23 chapters
7 hour read
Selected Chapters
23 chapters
ADVERTISEMENT. ——
ADVERTISEMENT. ——
Ar a time when the relations of this country with the nations east of the Ganges are occupying much attention, it is hoped that the following work, relating to a country hitherto very imperfectly known to Europeans, will prove interesting to the British public. With the territory of Siam, lying as it does between the Burmese empire, with which we are now at war, and the confines of China, we must ultimately have greater intercourse than we have hitherto had. The Siamese and the Burmese look on e
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
I may here, in self-defence, state that at the period of my visit to that distant Eastern empire, I was, though even then somewhat of a traveller, quite young both in years and understanding : were it not for this, T should have most assuredly amassed more valuable information to offer to the public; but geographical information and statistics are not often the hobbies of youth, and a shooting party or a rowing match had, at that period, more charms for me than the pursuit of more useful knowled
27 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
RESIDENCE IN SIAM. 1.
RESIDENCE IN SIAM. 1.
Departure from Singapore.—Squally weather.—Dangerous situation of the ship.— Experience of a Typhoon near Pulo Obi—Description of it.—Progress to Siam —Slaughter of the ducks.—Arrival at the Bar of Siam, AVING travelled over the greater part of the Madras Presidency and revelled in its mangoes, f been at Bombay and tasted its famed ducks (a species of fish), sojourned at Penang and Malacca and feasted on mangostins, I found myself, in the spring of 1840, a dilettante at Singapore, a waster of ti
14 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
IL
IL
up the river—Consequences of not complying with this rule—Proceed up the river Menam.—Description of Paknam.—Its fortress.—Siamese King’s permis- sion to all the world to dine.—Paknam villagers.—Incident with the natives.— Punishment of priests, &c., for an attack on the English.—Paknam houses.—The Government-house.—Siamese ladies.—Description of the Menam.—Scenery.— Birds. —Native canals.—Paklat Boon.—Dockyards.—First sight of Bangkok.— American missionaries.—Appearance of Bangkok in th
49 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
IIL
IIL
Royal dockyards in Bangkok.—Siamese navy.—Quarrels with Cochin Chinese.— Names of Siamese ships of war, all British.—How given.—Compositicn of the crews.— Labourers in the dockyard.—House of the Portuguese consul.—Anecdote about bricks.—Story of vacancy among floating houses.—Rebellion of Peer-si-pi- foor,— How it was arrested.—Awful punishment of the rebel.— Mr. Neale’s audience with the king.—— Wonderful Siamese map.—Tombs of the three kings, F the Government establishments in Siam, the dockya
23 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
IV!
IV!
Marriage ceremonies—Deseription of a Siamese beauty and her accomplishments. — Siamese courtship.—Negotiation with the parents.—The Bridegroom’s new canoe, —TFuneral rites of the Siamese,—Burning of Bodies. HE ceremony of marriage is seldom performed in Siam, and never amongst the poorer classes. These latter purchase or barter for a wife, so soon as they consider themselves old enough to be married, and except some stranger fall in love with the bride, and offer a round sum for her, she general
9 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
. CHAPTER V.
. CHAPTER V.
Geographical description of Siam.—Account of the inhabitants.— Chinese part of the population.—Articles of commerce.—Native wealth of Siam—Vegetable and mineral.—Reasons why itis not developed.—Gamboge.—Petrats.—The Tokay.— Adventures with—Birds.——Fruits.— Climate of Bangkok.—Food of the Siamese- —Intoxicating drinks.—Samshoe, —General temperance of the people. —Prevalent diseases.—Digression on the effect of change and custom on our ideas of beauty —Description of the Monsoons.—Ravages of chole
35 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
VI.
VI.
The Prince Chou-Faa.—His friendship for the English.—His desire for knowledge.— Drill of his artillery soldiers—Terrible effect of a man-of war's salute. —The Prince's skill in making and repairing watches.—Ilis melancholy and its causes. —THis wives and children.—Account of a carouse at his palace on Christmas day, 1840,— Siamese game of battledoor and shutilecock.—Chinese theatrical per- formance —Sketch of the drama.—The Christmas dinner.—Visits to the temples of the White Elephants.—Descript
23 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
VIL
VIL
Chanti Boon.—Its situation and buildings.—Account of the attempt of a Chinese Captain to run away with a richly laden Siamese Government trader.—bdlode of conducting business at Chanti Boon.—Adventure with the Siamese officer of Customs. —Monkeys and snakes,—Description of the country. —Siamese cookery. —The White Ant and the Cobra di Capello.—Use of the ant hills by the latter. —Feeding of the Cobra by the natives—Tringano.—Passage across Siamese Gulf —Encounter with a whirlwind. —Bardia.—Champ
34 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
VIIL
VIIL
Festival of the Peace Offering.—Legend which has given rise to the festival.—Pro- cession of the inhabitants to celebrate it.—Description of the ceremonies.— Peculiar mode of catching fish.—Description of a supper supplied by a Chinese, —Visit to the ruined city of Yuthia.—Return to Bangkok. FTER the exorbitant expenditure gone to by the Siamese government in the case related in a previous chapter, namely, as regards the support of the two Siamese white elephants, another proof of their possessi
39 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
IX.
IX.
eneral character of the Siamese,General inoffensiveness of their disposition.— Their dress.—Their passion for gambling. —Smoking opium.—Description of its effects. —Their skill as swimmers.—Adventure of an American who could not swim.—Want of beauty In ladies of Siam.—Use of betel-nnt.—Ceremonies at birth of a child. —Amusements of ladies in the higher ranks.—Siamese women excellent housewives.—Education of children.—Selling of daughters—General summary of Siamese character. HERE is, perhaps, no
21 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
X.
X.
Dispute between Governments of Siam and Cochin China.—Confiscation of Siamese vessels in Cochin China ports.—Reprisals—Fury of the King of Siam,—Iis councils always held at night.—Army sent to frontiers.—Ship of war !* the Cale- donia” ordered for sea:—Author put in command of two hundred and fifty marines.—Character and discipline of the Ship's crew.—Cruel instructions given to the Officers—Encounter a severe storm.—Ship nearly lost—Curious adventures of a cargo of Sugar on board. —Return of Ve
12 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XI.
XI.
Trade of Siam.—Imports from China.—Excellent quality of Tea.—Sugar Candy, Silks, Cloths, Ivory Carvings, Writing Paper, Toys, &e.— Mode in which business is transacted with Chinese Junks.—All the crew owners and traders.— Harmony with which they manage their affairs.—Imports from India.—Meagre- ness of Imports from Britain—Exports—System on which business is conducted, —Treatment of Bankrupts.—Reasons for supposing that trade between Britain and Siam could be greatly extended. ERFECT inf
27 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
XII
XII
Shooting Excursion.—* The Friends’ ” Cutter.—TFishing for Pomphlets.—Landing at Pigeon Island. —Description of the Island. —Shooting Pigeons.—Government Dispatch Boxes.—Amusing adventure with one—Tire at Bangkok. —Attack on Mr, Hunter's bouse.—Breaking out of the Cholera.—Author returns home. TURING my stay at Bangkok when there was nothing which demanded our presence on the spot, and this was not unfrequently the case, Mr. Hunter used to make up pleasant little parties of pleasure, on which occ
55 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
RECENT EMBASSIES TO SIAM.
RECENT EMBASSIES TO SIAM.
If, therefore, we find these eastern nations hard to deal with now ; if we find them jealous, cunning, and deceitful, and disposed to look with suspicion on even our most sincere offers, let us always remember the lessons they have received, the examples to which they can point, and the long bill of indictment they can run up against every nation of Europe that has attempted, by force, fraud, or fair dealing, to make settlements in the East. Even in our own day such examples have not altogether
4 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
SIAMESE SONGS.
SIAMESE SONGS.
HEN Loubdre visited Siam in 1687, he reported—*1I could not "get a Siamese song well translated, so different is their way of thinking from ours; yet I have seen some pictures, as, for example, of a pleasant garden, where a lover invites his mistress to come. I have also seen some expressions which, to me, appeared full of gross immorality, although this had not the same effect in their language. But besides love-songs, they have, likewise, some historical and moral songs: I have heard the Pagay
38 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE BOATMAN’S SONG.
THE BOATMAN’S SONG.
AN amorous Siamese swain, stricken with the charms of some black-toothed damsel, has composed a song which is much in vogue amongst the boatmen class, and which being translated is, to a foreigner’s ears, almost as charming as the’ Nigger Song of “de Boatmen Dance,” and infinitely less melodious. The maiden’s name is Chin, one very common amongst Siamese and Burmese. A happy and reckless youth I am, As TI ply my boat on the deep Menam ; My song shall end, and my song begin, In praise of thee, my
7 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
SIAMESE LANGUAGE. —t
SIAMESE LANGUAGE. —t
Tue subject of the Siamese language is muchtoo extensive to be treated of in a work like this, that does not aspire higher than to be a personal narrative. Still a few specimens may be given of the words in most common use, denoting the most familiar articles :— Pra—a great cleaver, used as a hatchet. Ctou—a joiner’s chisel. Lendi—a saw. Kob—a joiner’s plane. Quiob—a spade. Reuong—a house. Savu—the bamboo pillars which bear the house. Root—the two tramsverses or bamboos laid across, along the fr
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
LOUBERE’'S ACCOUNT OF THE SIAMESE. penne
LOUBERE’'S ACCOUNT OF THE SIAMESE. penne
Ir has often been remarked of the natives of the East that they are almost unchangeable in their modes of government, habits of life, and ways of thinking. Century after century passes away unmarked by progress and undistinguished by change. Traveller succeeds traveller at long intervals of time and each repeats unconsciously the observations and diffuses the information of the other, The Siamese certainly form no exception to this remark, Such as they were in the days of the early Jesuit missio
54 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
“MODE OF PREPARING TEA.
“MODE OF PREPARING TEA.
It seems not rational to them that labour and pains should be the fruit and reward of virtue. They have the good fortune to be born philosophers, and it may be that if they were not born such, they would not become so more than we. I therefore willingly believe what the ancients have reported, that philosophy came from the Indies into Europe, and that we have been more concerned at the insensibility of the Indians than the Indians have been at the wonders which our inquietude has produced, in th
3 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
A TALAPOIN SINS
A TALAPOIN SINS
If, in walking along the streets, he has not his senses composed. If he do not shave his beard, his hair, and his eyebrows, and dress his nails. I know not whether this has any other foundation than an excess of neatness.) If, on being seated, he allows his feet to be suspended or extended. Modesty, in their opinion, requires that the legs should be crossed, and the feet placed near the knees.) If, after having eaten, he does not gather the remains for the next day. If he has not several garment
9 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
INDEX.
INDEX.
AERCAN embassy to Siam, 226; its failure, Ameriean Missionaries, visit from, 26; instances of their want of courtesy, 27. Avrivats; great numbers of at Pigeon Island, 195. BaNGEOE, first view of, 25; morning view of, 21; population of, 30; pagodas, 33; bazaars, 84 ; sale of daughters by their parents, 33; mode of spending time at, 38; dockyards, 42; fire at, 199. Bankruptcy among Siamese merchants often pretended, 177. Dattledoor and shuttlecock, manner of playing it in Siam, 94. Bazaars at Bang
4 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
controversies INDEX.
controversies INDEX.
Pepper, value of shipments from Siam in 11, 69, Phaunlkon, Constantine, his history, 212; influence in Siam, 213; his intrigues, 217; his death, 219. Pigeon Island, shooting excursion to, 190. Population of Bangkok, 30. Portuguese serving as soldiers in Burmese army against Siam, 207. Portuguese Consul, anecdote about the residence of, 46; habits of the Consul and missionaries, 47. Portuguese, embassy from King of Siam to, at Goa, 209. Priests, appearance of, in the morning, 36; maxims of, 271.
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter