the way to the Burmese frontier, or now the British,
at Pakchan. The most considerable of
the places in question is Ponga, which contains
between three and four thousand inhabitants,
among whom there are said to be from eight
hundred to one thousand Chinese. Tin mines, or
rather stream works, appear to be wrought in the
district of Ponga, as well as Junk Ceylon.
The proper country of the Siamese race is the
valley of the Menam, which, at its southern extremity,
does not exceed sixty miles broad. Its
length extends from the sea to Pe-chai, a distance
of about three hundred and sixty miles. I f the
average breadth equals that of its southern extremity,
its whole area will, of course, be twenty-
one thousand six hundred square miles. To
the west, the valley is bounded by the chain of
mountains already mentioned. Another range of
mountains bounds it to the east, dividing it from
the great river of Kamboja ; between which and
the Menam there is probably no communication,
although upon this subject the native statements
given to me were not very consistent. The
largest towns of the proper Siamese territory, are
Bangkok, the modern capital, Ayuthia, the an-
cieiit one, and Pi-sa-luk. Bangkok extends
along the banks of the Menam, to the distance
of about two miles and a half ; but it is of no
great breadth, probably not exceeding one mile
and a half. The principal portion of the town is