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Show PAPERMAKIN IN SIA 2 beaten craft to pass by; the Siamese people are extremel patient,and like the Chinese, sce tohavean abundanc of subtle humour which somewhat eases their hardship in tryingsituations. Wefound itdifficult to pass the man skiffs encountered along the route, all laden with pyramids of gorgeous melons and fruits, folded palm leave doneup like bundles of newspapers,an the ever-presen and much-loved betel nut. I was especially entranced b an elaborate floating drug shop fitted with gaily-painte compartments piled high with many varieties of Orienta herbs, barks,and nuts, the whole boat decorated with gil wood-carvings and shiny metal ornaments. Sitting upright in the centre of this picturesque establishment wa the old apothecary himself, looking very like an Eskim propellinga hide-covered kayak. As we turned from on canal into another each succeeding stream seemed to become narrower, the low-hung tropical trees scraping th roof of our craft and forming an archway over the water Snakes and lizards slithered up the slippery banks of th canals, and everywhere there were children playing i the streams; mere babies would place their small hand together in cup-shape and drink the warm liquid wit delight. Never had I seen such utter disregard for eve the first principles of sanitation Hour after hour we wound in and out, through mile of waterways, under such wild vegetation as I scarcel Al rights reserved |