Travels in the central parts of Indo-China (Siam), Cambodia, and Laos : during the years 1858, 1859, and 1860 . d the rock, and it had thenrun aground on the sand; so that after getting it off wewere able to anchor not far from the shore. On the 3rd January, 1859, after having crossed thelittle gulf of Chantaboun, the sea being at the timevery rough, we came in sight of the famous Lion rock,which stands out like the extremity of a cape at theentrance of this port. From a distance it resembles a 138 THE LION EOCK. Chap. III. lion couchant, and it is difficult to believe that Natureunassisted ha
Travels in the central parts of Indo-China (Siam), Cambodia, and Laos : during the years 1858, 1859, and 1860 . d the rock, and it had thenrun aground on the sand; so that after getting it off wewere able to anchor not far from the shore. On the 3rd January, 1859, after having crossed thelittle gulf of Chantaboun, the sea being at the timevery rough, we came in sight of the famous Lion rock,which stands out like the extremity of a cape at theentrance of this port. From a distance it resembles a 138 THE LION EOCK. Chap. III. lion couchant, and it is difficult to believe that Natureunassisted has formed this singular Colossus. The Siam-ese—a superstitious race—hold this stone in great vene-ration, as they do everything that appears to themextraordinary or marvellous. It is said that the captainof an English ship, once anchored in the port, seeingthe lion, proposed to buy it, and that, on the governorof the place refusing the offer, he pitilessly fired all hisguns at the poor animal. This has been recorded inSiamese verse, with a touching complaint against thecruelty of the Western J3 2 o ^ h d Z CHAPTEE IV. ChantABotJN — its Products and Commerce — Appearance ofTHE Country—The Isles of Ko-Man—Isles op Patates—TheIsland op Ko Kram—Paknam Ven — Manner in which theApes play with the Crocodiles. On tlie 4tli January, at eiglit oclock in the morning,we arrived at the town of Chantaboun, which, stands onthe bank of the river, six or seven mUes from themomitain range. The Christian Annamites form nearlya third of the population, the remainder being composedof Chinese merchants, and some heathen Annamites andSiamese. The Annamites are all fishers, who originallycame from Cochin China to fish in the northern part ofthe Grulf of Siam, and settled at Chantaboun. Every day,while the cold weather lasts and the sea is not too rough,they cast their nets in the little bays on the coast, or inthe sheltered water among the islands. The commerce of this pr
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