Auriferous sand occurs in the Nam-Poune; also,
though less rich, in the Nam-Ouhan and other streams.
Bane-Phêke and B. Nalane lie between B. Nakhan and Mgi-Nam-Poune.
Mgi-Nane is six days’ journey W.N.W. of Moune-Wâ. The first day, to
Mgi-Roun; second day, through woods and crossing streams, to Nan-Pi
(here are black-bellied Laotians); third day, Bane-Khune; fourth day,
Bane-Dhare; fifth day, B. Done; sixth day, Tuke.
3rd September.--We left Bane-Nakhau, and arrived about midday at a
rice-field, where we passed the night. All the women here have goîtres,
often enormous and most repulsive. Even young girls of nine or ten are
to be seen with them, but rarely the men.
About Tourair there are woods and thick jungles, and the river
Nam-Poune, 60 metres broad, runs near. The hills here are of moderate
height. I saw some pretty young girls with intelligent faces; but
before the females attain the age of eighteen or twenty their features
become coarse, and they grow fat. At five-and-thirty they look like old
witches.
Two rivers unite here, the Nam-Poune from the west, and the Nam-Jame
from the north.
On my route from B. Nakhau to B. Na-Lê, I spent the night of the 4th of
September in a hut at B. Nakone. On the 5th I reached B. Na-Lê, passing
through several hamlets, Na-Moune, Na-Koua, and Na-Dua. Bane-Na-Lê
contains only seven houses.
The streams are, first, the Nam-Jame, crossed and recrossed several
times; the Nam-Quême, Nam-Itou, Nam-Pâne; the Nam-Khou, near
Bane-Nakone.
The road lies across high mountains, with jungles full of monkeys
uttering their plaintive cries. I was told of a royal tiger at Na-Lê,
which, in the space of four months, had killed two men and ten
buffaloes. I had the satisfaction of killing the tigress.
5th September, 1861.--From this date M. Mouhot’s observations cease;
but until the 25th of October he continued to keep his meteorological
register.
The last dates inscribed in his journal are the following:--
20th September.--Left B......p.
28th.--An order was sent to B...., from the council of Louang Prabang,
commanding the authorities to prevent my proceeding farther.
15th October. 58 degrees Fahr.--Set off for Louang Prabang.
16th.--....
17th.--....
18th.--Halted at H....
19th.--Attacked by fever.[9]
[9] The handwriting of this entry is evidently much affected by his
state of weakness.
29th.--Have pity on me, oh my God....!
DEATH OF THE AUTHOR.
These words, written with a trembling and uncertain hand, were the last
found in M. Mouhot’s journal. His faithful Phrai asked him several
times if he did not wish to write anything to his family, but his
invariable answer was, “Wait, wait; are you afraid?” The intrepid
traveller never for one moment thought that death was near; he had been
spared so far, and he doubtless thought he should recover, or he might
have made an effort to write again. He died November 10th, 1861, at 7
o’clock in the evening, having been previously insensible for three
days, before which time, however, he had complained of great pains
in his head. All the words which he uttered during the delirium of
the last three days were in English, and were incomprehensible to his
servants.
He was buried in the European fashion, in the presence of his two
servants, who never left him. It is the custom of the country to hang
up the dead bodies to the trees, and there leave them.
This account of the last illness of my dear brother I received from
his friends at Bangkok, particularly Dr. Campbell, to whom his two
faithful servants hastened at once to give all details. His collections
and other property they took to M. d’Istria, the French consul. Dr.
Campbell kindly took charge of the manuscripts, and transmitted them to
his widow in London.
CONCLUSION.
The family of M. Mouhot have already expressed their gratitude to those
who were useful and kind to the traveller. The two good servants who
remained with him to the last also merit their thanks; and, if these
lines should fall into the hands of Phrai, I wish him to know how much
gratitude and esteem we feel for him, and for his companion Deng. We
wish them every happiness in return for their devotion to my dear
brother.
C. MOUHOT.
[Illustration: SIAMESE MONEY.]
APPENDIX.
LIST OF THE NEW SPECIES OF MAMMALS DISCOVERED BY THE LATE M. MOUHOT IN
CAMBODIA AND SIAM.
BY DR. ALBERT GÜNTHER.
_a._ MONKEYS.
1. _Hylobates pileatus._
MAMMALS.
_Male._--BLACK: back of the head, back of the body, and front hind legs
greyish; forehead and circumference of the black spot on the crown
paler grey: hands and tuft of long hair round the organ of generation
white.
The three specimens in this state are all nearly of the same size, and
appear to be adult. They only vary slightly in the size of the coronal
spot, and in the extent of the white colour on the hands.
_Female._--White: back brownish white, slightly waved; a large ovate
spot on the crown, and a very large ovate blotch on the chest, black.
These specimens are all of one size, and appear to be adult; three
have the teats well developed. They vary in the size of the black
chest-spot, and in the colour of the whiskers, thus:--
a, b. White: spot on the chest moderate, reaching only half-way down
the abdomen: whiskers on side of face white.
c. Brownish: spot on chest larger, reaching further down the abdomen:
sides of the face black: a few black hairs on the throat.
d. Brownish: side of the face, under the chin, and the whole of the
throat, chest, and belly black: teats well developed.
_Young._--Uniform dirty white, without any black spot on chest or head.
All those varieties were found by M. Mouhot on a small island near
Cambodia. (Described by Dr. J. E. Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1861, p. 135.)
_b._ CARNIVORES.
2. _Herpestes rutilus._
Grizzled chestnut-brown, variegated with black and white rings on the
hairs: the head and limbs darker chestnut, with scarcely any hair, and
very narrow white rings: lips and throat, and under part of the body,
uniform duller brown; the nape with longer hairs, forming a broad short
crest.
Cambodia. (Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1861, p. 136.)
c. SQUIRRELS.
3. _Sciurus Mouhotii._
Grizzled grey brown, with pale rings: lips, chin, throat, and under
side of body and inside of limbs white: the upper part of the sides
with a longitudinal black streak, edged above and below with a narrow
white line: tail blackish, whitish washed, hairs elongate, brown, with
two broad black rings and a white tip: ears simple, rounded.
The species differs from most of the squirrels of the size, in the
three streaks being on the upper part of the back, and in the dark
colour between the two colours of the upper and under surface.
Cambodia. (Named by Dr. J. E. Gray, after M. Mouhot, and described in
Proc. Zool. Soc., 1861, p. 137.)
4. _Sciurus splendens._
All the specimens are bright red bay.
_Var._ 1.--All over dark, and very intense red bay, with a white spot
on each side of the base of the tail.
_Var._ 2.--Top of the head and tail, like var. 1, dark and very intense
red bay: side of the back, under sides of the body, and tip of the tail
paler red bay, without any white spot at the base of the tail.
_Var._ 3.--Uniform pale bay, like the side of var. 2: tail and middle
of the back rather darker and brighter: tail without pale tip or white
basal spot.
_Var._ 4.--Crown, middle of the back, and tail dark intense red bay:
throat, chest, and under side paler red bay, like var. 2, 3: cheeks,
shoulders, and thighs, and outsides of the fore and hind legs brown,
grizzled, with yellow rings on the hairs: side of the body rather
greyish red.
Cambodia. (Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1861, p. 137.)
5. _Sciurus siamensis._
Bright red-brown, grizzled, with elongate black tips to the longer
hairs, each of which is marked with a broad subterminal yellow band.
These black hairs are more abundant and have broad pale rings on the
rump, outside of the thighs, and especially on the lower part of the
tail, where they nearly hide the general red colour. The terminal half
of the tail bright chestnut-brown, without any black hairs or pale
rings. The throat, breast, belly, lower part of sides, inner side and
edge of the legs, uniform bright red-brown: ears rounded: whiskers
black: feet covered with short close-pressed hairs.
(Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1859, p. 478.)
_d._ RUMINANTS.
6. _Tragulus affinis._
Similar to T. javanicus in colour, but rather smaller and much paler,
and the side of the neck similar in colour to the side of the body: the
belly is white, with a brown streak on each side of the central line:
the head is smaller. It is larger than _T. kanchil_; very much paler;
and the neck is not blacker and grizzled. A specimen of the species has
been in the British Museum, as above named, for many years: it is said
to have come from Singapore; but that probably was only the port of
transit. It may be only a small pale local variety of _T. kanchil_.
Six specimens, adult, all exactly similar, and one young, have been
collected by M. Mouhot. (Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1861, p. 138.)
7. _Cervulus cambojensis._
There are the forehead covered with hair and the horns of a Muntjack in
the collection sent by M. Mouhot from Cambodia: it is very much larger
than any specimen of that genus in the British Museum collection, and
is probably a distinct species.
The horns are thick, nearly straight, with a short, thick recurved
branch on the outer part of the front side, near the base, and one of
them has a somewhat similar callosity on the hinder side on the same
level. Hair of forehead very rigid, close pressed, dark brown, with
narrow yellow rings. (Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1861, p. 138.)
LIST OF THE NEW SPECIES OF REPTILES DISCOVERED BY THE LATE M. MOUHOT IN
SIAM AND CAMBODIA.
BY DR. ALBERT GÜNTHER.
_a._ TORTOISES.
1. _Geoclemys macrocephala._
REPTILES.
The shell oblong, rather depressed, entirely three-keeled, olive-brown:
the keels subcontinued, nearly parallel; the middle one higher and
more distinct behind; the lateral ones, near the upper edge of the
shields, continued, ending abruptly on the hinder edge of the third
lateral discal shield: the hinder lateral and central shield only
marked with a slight convexity: the margin entire, yellow edged: the
under side yellow, with black triangular spots: the sternum flat, very
indistinctly keeled on the side.
Animal black olive, head large; crown flat, covered with a single
smooth plate, purplish-brown, with two streaks from middle of the nose;
the upper edging the crown, the other the upper part of the beak, and
with two streaks from the hinder edge of the orbit; the lower short and
interrupted, extended on the temple; the upper broader and continued
over the ear, along the side of the neck; two close streaks under the
nostrils to the middle of the upper jaw, and two broad streaks dilated
behind, down the front of the lower jaw, and continued on the edge
of the lower jaw behind: the nape and hinder part of the side of the
lower jaw covered with large flat scales: the rest of the neck and legs
covered with minute granular scales: the front of the forelegs covered
with broad band-like scales: the toes of the fore and hind feet rather
short and thick, covered above with broad band-like scales. (Gray,
Proc. Zool. Soc., 1859, p. 479, pl. 21.)
2. _Cyclemys Mouhotii._
Shell oblong, pale yellow; back flattened above, with a dark-edged keel
on each side: the vertebral plates continuously keeled, and rather
tubercular in front: the margin strongly dentated: nuchal shield
distinct. (Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1862, x. p. 157; Günth.,
Rept. Brit. Ind., pl. 4, fig. D.)
3. _Trionyx ornatus._
Back of the young animal, in spirits, brown, with large, unequal-sized,
irregularly disposed black circular spots: head olive, with symmetrical
small black spots on the chin, forehead, and nose: throat and sides
of neck with large, unequal-sized, irregular-shaped, and nearly
symmetrically disposed yellow spots: legs olive, yellow spotted in
front: sternum and under side of margin yellow: sternal callosities not
developed.
A single specimen has been found by M. Mouhot in Cambodia, which is now
in the British Museum. (Described by Dr. J. E. Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc.,
1861, p. 41, pl. 5.)
_b._ LIZARDS.
1. _Draco tæniopterus._
Tympanum not scaly: nostrils above the face-ridge directed upwards: a
low longitudinal fold on the neck: scales on the back of equal size,
obscurely keeled: gular sac covered with large smooth scales, uniformly
coloured: wings dark-greenish olive, with five arched black bands, not
extending to the margin of the wing, some being forked at the base.
(Günth., Proc. Zool. Soc., 1861, April 23, and Ind. Rept., p. 126, pl.
13, fig. E.)
2. _Acanthosaura coronata._
The upper orbital edge serrated, without elongate spine posteriorly; a
short spine on each side of the neck; a yellowish-olive band edged with
black across the crown, from one orbital edge to the other; an oblique,
short, yellowish band, broadly edged with brown, from below the orbit
to the angle of the mouth.
This and the following species belong to the genus _Acanthosaura_,
as defined by Gray (Catal. Liz. p. 240). The tympanum is distinct; a
short spine between it and the dorsal crest, which is rather low; no
femoral or præanal pores: a short spine behind the orbital edge, and
separated from it by a deep notch: back and sides covered with small
smooth scales, slightly turned towards the dorsal line, and intermixed
with scattered larger ones which are keeled: belly and legs with larger
keeled scales: tail slightly compressed at the base, the rest being
round, and without crest; all its scales are keeled; those on the lower
side being oblong, and provided with more prominent keels: throat
without cross-fold, and without distinct longitudinal pouch: a slight
oblique fold before the shoulder. (Günth., Proc. Zool. Soc., 1861,
April 23, and Ind. Rept., p. 149, pl. 14, fig. E.)
3. _Acanthosaura capra._
The upper orbital edge not serrated, terminating posteriorly in a long
moveable horn: no spine above the tympanum or on the side of the neck:
nuchal crest high, not continuous with the dorsal crest, which is
rather elevated anteriorly: crown and cheek without markings.
The tympanum is distinct: no femoral or præanal pores: back and sides
covered with small smooth scales, which become gradually larger and
more distinctly keeled towards the belly: no large scales intermixed
with the small ones; only a few appear to be a little larger than the
rest: tail slightly compressed at the base, surrounded by rings of
oblong, keeled scales: throat expansible; a very slight fold before the
shoulder. (Günth., Ind. Rept., p. 148, pl. 14, fig. F.)
4. _Physignathus mentager._
Dorsal crest not interrupted above the shoulder; interrupted above the
hip: caudal crest as high as that on the back: no large scales on the
side of the neck: sides of the throat with large convex or tubercular
scales.
A high crest, composed of sabre-shaped shields, extends from the nape
of the neck to the second fifth of the length of the tail, being
interrupted above the hip: scales on the back and the sides of equal
size, very small, with an obscure keel obliquely directed upwards;
those on the belly smooth, on the lower side of the tail rather
elongate; strongly keeled: tympanum distinct: throat with a cross-fold:
orbital edges and sides of the neck without spines: tail transversely
banded with black.
One stuffed specimen is 30 inches long, the tail taking 21. (Günth.,
Proc. Zool. Soc., 1861, April 23, and Ind. Rept., p. 153, pl. 15.)
5. _Tropidophorus microlepis._
Snout rather narrow and produced: scales on the back strongly keeled,
the keels not terminating in elevated spines: back of the tail with two
series of moderately elevated spines, the series not being continuous
with those on the back of the trunk: scales of the throat smooth, or
very indistinctly keeled: tail with a series of plates below, which
are much larger and broader than the scales of the belly: three large
præanal scales: a single anterior frontal shield (internasal). (Günth.,
Proc. Zool. Soc., 1861, April 23, and Ind. Rept., p. 76, pl. 10, fig.
A.)
_c._ SNAKES.
_Simotes tæniatus._
Scales in nineteen rows. Brownish-olive, with a brown longitudinal
dorsal band enclosing an olive-coloured line running along the
vertebral series of scales; another brownish band along the side of the
body; belly whitish, chequered with black.
One loreal shield, one anterior and two posterior oculars; eight upper
labials, the third, fourth, and fifth of which enter the orbit; 155
ventral plates; anal entire; 44 pairs of subcaudals. Head with the
markings characteristic of the genus: each half of the dorsal band
occupies one series of scales and two halves; the lateral band runs
along the fourth outer series, touching the third and fifth. (Günth.,
Proc. Zool. Soc., 1861, April 23, and Ind. Rept., p. 216, pl. 20, fig.
A.)
_d._ NEWTS.
_Plethodon persimilis._
Black, white-speckled, the specks closer and more abundant on the
sides; the hind-toes elongate, unequal. Tail compressed.
This is the first species of Newts which has been discovered in
Continental India; it is exceedingly like the _Pl. glutinosus_ from
North America, but the hind toes are rather longer and more slender.
(Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1859, p. 230, c. tab.)
LIST OF THE NEW SPECIES OF FRESH-WATER FISHES DISCOVERED BY THE LATE M.
MOUHOT IN SIAM AND CAMBODIA.
BY DR. ALBERT GÜNTHER.
1. _Toxotes microlepis._
D. 5/13. A. 3/17. L. lat. 42. L. transv. 6/14.
FRESH-WATER FISHES.
In the general habit and in all the generic characters the present
species completely agrees with _T. jaculator_; the snout, however,
is much shorter, its length being scarcely more than the diameter of
the eye, and considerably less than the width between the orbits. The
diameter of the eye is one-fourth of the length of the head. The length
of the base of the anal equals exactly that of the dorsal. One of the
largest scales covers two-thirds of the eye.
The colour may prove to be subject to as much variation as in the other
species. The specimens described are yellowish, with greenish back and
yellowish caudal. There is a series of four black blotches on each
side: the anterior is the smallest, and situated on the upper extremity
of the præoperculum; the third is the largest, and placed opposite the
dorsal spines; a narrow blackish band round the base of the caudal; a
round black spot on the posterior angle of the dorsal; the anal and the
ventrals are black.
(Günth., Fishes, ii. p. 68.)
2. _Eleotris siamensis._
D. 6 | 10. A. 9. L. lat. 90.
Twenty-two longitudinal series of scales between the origin of the
posterior dorsal and the anal, forty transverse ones between the
anterior dorsal and the snout. The height of the body is contained
six times and two-thirds in the total length, the length of the head
four times. Head broad, depressed, with the snout obtuse; the lower
jaw is prominent, and the maxillary extends to behind the vertical
from the centre of the eye. Teeth in villiform bands. The diameter of
the eye is one-seventh of the length of the head, one-half of that of
the snout, and of the width of the interorbital space. A small barbel
on each side of the upper jaw; the head is covered with small scales;
there are about ten between the posterior angle of the orbits; the
snout is naked. Dorsal and anal fins much lower than the body: one-half
of the caudal is covered with thin scales; its length is contained
five times and a half in the total. Brown: the lower parts whitish,
minutely punctulated with brown: two oblique dark stripes on the cheek,
radiating from the eye. Dorsal fins variegated with blackish, the other
fins uniform blackish; a black ocellus, edged with whitish, on the
upper part of the root of the caudal fin.
Lines.
Total length 60
Height of the body 9
Length of the head 15
Diameter of the eye 2
Length of the caudal fin 11
(Günth., Fish., iii. p. 129.)
3. _Osphromenus siamensis._
D. 7/8. A. 11/33-12/35. L. lat. 42. L. transv. 12/16.
When we take the origin of the dorsal fin as the highest point of the
upper profile, and the base of the last anal spine as the lowest of
the abdomen, the depth between these two points is one-half of the
total length (the caudal not included). The length of the head is
three times and two-thirds in the same length. The snout is broader
than long, equal to the diameter of the eye, which is one-fourth of
the length of the head. The interorbital space is convex, wider than
the orbit. Mouth very small, rather protractile; præorbital, with its
extremity truncated and serrated: angle of the præoperculum serrated;
there are two or three series of scales between the eye and the angle
of the præoperculum. The dorsal fin commences nearer to the root of the
caudal than to the end of the snout; it has six strong spines, which
increase in length posteriorly, the last being longer than one-half
the length of the head. Caudal emarginate; the anal is nearly entirely
scaly, and terminates immediately before the caudal. The longest
ventral ray extends beyond the extremity of the caudal, and has three
or four rudimentary rays in its axil.
The colour is greenish on the back, silvery on the sides and on the
belly. A black spot on the middle of the body in the vertical from the
origin of the dorsal, below the lateral line; a second on the middle
of the root of the caudal. The soft dorsal and caudal with brown dots;
anal yellowish, with lighter spots, and sometimes with brownish dots.
This description is taken from specimens which are from three to four
inches long.
(Günth., Fishes, iii. p. 385.)
4. _Osphromenus microlepis._
D. 3/10. A. 10/39. L. lat. 60. L. transv. 12/22.
The height of the body is one-half of the total length (without
caudal), the length of the head two-sevenths; the profile of the nape
is convex, that of the head rather concave. The snout is somewhat
depressed, broader than long, with the lower jaw prominent; the
interorbital space is convex, nearly twice as wide as the orbit, the
diameter of which is one-fifth of the length of the head, and less
than that of the snout. Præorbital triangular, with the lower margin
serrated; there are five series of scales between the orbit and the
angle of the præoperculum. The entire lower margin of the præoperculum
and a part of the sub- and inter-operculum are serrated. The dorsal
fin commences on the middle of the distance between the snout and the
root of the caudal; its spines are moderately strong, the length of the
third being more than one-half of that of the head. Caudal emarginate;
more than one-half of the anal fin is scaly; it terminates immediately
before the caudal. The longest ventral ray extends beyond the extremity
of the caudal, and has three rudimentary rays in its axil. Immaculate:
back greenish, sides and belly silvery; the soft dorsal and caudal with
brownish dots.
Total length six inches.
(Günth., Fishes, iii., p. 385.)
5. _Catopra siamensis._
D. 13/15. A. 3/9. L. lat. 27. L. transv. 5-1/2/13.
The height of the body is contained twice and a third in the total
length, the length of the head thrice and a third; head as high as
long. Snout rather shorter than the eye, the diameter of which is
one-fourth of the length of the head, and equal to the width of the
interorbital space. The lower jaw is scarcely longer than the upper,
and the maxillary extends slightly beyond the anterior margin of the
orbit. Two nostrils remote from each other, both very small. Præorbital
and angle of the præoperculum slightly serrated; opercles, throat,
and isthmus, entirely scaly. The dorsal fin commences above the end
of the operculum, and terminates close by the caudal; its spines are
very strong, and can be received in a groove; the fifth, sixth, and
seventh are the longest, not quite half as long as the head; the last
spine is shorter than the penultimate; the soft dorsal is elevated and
scaly at the base. The second anal spine is exceedingly strong, rather
stronger and longer than the third, and not quite half as long as the
head; the soft anal is similar to the soft dorsal. Caudal fin rounded,
slightly produced, one-fourth of the total length; its basal half is
scaly. Pectoral rather narrow, as long as the head without snout. The
ventral is inserted immediately behind the base of the pectoral; it has
a strong spine, and extends to the vent.
Scales minutely ciliated: the upper part of the lateral line terminates
below the last dorsal rays, the lower commences above the third anal
spine.
Gill-membranes united below the throat, not attached to the isthmus,
scaly. Four gills, a slit behind the fourth; pseudobranchiæ none.
The jaws, vomer, palatines, and upper and lower pharyngeals are armed
with bands of small villiform teeth. Very remarkable are two large,
ovate, dentigerous plates, one at the roof, the other at the bottom
of the mouth, in front of the pharyngeals; these plates are slightly
concave in the middle, pavimentated with molar-like teeth, and have
evidently the same function as the pharyngeal dentigerous plates of the
true Pharyngognathi.
Total length 52 lines.
(Günth., Proc. Zool. Soc., 1862, June 24.)
6. _Ophiocephalus siamensis._
D. 42. A. 27. L. lat. 65. L. transv. 5/11.
Large teeth in the lower jaw, on the vomer and the palatine bones.
The height of the body is contained six times and four-fifths in the
total length; the length of the head three times and two-fifths; the
length of the caudal six times. The width of the interorbital space
is more than the extent of the snout, and two-ninths of the length of
the head. Cleft of the mouth wide the maxillary not extending to the
vertical from the posterior margin of the eye (in old specimens it
probably reaches to below that margin). There are eleven series of
scales between the eye and the angle of the præoperculum; scales on
the upper surface of the head of moderate size. The pectoral extends
to the origin of the anal fin, and its length is less than one-half of
that of the head: the ventral is not much shorter than the pectoral;
greenish-olive, with darker streaks along the series of scales; a light
longitudinal band from the eye to the middle of the caudal fin; two
series of alternate darker blotches, one above the light band, the
other below; side of the head with three oblique brown bands; dorsal
and anal fins with oblique blackish stripes; caudal with blackish
spots: the lower side of the head blackish, with white spots. (Günth.,
Fishes, iii., p. 476.)
7. _Mastacembelus argus._
D. 32/60. A. 3/56.
Præoperculum with two or three spines. The maxillary does not extend
to the vertical from the anterior margin of the eye. Vertical fins
continuous: brownish-black, with white bands and round white spots:
a band from the occiput, along the middle of the back, passing into
the white margin of the vertical fins: a second band above the eye,
interrupted and lost on the side of the back: a third from the angle of
the mouth, passing into a series of spots, which is continued to the
caudal: another series of spots along the side of the belly; the soft
dorsal with a series of six spots: pectoral black at the base and near
the margin. (Günth., Fishes, iii. p. 542.)
8. _Cynoglossus xiphoideus._
D. 120. A. 98. V. 4. L. lat. 135.
Three lateral lines on the left side, the upper and lower separated
from the middle by twenty or twenty-one longitudinal series of scales:
a single line on the right side. Two nostrils: one between the
posterior parts of the eyes, the other in front of the lower eye. Eyes
separated by a concave space, the width of which is more than that of
the orbit; the upper eye considerably in advance of the lower: lips not
fringed. The length of the snout is contained twice and a third in that
of the head, the angle of the mouth being behind the vertical from the
posterior margin of the eye, and nearer to the gill-opening than to the
end of the snout. The rostral hook terminates below the front margin of
the eye. The height of the body is contained four times and two-thirds
in the total length, the length of the head five times and a half. The
height of the dorsal and anal fins is two-sevenths of that of the body.
Uniform brownish-grey. (Günth., Fish., iv. p. 495.)
ON AN APPARENTLY UNDESCRIBED SPIDER FROM COCHIN CHINA.
BY DR. ALBERT GÜNTHER.
_Cyphagogus Mouhotii._
UNDESCRIBED SPIDER.
Cephalothorax subovate, covered with fine, short, dense hairs, with a
transverse groove between cephalic and thoracic portion, and with a
deep impression in the middle of the upper surface of the latter.
Eyes eight, unequal in size, disposed thus ·.::.·; the four middle
occupy a slight protuberance in front of the cephalothorax, whilst the
lateral are the smallest, and situated on the side of its anterior part.
Falces articulated vertically, rather compressed, with a
non-denticulated claw of moderate size at their extremity; the claw is
received in a sheath at the lower end of the falces, the edges of the
sheath being provided with some horny spines of unequal size. Maxillæ
flat; the outer margins of both together form a card-like figure; their
lower extremity is hairy; sternal lip between the maxillæ, elongate
elliptical. Sternum ovate, covered with rather coarse hairs. Palpi
of moderate length: the terminal joint is rather longer than the two
preceding together, and armed with a minute non-pectinated claw.
Legs rather robust, tapering, very unequal in length, the two anterior
being nearly equally long, but much longer than the two posterior: the
fourth is longer than the third: each is armed with a pair of minute
claws.
Abdomen club-shaped, anteriorly produced into a very long, thin,
cylindrical process, which is twice bent, so that its basal half is
leaning backwards on the back of the abdomen, whilst its terminal half
is directed upwards and forwards, terminating in a slight cuneiform
swelling: this singular appendage is covered with a leathery, fine
hairy skin, like the lower parts of the abdomen. The cephalothorax
being united with the abdomen at no great distance from the spinners,
the anterior portion of the abdomen, with its appendage, is situated
vertically above the thorax. The abdomen is nearly smooth above, and
covered with very fine hairs below; it terminates in an obtuse point
directed upwards.
Six spinners in a quadrangular group immediately before the vent: the
anterior and posterior pair are of moderate size: the third pair is
very short, and situated between the posterior spinners.
Two branchial opercula: tracheal opercula absent.
_Dimensions._
Lines.
Length of cephalothorax 4
„ abdomen to the first bend of the appendage 12
„ appendage from its first bend 10
„ falces 1-1/3
„ palpus 4-1/3
„ terminal joint of palpus 1-2/3
„ first leg 16
„ second leg 16- /3
„ third leg 9
„ fourth leg 10-1/2
Colour brownish yellow: extremities of the legs and of abdominal
appendage and sternum blackish brown: upper parts of the abdomen
yellow: two black bands round the femur of the first leg.
A single female specimen of this spider was obtained by the late
M. Mouhot in the Lao Mountains of Cochin China. Its form is so
extraordinary that we have not hesitated to refer it to a new genus,
_Cyphagogus_.
DESCRIPTION BY M. LE COMTE DE CASTELNAU OF A NEW AND GIGANTIC
CARABIDEOUS INSECT DISCOVERED BY M. MOUHOT IN LAOS.
(Communicated by the Count to the ‘Revue et Magasin de Zoologie.’ 1862.
No. 8. Paris.)
GIGANTIC CARABUS.
Among the magnificent insects that M. Mouhot collected during the few
months of his stay in Laos, the first place is claimed by the beautiful
Carabus which forms the subject of this paper, and which I have named
_Mouhotia gloriosa_ after my unfortunate countryman.
This splendid insect is black, with a large border of flame-colour
at the sides of the thorax and of the elytra; this is covered with
longitudinal striæ, formed by a double row of punctures. The thorax is
hollowed behind, smooth on the top, with the lateral border a brilliant
coppery-red; it presents a small longitudinal stria in the middle of
its disk, and the anterior angles are very prominent.
It much resembles Pasimachus and Emydopterus, but is distinguished
from them; firstly, by the maxillary palpi, of which the last joint is
broad, flat, angular on the inner side, and rounded at the end, this
joint being a little longer than the one before it; secondly, by the
labrum, which is wide, short, and indented on the exterior side; and
thirdly, by the labial palpi, which have their last joint in the same
form as the maxillary, but longer and hatchet-shaped. The mandibles
are very strong, moderately arched, striated transversely, and with a
strong tooth on the inner side; the jaws are also striated and obtuse
at the ends. The head is similar to that of Pasimachus, the thorax
is heart-shaped, the elytra oval, with angles towards the joints not
strongly marked, convex, and a little serrated behind; the claws are
powerful, with a strong tooth on the outer side of the middle of the
tibiæ of the centre pair.
[Illustration]
This insect is one of the most magnificent Carabidæ known, and is
nearly two inches in length. The collection in the British Museum
contains a fine specimen of it.
DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW SPECIES OF LAND-SHELLS DISCOVERED BY M. MOUHOT
IN THE INTERIOR OF CAMBODIA.
_Helix cambojiensis._
LAND-SHELLS.
Shell sinistral, deeply umbilicated, conoidly globose, rather inflated;
upper portion of the whorls of a rich-toned transparent chestnut
colour, edged at the satural margin with purple black; lower portion
of the whorls white, turning to a delicate straw-colour by the
overlying of a shining, transparent, horny epidermis, encircled below
the periphery and around the umbilicus with two very decided, broad,
rich purple black bands; whorls six, corrugately puckered throughout
at the satural margin, the first four whorls very densely granosely
wrinkle-striated in the direction of the lines of growth, the striæ
gradually disappearing on the fifth whorl; aperture lunar-orbicular;
lips simple, reflected partly round the umbilicus.
[Illustration]
Out of two thousand species of _Helix_ at present known, the only
one of the same type as _H. Mouhoti_ is the large _H. Brookei_,
collected by Mr. Arthur Adams, in company with Sir Edward Belcher, on
the mountains of Borneo, during the voyage of the ‘Samarang,’ and
described by Mr. Arthur Adams in the ‘Zoology’ of that expedition.
_H. Mouhoti_, of which Mr. Stevens has received a few specimens in
various stages of growth, is even larger and more inflated than _H.
Brookei_. In adult specimens the last whorl measures 6-1/2 inches in
circumference, 3 inches in diameter, and the shell is about 2 inches
high. It differs from _H. Brookei_ in being conspicuously, but not
broadly, umbilicated, and in the mature lip not being in the least
degree reflected at the margin. The lip itself (not the margin) is
reflected at its junction with the body-whorl, partly round the
umbilicus, as in the _Nanina_ form of the genus. But the most striking
feature of the species is the colouring. In _H. Brookei_ the lower half
of the whorls is of a uniform dark chestnut-colour; in _H. Mouhoti_
it is pure white, turned to a bright straw colour by the overlying of
a shining horny epidermis, encircled immediately below the periphery
by a broad, rich, purple-black band, somewhat like the bands of the
large Philippine _Bulimus Reevei_, but even broader and more defined
on the white ground. The region of the umbilicus is also deeply and
as definitely stained with the same purple-black colour. As in _H.
Brookei_, all the specimens of _H. Mouhoti_ are sinistral, or what is
more commonly called reversed.
_Bulimus cambojiensis._
This shell is either sinistral or dextral, cylindrically ovate, thick,
stout and pupoid in the spire, bluish-white, tinged with a watery
fawn-colour, and clouded throughout with oblique zigzag flames of
the same colour, darker, but very undefined and washy; whorls seven,
smooth, rather bulbous, faintly impressed concavely below the suture;
aperture ovate, of rather moderate dimensions, overlaid in a very
conspicuous manner across the body-whorl, and over a very thickly
reflected lip, with a callous, opaque, milk-white deposit, which in the
interior is stained with a beautifully iridescent violet-rose. This
fine species, of which Mr. Stevens has received several specimens,
measuring nearly 3 inches in length by 1-1/2 inch in width, is a
most characteristic example of a type of the Malayan province of the
genus, represented by the old _Bulimus citrinus_ of Brugnière; and
it has been named after its well-authenticated place of habitation,
because the species is, in all probability, confined to that locality.
The islands adjacent to Cambodia have been pretty well ransacked;
and we have nothing like it in species either from them or from the
contiguous mainland of Siam on the west, or Cochin China on the east.
This particular type of the genus appears, however, abundantly at the
Moluccas, in _B. citrinus_; and at Mindanao, the southernmost of the
Philippine Islands, in _B. maculiferus_. Like these two species, _B.
cambojiensis_ occurs with the shell convoluted either to the right or
to the left. The shell is both larger and stouter than that of _B.
citrinus_, differently painted, and especially characterized by its
mouth of iridescent violet-rose, or what is now fashionably termed
“Solferino” colour.
These descriptions are from the pen of Lovell Reeve, Esq., F.L.S., &c.,
and were communicated by him to ‘The Annals and Magazine of Natural
History.’ See vol. vi. p. 203.
The annexed plate contains representations of several other new and
interesting species of land shells discovered by M. Mouhot, and named
by Dr. Pfeiffer, but which have yet to be described.
[Illustration: New Land Shells discovered by M. Mouhot.
G. B. Sowerby lith. W. West imp.
_1. 2. Alycæus Mouhoti, Pf^r._
_3. Helix deliciosa, Pf^r._
_4. Bulisnus Römeri, Pf^r._
_5. Clausilia Mouhoti, Pf^r._
_6. Streplaxis pellucens, Pf^r._
_7. Pupina Mouhoti, Pf^r._
_8. Helix illustris, Pf^r._
_9. 10. Helix Laomontana, Pf^r._
_11. 12. Helix beligna, Pf^r._
_13. Hybocistis Mouhoti, Pf^r._
_14. Trochatella Mouhoti, Pf^r._
_15. Helix horrida, Pf^r._]
ATMOSPHERICAL OBSERVATIONS.
ATMOSPHERICAL OBSERVATIONS.
_January._--The month of January at Bangkok is generally the coolest in
the whole year. The thermometer generally ranges from 58° to 60° Fahr.
in the morning. The wind is sometimes N. or N.E., and at others S.S.W.
or S. The rainy season ends in the latter part of October; the water
has fallen in the rivers, which have not overflowed since the middle
of December; therefore at this time of the year one can walk along the
banks, which are pleasant. The paths are visible and in a good state
for travellers, and there is less danger, even in the interior of the
country, of being attacked by jungle fever. There is often fog in the
morning, but yet it is not unhealthy. The weather has been fine all the
month, excepting one or two rainy days towards the middle.
_February._--During this month the wind frequently blows from the N.E.
or E., though sometimes from S.S.W. The weather is fresh, agreeable,
and healthy. It is the month which the Buddhist pilgrims choose to
visit Phrabat, where they imagine they can trace the prints of Buddha’s
feet. It is the best time for crossing the jungles and the plains,
for the banks are all raised high above the water and the earth is
perfectly dry. If the wind blows from the S. for a few days, as it
sometimes does, the heat becomes overwhelming for the time. There are
also occasionally, as in January, two or three rainy days towards the
middle of the month.
_March._--This month is hotter and drier than the two preceding ones;
there is less freshness. The wind blows generally from the E.N.E., S.,
or S.S.W., and often with great violence during the day: the Siamese
call it Som Won (wind of the shuttlecock), of which game they are
very fond, and one hears everywhere their noise mingled with cries of
admiration from the people. Violent storms, accompanied by rain and
thunder, generally mark the equinox; after that the weather becomes hot
and dry. The thermometer sometimes rises as high as 93 in the middle of
the day, but the nights are still pleasant.
_April._--April is the hottest month of the year. The first part is
generally dry, with E. or S. winds, but changes about the middle to
N.E. and S.W. In the latter part of the month the excessive heat is
tempered by some refreshing rains. Although the sun is very powerful
during the day, the nights at Bangkok are cool. This month is not so
healthy for Europeans as the three which precede it, and dysentery
makes great ravages.
_May._--This month is considered one of the most rainy of the year,
though sometimes July and September are more so. The rain rarely lasts
all day, and there are sometimes intervals of two or three fine days.
In this month the people prepare their ground and sow their rice.
_June._--During the whole of this month the wind blows constantly
either from the S., W., or S.W. The jungles at this season are fatal
to travellers, especially to Europeans, who would do wisely to avoid
them and to pass this the rainy season at Bangkok, which is one of the
healthiest of the tropical towns.
_July._--In July sweet and refreshing breezes blow from the W. and S.,
but more rain falls than in June. There are sometimes very hot days,
when the thermometer rises very high, but still in Siam this month is
considered tolerably healthy.
_August._--The same as July.
_September._--This is a month of almost incessant rain, and it is very
rare to have two or three consecutive fine days.
_October._--Everything is inundated, some of the streets of Bangkok
are transformed into canals, and the rivers everywhere overflow their
banks. The first part of this month is as rainy as the preceding one.
_November._--The Siamese now complain of the cold, but the Europeans
rejoice in it, for the N.E. wind begins to blow. There are still some
rainy days at the beginning of the month, and some hot ones. These
transitions of temperature give rise to colds and catarrhs. At the end
of the month the wind changes to the S.W.
_December._--This is the best month to commence travelling on the
rivers. Occasionally there is thunder and rain, but altogether it is
considered a healthy month.
METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER.
METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER kept during the month of October 1861, and up
to the sixth day after M. MOUHOT was attacked by fever.
Louang Prabang (Laos).
------+------------+--------+------------+--------+------------+--------
Dates.|Fahr. 8 A.M.|Reaumur.|Fahr. 3 P.M.|Reaumur.|Fahr. 8 P.M.|Reaumur.
------+------------+--------+------------+--------+------------+--------
1 | 73 | 18 | 84 | .. | 80 | ..
2 | 72 | .. | 85 | .. | 78 | ..
3 | 73 | 18 | 81 | 22-1/3 | 76 | 20
4 | 75 | .. | 80 | 22 | 75-1/4 | 20
5 | 73 | 18 | 81 | 24-3/4 | 75-1/4 | 20-1/4
6 | 75-1/2 | 20 | 79 | 20 | 75 | 20
7 | 73 | 19 | 77 | 20-1/2 | 74 | ..
8 | 72 | 18-1/2 | 83 | 23-1/4 | 72-1/4 | 18-1/2
9 | 73 | 19 | 79 | 20 | 74 | 19
10 | 74 | 19-1/2 | 83 | 23 | 74 | 19
11 | 72 | 18 | 83-1/2 | 23-1/4 | 74 | 19
12 | 72 | 18-1/4 | 79-1/2 | 21-1/2 | 72 | 18
13 | 70 | 15-1/2 | 78 | 21 | 70 | 17-1/2
14 | 63 | 14-1/2 | 79 | 21-1/2 | 65 | 15
15 | 60 | 13 | 72 | 18 | 60 | 15
16 | 60 | 13 | 83-1/2 | 23-1/2 | 70 | 17
17 | 64 | 14-1/2 | 83-1/2 | 22 | 70 | 15
18 | 64 | 14-1/2 | 86 | 23-1/2 | 70 | 18
19 | 69 | 17 | 85 | 24 | 71-1/2 | 17-1/2
20 | 70 | 15-1/2 | 89 | 25 | 74 | 19-1/2
21 | 73 | 19 | 90 | 26 | 74 | 19
22 | 71 | 18 | 86 | 23-1/2 | 71 | 18
23 | 73 | 19 | 87 | 25 | 70 | 18
24 | 68 | 16-1/2 | 88 | 25 | .. | ..
------+------------+--------+------------+--------+------------+--------
TALE.
TRANSLATED FROM THE CHINESE BY M. HENRI MOUHOT.
CHINESE TALES.
In a Chinese village lived two cousins, both orphans: the eldest,
who was called Moû, was cunning and egotistical; the other, on the
contrary, was goodness and simplicity itself; he was called A-lo-Sine.
The time for ploughing the fields arrived: A-lo-Sine possessed a
buffalo, while Moû had only a dog. An idea struck him, and he went to
his cousin and said, “I bring you my dog; give me your buffalo: my dog
will plough your field, which is not very large, and you will see that
you will have very fine rice.”
A-lo-Sine consented, and worked so well with the dog that his rice was
first-rate, while the field ploughed by the buffalo produced hardly
anything.
Moû, then, full of spite, went by night into his cousin’s field, and
set fire to it: A-lo-Sine saw the flames, and, unable to repress his
despair, uttered piercing cries, and rolled in the field.
Some apes, who were marauding in a neighbouring field, witnessed this
spectacle, and said to each other, “That must be a god, since the fire
does not hurt him.” They accordingly drew near him, took him by the
feet and arms, and carried him to the top of a mountain, where they
laid him down, plunged in a deep sleep. The monkeys then piled up rice
and delicious fruits, and bowls of gold and silver of extraordinary
beauty and value, and then left him to return to the fields.
At last he awoke, and thought no more of his misfortune, seeing around
him so many treasures: he gathered them all up, and returned to his
hut, full of joy.
Moû, seeing him so happy, followed him, and, at the sight of the gold,
“Heavens!” cried he; “my cousin as rich as a prince: give me something.”
“No,” replied A-lo-Sine, “I will not; for you are wicked, and you set
fire to my field.”
Moû then went to his own field, and set fire to that also, and imitated
all that his cousin had done: he wept, cried, and, like him, threw
himself into the flames. Five monkeys, one of them a young one, who
were feasting close by, drew near him, curious to see what he was
about. “He is a god,” said they, also; “the flames have spared him. Let
us carry him away.” No sooner said than done. Each monkey seized one an
arm, the other a leg, and they set off.
They reached a neighbouring wood; but there the little monkey began to
cry out, “I want to help to carry him also.” “But there is nothing of
him to hold by,” said the mother. The little monkey, however, continued
to cry, and at last seized Moû’s long tress of hair, and put himself at
the head of the procession.
But this hurt Moû, and he tried to disengage his hair. The young monkey
began to cry again. “Ah, you are angry; stay there, then,” said all the
others, and they threw him into a prickly bush.
Moû had great trouble in extricating himself from his disagreeable
position; and it was nearly evening when he reached home, all covered
with blood.
“Well, cousin, have you also some gold and silver?” said A-lo-Sine,
on seeing him. “Ah! I am thoroughly punished for the harm I did you,”
replied Moû. “I bring back nothing but needles: call the women to take
them out of me.”
TALE.
TRANSLATED FROM THE CHINESE BY M. HENRI MOUHOT.
There lived formerly in a Chinese village an old couple who had no
children; and one day the husband put himself in a violent passion with
his wife for never having had any, and even beat her. The poor old
woman rushed out of the house, crying, and ran a long way. A priest of
Buddha met her accidentally, and asked her what had happened to her.
“My husband was angry to-day, and beat me, because we had no children,”
replied she. “Listen,” said the priest; “I will make you happy! Dig
in this earth and knead it” (it was clay). The woman obeyed, and the
priest then sat down, and with his fingers moulded nine little figures.
“The first,” said he, “will have long ears and very quick hearing; the
second, a piercing sight; the third, a skin so hard that he will not
feel any blow; the fourth will stand fire without hurt; the fifth will
have an enormous head, as hard as iron; the sixth, legs long enough to
cross the deepest stream; the seventh, feet as large as those of an
elephant, for walking in mire; the eighth, an immense stomach; and the
ninth, a nose as long as a pipe, from which jets of water will issue
at command. Now,” continued the priest, “go home, and every year eat
one of these children.” The old woman bowed several times, professing
her gratitude and happiness; then she returned home; but in her joy,
instead of contenting herself with one child, she eat up all nine at
once. Her stomach, which had begun to swell at once, grew every month
bigger and bigger, and became frightful. The husband was beside himself
with joy, and was very kind to his wife.
At last the day of delivery arrived: the father received the first
child, and ran to wash him in the stream; but there came a second.
“Another!” cried the father, and ran again to the river. Returning, he
found a third, then a fourth. He opened his eyes and cried, “Really
this is quite enough: what can we give them to eat?” But the whole nine
made their appearance on the same day.
All were prodigies: they grew rapidly; never cried; eat enormously, and
began to run about in two months. But the old man did not know what to
call them all; and one day he complained to his wife that he could not
distinguish them one from another, got in another passion, and struck
her again. The old woman ran away, crying, again, and went to find
the priest who had helped her before. “Why do you cry now?” said he.
“My husband has so many children now that he does not know what names
to give them.” “You are very foolish,” replied he, “not to be able
to distinguish them by the gifts they possess. Call one ‘Quick-ear,’
another ‘Hard-head,’ and so on for the others.”
The old man had calmed down when his wife returned; but debts
accumulated as the children grew up. At last they became strong and
fearless.
One day a creditor came and asked for money. “I have none,” replied the
old man. He persisted in this reply, and at last turned the creditor
out of the house. A few days after, this man collected several of
his friends, and went again to the old man, declaring he would seize
one of the children, and whip him. “Quick-ear” had heard all, and
“Piercing-eye” had mounted to the top of a tree and seen all that was
going on. They decided that “Hard-skin” would be the best to go, and
the creditor succeeded in binding him and taking him away. But every
cane broke on his back, without hurting him: at last they took an
immense cudgel, but this broke in the same way; and seeing that it was
lost time to beat him, they let him go home.
But a few days after, the creditor came back, determined to kill one
of the children with boiling water. “Quick-ear” heard the project,
and “Invulnerable” was left at home, and consequently carried off.
They threw him into a boiler full of water; and in about an hour,
when they opened it, the child raised his head. “What, not yet dead!”
cried the creditor, in a fury, and he made up a larger fire, but
“Invulnerable” was still alive. They made it still hotter, but the
next day their wood was exhausted, and they let him go free, saying
that Buddha protected him. “This is very sad,” said the creditor; “I
cannot get my money; I cannot get my money: I will write a letter to
Heaven, to beg that fire may be sent down to burn the house of my
debtor.” He did so accordingly; but “Quick-ear,” who heard the plot,
warned “Fountain-nose,” who thereupon took care to water the roof.
The thunderbolt fell, but glided from the roof to the ground. All the
children joined their strength, and lifted it, chained it up, and
placed it in the house.
“Is it possible,” cried the creditor, “that they are not all dead? I
must throw one of them into the sea.” This time it was “Stilt-bird’s”
turn. The boat in which they placed him had not gone far from the shore
when a storm arose and upset it, and all the men were drowned, with
the exception of “Stilt-bird,” who escaped, thanks to his long legs.
However, his brothers feared for him, and sent “Big-head” to the shore,
where he found him fishing, and having already caught so many fish that
he did not know where to put them. Luckily “Big-head” had his hat,
which they filled, and returned home with an immense load. “Large-feet”
went to cut wood to fry it with; but “Great-stomach” eat it all up
before his brothers had hardly had time to begin. “Weeping-eyes” began
to cry, and an inundation ensued, in which many of the neighbours
perished.
Meanwhile, all the children were out searching for food, and the mother
was left at home alone. She, seeing the thunderbolt chained in a
corner, unfastened it. Immediately it rose in the air, then, falling
again, struck the poor woman, and killed her.
FABLE.
TRANSLATED FROM THE CHINESE BY M. HENRI MOUHOT.
CHINESE FABLES.
Firmness and presence of mind often make heroes of cowards, and rescue
them from great dangers, while rashness is generally fatal.
In the midst of a thick and virgin forest, where everything seemed
to slumber, an elephant began to utter doleful howlings, and a tiger
replied by others still more dreadful, which froze all the other
animals with terror. Monkeys, stags, and all the inhabitants of the
neighbourhood, ran groaning to seek refuge at the tops of the trees, or
in the depth of the woods, or in their dens. The elephant himself ran
with all his speed, when on his way he met a hare, who stopped him, and
said, “Why do you run thus, without aim and without reason?” “What! did
you not hear the frightful roaring of the tiger? Would you advise me to
stay here and be devoured?” “Stay here, and have no fear; I will answer
for it that no harm happens to you,” said the hare; “only sit down,
that I may jump on your back.” The elephant goodnaturedly approached
and extended his four legs; then the hare jumped up, having first put
into his mouth a piece of betel.
“Now, get up again,” said he, “and you will see that all will go well.”
He then proceeded to give the elephant further counsel, and afterwards
let out along his back a long stream of saliva, reddened by betel.
Soon the tiger came up. “What are you coming to seek here?” said the
hare, as the tiger stopped to look at them. “Do you not see that this
elephant is not too much for me alone; and do you think I will share
with you?” The tiger drew aside, behind a tree, to watch what passed.
The hare then seized hold of the elephant’s ear, made him roar, and
seemed perfectly master of his prey, and busy at his work. “Heavens!
how strong he is!” said the tiger; but still he drew near. “Wait a
minute, and I will come to you,” cried the hare, looking as though
preparing to spring, and the tiger, struck with terror, turned and ran
away. A chimpanzee, seeing him running away in such terror, burst out
laughing. “What! you laugh at my misfortune?” cried the tiger. “I have
just escaped from death, and you do not pity me.” “How so? I should
like to see the beast who frightened you; take me to him.”
“What! to be devoured? no.”
“Do not be afraid; I will get on your back, and will not leave you: we
will fasten our tails together, if you like; and thus united we shall
run no risk!” The tiger was persuaded by these words, and they both
returned to the elephant. The hare seemed still busy at his work: he
had chewed a new piece of betel, and had made another stream, red as
blood, on the elephant’s back. “You dare to come back!” cried he, in
an angry tone, to the tiger. “You knew I had only just enough here for
myself, and yet you want to carry away my prey from me; you deserve to
be punished.”
At these words the elephant uttered a piercing cry; the hare made an
enormous bound on his back; and the tiger, struck with terror, rushed
precipitately away at full speed, saying to the chimpanzee, “Now, you
see; you laughed at my fears, and we both narrowly escaped death.” But
the chimpanzee did not hear; for in the tiger’s precipitate retreat he
had fallen off his back, struck himself against a bamboo, and died,
cursing his rashness with his last sigh.
THE HARE AND THE SNAIL.
FABLE.
TRANSLATED FROM THE CHINESE BY M. HENRI MOUHOT.
Formerly, according to the Siamese, hares had thick ears; but a certain
day one of these animals, having more legs than memory, met a snail
dragging himself painfully along the ground, and in a moment of pride
sought to humiliate him. “Why, little one, where are you going at this
pace?” said he. “To the beautiful rice-fields of the next village.”
“But, my poor fellow, you will be a long time reaching them. Why did
not Nature furnish you with legs like mine? Confess you envy me. How
long, now, do you think it would take me to get there?”
“Perhaps longer than it would take me, though you pity me so much,”
replied the snail, coldly.
“You jest, do you not?”
“No.”
“Well, will you bet about it?”
“Willingly.”
“What will you bet?”
“Whatever you like.”
“Well, then, if you win you shall nibble my ears; for you cannot eat
me; and if you lose I will eat you: will that suit you?”
“Perfectly.”
“Then set off; for I will give you a start.”
While the hare began to browse the snail set off at his slow pace,
and went to his brother, who was a little way off, and to him he
communicated a pass-word, which he in turn told to another, and so
on along the whole line which the betters had to travel, so that it
quickly reached the end.
Soon the hare, having satisfied his hunger, and feeling strong, set
off, and flew over the ground, calling to the snail, whom he believed
to be close by. “Ohé!” answered he, from a long way off. “Oh, he is
already far on the way,” cried the hare, who set off again like an
arrow. In a few minutes he stopped and called again: “Ohé,” answered
a voice still farther on. “Really, he goes very quickly,” thought the
hare, and he set off again. A quarter of an hour after, he stopped,
quite out of breath. “Now,” said he, “I may rest; I must be far in
advance; but I will call and see.” “Ohé! snail.” “Ohé!” replied a voice
a long way on. “Oh! I must be quick; I shall lose my bet,” murmured the
hare. He ran, and ran, and at last stopped, quite exhausted, only a
few yards from the fields. “Snail,” cried he, faintly: “what! you are
returning from the place? Unfortunate that I am, I have lost my bet;”
and he made vain efforts to get up and escape, but, alas! his strength
failed him, and the snail pitilessly gnawed his ears.
Since that day the hare always avoids damp places, for fear of meeting
one of the creatures who punished him for his pride.
TALE.
TRANSLATED FROM THE CHINESE BY M. HENRI MOUHOT.
CHINESE TALE.
There lived formerly in a small town in China a singular couple, of a
description still met with, for the Chinese progress very slowly. The
husband was noted for his folly, and the wife for her cunning. “Always
remember,” she used constantly to say to her husband when he went out,
“that all people with long noses, in the form of an eagle’s beak, and
bending downwards, are good-for-nothings, beggars, cheats, and, worse
still, bad paymasters, coiners of false money, false-swearers, and will
go to hell; while people with small turned-up noses are good, and will
go straight to heaven. Therefore, that you may not lose, sell only to
these last; for, I repeat to you, the others are bad.”
Every day the husband went out, and passed from street to street,
examining the passers-by, but never addressing any but those who had
their heads raised to look at something, so that he very seldom sold
anything.
One day, when he was observing noses as usual, he saw a man reading
a placard which was placed very high. “That man will go straight to
heaven,” thought he; “his nose is so much turned up. Will you buy some
clothes, good man?” said he. “Clothes! you see I have some.” “But you
appear to me the most honest man I ever saw” (“I never saw such a
nose,” he added to himself); “and I should like to sell you a whole
suit; my wife makes them herself.” “Well, what is the price?” “Of my
wife?” “No; of the clothes.” “Two kóóu” (about ten francs). “But why
do you come into this retired place to sell your clothes, when there
are so many people elsewhere?” “Oh! I went to those places; but all the
people had long, bent, and eagle-shaped noses, you see! and I only sell
to snub-nosed people.” “I do not understand you; why will you not sell
to people with long noses?” “My wife, who is a very clever woman, told
me that all people with long, eagle-shaped noses are knaves.” “Really,
your wife is very sharp, and I understand you now. Well, my friend, I
will buy your clothes; but as I have no money with me, I will pay you
to-morrow. You have only to come to my house; I live near here. You
will see a hurdle covered with eggs, a flag at the end of a mast, and a
little plantation of betel.” “Very well; that will do.”
The merchant went home to his wife, and told her he had sold to a man
with a snub nose. “Where is the money?” said she. “I have not got it
yet, but I shall be sure to have it to-morrow. I am to go where I see
a hurdle covered with eggs, a flag on a mast, and a little betel
plantation.” The next day the wife said, “Go for your money.” He went,
but could not find the house; and after long searching he came home
again. “Have you the money?” said the wife. “No, I could not find the
house.” “Well, I will go myself to look for it. If I am not back in an
hour, you will know that I am drowned.” After an hour, as his wife did
not return, the man took the sieve with which he usually sifted his
rice, and set off to the river, which he began to try to empty with it.
A passer-by asked him what he was doing. “I am emptying the river,”
replied he; “for my wife is drowned, and she had on her best yellow
bonnet.” “Nonsense!” said the other; “I just met her walking with a man
who had a snub nose.”
THE DAMIER, OR CAPE PIGEON.
_Procellaria Capensis._
THE CAPE PIGEON.
During a long voyage, when for months you have seen nothing but water
and sky, the smallest novelty which appears and promises variety for
the eye and the mind, though only for a few minutes, is joyfully
welcome. Sometimes it may be a stormy petrel, flying like a swallow,
skimming through the air in a hundred different directions, and seeming
to play in that element; sometimes a ring-tail, which, with its
piercing cry like that of a hawk, appears a messenger from the sun to
bid the bold navigator welcome to the tropics, hovers for a few minutes
over the ship, and then flies off with a jerk and disappears.
Sometimes are to be seen numerous blowers, who pass and repass the ship
with bounds; or perhaps a whale, which almost stupefies you with the
noise he makes as he displaces the water in rising to the surface to
breathe: at another time it is some hungry shark, who, following in the
wake of the ship, lets himself be caught by the bait thrown out to him,
and which, when hoisted with great difficulty on deck, lashes it with
his tail and looks formidable even after death; and this is a good take
for the sailors, who divide the spoil and feast on it.
But of all the creatures dear and familiar to sailors, none rejoices
him more than the faithful companion who, more than 3000 miles before
he doubles the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn, appears to his sight,
swims in the water, grazes a thousand times the hull or the rigging,
pleases his eye by its parti-coloured plumage, and announces to him
calm and tempest.
This bird, called by the French “_Damier_,” by the English the _Cape
Pigeon_, and “_Peintada_” by the Portuguese, is the Cape Petrel, or
_Procellaria capensis_ of naturalists.
Gifted with great powers of flight, though less than other petrels,
from morn till night, and often even a part of the latter when the moon
is full, it is seen in the wake or alongside of the ship, describing
in its flight, in which scarcely any movement is apparent, a thousand
evolutions, sometimes touching the great waves which seem ready to
overwhelm it, the moment after reappearing far above them, always
wheeling about and careless of the storm.
The sight of this flight and of all these evolutions is most pleasing,
and one involuntarily thinks of a graceful skater flying over the ice
at his utmost speed, and seeking to attract admiration.
The whole life of this bird is perpetual movement, a constant chase
after a scarce and insignificant prey. Unlike the swallow, who has
his hours of pleasure and of amorous warbling, and nights of sleep in
his warm nest, the Cape pigeon, pressed by hunger and by his ravenous
appetite, only rests for a few minutes at a time at rare intervals
during the day, in order to recruit his strength, and at night, rocked
by the stormy wave, must find but little sleep.
Neither does the Cape pigeon know the delight of a peaceful retreat
in a favourite spot sheltered by thick foliage or long reeds; and
while most birds confine themselves to a limited district, where they
are almost certain to be found at the same season, and to which they
invariably return at the disappearance of the frosts which have chased
them away for a time, this one, a sailor by nature, has for its domain
an immense empire, namely the greatest part of the Atlantic, Pacific,
and Indian oceans, and has to brave night and day, at one time an icy
wind, and at another the rays of a burning sun.
But in a state of liberty nothing living is often unhappy, and the
foreseeing Providence, who knows how to satisfy the wants of his
creatures, also knows how to create joys for them, where we see nothing
but trouble and misery. In like manner the industrious workman and the
hardy traveller experience, perhaps, of all men the most lively joys;
to them repose would be the greatest suffering.
Although inseparable companions of the sailor, it is not certainly for
the pleasure of his society, nor for that afforded by the sight of the
ship, that the petrels follow it, but for the certainty of finding in
the scraps thrown overboard, as well as in the number of shells in the
wake of the ship, food more abundant than he would discover elsewhere
in the water. Nothing can equal their voracity but the quickness and
vivacity with which they catch sight of the smallest prey and seize it
even amidst a stormy sea. From a great distance, and long before the
albatross, and the other descriptions of petrels which are often to
be seen with the Cape pigeons, have remarked it, they see and pounce
on it, and have generally swallowed it before the jealous rivals who
follow them have been able to overtake them. The sense of smell does
not here come in aid of that of sight, for they often pounce on a
piece of wood or something of that description which falls from a
vessel, and only abandon it when convinced by the touch that it is
not fit for food. Their greediness is such that they will often let
themselves be taken in dozens with hooks; no sooner are they on deck
than they disgorge a thick liquid the colour of linseed oil.
When these birds rest on the sea and let themselves be tossed about by
the waves, their appearance, dimensions, form, and colour of plumage
strongly resemble our domestic pigeons, and hence the English seamen,
struck with the similarity, have given them the name of Cape pigeons.
Their size varies; the largest measuring more than 18 inches English
from the beak to the tip of the tail, and rather more than a foot in
circumference.
They are generally seen in great numbers only in stormy weather and in
rather high latitudes. In the winter season--that is, during our June,
July, and August--they follow the ships constantly between 23° S. lat.
and 31° and 103° E. long.
Is it not a wonderful thing and worthy of admiration that the instinct
with which this bold little navigator is endowed guides him safely
through this vast space, where there is nothing to serve him as a
landmark, enables him to rejoin his comrades if accidentally separated
from them, and teaches him every year when the warm season returns to
recognise and find the island or the solitary rock where he was born,
and where in his turn he will bring up his young ones; while man, with
his maps, his books, his nautical instruments, and in spite of all
his long experience, has such difficulty in finding his way across
the ocean? And yet we think that our intelligence raises us above the
animals. This is what confounds and overwhelms the scholar when he
seeks to fathom the great mysteries of creation.
THE ALBATROSS.
THE ALBATROSS
A wise and bountiful Providence has taken care to people the most
distant and desert parts of the globe, whether covered with eternal
snow or impenetrable forests. In the waters of the ocean are, as
well as in our fields and woods, creatures which rejoice the eyes of
man and provide for his wants. Of all these creatures none are more
charming and pleasing than the birds; endowed either with melodious
voices or brilliant plumage, or with some other charm or quality, such
as vivacity, quickness and grace of movement, and power of flight;
all have attractions for us; and even in our museums, in spite of
their faded plumage and often altered forms, they are still objects of
admiration, not only to the learned naturalist, but to men who care
little for other beautiful sights.
But if leaving the cabinet we visit Nature herself, penetrate into the
heart of the forests, climb the rocks, or visit the shores and the
ocean, then our admiration grows stronger and more deep.
Of all birds there is none which exercises a greater influence over
the mind of man, or causes greater astonishment, than the albatross,
so celebrated by voyagers from the earliest times. The albatross! The
word recalls to the navigator a thousand souvenirs; as the name of some
bloody battle in which he has taken part, or of some general who has
led him to victory, awakens those of the soldier. It recalls to the
memory of the sailor the principal incidents of an existence passed
between calm and tempest; he feels himself transported in thought to
the time when the first albatross was signalled, and passengers and
sailors turned their gaze eagerly towards the spot where, like a proud
man of war, cradled by the rolling waves, advanced the powerful sailer
against whom the storm rages in vain, and who, far from avoiding, seems
to court it.
To this first souvenir succeed many others; there is the dead calm,
which in the tropics has often detained his vessel inactive for weeks,
as though chained under the burning sky, where the eye seeks in vain
for a cloud, and the only sound that meets the ear is the heavy
flapping of the sails against the masts as the ship rocks; a calm often
more to be feared and more dangerous than the most terrible tempest,
for it renders the crew inactive, impatient, and bad-tempered. But
the first sight of the albatross indicates a coming change and wind
to be expected. There is also the memory of painful and too sudden
transitions from equatorial heat to the cold of high latitudes; that
also of hours of dreadful anxiety when the storm broke out in all its
violence, of the contest between winds and waves, and of the albatross
hovering over the latter, as though chosen an umpire between these two
formidable antagonists. The albatross inhabits the southern hemisphere
of the Atlantic Ocean from the 25° or 26° of latitude, also both
Pacifics, but is rarely seen farther north, and has never been known
beyond the tropics; it is in the seas which bathe the three southern
capes that they are seen in the greatest numbers.
It often happens, however, when the winter is mild and the weather
fine, that very few are seen until you reach the 40°. They lay their
eggs on some deserted southern shore; the female lays only one, and
feeds her little one for nine months without leaving it, so much need
has it of its mother’s help.
There is much difficulty in the classification of the palmipeds, which
exhibit a great number of varieties.
The beak of the albatross is long and very strong; the upper jaw
furrowed at the side and much curved; the lower one sharp, smooth,
and truncated at the end; the nostrils, formed by two tubes opening
outwards, are lateral and placed in a groove. The tarsi are short, but
very thick, and ending in three front toes much palmated; the wings are
long and narrow.
There are probably four distinct species of albatrosses.
1st. The wandering albatross, _Diomedea exulans_, which measures ten
feet with the wings spread; it has a white head, the wings and belly
being spotted with white, grey, and chestnut brown; the beak is the
colour of horn. This species varies much in size, and still more in
colour and plumage, which is more or less mixed with grey or brown, and
sometimes even entirely white; this depends doubtless on the season,
the sex, and the age.
2nd. The epauletted albatross, _Diomedea epomophera_, which is smaller
than the common albatross. His head, neck, body, back, and rump are
snowy white, while the feathers of his wings are perfectly black, with
the exception of a large white lozenge-shaped spot on each; the beak is
yellowish. Some naturalists believe these to be only the young of the
ordinary kind.
3rd. The yellow-beaked albatross, _Diomedea chlororhyncos_. This
species I have myself taken with a hook; his head, belly, and neck are
brilliantly white, his back and the plumage of the wings a deep brown
grey, the beak yellow, and the feet bluish grey; the rump is white, and
as well as the underpart of the tail is bordered by a wide black line.
4th. The sooty albatross, _Diomedea spadicea_ of Forster, which is the
size of the common albatross, and of a uniform deep chestnut-colour.
CAMBODIAN VOCABULARY.
A.
Abandon (to) Lẽng, chol.
Abhor (to) Sââp.
Approach (to) Dâl.
Abstinence }
Abstain (to) }Tam.
Accept (to) Iotuol.
Accompany (to) Iam.
Accomplish (to) Ihúruéch hoì.
Accustom oneself (to) Ihlap.
Accuse (to) Shõdéng.
Acid Ehu.
Admire (to) Ehhugã̆l.
Adore (to) Ihoui bãngeom.
Adultery Bap phit propon Ki.
Afflict (to) Lruey chot chaw chot.
Age Acõ̆schhnam.
Announce (to) Srăp, pram.
Appease (to) On.
Appetite Comléan Klileán.
After Ẽcroí.
Arid Sngnot, comynot.
Arm Crùóng predăp.
Army Iăp.
Arrive (to) Dâl.
Assembly Chumnam.
Assemble (to) Chumnam Kenéa.
Audacity }
Audacious }Ihean.
August Mahu.
Also Dẽl.
Altar Balang, as-prĕn.
Agile Chuery.
Air Acos.
Add (to) Thêm.
Aloes Jadam.
Alum Saĕpchu.
Amuse oneself (to) Ling.
Ancient Chus.
Ass Satliá.
Angel Firĕuda.
Angle Chrung.
Animal Săt.
Avarice Comnaut.
Advocate Sma Kedey.
Abortive (to be) Relutcõn.
Arm Phlu.
Aim Vong.
Ashes Phe.
Ask (to) Som.
Above Lù ê lù.
And Non.
Awake (to) Dăs.
Arrow Prúeup.
Agreeable Totuol.
Appearance Cŏmnăp.
According to Tam.
Always Ruéy (iún ruey reáp darăpton muc).
Anger Conhong.
Amongst Erang.
Across Totùng.
Already Hoi.
B.
Bitter Loving.
Before Mum.
Bathe (to) Ngut tin.
Breath Dâng hina.
Bold Tahéan.
Broom Bombãs.
Bamboo Resey.
Banana Chá.
Banquet Car si.
Beard Puk mŏt.
Boat Iui.
Build (to) Sâhy, thú phtĕn.
Beat (to) Véag.
Beautiful Sââ.
Benediction Prăe pór.
Beast Sat.
Blue Khín.
Beef Cũ.
Bushel Ihang-Iao.
Box Hêp.
Bottle Săr phdŏe.
Button Leu.
Branch Mie.
Brick Ot.
Break (to) Rei.
Burn (to) Dot.
Buffalo Crebey.
Black Khnaun.
Bone Cheóng.
Bread Nam.
Basket Conchir.
Blade Lompeng.
Book Sombot.
Bed Domnéc.
But Pê.
Bad Bap, chomngú.
Breast Dâ̆.
Beg (to) Som teau.
Better Cheang, lus.
Bite (to) Kham.
Be born (to) Cót.
Bee Khmum.
Bark (to) Sru.
Buy (to) Iink.
Business Domnor.
Bow Ehme.
Batatas Eomlong.
Bridge Spreau.
Behind Croi, ê croi.
Back Hhnang.
Be (to) Non-mêan, Chèn.
Big Phom.
Broil (to) Hang.
Bird Sat liar.
Blood Chheàm.
Blow (to) Phlõm.
Betray (to) Kebâ̆t.
Bark Sombok.
Brother (elder) Bâng.
Brother (younger) Phŏôn.
C.
Come (to) Moc Dâ̆l.
Cottage Catôm.
Corpse Khmoch.
Cage Irung.
Case Hêp.
Calk (to) Bàt.
Calm oneself (to) On.
Cambodia Sroch Khmêr.
Cambodian Khmêr.
Country Neal.
Canal Preê.
Comb Suét.
Cask Thâng.
Cardamom Crevanh.
Cause Het dòm.
Cold (a) Câã̆c.
Cup Chan.
Conduce (to) Tôm.
Cloth Souipăt.
Cough Câã̆c.
Commotion Revàl.
Cut (to) Cat.
Conquer (to) Chhnĕa.
Conquered Chănh.
Clothing Ao.
Carriage Retê̆.
Centipede Kaêp.
Circle Vong.
Coffin Mochhus.
Chain Chervăi.
Choir Sach.
Change (to) Prê.
Coal Khîung.
Chastity Sel.
Cat Chhma.
Chief Mechàs, héay.
Chinese Swẽ chèn.
Cholera Rŏmbâl.
Clear Thla.
Clock Condong.
Cocoa-nut Dong.
Combat (to) Chebang.
Commencement Dòm.
Count (to) Răp.
Consent (to) Prom.
Console (to) Tŭo Săo.
Clay Deyót.
Crowd Fông, cânbân.
Crow Khoêi.
Cord Khse.
Coast Khaeng.
Cotton Crebas.
Colour Sombar.
Cut Cap, cat.
Crown Mocõ̆t.
Call (to) Han.
Clean Saat.
Cry (to) Tô̆ui.
Carry (to) Chun, Rĕc sêng.
Clean (to) Nos leáng.
Cloud Sapô̆c.
Chew (to) Bièm.
Cold Rengia.
Cricket Chungret.
Clock Novea.
Custom Chebăp, Tomlăp.
Create (to) Bângeat.
Cry Sâmléng.
Cry (to) Srêc.
Cook (to) Dam.
Copper Spó̆n.
Cymbal Lông, Khmõ̆.
Crab Pomgeong.
Church (temple) Preă-Vihear.
Carry away (to) Roc ton.
Coat (to) Leap.
Child Coming.
D.
Descend (to) Chô.
Desire (to) Sângvat, Châng.
Destroy (to) Pombat.
Debt Bomnàl.
Diviner Achar.
Daybreak Prealum, Preahean.
Delicate Ton.
Different Titey.
Difficult Cra.
Disciple Cŏn Só̆s.
Dearth Âmnât.
Dispute (to) Chhlô̆ prokêe.
Doubt Moutûl.
Dysentery Chomngú mual.
Do (to) Thu.
Dung Ach.
Dress (to) Prăeae.
Damp Som.
Drunk Sreving.
Day Thugay.
Deliver (to) Preeol.
Doctor Cruthnam, pet.
Despise (to) Măcngeáy.
Deride (to) Sôch, châm-ôn.
Die (to) Slăp.
Dwarf Tua.
During Compung.
Dust Ehuli.
Dare (to) Héan.
Dote (to) Trũl.
Dove Rùs.
Dig (to) Hal.
Drum Seôr.
Delay (to) Ângvéng.
Dye (to) Cherlâ̆c.
Darkness Tângcap.
Draw (to) Téanh.
Deceive (to) Bŏn chhăt.
Dear Thlay.
Dew Ânsóm.
Deaf Câ.
Dream Sâp.
Dog Chkê.
Door Shóĕ.
Drink (to) Elinear.
Duck Iea.
Dream (to) Zâ̆l Sãp.
E.
Exchange (to) Dôr.
Efface (to) Lap.
Equal Smó.
Elephant Tamrey.
Endure (to) Â̆t, ôn.
Engage (to) Pobuol.
Enemy Satron-Khmang.
Enter (to) Chôl.
Envy (to) }
Envy }Chernêu.
Example Kébuon.
Exhort (to) Boutun méan.
End Chông.
Evening Lŏngéach.
Easy Ngeáy.
End Long-âs.
Eye Phnée.
Egg Pong-sut.
Ear Erechiéc.
Equal Mytrey.
Eat (to) Si, pisa, chhăn, soi.
Even Smó, dock.
Everywhere Sâ̆p ăulú.
Eagle Antri.
Earth Dey, Preă thorni.
F.
Face Mŭc.
Feeble Comsoi.
Family Crua.
Famine Âmnâ̆t.
Fatigue Nuèy.
Fault Tus.
Female Nhi.
Ferocious Sahan.
Fire Phlâng.
Fever Cran.
Figure Muc.
Flower Phŏm.
Faith Chommia.
Forest Prey.
Fresh Rehoi.
Front Thngos.
Fruit Phle.
Float (to) Ândẽt.
Freeze (to) Câc.
Fat Thop.
Frog Ong Kêp.
Food Ahur Sâbiẽng.
Friend Keló.
Formerly Pidom.
Firewood Os.
Finger Day.
Fast Buos.
Fast (to) Si buos.
Free Neaĕ Cheá.
Far Chhngai.
Falsehood Câhâc.
Frightful Noiai.
Forget (to) Chŭs bât côrna.
Fly Rug.
Fishing Bap.
Fish (to) Stuch trey, Dóc non.
Father A puc.
Few Eech.
Fear Khlach.
Full Peuh.
Feather Slap, mems.
Foot Chung.
Fish Eyey.
Fowl Món.
Fill (to) Bampenh.
Fool Lengong.
Follow (to) Tam, dòr tam.
Firebrand Rengûc.
Fall (to) Duol-thleăc.
Find (to) Roi ban.
Face Mac.
Flesh Sach.
Field Prê.
Figuratively Chó̆t.
Fear (to) Khlàch.
Fly (to) Luèch.
Fly (to) (like a bird) Hòr.
G.
Gold Meas.
Gunpowder Démsón.
Go (to) Tou.
Greedy Luphu.
Good Lââ, chiá, písa.
Grind (to) Boh.
Girdle Crevat.
Garlic Ketym Sá.
Grasshopper Chungret.
Go out (to) Chenh.
Green Khién, baí tong.
Glass (a) Péng Kên, Kên.
Go to bed (to) Dec.
Grow (to) Sbec.
God Prĕa.
Give (to) Oi, chun.
Grief Chhu.
Girl Consrey.
Gun Comphlûng.
Gain (to) Ban chonménch.
Guard (to) Reăesa.
Glove Teăc.
Generous Chôt tuléay.
Ginger Khnhey.
Glutton Luphu.
Gum Chor.
Govern (to) Tac tîng.
Governor Chanfai sroc̆.
Grave Ânisãng.
Grain Crò̆p.
Great Thôm Kepô̆s.
Graft Crechâc.
Guide (to) Nóm.
Grass Smau.
Garden Chomca, chebar.
Gladness Ngeay.
H.
Hunger Comléan.
Hungry (to be) Khléan.
Helm Changcôt.
Hail Prŭl.
Habit Tomlá̆p.
Hatchet Puthae.
Hate (to) Sâ̆âp.
Haricot Sondêe.
Harmonious Pirô̆.
High Kepô̆s.
Hour Mong, Teune.
Hideous Acrâ̆c, asron.
Honour (to) Ró̆p an.
Horror (to have an) of Kepum.
Half Chomhieng conmat, pheac condat.
Hard Rùng.
Hell Morok.
Hear (to) Lú.
House Phtêa.
Husband Phodey.
Honey Tác khmum.
Host Phnhién.
Humble Suphéap réap téap.
Here Nê̆ ênê̆.
Heavy Thngô̆n.
Hundredweight Hap.
Holy Arahán.
His Rônthuc.
Hold (to) Can.
Hole Prŏhong.
Heat Cadau.
Horse Sê.
Hair Sôc.
Heart Bêdông.
How much Ponman.
How Doehmedéch?
Horn Sneng.
Hang (to) Phiuor.
Hair (of animals) Merues.
Heap (to) Bomol.
Have (to) Mean.
Happiness Boran-Lays.
Hide (to) Puvu.
He Veá Cá̂̆t.
Heaven Mie.
Him Châng.
I.
Ignorant Khlan.
Island Câ̆.
Image Comnur.
Imbecile Chicuat.
India Pon, suey.
Impost Srŏc Keling créas.
Indicate (to) Bânghanh.
Inundate (to) Lich.
Inscribe (to) Cat.
Insipid Sap.
Instant Mŏ pŏnlú.
Instruct (to) Predan, Pourieu.
Insult (to) Promat pikhèat.
Intelligence Praehuha.
Intention Chò̂t.
Interdict (to) Khò̆t.
Interest (of money) Lar prăe.
Interpret (to) Prêpasa.
Interrogate (to) Suor, donding.
Introduce (to) Boŭchôlnòm.
Invite (to) Anchùnh.
Ill Chhu.
Illness Chumgŭ.
If Bó.
In order that Oi.
Idle Khchìl.
Idleness Comchil.
In Kenong.
Incense Comnhau.
Is Còt.
Inhabit (to) Non, công.
J.
Join (to) Phehăp.
Joy Âmnâr.
Joyous Ar, sabai, sremŏc sŏc sabai.
Judge Chmrom.
Judge (to) Cat săch Kedey.
Just Tiéng Trâng.
Jump (to) Sut.
K.
Kiss (to) Thŏp, ap.
King Luong, sdăch.
Know (to) Déng, chê.
Kill (to) Sâmlûp.
Knife Combit.
Kneel (to) Lut cháng cong.
Knee Cháng cong.
L.
Labour Phehuor.
Lake Touli Sap.
Leave (to) Lêng, chol.
Layman Crehŏs.
Lamp Chiêng Kién.
Language Pasa.
Language Ândut.
Language (of a country) Pasa.
Large Tuléay.
Lick (to) Lit.
Light Sral.
Leper Chomugu, Khlong.
Leprous Comlong, Khlong.
Letter Âcâr, sombăt.
Leaven Tambê.
Lip Pepir.
Liberty Lâmpey.
Line Poutŏt.
Line (fishing) Sontŭch.
Limpid Thla.
Lion Sóng.
Law Crót, viney.
Long Véng.
Let (to) Chuol.
Lean Siom.
Lead (to) Dóc, nóm.
Lie (to) Câ̆hâ̆c cŏmphŭs.
Leaf Sló̆r.
Left Chhnéng.
Lose (to) Bâng, bât.
Little Eoch.
Ladder Chóndór.
Light (to) Och.
Lead Somnar.
Low Iéap.
Like Suró.
Lend (to) Khchey.
Lawsuit Kedey.
Lower (to) Lontéep.
Learn (to) Lù, rién.
Look at (to) Múl.
Laugh (to) Soch.
Learned Méac, prach.
Lord Âmmechûs, mechăs.
Like Smó, doch.
Love (to) Srelant.
Life Aios.
Live (to) Rô̆s.
M.
Malay Churéa.
Male Chnmul.
Malediction. Bŏndasa.
Misfortune Ândarai, piér, lombac.
Mandarin Maman.
Mango Soai.
Manner Iĕang.
Marsh Bóng, trepang.
Marry (to) Souipĕa apea pipéa.
Mark Sâmcól.
Morning Prû̆c.
Medicine Thnamsangcon.
Meditate (to) Niŭ, rompúng chon chieng.
Mingle (to) Leay.
Member Thnac thang.
Mercury Bârât.
Mother Medai, mê.
Merit Bŏn.
Marvellous Chôm lû.
Measure (to) Vàl.
Midnight Atréat.
Mirror Conchâe.
Model Kebuon.
Month Khe.
Monastery Vât.
Mountain Phnom.
Mount (to) Lòng.
Musquito Mus.
Mutton Chiêm.
Murmur Khsâp, Khsién.
Music Phlêng.
Mat Còntil.
Mad Chimat.
Man Menus.
Milk Tiù dâ̆.
Moon Khê (prĕa-Chăn).
Miser Comnaut.
Much Chrón.
Mouth Môt.
Mud Phoc.
Mills Bôs, tomboa.
Money Srae.
More Lus, Cheang.
Meat Săch.
N.
Net Uon.
Narrow Chang-ièt.
Nail Dêc ail.
Neck Kho.
Now Êlounê̆.
Noon Hmgay trâng.
Not Com.
Nine Thmey.
Nose Chermo.
Nest Somboi.
Name Ehhnaô, neàm.
No Ei.
Nourish Anchein.
New Crá̆p.
Naked Srat.
Night Yap.
Nail Creehâi.
Near Chut.
Needle Mòchul.
Native Priest Meăc, nìng prĕa sâng.
O.
Obey (to) Sdăp, doi Toudap.
Observe (to) Mal.
Obtain (to) Ban.
Offend (to) Ehú tuc̆.
Offer (to) Chun.
Onion Ketym.
Ounce Eomlong.
Opposite Eo-tung.
Orange Croch.
Order (to) Bângcáp.
Open (to) Bòc.
One Muey.
Old man }
Old }Chăs.
Other Sitey-tiĕt, e tiét.
Oil Preńg.
Oar Cheo.
Often Chrondâng, chron créa.
Owl Eitui.
Of Si âmpi.
Overflow Compô̆i.
Oath Sâmbât.
P.