The sun was slowly sinking behind the dense wall of jungle which hems in, on the southern side, the frontier station of Nampoung.

In the river below there is a Ford, which has a distinguished claim on fame, inasmuch as it is one of the gateways from Burmah into Western China.

This Ford is guarded continually by a company of Sikhs, under the command of an English officer.

To be candid, it is not a post that is much sought after.

Its dullness is extraordinary.