Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume VIII, No. 5 [‎13r] (28/154)

JOURNEY ROUND SIAM.
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ministered to by a French missionary, assisted by several native pastors.
The exports are insignificant in value, with the exception of pepper,
which amounts to about £60,000 per annum. The pepper plant, the
sight of which reminds one of the hop gardens of Kent, flourishes at the
base of the Sabap hills, and is cultivated exclusively by Chinese. These
industrious individuals have, as usual, the monopoly of all lucrative
business in their hands, keep the best shops, and control the liquor and
opium trade.
Chantabun is on the way to the sapphire and ruby mines, which
are situated in the adjoining provinces of Battambong and Krat, and a
CHANTABUN.
number of Burmese reside here for the purpose of buying the precious
stones from the diggers, and of trading in the necessaries of food and
clothing required at the mines. These mines contain a population of
over two thousand Burmese-British subjects, and here lay the chief scene
of my official labours in this part of the country.
I might add, by the way, before leaving Chantabun, that the presence
of the few French troops just outside the town have not produced any
noticeable difference in the place, except that the price of chickens and
eggs has been slightly enhanced—a fact which the old Burman in whose
house I lodged was careful to communicate to me. The civil govern
ment is entirely in the hands of the Siamese authorities, and trade and
business go on as usual.
The province of Chantabun is separated from the province of Bat-
tambong by a range of hills from 2000 to 3000 feet high, and
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