“Sallied forth at noon to take a walk east of town. In east gate got into conversation with some citizens; others came out to gaze at the stranger till soon had a fair audience to listen as I opened to them the great truth of the Being of God. An old man sat down on a stone in the gateway to listen—all was news to him and others—when a drunken fellow, sent of Satan as it were, came up and soon became very noisy, till I could only talk in snatches. Gentle means nor threatenings availed, but I gave some books. “Leaving I was going quietly on the way to a watt outside the walls when my troubler came following after, noisy and cursing. I gave him that road and took another in another direction. He returned to follow me, when I thought I was justified in teaching him that there was a limit to even Christian patience. So I tripped up his heels, hoping to walk off out of his way before he could get to his legs again. But he was only drunk enough to be impudent, and now angrily followed after me. I picked up a broken limb and turned to meet my adversary. Brandishing my rather formidable weapon in the air over the fellow’s head, I ordered him to wheel about and march back to the city gate. Many had gathered in the meantime to see what would happen. The fellow was frightened at my earnestness, quailed and marched; soon stopped to plead that he intended no harm, when I punched him with my umbrella with one hand to quicken his steps and flourished the sledgehammer-like limb in the other, and off he marched again as bid. This I repeated till getting tired, I tripped up his heels again and left him sprawling while I went on my way unmolested.... I cannot even now help laughing at the figure I must have made with my shillalah swinging over his head, and his mortal terror at the same.” Royal passports were not always honoured at face value by distant under governors. Dr. House found that while the king had commanded, the command was not much more than warrant for him to demand. After waiting some days for the governor to engage elephants for the return trip there was little hope of having his desire granted unless he took up the task himself. Vigourous action and persistence overcame the inhospitality which was displayed. The return trip was laid out through the western part of ancient Cambodia, through the Chong To’ko pass, thence to the headwaters of the Bang Pakong River, and home by way of Kabin and Patchin. Through this region he met with even great indifference to the king’s commands: