A half century among the Siamese and the Lao : an ... - Khamkoo

CIRCUIT TOUR WITH MY DAUGHTER 309
was afforded by the pranks of an uncommonly mischievous
baby-elephant which accompanied its mother.
On one occasion a footman coming towards us stepped
out of the trail and stood beside a large tree to let
us pass. The mischievous creature saw his opportunity,
and before the man knew what was up, he
found himself fast pinioned between the elephant's
head and the tree trunk. The frightened man extricated
himself with loud outcry, while the beholders
were convulsed with laughter. Our own men were constantly
the victims of his pranks; so that, one day, I
told them that there would be no trouble if they
would only leave the creature alone—adding, by way
of clinching my advice, " You see, he never troubles
me." Just then, to the great delight of all, he made
straight for me, and if there had been a tree behind
me I should have been in the same unpleasant position
in which the footman found himself.
Mr. Taylor's account of the earlier portion of the trip
is as follows:
" We left Lakawn on the 12th of February with Dr. Mc-
Gilvary and his daughter, and in four days reached Muang
Pre. Our tents were pitched by the road just outside the city
gate. The advent of four foreigners, two of whom were
women, created quite a stir; and we were all kept abundantly
busy in visiting and being visited. Mrs. Taylor and Miss
McGilvary were the first white ladies to visit the place;
and of course, much to their own discomfort, were the centre
of attraction. . , .
" The people of Pre seemed very ready to listen to the
Gospel; so plenty of auditors were found everywhere. On
Sabbath, the 16th, the first convert in Pre was baptized.
He is a blind man, Noi Wong by name, who came to
Lakawn to have Dr. Peoples operate on his eyes; but as
nothing could be done for him, he returned home carrying in
his heart some of the teachings there received, and in his