The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1895-05-04
A NINE IN SLAM.
Guarded by Nature, Wild Elephants
and His Barb-Tailed Majesty.

Guarded by Nature, wild Elephants
ana His B~arb-Tailed Majesty.
Some time ago I heard a story Of a
gold mine that was said to be in exist
ence in the Chantaboon province. An
old villager that / met told me that the
mine had never been worked, says a
writer In the Siam Free Press. He
recollected in his childhood, about fifty
years ago, that a party with four ele-
plants visited the place, but he does
remember whether they found the
mine or not. Two or three Cambodians
are reported to have found nuggets in
the bed of the stream, but no n has
ever been adventurous enough to fol-
low the stream to its source. The
greatest possible amount of supersti-
ton exists about this mine. Some al
lege that those who go there never
return. They either die of sickness
prey to wild animals. Three English
men attempted to reach the source OF
the stream where this mine Is report
ed to be, but had to abandon the idea
for various reasons. At starting they
Tau W ldhS Il udllOW pau Shoe bCVh
made by "cardamom" gatherers.
After keeping on this path two days
they reached a pool Of dirty water.
Here their guide took them aside and
whispered to them not to talk Of tigers
as the forest in that part was infested
with them, and that they would surely
visit the camp If they only mentioned
the name. Promising to be discreet,
they went down to examine the pool
and found the whole place actually
trampled down by wild boars, with q
few tiger foot prints. Here they rest
ed for the night and next day proceed
ed on their journey. If he footprints
around the pool led them to believe
their guides reports of wild animals
they were now perfectly convinced,
for on either side of the path they saw
the destruction worked by wild ele-
plants. A little farther on they came
to a spot where the M mmoths had
rested for the night. That evening
they found that one Of the carriers
who had taken charge Of he provis-
ions had taken to his heels. AS they
had no cooking utensils they were
compelled to o their rice IN a to-
bacco tin and along with a steak of q
civet cat Meo-pa) managed to mike a
dinner.
At this spot the guide Informed
them 1t was impossible to so on unless
they walked along the stream bare
footed. After walking in tEts manner
for about five hours they zine to the
falls. Here they had to climb up rocks
thirty to forty feet high by means OF
the roots of trees growing through the
assures. the guide pointing them out
the places where gold had been found.
After climbing up higher they came to
the junction of two streams, and the
guide now told them TIat he did not
know the road further up and that he
was afraid. One Of the party was TAX
ell i'll here and they then determined
to hurry back, especially as they had
only rice with them and lot even Il
bamboo to cook it in. This excursion
can only be done IN the mouths of
January, February and March. 1t
would be a good opportunity for a
sportsman who desired to combine
business with pleasure. Ponies and
pack animals could not possibly go;
the only way of transport would be
by carriers. and it would be very hard
to obtain more than two or three men,
as the people are so snperstitious.