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Show 3 PAPERMAKIN IN SIA children had been exceedingly thoughtful and graciou in explaining every detail involved in making paper fro khoi bark as practiced in the last remaining mill of South ern Siam. Bundles of paper, coconuts,and papermakin equipment were made ready for me to take as presents During the last hour of our stay at the mill, the old boatman grew excited and nervous about the outgoing tide and at last insisted that we leave at once for otherwise w might be left high and dry,as atlow tide many of the ca nals become unnavigable for even a gondola of the mos shallowdraught. Themass of papermaking paraphernali was piled hurriedly in thelittle boat,and after manysalutations, in which all members of the Niltongkum family including the plump brown babics, placed their hand palms togetherand pressed them to their foreheadsin th manner of old Siam, we again glided through the almos endless chain of interwinding canals, finally reaching th Ménan atsunset. A few mile on the muddy river brough us once more to the romantic city of Bangkok with it low-builtshops, narrow streets, and vaulted bridges. Th sun had set on Bangkok and on remote Bangsom an the Niltongkum mill; the long day was past,-on of the most instructive and delightful days of lifetime spent in seeking information, specimens, and tools pertaining to the ancien and honourable craft of papermaking Al rights reserved |
