,,the ,,english ,,governess ,,at ,,the ,,siamese ,,court ,,being ,,recollections ,,of ,,six ,,years ,,in ,,the ,,royal ,,in ,,the ,,royal ,,palace ,,at ,,bangkok ,,by ,,anna ,,harriette ,,leonowens4 ,with ,illustrations1 ,,from ,,photographs ,,presented ,,to ,,the ,,author ,,by ,,the ,,king ,,of ,,siam4 ,illustration3 ,gateway ,of the ,old ,palace4 ,,to ,,mrs4 ,,katherine ,s4 ,,cobb4 ,i have not asked your leave1 dear friend1 to dedicate to you these pages of my experience in the heart of an ,asiatic court2 but ,i know you will indulge me when ,i tell you that my single object in inscribing your name here is to evince my grateful appreciation of the kindness that led you to urge me to try the resources of your country instead of returning to ,siam1 and to plead so tenderly in behalf of my children4 ,i wish the offering were more worthy of your acceptance4 ,but to associate your name with the work your cordial sympathy has fostered1 and thus pleasantly to retrace even the saddest of my recollections1 amid the happiness that now surrounds me1--a happiness ,i owe to the generous friendship of noble-hearted ,american women1--is indeed a privilege and a compensation4 ,i remain1 with true affection1 gratitude1 and admiration1 ,your friend1 ,a4 ,h4 ,l4 #bfth ,july1 #ahgj4 ,,preface4 ,his ,majesty1 ,somdetch ,p'hra ,paramendr ,maha ,mongkut1 the ,supreme ,king of ,siam1 having sent to ,singapore for an ,english lady to undertake the education of his children1 my friends pointed to me4 ,at first it was with much reluctance that ,i consented to entertain the project2 but1 strange as it may seem1 the more ,i reflected upon it the more feasible it appeared1 until at length ,i began to look forward1 even with a glow of enthusiasm1 toward the new and untried field ,i was about to enter4 ,the ,siamese ,consul at ,singapore1 ,hon4 ,w4 ,tan ,kim-,ching1 had written strongly in my favor to the ,court of ,siam1 and in response ,i received the following letter from the ,king himself3-- ,,english ,,era1 #ahfb1 #bfth ,february4 ,,grand ,,royal ,,palace1 ,,bangkok4 ,to ,,mrs4 ,a4 ,h4 ,,leonowens3-- ,,madam3 ,we are in good pleasure1 and satisfaction in heart1 that you are in willingness to undertake the education of our beloved royal children4 ,and we hope that in doing your education on us and on our children 7whom ,english1 call inhabitants of benighted land7 you will do your best endeavor for knowledge of ,english language1 science1 and literature1 and not for conversion to ,christianity2 as the followers of ,buddha are mostly aware of the powerfulness of truth and virtue1 as well as the followers of ,christ1 and are desirous to have facility of ,english language and literature1 more than new religions4 ,we beg to invite you to our royal palace to do your best endeavorment upon us and our children4 ,we shall expect to see you here on return of ,siamese steamer ,chow ,phya4 ,we have written to ,mr4 ,william ,adamson1 and to our consul at ,singapore1 to authorize to do best arrangement for you and ourselves4 ,believe me ,your faithfully1 7,signed7 ,s4 ,s4 ,p4 ,p4 ,,maha ,,mongkut4 ,about a week before our departure for ,bangkok1 the captain and mate of the steamer ,rainbow called upon me4 ,one of these gentlemen had for several years served the government of ,siam1 and they came to warn me of the trials and dangers that must inevitably attend the enterprise in which ,i was embarking4 ,though it was now too late to deter me from the undertaking by any arguments addressed to my fears1 ,i can nevertheless never forget the generous impulse of the honest seamen1 who said3 ,madam1 be advised even by strangers1 who have proved what sufferings await you1 and shake your hands of this mad undertaking4 ,by the next steamer ,i sailed for the ,court of ,siam4 ,in the following pages ,i have tried to give a full and faithful account of the scenes and the characters that were gradually unfolded to me as ,i began to understand the language1 and by all other means to attain a clearer insight into the secret life of the court4 ,i was thankful to find1 even in this citadel of ,buddhism1 men1 and above all women1 who were lovely in their lives1 who1 amid infinite difficulties1 in the bosom of a most corrupt society1 and enslaved to a capricious and often cruel will1 yet devoted themselves to an earnest search after truth4 ,on the other hand1 ,i have to confess with sorrow and shame1 how far we1 with all our boasted enlightenment1 fall short1 in true nobility and piety1 of some of our benighted sisters of the ,east4 ,with many of them1 ,love1 ,truth1 and ,wisdom are not mere synonyms but living gods1 for whom they long with lively ardor1 and1 when found1 embrace with joy4 ,those of my readers who may find themselves interested in the wonderful ruins recently discovered in ,cambodia are indebted to the earlier travellers1 ,m4 ,henri ,mouhot1 ,dr4 ,a4 ,bastian1 and the able ,english photographer4 ,james ,thomson1 ,f4 ,r4 ,g4 ,s4 ,l41 almost as much as to myself4 ,to the ,hon4 ,george ,william ,curtis of ,new ,york1 and to all my other true friends1 abroad and in ,america1 ,i feel very grateful4 ,and finally1 ,i would acknowledge the deep obligation ,i am under to ,dr4 ,j4 ,w4 ,palmer1 whose literary experience and skill have been of so great service to me in revising and preparing my manuscript for the press4 ,a4 ,h4 ,l4 ,,contents4 ,i4 ,,on ,,the ,,threshold ,,ii4 ,a ,,siamese ,,premier ,,at ,,home ,,iii4 ,a ,,sketch ,,of ,,siamese ,,history ,,iv4 ,,his ,,excellency',s ,,harem ,,and ,,helpmeet ,v4 ,,the ,,temples ,,of ,,the ,,sleeping ,,and ,,the ,,emerald ,,idols ,,vi4 ,,the ,,king ,,and ,,the ,,governess ,,vii4 ,,marble ,,halls ,,and ,,fish-,,stalls ,,viii4 ,,our ,,home ,,in ,,bangkok ,,ix4 ,,our ,,school ,,in ,,the ,,palace ,x4 ,,moonshee ,,and ,,the ,,angel ,,gabriel ,,xi4 ,,the ,,ways ,,of ,,the ,,palace ,,xii4 ,,shadows ,,and ,,whispers ,,of ,,the ,,harem ,,xiii4 ,,fa-,,ying1 ,,the ,,king',s ,,darling ,,xiv4 ,,an ,,outrage ,,and ,a ,,warning ,,xv4 ,,the ,,city ,,of ,,bangkok ,,xvi4 ,,the ,,white ,,elephant ,,xvii4 ,,the ,,ceremonies ,,of ,,coronation ,,xviii4 ,,the ,,queen ,,consort ,,xix4 ,,the ,,heir-,,apparent4--,,royal ,,hair-,,cutting ,,xx4 ,,amusements ,,of ,,the ,,court ,,xxi4 ,,siamese ,,literature ,,and ,,art ,,xxii4 ,,buddhist ,,doctrine1 ,,priests1 ,,and ,,worship ,,xxiii4 ,,cremation ,,xxiv4 ,,certain ,,superstitions ,,xxv4 ,,the ,,subordinate ,,king ,,xxvi4 ,,the ,,supreme ,,king3 ,,his ,,character ,,and ,,administration ,,xxvii4 ,,my ,,retirement ,,from ,,the ,,palace ,,xxviii4 ,,the ,,kingdom ,,of ,,siam ,,xxix4 ,,the ,,ruins ,,of ,,cambodia4--,,an ,,excursion ,,to ,,the ,,naghkon ,,watt ,,xxx4 ,,the ,,legend ,,of ,,the ,,maha ,,naghkon ,illustration3 ,fac-,simile of ,letter from present ,supreme ,king of ,siam3 ,transcription follows3 ,amarinde ,winschley ,palace ,bangkok ,march #fth #ahfi ,mrs4 ,a4 ,h4 ,leonowens ,new ,york ,dear ,madam1 ,i have great pleasure in condescending to answer your sympathising letter of #beth ,november last wherein the sorrowful expressions of your heart in relation to my most beloved ,sovereign ,father in demise which is a venerated burden and ,i have left to this day and ever more shall bear this most unexpressable loss in mind1 with the deepest respect and lamentation1 and resignation to the will of divine ,providence2--are very loyal to you too to ful1 and share your grief in behalf the affection you have for your royal pupils1 and the kind remembrances you have made of them in your letter1 loves you too with that respect and love your are held in ther esteem1 for such disinterestioness in imparting knowledge to them during your stay here with us4 ,i have the pleasure also1 to mention you that our ,government in counsel has elected me to assume the reins of ,government notwithstanding my juvenility2 and ,i am pleased to see the love the people have for me1 most undoubtedly arising from the respect and veneration they have had for my beloved royal ,father and ,i hope to render them prosperity and peace1 and equal measure1 they have enjoyed since the last reign in return4 ,may you and your beloved children be in the peace of the divine ,providence4 ,i beg to remain1 ,yours sincerely ,somdetch ,phra ,chulalonkorn ,klou ,chow-yu ,hua ,supreme ,king of ,siam on #aadth day of reign ,i4 ,,on ,,the ,,threshold4 ,,march #ae1 #ahfb4--,on board the small ,siamese steamer ,chow ,phya1 in the ,gulf of ,siam4 ,i rose before the sun1 and ran on deck to catch an early glimpse of the strange land we were nearing2 and as ,i peered eagerly1 not through mist and haze1 but straight into the clear1 bright1 many-tinted ether1 there came the first faint1 tremulous blush of dawn1 behind her rosy veil2 and presently the welcome face shines boldly out1 glad1 glorious1 beautiful1 and aureoled with flaming hues of orange1 fringed with amber and gold1 wherefrom flossy webs of color float wide through the sky1 paling as they go4 ,a vision of comfort and gladness1 that tropical ,march morning1 genial as a ,july dawn in my own less ardent clime2 but the memory of two round1 tender arms1 and two little dimpled hands1 that so lately had made themselves loving fetters round my neck1 in the vain hope of holding mamma fast1 blinded my outlook2 and as1 with a nervous tremor and a rude jerk1 we came to anchor there1 so with a shock and a tremor ,i came to my hard realities4 ,the captain told us we must wait for the afternoon tide to carry us over the bar4 ,i lingered on deck1 as long as ,i could dodge the fiery spears that flashed through our tattered awning1 and bear the bustle and the boisterous jests of some circus people1 our fellow-passengers1 who came by express invitation of the king to astonish and amuse the royal household and the court4 ,scarcely less intelligent1 and certainly more entertaining1 than these were the dogs of our company1-8 brutes of diverse temperament1 experience1 and behavior4 ,there were the captain's two1 ,trumpet and ,jip1 who1 by virtue of their reflected rank and authority1 held places of privilege and pickings under the table1 and were jealous and overbearing as became a captain's favorites1 snubbing and bullying their more accomplished and versatile guests1 the circus dogs1 with skipper-like growls and snarls and snaps4 ,and there was our own true ,bessy1--a ,newfoundland1 great and good1--discreet1 reposeful1 dignified1 fastidious1 not to be cajoled into confidences and familiarities with strange dogs1 whether official or professional4 ,very human was her gentle countenance1 and very loyal1 ,i doubt not1 her sense of responsibility1 as she followed anxiously my boy and me1 interpreting with her heart the thoughts she read in our faces1 and responding with her sympathetic eyes4 ,in the afternoon1 when we dined on deck1 the land was plainly visible2 and now1 as with a favoring tide we glided toward the beautiful ,meinam 7,mother of ,waters71 the air grew brighter1 and the picture lived and moved2 trees grew on the banks1 more and more verdure1 monkeys swung from bough to bough1 birds flashed and piped among the thickets4 ,though the reddish-brown water over the banks is very shallow at low tide1 craft of moderate burden1 with the aid of a pilot1 cast anchor commonly in the very heart of the capital1 in from ten to twelve fathoms of water4 ,the world has few rivers so deep1 commodious1 and safe as the ,meinam2 and when we arrived the authorities were contemplating the erection of beacons on the bar1 as well as a lighthouse for the benefit of vessels entering the port of ,bangkok4 ,the stream is rich in fish of excellent quality and flavor1 such as is found in most of the great rivers of ,asia2 and is especially noted for its platoo1 a kind of sardine1 so abundant and cheap that it forms a common seasoning to the laborer's bowl of rice4 ,the ,siamese are expert in modes of drying and salting fish of all kinds1 and large quantities are exported annually to ,java1 ,sumatra1 ,malacca1 and ,china4 ,in half an hour from the time when the twin banks of the river1 in their raiment of bright green1 seemed to open their beautiful arms to receive us1 we came to anchor opposite the mean1 shabby1 irregular town of ,paknam1 or ,sumuttra ,p'hra-kan 7,ocean ,affairs74 ,here the captain went ashore to report himself to the ,governor1 and the officials of the custom-house1 and the mail-boat came out to us4 ,my boy became impatient for couay 7cake72 ,moonshee1 my ,persian teacher1 and ,beebe1 my gay ,hindostanee nurse1 expressed their disappointment and disgust1 ,moonshee being absurdly dramatic in his wrath1 as1 fairly shaking his fist at the town1 he demanded1 ,what is this8 ,near this place are two islands4 ,the one on the right is fortified1 yet withal so green and pretty1 and seemingly so innocent of bellicose designs1 that one may fancy ,nature has taken peculiar pains to heal and hide the disfigurements grim ,art has made in her beauty4 ,on the other1 which at first ,i took for a floating shrine of white marble1 is perhaps the most unique and graceful object of architecture in ,siam2 shining like a jewel on the broad bosom of the river1 a temple all of purest white1 its lofty spire1 fantastic and gilded1 flashing back the glory of the sun1 and duplicated in shifting1 quivering shadows in the limpid waters below4 ,add to these the fitful ripple of the coquettish breeze1 the burnished blazonry of the surrounding vegetation1 the budding charms of spring joined to the sensuous opulence of autumn1 and you have a scene of lovely glamour it were but vain impertinence to describe4 ,earth seemed to have gathered for her adorning here elements more intellectual1 poetic1 and inspiring than she commonly displays to pagan eyes4 ,these islands at the gateway of the river are1 like the bank in the gulf1 but accumulations of the sand borne down before the torrent1 that1 suddenly swollen by the rains1 rushes annually to the sea4 ,the one on which the temple stands is partly artificial1 having been raised from the bed of the ,meinam by the king ,p'hra ,chow ,phra-sat-thong1 as a work of merit4 ,visiting this island some years later1 ,i found that this temple1 like all other pyramidal structures in this part of the world1 consists of solid masonry of brick and mortar4 ,the bricks made here are remarkable1 being fully eight inches long and nearly four broad1 and of fine grain1--altogether not unlike the tavellae brick of the ,egyptians and ancient ,romans4 ,there are cornices on all sides1 with steps to ascend to the top1 where a long inscription proclaims the name1 rank1 and virtues of the founder1 with dates of the commencement of the island and the shrine4 ,the whole of the space1 extending to the low stone breakwater that surrounds the island1 is paved with the same kind of brick1 and encloses1 in addition to the ,p'hra-,cha-dei 7,the ,lord's ,delight71 a smaller temple with a brass image of the sitting ,buddha4 ,it also affords accommodation to the numerous retinue of princes1 nobles1 retainers1 and pages who attend the king in his annual visits to the temple1 to worship1 and make votive offerings and donations to the priests4 ,a charming spot1 yet not one to be contemplated with unalloyed pleasure2 for here also are the wretched people1 who pass up and down in boats1 averting their eyes1 pressing their hard1 labor-grimed hands against their sweating foreheads1 and lowly louting in blind awe to these whited bricks4 ,even the naked children hush and crouch1 and lay their little foreheads against the bottom of the boat4 ,his ,majesty ,somdetch ,p'hra ,paramendr ,maha ,mongkut1 the late ,supreme ,king1 contributed interesting souvenirs to the enlargement and adornment of this temple4 ,the town1 which the twin islands redeem from the ignominy it otherwise deserves1 lies on the east bank of the river1 and by its long lines of low ramparts that face the water seems to have been at one time substantially fortified2 but the works are now dilapidated and neglected4 ,they were constructed in the first instance1 ,i am told1 with fatal ingenuity2 in the event of an attack the garrison would find them as dangerous to abandon as to defend4 ,paknam is indebted for its importance rather to its natural position1 and its possibilities of improvement under the abler hands into which it is gradually falling1 than to any advantage or promise in itself2 for a more disgusting1 repulsive place is scarcely to be found on ,asian ground4 ,the houses are built partly of mud1 partly of wood1 and1 as in those of ,malacca1 only the upper story is habitable1 the ground floor being the abode of pigs1 dogs1 fowls1 and noisome reptiles4 ,the ,government ,house was originally of stone1 but all the more recent additions have been shabbily constructed of rough timber and mud4 ,this is one of the few houses in ,paknam which one may enter without mounting a ladder or a clumsy staircase1 and which have rooms in the lower as well as in the upper story4 ,the ,custom-,house is an open sala1 or shed1 where interpreters1 inspectors1 and tidewaiters lounge away the day on cool mats1 chewing areca1 betel1 and tobacco1 and extorting moneys1 goods1 or provisions from the unhappy proprietors of native trading craft1 large or small2 but ,europeans are protected from their rascally and insolent exactions by the intelligence and energy of their respective consuls4 ,the hotel is a whitewashed brick building1 originally designed to accommodate foreign ambassadors and other official personages visiting the ,court of ,siam4 ,the king's summer-house1 fronting the islands1 is the largest edifice to be seen1 but it has neither dignity nor beauty4 ,a number of inferior temples and monasteries occupy the background1 and are crowded with a rabble of priests1 in yellow robes and with shaven pates2 packs of mangy pariah-dogs attend them4 ,these monasteries consist of many small rooms or cells1 containing merely a mat and wooden pillow for each occupant4 ,the refuse of the food1 which the priests beg during the day1 is cast to the dogs at night2 and what they refuse is left to putrefy4 ,unimaginable are the stenches the sun of ,siam engenders in such conditions4 ,a village so happily situated might1 under better management1 become a thriving and pleasing port2 but neglect1 cupidity1 and misrule have shockingly deformed and degraded it4 ,nevertheless1 by its picturesque site and surroundings of beauty1 it retains its hold upon the regretful admiration of many ,europeans and ,americans1 who in ill health have found strength and cheer in its sea-breezes4 ,we heartily enjoyed the delightful freshness of the evening air as we glided up the ,meinam1 though the river view at this point is somewhat marred by the wooden piers and quays that line it on either side1 and the floating houses1 representing elongated ,a's4 ,from the deck1 at a convenient height above the level of the river and the narrow serpentine canals and creeks1 we looked down upon conical roofs thatched with attaps1 and diversified by the pyramids and spires and fantastic turrets of the more important buildings4 ,the valley of the ,meinam1 not over six hundred miles in length1 is as a long deep dent or fissure in the alluvial soil4 ,at its southern extremity we have the climate and vegetation of the tropics1 while its northern end1 on the brow of the ,yunan1 is a region of perpetual snow4 ,the surrounding country is remarkable for the bountiful productiveness of its unctuous loam4 ,the scenery1 though not wild nor grand1 is very picturesque and charming in the peculiar golden haze of its atmosphere4 ,i surveyed with more and more admiration each new scene of blended luxuriance and beauty1--plantations spreading on either hand as far as the eye could reach1 and level fields of living green1 billowy with crops of rice and maize1 and sugar-cane and coffee1 and cotton and tobacco2 and the wide irregular river1 a kaleidoscope of evanescent form and color1 where land1 water1 and sky joined or parted in a thousand charming surprises of shapes and shadows4 ,the sun was already sinking in the west1 when we caught sight of a tall roof of familiar ,european fashion2 and presently a lowly white chapel with green windows1 freshly painted1 peeped out beside two pleasant dwellings4 ,chapel and homes belong to the ,american ,presbyterian ,mission4 ,a forest of graceful boughs filled the background2 the last faint rays of the departing sun fell on the ,mission pathway1 and the gentle swaying of the tall trees over the chapel imparted a promise of safety and peace1 as the glamour of the approaching night and the gloom and mystery of the pagan land into which we were penetrating filled me with an indefinable dread4 ,i almost trembled1 as the unfriendly clouds drove out the lingering tints of day4 ,here were the strange floating city1 with its stranger people on all the open porches1 quays1 and jetties2 the innumerable rafts and boats1 canoes and gondolas1 junks1 and ships2 the pall of black smoke from the steamer1 the burly roar of the engine1 and the murmur and the jar2 the bewildering cries of men1 women1 and children1 the shouting of the ,chinamen1 and the barking of the dogs1--yet no one seemed troubled but me4 ,i knew it was wisest to hide my fears4 ,it was the old story4 ,how many of our sisters1 how many of our daughters1 how many of our hearts' darlings1 are thus1 without friend or guide or guard or asylum1 turning into untried paths with untold stories of trouble and pain6 ,we dropped anchor in deep water near an island4 ,in a moment the river was alive with nondescript craft1 worked by amphibious creatures1 half naked1 swarthy1 and grim1 who rent the air with shrill1 wild jargon as they scrambled toward us4 ,in the distance were several hulks of ,siamese men-of-war1 seemingly as old as the flood2 and on the right towered1 tier over tier1 the broad roofs of the grand ,royal ,palace of ,bangkok1--my future home and the scene of my future labors4 ,the circus people are preparing to land2 and the dogs1 running to and fro with anxious glances1 have an air of leave-taking also4 ,now the ,china coolies1 with pigtails braided and coiled round their low1 receding brows1 begin their uncouth bustle1 and into the small hours of the morning enliven the time of waiting with frantic shouts and gestures4 ,before long a showy gondola1 fashioned like a dragon1 with flashing torches and many paddles1 approached2 and a ,siamese official mounted the side1 swaying himself with an absolute air4 ,the red langoutee1 or skirt1 loosely folded about his person1 did not reach his ankles2 and to cover his audacious chest and shoulders he had only his own brown polished skin4 ,he was followed by a dozen attendants1 who1 the moment they stepped from the gangway1 sprawled on the deck like huge toads1 doubling their arms and legs under them1 and pressing their noses against the boards1 as if intent on making themselves small by degrees and hideously less4 ,every ,asiatic on deck1 coolies and all1 prostrates himself1 except my two servants1 who are bewildered4 ,moonshee covertly mumbles his five prayers1 ejaculating between1 ,mash-,allah6 ,a ,tala-yea kia hai8 ,footnote3 ,great ,god6 what is this8 and ,beebe shrinks1 and draws her veil of spotted muslin jealously over her charms4 ,the captain stepped forward and introduced us4 ,his ,excellency ,chow ,phya ,sri ,sury ,wongse1 ,prime ,minister of the ,kingdom of ,siam6 ,half naked as he was1 and without an emblem to denote his rank1 there was yet something remarkable about this native chief1 by virtue of which he compelled our respect from the first glance1--a sensibly magnetic quality of tone or look4 ,with an air of command oddly at variance with his almost indecent attire1 of which he seemed superbly unconscious1 he beckoned to a young attendant1 who crawled to him as a dog crawls to an angry master4 ,this was an interpreter1 who at a word from his lord began to question me in ,english4 ,are you the lady who is to teach in the royal family8 ,on my replying in the affirmative1 he asked1 ,have you friends in ,bangkok8 ,finding ,i had none1 he was silent for a minute or two2 then demanded3 ,what will you do8 ,where will you sleep to-night8 ,indeed ,i cannot tell1 ,i said4 ,i am a stranger here4 ,but ,i understood from his ,majesty's letter that a residence would be provided for us on our arrival2 and he has been duly informed that we were to arrive at this time4 ,his ,majesty cannot remember everything1 said his ,excellency2 the interpreter added1 ,you can go where you like4 ,and away went master and slaves4 ,i was dumfoundered1 without even voice to inquire if there was a hotel in the city2 and my servants were scornfully mute4 ,my kind friend the captain was sorely puzzled4 ,he would have sheltered us if he could2 but a cloud of coal-dust and the stamping and screaming of a hundred and fifty ,chinamen made hospitality impracticable2 so ,i made a little bed for my child on deck1 and prepared to pass the night with him under a canopy of stars4 ,the situation was as ,oriental as the scene1--heartless arbitrary insolence on the part of my employers2 homelessness1 forlornness1 helplessness1 mortification1 indignation1 on mine4 ,fears and misgivings crowded and stunned me4 ,my tears fell thick and fast1 and1 weary and despairing1 ,i closed my eyes1 and tried to shut out heaven and earth2 but the reflection would return to mock and goad me1 that by my own act1 and against the advice of my friends1 ,i had placed myself in this position4 ,the good captain of the ,chow ,phya1 much troubled by the conduct of the minister1 paced the deck 7which usually1 on these occasions1 he left to the supercargo7 for more than an hour4 ,presently a boat approached1 and he hailed it4 ,in a moment it was at the gangway1 and with robust1 hearty greetings on both sides1 ,captain ,b----1 a cheery ,englishman1 with a round1 ruddy1 rousing face1 sprang on board2 in a few words our predicament was explained to him1 and at once he invited us to share his house1 for the night at least1 assuring us of a cordial welcome from his wife4 ,in the beautiful gondola of our friend in need we were pulled by four men1 standing to their oars1 through a dream-like scene1 peculiar to this ,venice of the ,east4 ,larger boats1 in an endless variety of form and adornment1 with prows high1 tapering1 and elaborately carved1 and pretty little gondolas and canoes1 passed us continually on the right and left2 yet amid so many signs of life1 motion1 traffic1 bustle1 the sweet sound of the rippling waters alone fell on the ear4 ,no rumbling of wheels1 nor clatter of hoofs1 nor clangor of bells1 nor roar and scream of engines to shock the soothing fairy-like illusion4 ,the double charm of stillness and starlight was perfect4 ,by the by1 broke in my cheery new friend1 you'll have to go with me to the play1 ma'm2 because my wife is there with the boys1 and the house-key is in her pocket4 ,to the play6 ,o1 don't be alarmed1 ma'm6 ,it's not a regular theatre2 only a catchpenny show1 got up by a ,frenchman1 who came from ,singapore a fortnight since4 ,and having so little amusement here1 we are grateful for anything that may help to break the monotony4 ,the temporary playhouse is within the palace grounds of his ,royal ,highness ,prince ,krom ,lhuang ,wongse2 and ,i hope to have an opportunity to introduce you to the ,prince1 who ,i believe is to be present with his family4 ,the intelligence was not gratifying1 a ,siamese prince had too lately disturbed my moral equilibrium2 but ,i held my peace and awaited the result with resignation4 ,a few strokes of the oars1 seconded by the swift though silent current1 brought us to a wooden pier surmounted by two glaring lanterns4 ,captain ,b---- handed us out4 ,my child1 startled from a deep sleep1 was refractory1 and would not trust himself out of my fond keeping4 ,when finally ,i had struggled with him in my arms to the landing1 ,i saw in the shadow a form coiled on a piece of striped matting4 ,was it a bear8 ,no1 a prince6 ,for the clumsy mass of reddish- brown flesh unrolled and uplifted itself1 and held out a human arm1 with a fat hand at the end of it1 when ,captain ,b---- presented me to his ,royal ,highness4 ,near by was his ,excellency the ,prime ,minister1 in the identical costume that had disgraced our unpleasant interview on the ,chow ,phya2 he was smoking a ,european pipe1 and plainly enjoying our terrors4 ,my stalwart friend contrived to squeeze us1 and even himself1 first through a bamboo door1 and then through a crowd of hot people1 to seats fronting a sort of altar1 consecrated to the arts of jugglery4 ,a number of ,chinamen of respectable appearance occupied the more distant places1 while those immediately behind us were filled by the ladies and gentlemen of the foreign community4 ,on a raised dais hung with kincob ,footnote3 ,silk1 embroidered with1 gold flowers4 curtains1 the ladies of the ,prince's harem reclined2 while their children1 shining in silk and ornaments of gold1 laughed1 prattled1 and gesticulated1 until the juggler appeared1 when they were stunned with sudden wonder4 ,under the eaves on all sides human heads were packed1 on every head its cherished tuft of hair1 like a stiff black brush inverted1 in every mouth its delicious cud of areca-nut and betel1 which the human cattle ruminated with industrious content4 ,the juggler1 a keen little ,frenchman1 plied his arts nimbly1 and what with his ventriloquial doll1 his empty bag full of eggs1 his stones that were candies1 and his candies that were stones1 and his stuffed birds that sang1 astonished and delighted his unsophisticated patrons1 whose applauding murmurs were diversified by familiarly silly shrieks--the true ,siamese ,did-you-ever6--from behind the kincob curtains4 ,but ,i was weary and disheartened1 and welcomed with a sigh of relief the closing of the show4 ,as we passed out with our guide1 the glare of many torches falling on the dark silent river made the swarthy forms of the boatmen weird and ,charon-like4 ,mrs4 ,b---- welcomed us with a pleasant smile to her little heaven of home across the river1 and by the simplicity and gentleness of her manners dispelled in a measure my feeling of forlornness4 ,when at last ,i found myself alone1 ,i would have sought the sleep ,i so much needed1 but the strange scenes of the day chased each other in agitating confusion through my brain4 ,then ,i quitted the side of my sleeping boy1 triumphant in his dreamless innocence1 and sat defeated by the window1 to crave counsel and help from the ever-present ,friend2 and as ,i waited ,i sank into a tumultuous slumber1 from which at last ,i started to find the long-tarrying dawn climbing over a low wall and creeping through a half-open shutter4 ,,ii4 ,a ,,siamese ,,premier ,,at ,,home4 ,i started up1 arranged my dress1 and smoothed my hair2 though no water nor any after-touches could remove the shadow that night of gloom and loneliness had left upon my face4 ,but my boy awoke with eager1 questioning eyes1 his smile bright and his hair lustrous4 ,as we knelt together by the window at the feet of ,our ,father1 ,i could not but ask in the darkness of my trouble1 did it need so bitter a baptism as ours to purify so young a soul8 ,in an outer room we met ,mrs4 ,b---- en dshabill1 and scarcely so pretty as at our first meeting1 but for her smile1 remarkable for its subtile1 evanescent sweetness4 ,at breakfast our host joined us1 and1 after laughing at our late predicament and fright1 assured me of that which ,i have since experienced1--the genuine goodness of the ,prince ,krom ,lhuang ,wongse4 ,every foreign resident of ,bangkok1 who at any time has had friendly acquaintance or business with him1 would1 ,i doubt not1 join me in expressions of admiration and regard for one who has maintained through circumstances so trying and under a system so oppressive an exemplary reputation for liberality1 integrity1 justice1 and humanity4 ,soon after breakfast the ,prime ,minister's boat1 with the slave interpreter who had questioned me on the steamer1 arrived to take us to his ,excellency's palace4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,prime ,,minister4 ,in about a quarter of an hour we found ourselves in front of a low gateway1 which opened on a wide courtyard1 or compound1 paved with rough-hewn slabs of stone4 ,a brace of ,chinese mandarins of ferocious aspect1 cut in stone and mounted on stone horses1 guarded the entrance4 ,farther on1 a pair of men-at-arms in bass-relief challenged us2 and near these were posted two living sentries1 in ,european costume1 but without shoes4 ,on the left was a pavilion for theatrical entertainments1 one entire wall being covered with scenic pictures4 ,on the right of this stood the palace of the ,prime ,minister1 displaying a semicircular faade2 in the background a range of buildings of considerable extent1 comprising the lodgings of his numerous wives4 ,attached to the largest of these houses was a charming garden of flowers1 in the midst of which a refreshing fountain played4 ,his ,excellency's residence abounded within in carvings and gildings1 elegant in design and color1 that blended and harmonized in pleasing effects with the luxurious draperies that hung in rich folds from the windows4 ,we moved softly1 as the interpreter led us through a suite of spacious saloons1 disposed in ascending tiers1 and all carpeted1 candelabraed1 and appointed in the most costly ,european fashion4 ,a superb vase of silver1 embossed and burnished1 stood on a table inlaid with mother-of-pearl and chased with silver4 ,flowers of great variety and beauty filled the rooms with a delicious though slightly oppressive fragrance4 ,on every side my eyes were delighted with rare vases1 jewelled cups and boxes1 burnished chalices1 dainty statuettes1-- objets de virtu1 ,oriental and ,european1 antique and modern1 blending the old barbaric splendors with the graces of the younger arts4 ,as we waited1 fascinated and bewildered1 the ,prime ,minister suddenly stood before us1--the semi-nude barbarian of last night4 ,i lost my presence of mind1 and in my embarrassment would have left the room4 ,but he held out his hand1 saying1 ,good morning1 sir6 ,take a seat1 sir6 which ,i did somewhat shyly1 but not without a smile for his comical sir4 ,i spied a number of young girls peeping at us from behind curtains1 while the male attendants1 among whom were his younger brothers1 nephews1 and cousins1 crouched in the antechamber on all fours4 ,his ,excellency1 with an expression of pleased curiosity1 and that same grand unconsciousness of his alarming poverty of costume1 approached us nearly1 and1 with a kindly smile patting ,boy on the head1 asked him his name4 ,but the child cried aloud1 ,mamma1 come home6 ,please1 mamma1 come home6 and ,i found it not easy to quiet him4 ,presently1 mustering courage for myself also1 ,i ventured to express my wish for a quiet house or apartments1 where ,i might be free from intrusion1 and at perfect liberty before and after school-hours4 ,when this reasonable request was interpreted to him--seemingly in a few monosyllables--he stood looking at me1 smiling1 as if surprised and amused that ,i should have notions on the subject of liberty4 ,quickly this look became inquisitive and significant1 so that ,i began to fancy he had doubts as to the use ,i might make of my stipulated freedom1 and was puzzled to conjecture why a woman should wish to be free at all4 ,some such thought must have passed through his mind1 for he said abruptly1 ,you not married6 ,i bowed4 ,then where will you go in the evening8 ,not anywhere1 your ,excellency4 ,i simply desire to secure for myself and my child some hours of privacy and rest1 when my duties do not require my presence elsewhere4 ,how many years your husband has been dead8 he asked4 ,i replied that his ,excellency had no right to pry into my domestic concerns4 ,his business was with me as a governess only2 on any other subject ,i declined conversing4 ,i enjoyed the expression of blank amazement with which he regarded me on receiving this somewhat defiant reply4 ,tam chai6 7,please yourself67 he said1 and proceeded to pace to and fro1 but without turning his eyes from my face1 or ceasing to smile4 ,then he said something to his attendants1 five or six of whom1 raising themselves on their knees1 with their eyes fixed upon the carpet1 crawled backward till they reached the steps1 bobbed their heads and shoulders1 started spasmodically to their feet1 and fled from the apartment4 ,my boy1 who had been awed and terrified1 began to cry1 and ,i too was startled4 ,again he uttered the harsh gutturals1 and instantly1 as with an electric shock1 another half-dozen of the prostrate slaves sprang up and ran4 ,then he resumed his mysterious promenade1 still carefully keeping an eye upon us1 and smiling by way of conversation4 ,it was long before ,i could imagine what we were to do4 ,boy1 fairly tortured1 cried ,come home1 mamma6 why don't you come home8 ,i don't like that man4 ,his ,excellency halted1 and sinking his voice ominously1 said1 ,you no can go6 ,boy clutched my dress1 and hid his face and smothered his sobs in my lap2 and yet1 attracted1 fascinated1 the poor little fellow from time to time looked up1 only to shudder1 tremble1 and hide his face again4 ,for his sake ,i was glad when the interpreter returned on all fours4 ,pushing one elbow straight out before the other1 in the manner of these people1 he approached his master with such a salutation as might be offered to deity2 and with a few more unintelligible utterances1 his ,excellency bowed to us1 and disappeared behind a mirror4 ,all the curious1 peering eyes that had been directed upon us from every nook and corner where a curtain hung1 instantly vanished2 and at the same time sweet1 wild music1 like the tinkling of silver bells in the distance1 fell upon our ears4 ,to my astonishment the interpreter stood boldly upright1 and began to contemplate his irresistible face and figure in a glass1 and arrange with cool coxcombry his darling tuft of hair2 which done1 he approached us with a mild swagger1 and proceeded to address me with a freedom which ,i found it expedient to snub4 ,i told him that1 although ,i did not require any human being to go down on his face and hands before me1 ,i should nevertheless tolerate no familiarity or disrespect from any one4 ,the fellow understood me well enough1 but did not permit me to recover immediately from my surprise at the sudden change in his bearing and tone4 ,as he led us to the two elegant rooms reserved for us in the west end of the palace1 he informed us that he was the ,premier's half-brother1 and hinted that ,i would be wise to conciliate him if ,i wished to have my own way4 ,in the act of entering one of the rooms1 ,i turned upon him angrily1 and bade him be off4 ,the next moment this half-brother of a ,siamese magnate was kneeling in abject supplication in the half-open doorway1 imploring me not to report him to his ,excellency1 and promising never to offend again4 ,here was a miracle of repentance ,i had not looked for2 but the miracle was sham4 ,rage1 cunning1 insolence1 servility1 and hypocrisy were vilely mixed in the minion4 ,our chambers opened on a quiet piazza1 shaded by fruit-trees in blossom1 and overlooking a small artificial lake stocked with pretty1 sportive fish4 ,to be free to make a stunning din is a ,siamese woman's idea of perfect enjoyment4 ,hardly were we installed in our apartments when1 with a pell-mell rush and screams of laughter1 the ladies of his ,excellency's private ,utah reconnoitred us in force4 ,crowding in through the half-open door1 they scrambled for me with eager curiosity1 all trying at once to embrace me boisterously1 and promiscuously chattering in shrill ,siamese1--a bedlam of parrots2 while ,i endeavored to make myself impartially agreeable in the language of signs and glances4 ,nearly all were young2 and in symmetry of form1 delicacy of feature1 and fairness of complexion1 decidedly superior to the ,malay women ,i had been accustomed to4 ,most of them might have been positively attractive1 but for their ingeniously ugly mode of clipping the hair and blackening the teeth4 ,the youngest were mere children1 hardly more than fourteen years old4 ,all were arrayed in rich materials1 though the fashion did not differ from that of their slaves1 numbers of whom were prostrate in the rooms and passages4 ,my apartments were ablaze with their crimson1 blue1 orange1 and purple1 their ornaments of gold1 their rings and brilliants1 and their jewelled boxes4 ,two or three of the younger girls satisfied my ,western ideas of beauty1 with their clear1 mellow1 olive complexions1 and their almond-shaped eyes1 so dark yet glowing4 ,those among them who were really old were simply hideous and repulsive4 ,one wretched crone shuffled through the noisy throng with an air of authority1 and pointing to ,boy lying in my lap1 cried1 ,moolay1 moolay6 ,beautiful1 beautiful6 ,the familiar ,malay word fell pleasantly on my ear1 and ,i was delighted to find some one through whom ,i might possibly control the disorderly bevy around me4 ,i addressed her in ,malay4 ,instantly my visitors were silent1 and waiting in attitudes of eager attention4 ,she told me she was one of the many custodians of the harem4 ,she was a native of ,quedah2 and some sixty years ago1 she and her sister1 together with other young ,malay girls1 were captured while working in the fields by a party of ,siamese adventurers4 ,they were brought to ,siam and sold as slaves4 ,at first she mourned miserably for her home and parents4 ,but while she was yet young and attractive she became a favorite of the late ,somdetch ,ong ,yai1 father of her present lord1 and bore him two sons1 just as moolay1 moolay as my own darling4 ,but they were dead4 7,here1 with the end of her soiled silk scarf she furtively wiped a tear from her face1 no longer ugly47 ,and her gracious lord was dead also2 it was he who gave her this beautiful gold betel-box4 ,but how is it that you are still a slave8 ,i asked4 ,i am old and ugly and childless3 and therefore1 to be trusted by my dead lord's son1 the beneficent prince1 upon whose head be blessings1--clasping her withered hands1 and turning toward that part of the palace where1 no doubt1 he was enjoying a beneficent nap4 ,and now it is my privilege to watch and guard these favored ones1 that they see no man but their lord4 ,the repulsive uncomeliness of this woman had been wrought by oppression out of that which must have been beautiful once2 for the spirit of beauty came back to her for a moment1 with the passing memories that brought her long-lost treasures with them4 ,in the brutal tragedy of a slave's experience1--a female slave in the harem of an ,asian despot1--the native angel in her had been bruised1 mutilated1 defaced1 deformed1 but not quite obliterated4 ,her story ended1 the younger women1 to whom her language had been strange1 could no longer suppress their merriment1 nor preserve the decorum due to her age and authority4 ,again they swarmed about me like bees1 plying me pertinaciously with questions1 as to my age1 husband1 children1 country1 customs1 possessions2 and presently crowned the inquisitorial performance by asking1 in all seriousness1 if ,i should not like to be the wife of the prince1 their lord1 rather than of the terrible ,chow-che-witt4 ,footnote3 ,chow-che-witt1--,prince of life1--the supreme king4 ,here was a monstrous suggestion that struck me dumb4 ,without replying1 ,i rose and shook them off1 retiring with my boy into the inner chamber4 ,but they pursued me without compunction1 repeating the extraordinary conundrum1 and dragging the ,malay duenna along with them to interpret my answer4 ,the intrusion provoked me2 but1 considering their beggarly poverty of true life and liberty1 of hopes and joys1 and loves and memories1 and holy fears and sorrows1 with which a full and true response might have twitted them1 ,i was ashamed to be vexed4 ,seeing it impossible to rid myself of them1 ,i promised to answer their question1 on condition that they would leave me for that day4 ,immediately all eyes were fixed upon me4 ,the prince1 your lord1 and the king1 your ,chow-che-witt1 are pagans1 ,i said4 ,an ,english1 that is a ,christian1 woman would rather be put to the torture1 chained and dungeoned for life1 or suffer a death the slowest and most painful you ,siamese know1 than be the wife of either4 ,they remained silent in astonishment1 seemingly withheld from speaking by an instinctive sentiment of respect2 until one1 more volatile than the rest1 cried1 ,what6 not if he gave you all these jewelled rings and boxes1 and these golden things8 ,when the old woman1 fearing to offend1 whispered this test question in ,malay to me1 ,i laughed at the earnest eyes around1 and said3 ,no1 not even then4 ,i am only here to teach the royal family4 ,i am not like you4 ,you have nothing to do but to play and sing and dance for your master2 but ,i have to work for my children2 and one little one is now on the great ocean1 and ,i am very sad4 ,shades of sympathy1 more or less deep1 flitted across the faces of my audience1 and for a moment they regarded me as something they could neither convince nor comfort nor understand4 ,then softly repeating ,poot-thoo6 ,poot-thoo6 ,dear ,god6 dear ,god6 they quietly left me4 ,a minute more1 and ,i heard them laughing and shouting in the halls4 ,relieved of my curious and exacting visitors1 ,i lay down and fell into a deep sleep1 from which ,i was suddenly awakened1 in the afternoon1 by the cries of ,beebe1 who rushed into the chamber1 her head bare1 her fine muslin veil trampled under her feet1 and her face dramatically expressive of terror and despair4 ,moonshee1 her husband1 ignorant alike of the topography1 the language1 and the rules of the place1 had by mistake intruded in the sacred penetralia where lounged the favorite of the harem1 to the lively horror of that shrinking ,nourmahal1 and the general wrath of the old women on guard1 two of whom1 the ugliest1 fiercest1 and most muscular1 had dragged him1 daft and trembling1 to summary inquisition4 ,i followed ,beebe headlong to an open sala1 where we found that respectable servant of the ,prophet1 his hands tied1 his turban off1 woe-begone but resigned2 faithful and philosophic ,moslem that he was1 he only waited for his throat to be cut1 since it was his kismut1 his perverse destiny1 that had brought him to such a region of ,kafirs1 7infidels74 ,assuring him that there was nothing to fear1 ,i despatched a messenger in search of the interpreter1 while ,beebe wept and protested4 ,presently an imposing personage stalked upon the scene1 whose appearance matched his temper and his conduct4 ,this was the judge4 ,in vain ,i strove to explain to him by signs and gestures that my servant had offended unwittingly2 he could not or would not understand me2 but stormed away at our poor old man1 who bore his abuse with the calm indifference of profound ignorance1 having never before been cursed in a foreign language4 ,the loafers of the yards and porches shook off their lazy naps and gathered round us2 and among them came the interpreter1 insolent satisfaction beaming in his bad face4 ,he coolly declined to interfere1 protesting that it was not his business1 and that the judge would be offended if he offered to take part in the proceedings4 ,moonshee was condemned to be stripped1 and beaten with twenty strokes4 ,here was an end to my patience4 ,going straight up to the judge1 ,i told him that if a single lash was laid upon the old man's back 7which was bared as ,i spoke71 he should suffer tenfold1 for ,i would immediately lay the matter before the ,british ,consul4 ,though ,i spoke in ,english1 he caught the familiar words ,british ,consul1 and turning to the interpreter1 demanded the explanation he should have listened to before he pronounced sentence4 ,but even as the interpreter was jabbering away to the unreasonable functionary1 the assembly was agitated with what the ,french term a sensation4 ,judge1 interpreter1 and all fell upon their faces1 doubling themselves up2 and there stood the ,premier1 who took in the situation at a glance1 ordered ,moonshee to be released1 and permitted him at my request to retire to the room allotted to ,beebe4 ,while the slaves were alert in the execution of these benevolent commands1 the interpreter slunk away on his face and elbows4 ,but the old ,moslem1 as soon as his hands were free1 picked up his turban1 advanced1 and laid it at the feet of his deliverer1 with the graceful salutation of his people1 ,peace be with thee1 ,o ,vizier of a wise king6 ,the mild and venerable aspect of the ,moonshee1 and his snow-white beard falling low upon his breast1 must have inspired the ,siamese statesman with abiding feelings of respect and consideration1 for he was ever afterward indulgent to that ,oriental ,dominie ,sampson of my little household4 ,dinner at the ,premier's was composed and served with the same incongruous blending of the barbaric and the refined1 the ,oriental and the ,european1 that characterized the furniture and adornments of his palace4 ,the saucy little pages who handled the dishes had cigarettes between their pouting lips1 and from time to time hopped over the heads of ,medus to expectorate4 ,when ,i pointed reproachfully to the double peccadillo1 they only laughed and scampered off4 ,another detachment of these lads brought in fruits1 and1 when they had set the baskets or dishes on the table1 retired to sofas to lounge till we had dined4 ,but finding ,i objected to such manners1 they giggled gayly1 performed several acrobatic feats on the carpet1 and left us to wait on ourselves4 ,twilight on my pretty piazza4 ,the fiery sun is setting1 and long pencils of color1 from palettes of painted glass1 touch with rose and gold the low brow and downcast eyes and dainty bosom of a bust of ,clyte4 ,beebe and ,moonshee are preparing below in the open air their evening meal2 and the smoke of their pottage is borne slowly1 heavily on the hot still air1 stirred only by the careless laughter of girls plunging and paddling in the dimpled lake4 ,the blended gloom and brightness without enter1 and interweave themselves with the blended gloom and brightness within1 where lights and shadows lie half asleep and half awake1 and life breathes itself sluggishly away1 or drifts on a slumberous stream toward its ocean of death4 ,,iii4 ,a ,,sketch ,,of ,,siamese ,,history4 ,before inducting the reader to more particular acquaintance with his ,excellency ,chow ,phya ,sri-,sury ,wongse ,samuha-,p'hra ,kralahome1 ,i have thought that an abstract and brief chronicle of the times of the strange people over whom he is not less than second in dignity and power1 would not be out of place4 ,in the opinion of ,pickering1 the ,siamese are undoubtedly ,malay2 but a majority of the intelligent ,europeans who have lived long among them regard the native population as mainly ,mongolian4 ,they are generally of medium stature1 the face broad1 the forehead low1 the eyes black1 the cheekbones prominent1 the chin retreating1 the mouth large1 the lips thick1 and the beard scanty4 ,in common with most of the ,asiatic races1 they are apt to be indolent1 improvident1 greedy1 intemperate1 servile1 cruel1 vain1 inquisitive1 superstitious1 and cowardly2 but individual variations from the more repulsive types are happily not rare4 ,in public they are scrupulously polite and decorous according to their own notions of good manners1 respectful to the aged1 affectionate to their kindred1 and bountiful to their priests1 of whom more than twenty thousand are supported by voluntary contributions in ,bangkok alone4 ,marriage is contracted at sixteen for males1 and fourteen for females1 and polygamy is the common practice1 without limit to the number of wives except such as may be imposed by the humble estate or poverty of the husband2 the women are generally treated with consideration4 ,the bodies of the dead are burned2 and the badges of mourning are white robes for those of the family or kinfolk who are younger than the deceased1 black for those who are older1 and shaven heads for all who are in inferior degrees connected with the dead1 either as descendants1 dependents1 servants1 or slaves4 ,when a king dies the entire population1 with the exception of very young children1 must display this tonsorial uniform4 ,every ancient or famous city of ,siam has a story of its founding1 woven for it from tradition or fable2 and each of these legends is distinguished from the others by peculiar features4 ,the religion1 customs1 arts1 and literature of a people naturally impart to their annals a spirit all their own4 ,especially is this the case in the ,orient1 where the most original and suggestive thought is half disguised in the garb of metaphor1 and where1 in spite of vivid fancies and fiery passions1 the people affect taciturnity or reticence1 and delight in the metaphysical and the mystic4 ,hence the early annals of the ,siamese1 or ,sajamese1 abound in fables of heroes1 demigods1 giants1 and genii1 and afford but few facts of practical value4 ,swayed by religious influences1 they joined1 in the spirit of the ,hebrews1 the name of ,god to the titles of their rulers and princes1 whom they almost deified after death4 ,but the skeleton sketch of the history of ,siam that follows is of comparatively modern date1 and may be accepted as in the main authentic4 ,in the year #gab of the ,siamese1 and #acej of the ,christian era1 ,phya-,othong founded1 near the river ,meinam1 about sixty miles from the ,gulf of ,siam1 the city of ,ayudia or ,ayuthia 7the ,abode of the ,gods72 at the same time he assumed the title of ,p'hra ,rama ,thibodi4 ,this capital and stronghold was continually exposed to storms of civil war and foreign invasion2 and its turreted battlements and ponderous gates1 with the wide deep moat spanned by drawbridges1 where now is a forest of great trees1 were but the necessary fences behind which court and garrison took shelter from the tempestuous barbarism in the midst of which they lived4 ,but before any portion of the city1 except that facing the river1 could boast of a fortified enclosure1 hostile enterprises were directed against it4 ,birman pirates1 ascending the ,meinam in formidable flotillas1 harassed it4 ,thrice they ravaged the country around2 but on the last of these occasions great numbers of them were captured and put to cruel death by ,p'hra ,rama ,suen1 successor to ,thibodi1 who pursued the routed remnant to the very citadel of ,chiengmai1 then a tributary of the ,birman ,empire4 ,having made successful war upon this province1 and impressed thousands of ,laotian captives1 he next turned his arms against ,cambodia1 took the capital by storm1 slew every male capable of bearing arms1 and carried off enormous treasures in plate gold1 with which1 on his return to his kingdom1 he erected a remarkable pagoda1 called to this day ,the ,mountain of ,gold4 ,p'hra ,rama ,suen was succeeded by his son ,phya ,ram1 who reigned fourteen years1 and was assassinated by his uncle1 ,inthra ,racha1 the governor or feudal lord of the city1 who had snatched the reins of government and sent three of his sons to rule over the northern provinces4 ,at the death of ,inthra ,racha1 in #ghj1 two of these princes set out simultaneously1 with the design of seizing and occupying the vacant throne4 ,mounted on elephants1 they met in the dusk of evening on a bridge leading to the ,royal ,palace2 and each instantly divining his brother's purpose1 they dismounted1 and with their naked swords fell upon each other with such fury that both were slain on the spot4 ,the political and social disorganization that prevailed at this period was aggravated by the vulnerable condition of the monarchy1 then recently transferred to a new line4 ,princes of the blood royal were for a long time engaged1 brother against brother1 in fierce family feuds4 ,ayuthia suffered gravely from these unnatural contentions1 but even more from the universal license and riot that reigned among the nobility and the proud proprietors of the soil4 ,in the distracted and enfeebled state of all authority1 royal and magisterial1 the fields around remained for many years untilled2 and the only evidence the land presented of the abode of man was here and there the bristling den of some feudal chief1 a mere outlaw and dacoit1 who rarely sallied from it but to carry torch and pillage wherever there was aught to sack or burn4 ,in #hcd the undisputed sovereignty of the kingdom fell to another ,p'hra ,rama ,thibodi1 who reigned thirty years1 and is famous in ,siamese annals for the casting of a great image of ,buddha1 fifty cubits high1 of gold very moderately alloyed with copper4 ,on an isolated hill1 in a sacred enclosure1 he erected for this image a stately temple of the purest white marble1 approached by a graceful flight of steps4 ,from the ruins of its eastern front1 which are still visible1 it appears to have had six columns at either end and thirteen on each side2 the eastern pediment is adorned with sculptures1 as are also the ten metopes4 ,p'hra ,rama ,thibodi was succeeded by his son1 ,p'hra ,racha ,kuman1 whose reign was short1 and chiefly memorable for a tremendous conflagration that devastated ,ayuthia4 ,it raged three days1 and destroyed more than a hundred thousand houses4 ,this monarch left at his death but one son1 ,p'hra ,yot-,fa1 a lad of twelve1 whose mother1 the ,queen ,sisudah-,chand1 was appointed regent during his minority4 ,the devil of ambition has rarely possessed the heart of an ,eastern queen more absolutely than it did that of this infamous woman1--infamous even in heathen annals4 ,she is said to have graced her exalted station alike by the beauty of her person and the charm of her manner2 but in pursuit of the most arbitrary and audacious purposes she moved with the recklessness their nature demanded1 and with equal impatience trampled on friend and rival4 ,blind superstition was the only weak point in her character2 but though her deference to the imaginary instructions or warnings of the stars was slavish1 it does not seem to have deterred her from any false or cruel course2 indeed1 a cunning astrologer of her court1 by scaring her with visionary perils1 contrived to obtain a monstrous ascendency over her mind1 only to plunge her into crime more deeply than by her own weight of wickedness she might have sunk4 ,she ordered the secret assassination of every member of the royal household 7not excepting her mother and sisters71 who1 however mildly1 opposed her will4 ,besotted with fear1 that fruitful mother of crime1 she ended by putting to death the young king1 her son1 and publicly calling her paramour 7the court astrologer1 in whose thoughts1 she believed1 were hidden all the secrets of divination7 to the throne of the ,p'hrabatts4 ,this double crime filled the measure of her impunity4 ,the nobility revolted4 ,the strength of their faction lay1 not within the palace1 which was filled with the queen's parasites1 but with the feudal proprietors of the soil1 who1 exasperated by the abominations of the court1 only waited for a chance to crush it4 ,one day1 as the queen and her paramour were proceeding in a barge on their customary visit to her private pagoda and garden1--a paradise of all the floral wonders of the tropics1--a nobleman1 who had followed them1 hailed the royal gondola1 as if for instructions1 and1 being permitted to approach1 suddenly sprang upon the guilty pair1 drew his sword1 and dispatched them both1 careless of their loud cries for help4 ,almost simultaneously with the performance of this tragic exploit1 the nobles offered the crown to an uncle of the murdered heir1 who had fled from the court and taken refuge in a monastery4 ,having accepted it and assumed the title of ,maha-,charapt ,racha-therat1 he invaded ,pegu with a hundred thousand men-at-arms1 five thousand war elephants1 and seven thousand horse4 ,with this mighty host he marched against ,henzawadi1 the capital of ,pegu1 laying waste the country as he went with fire and sword4 ,the king of ,pegu came out to meet him1 accompanied by his romantic and intrepid queen1 ,maha ,chandra1 and supported by the few devoted followers that on so short a notice he could bring together4 ,in consideration of this great disparity of forces1 the two kings agreed1 in the chivalric spirit of the time1 to decide the fortune of the day by single combat4 ,hardly had they encountered1 when the elephant on which the king of ,pegu was mounted took fright and fled the field2 but his queen promptly took his place1 and fighting rashly1 fell1 speared through the right breast4 ,she was borne off amid the clash of cymbals and flourish of trumpets that hailed the victor4 ,maha-,charapt ,racha-therat was a great prince4 ,his wisdom1 valor1 and heroic exploits supplied the native bards with inspiring themes4 ,by his magnanimity he extinguished the envy of the neighboring princes and transformed rivals into friends4 ,jealous rulers became his willing vassals1 not from fear of his power1 but in admiration for his virtues4 ,malacca1 ,tenasserim1 ,ligor1 ,thavai1 ,martaban1 ,maulmain1 ,songkhla1 ,chantaboon1 ,phitsanulok1 ,look-,kho-,thai1 ,phi-chi1 ,savan ,khalok1 ,phechit1 ,cambodia1 and ,nakhon ,savan were all dependencies of ,siam under his reign4 ,in the year #aefh of the ,christian era the ,siamese territory was invaded and laid under tribute by a ,birman king named ,mandanahgri1 who must have been a warrior of ,napoleonic genius1 for he extended his dominion as far as the confines of ,china4 ,it is remarkable that the flower of his army was composed of several thousand ,portuguese1 tried troops in good discipline1 commanded by the noted ,don ,diego ,suanes4 ,these1 like the famous ,scotch ,legion of ,gustavus ,adolphus in the ,thirty ,years' ,war1 were mercenaries1 and doubtless contributed importantly to the success of the ,birman arms4 ,theirs is by no means the only case of ,portuguese soldiers serving for hire in the armies of the ,east4 ,their commander1 ,suanes1 seems to have been a brave and accomplished officer1 and to have been intrusted with undivided control of the ,birmese forces4 ,mandanahgri held the queen of ,siam and her two sons as hostages for the payment of the tribute he had levied2 but the princes were permitted to return to ,siam after a few years of captivity in ,birmah1 and in #aehc their captor died4 ,his successor struggled with an uncle for possession of the throne1 and the king of ,siam1 seizing the opportunity1 declared himself independent2 wherefore a more formidable army was shortly sent against him1 under command of the eldest son of the king of ,birmah4 ,but one of the young princes who had been led into captivity by ,mandanahgri now sat on the throne of ,siam4 ,in his youth he had been styled the ,black ,prince1 a title of distinction which seems to have fitted his characteristics not less appropriately than it did those of the ,english ,edward4 ,undismayed by the strength and fury of the enemy1 he attacked and routed them in a pitched battle1 killing their leader with his own hands1 invaded ,pegu1 and besieged its capital2 but was finally compelled to retire with considerable loss4 ,the ,black ,prince was succeeded by the ,white ,king1 who reigned peacefully for many years4 ,the next monarch especially worthy of notice is ,p'hra ,narai1 who sent ambassadors to ,goa1 the most important of the ,portuguese trading-stations in the ,east ,indies1 chiefly to invite the ,portuguese of ,malacca to establish themselves in ,siam for mutual advantages of trade4 ,the welcome emissaries were sumptuously entertained1 and a ,dominican friar accompanied them on their return1 with costly presents for the king4 ,this friar found ,p'hra ,narai much more liberal in his ideas than later ambassadors1 even to this day1 have found any other ruler of ,siam4 ,he agreed not only to permit all ,portuguese merchants to establish themselves anywhere in his dominions1 but to exempt their goods and wares from duty4 ,the ,dominican monks were likewise invited to build churches and preach ,christianity in ,siam4 ,soon after this extraordinary display of liberal statesmanship ,p'hra ,narai narrowly escaped death by a strange conspiracy4 ,four or five hundred ,japanese adventurers were secretly introduced into the country by an ambitious feudal proprietor1 who had conceived the mad design of dethroning the monarch and reigning in his stead2 but the king1 warned of the planned attack upon the palace1 seized the native conspirator and put him to death4 ,the ,japanese1 on the contrary1 were enrolled as a kind of praetorian guard1 or janissaries2 in this character1 however1 their pride and power became so formidable that the king grew uneasy and disbanded them4 ,p'hra ,narai1 from all accounts1 was a man to be respected and esteemed4 ,the events and the dramatis personae of his reign form a story so romantic1 so exceptional even in ,eastern annals1 that1 but for the undoubted authenticity of this chapter of ,siamese history1 it would be incredible4 ,it was during his reign that the whimsical attempt was made by ,louis ,,xiv4 to conquer ,siam and proselyte her king4 ,an extraordinary spectacle6 ,one of the most licentious monarchs of ,france1 who to the last breathed an atmosphere poisoned with scepticism1 and more than ,buddhism itself subversive of the true principles of ,christianity1 is suddenly inspired with an apparently devout longing to be the instrument of converting to the true faith the princes of the ,east4 ,to this end he employs that wily1 powerful1 and indefatigable body of daring priests1 the ,jesuits1 who were then in the very ardor of their missionary schemes4 ,ostensibly for the purpose of propagating the ,gospel1 but with more reality aspiring to extend their subtile influence over all mankind1 this society1 with means the most slender and in the face of obstacles the most disheartening1 have1 with indomitable courage and supernatural patience1 accomplished labors unparalleled in the achievements of mind4 ,now1 in the wilds of ,western ,america1 taming and teaching races of whose existence the world of refinement had never heard2 now climbing the icy steeps and tracking the wastes and wildernesses of ,siberia1 or with the evangel of ,john in one hand and the art of ,luke in the other1 bringing life to the bodies and souls of perishing multitudes under a scorching equatorial sun1--there is not a spot of earth in which ,european civilization has taken root where traces of ,jesuit forethought and careful1 patient husbandry may not be found4 ,so in ,siam1 we discover a monarch of consummate acumen1 more ,european than ,asiatic in his ideas1 sedulously cultivating the friendship of these foreign workers of wonders2 and finally we find a ,greek adventurer officiating as prime minister to this same king1 and conducting his affairs with that ability and success which must have commanded intellectual admiration1 even if they had not been inspired and promoted by motives of integrity toward the monarch who had so implicitly confided in his wisdom and fidelity4 ,constantine ,phaulkon was the son of respectable parents1 natives of the island of ,cephalonia1 where he was born in #afcj4 ,the geography1 if not the very name1 of the kingdom whose affairs he was destined to direct was quite unknown to his compatriots of the ,ionian ,isles1--even when as a mariner1 wrecked on the coast of ,malabar1 he became a fellow-passenger with a party of ,siamese officials1 his companions in disaster1 who were returning to their country from an embassy4 ,the facile ,greek quickly learned to talk with his new-found friends in their own tongue1 and by his accomplishments and adroitness made a place for himself in their admiration and influence1 so that he was received with flattering consideration at the ,court of ,p'hra ,narai1 and very soon invited to take service under government4 ,by his sagacity1 tact1 and diligence in the management of all affairs intrusted to him1 he rapidly rose in favor with his patron1 who finally elevated him to the highest post of honor in the state3 he was made premier4 ,the star of the ,cephalonian waif and adventurer had now mounted to the zenith1 and was safe to shine for many years with unabated brilliancy2 to this day he is remembered by the expressive term ,vicha-yen1 the cool wisdom4 ,the ,french priests1 elated at his success1 spared no promises or arts to retain him secretly in their interest4 ,under circumstances so extraordinary and auspicious1 the plans of the ,jesuits for the conversion of all ,eastern ,asia were put in execution4 ,from the ,vatican bishops were appointed1 and sent out to ,cochin ,china1 ,cambodia1 ,siam1 and ,pegu1 while the people of those several kingdoms were yet profoundly ignorant of the amiable intentions of the ,pope4 ,francis ,pallu1 ,m4 ,de la ,motte ,lambert1 and ,ignatius ,cotolendy were the respective exponents of this pious idea1 under the imposing titles of ,bishops of ,heliopolis1 ,borytus1 ,byzantium1 and ,metellopolis1--all ,frenchmen1 for ,louis ,,xiv4 insisted that the glory of the enterprise should be ascribed exclusively to ,france and to himself4 ,but all their efforts to convert the king were of no avail4 ,the ,jesuits1 however1 opened schools1 and have ever since labored assiduously and with success to introduce the ideas and the arts of ,europe into those countries4 ,after some years ,p'hra ,narai sent an embassy to the ,court of ,louis1 who was so sensible of the flattery that he immediately reciprocated with an embassy of his own1 with more priests1 headed by the ,chevalier ,de ,chaumont and the ,pre ,tachard4 ,the ,french fleet of five ships cast anchor in the ,meinam on the #bgth of ,september1 #afhg1 and the ,chevalier and his reverend colleague1 attended by ,jesuits1 were promptly and graciously received by the king1 who1 however1 expressed his fears that the chief object of their mission might not prove so easy of attainment as they had been led to believe4 ,as for ,phaulkon1 he had adroitly deceived the ,jesuits from the first1 and made all parties instruments to promote his own shrewd and secret plans4 ,de ,chaumont1 disheartened by his failure1 sailed back to ,france1 where he arrived in #afhh1 in the height of the agitation attending the ,english ,revolution of that year4 ,phaulkon1 finding that he could no longer conceal from the ,jesuits the king's repugnance to their plans for his conversion1 placed himself under their direction and control2 for though he had not as yet conceived the idea of seizing upon the crown1 it was plain that he aspired to honors higher than the premiership4 ,then rumors of disaffection among the nobles were diligently propagated by the ,french priests1 who1 although not sufficiently powerful to dethrone the king1 were nevertheless dangerous inciters of rebellion among the common people4 ,meanwhile the king of ,johore1 then a tributary of ,siam1 instigated by the ,dutch1 who1 from the first1 had watched with jealousy the machinations of the ,french1 sent envoys to ,p'hra ,narai1 to advise the extermination or expulsion of the ,french1 and to proffer the aid of his troops2 but the proposition was rejected with indignation4 ,these events were immediately followed by another1 known in ,siamese history as the ,revolt of the ,macassars1 which materially promoted the ripening of the revolution of which the ,french had sown the seeds4 ,celebes1 a large1 irregular island east of ,borneo1 includes a district known as ,macassar1 the ruler of which had been arbitrarily dethroned by the ,dutch2 and the sons of the injured monarch1 taking refuge in ,siam1 secretly encouraged the growing enmity of the nobles against the ,french4 ,meanwhile ,phaulkon1 by his address1 and skilful management of public affairs1 continued to exercise paramount influence over the mind of the king4 ,he persuaded ,p'hra ,narai to send another embassy to ,france1 which arrived happily 7the former having been shipwrecked off the ,cape of ,good ,hope7 at the ,court of ,louis ,,xiv4 in #afhi4 ,he also diligently and ably advanced the commercial strength of the country2 merchants from all parts of the world were invited to settle in ,siam1 and factories of every nation were established along the banks of the ,meinam4 ,both ,ayudia and ,lophaburee became busy and flourishing4 ,he was careful to keep the people employed1 and applied himself with vigor to improving the agriculture of the country4 ,rice1 sugar1 corn1 and palm-oil constituting the most fruitful and regular source of revenue1 he wisely regulated the traffic in those staples1 and was studious to promote the security and happiness of the great body of the population engaged or concerned in their production4 ,the laws he framed were so sound and stable1 and at the same time so wisely conformable to the interests alike of king and subject1 that to this day they constitute the fundamental law of the land4 ,phaulkon designed and built the palaces at ,lophaburee1 consisting of two lofty edifices1 square1 with pillars on all sides2 each pillar was made to represent a succession of shafts by the intervention of salient blocks1 forming capitals to what they surmounted and pedestals to what they supported4 ,the apartments within were gorgeously gilt and sumptuously furnished4 ,there yet remains1 in remarkable preservation1 a vermilion chamber looking toward the east2 though1 otherwise1 a forest of stately trees and several broken arches alone mark the spot where dwelt in regal splendor this foreign favorite of ,p'hra ,narai4 ,he also erected the famous castle on the west of the town1 on a piece of ground1 near the north bank of the river1 which formerly belonged to a ,buddhist monastery4 ,finally1 to keep off the ,birman invaders1 he built a wall1 surmounted along its whole extent by a parapet1 and fortified with towers at regular intervals of forty fathoms1 as well as by four larger ones at its extremities on the banks of the river1 below the two bridges4 ,its gates appear to have been twelve or thirteen in number1 and the extent of the southern portion is fixed at two thousand fathoms4 ,suburban villages still exist on both sides of the river1 and1 beyond these1 the religious buildings1 which have been restored1 but which now display the fantastic rather than the grand style which distinguished the architecture of this consummate ,grecian1 whom the people name with wonder1--all marvellous works being by them attributed to gods1 genii1 devils1 or the ,vicha-yen4 ,but the luxury in which the haughty statesman revelled1 his towering ambition1 and the wealth he lavished on his private abodes1 joined to the lofty1 condescending air he assumed toward the nobles1 soon provoked their jealous murmurings against him and his too partial master2 and when1 at last1 the king1 falling ill1 repaired to the premier's palace at ,lophaburee1 some of the more disaffected nobles1 headed by a natural son of ,p'hra ,narai and the two princes of ,macassar1 forced their way into the palace to slay the monarch4 ,but the brave old man1 at a glance divining their purpose1 leaped from his couch and1 seizing his sword1 threw himself upon it1 and died as his assassins entered4 ,in the picturesque drama of ,siamese history no figure appears so truly noble and brilliant as this king1 not merely renowned by the glory of his military exploits and the happy success of his more peaceful undertakings1 but beloved for his affectionate concern for the welfare of his subjects1 his liberality1 his moderation1 his modesty1 his indifference to the formal honors due to his royal state1 and 7what is most rare in ,asiatic character7 his sincere aversion to flattery1 his shyness even toward deserved and genuine praise4 ,turning from the corpse of the king1 the baffled regicides dashed at the luxurious apartment where ,phaulkon slumbered1 as was his custom of an afternoon1 unattended save by his fair young daughter ,constantia4 ,breaking in1 they tore the sleeping father from the arms of his agonized child1 who with piteous implorings offered her life for his1 bound him with cords1 dragged him to the woods beyond his garden1 and there1 within sight of the lovely little ,greek chapel he had erected for his private devotions1 first tortured him like fiends1 and then1 dispatching him1 flung his body into a pit4 ,his daughter1 following them1 clung fast to her father1 and1 though her heart bled and her brain grew numb between the gashes and the groans1 she still cheered him with her passionate endearments2 and1 holding before his eyes a cross of gold that always hung on her bosom1 inspired him to die like a brave man and a ,christian4 ,after that the lovely heroine was dragged into slavery and concubinage by the infamous ,chow ,dua1 one of the bloodiest of the gang4 ,even pagan chroniclers do not fail to render homage to so brave a man1 of whom they tell that he bore all with a fortitude and defiance that astounded the monsters who slew him1 and convinced them that he derived his supernatural courage and contempt of pain from the miraculous virtues of his daughter's golden cross4 ,after the death of the able premier1 the ,birmese again overran the land1 laying waste the fields1 and besieging the city of ,ayuthia for two years4 ,finding they could not reduce it by famine1 they tried flames1 and the burning is said to have lasted two whole months4 ,one of the feudal lords of ,siam1 ,phya ,tk1 a ,chinese adventurer1 who had amassed wealth1 and held the office of governor of the northern provinces under the late king1 seeing the impending ruin of the country1 assembled his personal followers and dependants1 and with about a thousand hardy and resolute warriors retired to the mountain fastness of ,naghon ,najok1 whence from time to time he swooped down to harass the encampments of the ,birmese1 who were almost invariably worsted in the skirmishes he provoked4 ,he then moved upon ,bangplasoi1 and the people of that place came out with gifts of treasure and hailed him as their sovereign4 ,thence he sailed to ,rajong1 strengthened his small force with volunteers in great numbers1 marched against ,chantaboon1 whose governor had disputed his authority1 and executed that indiscreet official2 levied another large army2 built and equipped a hundred vessels of war2 and set sail--a part of his army preceding him overland--for ,kankhoa1 on the confines of ,cochin ,china1 which place he brought to terms in less than three hours4 ,thence he pushed on to ,cambodia1 and arriving there on the ,siamese ,sabto1 or ,sabbath1 he issued a solemn proclamation to his army1 assuring them that he would that evening worship in the temple of the famous emerald idol1 ,p'hra ,kau4 ,every man was ordered to arm as if for battle1 but to wear the sacred robe1--white for the laity1 yellow for the clergy2 and all the priests who followed his fortunes were required to lead the way into the grand temple through the southern portico1 over which stood a triple-headed tower4 ,then the conqueror1 having prepared himself by fasting and purification1 clad in his sacred robes and armed to the teeth1 followed and made his words good4 ,almost his first act was to send his ships to the adjacent provinces for supplies of rice and grain1 which he dispensed so bountifully to the famishing people that they gratefully accepted his rule4 ,this king is described as an enthusiastic and indefatigable warrior1 scorning palaces1 and only happy in camp or at the head of his army4 ,his people found in him a true friend1 he was ever kind and generous to the poor1 and to his soldiers he paid fivefold the rates of former reigns4 ,but toward the nobles he was haughty1 rude1 exacting4 ,it is supposed that his prime minister1 fearing to oppose him openly1 corrupted his chief concubine1 and with her assistance drugged his food2 so that he was rendered insane1 and1 imagining himself a god1 insisted that sacrifices and offerings should be made to him1 and began to levy upon the nobility for enormous sums1 often putting them to the torture to extort treasure4 ,instigated by their infuriated lords1 the people now rebelled against their lately idolized master1 and attacked him in his palace1 from1 which he fled by a secret passage to an adjoining monastery1 in the disguise of a priest4 ,but the premier1 to whom he was presently betrayed1 had him put to death1 on the pretext that he might cause still greater scandal and disaster1 but in reality to establish himself in undisputed possession of the throne1 which he now usurped under the title of ,p'hra-,phuthi-,chow-,luang1 and removed the palace from the west to the east bank of the ,meinam4 ,during his reign the ,birmese made several attempts to invade the country1 but were invariably repulsed with loss4 ,this brings us to the uneventful reign of ,phen-den-,klang2 and by his death1 in #ahbe1 to the beginning of the story of his ,majesty1 ,maha ,mongkut1 the late supreme king1 and my employer1 with whom1 in these pages1 we shall have much to do4 ,,iv4 ,,his ,,excellency',s ,,harem ,,and ,,helpmeet4 ,when the ,senabawdee1 or ,royal ,council1 by elevating to the throne the priest-prince ,chowfa ,mongkut1 frustrated the machinations of the son of his predecessor1 they by the same stroke crushed the secret hopes of ,chow ,phya ,sri ,sury ,wongse1 the present premier4 ,it is whispered to this day--for no native1 prince or peasant1 may venture to approach the subject openly--that1 on the day of coronation1 his ,excellency retired to his private chambers1 and there remained1 shut up with his chagrin and grief1 for three days4 ,on the fourth1 arrayed in his court robes and attended by a numerous retinue1 he presented himself at the palace to take part in the ceremonies with which the coronation was celebrated4 ,the astute young king1 who in his priestly character had penetrated many state secrets1 advanced to greet him1 and with the double purpose of procuring the adherence and testing the fidelity of this discontented and wavering son of his stanch old champion1 the ,duke ,somdetch ,ong ,yai1 appointed him on the spot to the command of the army1 under the title of ,phya ,p'hra ,kralahome4 ,this flattering distinction1 though it did not immediately beguile him from his moodiness1 for a time diverted his dangerous fancies into channels of activity1 and he found a safe expression for his annoyance in a useful restlessness4 ,but after he had done more than any of his predecessors to remodel and perfect the army1 he relapsed into morbid melancholy1 from which he was once more aroused by the call of his royal master1 who invited him to share the labors and the honors of government in the highest civil office1 that of prime minister4 ,he accepted1 and has ever since shown himself prolific in devices to augment the revenue1 secure the co-operation of the nobility1 and confirm his own power4 ,his remarkable executive faculty1 seconding the enlightened policy of the king1 would doubtless have inaugurated a golden age for his country1 but for the aggressive meddling of ,french diplomacy in the quarrels between the princes of ,cochin ,china and ,cambodia2 by which exasperating measure ,siam is in the way to lose one of her richest possessions1 ,footnote3 ,cambodia4 and may in time become1 herself1 the brightest and most costly jewel in the crown of ,france4 ,such was ,chow ,phya ,sri ,sury ,wongse when ,i was first presented to him3 a natural king among the dusky forms that surrounded him1 the actual ruler of that semi-barbarous realm1 and the prime contriver of its arbitrary policy4 ,black1 but comely1 robust1 and vigorous1 neck short and thick1 nose large and nostrils wide1 eyes inquisitive and penetrating1 his was the massive brain proper to an intellect deliberate and systematic4 ,well found in the best idioms of his native tongue1 he expressed strong1 discriminative thoughts in words at once accurate and abundant4 ,his only vanity was his ,english1 with which he so interlarded his native speech1 as often to impart the effect of levity to ideas that1 in themselves1 were grave1 judicious1 and impressive4 ,let me conduct the reader into one of the saloons of the palace1 where we shall find this intellectual sensualist in the moral relaxation of his harem1 with his latest pets and playthings about him4 ,peering into a twilight1 studiously contrived1 of dimly-lighted and suggestive shadows1 we discover in the centre of the hall a long line of girls with skins of olive1--creatures who in years and physical proportions are yet but children1 but by training developed into women and accomplished actresses4 ,there are some twenty of them1 in transparent draperies with golden girdles1 their arms and bosoms1 wholly nude1 flashing1 as they wave and heave1 with barbaric ornaments of gold4 ,the heads are modestly inclined1 the hands are humbly folded1 and the eyes droop timidly beneath long lashes4 ,their only garment1 the lower skirt1 floating in light folds about their limbs1 is of very costly material bordered heavily with gold4 ,on the ends of their fingers they wear long nails of gold1 tapering sharply like the claws of a bird4 ,the apartment is illuminated by means of candelabras1 hung so high that the light falls in a soft hazy mist on the tender faces and pliant forms below4 ,another group of maidens1 comely and merry1 sit behind musical instruments1 of so great variety as to recall the cornet1 flute1 sackbut1 harp1 psaltery1 and dulcimer of ,scripture4 ,the head wife of the premier1 earnestly engaged in creaming her lips1 reclines apart on a dais1 attended by many waiting-women4 ,from the folds of a great curtain a single flute opens the entertainment with low tender strains1 and from the recesses twelve damsels appear1 bearing gold and silver fans1 with which1 seated in order1 they fan the central group4 ,now the dancers1 a burst of joyous music being the signal1 form in two lines1 and simultaneously1 with military precision1 kneel1 fold and raise their hands1 and bow till their foreheads touch the carpet before their lord4 ,then suddenly springing to their feet1 they describe a succession of rapid and intricate circles1 tapping the carpet with their toes in time to the music4 ,next follows a miracle of art1 such as may be found only among pupils of the highest physical training2 a dance in which every motion is poetry1 every attitude an expression of love1 even rest but the eloquence of passion overcome by its own fervor4 ,the music swelling into a rapturous tumult preludes the choral climax1 wherein the dancers1 raising their delicate feet1 and curving their arms and fingers in seemingly impossible flexures1 sway like withes of willow1 and agitate all the muscles of the body like the fluttering of leaves in a soft breeze4 ,their eyes glow as with an inner light2 the soft brown complexion1 the rosy lips half parted1 the heaving bosom1 and the waving arms1 as they float round and round in wild eddies of dance1 impart to them the aspect of fair young fiends4 ,and there sits the ,kralahome1 like the idol of ebony before the demon had entered it6 while around him these elfin worshippers1 with flushed cheeks and flashing eyes1 tossing arms and panting bosoms1 whirl in their witching waltz4 ,he is a man to be wondered at1--stony and grim1 his huge hands resting on his knees in statuesque repose1 as though he supported on his well-poised head the whole weight of the ,maha ,mongkut ,footnote3 ,the ,mighty ,crown4 itself1 while at his feet these brown leaves of humanity lie quivering4 ,is it all maya1--delusion8 ,i open wide my eyes1 then close them1 then open them again4 ,there still lie the living puppets1 not daring to look up to the face of their silent god1 where scorn and passion contend for place4 ,the dim lights1 the shadows blending with them1 the fine harmony of colors1 the wild harmony of sounds1 the fantastic phantoms1 the overcoming sentiment1 all the poetry and the pity of the scene1--the formless longing1 the undefined sense of wrong6 ,poor things1 poor things6 ,the prime minister of ,siam enjoys no exemption from that mocking law which condemns the hero strutting on the stage of the world to cut but a sorry figure at home4 ,toward these helpless slaves of his nod his deportment was studiously ungracious and mean4 ,no smile of pleased surprise or approbation ever brightened his gloomy countenance4 ,true1 the fire of his native ardor burns there still1 but through no crevice of the outward man may one catch a glimpse of its light4 ,though he rage as a fiery furnace within1 externally he is calm as a lake1 too deep to be troubled by the skipping1 singing brooks that flow into it4 ,rising automatically1 he abruptly retired1 bored4 ,and those youthful1 tender forms1 glowing and panting there1--in what glorious robes might not their proper loveliness have arrayed them1 if only their hearts had looked upward in freedom1 and not1 like their trained eyes1 downward in blind homage4 ,koon ,ying ,phan 7literally1 ,the ,lady in ,one ,thousand7 was the head wife of the ,premier4 ,he married her1 after repudiating the companion of his more grateful years1 the mother of his only child1 a son--the legitimacy of whose birth he doubted1 and so1 for a grim jest1 named the lad ,my ,chi1 ,not ,so4 ,he would have put the mother to death1 but finding no real grounds for his suspicion1 let her off with a public putting away4 ,the divorced woman1 having nothing left but her disowned baby1 carefully changed the ,my ,chi to ,ny ,chi 7,not ,so to ,master ,so 71--a cunning trick of pride1 but a doubtful improvement4 ,koon ,ying ,phan had neither beauty nor grace2 but her habits were domestic1 and her temper extremely mild4 ,when ,i first knew her she was perhaps forty years old1--stout1 heavy1 dark1--her only attraction the gentle expression of her eyes and mouth4 ,around her pretty residence1 adjoining the ,premier's palace1 bloomed the most charming garden ,i saw in ,siam1 with shrubberies1 fountains1 and nooks1 designed by a true artist2 though the work of the native florists is usually fantastic and grotesque1 with an excess of dwarfed trees in ,chinese vases4 ,there was1 besides1 a cool1 shaded walk1 leading to a more extensive garden1 adorned with curious lattice-work1 and abounding in shrubs of great variety and beauty4 ,koon ,ying ,phan had a lively love for flowers1 which she styled the children of her heart2 for my lord is childless1 she whispered4 ,in her apartments the same subdued lights and mellow half-tints prevailed that in her husband's saloons imparted a pensive sentiment to the place4 ,there were neither carpets nor mirrors2 and the only articles of furniture were some sofa-beds1 low marble couches1 tables1 and a few arm-chairs1 but all of forms antique and delicate4 ,the combined effect was one of delicious coolness1 retirement1 and repose1 even despite the glaring rays that strove to invade the sweet refuge through the silken window-nets4 ,this lady1 to whom belonged the undivided supervision of the premier's household1 was kind to the younger women of her husband's harem1 in whose welfare she manifested a most amiable interest1--living among them happily1 as a mother among her daughters1 sharing their confidences1 and often pleading their cause with her lord and theirs1 over whom she exercised a very cautious but positive influence4 ,i learned gladly and with pride to admire and love this lady1 to accept her as the type of a most precious truth4 ,for to behold1 even afar off1 silent upon a peak of sympathy1 the ocean of love and pathos1 of passion and patience1 on which the lives of these our pagan sisters drift1 is to be gratefully sensible of a loving1 pitying1 and sufficing ,presence1 even in the darkness of error1 superstition1 slavery1 and death4 ,shortly after her marriage1 ,koon ,ying ,phan1 moved partly by compassion for the wrongs of her predecessor1 partly by the aching void of her own life1 adopted the disowned son of the premier1 and called him1 with reproachful significance1 ,p'hra ,nah ,why1 the ,lord endures4 ,and her strong friend1 ,nature1 who had already knit together1 by nerve and vein and bone and sinew1 the father and the child1 now came to her aid1 and united them by the finer but scarcely weaker ties of habit and companionship and home affections4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,temple ,,of ,,the ,,sleeping ,,idol4 ,v4 ,,the ,,temples ,,of ,,the ,,sleeping ,,and ,,the ,,emerald ,,idols4 ,the day had come for my presentation to the supreme king4 ,after much preliminary talk between the ,kralahome and myself1 through the medium of the interpreter1 it had been arranged that my straightforward friend1 ,captain ,b----1 should conduct us to the royal palace1 and procure the interview4 ,our cheerful escort arrived duly1 and we proceeded up the river1--my boy maintaining an ominous silence all the while1 except once1 when he shyly confessed he was afraid to go4 ,at the landing we found a large party of priests1 some bathing1 some wringing their yellow garments2 graceful girls balancing on their heads vessels of water2 others1 less pleasing1 carrying bundles of grass1 or baskets of fruit and nuts2 noblemen in gilded sedans1 borne on men's shoulders1 hurrying toward the palace2 in the distance a troop of horsemen1 with long glittering spears4 ,passing the covered gangway at the landing1 we came upon a clean brick road1 bounded by two high walls1 the one on the left enclosing the abode of royalty1 the other the temple ,watt ,poh1 where reposes in gigantic state the wondrous ,sleeping ,idol4 ,imagine a reclining figure one hundred and fifty feet long and forty feet high1 entirely overlaid with plate gold2 the soles of its monstrous feet covered with bass-reliefs inlaid with mother-of-pearl and chased with gold2 each separate design distinctly representing one of the many transmigrations of ,buddha whereby he obtained ,niphan4 ,on the nails are graven his divine attributes1 ten in number3 #a4 ,arahang1--,immaculate1 ,pure1 ,chaste4 #b4 ,samma ,sam-,putho1--,cognizant of the laws of ,nature1 ,infallible1 ,unchangeable1 ,true4 #c4 ,vicharanah ,sampanoh1--,endowed with all ,knowledge1 all ,science4 #d4 ,lukha-tho1--,excellence1 ,perfection4 #e4 ,lk-havi-tho1--,cognizant of the mystery of ,creation4 #f4 ,annutharo1--,inconceivably ,pure1 without ,sin4 #g4 ,purisah tham-mah ,sarathi1--,unconquerable1 ,invincible1 before whom the angels bow4 #h4 ,sassahdah1--,father of ,beatitude1 ,teacher of the ways to bliss4 #i4 ,poodh-tho1--,endowed with boundless ,compassion1 ,pitiful1 ,tender1 ,loving1 ,merciful1 ,benevolent4 #aj4 ,pk-havah1--,glorious1 endowed with inconceivable ,merit1 ,adorable4 ,leaving this temple1 we approached a low circular fort near the palace1 --a miniature model of a great citadel1 with bastions1 battlements1 and towers1 showing confusedly over a crenellated wall4 ,entering by a curious wooden gate1 bossed with great flat-headed nails1 we reached by a stony pathway the stables 7or1 more correctly1 the palace7 of the ,white ,elephant1 where the huge creature--indebted for its whiteness to tradition rather than to nature--is housed royally4 ,passing these1 we next came to the famous ,watt ,p'hra ,kau1 or temple of the ,emerald ,idol4 ,an inner wall separates this temple from the military depot attached to the palace2 but it is connected by a secret passage with the most private apartments of his ,majesty's harem1 which1 enclosed on all sides1 is accessible only to women4 ,the temple itself is unquestionably one of the most remarkable and beautiful structures of its class in the ,orient2 the lofty octagonal pillars1 the quaint ,gothic doors and windows1 the tapering and gilded roofs1 are carved in an infinite variety of emblems1 the lotos and the palm predominating4 ,the adornment of the exterior is only equalled in its profusion by the pictorial and hieroglyphic embellishment within4 ,the ceiling is covered with mythological figures and symbols4 ,most conspicuous among the latter are the luminous circles1 resembling the mystic orb of the ,hindoos1 and representing the seven constellations known to the ancients2 these revolve round a central sun in the form of a lotos1 called by the ,siamese ,dok thit 7sun-flower71 because it expands its leaves to the rising sun and contracts them as he sets4 ,on the cornices are displayed the twelve signs of the zodiac4 ,the altar is a wonder of dimensions and splendor1--a pyramid one hundred feet high1 terminating in a fine spire of gold1 and surrounded on every side by idols1 all curious and precious1 from the bijou image in sapphire to the colossal statue in plate gold4 ,a series of trophies these1 gathered from the triumphs of ,buddhism over the proudest forms of worship in the old pagan world4 ,in the pillars that surround the temple1 and the spires that taper far aloft1 may be traced types and emblems borrowed from the ,temple of the ,sun at ,baalbec1 the proud fane of ,diana at ,ephesus1 the shrines of the ,delian ,apollo2 but the ,brahminical symbols and interpretations prevail4 ,strange that it should be so1 with a sect that suffered by the slayings and the outcastings of a ruthless persecution1 at the hands of their ,brahmin fathers1 for the cause of restoring the culture of that simple and pure philosophy which nourished before pantheism6 ,the floor is paved with diamonds of polished brass1 which reflect the light of tall tapers that have burned on for more than a hundred years1 so closely is the sacred fire watched4 ,the floods of light and depths of shadow about the altar are extreme1 and the effect overwhelming4 ,the ,emerald ,idol is about twelve inches high and eight in width4 ,into the virgin gold of which its hair and collar are composed must have been stirred1 while the metal was yet molten1 crystals1 topazes1 sapphires1 rubies1 onyxes1 amethysts1 and diamonds1--the stones crude1 or rudely cut1 and blended in such proportions as might enhance to the utmost imaginable limit the beauty and the cost of the adored effigy4 ,the combination is as harmonious as it is splendid4 ,no wonder it is commonly believed that ,buddha himself alighted on the spot in the form of a great emerald1 and by a flash of lightning conjured the glittering edifice and altar in an instant from the earth1 to house and throne him there6 ,on either side of the eastern entrance--called ,patoo ,ngam1 ,the ,beautiful ,gate--stands a modern statue2 one of ,saint ,peter1 with flowing mantle and sandalled feet1 in an attitude of sorrow1 as when he turned away his face and wept2 the other of ,ceres1 scattering flowers4 ,the western entrance1 which admits only ladies1 is styled ,patoo ,thavdah1 ,the ,angels' ,gate1 and is guarded by genii of ferocious aspect4 ,at a later period1 visiting this temple in company with the king and his family1 ,i called his ,majesty's attention to the statue at the ,beautiful ,gate1 as that of a ,christian saint with whose story he was not unfamiliar4 ,turning quickly to his children1 and addressing them gently1 he bade them salute it reverently4 ,it is ,mam's ,p'hra1 ,footnote3 ,saint1 or ,lord4 he said2 whereupon the tribe of little ones folded their hands devoutly1 and made obeisance before the effigy of ,saint ,peter4 ,as often as my thought reverts to this inspiring shrine1 reposing in its lonely loveliness amid the shadows and the silence of its consecrated groves1 ,i cannot find it in my heart to condemn1 however illusive the object1 but rather ,i rejoice to admire and applaud1 the bent of that devotion which could erect so proud and beautiful a fane in the midst of moral surroundings so ignoble and unlovely1--a spiritual remembrance perhaps older and truer than paganism1 ennobling the pagan mind with the idea of an architectural ,sabbath1 so to speak1 such as a heathen may purely enjoy and a ,christian may not wisely despise4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,beautiful ,,gate ,,of ,,the ,,temple4 ,,vi4 ,,the ,,king ,,and ,,the ,,governess4 ,in #ahbe a royal prince of ,siam 7his birthright wrested from him1 and his life imperilled7 took refuge in a ,buddhist monastery and assumed the yellow garb of a priest4 ,his father1 commonly known as ,phen-den-,klang1 first or supreme king of ,siam1 had just died1 leaving this prince1 ,chowfa ,mongkut1 at the age of twenty1 lawful heir to the crown2 for he was the eldest son of the acknowledged queen1 and therefore by courtesy and honored custom1 if not by absolute right1 the legitimate successor to the throne of the ,p'hra-batts4 ,footnote3 ,the ,golden-footed4 ,but he had an elder half-brother1 who1 through the intrigues of his mother1 had already obtained control of the royal treasury1 and now1 with the connivance1 if not by the authority1 of the ,senabawdee1 the ,grand ,council of the kingdom1 proclaimed himself king4 ,he had the grace1 however1 to promise his plundered brother--such royal promises being a cheap form of propitiation in ,siam--to hold the reins of government only until ,chowfa ,mongkut should be of years and strength and skill to manage them4 ,but1 once firmly seated on the throne1 the usurper saw in his patient but proud and astute kinsman only a hindrance and a peril in the path of his own cruder and fiercer aspirations4 ,hence the forewarning and the flight1 the cloister and the yellow robes4 ,and so the usurper continued to reign1 unchallenged by any claim from the king that should be1 until ,march1 #ahea1 when1 a mortal illness having overtaken him1 he convoked the ,grand ,council of princes and nobles around his couch1 and proposed his favorite son as his successor4 ,then the safe asses of the court kicked the dying lion with seven words of sententious scorn1--,the crown has already its rightful owner2 whereupon the king literally cursed himself to death1 for it was almost in the convulsion1 of his chagrin and rage that he came to his end1 on the #c;d of ,april4 ,in ,siam there is no such personage as an heir-apparent to the throne1 in the definite meaning and positive value which attaches to that phrase in ,europe1--no prince with an absolute and exclusive title1 by birth1 adoption1 or nomination1 to succeed to the crown4 ,and while it is true that the eldest living son of a ,siamese sovereign by his queen or queen consort is recognized by all custom1 ancient and modern1 as the probable successor to the high seat of his royal sire1 he cannot be said to have a clear and indefeasible right to it1 because the question of his accession has yet to be decided by the electing voice of the ,senabawdee1 in whose judgment he may be ineligible1 by reason of certain physical1 mental1 or moral disabilities1--as extreme youth1 effeminacy1 imbecility1 intemperance1 profligacy4 ,nevertheless1 the election is popularly expected to result in the choice of the eldest son of the queen1 though an interregnum or a regency is a contingency by no means unusual4 ,it was in view of this jurisdiction of the ,senabawdee1 exercised in deference to a just and honored usage1 that the voice of the oracle fell upon the ear of the dying monarch with a disappointing and offensive significance2 for he well knew who was meant by the rightful owner of the crown4 ,hardly had he breathed his last when1 in spite of the busy intrigues of his eldest son 7whom we find described in the ,bangkok ,recorder of ,july #bf1 #ahff1 as most honorable and promising71 in spite of the bitter vexation of his lordship ,chow ,phya ,sri ,sury ,wongse1 so soon to be premier1 the prince ,chowfa ,mongkut doffed his sacerdotal robes1 emerged from his cloister1 and was crowned1 with the title of ,somdetch ,phra ,paramendr ,maha ,mongkut4,footnote3 ,duke1 and royal bearer of the great crown4 ,for twenty-five years had the true heir to the throne of the ,p'hra-batts1 patiently biding his time1 lain perdu in his monastery1 diligently devoting himself to the study of ,sanskrit1 ,pali1 theology1 history1 geology1 chemistry1 and especially astronomy4 ,he had been a familiar visitor at the houses of the ,american missionaries1 two of whom 7,dr4 ,house and ,mr4 ,mattoon7 were1 throughout his reign and life1 gratefully revered by him for that pleasant and profitable converse which helped to unlock to him the secrets of ,european vigor and advancement1 and to make straight and easy the paths of knowledge he had started upon4 ,not even the essential arrogance of his ,siamese nature could prevent him from accepting cordially the happy influences these good and true men inspired2 and doubtless he would have gone more than half-way to meet them1 but for the dazzle of the golden throne in the distance which arrested him midway between ,christianity and ,buddhism1 between truth and delusion1 between light and darkness1 between life and death4 ,in the ,oriental tongues this progressive king was eminently proficient2 and toward priests1 preachers1 and teachers1 of all creeds1 sects1 and sciences1 an enlightened exemplar of tolerance4 ,it was likewise his peculiar vanity to pass for an accomplished ,english scholar1 and to this end he maintained in his palace at ,bangkok a private printing establishment1 with fonts of ,english type1 which1 as may be perceived presently1 he was at no loss to keep in copy4 ,perhaps it was the printing-office which suggested1 quite naturally1 an ,english governess for the lite of his wives and concubines1 and their offspring1--in number amply adequate to the constitution of a royal school1 and in material most attractively fresh and romantic4 ,happy thought6 ,wherefore1 behold me1 just after sunset on a pleasant day in ,april1 #ahfb1 on the threshold of the outer court of the ,grand ,palace1 accompanied by my own brave little boy1 and escorted by a compatriot4 ,a flood of light sweeping through the spacious ,hall of ,audience displayed a throng of noblemen in waiting4 ,none turned a glance1 or seemingly a thought1 on us1 and1 my child being tired and hungry1 ,i urged ,captain ,b---- to present us without delay4 ,at once we mounted the marble steps1 and entered the brilliant hall unannounced4 ,ranged on the carpet were many prostrate1 mute1 and motionless forms1 over whose heads to step was a temptation as drolly natural as it was dangerous4 ,his ,majesty spied us quickly1 and advanced abruptly1 petulantly screaming1 ,who8 who8 who8 ,captain ,b---- 7who1 by the by1 is a titled nobleman of ,siam7 introduced me as the ,english governess1 engaged for the royal family4 ,the king shook hands with us1 and immediately proceeded to march up and down in quick step1 putting one foot before the other with mathematical precision1 as if under drill4 ,forewarned1 forearmed6 my friend whispered that ,i should prepare myself for a sharp cross-questioning as to my age1 my husband1 children1 and other strictly personal concerns4 ,suddenly his ,majesty1 having cogitated sufficiently in his peculiar manner1 with one long final stride halted in front of us1 and pointing straight at me with his forefinger1 asked1 ,how old shall you be8 ,scarcely able to repress a smile at a proceeding so absurd1 and with my sex's distaste for so serious a question1 ,i demurely replied1 ,one hundred and fifty years old4 ,had ,i made myself much younger1 he might have ridiculed or assailed me2 but now he stood surprised and embarrassed for a few moments1 then resumed his queer march2 and at last1 beginning to perceive the jest1 coughed1 laughed1 coughed again1 and in a high1 sharp key asked1 ,in what year were you borned8 ,instantly ,i struck a mental balance1 and answered1 as gravely as ,i could1 ,in #aghh4 ,at this point the expression of his ,majesty's face was indescribably comical4 ,captain ,b---- slipped behind a pillar to laugh2 but the king only coughed1 with a significant emphasis that startled me1 and addressed a few words to his prostrate courtiers1 who smiled at the carpet1--all except the prime minister1 who turned to look at me4 ,but his ,majesty was not to be baffled so3 again he marched with vigor1 and then returned to the attack with lan4 ,how many years shall you be married8 ,for several years1 your ,majesty4 ,he fell into a brown study2 then1 laughing1 rushed at me1 and demanded triumphantly3-- ,ha6 ,how many grandchildren shall you now have8 ,ha1 ha6 ,how many8 ,how many8 ,ha1 ha1 ha6 ,of course we all laughed with him2 but the general hilarity admitted of a variety of constructions4 ,then suddenly he seized my hand1 and dragged me1 nolens volens1 my little ,louis holding fast by my skirt1 through several sombre passages1 along which crouched duennas1 shrivelled and grotesque1 and many youthful women1 covering their faces1 as if blinded by the splendor of the passing ,majesty4 ,at length he stopped before one of the many-curtained recesses1 and1 drawing aside the hangings1 disclosed a lovely1 childlike form4 ,he stooped and took her hand1 7she naively hiding her face71 and placing it in mine1 said1 ,this is my wife1 the ,lady ,tlp4 ,she desires to be educated in ,english4 ,she is as pleasing for her talents as for her beauty1 and it is our pleasure to make her a good ,english scholar4 ,you shall educate her for me4 ,i replied that the office would give me much pleasure2 for nothing could be more eloquently winning than the modest1 timid bearing of that tender young creature in the presence of her lord4 ,she laughed low and pleasantly as he translated my sympathetic words to her1 and seemed so enraptured with the graciousness of his act that ,i took my leave of her with a sentiment of profound pity4 ,he led me back by the way we had come2 and now we met many children1 who put my patient boy to much childish torture for the gratification of their startled curiosity4 ,i have sixty-seven children1 said his ,majesty1 when we had returned to the ,audience ,hall4 ,you shall educate them1 and as many of my wives1 likewise1 as may wish to learn ,english4 ,and ,i have much correspondence in which you must assist me4 ,and1 moreover1 ,i have much difficulty for reading and translating ,french letters2 for ,french are fond of using gloomily deceiving terms4 ,you must undertake2 and you shall make all their murky sentences and gloomily deceiving propositions clear to me4 ,and1 furthermore1 ,i have by every mail foreign letters whose writing is not easily read by me4 ,you shall copy on round hand1 for my readily perusal thereof4 ,nil desperandum2 but ,i began by despairing of my ability to accomplish tasks so multifarious4 ,i simply bowed1 however1 and so dismissed myself for that evening4 ,one tempting morning1 when the air was cool1 my boy and ,i ventured some distance beyond the bounds of our usual cautious promenade1 close to the palace of the premier4 ,some forty or fifty carpenters1 building boats under a long low shed1 attracted the child's attention4 ,we tarried awhile1 watching their work1 and then strolled to a stone bridge hard by1 where we found a gang of repulsive wretches1 all men1 coupled by means of iron collars and short but heavy fetters1 in which they moved with difficulty1 if not with positive pain4 ,they were carrying stone from the canal to the bridge1 and as they stopped to deposit their burdens1 ,i observed that most of them had hard1 defiant faces1 though here and there were sad and gentle eyes that bespoke sympathy4 ,one of them approached us1 holding out his hand1 into which ,boy dropped the few coins he had4 ,instantly1 with a greedy shout1 the whole gang were upon us1 crowding us on all sides1 wrangling1 yelling4 ,i was exceedingly alarmed1 and having no more money there1 knew not what to do1 except to take my child in my arms1 and strive again and again to break through the press2 but still ,i fell back baffled1 and sickened by the insufferable odors that emanated from their disgusting persons2 and still they pressed and scrambled and screamed1 and clanked their horrid chains4 ,but behold6 suddenly1 as if struck by lightning1 every man of them fell on his face1 and officers flew among them pell-mell1 swingeing with hard1 heavy thongs the naked wincing backs4 ,it was with a sense of infinite relief that we found ourselves safe in our rooms at last2 but the breakfast tasted earthy and the atmosphere was choking1 and our very hearts were parched4 ,at night ,boy lay burning on his little bed1 moaning for aiyer sujok 7cold water71 while ,i fainted for a breath of fresh1 sweet air4 ,but ,god blesses these ,eastern prison-houses not at all2 the air that visits them is no better than the life within1--heavy1 stifling1 stupefying4 ,for relief ,i betook me to the study of the ,siamese language1 an occupation ,i had found very pleasant and inspiring4 ,as for ,boy1 who spoke ,malay fluently1 it was wonderful with what aptness he acquired it4 ,when next ,i interviewed the king1 ,i was accompanied by the premier's sister1 a fair and friendly woman1 whose whole stock of ,english was1 ,good morning1 sir2 and with this somewhat irrelevant greeting1 a dozen times in an hour1 though the hour were night1 she relieved her pent-up feelings1 and gave expression to her sympathy and regard for me4 ,mr4 ,hunter1 private secretary to the premier1 had informed me1 speaking for his ,excellency1 that ,i should prepare to enter upon my duties at the royal palace without delay4 ,accordingly1 next morning1 the elder sister of the ,kralahome came for us4 ,she led the way to the river1 followed by slave-girls bearing a gold teapot1 a pretty gold tray containing two tiny porcelain cups with covers1 her betel-box1 also of gold1 and two large fans4 ,when we were seated in the closely covered basket-boat1 she took up one of the books ,i had brought with me1 and1 turning over the leaves1 came upon the alphabet2 whereat1 with a look of pleased surprise1 she began repeating the letters4 ,i helped her1 and for a while she seemed amused and gratified2 but presently1 growing weary of it1 she abruptly closed the book1 and1 offering me her hand1 said1 ,good morning1 sir6 ,i replied with equal cordiality1 and ,i think we bade each other good morning at least a dozen times before we reached the palace4 ,we landed at a showy pavilion1 and after traversing several covered passages came to a barrier guarded by ,amazons1 to whom the old lady was evidently well known1 for they threw open the gate for us1 and squatted till we passed4 ,a hot walk of twenty minutes brought us to a curious oval door of polished brass1 which opened and shut noiselessly in a highly ornate frame4 ,this admitted us to a cool retreat1 on one side of which were several temples or chapels in antique styles1 and on the other a long dim gallery4 ,on the marble floor of this pavilion a number of interesting children sat or sprawled1 and quaint babies slept or frolicked in their nurses' arms4 ,it was1 indeed1 a grateful change from the oppressive1 irritating heat and glare through which we had just passed4 ,the loungers started up to greet our motherly guide1 who humbly prostrated herself before them2 and then refreshments were brought in on large silver trays1 with covers of scarlet silk in the form of a bee-hive4 ,as no knife or fork or spoon was visible1 ,boy and ,i were fain to content ourselves with oranges1 wherewith we made ourselves an unexpected but cheerful show for the entertainment and edification of those juvenile spectators of the royal family of ,siam4 ,i smiled and held out my hand to them1 for they were1 almost without exception1 attractive children2 but they shyly shrank from me4 ,meanwhile the child-wife1 to whom his ,majesty had presented me at my first audience1 appeared1 and after saluting profoundly the sister of the ,kralahome1 and conversing with her for some minutes1 lay down on the cool floor1 and1 using her betel-box for a pillow1 beckoned to me4 ,as ,i approached1 and seated myself beside her1 she said3 ,i am very glad to see you4 ,it is long time ,i not see4 ,why you come so late8 to all of which she evidently expected no reply4 ,i tried baby-talk1 in the hope of making my amiable sentiments intelligible to so infantile a creature1 but in vain4 ,seeing me disappointed and embarrassed1 she oddly sang a scrap of the ,sunday-school hymn1 ,there is a ,happy ,land1 far1 far away2 and then said1 ,i think of you very often4 ,in the beginning1 ,god created the heavens and the earth4 ,this meritorious but disjointed performance was followed by a protracted and trying silence1 ,i sitting patient1 and ,boy wondering in my lap4 ,at last she half rose1 and1 looking around1 cautiously whispered1 ,dear ,mam ,mattoon6 ,i love you4 ,i think of you4 ,your boy dead1 you come to palace2 you cry--,i love you2 and laying her finger on her lips1 and her head on the betel-box again1 again she sang1 ,there is a ,happy ,land1 far1 far away6 ,mrs4 ,mattoon is the wife of that good and true ,american apostle who has nobly served the cause of missions in ,siam as a co-laborer with the excellent ,dr4 ,samuel ,house4 ,while the wife of the latter devoted herself indefatigably to the improvement of schools for the native children whom the mission had gathered round it1 ,mrs4 ,mattoon shared her labors by occasionally teaching in the palace1 which was for some time thrown open to the ladies of her faithful sisterhood4 ,here1 as elsewhere1 the blended force and gentleness of her character wrought marvels in the impressible and grateful minds to which she had access4 ,so spontaneous and ingenuous a tribute of reverence and affection from a pagan to a ,christian lady was inexpressibly charming to me4 ,thus the better part of the day passed4 ,the longer ,i rested dreaming there1 the more enchanted seemed the world within those walls4 ,i was aroused by a slight noise proceeding from the covered gallery1 whence an old lady appeared bearing a candlestick of gold1 with branches supporting four lighted candles4 ,i afterward learned that these were daily offerings1 which the king1 on awakening from his forenoon slumber1 sent to the ,watt ,p'hra ,kau4 ,this apparition was the signal for much stir4 ,the ,lady ,tlp started to her feet and fled1 and we were left alone with the premier's sister and the slaves in waiting4 ,the entire household seemed to awake on the instant1 as in the ,sleeping ,palace of ,tennyson1 at the kiss of the ,fairy ,prince1-- ,the maid and page renewed their strife2 ,the palace banged1 and buzzed1 and clackt2 ,and all the long-pent stream of life ,dashed downward in a cataract4 ,a various procession of women and children--some pale and downcast1 others bright and blooming1 more moody and hardened--moved in the one direction2 none tarried to chat1 none loitered or looked back2 the lord was awake4 ,and last with these the king awoke1 ,and in his chair himself upreared1 ,and yawned1 and rubbed his face1 and spoke4 ,presently the child-wife reappeared1--arrayed now in dark blue silk1 which contrasted well with the soft olive of her complexion1--and quickly followed the others1 with a certain anxious alacrity expressed in her baby face4 ,i readily guessed that his ,majesty was the awful cause of all this careful bustle1 and began to feel uneasy myself1 as my ordeal approached4 ,for an hour ,i stood on thorns4 ,then there was a general frantic rush4 ,attendants1 nurses1 slaves1 vanished through doors1 around corners1 behind pillars1 under stairways2 and at last1 preceded by a sharp1 cross cough1 behold the king6 ,we found his ,majesty in a less genial mood than at my first reception4 ,he approached us coughing loudly and repeatedly1 a sufficiently ominous fashion of announcing himself1 which greatly discouraged my darling boy1 who clung to me anxiously4 ,he was followed by a numerous tail of women and children1 who formally prostrated themselves around him4 ,shaking hands with me coldly1 but remarking upon the beauty of the child's hair1 half buried in the folds of my dress1 he turned to the premier's sister1 and conversed at some length with her1 she apparently acquiescing in all that he had to say4 ,he then approached me1 and said1 in a loud and domineering tone3-- ,it is our pleasure that you shall reside within this palace with our family4 ,i replied that it would be quite impossible for me to do so2 that1 being as yet unable to speak the language1 and the gates being shut every evening1 ,i should feel like an unhappy prisoner in the palace4 ,where do you go every evening8 he demanded4 ,not anywhere1 your ,majesty4 ,i am a stranger here4 ,then why you shall object to the gates being shut8 ,i do not clearly know1 ,i replied1 with a secret shudder at the idea of sleeping within those walls2 but ,i am afraid ,i could not do it4 ,i beg your ,majesty will remember that in your gracious letter you promised me 'a residence adjoining the royal palace1' not within it4 ,he turned and looked at me1 his face growing almost purple with rage4 ,i do not know ,i have promised4 ,i do not know former condition4 ,i do not know anything but you are our servant2 and it is our pleasure that you must live in this palace1 and--you shall obey4 ,those last three words he fairly screamed4 ,i trembled in every limb1 and for some time knew not how to reply4 ,at length ,i ventured to say1 ,i am prepared to obey all your ,majesty's commands within the obligation of my duty to your family1 but beyond that ,i can promise no obedience4 ,you shall live in palace1 he roared1--you shall live in palace6 ,i will give woman slaves to wait on you4 ,you shall commence royal school in this pavilion on ,thursday next4 ,that is the best day for such undertaking1 in the estimation of our astrologers4 ,with that1 he addressed1 in a frantic manner1 commands1 unintelligible to me1 to some of the old women about the pavilion4 ,my boy began to cry2 tears filled my own eyes2 and the premier's sister1 so kind but an hour before1 cast fierce glances at us both4 ,i turned and led my child toward the oval brass door4 ,we heard voices behind us crying4 ,mam6 ,mam6 ,i turned again1 and saw the king beckoning and calling to me4 ,i bowed to him profoundly1 but passed on through the brass door4 ,the prime minister's sister bounced after us in a distraction of excitement1 tugging at my cloak1 shaking her finger in my face1 and crying1 ,my di6 my di6 ,footnote3 ,bad1 bad6 ,all the way back1 in the boat1 and on the street1 to the very door of my apartments1 instead of her jocund ,good morning1 sir1 ,i had nothing but my di4 ,but kings1 who are not mad1 have their sober second-thoughts like other rational people4 ,his ,golden-footed ,majesty presently repented him of his arbitrary cantankerousness1 and in due time my ultimatum was accepted4 ,,vii4 ,,marble ,,halls ,,and ,,fish-,,stalls4 ,well6 by this time ,i was awake to the realities of time1 place1 and circumstance4 ,the palace and its spells1 the impracticable despot1 the impassible premier1 were not the phantasms of a witching night1 but the hard facts of noonday4 ,here were the very ,apollyons of paganry in the way1 and only the ,great ,hearts of a lonely woman and a loving child to challenge them4 ,with a heart heavy with regret for the comparatively happy home ,i had left in ,malacca1 ,i sought an interview with the ,kralahome1 and told him 7through his secretary1 ,mr4 ,hunter7 how impossible it would be for me and my child to lodge within the walls of the ,grand ,palace2 and that he was bound in honor to make good the conditions on which ,i had been induced to leave ,singapore4 ,at last ,i succeeded in interesting him1 and he accorded me a gracious hearing4 ,my objection to the palace1 as a place of residence as well as of business1 seemed to strike him as reasonable enough2 and he promised to plead my cause with his ,majesty1 bidding me kindly give myself no further trouble about the matter1 for he would make it right4 ,thus passed a few days more1 while ,i waited monotonously under the roof of the premier1 teaching ,boy1 studying ,siamese1 paying stated visits to the good ,koon ,ying ,phan1 and suffering tumultuous invasions from my intimate enemies of the harem1 who came upon us like a flight of locusts1 and rarely left without booty1 in the shape of trifles they had begged of me4 ,but things get themselves done1 after a fashion1 even in ,siam2 and so1 one morning1 came the slow but welcome news that the king was reconciled to the idea of my living outside the palace1 that a house had been selected for me1 and a messenger waited to conduct me to it4 ,hastily donning our walking-gear1 we found an elderly man1 of somewhat sinister aspect1 in a dingy red coat with faded facings of yellow1 impatient to guide us to our unimaginable quarters4 ,as we passed out1 we met the premier1 whose countenance wore a quizzing expression1 which ,i afterward understood2 but at the moment ,i saw in it only the characteristic conundrum that ,i had neither the time nor the talent to guess4 ,it was with a lively sense of relief that ,i followed our conductor1 in whom1 by a desperate exploit of imagination1 ,i discovered a promise of privacy and home4 ,in a long1 slender boat1 with a high1 uneven covering of wood1 we stowed ourselves in the ,oriental manner1 my dress and appearance affording infinite amusement to the ten rowers as they plied their paddles1 while our escort stood in the entrance chewing betel1 and looking more ill-omened than ever4 ,we alighted at the king's pavilion facing the river1 and were led1 by a long1 circuitous1 and unpleasant road1 through two tall gates1 into a street which1 from the offensive odors that assailed us1 ,i took to be a fish-market4 ,the sun burned1 the air stifled1 the dust choked us1 the ground blistered our feet2 we were parching and suffocating1 when our guide stopped at the end of this most execrable lane1 and signed to us to follow him up three broken steps of brick4 ,from a pouch in his dingy coat he produced a key1 applied it to a door1 and opened to us two small rooms1 without a window in either1 without a leaf to shade1 without bath-closet or kitchen4 ,and this was the residence sumptuously appointed for the ,english governess to the royal family of ,siam6 ,and furnished6 and garnished6 ,in one room1 on a remnant of filthy matting1 stood the wreck of a table1 superannuated1 and maimed of a leg1 but propped by two chairs that with broken arms sympathized with each other4 ,in the other1 a cheap excess of ,chinese bedstead1 that took the whole room to itself2 and a mattress6--a mutilated epitome of a ,lazarine hospital4 ,my stock of ,siamese words was small1 but strong4 ,i gratefully recalled the emphatic monosyllables wherewith the premier's sister had so berated me2 and turning upon the king's messenger with her tremendous my di6 my di6 dashed the key from his hand1 as1 inanely grinning1 he held it out to me1 caught my boy up in my arms1 cleared the steps in a bound1 and fled anywhere1 anywhere1 until ,i was stopped by the crowd of men1 women1 and children1 half naked1 who gathered around me1 wondering4 ,then1 remembering my adventure with the chain-gang1 ,i was glad to accept the protection of my insulted escort1 and escape from that suburb of disgust4 ,all the way back to the premier's our guide grinned at us fiendishly1 whether in token of apology or ridicule ,i knew not2 and landing us safely1 he departed to our great relief1 still grinning4 ,straight went ,i to the ,kralahome1 whose shy1 inquisitive smile was more and more provoking4 ,in a few sharp words ,i told him1 through the interpreter1 what ,i thought of the lodging provided for me1 and that nothing should induce me to live in such a slum4 ,to which1 with cool1 deliberate audacity1 he replied that nothing prevented me from living where ,i was4 ,i started from the low seat ,i had taken 7in order to converse with him at my ease1 he sitting on the floor71 and not without difficulty found voice to say that neither his palace nor the den in the fish-market would suit me1 and that ,i demanded suitable and independent accommodations1 in a respectable neighborhood1 for myself and my child4 ,my rage only amused him4 ,smiling insolently1 he rose1 bade me1 ,never mind3 it will be all right by and by1 and retired to an inner chamber4 ,my head throbbed with pain1 my pulse bounded1 my throat burned4 ,i staggered to my rooms1 exhausted and despairing1 there to lie1 for almost a week1 prostrated with fever1 and tortured day and night with frightful fancies and dreams4 ,beebe and the gentle ,koon ,ying ,phan nursed me tenderly1 bringing me water1 deliciously cool1 in which the fragrant flower of the jessamine had been steeped1 both to drink and to bathe my temples4 ,as soon as ,i began to recover1 ,i caressed the soft hand of the dear pagan lady1 and implored her1 partly in ,siamese1 partly in ,english1 to intercede for me with her husband1 that a decent home might be provided for us4 ,she assured me1 while she smoothed my hair and patted my cheek as though ,i were a helpless child1 that she would do her best with him1 begging me meanwhile to be patient4 ,but that ,i could not be2 and ,i spared no opportunity to expostulate with the premier on the subject of my future abode and duties1 telling him that the life ,i was leading under his roof was insupportable to me2 though1 indeed1 ,i was not ungrateful for the many offices of affection ,i received from the ladies of his harem1 who in my trouble were sympathetic and tender4 ,from that time forth the imperturbable ,kralahome was ever courteous to me4 ,nevertheless1 when from time to time ,i grew warm again on the irrepressible topic1 he would smile slyly1 tap the ashes from his pipe1 and say1 ,yes1 sir6 ,never mind1 sir6 ,you not like1 you can live in fish-market1 sir6 ,the apathy and supineness of these people oppressed me intolerably4 ,never well practised in patience1 ,i chafed at the sang-froid of the deliberate premier4 ,without compromising my dignity1 ,i did much to enrage him2 but he bore all with a nonchalance that was the more irritating because it was not put on4 ,thus more than two months passed1 and ,i had desperately settled down to my ,oriental studies1 content to snub the ,kralahome with his own indifference1 whilst he1 on the other hand1 blandly ignored our existence1 when1 to my surprise1 he paid me a visit one afternoon1 complimented me on my progress in the language1 and on my great heart1--or chi yai1 as he called it1--and told me his ,majesty was highly incensed at my conduct in the affair of the fish-market1 and that he had found me something to do4 ,i thanked him so cordially that he expressed his surprise1 saying1 ,siamese lady no like work2 love play1 love sleep4 ,why you no love play8 ,i assured him that ,i liked play well enough when ,i was in the humor for play2 but that at present ,i was not disposed to disport myself1 being weary of my life in his palace1 and sick of ,siam altogether4 ,he received my candor with his characteristic smile and a good-humored ,good by1 sir6 ,next morning ten ,siamese lads and a little girl came to my room4 ,the former were the half-brothers1 nephews1 and other encumbrances of the ,kralahome2 the latter their sister1 a simple child of nine or ten4 ,surely it was with no snobbery of condescension that ,i received these poor children1 but rather gratefully1 as a comfort and a wholesome discipline4 ,and so another month went by1 and still ,i heard nothing from his ,majesty4 ,but the premier began to interest me4 ,the more ,i saw of him the more he puzzled me4 ,it was plain that all who came in contact with him both feared and loved him4 ,he displayed a kind of passive amiability of which he seemed always conscious1 which he made his forte4 ,by what means he exacted such prompt obedience1 and so completely controlled a people whom he seemed to drive with reins so loose and careless1 was a mystery to me4 ,but that his influence and the prestige of his name penetrated to every nook of that vast yet undeveloped kingdom was the phenomenon which slowly but surely impressed me4 ,i was but a passing traveller1 surveying from a distance and at large that vast plain of humanity2 but ,i could see that it was systematically tilled by one master mind4 ,,viii4 ,,our ,,home ,,in ,,bangkok ,rebuked and saddened1 ,i abandoned my long-cherished hope of a home1 and resigned myself with no good grace to my routine of study and instruction4 ,where were all the romantic fancies and proud anticipations with which ,i had accepted the position of governess to the royal family of ,siam8 ,alas6 in two squalid rooms at the end of a ,bangkok fish-market4 ,i failed to find the fresh strength and courage that lay in the hope of improving the interesting children whose education had been intrusted to me1 and day by day grew more and more desponding1 less and less equal to the simple task my mission had set me4 ,i was fairly sick at heart and ready to surrender that morning when the good ,koon ,ying ,phan came unannounced into our rooms to tell us that a tolerable house was found for us at last4 ,i cannot describe with what an access of joy ,i heard the glad tidings1 nor how ,i thanked the messenger1 nor how in a moment ,i forgot all my chagrin and repining1 and hugged my boy and covered him with kisses4 ,it was not until that order for release arrived1 that ,i truly felt how offensive and galling had been the life ,i had led in the premier's palace4 ,it was with unutterable gladness that ,i followed a half-brother of the ,kralahome1 ,moonshee leading ,boy by the hand1 to our new house4 ,passing several streets1 we entered a walled enclosure1 abounding in broken bricks1 stone1 lime1 mortar1 and various rubbish4 ,a tall1 dingy storehouse occupied one side of the wall2 in the other1 a low door opened toward the river2 and at the farther end stood the house1 sheltered by a few fine trees1 that1 drooping over the piazza1 made the place almost picturesque4 ,on entering1 however1 we found ourselves face to face with overpowering filth4 ,poor ,moonshee stood aghast4 ,it must be a paradise1 he had said when we set out1 since the great ,vizier bestows it upon the ,mem ,sahib1 whom he delights to honor4 ,now he cursed his fate1 and reviled all viziers4 ,i turned to see to whom his lamentations were addressed1 and beheld another ,mohammedan seated on the floor1 and attending with an attitude and air of devout respect4 ,the scene reminded ,boy and me of our old home1 and we laughed heartily4 ,on making a tour of inspection1 we found nine rooms1 some of them pleasant and airy1 and with every modern convenience 7though somewhat ,oriental as to style7 of bath1 kitchen1 etc4 ,it was clear that soap and water without stint would do much here toward the making of a home for us4 ,beebe and ,boy were hopeful1 and promptly put a full stop to the rhetorical outcry of ,moonshee by requesting him to enlist the services of his admiring friend and two ,china coolies to fetch water4 ,but there were no buckets4 ,with a few dollars that ,i gave him1 ,moonshee1 with all a ,moslem's resignation to any new turn in his fate1 departed to explore for the required utensils1 while the brother of the awful ,kralahome1 perched on the piazza railing1 adjusted his anatomy for a comfortable oversight of the proceedings4 ,boy1 with his pinny on1 ran off in glee to make himself promiscuously useful1 and ,i sat down to plan an attack4 ,where to begin8--that was the question4 ,it was such filthy filth1 so monstrous in quantity and kind1--dirt to be stared at1 defied1 savagely assaulted with rage and havoc4 ,suddenly ,i arose1 shook my head dangerously at the prime minister's brother1--who1 fascinated1 had advanced into the room1--marched through a broken door1 hung my hat and mantle on a rusty nail1 doffed my neat half-mourning1 slipped on an old wrapper1 dashed at the vile matting that in ulcerous patches afflicted the floor1 and began fiercely tearing it up4 ,in good time ,moonshee and his new friend returned with half a dozen buckets1 but no coolies2 in place of the latter came a neat and pleasant ,siamese lady1 ,mrs4 ,hunter1 wife of the premier's secretary1 bringing her slaves to help1 and some rolls of fresh1 sweet ,china matting for the floor4 ,how quickly the general foulness was purified1 the general raggedness repaired1 the general shabbiness made good as new6 ,the floors1 that had been buried under immemorial dust1 arose again under the excavating labors of the sweepers2 and the walls1 that had been gory with expectorations of betel1 hid their damnd spots under innocent veils of whitewash4 ,moonshee1 who had evidently been beguiled by a cheap and spurious variety of the wine of ,shiraz1 and now sat maudlin on the steps1 weeping for his home in ,singapore1 ,i despatched peremptorily in search of ,beebe1 bedsteads1 and boxes4 ,but the ,kralahome's brother had vanished1 doubtless routed by the brooms4 ,bright1 fresh1 fragrant matting2 a table neither too low to be pretty nor too high to be useful2 a couple of armchairs1 hospitably embracing2 a pair of silver candlesticks1 quaint and homely2 a goodly company of pleasant books2 a piano1 just escaping from its travelling-cage1 with all its pent-up music in its bosom2 a cosey little cot clinging to its ampler mother2 a stream of generous sunlight from the window gilding and gladdening all1--behold our home in ,siam6 ,i worked exultingly till the setting sun slanted his long shadows across the piazza4 ,then came comfortable ,beebe with the soup and dainties she had prepared with the help of a ,bombay man4 ,boy slept soundly in an empty room1 overcome by the spell of its sudden sweetness1 his hands and face as dirty as a healthy1 well-regulated boy could desire4 ,triumphantly ,i bore him to his own pretty couch1 adjusted my hair1 resumed my royal robes of mauve muslin1 and prepared to queen it in my own palace4 ,and even as ,i stood1 smiling at my own small grandeur1 came tender memories crowding thick upon me1--of a soft1 warm lap1 in which ,i had once loved to lay my head2 of a face1 fair1 pensive1 loving1 lovely2 of eyes whose deep and quiet light a shadow of unkindness never crossed2 of lips that sweetly crooned the songs of a far-off1 happy land2 of a presence full of comfort1 hope1 strength1 courage1 victory1 peace1 that perfect harmony that comes of perfect faith1--a child's trust in its mother4 ,passionately ,i clasped my child in my arms1 and awoke him with pious promises that took the form of kisses4 ,beebe1 soup1 teapot1 candlesticks1 teacups1 and dear faithful ,bessy1 looked on and smiled4 ,hardly had we finished this1 our first and finest feast1 in celebration of our glorious independence1 when our late guide of fish-market fame1 he of the seedy red coat and faded yellow facings1 appeared on the piazza1 saluted us with that vacant chuckle and grin wherefrom no inference could be drawn1 and delivered his ,majesty's order that ,i should now come to the school4 ,unterrified and deliberate1 we lingered yet a little over that famous breakfast1 then rose1 and prepared to follow the mechanical old ape4 ,boy hugged ,bessy fondly by way of good-by1 and1 leaving ,beebe on guard1 we went forth4 ,the same long1 narrow1 tall1 and very crank boat received us4 ,the sun was hot enough to daunt a sepoy2 down the bare backs of the oarsmen flowed miniature ,meinams of sweat1 as they tugged1 grunting1 against the strong current4 ,we landed at the familiar 7king's7 pavilion1 the front of which projects into the river by a low portico4 ,the roof1 rising in several tiers1 half shelters1 half bridges the detached and dilapidated parts of the structure1 which presents throughout a very ancient aspect1 parts of the roof having evidently been renewed1 and the gables showing traces of recent repairs1 while the rickety pillars seem to protest with groans against the architectural anachronism that has piled so many young heads upon their time-worn shoulders4 ,,ix4 ,,our ,,school ,,in ,,the ,,palace4 ,the fact is remarkable1 that though education in its higher degrees is popularly neglected in ,siam1 there is scarcely a man or woman in the empire who cannot read and write4 ,though a vain people1 they are neither bigoted nor shallow2 and ,i think the day is not far off when the enlightening influences applied to them1 and accepted through their willingness1 not only to receive instruction from ,europeans1 but even to adopt in a measure their customs and their habits of thought1 will raise them to the rank of a superior nation4 ,the language of this people advances but slowly in the direction of grammatical perfection4 ,like many other ,oriental tongues1 it was at first purely monosyllabic2 but as the ,pali or ,sanskrit has been liberally engrafted on it1 polysyllabic words have been formed4 ,its pronouns and particles are peculiar1 its idioms few and simple1 its metaphors very obvious4 ,it is copious to redundancy in terms expressive of royalty1 rank1 dignity--in fact1 a distinct phraseology is required in addressing personages of exalted station2 repetitions of word and phrase are affected1 rather than shunned4 ,sententious brevity and simplicity of expression belong to the pure spirit of the language1 and when employed impart to it much dignity and beauty2 but there is no standard of orthography1 nor any grammar1 and but few rules of universal application4 ,every ,siamese writer spells to please himself1 and the purism of one is the slang or gibberish of another4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,pupil ,,of ,,the ,,royal ,,school4 ,the ,siamese write from left to right1 the words running together in a line unbroken by spaces1 points1 or capitals2 so that1 as in ancient ,sanskrit1 an entire paragraph appears as one protracted word1 ,that1 like a wounded snake1 drags its slow length along4 ,when not written with a reed on dark native paper1 the characters are engraved with a style 7of brass or iron1 one end sharp for writing1 the other flat for erasing7 on palm-leaves prepared for the purpose4 ,in all parts of the empire the boys are taught by priests to read1 write1 and cipher4 ,every monastery is provided with a library1 more or less standard4 ,the more elegant books are composed of tablets of ivory1 or of palmyra leaves delicately prepared2 the characters engraved on these are gilt1 the margins and edges adorned with heavy gilding or with flowers in bright colors4 ,the literature of the ,siamese deals principally with religious topics4 ,the ,kammarakya1 or ,buddhist ,ritual1--a work for the priesthood only1 and therefore1 like others of the ,vinny1 little known1--contains the vital elements of the ,buddhist ,moral ,code1 and1 per se1 is perfect2 on this point all writers1 whether partial or captious1 are of one mind4 ,spence ,hardy1 a ,wesleyan missionary1 speaking of that part of the work entitled ,dhamm-,padam1 ,footnote3 ,properly ,dharmna1--,footsteps of the ,law4 which is freely taught in the schools attached to the monasteries1 admits that a compilation might be made from its precepts1 which in the purity of its ethics could hardly be equalled from any other heathen author4 ,m4 ,laboulaye1 one of the most distinguished members of the ,french ,academy1 remarks1 in the ,dbats of ,april #d1 #ahec1 on a work known by the title of ,dharmna ,maitr1 or ,law of ,charity3-- ,it is difficult to comprehend how men1 not aided by revelation1 could have soared so high and approached so near the truth4 ,beside the five great commandments1--not to kill1 not to steal1 not to commit adultery1 not to lie1 not to get drunk1--every shade of vice1 hypocrisy1 anger1 pride1 suspicion1 greed1 gossip1 cruelty to animals1 is guarded against by special precepts4 ,among the virtues commended we find1 not only reverence for parents1 care for children1 submission to authority1 gratitude1 moderation in time of prosperity1 resignation and fortitude in time of trial1 equanimity at all times1 but virtues unknown to any heathen system of morality1 such as the duty of forgiving insults1 and of rewarding evil with good4 ,all virtues1 we are told1 spring from maitr1 and this maitr can only be rendered by charity and love4 ,i do not hesitate1 says ,burnouf1 in his ,lotus de la ,bonne ,loi1 to translate by 'charity' the word maitr1 which expresses1 not merely friendship1 or the feeling of particular affection which a man has for one or more of his fellow-creatures1 but that universal feeling which inspires us with good-will toward all men and a constant willingness to help them4 ,i may here add the testimony of ,barthlemy ,saint-,hilaire3 ,i do not hesitate to add1 he writes1 that1 save the ,christ alone1 there is not among the founders of religion a figure more pure1 more touching1 than that of ,buddha4 ,his life is without blemish2 his constant heroism equals his conviction2 and if the theory he extols is false1 the personal examples he affords are irreproachable4 ,he is the accomplished model of all the virtues he preaches2 his abnegation1 his charity1 his unalterable sweetness1 never belie themselves4 ,at the age of twenty-nine he retires from the court of the king1 his father1 to become a devotee and a beggar4 ,he silently prepares his doctrine by six years of seclusion and meditation4 ,he propagates it1 by the unaided power of speech and persuasion1 for more than half a century2 and when he dies in the arms of his disciples1 it is with the serenity of a sage who has practised goodness all his life1 and knows that he has found ,truth4 ,another work1 as sacred and more mystic1 is the ,parajik1 read in the temples with closed doors by the chief priests exclusively1 and only to such devotees as have entered the monastic schools for life4 ,then there are the ,p'ra-jana ,para-mita1 7the ,accomplishment of ,reason1 or ,transcendental ,wisdom17 and other works in abstruse philosophy4 ,the ,lalita ,vistara contains the life of ,buddha1 and is esteemed the highest authority as to the more remarkable events in the career of the great reformer4 ,the ,saddharma-pundikara 7or pundariki in ,ceylon71 ,the ,white ,lotos of the ,true ,religion1 presents the incidents of ,buddha's life in the form of legend and fable4 ,the ,ganda-,veyuha1 but little known1 consists of remarkable and very beautiful forms of prayer and thanksgiving1 with psalms of praise addressed to the ,perfection of the ,infinite and to the ,invisible1 by ,sakya ,muni1 the ,buddha4 ,the ,nirwana treats of the end of material existence1 and is universally read1 and highly esteemed by ,buddhists as a treatise of rare merit4 ,but the most important parts of the theological study of the ,siamese priesthood are found in a work revered under the titles of ,tautras and ,kala-,chakara1--that is1 ,circles of ,time1 ,matter1 ,space2 probably a translation of the ,sanskrit symbolic word1 ,om1 ,circle4 ,there are twenty-two volumes1 treating exclusively of mystics and mystical worship4 ,the libraries of the monasteries are rich in works on the theory and practice of medicine2 but very poor in historical books1 the few preserved dealing mainly with the lives and actions of ,siamese rulers1 oddly associated with the genii and heroes of the ,hindoo mythology4 ,like the early historians of ,greece and ,rome1 the writers are careful to furnish a particular account of all signs1 omens1 and predictions relating to the several events recorded4 ,they possess also a few translated works in ,chinese history4 ,the late king was an authority on all questions of religion1 law1 and custom1 and was familiar with the writings of ,pythagoras and ,aristotle4 ,the ,siamese have an extravagant fondness for the drama1 and for poetry of every kind4 ,in all the lyric form predominates1 and their compositions are commonly adapted for instrumental accompaniment4 ,their dramatic entertainments are mainly musical1 combining rudely the opera with the ballet1--monotonous singing1 and listless1 mechanical dancing4 ,dialogue is occasionally introduced1 the favorite subjects being passages from the ,hindoo ,avatars1 the epic ,ramayana1 and the ,mahabharata2 or from legends1 peculiar to ,siam1 of gods1 heroes1 and demons4 ,throughout their literature1 mythology is the all-pervading element2 history1 science1 arts1 customs1 conversation1 opinion1 doctrine1 are alike colored and flavored with it4 ,with so brief and meagre a sketch of the literature of ,siam1 ,i would fain prepare the reader to appreciate the peculiarities of an ,english classical school in the ,royal ,palace at ,bangkok4 ,in ,siam1 all schools1 literary societies1 monasteries1 even factories1 all intellectual and progressive enterprises of whatever nature and intention1 are opened and begun on ,thursday1 ,one ,p'ra ,hatt2 because that day is sacred to the goddess of ,mind or ,wisdom1 probably the ,hindoo ,saraswati4 ,on the ,thursday appointed for the opening of my classes in the palace1 one of the king's barges conveyed us across the ,meinam4 ,at the landing ,i was met by slave-girls1 who conducted me to the palace through the gate called ,patoo ,sap1 ,gate of ,knowledge4 ,here ,i was received by some ,amazons1 who in turn gave notice to other slave-girls waiting to escort us to a pavilion--or1 more correctly1 temple--dedicated to the wives and daughters of ,siam4 ,footnote3 ,watt ,khoon ,choom ,manda ,thai1--,temple of the ,mothers of the ,free4 ,the profound solitude of this refuge1 embowered in its twilight grove of orange and palm trees1 was strangely tranquillizing4 ,the religion of the place seemed to overcome us1 as we waited among the tall1 gilded pillars of the temple4 ,on one side was an altar1 enriched with some of the most curious and precious offerings of art to be found in the ,east4 ,there was a gilded rostrum also1 from which the priests daily officiated2 and near by1 on the summit of a curiously carved trunk of an old ,bho tree1 ,footnote3 ,the sacred tree under which ,guadama discoursed with his disciples4 the goddess of ,mind presided4 ,the floor of this beautiful temple was a somewhat gaudy mosaic of variegated marble and precious stones2 but the gilded pillars1 the friezes that surmounted them1 and the vaulted roof of gilded arabesques1 seemed to tone down the whole to their own chaste harmony of design4 ,in the centre of the temple stood a long table1 finely carved1 and some gilt chairs4 ,the king and most of the nobler ladies of the court were present1 with a few of the chief priests1 among whom ,i recognized1 for the first time1 his ,lordship ,chow ,khoon ,sh4 ,his ,majesty received me and my little boy most kindly4 ,after an interval of silence he clapped his hands lightly1 and instantly the lower hall was filled with female slaves4 ,a word or two1 dropped from his lips1 bowed every head and dispersed the attendants4 ,but they presently returned laden1 some with boxes containing books1 slates1 pens1 pencils1 and ink2 others with lighted tapers and vases filled with the white lotos1 which they set down before the gilded chairs4 ,at a signal from the king1 the priests chanted a hymn from the ,p'ra-jana ,para-mita2 ,footnote3 ,accomplishment of ,reason1 or ,transcendental ,wisdom4 and then a burst of music announced the entrance of the princes and princesses1 my future pupils4 ,they advanced in the order of their ages4 ,the ,princess ,ying ,you ,wahlacks 7,first-born among ,women71 having precedence1 approached and prostrated herself before her royal father1 the others following her example4 ,i admired the beauty of her skin1 the delicacy of her form1 and the subdued lustre of her dreamy eyes4 ,the king took her gently by the hand1 and presented me to her1 saying simply1 ,the ,english teacher4 ,her greeting was quiet and self-possessed4 ,taking both my hands1 she bowed1 and touched them with her forehead2 then1 at a word from the king1 retired to her place on the right4 ,one by one1 in like manner1 all the royal children were presented and saluted me2 and the music ceased4 ,his ,majesty then spoke briefly1 to this effect3 ,dear children1 as this is to be an ,english school1 you will have to learn and observe the ,english modes of salutation1 address1 conversation1 and etiquette2 and each and every one of you shall be at liberty to sit in my presence1 unless it be your own pleasure not to do so4 ,the children all bowed1 and touched their foreheads with their folded palms1 in acquiescence4 ,then his ,majesty departed with the priests2 and the moment he was fairly out of sight1 the ladies of the court began1 with much noise and confusion1 to ask questions1 turn over the leaves of books1 and chatter and giggle together4 ,of course1 no teaching was possible in such a din2 my young princes and princesses disappeared in the arms of their nurses and slaves1 and ,i retired to my apartments in the prime minister's palace4 ,but the serious business of my school began on the following ,thursday4 ,on that day a crowd of half-naked children followed me and my ,louis to the palace gates1 where our guide gave us in charge to a consequential female slave1 at whose request the ponderous portal was opened barely wide enough to admit one person at a time4 ,on entering we were jealously scrutinized by the ,amazonian guard1 and a high private questioned the propriety of admitting my boy2 whereat a general tittering1 and we passed on4 ,we advanced through the noiseless oval door1 and entered the dim1 cool pavilion1 in the centre of which the tables were arranged for school4 ,away flew several venerable dames who had awaited our arrival1 and in about an hour returned1 bringing with them twenty-one scions of ,siamese royalty1 to be initiated into the mysteries of reading1 writing1 and arithmetic1 after the ,european1 and especially the ,english manner4 ,it was not long before my scholars were ranged in chairs around the long table1 with ,webster's far-famed spelling-books before them1 repeating audibly after me the letters of the alphabet4 ,while ,i stood at one end of the table1 my little ,louis at the other1 mounted on a chair1 the better to command his division1 mimicked me with a fidelity of tone and manner very quaint and charming4 ,patiently his small finger pointed out to his class the characters so strange to them1 and not yet perfectly familiar to himself4 ,about noon1 a number of young women were brought to me1 to be taught like the rest4 ,i received them sympathetically1 at the same time making a memorandum of their names in a book of my own4 ,this created a general and lively alarm1 which it was not in my power immediately to allay1 my knowledge of their language being confined to a few simple sentences2 but when at last their courage and confidence were restored1 they began to take observations and an inventory of me that were by no means agreeable4 ,they fingered my hair and dress1 my collar1 belt1 and rings4 ,one donned my hat and cloak1 and made a promenade of the pavilion2 another pounced upon my gloves and veil1 and disguised herself in them1 to the great delight of the little ones1 who laughed boisterously4 ,a grim duenna1 who had heard the noise1 bustled wrathfully into the pavilion4 ,instantly hat1 cloak1 veil1 gloves1 were flung right and left1 and the young women dropped on the floor1 repeating shrilly1 like truant urchins caught in the act1 their ba1 be1 bi1 bo4 ,one who seemed the infant phenomenon of the royal harem1 so juvenile and artless were her looks and ways1 despising a performance so rudimentary as the a1 b1 c1 demanded to be steered at once into the mid-ocean of the book2 but when ,i left her without pilot in an archipelago of hard words1 she soon showed signals of distress4 ,at the far end of the table1 bending over a little prince1 her eyes riveted on the letters my boy was naming to her1 stood a pale young woman1 whose aspect was dejected and forlorn4 ,she had entered unannounced and unnoticed1 as one who had no interest in common with the others2 and now she stood apart and alone1 intent only on mastering the alphabet with the help of her small teacher4 ,when we were about to dismiss the school1 she repeated her lesson to my wise lad1 who listened with imposing gravity1 pronounced her a very good child1 and said she might go now4 ,but when she perceived that ,i observed her curiously1 she crouched almost under the table1 as though owning she had no right to be there1 and was worthy to pick only the crumbs of knowledge that might fall from it4 ,she was neither very young nor pretty1 save that her dark eyes were profound and expressive1 and now the more interesting by their touching sadness4 ,esteeming it the part of prudence as well as of kindness to appear unconscious of her presence1 and so encourage her to come again1 ,i left the palace without accosting her1 before his ,majesty had awakened from his forenoon nap4 ,this crushed creature had fallen under the displeasure of the king1 and the after chapters of her story1 which shall be related in their proper connection1 were romantic and mournful4 ,x4 ,,moonshee ,,and ,,the ,,angel ,,gabriel4 ,our blue chamber overlooked the attap roofs of a long row of houses1 badly disfigured by the stains and wear of many a wet season1 in which our next neighbor1 a ,mohammedan of patriarchal aspect and demeanor1 stored bags of sugar1 waiting for a rise in the market4 ,this worthy paid us the honor of a visit every afternoon1 and in the snug little eastern chamber consecrated to the studies and meditations of my ,persian teacher propounded solemn problems from the ,alkoran4 ,under ,moonshee's window the tops of houses huddled1 presenting forms more or less fantastic according to the purse or caprice of the proprietors4 ,the shrewd old man was not long in finding tenants for all these roofs1 and could even tell the social status and the means of each4 ,it tickled his vanity to find himself domiciled in so aristocratic a quarter4 ,our house--more ,oriental than ,european in its architecture--was comparatively new1 having been erected upon the site of the old palace1 the dbris of which had furnished the materials of which it was constructed4 ,among the loose slabs of marble and fragments of pottery that turned up with the promiscuous rubbish every day1 we sometimes found surfaces of stone bearing ,siamese or ,cambodian inscriptions2 others with grotesque figures in bass-relief1 taken from the mythology of the ,hindoos4 ,had these relics a charm for ,moonshee1 and was he animated by the antiquarian's enthusiasm1 that he delved away hour after hour1 unearthing1 with his spade1 bricks and stones and tiles and slabs8 ,i was at a loss to account for this new freak in the old man2 but seeing him infatuated with his eccentric pursuit1 and ,boy enraptured over grubs and snails and bits of broken figures1 the resurrections of the nimble spade1 ,i left them to their cheap and harmless bliss4 ,one evening1 as ,i sat musing in the piazza1 with my book unopened on my lap1 ,i heard ,boy's clear voice ringing in happy1 musical peals of laughter that drew me to him4 ,on the edge of a deep hole1 in a corner of the compound1 sat ,moonshee1 an effigy of doleful disappointment1 and beside him stood the lad1 clapping his little hands and laughing merrily4 ,the old child had taken the young one into his confidence1 and by their joint exertions they had dug this hole in search of treasure2 and lo6 at the bottom lay something that looked like a rusty purse4 ,with a long look and a throbbing heart ,moonshee1 after several empty hauls1 had fished it up2 and it was--a toad6 a huge1 unsightly1 yellow toad6 ,may the foul fiend fly away with thee6 cried the enthusiast in his rage1 as he flung the astonished reptile back into the pit1 and sat down to bewail his kismut1 while ,boy made merry with his groans4 ,for some days the spade was neglected1 though ,i observed1 from the cautious drift of his remarks at the conclusion of our evening lesson1 that ,moonshee's thoughts still harped on hidden treasure4 ,the fervid imagination of the child had uncovered to his mind's eye mines of wealth1 awaiting only the touch of the magic spade to bare their golden veins to the needs of his ,mem ,sahib and himself4 ,there was no dispelling his golden visions by any shock of hard sense2 the more he dreamed the more he believed4 ,but the spot8 the right spot8 ,only wait4 ,another week elapsed1 and ,boy and ,i worked harder than ever in our school in the cool pavilion4 ,i had flung off the dead weight of my stubborn repinings1 and my heart was light again4 ,there were delightful discoveries of beauty in the artless1 childish faces that greeted us every morning2 and now the only wonder was that ,i had been so slow to penetrate the secret of their charm4 ,that eager1 radiant elf1 the ,princess ,somdetch ,chow ,f-ying1 ,footnote3 ,first-,born of the ,skies4 the king's darling 7of whom1 by and by1 ,i shall have a sadder tale to tell71 had become a sprite of sunshine and gladness amid the sombre shadows of those walls4 ,in her deep1 dark1 lustrous eyes1 her simple1 trusting ways1 there was a springtide of refreshment1 a pure1 pervading radiance1 that brightened the darkest thing it touched4 ,even the grim hags of the harem felt its influence1 and softened in her presence4 ,as ,boy was reciting his tasks one morning before breakfast1 ,moonshee entered the room with one of his profoundest salaams1 and an expression at once so earnest and so comical that ,i anxiously asked him what was the matter4 ,panting alike with the eagerness of childhood and the feebleness of age1 he stammered1 ,i have something of the greatest importance to confide to you1 ,mem ,sahib6 ,now is the time6 ,now you shall prove the devotion of your faithful ,moonshee1 who swears by ,allah not to touch a grain of gold without your leave1 in all those bursting sacks1 if ,mem ,sahib will but lend him ten ticals1 only ten ticals1 to buy a screw-driver6 ,what in the world can you want with a screw-driver1 ,moonshee8 ,o ,mem1 listen to me6 he cried1 his face glowing with the very rapture of possession2 ,i have discovered the exact spot on which the old duke1 ,somdetch ,ong ,yai1 expired4 ,it is a secret1 a wonderful secret1 ,mem ,sahib2 not a creature in all ,siam knows it4 ,then how came you by it1 ,i inquired1 seeing that you know not one word of the language1 which you have bravely scorned as unworthy to be uttered by the ,faithful1 and of no use on earth but to confound philosophers and ,moonshees8 ,sunnoh1 sunnoh6 ,footnote3 ,listen1 listen6 ,mem ,sahib6 ,no human tongue revealed it to me4 ,it was the ,ang ,gibhrayeel4 ,footnote3 ,the ,angel ,gabriel4 ,he came to me last night as ,i slept1 and said1 ',o son of ,jaffur ,khan6 to your prayers is granted the knowledge that1 for all these years1 has been denied to ,kafirs4 ,arise6 obey6 and with humility receive the treasures reserved for thee1 thou faithful follower of the ,prophet6' ,and so saying he struck the golden palms he bore in his hand2 and though ,i was now awake1 ,mem ,sahib1 ,i was so overpowered by the beauty and effulgence of his person1 that ,i was as one about to die4 ,the radiant glory of his wings1 which were of the hue of sapphires1 blinded my vision2 ,i could neither speak nor see4 ,but ,i felt the glow of his presence and heard the rustle of his pinions1 as once more he beat the golden palms and cried1 ',behold1 ,o son of ,jaffur ,khan6 behold the spot where lie the treasures of that haughty ,kafir chief6' ,i arose1 and immediately the angel flashed from my sight2 and as ,i gazed there appeared a luminous golden hen with six golden chickens1 which pecked at bits of blazing coal that1 as they cooled1 became nuggets of pure gold4 ,when suddenly ,i beheld a great light as of rooshnees1 ,footnote3 ,fire-balls4 and it burst upon the spot where the hen had been2 and then all was darkness again4 ,mem ,sahib1 your servant ran down and placed a stone upon that spot1 and kneeling on that stone1 with his face to the south1 repeated his five ,kalemahs4 ,footnote3 ,thanksgivings4 ,i am ashamed to say ,i laughed2 whereat the old man was so mortified that he vowed the next time the angel appeared to him1 he would call us all to see4 ,i accepted the condition2 and even promised that if ,i saw the nuggets of pure gold that ,gabriel's chickens pecked1 ,i would immediately accommodate him with the ten ticals to invest in a screw-driver4 ,so perfect was his faith in the vision1 that he accepted the promise with complete satisfaction4 ,not many nights after this extraordinary apparition1 we were aroused by ,beebe and her husband calling1 ,awake1 awake6 ,thinking the house was on fire1 ,i threw on my dressing-gown and ran into the next room with ,boy in my arms4 ,there was indeed a fire1 but it was in a distant corner of the yard4 ,the night was dark1 a thick mist rose from the river1 and the gusty puffs of wind that now and then swept through the compound caused the wood fire to flare up and flicker1 casting fitful and fantastic shadows around4 ,moonshee stared1 with fixed eyes1 expecting every moment the reappearance of the supernatural poultry2 but ,i1 being as yet sceptical1 descended the stairs1 followed by my trembling household1 and approached the spot4 ,on a remnant of matting1 with a stone for a pillow1 lay an old ,siamese woman asleep4 ,driven by the heat to the relief of the open air1 she had kindled a fire to keep off the mosquitoes4 ,now1 ,moonshee1 said ,i1 here is your ,angel ,gabriel4 ,don't you ever again trouble me for ticals to invest in screw-drivers4 ,,xi4 ,,the ,,ways ,,of ,,the ,,palace4 ,the city of ,bangkok is commonly supposed to have inherited the name of the ancient capital1 ,ayudia2 but in the royal archives1 to which ,i have had free access1 it is given as ,krung ,thp'ha ,maha-,nakhon ,si-ayut-thia ,maha-dilok ,racha-thani1--,the ,city of the ,royal1 ,invincible1 and ,beautiful ,archangel4 ,it is ramparted with walls within and without1 which divide it into an inner and an outer city1 the inner wall being thirty feet high1 and flanked with circular forts mounted with cannon1 making a respectable show of defence4 ,centre of all1 the heart of the citadel1 is the grand palace1 encompassed by a third wall1 which encloses only the royal edifice1 the harems1 the temple of ,watt ,p'hra ,kau1 and the ,maha ,p'hrasat4 ,the ,maha ,phrasat is an immense structure of quadrangular faades1 surmounted by a tall spire of very chaste and harmonious design4 ,it is consecrated2 and here dead sovereigns of ,siam lie in state1 waiting twelve months for their cremation2 here also their ashes are deposited1 in urns of gold1 after that fiery consummation4 ,in the ,maha ,phrasat the supreme king is crowned and all court ceremonies performed4 ,on certain high holidays and occasions of state1 the high-priest administers here a sort of mass1 at which the whole court attend1 even the chief ladies of the harem1 who1 behind heavy curtains of silk and gold that hang from the ceiling to the floor1 whisper and giggle and peep and chew betel1 and have the wonted little raptures of their sex over furtive1 piquant glimpses of the world2 for1 despite the strict confinement and jealous surveillance to which they are subject1 the outer life1 with all its bustle1 passion1 and romance1 will now and then steal1 like a vagrant1 curious ray of light1 into the heart's darkness of these tabooed women1 thrilling their childish minds with eager wonderment and formless longings4 ,within these walls lurked lately fugitives of every class1 profligates from all quarters of the city1 to whom discovery was death2 but here their sanctuary was impenetrable4 ,here were women disguised as men1 and men in the attire of women1 hiding vice of every vileness and crime of every enormity1--at once the most disgusting1 the most appalling1 and the most unnatural that the heart of man has conceived4 ,it was death in life1 a charnel-house of quick corruption2 a place of gloom and solitude indeed1 wherefrom happiness1 hope1 courage1 liberty1 truth1 were forever excluded1 and only mother's love was left4 ,the king ,footnote3 ,all that is here written applies to ,maha ,mongkut1 the supreme king1 who died ,october1 #ahfh2 not to his successor 7and my pupil71 the present king4 was the disk of light and life round which these strange flies swarmed4 ,most of the women who composed his harem were of gentle blood1--the fairest of the daughters of ,siamese nobles and of princes of the adjacent tributary states2 the late queen consort was his own half-sister4 ,beside many choice ,chinese and ,indian girls1 purchased annually for the royal harem by agents stationed at ,peking1 ,foo-chou1 and different points in ,bengal1 enormous sums were offered1 year after year1 through solicitors at ,bangkok and ,singapore1 for an ,english woman of beauty and good parentage to crown the sensational collection2 but when ,i took my leave of ,bangkok1 in #ahfh1 the coveted specimen had not yet appeared in the market4 ,the cunning commissionnaires contrived to keep their places and make a living by sending his ,majesty1 now and then1 a piquant photograph of some ,british ,nourmahal of the period1 freshly caught1 and duly shipped1 in good order for the harem2 but the goods never arrived4 ,had the king's tastes been ,gallic1 his requisition might have been filled4 ,i remember a score of genuine offers from ,french demoiselles1 who enclosed their cartes in billets more surprising and enterprising than any other proposals it was my office to translate4 ,but his whimsical ,majesty entertained a lively horror of ,french intrigue1 whether of priests1 consuls1 or lionnes1 and stood in vigilant fear of being beguiled1 through one of these adventurous sirens1 into fathering the innovation of a ,franco-,siamese heir to the throne of the celestial ,p'hrabatts4 ,the king1 as well as most of the principal members of his household1 rose at five in the morning1 and immediately partook of a slight repast1 served by the ladies who had been in waiting through the night2 after which1 attended by them and his sisters and elder children1 he descended and took his station on a long strip of matting1 laid from one of the gates through all the avenues to another4 ,on his ,majesty's left were ranged1 first1 his children in the order of rank2 then the princesses1 his sisters2 and1 lastly1 his concubines1 his maids of honor1 and their slaves4 ,before each was placed a large silver tray containing offerings of boiled rice1 fruit1 cakes1 and the seri leaf2 some even had cigars4 ,a little after five1 the ,patoo ,dharmina 7,gate of ,merit1 called by the populace ,patoo ,boon7 was thrown open and the ,amazons of the guard drawn up on either side4 ,then the priests entered1 always by that gate1--one hundred and ninety-nine of them1 escorted on the right and left by men armed with swords and clubs1--and as they entered they chanted3 ,take thy meat1 but think it dust6 ,eat but to live1 and but to know thyself1 and what thou art below6 ,and say withal unto thy heart1 ,it is earth ,i eat1 that to the earth ,i may new life impart4 ,then the chief priest1 who led the procession1 advanced with downcast eyes and lowly mien1 and very simply presented his bowl 7slung from his neck by a cord1 and until that moment quite hidden under the folds of his yellow robe7 to the members of the royal household1 who offered their fruit or cakes1 or their spoonfuls of rice or sweetmeats4 ,in like manner did all his brethren4 ,if1 by any chance1 one before whom a tray was placed was not ready and waiting with an offering1 no priest stopped1 but all continued to advance slowly1 taking only what was freely offered1 without thanks or even a look of acknowledgment1 until the end of the royal train was reached1 when the procession retired1 chanting as before1 by the gate called ,dinn1 or1 in the ,court language1 ,prithri1 ,gate of ,earth4 ,after this1 the king and all his company repaired to his private temple1 ,watt ,sasmiras ,manda-thung1 ,footnote3 ,temple in ,memory of ,mother4 so called because it was dedicated by his ,majesty to the memory of his mother4 ,this is an edifice of unique and charming beauty1 decorated throughout by artists from ,japan1 who have represented on the walls1 in designs as diverse and ingenious as they are costly1 the numerous metempsychoses of ,buddha4 ,here his ,majesty ascended alone the steps of the altar1 rang a bell to announce the hour of devotion1 lighted the consecrated tapers1 and offered the white lotos and the roses4 ,then he spent an hour in prayer1 and in reading texts from the ,p'ra-jana ,para-mita and the ,p'hra-ti-,mok-sha4 ,this service over1 he retired for another nap1 attended by a fresh detail of women1--those who had waited the night before being dismissed1 not to be recalled for a month1 or at least a fortnight1 save as a peculiar mark of preference or favor to some one who had had the good fortune to please or amuse him2 but most of that party voluntarily waited upon him every day4 ,his ,majesty usually passed his mornings in study1 or in dictating or writing ,english letters and despatches4 ,his breakfast1 though a repast sufficiently frugal for ,oriental royalty1 was served with awesome forms4 ,in an antechamber adjoining a noble hall1 rich in grotesque carvings and gildings1 a throng of females waited1 while his ,majesty sat at a long table1 near which knelt twelve women before great silver trays laden with twelve varieties of viands1--soups1 meats1 game1 poultry1 fish1 vegetables1 cakes1 jellies1 preserves1 sauces1 fruits1 and teas4 ,each tray1 in its order1 was passed by three ladies to the head wife or concubine1 who removed the silver covers1 and at least seemed to taste the contents of each dish2 and then1 advancing on her knees1 she set them on the long table before the king4 ,but his ,majesty was notably temperate in his diet1 and by no means a gastronome4 ,in his long seclusion in a ,buddhist cloister he had acquired habits of severe simplicity and frugality1 as a preparation for the exercise of those powers of mental concentration for which he was remarkable4 ,at these morning repasts it was his custom to detain me in conversation relating to some topic of interest derived from his studies1 or in reading or translating4 ,he was more systematically educated1 and a more capacious devourer of books and news1 than perhaps any man of equal rank in our day4 ,but much learning had made him morally mad2 his extensive reading had engendered in his mind an extreme scepticism concerning all existing religious systems4 ,in inborn integrity and steadfast principle he had no faith whatever4 ,he sincerely believed that every man strove to compass his own ends1 per fas et nefas4 ,the mens sibi conscia recti was to him an hallucination1 for which he entertained profound contempt2 and he honestly pitied the delusion that pinned its faith on human truth and virtue4 ,he was a provoking mlange of antiquarian attainments and modern scepticism4 ,when1 sometimes1 ,i ventured to disabuse his mind of his darling scorn for motive and responsibility1 ,i had the mortification to discover that ,i had but helped him to an argument against myself3 it was simply my peculiar interest to do so4 ,money1 money1 money6 that could procure anything4 ,but aside from the too manifest bias of his early education and experience1 it is due to his memory to say that his practice was less faithless than his profession1 toward those persons and principles to which he was attracted by a just regard4 ,in many grave considerations he displayed soundness of understanding and clearness of judgment1--a genuine nobility of mind1 established upon universal ethics and philosophic reason1--where his passions were not dominant2 but when these broke in between the man and the majesty1 they effectually barred his advance in the direction of true greatness2 beyond them he could not1 or would not1 make way4 ,ah1 if this man could but have cast off the cramping yoke of his intellectual egotism1 and been loyal to the free government of his own true heart1 what a demi-god might he not have been among the lower animals of ,asiatic royalty6 ,at two o'clock he bestirred himself1 and with the aid of his women bathed and anointed his person4 ,then he descended to a breakfast- chamber1 where he was served with the most substantial meal of the day4 ,here he chatted with his favorites among the wives and concubines1 and caressed his children1 taking them in his arms1 embracing them1 plying them with puzzling or funny questions1 and making droll faces at the babies3 the more agreeable the mother1 the dearer the child4 ,the love of children was the constant and hearty virtue of this forlorn despot4 ,they appealed to him by their beauty and their trustfulness1 they refreshed him with the bold innocence of their ways1 so frolicsome1 graceful1 and quaint4 ,from this delusive scene of domestic condescension and kindliness he passed to his ,hall of ,audience to consider official matters4 ,twice a week at sunset he appeared at one of the gates of the palace to hear the complaints and petitions of the poorest of his subjects1 who at no other time or place could reach his ear4 ,it was most pitiful to see the helpless1 awe-stricken wretches1 prostrate and abject as toads1 many too terrified to present the precious petition after all4 ,at nine he retired to his private apartments1 whence issued immediately peculiar domestic bulletins1 in which were named the women whose presence he particularly desired1 in addition to those whose turn it was to wait that night4 ,and twice a week he held a secret council1 or court1 at midnight4 ,of the proceedings of those dark and terrifying sittings ,i can1 of course1 give no exact account4 ,i permit myself to speak only of those things which were but too plain to one who lived for six years in or near the palace4 ,in ,siam1 the king--,maha ,mongkut especially--is not merely enthroned1 he is enshrined4 ,to the nobility he is omnipotence1 and to the rabble mystery4 ,since the occupation of the country by the ,jesuits1 many foreigners have fancied that the government is becoming more and more silent1 insidious1 secretive2 and that this midnight council is but the expression of a policy of stifling4 ,it is an inquisition1--not overt1 audacious1 like that of ,rome1 but nocturnal1 invisible1 subtle1 ubiquitous1 like that of ,spain2 proceeding without witnesses or warning2 kidnapping a subject1 not arresting him1 and then incarcerating1 chaining1 torturing him1 to extort confession or denunciation4 ,if any ,siamese citizen utter one word against the ,san ,luang1 7the royal judges71 and escape1 forthwith his house is sacked and his wife and children kidnapped4 ,should he be captured1 he is brought to secret trial1 to which no one is admitted who is not in the patronage and confidence of the royal judges4 ,in themselves the laws are tolerable2 but in their operation they are frustrated or circumvented by arbitrary and capricious power in the king1 or craft or cruelty in the ,council4 ,no one not initiated in the mystic sances of the ,san ,luang can depend upon ,siamese law for justice4 ,no man will consent to appear there1 even as a true witness1 save for large reward4 ,the citizen who would enjoy1 safe from legal plunder1 his private income1 must be careful to find a patron and protector in the king1 the prime minister1 or some other formidable friend at court4 ,spies in the employ of the ,san ,luang penetrate into every family of wealth and influence4 ,every citizen suspects and fears always his neighbor1 sometimes his wife4 ,on more than one occasion when1 vexed by some act of the king's1 more than usually wanton and unjust1 ,i instinctively gave expression to my feelings by word or look in the presence of certain officers and courtiers1 ,i observed that they rapped1 or tapped1 in a peculiar and stealthy manner4 ,this ,i afterward discovered was one of the secret signs of the ,san ,luang2 and the warning signal was addressed to me1 because they imagined that ,i also was a member of the ,council4 ,en passant1 a word as to the ordinary and familiar costumes of the palace4 ,men and women alike wear a sort of kilt1 like the pu'sho of the ,birmans1 with a short upper tunic1 over which the women draw a broad silk scarf1 which is closely bound round the chest and descends in long1 waving folds almost to the feet4 ,neither sex wears any covering on the head4 ,the uniform of the ,amazons of the harem is green and gold1 and for the soldiers scarlet and purple4 ,there are usually four meals3 breakfast about sunrise2 a sort of tiffin at noon2 a more substantial repast in the afternoon2 and supper after the business of the day is over4 ,wine and tea are drunk freely1 and perfumed liquors are used by the wealthy4 ,an indispensable preparation for polite repast is by bathing and anointing the body4 ,when guests are invited1 the sexes are never brought together2 for ,siamese women of rank very rarely appear in strange company2 they are confined to remote and unapproachable halls and chambers1 where nothing human1 being male1 may ever enter4 ,the convivial entertainments of the ,court are usually given on occasions of public devotion1 and form a part of these4 ,,xii4 ,,shadows ,,and ,,whispers ,,of ,,the ,,harem4 ,as1 month1 after month1 ,i continued to teach in the palace1--especially as the language of my pupils1 its idioms and characteristic forms of expression1 began to be familiar to me1--all the dim life of the place came out to my ken1 like a faint picture1 which at first displays to the eye only a formless confusion1 a chaos of colors1 but by force of much looking and tracing and joining and separating1 first objects and then groups are discovered in their proper identity and relation1 until the whole stands out1 clear1 true1 and informing in its coherent significance of light and shade4 ,thus1 by slow processes1 as one whose sight has been imperceptibly restored1 ,i awoke to a clearer and truer sense of the life within the city of the beautiful and invincible angel4 ,sitting at one end of the table in my school-room1 with ,boy at the other1 and all those far-off faces between1 ,i felt as though we were twenty thousand miles away from the world that lay but a twenty minutes' walk from the door2 the distance was but a speck in space1 but the separation was tremendous4 ,it always seemed to me that here was a sudden1 harsh suspension of nature's fundamental law1--the human heart arrested in its functions1 ceasing to throb1 and yet alive4 ,illustration3 ,,presentation ,,of ,a ,,princess4 ,the fields beyond are fresh and green1 and bright with flowers4 ,the sun of summer1 rising exultant1 greets them with rejoicing2 and evening shadows1 falling soft among the dewy petals1 linger to kiss them good-night4 ,there the children of the poor--naked1 rude1 neglected though they be--are rich in the freedom of the bounteous earth1 rich in the freedom of the fair blue sky1 rich in the freedom of the limpid ocean of air above and around them4 ,but within the close and gloomy lanes of this city within a city1 through which many lovely women are wont to come and go1 many little feet to patter1 and many baby citizens to be borne in the arms of their dodging slaves1 there is but cloud and chill1 and famishing and stinting1 and beating of wings against golden bars4 ,in the order of nature1 evening melts softly into night1 and darkness retreats with dignity and grace before the advancing triumphs of the morning2 but here light and darkness are monstrously mixed1 and the result is a glaring gloom that is neither of the day nor of the night1 nor of life nor of death1 nor of earth nor of--yes1 hell6 ,in the long galleries and corridors1 bewildering with their everlasting twilight of the eye and of the mind1 one is forever coming upon shocks of sudden sunshine or shocks of sudden shadow1--the smile yet dimpling in a baby's face1 a sister bearing a brother's scourging2 a mother singing to her sacred infant1 ,footnote3 ,p'hra-ong4 a slave sobbing before a deaf idol4 ,and ,o1 the forlornness of it all6 ,you who have never beheld these things know not the utterness of loneliness4 ,compared with the predicament of some who were my daily companions1 the sea were a home and an iceberg a hearth4 ,how ,i have pitied those ill-fated sisters of mine1 imprisoned without a crime6 ,if they could but have rejoiced once more in the freedom of the fields and woods1 what new births of gladness might have been theirs1--they who with a gasp of despair and moral death first entered those royal dungeons1 never again to come forth alive6 ,and yet have ,i known more than one among them who accepted her fate with a repose of manner and a sweetness of smile that told how dead must be the heart under that still exterior4 ,and ,i wondered at the sight4 ,only twenty minutes between bondage and freedom1--such freedom as may be found in ,siam6 only twenty minutes between those gloomy1 hateful cells and the fair fields and the radiant skies6 only twenty minutes between the cramping and the suffocation and the fear1 and the full1 deep1 glorious inspirations of freedom and safety6 ,i had never beheld misery till ,i found it here2 ,i had never looked upon the sickening hideousness of slavery till ,i encountered its features here2 nor1 above all1 had ,i comprehended the perfection of the life1 light1 blessedness and beauty1 the all-sufficing fulness of the love of ,god as it is in ,jesus1 until ,i felt the contrast here1--pain1 deformity1 darkness1 death1 and eternal emptiness1 a darkness to which there is neither beginning nor end1 a living which is neither of this world nor of the next4 ,the misery which checks the pulse and thrills the heart with pity in one's common walks about the great cities of ,europe is hardly so saddening as the nameless1 mocking wretchedness of these women1 to whom poverty were a luxury1 and houselessness as a draught of pure1 free air4 ,and yet their lot is light indeed compared with that of their children4 ,the single aim of such a hapless mother1 howsoever tender and devoted she may by nature be1 is to form her child after the one strict pattern her fate has set her1--her master's will2 since1 otherwise1 she dare not contemplate the perils which might overtake her treasure4 ,pitiful indeed1 therefore1 is the pitiless inflexibility of purpose with which she wings from her child's heart all the dangerous endearments of childhood1--its merry laughter1 its sparkling tears1 its trustfulness1 its artlessness1 its engaging waywardness2 and in their place instils silence1 submission1 self-constraint1 suspicion1 cunning1 carefulness1 and an ever-vigilant fear4 ,and the result is a spectacle of unnatural discipline simply appalling4 ,the life of such a child is an egg-shell on an ocean2 to its helpless speck of experience all horrors are possible4 ,its passing moment is its eternity2 and that overwhelmed with terrors1 real or imaginary1 what is left but that poor little floating wreck1 a child's despair8 ,i was often alone in the school-room1 long after my other charges had departed1 with a pale1 dejected woman1 whose name translated was ,hidden-,perfume4 ,as a pupil she was remarkably diligent and attentive1 and in reading and translating ,english1 her progress was extraordinary4 ,only in her eager1 inquisitive glances was she child-like2 otherwise1 her expression and demeanor were anxious and aged4 ,she had long been out of favor with her lord2 and now1 without hope from him1 surrendered herself wholly to her fondness for a son she had borne him in her more youthful and attractive days4 ,in this young prince1 who was about ten years old1 the same air of timidity and restraint was apparent as in his mother1 whom he strikingly resembled1 only lacking that cast of pensive sadness which rendered her so attractive1 and her pride1 which closed her lips upon the past1 though the story of her wrongs was a moving one4 ,it was my habit to visit her twice a week at her residence1 ,footnote3 ,each of the ladies of the harem has her own exclusive domicile1 within the inner walls of the palace4 for ,i was indebted to her for much intelligent assistance in my study of the ,siamese language4 ,on going to her abode one afternoon1 ,i found her absent2 only the young prince was there1 sitting sadly by the window4 ,where is your mother1 dear8 ,i inquired4 ,with his ,majesty up stairs1 ,i think1 he replied1 still looking anxiously in one direction1 as though watching for her4 ,this was an unusual circumstance for my sad1 lonely friend1 and ,i returned home without my lesson for that day4 ,next morning1 passing the house again1 ,i saw the lad sitting in the same attitude at the window1 his eyes bent in the same direction1 only more wistful and weary than before4 ,on questioning him1 ,i found his mother had not yet returned4 ,at the pavilion ,i was met by the ,lady ,tlp1 who1 seizing my hand1 said1 ,hidden-,perfume is in trouble4 ,what is the matter8 ,i inquired4 ,she is in prison1 she whispered1 drawing me closely to her4 ,she is not prudent1 you know1--like you and me1 in a tone which expressed both triumph and fear4 ,can ,i see her8 ,i asked4 ,yes1 yes6 if you bribe the jailers4 ,but don't give them more than a tical each4 ,they'll demand two2 give them only one4 ,in the pavilion1 which served as a private chapel for the ladies of the harem1 priests were reading prayers and reciting homilies from that sacred book of ,buddha called ,ssnh ,thai1 ,the ,religion of the ,free2 while the ladies sat on velvet cushions with their hands folded1 a vase of flowers in front of each1 and a pair of odoriferous candles1 lighted4 ,prayers are held daily in this place1 and three times a day during the ,buddhist ,lent4 ,the priests are escorted to the pavilion by ,amazons1 and two warriors1 armed with swords and clubs1 remain on guard till the service is ended4 ,the latter1 who are eunuchs1 also attend the priests when they enter the palace1 in the afternoon1 to sprinkle the inmates with consecrated water4 ,leaving the priests reciting and chanting1 and the rapt worshippers bowing1 ,i passed a young mother with a sleeping babe1 some slave-girls playing at sabh ,footnote3 ,marbles1 played with the knee instead of the fingers4 on the stone pavement1 and two princesses borne in the arms of their slaves1 though almost women grown1 on my way to the palace prison4 ,if it ever should be the reader's fortune1 good or ill1 to visit a ,siamese dungeon1 whether allotted to prince or peasant1 his attention will be first attracted to the rude designs on the rough stone walls 7otherwise decorated only with moss and fungi and loathsome reptiles7 of some nightmared painter1 who has exhausted his dyspeptic fancy in portraying hideous personifications of ,hunger1 ,terror1 ,old ,age1 ,despair1 ,disease1 and ,death1 tormented by furies and avengers1 with hair of snakes and whips of scorpions1--all beyond expression devilish4 ,floor it has none1 nor ceiling1 for1 with the ,meinam so near1 neither boards nor plaster can keep out the ooze4 ,underfoot1 a few planks1 loosely laid1 are already as soft as the mud they are meant to cover2 the damp has rotted them through and through4 ,overhead1 the roof is black1 but not with smoke2 for here1 where the close steam of the soggy earth and the reeking walls is almost intolerable1 no fire is needed in the coldest season4 ,the cell is lighted by one small window1 so heavily grated on the outer side as effectually to bar the ingress of fresh air4 ,a pair of wooden trestles1 supporting rough boards1 form a makeshift for a bedstead1 and a mat 7which may be clean or dirty1 the ticals of the prisoner must settle that7 is all the bed4 ,in such a cell1 on such a couch1 lay the concubine of a supreme king and the mother of a royal prince of ,siam1 her feet covered with a silk mantle1 her head supported by a pillow of glazed leather1 her face turned to the clammy wall4 ,there was no door to grate upon her quivering nerves2 a trap-door in the street overhead had opened to the magic of silver1 and ,i had descended a flight of broken steps of stone4 ,at her head1 a little higher than the pillow1 were a vase of flowers1 half faded1 a pair of candles burning in gold candlesticks1 and a small image of the ,buddha4 ,she had brought her god with her4 ,well1 she needed his presence4 ,i could hardly keep my feet1 for the footing was slippery and my brain swam4 ,touching the silent1 motionless form1 in a voice scarcely audible ,i pronounced her name4 ,she turned with difficulty1 and a slight sound of clanking explained the covering on the feet4 ,she was chained to one of the trestles4 ,sitting up1 she made room for me beside her4 ,no tears were in her eyes2 only the habitual sadness of her face was deepened4 ,here1 truly1 was a perfect work of misery1 meekness1 and patience4 ,astonished at seeing me1 she imagined me capable of yet greater things1 and folding her hands in an attitude of supplication1 implored me to help her4 ,the offence for which she was imprisoned was briefly this3-- ,she had been led to petition1 through her son1 ,footnote3 ,a privilege granted to all the concubines4 that an appointment held by her late uncle1 ,phya ,khien1 might be bestowed on her elder brother1 not knowing that another noble had already been preferred to the post by his ,majesty4 ,had she been guilty of the gravest crime1 her punishment could not have been more severe4 ,it was plain that a stupid grudge was at the bottom of this cruel business4 ,the king1 on reading the petition1 presented by the trembling lad on his knees1 became furious1 and1 dashing it back into the child's face1 accused the mother of plotting to undermine his power1 saying he knew her to be at heart a rebel1 who hated him and his dynasty with all the rancor of her ,peguan ancestors1 the natural enemies of ,siam4 ,thus lashing himself into a rage of hypocritical patriotism1 and seeking to justify himself by condemning her1 he sent one of his judges to bring her to him4 ,but before the myrmidon could go and come1 concluding to dispense with forms1 he anticipated the result of that mandate with another1--to chain and imprison her4 ,no sooner was she dragged to this deadly cell1 than a third order was issued to flog her till she confessed her treacherous plot2 but the stripes were administered so tenderly1 ,footnote3 ,in these cases the executioners are women1 who generally spare each other if they dare4 that the only confession they extorted was a meek protestation that she was his meanest slave1 and ready to give her life for his pleasure4 ,beat her on the mouth with a slipper for lying6 roared the royal tiger2 and they did1 in the letter1 if not in the spirit1 of the brutal sentence4 ,she bore it meekly1 hanging down her head4 ,i am degraded forever6 she said to me4 ,when once the king was enraged1 there was nothing to be done but to wait in patience until the storm should exhaust itself by its own fury4 ,but it was horrible to witness such an abuse of power at the hands of one who was the only source of justice in the land4 ,it was a crime against all humanity1 the outrage of the strong upon the helpless4 ,his madness sometimes lasted a week2 but weeks have their endings4 ,besides1 he really had a conscience1 tough and shrunken as it was2 and she had1 what was more to the purpose1 a whole tribe of powerful connections4 ,as for myself1 there was but one thing ,i could do2 and that was to intercede privately with the ,kralahome4 ,the same evening1 immediately on returning from my visit to the dungeon1 ,i called on him2 but when ,i explained the object of my visit he rebuked me sharply for interfering between his ,majesty and his wives4 ,she is my pupil1 ,i replied4 ,but ,i have not interfered2 ,i have only come to you for justice4 ,she did not know of the appointment until she had sent in her petition2 and to punish one woman for that which is permitted and encouraged in another is gross injustice4 ,thereupon he sent for his secretary1 and having satisfied himself that the appointment had not been published1 was good enough to promise that he would explain to his ,majesty that there had been delay in making known to the ,court the royal pleasure in this matter2 but he spoke with indifference1 as if thinking of something else4 ,i felt chilled and hurt as ,i left the premier's palace1 and more anxious than ever when ,i thought of the weary eyes of the lonely lad watching for his mother's return2 for no one dared tell him the truth4 ,but1 to do the premier justice1 he was more troubled than he would permit me to discover at the mistake the poor woman had made2 for there was good stuff in the moral fabric of the man1--stern rectitude1 and a judgment1 unlike the king's1 not warped by passion4 ,that very night ,footnote3 ,all consultations on matters of state and of court discipline are held in the royal palace at night4 he repaired to the ,grand ,palace1 and explained the delay to the king1 without appearing to be aware of the concubine's punishment4 ,on ,monday morning1 when ,i came to school in the pavilion1 ,i found1 to my great joy1 that ,hidden-,perfume had been liberated1 and was at home again with her child4 ,the poor creature embraced me ardently1 glorifying me with grateful epithets from the extravagant vocabulary of her people2 and1 taking an emerald ring from her finger1 she put it upon mine1 saying1 ,by this you will remember your thankful friend4 ,on the following day she also sent me a small purse of gold thread netted1 in which were a few ,siamese coins1 and a scrap of paper inscribed with cabalistic characters1--an infallible charm to preserve the wearer from poverty and distress4 ,among my pupils was a little girl about eight or nine years old1 of delicate frame1 and with the low voice and subdued manner of one who had already had experience of sorrow4 ,she was not among those presented to me at the opening of the school4 ,wanne ,ratna ,kania was her name 7,sweet ,promise of my ,hopes71 and very engaging and persuasive was she in her patient1 timid loveliness4 ,her mother1 the ,lady ,khoon ,chom ,kioa1 who had once found favor with the king1 had1 at the time of my coming to the palace1 fallen into disgrace by reason of her gambling1 in which she had squandered all the patrimony of the little princess4 ,this fact1 instead of inspiring the royal father with pity for his child1 seemed to attract to her all that was most cruel in his insane temper4 ,the offence of the mother had made the daughter offensive in his sight2 and it was not until long after the term of imprisonment of the degraded favorite had expired that ,wanne ventured to appear at a royal leve4 ,the moment the king caught sight of the little form1 so piteously prostrated there1 he drove her rudely from his presence1 taunting her with the delinquencies of her mother with a coarseness that would have been cruel enough if she had been responsible for them and a gainer by them1 but against one of her tender years1 innocent toward both1 and injured by both1 it was inconceivably atrocious4 ,on her first appearance at school she was so timid and wistful that ,i felt constrained to notice and encourage her more than those whom ,i had already with me4 ,but ,i found this no easy part to play2 for very soon one of the court ladies in the confidence of the king took me quietly aside and warned me to be less demonstrative in favor of the little princess1 saying1 ,surely you would not bring trouble upon that wounded lamb4 ,it was a sore trial to me to witness the oppression of one so unoffending and so helpless4 ,yet our ,wanne was neither thin nor pale4 ,there was a freshness in her childish beauty1 and a bloom in the transparent olive of her cheek1 that were at times bewitching4 ,she loved her father1 and in her visions of baby faith beheld him almost as a god4 ,it was true joy to her to fold her hands and bow before the chamber where he slept4 ,with that steadfast hopefulness of childhood which can be deceived without being discouraged1 she would say1 ,how glad he will be when ,i can read6 and yet she had known nothing but despair4 ,her memory was extraordinary2 she delighted in all that was remarkable1 and with careful wisdom gathered up facts and precepts and saved them for future use4 ,she seemed to have built around her an invisible temple of her own design1 and to have illuminated it with the rushlight of her childish love4 ,among the books she read to me1 rendering it from ,english into ,siamese1 was one called ,spring-time4 ,on translating the line1 ,whom ,he loveth he chasteneth1 she looked up in my face1 and asked anxiously3 ,does thy ,god do that8 ,ah6 lady1 are all the gods angry and cruel8 ,has he no pity1 even for those who love him8 ,he must be like my father2 he loves us1 so he has to be rye 7cruel71 that we may fear evil and avoid it4 ,meanwhile little ,wanne learned to spell1 read1 and translate almost intuitively2 for there were novelty and hope to help the ,buddhist child1 and love to help the ,english woman4 ,the sad look left her face1 her life had found an interest2 and very often1 on fte days1 she was my only pupil2--when suddenly an ominous cloud obscured the sky of her transient gladness4 ,wanne was poor2 and her gifts to me were of the riches of poverty1--fruits and flowers4 ,but she owned some female slaves2 and one among them1 a woman of twenty-five perhaps 7who had already made a place for herself in my regard71 seemed devotedly attached to her youthful mistress1 and not only attended her to the school day after day1 but shared her scholarly enthusiasm1 even studied with her1 sitting at her feet by the table4 ,steadily the slave kept pace with the princess4 ,all that ,wanne learned at school in the day was lovingly taught to ,mai ,noie in the nursery at night2 and it was not long before ,i found1 to my astonishment1 that the slave read and translated as correctly as her mistress4 ,very delightful were the demonstrations of attachment interchanged between these two4 ,mai ,noie bore the child in her arms to and from the school1 fed her1 humored her every whim1 fanned her naps1 bathed and perfumed her every night1 and then rocked her to sleep on her careful bosom1 as tenderly as she would have done for her own baby4 ,and then it was charming to watch the child's face kindle with love and comfort as the sound of her friend's step approached4 ,suddenly a change2 the little princess came to school as usual1 but a strange woman attended her1 and ,i saw no more of ,mai ,noie there4 ,the child grew so listless and wretched that ,i was forced to ask the cause of her darling's absence2 she burst into a passion of tears1 but replied not a word4 ,then ,i inquired of the stranger1 and she answered in two syllables1--,my ru 7,i know not74 ,shortly afterward1 as ,i entered the school-room one day1 ,i perceived that something unusual was happening4 ,i turned toward the princes' door1 and stood still1 fairly holding my breath4 ,there was the king1 furious1 striding up and down4 ,all the female judges of the palace were present1 and a crowd of mothers and royal children4 ,on all the steps around1 innumerable slave-women1 old and young1 crouched and hid their faces4 ,but the object most conspicuous was little ,wanne's mother1 manacled1 and prostrate on the polished marble pavement4 ,there1 too1 was my poor little princess1 her hands clasped helplessly1 her eyes tearless but downcast1 palpitating1 trembling1 shivering4 ,sorrow and horror had transformed the child4 ,as well as ,i could understand1 where no one dared explain1 the wretched woman had been gambling again1 and had even staked and lost her daughter's slaves4 ,at last ,i understood ,wanne's silence when ,i asked her where ,mai ,noie was4 ,by some means--spies probably--the whole matter had come to the king's ears1 and his rage was wild1 not because he loved the child1 but that he hated the mother4 ,promptly the order was given to lash the woman2 and two ,amazons advanced to execute it4 ,the first stripe was delivered with savage skill2 but before the thong could descend again1 the child sprang forward and flung herself across the bare and quivering back of her mother4 ,ti chan1 ,tha ,moom6 ,footnote3 ,tha ,mom or ,moom1 used by children in addressing a royal father4 ,poot-thoo ti chan1 ,tha ,mom6 7,strike me1 my father6 ,pray1 strike me1 ,o my father67 ,the pause of fear that followed was only broken by my boy1 who1 with a convulsive cry1 buried his face desperately in the folds of my skirt4 ,there indeed was a case for prayer1 any prayer6--the prostrate woman1 the hesitating lash1 the tearless anguish of the ,siamese child1 the heart-rending cry of the ,english child1 all those mothers with grovelling brows1 but hearts uplifted among the stars1 on the wings of the ,angel of ,prayer4 ,who could behold so many women crouching1 shuddering1 stupefied1 dismayed1 in silence and darkness1 animated1 enlightened only by the deep whispering heart of maternity1 and not be moved with mournful yearning8 ,the child's prayer was vain4 ,as demons tremble in the presence of a god1 so the king comprehended that he had now to deal with a power of weakness1 pity1 beauty1 courage1 and eloquence4 ,strike me1 ,o my father6 ,his quick1 clear sagacity measured instantly all the danger in that challenge2 and though his voice was thick and agitated 7for1 monster as he was at that moment1 he could not but shrink from striking at every mother's heart at his feet71 he nervously gave the word to remove the child1 and bind her4 ,the united strength of several women was not more than enough to loose the clasp of those loving arms from the neck of an unworthy mother4 ,the tender hands and feet were bound1 and the tender heart was broken4 ,the lash descended then1 unforbidden by any cry4 ,,xiii4 ,f-,,ying1 ,,the ,,king',s ,,darling4 ,will you teach me to draw8 said an irresistible young voice to me1 as ,i sat at the school-room table1 one bright afternoon4 ,it is so much more pleasant to sit by you than to go to my ,sanskrit class4 ,my ,sanskrit teacher is not like my ,english teacher2 she bends my hands back when ,i make mistakes4 ,i don't like ,sanskrit1 ,i like ,english4 ,there are so many pretty pictures in your books4 ,will you take me to ,england with you1 ,mam cha8 ,footnote3 ,lady1 dear4 pleaded the engaging little prattler4 ,i am afraid his ,majesty will not let you go with me1 ,i replied4 ,o yes1 he will6 said the child with smiling confidence4 ,he lets me do as ,i like4 ,you know ,i am the ,somdetch ,chow ,f-ying2 he loves me best of all2 he will let me go4 ,i am glad to hear it1 said ,i1 and very glad to hear that you love ,english and drawing4 ,let us go up and ask his ,majesty if you may learn drawing instead of ,sanskrit4 ,with sparkling eyes and a happy smile1 she sprang from my lap1 and1 seizing my hand eagerly1 said1 ,o yes6 let us go now4 ,we went1 and our prayer was granted4 ,never did work seem more like pleasure than it did to me as ,i sat with this sweet1 bright little princess1 day after day1 at the hour when all her brothers and sisters were at their ,sanskrit1 drawing herself1 as the humor seized her1 or watching me draw2 but oftener listening1 her large questioning eyes fixed upon my face1 as step by step ,i led her out of the shadow-land of myth into the realm of the truth as it is in ,christ ,jesus4 ,the wisdom of this world is foolishness with ,god2 and ,i felt that this child of smiles and tears1 all unbaptized and unblessed as she was1 was nearer and dearer to her ,father in heaven than to her father on earth4 ,this was the ,somdetch ,chowfa ,chandrmondol1 best known in the palace by her pet name of ,f-ying4 ,her mother1 the late queen consort1 in dying1 left three sons and this one daughter1 whom1 with peculiar tenderness and anxiety1 she commended to the loving kindness of the king2 and now the child was the fondled darling of the lonely1 bitter man1 having quickly won her way to his heart by the charm of her fearless innocence and trustfulness1 her sprightly intelligence and changeful grace4 ,morning dawned fair on the river1 the sunshine flickering on the silver ripples1 and gilding the boats of the market people as they softly glide up or down to the lazy swing of the oars4 ,the floating shops were all awake1 displaying their various and fantastic wares to attract the passing citizen or stranger4 ,priests in yellow robes moved noiselessly from door to door1 receiving without asking and without thanks the alms wherewith their pious clients hoped to lay up treasures in heaven1 or1 in ,buddhist parlance1 to make merit4 ,slaves hurried hither and thither in the various bustle of errands4 ,worshippers thronged the gates and vestibules of the many temples of this city of pagodas and p'hra- cha-dees1 and myriads of fan-shaped bells scattered aeolian melodies on the passing breeze4 ,as ,boy and ,i gazed from our piazza on this strangely picturesque panorama1 there swept across the river a royal barge filled with slaves1 who1 the moment they had landed1 hurried up to me4 ,my lady1 they cried1 there is cholera in the palace6 ,three slaves are lying dead in the princesses' court2 and her ,highness1 the young ,somdetch ,chow ,f-ying1 was seized this morning4 ,she sends for you4 ,o1 come to her1 quickly6 and with that they put into my hand a scrap of paper2 it was from his ,majesty4 ,,my ,,dear ,,mam1--,our well-beloved daughter1 your favorite pupil1 is attacked with cholera1 and has earnest desire to see you1 and is heard much to make frequent repetition of your name4 ,i beg that you will favor her wish4 ,i fear her illness is mortal1 as there has been three deaths since morning4 ,she is best beloved of my children4 ,i am your afflicted friend1 ,s4 ,s4 ,p4 ,p4 ,,maha ,,mongkut4 ,in a moment ,i was in my boat4 ,i entreated1 ,i flattered1 ,i scolded1 the rowers4 ,how slow they were6 how strong the opposing current6 ,and when we did reach those heavy gates1 how slowly they moved1 with what suspicious caution they admitted me6 ,i was fierce with impatience4 ,and when at last ,i stood panting at the door of my ,f-ying's chamber--too late6 even ,dr4 ,campbell 7the surgeon of the ,british consulate7 had come too late4 ,there was no need to prolong that anxious wail in the ear of the deaf child1 ,p'hra-,arahang6 ,p'hra-,arahang6 ,footnote3 ,one of the most sacred of the many titles of ,buddha1 repeated by the nearest relative in the ear of the dying till life is quite extinct4 ,she would not forget her way2 she would nevermore lose herself on the road to ,heaven4 ,beyond1 above the ,p'hra-,arahang1 she had soared into the eternal1 tender arms of the ,p'hra-,jesus1 of whom she was wont to say in her infantine wonder and eagerness1 ,mam cha1 chn rk ,p'hra-,jesus mk 7,mam dear1 ,i love your holy ,jesus47 ,as ,i stooped to imprint a parting kiss on the little face that had been so fair to me1 her kindred and slaves exchanged their appealing ,p'hra-,arahang for a sudden burst of heart-rending cries4 ,an attendant hurried me to the king1 who1 reading the heavy tidings in my silence1 covered his face with his hands and wept passionately4 ,strange and terrible were the tears of such a man1 welling up from a heart from which all natural affections had seemed to be expelled1 to make room for his own exacting1 engrossing conceit of self4 ,bitterly he bewailed his darling1 calling her by such tender1 touching epithets as the lips of loving ,christian mothers use4 ,what could ,i say8 ,what could ,i do but weep with him1 and then steal quietly away and leave the king to the ,father8 ,the moreover very sad mournful ,circular ,footnote3 ,from the pen of the king4 from ,his ,gracious ,majesty ,somdetch ,p'hra ,paramendr ,maha ,mongkut1 the reigning ,supreme ,king of ,siam1 intimating the recent death of ,her ,celestial ,royal ,highness1 ,princess ,somdetch ,chowfa ,chandrmondol ,sobhon ,baghiawati1 who was ,his ,majesty's most affectionate well beloved #ith ,royal daughter or #afth offspring1 and the second ,royal child by ,his ,majesty's late ,queen consort ,rambery ,bhamarabhiramy who deceased in the year #ahfa4 ,both mother and daughter have been known to many foreign friends of ,his ,majesty4 ,to all the foreign friends of ,his ,majesty1 residing or trading in ,siam1 or in ,singapore1 ,malacca1 ,pinang1 ,ceylon1 ,batavia1 ,saigon1 ,macao1 ,hong-kong1 various regions in ,china1 ,europe1 ,america1 c4 c4444 ,her ,celestial ,royal ,highness1 having been born on the #bdth ,april1 #ahee1 grew up in happy condition of her royal valued life1 under the care of her ,royal parents1 as well as her elder and younger three full brothers2 and on the demise of her royal mother on the forementioned date1 she was almost always with her ,royal father everywhere day night4 ,all things which belonged to her late mother suitable for female use were transferred to her as the most lawful inheritor of her late royal mother2 ,she grew up to the age of #h years #bj days4 ,on the ceremony of the funeral service of her elder late royal half brother forenamed1 ,she accompanied her royal esteemed father her royal brothers and sisters in customary service1 cheerfully during three days of the ceremony1 from the #aath to #acth ,may4 ,on the night of the latter day1 when she was returning from the royal funeral place to the royal residence in the same sedan with her ,royal father at #aj o'clock ,p4,m4 she yet appeared happy1 but alas6 on her arrival at the royal residence1 she was attacked by most violent awful cholera1 and sunk rapidly before the arrival of the physicians who were called on that night for treatment4 ,her disease or illness of cholera increased so strong that it did not give way to the treatment of any one1 or even to the ,chlorodine administered to her by ,doctor ,james ,campbell the ,surgeon of the ,british ,consulate4 ,she expired at #d o'clock ,p4,m41 on the #adth ,may1 when her elder royal half brother's remains were burning at the funeral hall outside of the royal palace1 according to the determined time for the assembling of the great congregation of the whole of the royalty nobility1 and native foreign friends1 before the occurrence of the unforeseen sudden misfortune or mournful event4 ,the sudden death of the said most affectionate and lamented royal daughter has caused greater regret and sorrow to her ,royal father than several losses sustained by him before1 as this beloved ,royal amiable daughter was brought up almost by the hands of ,his ,majesty himself1 since she was aged only #d to #e months1 ,his ,majesty has carried her to and fro by his hand and on the lap and placed her by his side in every one of the ,royal seats1 where ever he went2 whatever could be done in the way of nursing ,his ,majesty has done himself1 by feeding her with milk obtained from her nurse1 and sometimes with the milk of the cow1 goat c4 poured in a teacup from which ,his ,majesty fed her by means of a spoon1 so this ,royal daughter was as familiar with her father in her infancy1 as with her nurses4 ,on her being only aged six months1 his ,majesty took this ,princess with him and went to ,ayudia on affairs there2 after that time when she became grown up ,his ,majesty had the princess seated on his lap when he was in his chair at the breakfast1 dinner supper table1 and fed her at the same time of breakfast c1 almost every day1 except when she became sick of colds c4 until the last days of her life she always eat at same table with her father4 ,where ever ,his ,majesty went1 this princess always accompanied her father upon the same1 sedan1 carriage1 ,royal boat1 yacht c4 and on her being grown up she became more prudent than other children of the same age1 she paid every affectionate attention to her affectionate and esteemed father in every thing where her ability allowed2 she was well educated in the vernacular ,siamese literature which she commenced to study when she was #c years old1 and in last year she commenced to study in the ,english ,school where the schoolmistress1 ,lady ,l---- has observed that she was more skillful than the other royal ,children1 she pronounced spoke ,english in articulate clever manner which pleased the schoolmistress exceedingly1 so that the schoolmistress on the loss of this her beloved pupil1 was in great sorrow and wept much4 4444 ,but alas6 her life was very short4 ,she was only aged #h years #bj days1 reckoning from her birth day hour1 she lived in this world #bidb days #ah hours4 ,but it is known that the nature of human lives is like the flames of candles lighted in open air without any protection above every side1 so it is certain that this path ought to be followed by every one of human beings in a short or long while which cannot be ascertained by prediction1 ,alas6 ,dated ,royal ,grand ,palace1 ,bangkok1 #afth ,may1 ,anno ,christi #ahfc4 ,not long after our darling ,f-ying was taken from us1 the same royal barge1 freighted with the same female slaves who had summoned us to her death-bed1 came in haste to our house4 ,his ,majesty had sent them to find and bring us4 ,we must hurry to the palace4 ,on arriving there1 we found the school pavilion strangely decorated with flowers4 ,my chair of office had been freshly painted a glaring red1 and on the back and round the arms and legs fresh flowers were twined4 ,the books the ,princess ,f-ying had lately conned were carefully displayed in front of my accustomed seat1 and upon them were laid fresh roses and fragrant lilies4 ,some of the ladies in waiting informed me that an extraordinary honor was about to be conferred on me4 ,not relishing the prospect of favors that might place me in a false position1 and still all in the dark1 ,i submitted quietly1 but not without misgivings on my own part and positive opposition on ,boy's1 to be enthroned in the gorgeous chair1 whereof the paint was hardly dry4 ,presently his ,majesty sent to inquire if we had arrived1 and being apprised of our presence1 came down at once1 followed by all my pupils and a formidable staff of noble dowagers1--his sisters1 half-sisters1 and aunts1 paternal and maternal4 ,having shaken hands with me and with my child1 he proceeded to enlighten us4 ,he was about to confer a distinction upon me1 for my courage and conduct1 as he expressed it1 at the death-bed of her ,highness1 his well-beloved royal child1 the ,somdetch ,chow ,f-ying4 ,then1 bidding me remain seated1 much to the detriment of my white dress1 in the sticky red chair1 and carefully taking the ends of seven threads of unspun cotton 7whereof the other ends were passed over my head1 and over the dead child's books1 into the hands of seven of his elder sisters71 he proceeded to wind them round my brow and temples4 ,next he waved mysteriously a few gold coins1 then dropped twenty-one drops of cold water out of a jewelled shell1 ,footnote3 ,the conch1 or chank shell and finally1 muttering something in ,sanskrit1 and placing in my hand a small silk bag containing a title of nobility and the number and description of the roods of lands pertaining to it1 bade me rise1 ,chow ,khoon ,crue ,yai6 ,my estate was in the district of ,lophaburee and ,p'hra ,batt1 and ,i found afterward that to reach it ,i must perform a tedious journey overland1 through a wild1 dense jungle1 on the back of an elephant4 ,so1 with wise munificence1 ,i left it to my people1 tigers1 elephants1 rhinoceroses1 wild boars1 armadillos1 and monkeys to enjoy unmolested and untaxed1 while ,i continued to pursue the even tenor of a school-marm's way1 unagitated by my honorary title4 ,in fact1 the whole affair was ridiculous2 and ,i was inclined to feel a little ashamed of the distinction1 when ,i reflected on the absurd figure ,i must have cut1 with my head in a string like a grocer's parcel1 and ,boy imploring me1 with all his astonished eyes1 not to submit to so silly an operation4 ,so he and ,i tacitly agreed to hush the matter up between us4 ,speaking of the chank shell1 that is the name given in the ,east ,indies to certain varieties of the voluta gravis1 fished up by divers in the ,gulf of ,manaar1 on the northwest coast of ,ceylon4 ,there are two kinds1 payel and patty1--the one red1 the other white2 the latter is of small value4 ,these shells are exported to ,calcutta and ,bombay1 where they are sawed into rings of various sizes1 and worn on the arms1 legs1 fingers1 and toes by the ,hindoos1 from whom the ,buddhists have adopted the shell for use in their religious or political ceremonies4 ,they employ1 however1 a third species1 which opens to the right1 and is rare and costly4 ,the demand for these shells1 created by the innumerable poojahs and pageants of the ,hindoos and ,buddhists1 was formerly so great that a bounty of sixty thousand rix dollars per annum was paid to the ,british government for the privilege of fishing for them2 but this demand finally ceased1 and the revenue became not worth collecting4 ,the fishing is now free to all4 ,,xiv4 ,,an ,,outrage ,,and ,a ,,warning4 ,one morning we were startled by a great outcry1 from which we presently began to pick out1 here and there1 a coherent word1 which1 put together1 signified that ,moonshee was once more in trouble4 ,i ran down into the compound1 and found that the old man had been cruelly beaten1 by order of one of the premier's half-brothers1 for refusing to bow down before him4 ,exhausted as he was1 he found voice to express his sense of the outrage in indignant iteration4 ,am ,i a beast8 ,am ,i an unbelieving dog8 ,o son of ,jaffur ,khan1 how hast thou fallen6 ,i felt so shocked and insulted that ,i went at once1 and without ceremony1 to the ,kralahome1 and complained4 ,to my surprise and disgust1 his ,excellency made light of the matter1 saying that the old man was a fool2 that he had no time to waste upon such trifles2 and that ,i must not trouble him so often with my meddling in matters of no moment1 and which did not concern me4 ,when he was done with this explosion of petulance and brow-beating1 ,i endeavored to demonstrate to him the unfairness of his remarks1 and the disadvantage to himself if he should appear to connive at the ruffianly behavior of his people4 ,but ,i assured him that in future ,i should not trouble him with my complaints1 but take them directly to the ,british ,consul4 ,and so saying ,i left this unreasonable prime minister1 meeting the cause of all our woes 7the half-brother7 coming in as ,i went out4 ,that same evening1 as ,i sat in our little piazza1 where it was cooler than in the house1 embroidering a new coat for ,boy to wear on his approaching birthday1 ,i felt a violent blow on my head1 and fell from my chair stunned1 overturning the small table at which ,i was working1 and the heavy ,argand lamp that stood on it4 ,on recovering my senses ,i found myself in the dark1 and ,boy1 with all his little strength1 trying to lift me from the floor1 while he screamed1 ,beebe maree6 ,beebe maree6 ,footnote3 ,maree1 ,come here 7,malay74 ,i endeavored to rise1 but feeling dizzy and sick lay still for a while1 taking ,louis in my arms to reassure him4 ,when ,beebe came from the river1 where she had been bathing1 she struck a light1 and found that the mischief had been done with a large stone1 about four inches long and two wide2 but by whom or why it had been thrown we could not for some time conjecture4 ,beebe raised the neighborhood with her cries3 ,first my husband1 then my mistress6 ,it will be my turn next2 and then what will become of the chota baba sahib8 ,footnote3 ,the little master4 ,but ,i begged her to have done with her din and help me to the couch1 which she did with touching tenderness and quiet1 bathing my head1 which had bled so profusely that ,i sank1 exhausted1 into a deep sleep1 though the sight of my boy's pale1 anxious face1 as he insisted on sharing ,beebe's vigil1 would have been more than enough to keep me awake at any other time4 ,when ,i awoke in the morning1 there sat the dear little fellow in a chair asleep1 but dressed1 his head resting on my pillow4 ,i now felt so much better1 though my head was badly swollen1 that ,i rose and paid a visit to ,moonshee1 who was really ill1 though not dying1 as his wife declared4 ,the shame and outrage of his beating was the occasion of much sorrow and trouble to me1 for my ,persian teacher now begged to be sent back to ,singapore1 and ,i thought that ,beebe could not be persuaded to let him go alone1 though my heart had been set on keeping them with me as long as ,i remained in ,siam4 ,it was in vain that ,i tried to convince the terrified old man that such a catastrophe could hardly happen again2 he would not be beguiled1 but1 shedding faithful tears at the sight of my bandaged head1 declared we should all be murdered if we tarried another day in a land of such barbarous ,kafirs4 ,i assured him that my wound was but skin-deep1 and that ,i apprehended no further violence4 ,but all to no purpose2 ,i was obliged to promise them that they should depart by the next trip of the ,chow ,phya steamer4 ,i deemed it prudent1 however1 to send for the premier's secretary1 and warn him1 in his official capacity1 that if a repetition of the outrage already perpetrated upon members of my household should be attempted from any quarter1 ,i would at once take refuge at the ,british consulate1 and lodge a complaint against the government of ,siam4 ,mr4 ,hunter1 who was always very serious when he was sober and very volatile when he was not1 took the matter to heart1 stared long and thoughtfully at my bandaged head and pallid countenance1 and abruptly started for the premier's palace1 whence he returned on the following day with several copies of a proclamation in the ,siamese language1 signed by his ,excellency1 to the effect that persons found injuring or in any way molesting any member of my household should be severely punished4 ,i desired him to leave one or two of them1 in a friendly way1 at the house of my neighbor on the left1 the ,kralahome's half-brother2 for it was he1 and no other1 who had committed this most cowardly act of revenge4 ,the expression of ,mr4 ,hunter's face1 as the truth slowly dawned upon him1 was rich in its blending of indignation1 disgust1 and contempt4 ,the pusillanimous rascal6 he exclaimed1 as he hurried off in the direction indicated4 ,the darkest hour is just before day4 ,so the gloom now cast over our little circle by ,moonshee's departure was quickly followed by the light of love in ,beebe's tearful eyes as she bade her husband adieu4 ,how could she1 she asked1 leave her ,mem and the chota baba sahib alone in a strange land8 ,,xv4 ,,the ,,city ,,of ,,bangkok4 ,ascending the ,meinam 7or ,chow ,phya7 from the gulf1 and passing ,paknam1 the paltry but picturesque seaport already described1 we come next to ,paklat ,beeloo1 or ,little ,paklat1 so styled to distinguish it from ,paklat ,boon1 a considerable town higher up the river1 which we shall presently inspect as we steam toward ,bangkok4 ,though1 strictly speaking1 ,paklat ,beeloo is a mere cluster of huts1 the humble dwellings of a colony of farmers and rice-planters1 it is nevertheless a place of considerable importance as a depot for the products of the ample fields and gardens which surround it on every side4 ,the rice and vegetables which these supply are shipped for the markets of ,bangkok and ,ayudia4 ,at ,paklat ,beeloo that bustle of traffic begins which1 more and more as we approach the capital1 imparts to the river its characteristic aspect of activity and thrift1--an animated procession of boats of various form and size1 deeply laden with grain1 garden stuffs1 and fruits1 drifting with the friendly helping tide1 and requiring little or no manual labor for their navigation1 as they sweep along tranquilly1 steadily1 from bank to bank1 from village to village4 ,diverse as are the styles and uses of these boats1 the most convenient1 and therefore the most common1 are the ,rua-keng and the ,rua-pt4 ,the former resembles in all respects the ,venetian gondola1 while the ,rua-pt has either a square house with1 windows amidships1 or 7more commonly7 a basket cover1 long and round1 like the tent-top of some ,western wagons4 ,the dimensions of many of these boats are sufficient to accommodate an entire family1 with their household goods and merchandise1 yet one seldom sees more than a single individual in charge of them4 ,the tide1 running strongly up or down1 affords the motive-power2 the crew has but to steer4 ,often unwieldy1 and piled clumsily with cargo1 one might reasonably suppose their safe piloting to be a nautical impossibility2 yet so perfect is the skill--the instinct1 rather--of these almost amphibious river-folk1 that a little child1 not uncommonly a girl1 shall lead them4 ,accidents are marvellously rare1 considering the thousands of large1 heavy1 handsome keng boats that ply continually between the gulf and the capital1 now lost in a sudden bend of the stream1 now emerging from behind a screen of mangroves1 and in their swift descent threatening quick destruction to the small and fragile market-boats1 freighted with fish and poultry1 fruit and vegetables4 ,from ,paklat ,beeloo a great canal penetrates directly to the heart of ,bangkok1 cutting off thirty miles from the circuitous river route4 ,but the traveller1 faithful to the picturesque1 will cling to the beautiful ,meinam1 which will entertain him with scenery more and more charming as he approaches the capital1--higher lands1 a neater cultivation1 hamlets and villages quaintly pretty1 fantastic temples and pagodas dotting the plain1 fine ,oriental effects of form and color1 scattered ,edens of fruit-trees1--the mango1 the mangostein1 the bread-fruit1 the durian the orange1--their dark foliage contrasting boldly with the more lively and lovely green of the betel1 the tamarind1 and the banana4 ,every curve of the river is beautiful with an unexpectedness of its own1--here the sugar-cane swaying gracefully1 there the billow-like lights and shadows of the supple1 feathery bamboo1 and everywhere ideal paradises of refreshment and repose4 ,as we drift on the flowing thoroughfare toward the golden spires of ,bangkok1 kaleidoscopic surprises of summer salute us on either hand4 ,presently we come to ,paklat ,boon1 a place of detached cottages and orchards1 fondly courting the river1 the pretty homesteads of husbandmen and gardeners4 ,here1 too1 is a dock-yard for the construction of royal barges and war-boats1 some of them more than eighty feet long1 with less than twelve feet beam4 ,from ,paklat ,boon to ,bangkok the scene is one of ever-increasing splendor1 the glorious river seeming to array itself more and more grandly1 as for the admiration of kings1 and proudly spreading its waters wide1 as a courtier spreads his robes4 ,its lake-like expanses1 without a spiteful rock or shoal1 are alive with ships1 barks1 brigs1 junks1 proas1 sampans1 canoes2 and the stranger is beset by a flotilla of river pedlers1 expertly sculling under the stern of the steamer1 and shrilly screaming the praises of their wares2 while here and there1 in the thick of the bustle and scramble and din1 a cunning1 quick-handed ,chinaman1 in a crank canoe1 ladles from a steaming caldron his savory chow-chow soup1 and serves it out in small white bowls to hungry customers1 who hold their peace for a time and loll upon their oars1 enraptured by the penetrating brew4 ,three miles below the capital are the royal dock-yards1 where most of the ships composing the ,siamese navy and merchant marine are built1 under the supervision of ,english shipwrights4 ,here1 also1 craft from ,hong-,kong1 ,canton1 ,singapore1 ,rangoon1 and other ports1 that have been disabled at sea1 are repaired more thoroughly and cheaply than in any other port in the ,east4 ,there are1 likewise1 several dry-docks1 and1 in fact1 an establishment completely equipped and intelligently managed4 ,a short distance below the dock-yards is the ,american ,mission1 comprising the dwellings of the missionaries and a modest school-house and chapel1 the latter having a fair attendance of consuls and their children4 ,above the dock-yards is the ,roman ,catholic establishment1 a quiet little settlement clustered about a small cross-crowned sanctuary4 ,yet one more bend of the tortuous river1 and the strange panorama of the floating city unrolls like a great painted canvas before us1--piers and rafts of open shops1 with curious wares and fabrics exposed at the very water's edge2 and beyond and above these the magnificent watts and pagodas with which the capital abounds4 ,these pagodas1 and the p'hra-cha-dees1 or minarets1 that crown some of the temples1 are in many cases true wonders of cunning workmanship and profuse adornment--displaying mosaics of fine porcelain1 inlaid with ivory1 gold1 and silver1 while the lofty doors and windows are overlaid with sculptures of grotesque figures from the ,buddhist and ,brahminical mythologies4 ,near the ,grand ,palace are three tall pillars of elegant design1 everywhere inlaid with variegated stones1 and so richly gilt that they are the wonder and the pride of all the country round4 ,these monuments mark the places of deposit of a few charred bones that once were three demigods of ,siam1--the kings ,p'hra ,rama ,thibodi1 ,p'hra ,narai1 and ,p'hra ,phya ,tak1 who did doughty deeds of valor and prowess in earlier periods of ,siamese history4 ,the ,grand ,royal ,palace1 the semi-castellated residence of the ,supreme ,king of ,siam1 with its roofs and spires pointed with what seem to be the horns of animals1 towers pre-eminent over all the city4 ,it is a great citadel1 surrounded by a triplet of walls1 fortified with many bastions4 ,each of the separate buildings it comprises is cruciform2 and even the palace lately erected in the style of ,windsor ,castle forms with the old palace the arms of a cross1 as the latter does with the ,phrasat1--and so on down to an odd little conceit in architecture1 in the ,chinese style throughout4 ,in front of the old palace is an ample enclosure1 paved1 and surrounded with beautiful trees and rare plants4 ,a gateway1 guarded by a pair of colossal lions and two gigantic and frightful nondescripts1 half demon1 half human1 leads to the old palace1 now almost abandoned4 ,beyond this1 and within the third or innermost wall1 is the true heart of the citadel1 the quarters of the women of the harem4 ,this is in itself a sort of miniature city1 with streets1 shops1 bazaars1 and gardens1 all occupied and tended by women only4 ,outside are the observatory and watch-tower4 ,some of the grandest and most beautiful temples and pagodas of ,siam are in this part of the city4 ,on one side of the palace are the temples and monasteries dedicated to the huge ,sleeping ,idol1 and on the other the mass of buildings that constitute the palace and harem of the ,second ,king4 ,from these two palaces broad streets extend for several miles1 occupied on either side by the principal shops and bazaars of ,bangkok4 ,leaving the ,grand ,palace1 a short walk to the right brings us to the monuments1 already mentioned1 of the three warrior kings4 ,from noble pedestals of fine black granite1 adorned at top and bottom with cornices and rings of ivory1 carved in mythological forms of animals1 birds1 and flowers1 rise conical pillars about fifty feet high4 ,the columns themselves are in mosaic1 with diverse material inlaid upon the solid masonry so carefully that the cement can hardly be detected4 ,no two patterns are the same1 striking effects of form and color have been studied1 and the result is beautiful beyond description4 ,close beside these a third pillar was lately in process of erection1 to the memory of the good ,king ,p'hra-,phen-den ,klang1 father of his late ,majesty1 ,somdetch ,p'hra-,paramendr ,maha ,mongkut4 ,on the outer skirt of the walled town stands the temple ,watt ,brahmanee ,waid1 dedicated to the divinity to whom the control of the universe has been ascribed from the most ancient times4 ,his temple is the only shrine of a ,brahminical deity that the followers of ,buddha have not dared to abolish4 ,intelligent ,buddhists hold that he exists in the latent forces of nature1 that his only attribute is benevolence1 though he is capable of a just indignation1 and that within the scope of his mental vision are myriads of worlds yet to come4 ,but he is said to have no form1 no voice1 no odor1 no color1 no active creative power1--a subtile1 fundamental principle of nature1 pervading all things1 influencing all things4 ,this belief in ,brahma is so closely interwoven with all that is best in the morals and customs of the people1 that it would seem as though ,buddha himself had been careful to leave unchallenged this one idea in the mythology of the ,hindoos4 ,the temple includes a royal monastery1 which only the sons of kings can enter4 ,opposite the ,brahmanee ,watt1 at the distance of about a mile1 are the extensive grounds and buildings of ,watt ,sah ,kte1 the great national burning-place of the dead4 ,within these mysterious precincts the ,buddhist rite of cremation is performed1 with circumstances more or less horrible1 according to the condition or the superstition of the deceased4 ,a broad canal surrounds the temple and yards1 and here1 night and day1 priests watch and pray for the regeneration of mankind4 ,not alone the dead1 but the living likewise1 are given to be burned in secret here2 and into this canal1 at dead of night1 are flung the rash wretches who have madly dared to oppose with speech or act the powers that rule in ,siam4 ,none but the initiated will approach1 these grounds after sunset1 so universal and profound is the horror the place inspires1--a place the most frightful and offensive known to mortal eyes2 for here the vows of dead men1 howsoever ghoulish and monstrous1 are consummated4 ,the walls are hung with human skeletons and the ground is strewed with human skulls4 ,here also are scraped together the horrid fragments of those who have bequeathed their carcasses to the hungry dogs and vultures1 that hover1 and prowl1 and swoop1 and pounce1 and snarl1 and scream1 and tear4 ,the half-picked bones are gathered and burned by the outcast keepers of the temple 7not priests71 who receive from the nearest relative of the infatuated testator a small fee for that final service2 and so a ,buddhist vow is fulfilled1 and a ,buddhist deed of merit accomplished4 ,bangkok1 the modern seat of government of ,siam1 has 7according to the best authorities7 two hundred thousand floating dwellings and shops1--to each house an average of five souls1--making the population of the city about one million2 of which number more than eighty thousand are ,chinese1 twenty thousand ,birmese1 fifteen thousand ,arabs and ,indians1 and the remainder ,siamese4 ,these figures are from the latest census1 which1 however1 must not be accepted as perfectly accurate4 ,the situation of the city is unique and picturesque4 ,when ,ayudia was extinguished1 and the capital established at ,bangkok1 the houses were at first built on the banks of the river4 ,but so frequent were the invasions of cholera1 that one of the kings happily commanded the people to build on the river itself1 that they might have greater cleanliness and better ventilation4 ,the result quickly proved the wisdom of the measure4 ,the privilege of building on the banks is now confined to members of the royal family1 the nobility1 and residents of acknowledged influence1 political or commercial4 ,at night the city is hung with thousands of covered lights1 that illuminate the wide river from shore to shore4 ,lamps and lanterns of all imaginable shapes1 colors1 and sizes combine to form a fairy spectacle of enchanting brilliancy and beauty4 ,the floating tenements and shops1 the masts of vessels1 the tall1 fantastic pagodas and minarets1 and1 crowning all1 the walls and towers of the ,grand ,palace1 flash with countless charming tricks of light1 and compose a scene of more than magic novelty and beauty4 ,so oriental fancy and profusion deal with things of use1 and make a wonder of a commonplace4 ,a double1 and in some parts a triple1 row of floating houses extends for miles along the banks of the river4 ,these are wooden structures1 tastefully designed and painted1 raised on substantial rafts of bamboo linked together with chains1 which1 in turn1 are made fast to great piles planted in the bed of the stream4 ,the ,meinam itself forms the main avenue1 and the floating shops on either side constitute the great bazaar of the city1 where all imaginable and unimaginable articles from ,india1 ,china1 ,malacca1 ,birmah1 ,paris1 ,liverpool1 and ,new ,york are displayed in stalls4 ,naturally1 boats and canoes are indispensable appendages to such houses2 the nobility possess a fleet of them1 and to every little water-cottage a canoe is tethered1 for errands and visits4 ,at all hours of the day and night processions of boats pass to and from the palace1 and everywhere bustling traders and agents ply their dingy little craft1 and proclaim their several callings in a ,babel of cries4 ,daily1 at sunrise1 a flotilla of canoes1 filled with shaven men in yellow garments1 visits every house along the banks4 ,these are the priests gathering their various provender1 the free gift of every inhabitant of the city4 ,twenty thousand of them are supported by the alms of the city of ,bangkok alone4 ,at noon1 all the clamor of the city is suddenly stilled1 and perfect silence reigns4 ,men1 women1 and children are hushed in their afternoon nap4 ,from the stifling heat of a tropical midday the still cattle seek shelter and repose under shady boughs1 and even the prows cease their obstreperous clanging4 ,the only sound that breaks the drowsy stillness of the hour is the rippling of the glaring river as it ebbs or flows under the steaming banks4 ,about three in the afternoon the sea-breeze sets in1 bringing refreshment to the fevered1 thirsty land1 and reviving animal and vegetable life with its compassionate breath4 ,then once more the floating city awakes and stirs1 and an animation rivalling that of the morning is prolonged far into the night1--the busy1 gay1 delightful night of ,bangkok4 ,the streets are few compared with the number of canals that intersect the city in all directions4 ,the most remarkable of the former is one that runs parallel with the ,grand ,palace1 and terminates in what is now known as ,sanon ,mai1 or the ,new ,road1 which extends from ,bangkok to ,paknam1 about forty miles1 and crosses the canals on movable iron bridges4 ,almost every other house along this road is a shop1 and at the close of the wet season ,bangkok has no rival in the abundance of vegetables and fruits with which its markets are stocked4 ,i could wish for a special dispensation to pass without mention the public prisons of ,bangkok1 for their condition and the treatment of the unhappy wretches confined in them are the foulest blots on the character of the government4 ,some of these grated abominations are hung like bird-cages over the water2 and those on land1 with their gangs of living corpses chained together like wild beasts1 are too horrible to be pictured here4 ,how ,european officials1 representatives of ,christian ideas of humanity and decency1 can continue to countenance the apathy or wilful brutality of the prime minister1 who1 as the executive officer of the government in this department1 is mainly responsible for the cruelties and outrages ,i may not even name1 ,i cannot conceive4 ,the ,american ,protestant missionaries have as yet made no remarkable impression on the religious mind of the ,siamese4 ,devoted1 persevering1 and patient laborers1 the field they have so faithfully tilled has rewarded them with but scanty fruits4 ,nor will the fact1 thankless though it be1 appear surprising to those whose privilege it has been to observe the ,buddhist and the ,roman ,catholic side by side in the ,east1 and to note how1 even on the score of doctrine1 they meet without a jar at many points4 ,the average ,siamese citizen1 entering a ,roman ,catholic chapel in ,bangkok1 finds nothing there to shock his prejudices4 ,he is introduced to certain forms and ceremonies1 almost the counterpart of which he piously reveres in his own temple1--genuflections1 prostrations1 decorated shrines1 lighted candles1 smoking incense1 holy water2 while the prayers he hears are at least not less intelligible to him than those he hears mumbled in ,pali by his own priests4 ,he beholds familiar images too1 and pictures of a ,saviour in whom he charitably recognizes the stranger's ,buddha4 ,and if he happen to be a philosophic inquirer1 how surprised and pleased is he to learn that the priests of this faith 7like his own7 are vowed to chastity1 poverty1 and obedience1 and1 like his own1 devoted to the doing of good works1 penance1 and alms4 ,there are many thousands of native converts to ,catholicism in ,siam2 even the priests of ,buddhism do not always turn a deaf ear to the persuasions of teachers bound with them in the bonds of celibacy1 penance1 and deeds of merit4 ,and those teachers are quick to meet them half-way1 happily recommending themselves by the alacrity with which they adopt1 and make their own1 usages which they may with propriety practise in common1 whereby the ,buddhist is flattered while the ,christian is not offended4 ,such1 for example1 is the monastic custom of the uncovered head4 ,as it is deemed sacrilege to touch the head of royalty1 so the head of the priest may not without dishonor pass under anything less hallowed than the canopy of heaven2 and in this ,buddhist and ,roman ,catholic accord4 ,the residences of the ,british1 ,french1 ,american1 and ,portuguese ,consuls are pleasantly situated in a bend of the river1 where a flight of wooden steps in good repair leads directly to the houses of the officials and ,european merchants of that quarter4 ,most influential among the latter is the managing firm of the ,borneo ,company1 whose factories and warehouses for rice1 sugar1 and cotton are extensive and prosperous4 ,the more opulent of the native merchants are grossly addicted to gambling and opium-smoking4 ,though the legal penalties prescribed for all who indulge in these destructive vices are severe1 they do not avail to deter even respectable officers of the government from staking heavy sums on the turn of a card2 and long before the game is ended the opium-pipe is introduced4 ,one of the king's secretaries1 who was a confirmed opium-smoker1 assured me he would rather die at once than be excluded from the region of raptures his pipe opened to him4 ,,xvi4 ,,the ,,white ,,elephant4 ,it is commonly supposed that the ,buddhists of ,siam and ,birmah regard the ,chang ,phoouk1 or white elephant1 as a deity1 and worship it accordingly4 ,the notion is erroneous1 especially as it relates to ,siam4 ,the ,buddhists do not recognize ,god in any material form whatever1 and are shocked at the idea of adoring an elephant4 ,even ,buddha1 to whom they undoubtedly offer pious homage1 they do not style ,god but on the contrary maintain that1 though an emanation from a sublimated ethereal being1 he is by no means a deity4 ,according to their philosophy of metempsychosis1 however1 each successive ,buddha1 in passing through a series of transmigrations1 must necessarily have occupied in turn the forms of white animals of a certain class1--particularly the swan1 the stork1 the white sparrow1 the dove1 the monkey1 and the elephant4 ,but there is much obscurity and diversity in the views of their ancient writers on this subject4 ,only one thing is certain1 that the forms of these nobler and purer creatures are reserved for the souls of the good and great1 who find in them a kind of redemption from the baser animal life4 ,thus almost all white animals are held in reverence by the ,siamese1 because they were once superior human beings1 and the white elephant1 in particular1 is supposed to be animated by the spirit of some king or hero4 ,having once been a great man1 he is thought to be familiar with the dangers that surround the great1 and to know what is best and safest for those whose condition in all respects was once his own4 ,he is hence supposed to avert national calamity1 and bring prosperity and peace to a people4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,war ,,elephant ,from the earliest times the kings of ,siam and ,birmah have anxiously sought for the white elephant1 and having had the rare fortune to procure one1 have loaded it with gifts and dignities1 as though it were a conscious favorite of the throne4 ,when the governor of a province of ,siam is notified of the appearance of a white elephant within his bailiwick1 he immediately commands that prayers and offerings shall be made in all the temples1 while he sends out a formidable expedition of hunters and slaves to take the precious beast1 and bring it in in triumph4 ,as soon as he is informed of its capture1 a special messenger is despatched to inform the king of its sex1 probable age1 size1 complexion1 deportment1 looks1 and ways2 and in the presence of his ,majesty this bearer of glorious tidings undergoes the painfully pleasant operation of having his mouth1 ears1 and nostrils stuffed with gold4 ,especially is the lucky wight--perhaps some half-wild woodsman--who was first to spy the illustrious monster munificently rewarded4 ,orders are promptly issued to the woons and wongses of the several districts through which he must pass to prepare to receive him royally1 and a wide path is cut for him through the forests he must traverse on his way to the capital4 ,wherever he rests he is sumptuously entertained1 and everywhere he is escorted and served by a host of attendants1 who sing1 dance1 play upon instruments1 and perform feats of strength or skill for his amusement1 until he reaches the banks of the ,meinam1 where a great floating palace of wood1 surmounted by a gorgeous roof and hung with crimson curtains1 awaits him4 ,the roof is literally thatched with flowers ingeniously arranged so as to form symbols and mottoes1 which the superior beast is supposed to decipher with ease4 ,the floor of this splendid float is laid with gilt matting curiously woven1 in the centre of which his four-footed lordship is installed in state1 surrounded by an obsequious and enraptured crowd of mere bipeds1 who bathe him1 perfume him1 fan him1 feed him1 sing and play to him1 flatter him4 ,his food consists of the finest herbs1 the tenderest grass1 the sweetest sugar-cane1 the mellowest plantains1 the brownest cakes of wheat1 served on huge trays of gold and silver2 and his drink is perfumed with the fragrant flower of the dok mallee1 the large native jessamine4 ,thus1 in more than princely state1 he is floated down the river to a point within seventy miles of the capital1 where the king and his court1 all the chief personages of the kingdom1 and a multitude of priests1 both ,buddhist and ,brahmin1 accompanied by troops of players and musicians1 come out to meet him1 and conduct him with all the honors to his stable-palace4 ,a great number of cords and ropes of all qualities and lengths are attached to the raft1 those in the centre being of fine silk 7figuratively1 spun from a spider's web74 ,these are for the king and his noble retinue1 who with their own hands make them fast to their gilded barges2 the rest are secured to the great fleet of lesser boats4 ,and so1 with shouts of joy1 beating of drums1 blare of trumpets1 boom of cannon1 a hallelujah of music1 and various splendid revelry1 the great ,chang ,phoouk is conducted in triumph to the capital4 ,here in a pavilion1 temporary but very beautiful1 he is welcomed with imposing ceremonies by the custodians of the palace and the principal personages of the royal household4 ,the king1 his courtiers1 and the chief priests being gathered round him1 thanksgiving is offered up2 and then the lordly beast is knighted1 after the ancient manner of the ,buddhists1 by pouring upon his forehead consecrated water from a chank-shell4 ,the titles reserved for the ,chang ,phoouk vary according to the purity of the complexion 7for these favored creatures are rarely true albinos1--salmon or flesh-color being the nearest approach to white in almost all the historic white elephants of the courts of ,birmah and ,siam7 and the sex2 for though one naturally has recourse to the masculine pronoun in writing of a transmigrated prince or warrior1 it often happens that prince or warrior has1 in the medlied mask of metempsychosis1 assumed a female form4 ,such1 in fact1 was the case with the stately occupant of the stable-palace at the court of ,maha ,mongkut2 and she was distinguished by the high-sounding appellation of ,m ,phya ,seri ,wongsah ,ditsarah ,krasat1--,august and ,glorious ,mother1 ,descendant of ,kings and ,heroes4 ,for seven or nine days1 according to certain conditions1 the ,chang ,phoouk is fted at the temporary pavilion1 and entertained with a variety of dramatic performances2 and these days are observed as a general holiday throughout the land4 ,at the expiration of this period he is conducted with great pomp to his sumptuous quarters within the precincts of the first king's palace1 where he is received by his own court of officers1 attendants1 and slaves1 who install him in his fine lodgings1 and at once proceed to robe and decorate him4 ,first1 the court jeweller rings his tremendous tusks with massive gold1 crowns him with a diadem of beaten gold of perfect purity1 and adorns his burly neck with heavy golden chains4 ,next his attendants robe him in a superb velvet cloak of purple1 fringed with scarlet and gold2 and then his court prostrate themselves around him1 and offer him royal homage4 ,when his lordship would refresh his portly person in the bath1 an officer of high rank shelters his noble head with a great umbrella of crimson and gold1 while others wave golden fans before him4 ,on these occasions he is invariably preceded by musicians1 who announce his approach with cheerful minstrelsy and songs4 ,if he falls ill1 the king's own leech prescribes for him1 and the chief priests repair daily to his palace to pray for his safe deliverance1 and sprinkle him with consecrated waters and anoint him with consecrated oils4 ,should he die1 all ,siam is bereaved1 and the nation1 as one man1 goes into mourning for him4 ,but his body is not burned2 only his brains and heart are thought worthy of that last and highest honor4 ,the carcass1 shrouded in fine white linen1 and laid on a bier1 is carried down the river with much wailing and many mournful dirges1 to be thrown into the ,gulf of ,siam4 ,in #ahfb a magnificent white--or1 rather1 salmon-colored--elephant was bagged1 and preparations on a gorgeous scale were made to receive him4 ,a temporary pavilion of extraordinary splendor sprang up1 as if by magic1 before the eastern gate of the palace2 and the whole nation was wild with joy2 when suddenly came awful tidings1--he had died6 ,no man dared tell the king4 ,but the ,kralahome--that man of prompt expedients and unfailing presence of mind--commanded that the preparations should cease instantly1 and that the building should vanish with the builders4 ,in the evening his ,majesty came forth1 as usual1 to exult in the glorious work4 ,what was his astonishment to find no vestige of the splendid structure that had been so nearly completed the night before4 ,he turned1 bewildered1 to his courtiers1 to demand an explanation1 when suddenly the terrible truth flashed into his mind4 ,with a cry of pain he sank down upon a stone1 and gave vent to an hysterical passion of tears2 but was presently consoled by one of his children1 who1 carefully prompted in his part1 knelt before him and said3 ,weep not1 ,o my father6 ,the stranger lord may have left us but for a time4 ,the stranger lord1 fatally pampered1 had succumbed to astonishment and indigestion4 ,a few days after this mournful event the king read to me a curious description of the defunct monster1 and showed me parts of his skin preserved1 and his tusks1 which in size and whiteness surpassed the finest ,i had ever seen4 ,his 7that is1 the elephant's7 eyes were light blue1 surrounded by salmon-color2 his hair fine1 soft1 and white2 his complexion pinkish white2 his tusks like long pearls2 his ears like silver shields2 his trunk like a comet's tail2 his legs like the feet of the skies2 his tread like the sound of thunder2 his looks full of meditation2 his expression full of tenderness2 his voice the voice of a mighty warrior2 and his bearing that of an illustrious monarch4 ,that was a terrible affliction1 to the people not less than to the king4 ,on all occasions of state1--court receptions1 for example1--the white elephant1 gorgeously arrayed1 is stationed on the right of the inner gate of the palace1 and forms an indispensable as well as a conspicuous figure in the picture4 ,when the ,siamese ambassadors returned from ,england1 the chief of the embassy--a man remarkable for his learning and the purity of his character1 who was also first cousin to the ,supreme ,king--published a quaint pamphlet1 describing ,england and her people1 their manners and customs and dwellings1 with a very particular report of the presentation of the embassy at court4 ,speaking of the personal appearance of ,queen ,victoria1 he says3 ,one cannot but be struck with the aspect of the august ,queen of ,england1 or fail to observe that she must be of pure descent from a race of goodly and warlike kings and rulers of the earth1 in that her eyes1 complexion1 and above all her bearing1 are those of a beautiful and majestic white elephant4 ,,xvii4 ,,the ,,ceremonies ,,of ,,coronation4 ,on the morning of the #c;d of ,april1 #ahea1 the ,chowfa ,mongkut1 after being formally apprised of his election by the ,senabawdee to the supreme throne1 was borne in state to a residence adjoining the ,phrasat1 to await the auspicious day of coronation1--the #aeth of the following month1 as fixed by the court astrologers2 and when it came it was hailed by all classes of the people with immoderate demonstrations of joy2 for to their priest king1 more sacred than a conqueror1 they were drawn by bonds of superstition as well as of pride and affection4 ,the ceremony of coronation is very peculiar4 ,in the centre of the inner ,hall of ,audience of the royal palace1 on a high platform richly gilded and adorned1 is placed a circular golden basin1 called1 in the court language1 ,mangala ,baghavat-thong1 the ,golden ,circlet of ,power4 ,within this basin is deposited the ancient ,p'hra-batt1 or golden stool1 the whole being surmounted by a quadrangular canopy1 under a tapering1 nine-storied umbrella in the form of a pagoda1 from ten to twelve feet high and profusely gilt4 ,directly over the centre of the canopy is deposited a vase containing consecrated waters1 which have been prayed over nine times1 and poured through nine different circular vessels in their passage to the sacred receptacle4 ,these waters must be drawn from the very sources of the chief rivers of ,siam2 and reservoirs for their preservation are provided in the precincts of the temples at ,bangkok4 ,in the mouth of this vessel is a tube representing the pericarp of a lotos after its petals have fallen off2 and this1 called ,sukla ,utapala ,atmano1 the ,white ,lotos of ,life1 symbolizes the beauty of pure conduct4 ,the king elect1 arrayed in a simple white robe1 takes his seat on the golden stool4 ,a ,brahmin priest then presents to him some water in a small cup of gold1 lotos-shaped4 ,this water has previously been filtered through nine different forms of matter1 commencing with earth1 then ashes1 wheaten flour1 rice flour1 powdered lotos and jessamine1 dust of iron1 gold1 and charcoal1 and finally flame2 each a symbol1 not merely of the indestructibility of the element1 but also of its presence in all animate or inanimate matter4 ,into this water the king elect dips his right hand1 and passes it over his head4 ,immediately the choir join in an inspiring chant1 the signal for the inverting1 by means of a pulley1 of the vessel over the canopy2 and the consecrated waters descend through another lotos flower1 in a lively shower1 on the head of the king4 ,this shower represents celestial blessings4 ,a ,buddhist priest then advances and pours a goblet of water over the royal person from the bed of the ,ganges4 ,he is then arrayed in regal robes4 ,on the throne1 which is in the south end of the hall1 and octagonal1 having eight seats corresponding to eight points of the compass1 the king first seats himself facing the north1 and so on1 moving eastward1 facing each point in its order4 ,on the top step of each seat crouch two priests1 ,buddhist and ,brahmin1 who present to him another bowl of water1 which he drinks and sprinkles on his face1 each time repeating1 by responses with the priests1 the following prayer3-- ,priests4 ,be thou learned in the laws of nature and of the universe4 ,king4 ,inspire me1 ,o ,thou who wert a ,law unto thyself6 ,p4 ,be thou endowed with all wisdom1 and all acts of industry6 ,k4 ,inspire me with all knowledge1 ,o ,thou the ,enlightened6 ,p4 ,let ,mercy and ,truth be thy right and left arms of life6 ,k4 ,inspire me1 ,o ,thou who hast proved all ,truth and all ,mercy6 ,p4 ,let the ,sun1 ,moon1 and ,stars bless thee6 ,k4 ,all praise to ,thee1 through whom all forms are conquered6 ,p4 ,let the earth1 air1 and waters bless thee6 ,k4 ,through the merit of ,thee1 ,o thou conqueror of ,death6 ,footnote3 ,for these translations ,i am indebted to his ,majesty1 ,maha ,mongkut2 as well as for the interpretation of the several symbols used in this and other solemn rites of the ,buddhists4 ,these prayers ended1 the priests conduct the king to another throne1 facing the east1 and still more magnificent4 ,here the insignia of his sovereignty are presented to him1--first the sword1 then the sceptre2 two massive chains are suspended from his neck2 and lastly the crown is set upon his head1 when instantly he is saluted by roar of cannon without and music within4 ,then he is presented with the golden slippers1 the fan1 and the umbrella of royalty1 rings set with huge diamonds for each of his forefingers1 and the various ,siamese weapons of war3 these he merely accepts1 and returns to his attendants4 ,the ceremony concludes with an address from the priests1 exhorting him to be pure in his sovereign and sacred office2 and a reply from himself1 wherein he solemnly vows to be a just1 upright1 and faithful ruler of his people4 ,last of all1 a golden tray is handed to him1 from which1 as he descends from the throne1 he scatters gold and silver flowers among the audience4 ,the following day is devoted to a more public enthronement4 ,his ,majesty1 attired more sumptuously than before1 is presented to all his court1 and to a more general audience4 ,after the customary salutations by prostration and salutes of cannon and music1 the premier and other principal ministers read short addresses1 in delivering over to the king the control of their respective departments4 ,his ,majesty replies briefly2 there is a general salute from all forts1 war vessels1 and merchant shipping2 and the remainder of the day is devoted to feasting and various enjoyment4 ,immediately after the crowning of ,maha ,mongkut1 his ,majesty repaired to the palace of the ,second ,king1 where the ceremony of subordinate coronation differed from that just described only in the circumstance that the consecrated waters were poured over the person of the ,second ,king1 and the insignia presented to him1 by the supreme sovereign4 ,five days later a public procession made the circuit of the palace and city walls in a peculiar circumambulatory march of mystic significance1 with feasting1 dramatic entertainments1 and fireworks4 ,the concourse assembled to take part in those brilliant demonstrations has never since been equalled in any public display in ,siam4 ,,xviii4 ,,the ,,queen ,,consort4 ,when a king of ,siam would take unto himself a wife1 he chooses a maiden from a family of the highest rank1 and of royal pedigree1 and1 inviting her into the guarded circle of his women1 entertains her there in that peculiar state of probation which is his prerogative and her opportunity4 ,should she prove so fortunate as to engage his preference1 it may be his pleasure to exalt her to the throne2 in which event he appoints a day for the formal consummation of his gracious purpose1 when the principal officers1 male and female1 of the court1 with the priests1 ,brahmin as well as ,buddhist1 and the royal astrologers1 attend to play their several parts in the important drama4 ,the princess1 robed in pure white1 is seated on a throne elevated on a high platform4 ,over this throne is spread a canopy of white muslin1 decorated with white and fragrant flowers1 and through this canopy are gently showered the typical waters of consecration1 in which have been previously infused certain leaves and shrubs emblematic of purity1 usefulness1 and sweetness4 ,while the princess is thus delicately sprinkled with compliments1 the priests enumerate1 with nice discrimination1 the various graces of mind and person which henceforth she must study to acquire2 and pray that she may prove a blessing to her lord1 and herself be richly blessed4 ,then she is hailed queen1 with a burst of exultant music4 ,now the sisters of the king conduct her by a screened passage to a chamber regally appointed1 where she is divested of her dripping apparel1 and arrayed in robes becoming her queenly state1--robes of silk1 heavy with gold1 and sparkling with diamonds and rubies4 ,then the king is ushered into her presence by the ladies of the court2 and at the moment of his entrance she rises to throw herself at his feet1 according to the universal custom4 ,but he prevents her2 and taking her right hand1 and embracing her1 seats her beside him1 on his right4 ,there she receives the formal congratulations of the court1 with which the ceremonies of the day terminate4 ,the evening is devoted to feasting and merriment4 ,a ,siamese king may have two queens at the same time2 in which case the more favored lady is styled the right hand1 and the other the left hand1 of the throne4 ,his late ,majesty1 ,maha ,mongkut1 had two queens1 but not in conjunction4 ,the first was of the right hand2 the second1 though chosen in the lifetime of the first1 was not elevated to the throne until after the death of her predecessor4 ,when the bride is a foreign princess1 the ceremonies are more public1 being conducted in the ,hall of ,audience1 instead of the ,ladies' ,temple1 or private chapel4 ,the royal nuptial couch is consecrated with peculiar forms4 ,the mystic thread of unspun cotton is wound around the bed seventy-seven times1 and the ends held in the hands of priests1 who1 bowing over the sacred symbol1 invoke blessings on the bridal pair4 ,then the nearest relatives of the bride are admitted1 accompanied by a couple who1 to use the obstetrical figure of the indispensable ,mrs4 ,gamp1 have their parental quiver full of sich4 ,these salute the bed1 sprinkle it with the consecrated waters1 festoon the crimson curtains with flowery garlands1 and prepare the silken sheets1 the pillows and cushions2 which done1 they lead in the bride1 who has not presided at the entertainments1 but waited with her ladies in a screened apartment4 ,on entering the awful chamber1 she first falls on her knees1 and thrice salutes the royal couch with folded hands1 and then invokes protection for herself1 that she may be preserved from every deadly sin4 ,finally1 she is disrobed1 and left praying on the floor before the bed1 while the king is conducted to her by his courtiers1 who immediately retire4 ,the same ceremony is observed in nearly all ,siamese families of respectability1 with1 of course1 certain omissions and variations adapted to the rank of the parties4 ,after three days the bride visits her parents1 bearing presents to them from the various members of her husband's family4 ,then she visits the parents of her husband1 who greet her with costly gifts4 ,in her next excursion of this kind her husband 7unless a king7 accompanies her1 and valuable presents are mutually bestowed4 ,a large sum of money1 with jewels and other finery1 is deposited with the father and mother of the bride4 ,this is denominated ,zoon1 and at the birth of her first child it is restored to the young mother by the grandparents4 ,the king visits his youthful queen just one month after the birth of a prince or princess4 ,she present the babe to him1 and he1 in turn1 places a costly ring on the third finger of her left hand4 ,in like manner1 most of the relatives1 of both families1 bring to the babe gifts of money1 jewels1 gold and silver ornaments1 etc41 which is termed ,tam ,kwaan4 ,even so early the infant's hair is shaved off1 except the top-knot1 which is permitted to grow until the child has arrived at the age of puberty4 ,,xix4 ,,the ,,heir-,,apparent4--,,royal ,,hair-,,cutting4 ,the ,prince ,somdetch ,chowfa ,chulalonkorn ,footnote3 ,the present ,supreme ,king4 was about ten years old when ,i was appointed to teach him4 ,being the eldest son of the queen consort1 he held the first rank among the children of the king1 as heir-apparent to the throne4 ,for a ,siamese1 he was a handsome lad2 of stature neither noticeably tall nor short2 figure symmetrical and compact1 and dark complexion4 ,he was1 moreover1 modest and affectionate1 eager to learn1 and easy to influence4 ,his mother dying when he was about nine years old1 he1 with his younger brothers1 the ,princes ,chowfa ,chaturont ,rasmi and ,chowfa ,bhangurangsi ,swang ,wongse1 and their lovely young sister1 the ,princess ,somdetch ,chowfa ,chandrmondol 7,f-ying71 were left to the care of a grand-aunt1 ,somdetch ,ying ,noie1 a princess by the father's side4 ,this was a tranquil1 cheerful old soul1 attracted toward everything that was bright and pretty1 and ever busy among flowers1 poetry1 and those darlings of her loving life1 her niece's children4 ,of these the little ,f-ying 7whose sudden death by cholera ,i have described7 was her favorite2 and after her death the faithful creature turned her dimmed eyes and chastened pride to the young prince ,chulalonkorn4 ,many an earnest talk had the venerable duchess and ,i1 in which she did not hesitate to implore me to instil into the minds of her youthful wards--and especially this king that was to be--the purest principles of ,christian faith and precept4 ,yet with all the freshness of the religious habit of her childhood she was most scrupulous in her attendance and devotions at the temple4 ,her grief for the death of her darling was deep and lasting1 and by the simple force of her love she exerted a potent influence over the mind of the royal lad4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,heir-,,apparent4 ,a very stern thing is life to the children of royalty in ,siam4 ,to watch and be silent1 when it has most need of confidence and freedom1--a horrible necessity for a child6 ,the very babe in the cradle is taught mysterious and terrible things by the mother that bore it1--infantile experiences of distrust and terror1 out of which a few come up noble1 the many infamous4 ,here are baby heroes and heroines who do great deeds before our happier ,western children have begun to think4 ,there were actual1 though unnoticed and unconscious1 intrepidity and fortitude in the manuvres and the stands with which those little ones1 on their own ground1 flanked or checked that fatal enemy1 their father4 ,angelic indeed were the spiritual triumphs that no eye noted1 nor any smile rewarded1 save the anxious eye and the prayerful smile of that sleepless maternity that misery had bound with them4 ,but even misery becomes tolerable by first becoming familiar1 and out of the depths these royal children laughed and prattled and frolicked and were glad4 ,as for the old duchess1 she loved too well and too wisely not to be timid and troubled all her life long1 first for the mother1 then for the children4 ,such was the early training of the young prince1 and for a time it availed to direct his thoughts to noble aspirations4 ,from his studies1 both in ,english and ,pali1 he derived an exalted ideal of life1 and precocious and inexpressible yearnings4 ,once he said to me he envied the death of the venerable priest1 his uncle2 he would rather be poor1 he said1 and have to earn his living1 than be a king4 ',tis true1 a poor man must work hard for his daily bread2 but then he is free4 ,and his food is all he has to lose or win4 ,he can possess all things in possessing ,him who pervades all things1--earth1 and sky1 and stars1 and flowers1 and children4 ,i can understand that ,i am great in that ,i am a part of the ,infinite1 and in that alone2 and that all ,i see is mine1 and ,i am in it and of it4 ,how much of content and happiness should ,i not gain if ,i could but be a poor boy6 ,he was attentive to his studies1 serene1 and gentle1 invariably affectionate to his old aunt and his younger brothers1 and for the poor ever sympathetic1 with a warm1 generous heart4 ,he pursued his studies assiduously1 and seemed to overcome the difficulties and obstacles he encountered in the course of them with a resolution that gained strength as his mind gained ideas4 ,as often as he effectually accomplished something1 he indulged in ecstasies of rejoicing over the new thought1 that was an inspiring discovery to him of his actual poverty of knowledge1 his possibilities of intellectual opulence4 ,but it was clear to me--and ,i saw it with sorrow--that for his ardent nature this was but a transitory condition1 and that soon the shock must come1 against the inevitable destiny in store for him1 that would either confirm or crush all that seemed so fair in the promise of the royal boy4 ,when the time came for the ceremony of hair-cutting1 customary for young ,siamese princes1 the lad was gradually withdrawn1 more and more1 from my influence4 ,the king had determined to celebrate the heir's majority with displays of unusual magnificence4 ,to this end he explored the annals and records of ,siam and ,cambodia1 and compiled from them a detailed description of a very curious procession that attended a certain prince of ,siam centuries ago1 on the occasion of his hair-cutting2 and forthwith projected a similar show for his son1 but on a more elaborate and costly scale4 ,the programme1 including the procession1 provided for the representation of a sort of drama1 borrowed partly from the ,ramayana1 and partly from the ancient observances of the kings of ,cambodia4 ,the whole royal establishment was set in motion4 ,about nine thousand young women1 among them the most beautiful of the concubines1 were cast for parts in the mammoth play4 ,boys and girls were invited or hired from all quarters of the kingdom to assist in the performance4 ,every nation under the sun was represented in the grand procession4 ,in our school the regular studies were abandoned1 and in their place we had rehearsals of singing1 dancing1 recitation1 and pantomime4 ,an artificial hill1 of great height1 called ,khoa-,kra-,lt1 was raised in the centre of the palace gardens4 ,on its summit was erected a golden temple or pagoda of exquisite beauty1 richly hung with tapestries1 displaying on the east the rising sun1 on the west a moon of silver4 ,the cardinal points of the hill were guarded by the white elephant1 the sacred ox1 the horse1 and the lion4 ,these figures were so contrived that they could be brought close together and turned on a pivot2 and thus the sacred waters1 brought for that purpose from the ,brahmapootra1 were to be showered on the prince1 after the solemn hair-cutting1 and received in a noble basin of marble4 ,the name given to the ceremony of hair-cutting varies according to the rank of the child4 ,for commoners it is called ,khone ,chook2 for the nobility and royalty1 ,soh-,khan1 probably from the ,sanskrit ,sh ,shtha ,kam1 finding safe and sound4 ,the custom is said to be extremely ancient1 and to have originated with a certain ,brahmin1 whose only child1 being sick unto death1 was given over by the physicians as in the power of evil spirits4 ,in his heart's trouble the father consulted a holy man1 who had been among the earliest converts to ,buddhism1 if aught might yet be done to save his darling from torment and perdition4 ,the venerable saint directed him to pray1 and to have prayers offered1 for the lad1 and to cause that part of his hair which had never been touched with razor or shears since his birth to be shaved quite off4 ,the result was a joyful rescue for the child2 others pursued the same treatment in like cases with the same effect1 and hence the custom of hair-cutting4 ,the children of princes are forbidden to have the top-knot cut at all1 until the time when they are about to pass into manhood or womanhood4 ,then valuable presents are made to them by all who are related to their families by blood1 marriage1 or friendship4 ,when all the preparations necessary to the successful presentation of the dramatic entertainment were completed1 the king1 having taken counsel of his astrologers1 sent heralds to the governors of all the provinces of ,siam1 to notify those dignitaries of the time appointed for the jubilee1 and request their presence and co-operation4 ,a similar summons was sent to all the priests of the kingdom1 who1 in bands or companies1 were to serve alternately1 on the several days of the festival4 ,early in the forenoon of the auspicious day the prince was borne in state1 in a gorgeous chair of gold1 to the ,maha ,phrasat1 the order of the procession being as follows3-- ,first came the bearers of the gold umbrellas1 fans1 and great golden sunshades4 ,next1 twelve gentlemen1 superbly attired1 selected from the first rank of the nobility1 six on either side of the golden chair1 as a body-guard to the prince4 ,then1 four hundred ,amazons arrayed in green and gold1 and gleaming armor4 ,these were followed by twelve maidens1 attired in cloth of gold1 with fantastic head-gear adorned with precious stones1 who danced before the prince to the gentle monotonous movement of the bandos4 ,in the centre of this group moved three lovely girls1 of whom one held a superb peacock's tail1 and the two others branches of gold and silver1 sparkling with leaves and rare flowers4 ,these damsels were guarded by two duennas on either side4 ,after these stalked a stately body of ,brahmins1 bearing golden vases filled with ,khoa tk1 or roasted rice1 which they scattered on either side1 as an emblem of plenty4 ,another troop of ,brahmins with bandos1 which they rattled as they moved along4 ,two young nobles1 splendidly robed1 who also bore gold vases1 lotos-shaped1 in which nestled the bird of paradise called ,nok ,kurrawek1 the sweetness of whose song is supposed to entrance even beasts of prey4 ,a troop of lads1 the rising nobility of ,siam1 fairly covered with gold collars and necklaces4 ,the king's ,japanese body-guard4 ,another line of boys1 representing natives of ,hindostan in costume4 ,malayan lads in costume4 ,chinese lads in costume4 ,siamese boys in ,english costume4 ,the king's infantry1 headed by pioneers1 in ,european costume4 ,outside of this line marched about five thousand men in long rose-colored robes1 with tall tapering caps4 ,these represented guardian-angels attending on the different nations4 ,then came bands of musicians dressed in scarlet1 imitating the cries of birds1 the sound of falling fruit1 and the murmur of distant waters1 in the imaginary forest they were supposed to traverse on their way to the ,sacred ,mount4 ,the order of the procession behind the golden sedan in which the prince was borne1 was nearly as follows3-- ,next after the chair of state came four young damsels of the highest rank1 bearing the prince's betel-box1 spittoon1 fan1 and swords4 ,then followed seventy other maidens1 carrying reverently in both hands the vessels of pure gold1 and all the insignia of rank and office proper to a prince of the blood royal2 and yet more1 holding over their right shoulders golden fans4 ,in the train of these tripped troops of children1 daughters of the nobility1 dressed and decorated with fantastic splendor4 ,then the maids of honor1 personal attendants1 and concubines of the king1 chastely dressed1 though crowned with gold1 and decorated with massive gold chains and rings of great price and beauty4 ,a crowd of ,siamese women1 painted and rouged1 in ,european costume4 ,troops of children in corresponding attire4 ,ladies in ,chinese costume4 ,japanese ladies in rich robes4 ,malay women in their national dress4 ,women of ,hindostan4 ,then the ,kariens4 ,and1 last of all1 the female slaves and dependants of the prince4 ,at the foot of the hill a most extraordinary spectacle was presented4 ,on the east appeared a number of hideous monsters1 riding on gigantic eagles4 ,these nondescripts1 whose heads reached almost to their knees1 and whose hands grasped indescribable weapons1 are called ,yks4 ,they are appointed to guard the ,sacred ,mount from all vulgar approach4 ,a little farther on1 around a pair of stuffed peacocks1 were a number of youthful warriors1 representing kings1 governors1 and chiefs of the several dependencies of ,siam4 ,desirous of witnessing the sublime ceremony of hair-cutting1 they cautiously approach the ,yks1 performing a sort of war dance1 and chanting in chorus3-- ,orah ,pho1 cha pai ,kra ,lt4 ,let us go to the ,sacred ,mount6 ,whereupon the ,yks1 or evil angels1 point their wonderful weapons at them1 chanting in the same strain3-- ,orah ,pho1 salope thng pooang4 ,let us slay them all6 ,they then make a show of striking and thrusting1 and princes1 rajahs1 and governors drop as if wounded4 ,the principal parts in the drama were assumed by his ,majesty1 and their excellencies the ,prime ,minister and the ,minister of ,foreign ,affairs4 ,the king was dressed for the character of ,p'hra ,inn ,suen1 the ,hindoo ,indra1 or ,lord of the ,sky1 who has also the attributes of the ,roman ,genius2 but most of his epithets in ,sanskrit are identical with those of the ,olympian ,jove4 ,he was attended by the ,prime ,minister1 personating the ,sanskrit ,sach1 but called in ,siamese ,vis ,summo ,km1 and the ,minister of ,foreign ,affairs as his charioteer1 ,ma ,talee4 ,his imperial elephant1 called ,aisarat1 caparisoned in velvet and gold1 and bearing the supernatural weapons1--,vagra1 the thunderbolts1--was led by allegorical personages1 representing winds and showers1 lightning and thunder4 ,the hill1 ,khoa ,kra ,lt1 is the ,sanskrit ,meru1 described as a mountain of gold and gems4 ,his ,majesty received the prince from the hands of his nobles1 set him on his right hand1 and presented him to the people1 who offered homage4 ,afterward1 two ladies of the court led him down the flight of marble steps1 where two maidens washed his feet with pure water in a gold basin1 and wiped them with fine linen4 ,on his way to the ,maha ,phrasat he was met by a group of girls in charming attire1 who held before him tufts of palm and branches of gold and silver4 ,thus he was conducted to an inner chamber of the temple1 and seated on a costly carpet heavily fringed with gold1 before an altar on which were lighted tapers and offerings of all descriptions4 ,in his hand was placed a strip of palmyra leaf1 on which were inscribed these mystic words3 ,even ,i was1 even from the first1 and not any other thing3 that which existed unperceived1 supreme4 ,afterwards1 ,i am that which is1 and ,he that was1 and ,he who must remain am ,i4 ,know that except ,me1 who am the ,first ,cause1 nothing that appears or does not appear in the mind can be trusted2 it is the mind's ,maya or delusion1--as ,light is to ,darkness4 ,on the reverse was inscribed this sentence3-- ,keep me still meditating on ,thy infinite greatness and my own nothingness1 so that all the questions of my life may be answered and my mind abundantly instructed in the path of ,niphan6 ,in his hands was placed a ball of unspun thread1 the ends of which were carried round the sacred hill1 and thence round the temple1 and into the inner chamber1 where it was bound round the head of the young prince4 ,thence again nine threads were taken1 which1 after encircling the altar1 were passed into the hands of the officiating priests4 ,these latter threads1 forming circles within circles1 symbolize the mystic word ,om1 which may not escape the lips even of the purest1 but must be meditated upon in silence4 ,early on the third day all the princes1 nobles1 and officers of government1 together with the third company of priests1 assembled to witness the ceremony of shaving the royal top-knot4 ,the royal sire handed first the golden shears and then a gilded razor to the happy hair-cutter1 who immediately addressed himself to his honorable function4 ,meanwhile the musicians1 with the trumpeters and conch-blowers1 exerted all their noisy faculties to beguile the patient heir4 ,the tonsorial operation concluded1 the prince was robed in white1 and conducted to the marble basin at the foot of the ,sacred ,mount1 where the white elephant1 the ox1 the horse1 and the lion1 guarding the cardinal points1 were brought together1 and from their mouths baptized him in the sacred waters4 ,he was then arrayed in silk1 still white1 by women of rank1 and escorted to a golden pagoda on the summit of the hill1 where the king1 in the character of ,p'hra ,inn ,suen1 waited to bestow his blessing on the heir4 ,with one hand raised to heaven1 and the other on the bowed head of his son1 he solemnly uttered words of ,pali1 which may be translated thus3-- ,thou who art come out of the pure waters1 be thy offences washed away6 ,be thou relieved from other births6 ,bear thou in thy bosom the brightness of that light which shall lead thee1 even as it led the sublime ,buddha1 to ,niphan1 at once and forever6 ,these rites ended1 the priests were served with a princely banquet2 and then the nobility and common people were also feasted4 ,about midday1 two standards1 called baise1 were set up within a circle of people4 ,these are not unlike the sawekra cht1 or royal umbrella1 one of the five insignia of royalty in ,siam4 ,they are about five cubits high1 and have from three to five canopies4 ,the staff is fixed in a wooden pedestal4 ,each circle or canopy has a flat bottom1 and within the receptacle thus formed custom requires that a little cooked rice1 called k'ow k'wan1 shall be placed1 together with a few cakes1 a little sweet-scented oil1 a handful of fragrant flour1 and some young cocoanuts and plantains4 ,other edibles of many kinds are brought and arranged about the baise1 and a beautiful bouquet adorns the top of each of the umbrella-like canopies4 ,then a procession was formed1 of princes1 noblemen1 and others1 who marched around the standards nine times4 ,as they went1 seven golden candlesticks1 with the candles lighted1 were carried by princes1 and passed from one to another2 and as often as they came in front of the prince1 who sat between the standards1 they waved the light before him4 ,this procession is but another form of the ,om symbol4 ,afterwards the eldest priest or brahmin took a portion of the rice from the baise1 and1 sprinkling it with cocoanut water1 gave the lad a spoonful of it4 ,then dipping his finger1 first in the scented oil and then in the fragrant flour1 he touched the right foot of the prince1 at the same time exhorting him to be manly and strong1 and to bear himself bravely in the conflict of feeling4 ,now presents of silver and gold were laid at the feet of the lad1--every prince not of the royal family1 and every nobleman and high officer in the kingdom1 being expected to appear with gifts4 ,a chowfa might receive1 in the aggregate1 from five hundred thousand to a million ticals4 ,footnote3 ,a tical is equivalent to sixty cents4 ,it should be remarked in this connection1 that the late king commanded that careful note be kept of all sums of money presented by officers of his government to his children at the time of ,soh-,khan1 that the full amount might be refunded with the next semi-annual payment of salary4 ,but this decree does not relieve the more distinguished princes and endowed noblemen1 who have acquired a sort of complimentary relationship to his ,majesty through their daughters and nieces accepted as concubines4 ,the children of plain citizens1 who cannot afford the luxury of a public hair-cutting1 are taken to a temple1 where a priest shaves the tuft1 with a brief religious ceremony4 ,hardly had the prince recovered his wonted frame of mind1 after an event so pregnant with significance and agitation to him1 when the time arrived for his induction into the priesthood4 ,for this the rites1 though simpler1 were more solemn4 ,the hair1 which had been suffered to grow on the top of his young pate like an inverted brush1 was now shorn close1 and his eyebrows were shaven also4 ,arrayed in costly robes and ornaments1 similar to those worn at a coronation1 he was taken in charge by a body of priests at his father's palace1 and by them conducted to the temple ,watt ,p'hra ,kau1 his yellow-robed and barefooted escort chanting1 on the way1 hymns from the ,buddhist liturgy4 ,at the threshold of the temple another band of priests divested him of his fine robes and clad him in simple white1 all the while still chanting4 ,the circle being characteristic of a ,buddhist ceremonial1 as the cross is of their religious architecture1 these priests formed a circle1 standing1 and holding lighted tapers in their folded palms1 the high-priest in the centre4 ,then the prince advanced meekly1 timidly1 bowing low1 to enter the holy ring4 ,here he was received by the high-priest1 and with their hands mutually interfolded1 one upon the other1 he vowed to renounce1 then and there1 the world with all its cares and temptations1 and to observe with obedience the doctrines of ,buddha4 ,this done1 he was clad afresh in sackcloth1 and led from the temple to the royal monastery1 ,watt ,brahmanee ,waid2 with bare feet and eyes downcast he went1 still chanting those weird hymns4 ,here he remained recluse for six months4 ,when he returned to the world1 and to the residence assigned him1 he seemed no longer the impressible1 ardent boy who was once my bright1 ambitious scholar4 ,though still anxious to prosecute his ,english studies1 he was pronounced too old to unite with his brothers and sisters in the school4 ,for a year ,i taught him1 from seven to ten in the evening1 at his ,rose-planting ,house2 and even from this distant place and time ,i look back with comfort to those hours4 ,,xx4 ,,amusements ,,of ,,the ,,court4 ,of all the diversions of the court the most polite1 and at the same time the most engrossing1 is the drama4 ,in a great sala1 or hall1 which serves as a theatre1 the actors and actresses assemble1 their faces and bodies anointed with a creamy1 maize-colored cosmetic4 ,fantastic extravagance of attire constitutes the great gun in their arsenal of attractions4 ,hence ear-rings1 bracelets1 massive chains and collars1 tapering crowns with wings1 spangled robes1 curious finger-rings1 and1 strangest of all1 long tapering nails of gold1 are joined to complete their elaborate adornment4 ,the play1 in which are invariably enacted the adventures of gods1 kings1 heroes1 genii1 demons1 and a multitude of characters mythical and fabulous1 is often performed in lively pantomime1 the interludes being filled by a strong chorus1 with songs and instrumental accompaniment4 ,at other times the players1 in grotesque masks1 give burlesque versions of the graver epics1 to the great amusement of the audience4 ,chinese comedies1 termed ,ngiu1 attract the ,siamese in crowds2 but the foreign is decidedly inferior to the native talent4 ,nang1 so called1 is a sort of tableau1 masked1 representing characters from the ,hindoo mythology4 ,parts of the popular epic1 ,ramayana1 are admirably rendered in this style4 ,in front of the royal palace an immense transparent screen1 mounted on great poles1 is drawn across the esplanade1 and behind this1 at a moderate distance1 great fires are lighted4 ,between the screen and the fire masked figures1 grotesquely costumed1 enact the story of ,rama and ,sita and the giant ,rawuna1 with ,hanuman and his army of apes bridging the ,gulf of ,manaar and piling up the ,himalayas1 while the bards1 in measured story1 describe the several exploits4 ,a great variety of puppet-shows are contrived for the delectation of the children2 and the ,siamese are marvellously ingenious in the manufacture of toys and dolls1 of porcelain1 stone1 wood1 bark1 and paper4 ,they make pagodas1 temples1 boats1 and floating houses1 with miniature families to occupy them1 and all true to the life in every apartment and occupation2 watts1 with idols and priests2 palaces1 with kings1 queens1 concubines1 royal children1 courtiers1 and slaves1 all complete in costume and attitude4 ,the royal children observe with grave formalities the eventful custom of hair-cutting for their favorite dolls2 and dramas1 improvised for the occasion by ingenious slaves1 are the crowning glory of those high holidays of toddling princes and princesses4 ,the ladies of the harem amuse themselves in the early and late hours of the day by gathering flowers in the palace gardens1 feeding the birds in the aviaries and the gold-fishes in the ponds1 twining garlands to adorn the heads of their children1 arranging bouquets1 singing songs of love or glory1 dancing to the music of the guitar1 listening to their slaves' reading1 strolling with their little ones through the parks and parterres1 and especially in bathing4 ,when the heat is least oppressive they plunge into the waters of the pretty retired lakes1 swimming and diving like flocks of brown water-fowl4 ,chess and backgammon1 ,chinese cards and dice1 afford a continual diversion to both sexes at the court1 and there are many skilful players among them4 ,the ,chinese have established a sort of lottery1 of which they have the monopoly4 ,it is little better than a sweat-cloth1 with thirteen figures1 on which money is staked at the option of the gambler4 ,the winning figure pays its stake thirty-fold1 the rest is lost4 ,kite-flying1 which in ,europe and ,america is the amusement of children exclusively1 is here1 as in ,china and ,birmah1 the pastime of both sexes1 and all ages and conditions of people4 ,at the season when the south-wind prevails steadily1 innumerable kites of diverse forms1 many of them representing gigantic butterflies1 may be seen sailing and darting over every quarter of the city1 and most thickly over the palace and its appendages4 ,parties of young noblemen devote themselves with ardor to the sport1 betting bravely on results of skill or luck2 and it is most entertaining to observe how cleverly they manage the huge paper toys1 entangling and capturing each other's kites1 and dragging them disabled to the earth4 ,combats of bulls and elephants1 though very popular1 are not commonly exhibited at court4 ,at certain seasons fairs are held1 where exhibitions of wrestling1 boxing1 fencing1 and dancing are given by professional competitors4 ,the ,siamese1 naturally imaginative and gay1 cultivate music with great zest4 ,every village has its orchestra1 every prince and noble his band of musicians1 and in every part of ,bangkok the sound of strange instruments is heard continually4 ,their music is not in parts like ours1 but there is always harmony with good expression1 and an agreeable variety of movement and volume is derived from the diversity of instruments and the taste of the players4 ,the principal instrument1 the khong-vong1 is composed of a series of hemispherical metallic bells or cups inverted and suspended by cords to a wooden frame4 ,the performer strikes the bells with two little hammers covered with soft leather1 producing an agreeable harmony4 ,the hautboy player 7who is usually a professional juggler and snake-charmer also7 commonly leads the band4 ,kneeling and swaying his body forward and backward1 and from side to side1 he keeps time to the movement of the music4 ,his instrument has six holes1 but no keys1 and may be either rough or smoothly finished4 ,the ranat1 or harmonicon1 is a wooden instrument1 with keys made of wood from the bashoo-nut tree4 ,these1 varying in size from six inches by one to fifteen by two1 are connected by pieces of twine1 and so fastened to a hollow case of wood about three feet in length and a foot high4 ,the music is conjured by the aid of two small hammers corked with leather1 like those of the khong-vong4 ,the notes are clear and fine1 and the instrument admits of much delicacy of touch4 ,beside these the ,siamese have the guitar1 the violin1 the flute1 the cymbals1 the trumpet1 and the conch-shell4 ,there is the luptima also1 another very curious instrument1 formed of a dozen long perforated reeds joined with bands and cemented at the joints with wax4 ,the orifice at one end is applied to the lips1 and a very moderate degree of skill produces notes so strong and sweet as to remind one of the swell of a church organ4 ,the ,laos people have organs and tambourines of different forms2 their guitar is almost as agreeable as that of ,europe2 and of their flutes of several kinds1 one is played with the nostril instead of the lips4 ,another instrument1 resembling the banjo of the ,american negroes1 is made from a large long-necked gourd1 cut in halves while green1 cleaned1 dried in the sun1 covered with parchment1 and strung with from four to six strings4 ,its notes are pleasing4 ,the takh1 a long guitar with metallic strings1 is laid on the floor1 and high-born ladies1 with fingers armed with shields or nails of gold1 draw from it the softest and sweetest sounds4 ,in their funeral ceremonies the chanting of the priests is usually accompanied by the lugubrious wailing music of a sort of clarionet4 ,the songs of ,siam are either heroic or amatory2 the former celebrating the martial exploits1 the latter the more tender adventures1 of heroes4 ,athletic games and the contests of the arena and the course form so conspicuous a feature in all ceremonies1 solemn or festal1 of this people1 that a description of them may not with advantage be wholly omitted here4 ,the ,siamese are by nature warlike1 and their government has thoughtfully and liberally fostered those manly sports and exercises which constitute the natural preparation for the profession of arms4 ,of these the most popular are wrestling1 boxing 7in which both sexes take part71 throwing the discus or quoit1 foot-shuttlecock1 and racing on foot or horseback or in chariots2 to which may be added vaulting and tumbling1 throwing the dart1 and leaping through wheels or circles of fire4 ,the professional athletes and gymnasts are exercised at a tender age under male or female trainers1 who employ the most approved methods of limbering and quickening and strengthening and toughening their incipient champions1 to whom1 though well fed1 sleep is jealously allowanced and intoxicating drinks absolutely forbidden4 ,their bodies are rubbed with oils and unguents to render them supple2 and a short langoutee with a belt forms the sum of their clothing4 ,none but the children of ,siamese or ,laotians are admitted to the gymnasia4 ,the code of laws for the government of the several classes is strictly enforced1 and nothing is permitted contrary to the established order and regulations of the games4 ,excessive violence is mercifully forbidden1 and those who enter to wrestle or box1 race or leap1 for the prize1 draw lots for precedence and position4 ,the ,siamese practise wrestling in its rude simplicity1 the advantage being with weight and strength1 rather than skill and address4 ,the wrestlers1 before engaging1 are rubbed and shampooed1 the joints bent backward and all the muscles relaxed1 and the body and limbs freely oiled2 but after the latter operation they roll in the dust1 or are sprinkled with earth1 ground and sifted1 that they may be grappled the more firmly4 ,they are matched in pairs1 and several couples contend at the same time4 ,their struggles afford superb displays of the anatomy of action1 and the perfection of strength and skill and fierce grace in the trained animal4 ,though one be seized by the heel and thrown1--which the ,siamese applaud as the climax of the wrestler's adroitness1--they still struggle grandly on the ground1 a double ,antus of arms and legs1 till one be turned upon his back and slapped upon the breast4 ,that is the accepted signal of the victor4 ,in boxing1 the ,siamese cover their hands with a kind of glove of ribbed leather1 sometimes lined with brass4 ,on their heads they wear a leather turban1 to protect the temples and ears1 the assault being directed mainly at the head and face4 ,besides the usual getting away of the ,british bruiser1 blows are caught with surprising address and strength in the gloved hand4 ,the boxer who by overreaching1 or missing a blow he has put his weight into1 throws himself1 is beaten2 or he may surrender by simply lowering his arms4 ,the ,siamese discus1 or quoit1 is round1 and of wood1 stone1 or iron4 ,their manner of hurling it does not differ materially from that which all mighty players have practised since ,caesar's soldiers pitched quoits for rations4 ,quite otherwise1 in its curious novelty1 is their spirited and picturesque sport of foot-shuttlecock1--a game which may be witnessed only in ,asia1 and in the perfection of its skill and agility only in ,birmah and ,siam4 ,the shuttlecock is like our own1 but the battledore is the sole of the foot4 ,a number of young men form a circle on a clear plot of ground4 ,one of them opens the game by throwing the feathered toy to the player opposite him1 who1 turning quickly and raising his leg1 receives it on the sole of his foot1 and sends it like a shot to another1 and he to another2 and so it is kept flying for an hour or more1 without once falling to the ground4 ,speed1 whether of two legs or four1 is in high estimation among the ,siamese4 ,their public festivals1 however solemn1 are usually begun with races1 which they cultivate with ardor and enjoy with enthusiasm4 ,they have the foot-race1 the horse-race1 and the chariot-race4 ,in the first1 the runners1 having drawn lots for places1 range themselves across the course1 and1 while waiting for the starting signal1 excite themselves by leaping4 ,at the word ,go1 they make play with astonishing speed and spirit4 ,the race of a single horse1 against time1 with or without saddle1 is a favorite sport4 ,the rider1 scorning stirrup or bridle1 grips the sides of his steed with his knees1 and1 with his right arm and forefinger stretched eagerly toward the goal1 flies alone1--an inspiring picture4 ,sometimes two horsemen ride abreast1 and at full speed change horses by vaulting from one to the other4 ,in the chariot-races from two to four horses are driven abreast1 and the art consists in winning and keeping the advantage of ground without collision4 ,this kind of racing is not so common as the others4 ,the favorite pastime of the late ,second ,king1 who greatly delighted in equestrian exercises and feats1 was ,croquet on ,horseback1--a sport in which he distinguished himself by his brilliant skill and style1 as he did in racing and hunting4 ,this unique equestrian game is played exclusively by princes and noblemen4 ,there are a number of small balls which must be croqueted into two deep holes1 with the aid of long slender mallets4 ,the limits of the ground are marked by a line drawn around it2 and the only conditions necessary to render the sport exciting and the skill remarkable are narrow bounds and restive steeds4 ,the ,siamese1 like other ,orientals1 ride with loose rein and short stirrups4 ,their saddles are high and hard1 and have two large circular flaps1 gilded and otherwise adorned1 according to the rank of the rider4 ,cavaliers of distinction usually dress expensively1 in imported stuffs1 elaborately embroidered with silk and gold thread4 ,they wear a small cap1 and sometimes a strip of red1 like the fillet of the ,greeks and ,romans1 bound round the brows4 ,prizes for the victors in the games and combats are of several kinds1--purses of gold and silver1 suits of apparel1 umbrellas1 and1 more rarely1 a gold or silver cup4 ,in concluding this imperfect sketch1 ,i feel that a word of praise is due to the spirit of moderation and humanity which seems to govern such exhibitions in ,siam4 ,even in their gravest festivals there is an element of cheerfulness and kindness1 which tends to promote genial fellowship and foster friendships1 and by bringing together all sorts of people1 otherwise separated by diversity of custom1 prejudice1 and interest1 unquestionably avails to weld the several small states and dependencies of ,siam into one compact and stable nation4 ,,xxi4 ,,siamese ,,literature ,,and ,,art4 ,at the head of the ,siamese writers of profane history stands1 ,i think1 ,p'hra ,alack1 or rather ,cheing ,meing1--,p'hra ,alack being the generic term for all writers4 ,in early life he was a priest1 but was appointed historian to the court1 and in that capacity wrote a history of the reign of his patron and king1 ,p'hra ,narai1--7contemporary with ,louis ,,xiv47--and left a very curious though unfinished autobiography4 ,seri ,manthara1 celebrated as a military leader1 wrote nine books of essays1 on subjects relating to agriculture and the arts and sciences4 ,some of these1 translated into the languages of ,birmah and ,pegu1 are still extant4 ,among a host of dramatic writers1 ,phya ,doong1 better known as ,p'hra ,khein ,lakonlen1 is entitled to the first rank4 ,he composed about forty-nine books in lyric and dramatic verse1 besides epigrams and elegies4 ,of his many poems1 the few that remain afford passages of much elegance and sweetness1 and even of sublimity1--almost sufficient to atone for the taint of grossness he derived from the licentious imagination of his land and time4 ,while yet hardly out of his infancy1 he was laid at the feet of the monarch1 and reared in the palace at ,lophaburee4 ,some dramatic pieces composed by the lad for his playmates to act attracted the notice of the king1 who engaged teachers to instruct him thoroughly in the ancient literature of ,india and ,persia4 ,but he seems to have boldly opened a way for himself1 instead of following 7as modern ,orientals1 timid or servile1 are so prone to do7 the well-worn path of the old ,hindoo writers4 ,in his tragedy 7which ,i saw acted7 of ,manda-thi-,nung1 ,the ,first ,mother1 there are passages of noble thought and true passion1 expressed with a power and beauty peculiarly his own4 ,the entertainments of the theatre are devoured by the ,siamese with insatiable appetite1 and the popular preference is awarded to those intellectual contests in which the tragic and comic poets compete for the prize4 ,the laughter or the tears of the sympathetic groundlings are accepted as the expression of an infallible criticism1 and by their verdict the play is crowned or damned4 ,the common people1 such is their passion for the drama1 get whole tragedies or comedies by heart4 ,every day in the year1 and in every street of ,bangkok1 and all along the river1 booths and floating salas may be seen1 in which tragedy1 comedy1 and satirical burlesques1 are enacted for the entertainment of great audiences1 who are thrilled1 delighted1 or amused4 ,in compositions strictly dramatic the characters1 as with us1 speak and act for themselves2 but in the epic the poet recites the adventures of his heroes4 ,judges are appointed by the king to determine the merits of new plays before they are performed at court2 and on the grand occasion of the hair-cutting of the heir-apparent 7now king7 his late ,majesty caused the poem ,kraelasah to be modernized and adapted to grace the ceremonies4 ,p'hra ,ramawsha1 a writer highly esteemed1 did wonders for the ,siamese drama4 ,he translated the ,ramayana1 the ,mahabharata1 and portions of the ,cambodian lyrics into ,siamese2 introduced masks1 with magnificence of costume and ornament2 substituted theatres1 or rather salas1 for the temporary booth or the open plain2 and elevated the matter and the style of dramatic compositions from the burlesque and buffoonery to the sentimental and majestic4 ,he was also the first to impart spirit and variety to the dialogue1 and to teach actors to express like artists1 and not like mere animals1 the strong human passions of anger1 love1 and pity4 ,the plays of ,p'hra ,ramawsha are highly esteemed at court4 ,in his management of amorous incidents and intrigues1 he is1 if not positively refined1 at least less gross than other ,siamese dramatists4 ,illustration3 ,,siamese ,,actor ,,and ,,actress4 ,the dress of the players is always rich1 and in the fashion of that worn at court4 ,the actors and actresses attached to the royal establishment make a splendid display in this respect1 large sums being expended annually on their costumes1 jewels1 and other adornings4 ,the development of native genius and skill1 in the direction of the fine arts1 has greatly declined1 if it has not been absolutely arrested1 since the reign of ,p'hra ,narai1 the enlightened founder of ,lophaburee2 and almost all the vestiges of art1 purely national1 to be found in the country now1 may be traced to that golden age of ,siam4 ,the ,siamese1 though intelligent1 clever1 facile1 and in a notable degree susceptible to the influences of the beautiful in nature or in art1 by no means slow or awkward in imitating the graceful products of ,european taste and industry1 are yet fettered by a peculiar oppression in their efforts to express in visible forms their artistic inspirations4 ,no ,siamese subject is to be congratulated1 who by his talent or his skill has won popular applause in any branch of industry4 ,no such man1 having extraordinary cleverness or taste1 dare display it to the public in works of novel utility or beauty2 because he and his inventions may alike be appropriated1 without reward or thanks1--the former to serve the king1 the latter to adorn the palace4 ,many ply in secret their dangerously graceful callings1 and destroy their work when it is done1 rather than see it wrested from them1 and with it all that is left to them of freedom1 to serve the whim of a covetous and cruel master4 ,all that ,p'hra ,narai did to foster the sciences and arts in his land has been undone by the ruinous selfishness of his successors2 and of the few suicides recorded in the annals of ,siam since his time1 one of the most remarkable is that of a famous painter1 who poisoned himself the day after his installation at court4 ,thus all natural ambition has been stupidly extinguished in the breasts of the artists of a land whose remaining monuments attest her ancient excellence in architecture1 sculpture1 and painting4 ,the most remarkable examples of ,siamese painting are presented in the cartoons to be found on the walls of the ancient temples1 decorated with the brush before the introduction of wall-paper from ,birmah4 ,one that is still to be seen in the ,watt ,kheim ,mah1 or ,mai1 is especially noticeable4 ,this temple was built by the grandmother of the late ,maha ,mongkut4 ,the plant kheim mai 7indigenous to ,siam71 which bears a lovely little blossom1 was one of her favorite flowers1 and she called her temple by its name4 ,being a liberal patron of the arts1 she employed a promising young painter named ,nai ,dang to decorate the ,watt4 ,the man would hardly be remembered now but for a poem he wrote and dedicated to the queen mother1 in which her beauty and goodness are extolled4 ,i could learn of him no more than that he was self-educated1 and by unaided perseverance attained a respectable proficiency in drawing and design4 ,he had also a fair knowledge of chemistry as it is practised in the ,east2 but1 aspiring to fame and fortune1 he abandoned that study and devoted himself exclusively to painting4 ,for years he struggled desperately against the discouragements of poverty in himself and ignorance in his neighbors1 but found his reward at last in this engagement to embellish the walls of the ,watt ,kheim ,mai4 ,nai ,dang's must have been an original and independent mind1 for his conceptions in this cartoon are as bold as his handling is vigorous and effective1 while his colors are more true to nature than any that ,i have seen in ,chinese or ,japanese art4 ,he has grandly chosen for his subject the ,birth of ,buddha4 ,the mother of the divine teacher being on a journey1 is overtaken with the pangs of childbirth4 ,her attendants and slaves have gathered about her2 but she1 as if conscious of the august nature of the babe she is about to bestow upon the world1 retires alone to the shade of an orange grove1 where1 clinging to the friendly boughs1 with a look of blended rapture and pain1 she gives birth to the great reformer4 ,a few steps farther on1 a circle of light is seen glowing round the feet of the infant1 as it attempts to rise and walk alone4 ,next we find the child in a rustic cradle2 a branch of the tree under which he is sleeping bends low1 to shield him from the fierce rays of the sun1 and his royal parents1 beholding the miracle1 kneel and adore him4 ,now he is a youthful prince1 beautiful and gentle1 troubled with pity for the poor1 the afflicted1 and the aged1 as they rest by the roadside4 ,and finally1 as a hermit1 he sits in the shade of a boh-tree1 rapt in divine contemplation4 ,it is a great work1 full of imagination1 truth1 and power1 if justly contemplated by the light of a semi-barbaric age4 ,every figure is instinct with character and action1 and the whole is rendered with infinite navet1 as though it represented undisputed and familiar facts4 ,on the opposite wall another great cartoon represents the ,hell of the ,buddhists1 with demons whose hideous heads are those of fabulous beasts and creeping things4 ,as a work of imagination and force this is worthy to be the companion of the ,birth of ,buddha4 ,the roof is painted as a firmament1--stars in a blue ground2 and here it is that the charm of pure feeling and noble treatment is most apparent4 ,with five colors the artist has produced all the variety we see4 ,no cast shadows are shown1 the forms themselves are but partially shaded1 yet wonderful harmony and beauty pervade the whole4 ,all honor to ,nai ,dang6 who alone1 amid the national decay of art and culture1 preserved this germ of glorious life and strength1 wrapped in his own obscure1 neglected life6 ,the practice of decorating walls and ceilings with paintings may be traced to a remote period in the history of ,siamese art4 ,in an ancient temple at ,lophaburee is a curious picture1 of less merit than those of ,nai ,dang1 representing the marriage of ,buddha with the princess ,thiwadi1 beside many of the transmigrations of the ,buddhas2 and there are elsewhere one or two pictures well worthy of notice1 by masters whose names have not been kept in remembrance4 ,thus art in ,siam has degenerated for want of kind1 fostering patrons1 and faithful1 sympathetic chroniclers1 till it has become a thing of mere tools and technics4 ,nevertheless1 they still paint with some cleverness on wood1 cloth1 parchment1 ivory1 and plastic material1 as well as on gold and silver1--a sort of enamelling4 ,they also retain a fair knowledge of effect in fresco1 tracing the outline on the wet ground1 and laying on the color in a thin glue2 in some of their later work of this kind that ,i have seen1 the idea of the designer is expressed with much vigor4 ,their mosaics1 executed in colored porcelain of several varieties1 glass of all kinds1 mother-of-pearl1 and colored marbles1 represent chiefly flowers and sprays on a brilliant ground4 ,the most remarkable work of this kind is1 ,i imagine1 that which is lavished on the temple ,watt ,p'hra ,kau1--the walls1 pillars1 windows1 roofs1 towers1 and gates being everywhere overlaid with mother-of-pearl and ivory1 and profusely gilded4 ,the several faades are likewise inlaid with ivory1 glass1 and mother-of-pearl1 fixed with cement in the mortar1 which serves as a base4 ,in all cases these works are characterized by a touching simplicity1 which seems to struggle through much1 that is obscure and illegible to get nearer to nature and truth4 ,most of the tiles employed in the roofing of temples and palaces are colored and gilt4 ,illustration3 ,,spire ,,of ,,the ,,temple ,,watt-,,poh4 ,among the older pictures1 one in the ,royal bedchamber of the abandoned palace deserves a parting glance4 ,it is a cartoon 7much defaced1 and here and there re-touched by clumsy ,chinese hands7 of ,the ,first ,sin4 ,in the foreground a newly created world is rudely represented1 and here are several illuminated figures1 human but gigantic4 ,one of these1 discontented with his spiritual food1 is seen tasting something1 which we are told is fragrant earth2 after which1 in another figure1 he appears to be electrified1 and here his monstrous anatomy is depicted with ludicrous attempts at detail4 ,no one could tell me by whom or when this cartoon was painted1 and the painting itself is so little appreciated that ,i might never have seen or heard of it but for a happy chance4 ,a characteristic effect in the few great works by ,siamese painters appears in their management of shade4 ,they impart to darkness a pervading inner light or clearness1 and heighten the effect of the deeper shadows by permitting objects to be seen through them4 ,in addition to the pictures ,i have described1 one or two of some merit are to be found in the ,watt ,brahmanee ,waid4 ,the florid style of architecture seems to have been familiar to the ,siamese from a very early period4 ,their palaces1 temples1 and pagodas afford innumerable examples of it1 many of them not unworthy of ,european art4 ,they build generally in brick1 using a cement composed of sand1 chalk1 and molasses1 in which the skin of the buffalo has been steeped4 ,their structures are the most solid and durable imaginable4 ,when the masons building a wall round the new palace at ,ayuthia found their bricks falling short1 they tried in vain to detach a supply from the ruined temples and walls of that ancient city4 ,in the art of sculpture the ,siamese are in advance of their civilization4 ,not only in their palaces1 temples1 and pagodas1 but in their shops and dwellings likewise1 and even in their ships and boats1 all sorts of figures are to be seen1 modelled and finished with more or less delicacy4 ,,xxii4 ,,buddhist ,,doctrine1 ,,priests1 ,,and ,,worship4 ,the world is old1 and all things old within it4 ,we plod a trodden path4 ,no truth is new to-day1 save only that one which as a mantle covers the face of ,god1 lest we be blinded by the unveiled glory4 ,how many of earth's departed great1 buried out of remembrance1 might have lived to-day in the love of the wise and just1 had theirs but been that perfect quickening which is the breath of his ,spirit upon the heart1 the gift that passeth understanding6 ,the world's helpers must first become borrowers of ,god4 ,the world's teachers must first learn of him that only wisdom1 which cometh not of books nor jealous cloister cells1 but out of the heart of man as it opens yearningly to the cry of humanity1--the ,wisdom of ,love4 ,this alone may challenge a superior mind1 prizing truths not merely for their facts1 but for their motives1--motives for which individuals or great communities either act or suffer1--to explore with a calm and kindly judgment the spirit of the religion of the ,buddhists2 and not its spirit only1 but its every look and tone and motion as well1 being so many complex expressions of the religious character in all its peculiar thoughts and feelings4 ,who1 of himself1 can interpret the symbol expressed by the wings of the air-sylph forming within the case of the caterpillar8 ,only he who feels in his own soul the same instinct which impels the horned fly to leave room in its involucrum for antennae yet to come4 ,such a man knows and feels that the potential works in him even as the actual works on him4 ,as all the organs of sense are framed for a correspondent world of sense1 so all the organs of the spirit are framed for a correspondent world of spirit2 and though these latter be not equally developed in us all1 yet they surely exist in all2 else how is it that even the ignorant1 the depraved1 and the cruel will contemplate the man of unselfish and exalted goodness with contradictory emotions of pity and respect8 ,we are prone to ignore or to condemn that which we do not clearly understand2 and thus it is1 and on no better ground1 that we deny that there are influences in the religions of the ,east to render their followers wiser1 nobler1 purer4 ,and yet no one of respectable intelligence will question that there have been1 in all ages1 individual pagans who1 by the simplicity of their doctrine and the purity of their practice1 have approached very nearly to the perfection of the ,christian graces2 and that they were1 if not so much the better for the religion they had1 at least far1 far better than if they had had no religion at all4 ,it is not1 however1 in human nature to approve and admire any course of life without inquiring into the spirit of the law that regulates it4 ,nor may it suffice that the spirit is there1 if not likewise the letter1--that is to say1 the practice4 ,the best doctrine may become the worst1 if imperfectly understood1 erroneously interpreted1 or superstitiously followed4 ,in ,egypt1 ,palestine1 ,greece1 and ,india1 the metaphysical analysis of ,mind had attained its noontide splendor1 while as yet experimental research had hardly dawned4 ,those ancient mystics did much to promote intellectual emancipation1 by insisting that ,thought should not be imprisoned within the mere outlines of any single dogmatic system2 and they likewise availed1 in no feeble measure1 to keep alive the heart in the head1 by demanding an impartial reverence for every attribute of the mind1 till1 by converting these into symbols to impress the ignorant and stupid1 they came at last to deify them4 ,thus1 with the uninitiated1 their system degenerated into an ignoble pantheism4 ,the renascence of ,buddhism sought to eliminate from the arrogant and impious pantheisms of ,egypt1 ,india1 and ,greece a simple and pure philosophy1 upholding virtue as man's greatest good and highest reward4 ,it taught that the only object worthy of his noblest aspirations was to render the soul 7itself an emanation from ,god7 fit to be absorbed back again into the ,divine essence from which it sprang4 ,the single aim1 therefore1 of pure ,buddhism seems to have been to rouse men to an inward contemplation of the divinity of their own nature2 to fix their thoughts on the spiritual life within as the only real and true life2 to teach them to disregard all earthly distinctions1 conditions1 privileges1 enjoyments1 privations1 sorrows1 sufferings2 and thus to incite them to continual efforts in the direction of the highest ideals of patience1 purity1 self-denial4 ,buddhism cannot be clearly defined by its visible results today4 ,there are more things in that subtile1 mystical enigma called in the ,pali ,nirwana1 in the ,birmese ,niban1 in the ,siamese ,niphan1 than are dreamed of in our philosophy4 ,with the idea of ,niphan in his theology1 it were absurdly false to say the ,buddhist has no ,god4 ,his ,decalogue ,,footnote3 ,translated from the ,pali4 is as plain and imperative as the ,christian's 3-- ,i4 ,from the meanest insect up to man thou shalt kill no animal whatsoever4 ,,ii4 ,thou shalt not steal4 ,,iii4 ,thou shalt not violate the wife of another1 nor his concubine4 ,,iv4 ,thou shalt speak no word that is false4 ,v4 ,thou shalt not drink wine1 nor anything that may intoxicate4 ,,vi4 ,thou shalt avoid all anger1 hatred1 and bitter language4 ,,vii4 ,thou shalt not indulge in idle and vain talk4 ,,viii4 ,thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods4 ,,ix4 ,thou shalt not harbor envy1 nor pride1 nor revenge1 nor malice1 nor the desire of thy neighbor's death or misfortune4 ,x4 ,thou shalt not follow the doctrines of false gods4 ,whosoever abstains from these forbidden things is said to observe ,silah2 and whosoever shall faithfully observe ,silah1 in all his successive metempsychoses1 shall continually increase in virtue and purity1 until at length he shall become worthy to behold ,god1 and hear his voice2 and so he shall obtain ,niphan4 ,be assiduous in bestowing alms1 in practising virtue1 in observing ,silah1 in performing ,bavana1 prayer2 and above all in adoring ,guadama1 the true ,god4 ,reverence likewise his laws and his priests4 ,many have missed seeing what is true and wise in the doctrine of ,buddha because they preferred to observe it from the standpoint and in the attitude of an antagonist1 rather than of an inquirer4 ,to understand aright the earnest creed and hope of any man1 one must be at least sympathetically en rapport with him1--must be willing to feel1 and to confess within one's self1 the germs of those errors whose growth seems so rank in him4 ,in the humble spirit of this fellowship of fallibility let us draw as near as we may to the hearts of these devotees and the heart of their mystery4 ,my interesting pupil1 the ,lady ,tlp1 had invited me to accompany her to the royal private temple1 ,watt ,p'hra ,kau1 to witness the services held there on the ,buddhist ,sabto1 or ,one-thu-sin4 ,accordingly we repaired together to the temple on the day appointed4 ,the day was young1 and the air was cool and fresh2 and as we approached the place of worship1 the clustered bells of the pagodas made breezy gushes of music aloft4 ,one of the court pages1 meeting us1 inquired our destination4 ,the ,watt ,p'hra ,kau1 ,i replied4 ,to see or to hear8 ,both4 ,and we entered4 ,on a floor diamonded with polished brass sat a throng of women1 the lite of ,siam4 ,all were robed in pure white1 with white silk scarfs drawn from the left shoulder in careful folds across the bust and back1 and thrown gracefully over the right4 ,a little apart sat their female slaves1 of whom many were inferior to their mistresses only in social consideration and worldly gear1 being their half-sisters1--children of the same father by a slave mother4 ,the women sat in circles1 and each displayed her vase of flowers and her lighted taper before her4 ,in front of all were a number of my younger pupils1 the royal children1 in circles also4 ,close by the altar1 on a low square stool1 overlaid with a thin cushion of silk1 sat the high-priest1 ,chow ,khoon ,sh4 ,in his hand he held a concave fan1 lined with pale green silk1 the back richly embroidered1 jewelled1 and gilt4 ,footnote3 ,the fan is used to cover the face4 ,jewelled fans are marks of distinction among the priesthood4 ,he was draped in a yellow robe1 not unlike the ,roman toga1 a loose and flowing habit1 closed below the waist1 but open from the throat to the girdle1 which was simply a band of yellow cloth1 bound tightly4 ,from the shoulders hung two narrow strips1 also yellow1 descending over the robe to the feet1 and resembling the scapular worn by certain orders of the ,roman ,catholic clergy4 ,at his side was an open watch of gold1 the gift of his sovereign4 ,at his feet sat seventeen disciples1 shading their faces with fans less richly adorned4 ,we put off our shoes1--my child and ,i1--having respect for the ancient prejudice against them2 ,footnote3 ,put off thy shoes from off thy feet1 for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground4 feeling not so much reverence for the place as for the hearts that worshipped there1 caring to display not so much the love of wisdom as the wisdom of love2 and well were we repaid by the grateful smile of recognition that greeted us as we entered4 ,we sat down cross-legged4 ,no need to hush my boy1--the silence there1 so subduing1 checked with its mysterious awe even his inquisitive young mind4 ,the venerable high-priest sat with his face jealously covered1 lest his eyes should tempt his thoughts to stray4 ,i changed my position to catch a glimpse of his countenance2 he drew his fan-veil more closely1 giving me a quick but gentle half-glance of remonstrance4 ,then raising his eyes1 with lids nearly closed1 he chanted in an infantile1 wailing tone4 ,that was the opening prayer4 ,at once the whole congregation raised themselves on their knees and1 all together1 prostrated themselves thrice profoundly1 thrice touching the polished brass floor with their foreheads2 and then1 with heads bowed and palms folded and eyes closed1 they delivered the responses after the priest1 much in the manner of the ,english liturgy1 first the priest1 then the people1 and finally all together4 ,there was no singing1 no standing up and sitting down1 no changing of robes or places1 no turning the face to the altar1 nor north1 nor south1 nor east1 nor west4 ,all knelt still1 with hands folded straight before them1 and eyes strictly1 tightly closed4 ,indeed1 there were faces there that expressed devotion and piety1 the humblest and the purest1 as the lips murmured3 ,o ,thou ,eternal ,one1 ,thou perfection of ,time1 ,thou truest ,truth1 ,thou immutable essence of all ,change1 ,thou most excellent radiance of ,mercy1 ,thou infinite ,compassion1 ,thou ,pity1 ,thou ,charity6 ,i lost some of the responses in the simultaneous repetition1 and did but imperfectly comprehend the exhortation that followed1 in which was inculcated the strictest practice of charity in a manner so pathetic and so gentle as might be wisely imitated by the most orthodox of ,christian priests4 ,there was majesty in the humility of those pagan worshippers1 and in their shame of self they were sublime4 ,i leave both the truth and the error to ,him who alone can soar to the bright heights of the one and sound the dark depths of the other1 and take to myself the lesson1 to be read in the shrinking forms and hidden faces of those patient waiters for a far-off glimmering ,light1--the lesson wherefrom ,i learn1 in thanking ,god for the light of ,christianity1 to thank him for its shadow too1 which is ,buddhism4 ,around the porches and vestibules of the temple lounged the ,amazonian guard1 intent only on irreverent amusement1 even in the form of a grotesque and grim flirtation here and there with the custodians of the temple1 who have charge of the sacred fire that burns before the altar4 ,about eighty-five years ago this fire went out4 ,it was a calamity of direful presage1 and thereupon all ,siam went into a consternation of mourning4 ,all public spectacles were forbidden until the crime could be expiated by the appropriate punishment of the wretch to whose sacrilegious carelessness it was due2 nor was the sacred flame rekindled until the reign of ,p'hra-,pooti-,yaut-,fa1 grandfather of his late ,majesty1 when the royal ,hall of ,audience was destroyed by lightning4 ,from that fire of heaven it was relighted with joyful thanksgiving1 and so has burned on to this day4 ,the lofty throne1 on which the priceless ,p'hra ,kau 7the ,emerald ,idol7 blazed in its glory of gold and gems1 shone resplendent in the forenoon light4 ,everything above1 around it1--even the vases of flowers and the perfumed tapers on the floor1--was reflected as if by magic in its kaleidoscopic surface1 now pensive1 pale1 and silvery as with moonlight1 now flashing1 fantastic1 with the party-colored splendors of a thousand lamps4 ,the ceiling was wholly covered with hieroglyphic devices1--luminous circles and triangles1 globes1 rings1 stars1 flowers1 figures of animals1 even parts of the human body1--mystic symbols1 to be deciphered only by the initiated4 ,ah6 could ,i but have read them as in a book1 construing all their allegorical significance1 how near might ,i not have come to the distracting secret of this people6 ,gazing upon them1 my thought flew back a thousand years1 and my feeble1 foolish conjectures1 like butterflies at sea1 were lost in mists of old myth4 ,not that ,buddhism has escaped the guessing and conceits of a multitude of writers1 most trustworthy of whom are the early ,christian ,fathers1 who1 to the end that they might arouse the attention of the sleeping nations1 yielded a reluctant1 but impartial and graceful1 tribute to the long-forgotten creeds of ,chaldea1 ,phenicia1 ,assyria1 and ,egypt4 ,nevertheless1 they would never have appealed to the doctrine of ,buddha as being most like to ,christianity in its rejection of the claims of race1 had they not found in its simple ritual another and a stronger bond of brotherhood4 ,like ,christianity1 too1 it was a religion catholic and apostolic1 for the truth of which many faithful witnesses had laid down their lives4 ,it was1 besides1 the creed of an ancient race2 and the mystery that shrouded it had a charm to pique the vanity even of self-sufficient ,greeks1 and stir up curiosity even in ,roman arrogance and indifference4 ,the doctrines of ,buddha were eminently fitted to elucidate the doctrines of ,christ1 and therefore worthy to engage the interest of ,christian writers2 accordingly1 among the earliest of these mention is made of the ,buddha or ,phthah1 though there were as yet few or none to appreciate all the religious significance of his teachings4 ,terebinthus declared there was nothing in the pagan world to be compared with his 7,buddha's7 ,p'hra-ti-moksha1 or ,code of ,discipline1 which in some respects resembled the rules that governed the lives of the monks of ,christendom2 ,marco ,polo says of ,buddha1 ,si fuisset ,christianus1 fuisset apud ,deum maximus factus2 and later1 ,malcolm1 the devoted missionary1 said of his doctrine1 ,in almost every respect it seems to be the best religion which man has ever invented4 ,mark the invented of the wary ,christian6 ,but errors1 that in time crept in1 corrupted the pure doctrine1 and disciples1 ignorant or stupid1 perverted its meaning and intent1 and blind or treacherous guides led the simple astray1 till at last the true and plain philosophy of ,buddha became entangled with the ,egyptian mythology4 ,over the portal on the eastern facade of the ,watt ,p'hra ,kau is a bass-relief representing the ,last ,judgment1 in which are figures of a devil with a pig's head dragging the wicked to hell1 and an angel weighing mankind in a pair of scales4 ,now we know that in the mythology of ancient ,egypt the ,pig was the emblem of the ,evil ,spirit1 and this bass-relief of the ,siamese watt could hardly fail to remind the ,egyptologist of kindred compositions in old sculptures wherein the good and bad deeds of the dead are weighed by ,anubis 7the ,siamese ,anuman or ,hanuman71 and the souls of the wicked carried off by a pig4 ,in the city of ,arsinoe in ,upper ,egypt 7formerly ,crocodilopolis1 now ,medinet-el-,fayum71 the crocodile is worshipped2 and a sacred crocodile1 kept in a pond1 is perfectly tame and familiar with the priests4 ,he is called ,suchus1 and they feed him with meat and corn and wine1 the contributions of strangers4 ,one of the ,egyptian divinities1 apparently that to whom the beast was consecrated1 is invariably pictured with the head of a crocodile2 and in hieroglyphic inscriptions is represented by that animal with the tail turned under the body4 ,a similar figure is common in the temples of ,siam2 and a sacred crocodile1 kept in a pond in the manner of the ancient ,egyptians1 is fed by ,siamese priests1 at whose call it comes to the surface to receive the rice1 fruit1 and wine that are brought to it daily4 ,the ,beetle1 an insect peculiarly sacred to the ,buddhists1 was the ,egyptian sign of ,phthah1 the ,father of ,gods2 and in the hieroglyphics it stands for the name of that deity1 whose head is either surmounted by a beetle1 or is itself in the form of a beetle4 ,elsewhere in the hieroglyphics1 where it does not represent ,buddha1 it evidently appears as the symbol of generation or reproduction1 the meaning most anciently attached to it2 whence ,dr4 ,young1 in his ,hieroglyphical ,researches1 inferred its relation to ,buddha4 ,mrs4 ,hamilton ,gray1 in her work on the ,sepulchres of ,etruria1 observes3 ,as scarabi existed long before we had any account of idols1 ,i do not doubt that they were originally the invention of some really devout mind2 and they speak to us in strong language of the danger of making material symbols of immaterial things4 ,first1 the symbol came to be trusted in1 instead of the being of whom it was the sign4 ,then came the bodily conception and manifestation of that being1 or his attributes1 in the form of idols4 ,next1 the representation of all that belongs to spirits1 good and bad4 ,and finally1 the deification of every imagination of the heart of man1--a written and accredited system of polytheism1 and a monstrous and hydra-headed idolatry4 ,such is the religious history of the scarabus1 a creature that so early attracted the notice of man by its ingenious and industrious habits1 that it was selected by him to symbolize the ,creator2 and cutting stones to represent it1 ,,footnote3 ,six rubies1 exquisitely cut in the form of beetles1 are worn as studs by the present ,king of ,siam4 he wore them in token of his belief in a creator of all things1 and in recognition of the ,divine ,presence1 probably attaching to them at first no more mysterious import or virtue4 ,there is sound reason for believing that in this form the symbol existed before ,abraham1 and that its fundamental signification of creation or generation was gradually overbuilt with arbitrary speculations and fantastic notions4 ,in theory it degenerated into a crude egoism1 a vaunting and hyper-stoic hostility to nature1 which1 though intellectually godless1 was not without that universal instinct for divinity which1 by countless ways1 seeks with an ever-present and importunate longing for the one sublimated and eternal source from which it sprang4 ,through twenty-five million six hundred thousand ,asongkhies1 or metempsychoses1--according to the overpowering computation of his priests1--did ,buddha struggle to attain the divine omniscience of ,niphan1 by virtue of which he remembers every form he ever entered1 and beholds with the clear eyes of a god the endless diversities of transmigration in the animal1 human1 and angelic worlds1 throughout the spaceless1 timeless1 numberless universe of visible and invisible life4 ,according to ,heraclides1 ,pythagoras used to say of himself1 that he remembered not only all the men1 but all the animals and all the plants1 his soul had passed through4 ,that ,pythagoras believed and taught the doctrine of transmigration may hardly be doubted1 but that he originated it is very questionable4 ,herodotus intimates that both ,orpheus and ,pythagoras derived it from the ,egyptians1 but propounded it as their own1 without acknowledgment4 ,nearly every male inhabitant of ,siam enters the priesthood at least once in his lifetime4 ,instead of the more vexatious and scandalous forms of divorce1 the party aggrieved may become a priest or a nun1 and thus the matrimonial bond is at once dissolved2 and with this advantage1 that after three or four months of probation they may be reconciled and reunited1 to live together in the world again4 ,chow ,khoon ,sh1 or ,his ,lordship the ,lake1 whose functions in the ,watt ,p'hra ,kau ,i have described1 was the ,high-,priest of ,siam1 and in high favor with his ,majesty4 ,he had taken holy orders with the double motive of devoting himself to the study of ,sanskrit literature1 and of escaping the fate1 that otherwise awaited him1 of becoming the mere thrall of his more fortunate cousin1 the king4 ,in the palace it was whispered that he and the late queen consort had been tenderly attached to each other1 but that the lady's parents1 for prudential considerations1 discountenanced the match2 and so1 on the eve of her betrothal to his ,majesty1 her lover had sought seclusion and consolation in a ,buddhist monastery4 ,however that may be1 it is certain that the king and the high-priest were now fast friends4 ,the latter entertained great respect for his reverend cousin1 whose title 7,the ,lake7 described justly1 as well as poetically1 the graceful serenity and repose of his demeanor4 ,chow ,khoon ,sh lived at some distance from the palace1 at the ,watt ,brahmanee ,waid4 ,as the friendship between the cousins ripened1 his ,majesty considered that it would be well for him to have the contemplative student1 prudent adviser1 and able reasoner nearer to him4 ,with this idea1 and for a surprise to one to whom all surprises had long since become but vanities and vexations of spirit1 he caused to be erected1 about forty yards from the ,grand ,palace1 on the eastern side of the ,meinam1 a temple which he named ,rajah-,bah-dit-,sang1 or ,the ,king caused me to be built2 and at the same time1 as an appendage to the temple1 a monastery in mediaeval style1 the workmanship in both structures being most substantial and elaborate4 ,the sculptures and carvings on the pillars and faades--half-fabulous1 half-historical figures1 conveying ingenious allegories of the triumph of virtue over the passions--constituted a singular tribute to the exemplary fame of the high-priest4 ,the grounds were planted with trees and shrubs1 and the walks gravelled1 thus inviting the contemplative recluse to tranquil1 soothing strolls4 ,these grounds were accessible by four gates1 the principal one facing the east1 and a private portal opening on the canal4 ,the laying of the foundation of the temple and monastery of ,rajah-,bah-dit-,sang was the occasion of extraordinary festivities1 consisting of theatrical spectacles and performances1 a carnival of dancing1 mass around every corner-stone1 banquets to priests1 and distributions of clothing1 food1 and money to the poor4 ,the king presided every morning and evening under a silken canopy2 and even those favorites of the harem who were admitted to the royal confidence were provided with tents1 whence they could witness the shows1 and participate in the rejoicings in the midst of which the good work went on4 ,after the several services of mass had been performed1 and the corner-stones consecrated by the pouring on of oil and water1 ,footnote3 ,oil is the emblem of life and love2 water1 of purity4 seven tall lamps were lighted to burn above them seven days and nights1 and seventy priests in groups of seven1 forming a perfect circle1 prayed continually1 holding in their hands the mystic web of seven threads1 that weird circlet of life and death4 ,then the youngest and fairest virgins of the land brought offerings of corn and wine1 milk1 honey1 and flowers1 and poured them on the consecrated stones4 ,and after that1 they brought pottery of all kinds1--vases1 urns1 ewers1 goglets1 bowls1 cups1 and dishes1--and1 flinging them into the foundations1 united with zeal and rejoicing in the meritorious work of pounding them into fine dust2 and while the instruments of music and the voices of the male and female singers of the court kept time to the measured crash and thud of the wooden clubs in those young and tender hands1 the king cast into the foundation coins and ingots of gold and silver4 ,do you understand the word 'charity1' or maitr1 as your apostle ,st4 ,paul explains it in the thirteenth chapter of his ,first ,epistle to the ,corinthians8 said his ,majesty to me one morning1 when he had been discussing the religion of ,sakyamuni1 the ,buddha4 ,i believe ,i do1 your ,majesty1 was my reply4 ,then1 tell me1 what does ,st4 ,paul really mean1 to what custom does he allude1 when he says1 ',even if ,i give my body to be burned1 and have not charity1 it profiteth me nothing'8 ,custom6 said ,i4 ,i do not know of any custom4 ,the giving of the body to be burned is by him esteemed the highest act of devotion1 the purest sacrifice man can make for man4 ,you have said well4 ,it is the highest act of devotion that can be made1 or performed1 by man for man1--that giving of his body to be burned4 ,but if it is done from a spirit of opposition1 for the sake of fame1 or popular applause1 or for any other such motive1 is it still to be regarded as the highest act of sacrifice8 ,that is just what ,st4 ,paul means3 the motive consecrates the deed4 ,but all men are not fortified with the self-control which should fit them to be great exemplars2 and of the many who have appeared in that character1 if strict inquiry were made1 their virtue would be found to proceed from any other than the true and pure spirit4 ,sometimes it is indolence1 sometimes restlessness1 sometimes vanity impatient for its gratification1 and rushing to assume the part of humility for the purpose of self-delusion4 ,now said the ,king1 taking several of his long strides in the vestibule of his library1 and declaiming with his habitual emphasis1 ,st ,paul1 in this chapter1 evidently and strongly applies the ,buddhist's word maitr1 or maikree1 as pronounced by some ,sanskrit scholars2 and explains it through the ,buddhist's custom of giving the body to be burned1 which was practised centuries before the ,christian era1 and is found unchanged in parts of ,china1 ,ceylon1 and ,siam to this day4 ,the giving of the body to be burned has ever been considered by devout ,buddhists the most exalted act of self-abnegation4 ,to give all one's goods to feed the poor is common in this country1 with princes and people1--who often keep back nothing 7not even one cowree1 the thousandth part of a cent7 to provide for themselves a handful of rice4 ,but then they stand in no fear of starvation2 for death by hunger is unknown where ,buddhism is preached and practised4 ,i know a man1 of royal parentage1 and once possessed of untold riches4 ,in his youth he felt such pity for the poor1 the old1 the sick1 and such as were troubled and sorrowful1 that he became melancholy1 and after spending several years in the continual relief of the needy and helpless1 he1 in a moment1 gave all his goods1--in a word1 ,,all1--'to feed the poor4' ,this man has never heard of ,st4 ,paul or his writings2 but he knows1 and tries to comprehend in its fulness1 the ,buddhist word maitr4 ,at thirty he became a priest4 ,for five years he had toiled as a gardener2 for that was the occupation he preferred1 because in the pursuit of it he acquired much useful knowledge of the medicinal properties of plants1 and so became a ready physician to those who could not pay for their healing4 ,but he could not rest content with so imperfect a life1 while the way to perfect knowledge of excellence1 truth1 and charity remained open to him2 so he became a priest4 ,this happened sixty-five years ago4 ,now he is ninety-five years old2 and1 ,i fear1 has not yet found the truth and excellence he has been in search of so long4 ,but ,i know no greater man than he4 ,he is great in the ,christian sense1--loving1 pitiful1 forbearing1 pure4 ,once1 when he was a gardener1 he was robbed of his few poor tools by one whom he had befriended in many ways4 ,some time after that1 the king met him1 and inquired of his necessities4 ,he said he needed tools for his gardening4 ,a great abundance of such implements was sent to him2 and immediately he shared them with his neighbors1 taking care to send the most and best to the man who had robbed him4 ,of the little that remained to him1 he gave freely to all who lacked4 ,not his own1 but another's wants1 were his sole argument in asking or bestowing4 ,now1 he is great in the ,buddhist sense also1--not loving life nor fearing death1 desiring nothing the world can give1 beyond the peace of a beatified spirit4 ,this man--who is now the ,high-,priest of ,siam--would1 without so much as a thought of shrinking1 give his body1 alive or dead1 to be burned1 if so he might obtain one glimpse of eternal truth1 or save one soul from death or sorrow4 ,more than eighteen months after the ,first ,king of ,siam had entertained me with this essentially ,buddhistic argument1 and its simple and impressive illustration1 a party of pages hurried me away with them1 just as the setting sun was trailing his last long1 lingering shadows through the porches of the palace4 ,his ,majesty required my presence2 and his ,majesty's commands were absolute and instant4 ,find and fetch6 ,no delay was to be thought of1 no question answered1 no explanation afforded1 no excuse entertained4 ,so with resignation ,i followed my guides1 who led the way to the monastery of ,watt ,rajah-,bah-dit-,sang4 ,but having some experience of the moods and humors of his ,majesty1 my mind was not wholly free from uneasiness4 ,generally1 such impetuous summoning foreboded an interview the reverse of agreeable4 ,the sun had set in glory below the red horizon when ,i entered the extensive range of monastic buildings that adjoin the temple4 ,wide tracts of waving corn and avenues of oleanders screened from view the distant city1 with its pagodas and palaces4 ,the air was fresh and balmy1 and seemed to sigh plaintively among the betel and cocoa palms that skirt the monastery4 ,the pages left me seated on a stone step1 and ran to announce my presence to the king4 ,long after the moon had come out clear and cool1 and ,i had begun to wonder where all this would end1 a young man1 robed in pure white1 and bearing in one hand a small lighted taper and a lily in the other1 beckoned me to enter1 and follow him2 and as we traversed the long1 low passages that separate the cells of the priests1 the weird sound of voices1 chanting the hymns of the ,buddhist liturgy1 fell upon my ear4 ,the darkness1 the loneliness1 the measured monotone1 distant and dreamy1 all was most romantic and exciting1 even to a matter-of-fact ,english woman like myself4 ,as the page approached the threshold of one of the cells1 he whispered to me1 in a voice full of entreaty1 to put off my shoes2 at the same time prostrating himself with a movement and expression of the most abject humility before the door1 where he remained1 without changing his posture4 ,i stooped involuntarily1 and scanned curiously1 anxiously1 the scene within the cell4 ,there sat the king2 and at a sign from him ,i presently entered1 and sat down beside him4 ,on a rude pallet1 about six and a half feet long1 and not more than three feet wide1 and with a bare block of wood for a pillow1 lay a dying priest4 ,a simple garment of faded yellow covered his person2 his hands were folded on his breast2 his head was bald1 and the few blanched hairs that might have remained to fringe his sunken temples had been carefully shorn1--his eyebrows1 too1 were closely shaven2 his feet were bare and exposed2 his eyes were fixed1 not in the vacant stare of death1 but with solemn contemplation or scrutiny1 upward4 ,no sign of disquiet was there1 no external suggestion of pain or trouble2 ,i was at once startled and puzzled4 ,was he dying1 or acting8 ,in the attitude of his person1 in the expression of his countenance1 ,i beheld sublime reverence1 repose1 absorption4 ,he seemed to be communing with some spiritual presence4 ,my entrance and approach made no change in him4 ,at his right side was a dim taper in a gold candlestick2 on the left a dainty golden vase1 filled with white lilies1 freshly gathered3 these were offerings from the king4 ,one of the lilies had been laid on his breast1 and contrasted touchingly with the dingy1 faded yellow of his robe4 ,just over the region of the heart lay a coil of unspun cotton thread1 which1 being divided into seventy-seven filaments1 was distributed to the hands of the priests1 who1 closely seated1 quite filled the ell1 so that none could have moved without difficulty4 ,before each priest were a lighted taper and a lily1 symbols of faith and purity4 ,from time to time one or other of that solemn company raised his voice1 and chanted strangely2 and all the choir responded in unison4 ,these were the words1 as they were afterward translated for me by the king4 ,first ,voice4 ,sng-,khng sr nang gch' ch mi6 7,thou ,excellence1 or ,perfection6 ,i take refuge in thee47 ,all4 ,nama ,pooth sng-,khng sr nang gch' ch mi6 7,thou who art named ,poot-tho6--either ,god1 ,buddha1 or ,mercy1--,i take refuge in thee47 ,first ,voice4 ,tuti mpi sng-,khng sr nang gch' cha mi6 7,thou ,holy ,one6 ,i take refuge in thee47 ,all4 ,t stiy sng-,khng sr nang gch' ch mi6 7,thou ,truth1 ,i take refuge in thee47 ,as the sound of the prayer fell on his ear1 a nickering smile lit up the pale1 sallow countenance of the dying man with a visible mild radiance1 as though the charity and humility of his nature1 in departing1 left the light of their loveliness there4 ,the absorbing rapture of that look1 which seemed to overtake the invisible1 was almost too holy to gaze upon4 ,riches1 station1 honors1 kindred1 he had resigned them all1 more than half a century since1 in his love for the poor and his longing after truth4 ,here was none of the wavering or vagueness or incoherence of a wandering1 delirious death4 ,he was going to his clear1 eternal calm4 ,with a smile of perfect peace he said3 ,to your ,majesty ,i commend the poor2 and this that remains of me ,i give to be burned4 ,and that1 his last gift1 was indeed his all4 ,i can imagine no spectacle more worthy to excite a compassionate emotion1 to impart an abiding impression of reverence1 than the tranquil dying of that good old pagan4 ,gradually his breathing became more laborious2 and presently1 turning with a great effort toward the king1 he said1 ,chan cha pi dauni6--,i will go now6 ,instantly the priests joined in a loud psalm and chant1 ,p'hra ,arahang sng-,khng sr nang gch' ch mi6 7,thou ,sacred ,one1 ,i take refuge in thee47 ,a few minutes more1 and the spirit of the ,high-,priest of ,siam had calmly breathed itself away4 ,the eyes were open and fixed2 the hands still clasped2 the expression sweetly content4 ,my heart and eyes were full of tears1 yet ,i was comforted4 ,by what hope8 ,i know not1 for ,i dared not question it4 ,on the afternoon of the next day ,i was again summoned by his ,majesty to witness the burning of that body4 ,it was carried to the cemetery ,watt ,sah ,kte2 and there men1 hired to do such dreadful offices upon the dead1 cut off all the flesh and flung it to the hungry dogs that haunt that monstrous garbage-field of ,buddhism4 ,the bones1 and all that remained upon them1 were thoroughly burned2 and the ashes1 carefully gathered in an earthen pot1 were scattered in the little gardens of wretches too poor to buy manure4 ,all that was left now of the venerable devotee was the remembrance of a look4 ,this1 said the ,king1 as ,i turned away sickened and sorrowful1 is to give one's body to be burned4 ,this is what your ,st4 ,paul had in his mind1--this custom of our ,buddhist ancestors1 this complete self-abnegation in life and in death1--when he said1 ',even if ,i give my body to be burned1 and have not charity maitr1 it profiteth me nothing4' ,illustration3 ,priests at ,breakfast4 ,,common ,,maxims ,,of ,,the ,,priests ,,of ,,siam4 ,glory not in thyself1 but rather in thy neighbor4 ,dig not the earth1 which is the source of life and the mother of all4 ,cause no tree to die4 ,kill no beast1 nor insect1 not even the smallest ant or fly4 ,eat nothing between meals4 ,regard not singers1 dancers1 nor players on instruments4 ,use no perfume but sweetness of thoughts4 ,neither sit nor sleep in high places4 ,be lowly in thy heart1 that thou mayst be lowly in thy act4 ,hoard neither silver nor gold4 ,entertain not thy thoughts with worldly things4 ,do no work but the work of charity and truth4 ,give not flowers unto women1 but rather prayers4 ,contract no friendship with the hope of gain4 ,borrow nothing1 but rather deny thy want4 ,lend not unto usury4 ,keep neither lance1 nor sword1 nor any deadly weapon4 ,judge not thy neighbor4 ,bake not1 nor burn4 ,wink not4 ,be not familiar nor contemptuous4 ,labor not for hire1 but for charity4 ,look not upon women unchastely4 ,make no incisions that may draw blood or sap1 which is the life of man and nature4 ,give no medicines which contain poison1 but study to acquire the true art of healing1 which is the highest of all arts1 and pertains to the wise and benevolent4 ,love all men equally4 ,perform not thy meditations in public places4 ,make no idols of any kind4 ,,xxiii4 ,,cremation4 ,as soon as his ,majesty had recovered from his genuine convulsion of grief for the death of his sweet little princess1 ,somdetch ,chow ,f-ying1 he proceeded1 habited in white1 with all his family1 to visit the chamber of mourning4 ,the grand-aunt of the dead child1 who seemed the most profoundly afflicted of all that numerous household1 still lay prostrate at the feet of her pale cold darling1 and would not be comforted4 ,as his ,majesty entered1 silently ushered1 she moved1 and mutely laid her head upon his feet1 moaning1 ,poot-tho6 ,poot-tho6 ,there were tears and sighs and heart-wrung sobs around4 ,speechless1 but with trembling lips1 the royal father took gently in his arms the little corpse1 and bathed it in the ,siamese manner1 by pouring cold water upon it4 ,in this he was followed by other members of the royal family1 the more distant relatives1 and such ladies of the harem as chanced to be in waiting1--each advancing in the order of rank1 and pouring pure cold water from a silver bowl over the slender body4 ,two sisters of the king then shrouded the corpse in a sitting posture1 overlaid it with perfumes and odoriferous gums1 frankincense and myrrh1 and1 lastly1 swaddled it in a fine winding-sheet4 ,finally it was deposited in a golden urn1 and this again in an-other of finer gold1 richly adorned with precious stones4 ,the inner urn has an iron grating in the bottom1 and the outer an orifice at its most pendent point1 through which by means of a tap or stop-cock1 the fluids are drawn off daily1 until the cadavre has become quite dry4 ,this double rim was borne on a gilt sedan1 under a royal gilt umbrella1 to the temple of the ,maha ,phrasat1 where it was mounted on a graduated platform about six feet high4 ,during this part of the ceremony1 and while the trumpeters and the blowers of conch-shells performed their lugubrious parts1 his ,majesty sat apart1 his face buried in his hands1 confessing a keener anguish than had ever before cut his selfish heart4 ,the urn being thus elevated1 all the insignia pertaining to the rank of the little princess were disposed in formal order below it1 as though at her feet4 ,then the musicians struck up a passionate passage1 ending in a plaintive and truly solemn dirge2 after which his ,majesty and all the princely company retired1 leaving the poor clod to await1 in its pagan gauds and mockery1 the last offices of friendship4 ,but not always alone2 for thrice daily--at early dawn1 and noon1 and gloaming--the musicians came to perform a requiem for the soul of the dead1--that it may soar on high1 from the naming1 fragrant pyre for which it is reserved1 and return to its foster parents1 ,ocean1 ,earth1 ,air1 ,sky4 ,with these is joined a concert of mourning women1 who bewail the early dead1 extolling her beauty1 graces1 virtues2 while in the intervals1 four priests 7who are relieved every fourth hour7 chant the praises of ,buddha1 bidding the gentle spirit ,pass on6 ,pass on6 and boldly speed through the labyrinth before it1 through high1 deep1 and famous things1 through good and evil things1 through truth and error1 through wisdom and folly1 through sorrow1 suffering1 hope1 life1 joy1 love1 death1 through endless mutability1 into immutability6 ,these services are performed with religious care daily for six months2 ,footnote3 ,twelve months for a king4 that is1 until the time appointed for cremation4 ,meanwhile1 in the obsequies of the ,princess ,f-ying1 arrangements were made for the erection of the customary ,p'hra-mne1--a temporary structure of great splendor1 where the body lies in state for several days1 on a throne dazzling with gold and silver ornaments and precious stones4 ,for the funeral honors of royalty it is imperative that the ,p'hra-mne be constructed of virgin timber4 ,trunks of teak1 from two hundred to two hundred and fifty feet in length1 and of proportionate girth1 are felled in the forests of ,myolonghee1 and brought down the ,meinam in rafts4 ,these trunks1 planted thirty feet deep1 one at each corner of a square1 serve as pillars1 not less than a hundred and seventy feet high1 to support a sixty-foot spire1 an octagonal pyramid1 covered with gold leaf4 ,attached to this pyramid are four wings1 forty feet long1 with handsome porches looking to the cardinal points of the compass2 here also are four colossal figures of heroic myths1 each with a lion couchant at its feet4 ,on one side of the square reserved for the ,p'hra-mne1 a vast hall is erected to accommodate the ,supreme ,king and his family while attending the funeral ceremonies4 ,the several roofs of this temporary edifice have peculiar horn-like projections at the ends1 and are covered with crimson cloth1 while golden draperies are suspended from the ceiling4 ,the entire space around the ,p'hra-mne is matted with bamboo wicker-work1 and decorated with innumerable standards peculiar to ,siam4 ,here and there may be seen grotesque cartoons of the wars of gods and giants1 and rude landscapes supposed to represent the ,buddhist's heaven1 with lakes and groves and gardens4 ,beyond these are playhouses for theatrical displays1 puppet-shows1 masquerades1 posturing1 somersaulting1 leaping1 wrestling1 balancing on ropes and wires1 and the tricks of professional buffoons4 ,here also are restaurants1 or cook-shops1 for all classes of people above the degree of boors2 and these are open day and night during the period devoted to the funeral rites4 ,the grand lodge erected for the ,second ,king and his household1 at the cremation of his little niece1 resembled that of his brother1 the ,supreme ,king1 in the regal style of its decorations4 ,the centre of the ,p'hra-mne is a lofty octagon2 and directly under the great spire is a gorgeous eight-sided pyramid1 diminishing by right-angled gradations to a truncated top1 its base being fifty or sixty feet in circumference1 and higher by twenty feet than the surrounding buildings4 ,on this pyramid stood the urn of gold containing the remains of the royal child4 ,above the urn a golden canopy hung from the lofty ceiling1 and far above this again a circular white awning was spread1 representing the firmament studded with silver stars4 ,under the canopy1 and just over little ,f-ying's urn1 the whitest and most fragrant flowers1 gathered and arranged by those who loved her best in life1 formed a bright odoriferous bower4 ,the pyramid itself was decorated with rare and beautiful gifts1 of glass1 porcelain1 alabaster1 silver1 gold1 and artificial flowers1 with images of birds1 beasts1 men1 women1 children1 and angels4 ,splendid chandeliers suspended from the ceiling1 and lesser lights on the angles of the pyramid1 illuminated the funeral hall4 ,these showy preparations completed1 the royal mourners only waited for the appointed time when the remains must be laid in state upon the consecrated pyre4 ,at dawn of that day1 all the princes1 nobles1 governors1 and superior priests of the kingdom1 with throngs of baser men1 women1 and children1 in their holiday attire1 came to grace the fiery consummation of little ,f-ying4 ,a royal barge conveyed me1 with my boy1 to the palace1 whence we followed on foot4 ,the gold urn1 in an ivory chariot of antique fashion1 richly gilt1 was drawn by a pair of milk-white horses1 and followed and attended by hundreds of men clad in pure white4 ,it was preceded by two other chariots2 in the first sat the high-priest1 reading short1 pithy aphorisms and precepts from the sacred books2 in the other followed the full brothers of the deceased4 ,a strip of silver cloth1 six inches wide1 attached to the urn1 was loosely extended to the seats of the royal mourners in this second chariot1 and thence to the chariot of the high- priest1 on whose lap the ends were laid1 symbolizing the mystic union between death1 life1 and the ,buddha4 ,next after the urn came a chariot laden with the sacred sandal-wood1 the aromatic gums1 and the wax tapers4 ,the wood was profusely carved with emblems of the indestructibility of matter2 for though the fire apparently consumes the pile1 and with it the body1 the priests are careful to interpret the process as that by which both are endued with new vitality2 thus everything consecrated to the religious observances of ,buddhism is made to typify some latent truth4 ,then came a long procession of mythological figures1 nondescripts drawn on small wooden wheels1 and covered with offerings for the priests4 ,these were followed by crowds of both sexes and all ages1 bearing in their hands the mystic triform flower1 emblematic of the sacred circle1 ,om1 or ,aum4 ,to hold this mystic flower above the head1 and describe with it endless circles in the air1 is regarded as a performance of peculiar virtue and merit1 and one of the most signal acts of devotion possible to a ,buddhist4 ,and yet1 as the symbol of ,one great ,central ,spirit1 whose name it is profanation to utter1 the symbol is strangely at variance with the doctrines of ,buddhism4 ,the moment the strange concourse1 human and mythological1 began to move1 the conch-shells1 horns1 trumpets1 sackbuts1 pipes1 dulcimers1 flutes1 and harps rent the air with wild wailing2 but above the din rose the deep1 booming1 measured beat of the death-drums4 ,very subtile1 and indescribably stirring is this ancient music1 with its various weird and prolonged cadences1 and that solemn thundering boom enhancing the peculiar sweetness of the dirge as it rises and falls4 ,under the spell of such sounds as these the procession moved slowly to the ,p'hra-mne4 ,here the urn was lifted by means of pulleys1 and enthroned on the splendid pedestal prepared for it4 ,the silver cloth from the chariot of the high-priest was laid upon it1 the ends drooping on the eastern and western sides to the rich carpet of the floor4 ,a hundred priests1 fifty on either hand1 rehearsed in concert1 seated on the floor1 long hymns in ,pali from the sacred books1 principally embodying melancholy reflections on the brevity and uncertainty of human life4 ,after which1 holding the silver cloth between the thumb and forefinger1 they joined in silent prayer1 thereby1 as they suppose1 communicating a saving virtue to the cloth1 which conveys it to the dead within the urn4 ,they continued thus engaged for about an hour1 and then withdrew to give place to another hundred1 and so on1 until thousands of priests had taken part in the solemn exercises4 ,meanwhile the four already mentioned still prayed1 day and night1 at the ,maha ,phrasat4 ,a service was likewise performed for the royal family twice a day1 in an adjacent temporary chapel1 where all the court attended1--including the noble ladies of the harem1 who occupy private oratories1 hung with golden draperies1 behind which they can see and hear without being seen4 ,as long as these funeral ceremonies last1 the numerous concourse of priests is sumptuously entertained4 ,at nightfall the ,p'hra-mne is brilliantly illuminated1 within and without1 and the people are entertained with dramatic spectacles derived from the ,chinese1 ,hindoo1 ,malayan1 and ,persian classics4 ,effigies of the fabulous ,hydra1 or dragon with seven heads1 illuminated1 and animated by men concealed within1 are seen endeavoring to swallow the moon1 represented by a globe of fire4 ,another monster1 probably the ,chimra1 with the head and breast of a lion and the body of a goat1 vomits flame and smoke4 ,there are also figures of ,echidna and ,cerberus1 the former represented as a beautiful nymph1 but terminating below the waist in the coils of a dragon or python2 and the latter as a triple-headed dog1 evidently the canine bugaboo that is supposed to have guarded ,pluto's dreadful gates4 ,about nine o'clock fireworks were ignited by the king's own hand1--a very beautiful display1 representing1 among other graceful forms1 a variety of shrubbery1 which gradually blossomed with roses1 dahlias1 oleanders1 and other flowers4 ,the flinging of money and trinkets to the rabble is usually the most exciting of the pranks which diversify the funeral ceremonies of ,siamese royalty2 in this mal propos pastime his ,majesty took a lively part4 ,the personal effects of the deceased are divided into two or more equal portions1 one of which is bestowed on the poor1 another on the priests2 memorials and complimentary tokens are presented to the princes and nobles1 and the friends of the royal family4 ,the more costly articles are ticketed and distributed by lottery2 and smaller objects1 such as rings and gold and silver coins1 are put into lemons1 which his ,majesty1 standing on the piazza of his temporary palace1 flings among the sea of heads below4 ,there is also at each of the four corners of the ,p'hra-mne1 an artificial tree1 bearing gold and silver fruit1 which is plucked by officers of the court1 and tossed to the poor on every side4 ,each throw is hailed by a wild shout from the multitude1 and followed by a mad scramble4 ,in this connection the following notification from the king's hand will be intelligible to the reader4 ,,the ,,notification ,in regard to the mourning distribution and donation in funeral service or ceremony of cremation of the remains of ,her late ,royal ,highness celestial ,princess ,somdetch ,chowfa ,chandrmondol ,sobhon ,bhagiawati1 ,footnote3 ,f-ying4 whose death took place on the #abth ,may1 ,anno ,christi #ahfc4 ,this ,part consisting of a glasscoverbox enclosing a idol of ,chinese fabulousquadruped called 'sai' or ,lion1 covered with goldleaf ornamented with coined pieces of silver rings a black bag of funeral balls enclosing some pieces of gold and silver coins c41 in funeral service of ,her late ,royal ,highness the forenamed princess1 the ninth daughter or sixteenth offspring of ,his ,majesty the reigning ,supreme ,king of ,siam1 which took place in ceremony continued from #afth to #bast day of ,february ,anno ,christi #ahfd4 prepared ex-property of ,her late lamented ,royal ,highness the deceased1 and assistant funds from certain members of the ,royal ,family1 designed from his ,gracious ,majesty ,somdetch ,p'hra ,paramendr ,maha ,mongkut1 ,her late ,royal ,highness' bereaved ,royal father4 ,their ,royal ,highnesses celestial princes ,somdetch ,chowfa ,chulalonkorn the full elder brother1 ,chowfa ,chaturont ,rasmi1 and ,chowfa ,bhangurangsi ,swang-wongse1 the two younger full brothers1 and ,his ,royal ,highness ,prince ,nobhawongs ,krommun ,maha-suarsivivalas the eldest half brother4 ,their ,royal ,highnesses twenty-five princes1 ,krita-bhinihar1 ,gaganang ,yugol c4 the younger half-brothers1 and their ,royal ,highnesses seven princesses1 ,yingyawlacks1 ,dacksinja1 and ,somawati1 c41 the elder sisters1 #ah princesses1 ,srinagswasti1 c41 the younger half-sisters of ,her late ,royal ,highness the deceased1 for friendly acceptance of--who is one of ,his present ,siamese ,majesty's friends who either have ever been acquainted in person or through means of correspondence c4 certain of whom have ever seen ,her late ,royal ,highness1 and some have been acquainted with certain of her late ,royal ,highness the deceased's elder or younger brothers and sisters4 ,his ,siamese ,majesty1 with his #bi sons1 and #be daughters above partly named1 trusts that this part will be acceptable to every one of ,his ,gracious ,majesty's and their ,royal ,highnesses' friends who ever have been acquainted with his present ,majesty1 and certain of ,their ,royal ,highnesses or ,her late ,royal ,highness the deceased1 either in person or by correspondence1 or only by name through cards c4 for a token of remembrance of ,her late ,royal ,highness the deceased and for feeling of ,emotion that this path ought to be followed by every one of human beings after long or short time1 as the lights of lives of all living beings are like flames of candles lighted in opening air without covering and ,protecting on every side1 so it shall be considered with great emotion by the readers4 ,dated ,,royal ,,funeral ,,place4 ,,bangkok1 #bjth ,february1 ,anno ,christi #ahfd4 ,thus twelve days were passed in feasting1 drinking1 praying1 preaching1 sporting1 gambling and scrambling4 ,on the thirteenth1 the double urn1 with its melancholy moral1 was removed from the pyramid1 and the inner one1 with the grating1 was laid on a bed of fragrant sandalwood1 and aromatic gums1 connected with a train of gunpowder1 which the king ignited with a match from the sacred fire that burns continually in the temple ,watt ,p'hra ,kau4 ,the ,second ,king then lighted his candles from the same torch1 and laid them on the pyre2 and so on1 in the order of rank1 down to the meanest slave1 until many hundreds of wax candles and boxes of precious spices and fragrant gums were cast into the flames4 ,the funeral orchestra then played a wailing dirge1 and the mourning women broke into a concerted and prolonged keen1 of the most ear-piercing and heart-rending description4 ,when the fire had quite burned itself out1 all that remained of the bones1 charred and blackened1 was carefully gathered1 deposited in a third and smaller urn of gold1 and again conveyed in great state to the ,maha ,phrasat4 ,the ashes were also collected with scrupulous pains in a pure cloth of white muslin1 and laid in a gold dish2 afterward1 attended by all the mourning women and musicians1 and escorted by a procession of barges1 it was floated some miles down the river1 and there committed to the waters4 ,nothing left of our lovely darling but a few charred bits of rubbish6 ,but in memory ,i still catch glimpses of the sylph-like form1 half veiled in the shroud of flame that wrapped her last1 but with the innocent1 questioning eyes still turned to me2 and as ,i look back into their depths of purity and love1 again and again ,i mourn1 as at first1 for that which made me feel1 more and more by its sympathy1 the peculiar desolation of my life in the palace4 ,immediately on the death of a ,supreme ,king an order is issued for the universal shaving of the bristly tuft from the heads of all male subjects4 ,only those princes who are older than their deceased sovereign are exempt from the operation of this law4 ,upon his successor devolves the duty of providing for the erection of the royal ,p'hra-mne--as to the proportions and adornment of which he is supposed to be guided by regard for the august rank of the deceased1 and the public estimation in which his name and fame are held4 ,royal despatches are forthwith sent to the governors of four different provinces in the extreme north1 where the noblest timber abounds1 commanding each of them to furnish one of the great pillars for the ,p'hra-mne4 ,these must be of the finest wood1 perfectly straight1 from two hundred to two hundred and fifty feet long1 and not less than twelve feet in circumference4 ,at the same time twelve pillars1 somewhat smaller1 are required from the governors of twelve other provinces2 besides much timber in other forms necessary to the construction of the grand funeral hall and its numerous supplementary buildings4 ,as sacred custom will not tolerate the presence of pillars that have already been used for any purpose whatever1 it is indispensable that fresh ones1 virgin trunks1 be procured for every new occasion of the obsequies of royalty4 ,these four great trunks are hard to find1 and can be floated down the ,meinam to the capital only at the seasons when that stream and its tributaries are high4 ,this is perhaps the natural cause of the long interval that elapses--twelve months--between the death and the cremation of a ,siamese king4 ,the giant boles are dragged in primitive fashion to the banks of the stream by elephants and buffaloes1 and shipped in rafts4 ,arrived at ,bangkok1 they are hauled on rollers inch by inch1 by men working with a rude windlass and levers1 to the site of the ,p'hra-mne4 ,the following description of the cremation1 at ,bejrepuri1 of a man in the middle walks of life1 is taken from the ,bangkok ,recorder of ,may #bd1 #ahff3--,the corpse was first to be offered to the vultures1 a hundred or more4 ,before the coffin was opened the filthy and horrible gang had assembled1 'for wheresoever the carcass is1 there will the eagles 7vultures7 be gathered together4' ,they were perched on the ridges of the temple1 and even on small trees and bushes1 within a few feet of the body2 and so greedy were they that the sexton and his assistants had to beat them off many times before the coffin could be opened4 ,they seemed to know that there would be but a mouthful for each1 if divided among them all1 and the pack of greedy dogs besides1 that waited for their share4 ,the body was taken from the coffin and laid on a pile of wood that had been prepared on a small temporary altar4 ,then the birds were allowed to descend upon the corpse and tear it as they liked4 ,for a while it was quite hidden in the rush4 ,but each bird1 grabbing its part with bill and claws1 spread its wings and mounted to some quiet place to eat4 ,the sexton seemed to think that he too was 'making merit' by cutting off parts of the body and throwing them to the hungry dogs1 as the dying man had done in bequeathing his body to those carrion-feeders4 ,the birds1 not satisfied with what they got from the altar1 came down and quarrelled with the curs for their share4 ,while this was going on1 the mourners stood waiting1 with wax candles and incense sticks1 to pay their last tribute of respect to the deceased by assisting in the burning of the bones after the vultures and dogs had stripped them4 ,the sexton1 with the assistance of another1 gathered up the skeleton and put it back into the coffin1 which was lifted by four men and carried around the funeral pile three times4 ,it was then laid on the pile of wood1 and a few sticks were put into the coffin to aid in burning the bones4 ,then a lighted torch was applied to the pile1 and the relatives and other mourners advanced1 and laid each a wax candle by the torch4 ,others brought incense and cast it on the pile4 ,the vultures1 having had but a scanty breakfast1 lingered around the place until the fire had left nothing more for them1 when they shook their ugly heads1 and hopping a few steps1 to get up a momentum1 flapped their harpy wings and flew away4 ,,xxiv4 ,,certain ,,superstitions4 ,,my friend ,maha ,mongkut used to maintain1 with the doctors and sophists of his sect1 that the ,buddhist priesthood have no superstitions2 that though they do not accept the ,christian's ,providence1 they do believe in a ,creator 7,p'hra-,tham71 at whose will all crude matter sprang into existence1 but who exercises no further control over it2 that man is but one of the endless mutations of matter1--was not created1 but has existed from the beginning1 and will continue to exist to all eternity2 that though he was not born in sin1 he is held by the secondary law of retribution accountable for offences committed in his person1 and these he must expiate through subsequent transmigrations1 until1 by sublimation1 he is absorbed again into the primal source of his being2 and that mutability is an essential and absolute law of the universe4 ,in like manner they protest that they are not idolaters1 any more than the ,roman ,catholics are pagans2 that the image of ,buddha1 their ,teacher and ,high-,priest1 is to them what the crucifix is to the ,jesuit2 neither more nor less4 ,they scout the idea that they worship the white elephant1 but acknowledge that they hold the beast sacred1 as one of the incarnations of their great reformer4 ,nevertheless1 no nation or tribe of all the human race has ever been more profoundly inoculated with a superstition the most depraving and malignant than the ,siamese4 ,they have peopled their spiritual world with grotesques1 conceived in hallucination and brought forth in nightmare1 the monstrous devices of mischief on the one hand and misery on the other1--gods1 demons1 genii1 goblins1 wraiths2 and to flatter or propitiate these1 especially to enlist their tutelary offices1 they commit or connive at crimes of fantastic enormity4 ,while residing within the walls of ,bangkok1 ,i learned of the existence of a custom having all the stability and force of a ,medo-,persic law4 ,whenever a command has gone forth from the throne for the erection of a new fort or a new gate1 or the reconstruction of an old one1 this ancient custom demands1 as the first step in the procedure1 that three innocent men shall be immolated on the site selected by the court astrologers1 and at their auspicious hour4 ,in #ahfe1 his ,majesty and the ,french ,consul at ,bangkok had a grave misunderstanding about a proposed modification of a treaty relating to ,cambodia4 ,the consul demanded the removal of the prime minister from the commission appointed to arrange the terms of this treaty4 ,the king replied that it was beyond his power to remove the ,kralahome4 ,afterward1 the consul1 always irritable and insolent1 having nursed his wrath to keep it warm1 waylaid the king as he was returning from a temple1 and threatened him with war1 and what not1 if he did not accede to his demands4 ,whereupon1 the poor king1 effectually intimidated1 took refuge in his palace behind barred gates2 and forthwith sent messengers to his astrologers1 magicians1 and soothsayers1 to inquire what the situation prognosticated4 ,the magi and the augurs1 and all the seventh sons of seventh sons1 having shrewedly pumped the officers1 and made a solemn show of consulting their oracles1 replied3 ,the times are full of omen4 ,danger approaches from afar4 ,let his ,majesty erect a third gate1 on the east and on the west4 ,next morning1 betimes1 pick and spade were busy1 digging deep trenches outside the pair of gates that1 on the east and west alike1 already protected the palace4 ,meanwhile1 the consul either quite forgot his threats1 or cooled in the cuddling of them2 yet day and night the king's people plied pick and spade and basket in the new foundations4 ,when all was ready1 the ,san ,luang1 or secret council of ,royal ,judges1 met at midnight in the palace1 and despatched twelve officers to lurk around the new gates until dawn4 ,two1 stationed just within the entrance1 assume the character of neighbors and friends1 calling loudly to this or that passenger1 and continually repeating familiar names4 ,the peasants and market folk1 who are always passing at that hour1 hearing these calls1 stop1 and turn to see who is wanted4 ,instantly the myrmidons of the san luang rush from their hiding-places1 and arrest1 hap-hazard1 six of them--three for each gate4 ,from that moment the doom of these astonished1 trembling wretches is sealed4 ,no petitions1 payments1 prayers1 can save them4 ,in the centre of the gateway a deep fosse or ditch is dug1 and over it is suspended by two cords an enormous beam4 ,on the auspicious day for the sacrifice1 the innocent1 unresisting victims--hinds and churls perhaps1 of the lowest degree in ,bangkok--are mocked with a dainty and elaborate banquet1 and then conducted in state to their fatal post of honor4 ,the king and all the court make profound obeisance before them1 his ,majesty adjuring them earnestly to guard with devotion the gate1 now about to be intrusted to their keeping1 from all dangers and calamities2 and to come in season to forewarn him1 if either traitors within or enemies without should conspire against the peace of his people or the safety of his throne4 ,even as the last word of this exhortation falls from the royal lips1 the cords are cut1 the ponderous engine squelches the heads of the distinguished wretches1 and three ,bangkok ragamuffins are metempsychosed into three guardian-angels 7,thevedah74 ,siamese citizens of wealth and influence often bury treasure in the earth1 to save it from arbitrary confiscation4 ,in such cases a slave is generally immolated on the spot1 to make a guardian genius4 ,among certain classes1 not always the lowest1 we find a greedy passion that expends itself in indefatigable digging for such precious caches1 in the environs of abandoned temples1 or among the ruins of the ancient capital1 ,ayudia4 ,these treasure-seekers first pass a night near the supposed place of concealment1 having offered at sunset to the genius of the spot oblations of candles1 perfumed tapers1 and roasted rice4 ,they then betake themselves to slumber2 and in their dreams the genie is expected to appear1 and indicate precisely the hiding-place of his golden charge1 at the same time offering to wink at its sacking in consideration of the regular perquisite1--one pig's head and two bottles of arrack4 ,on the other hand1 the genie may appear in an angry aspect1 flourishing the conventional club in a style that means business1 and demanding by what right the intruders would tamper with his charge2 whereat sudden waking and dishevelled flight4 ,another and more barbarous superstition relates to premature delivery4 ,in such a case the embarrassed mother calls in a female magician1 who declares that an evil spirit has practised a spiteful joke upon the married pair1 with a design upon the life of the mother4 ,so saying1 she pops the still-born into an earthen pot1 and with that in her left hand and a sword in her right1 makes for the margin of a deep stream1 where1 with an approved imprecation upon the fiend and a savage slash at the manikin1 she tosses the pot and its untimely contents into the flood4 ,by such witches as this1 sorceries of all kinds are practised for fee4 ,they are likewise supposed to be skilled in the art of healing1 and are notable compounders of love-philters and potions4 ,the king supports a certain number of astrologers1 whose duties consist in the prediction of events1 whether great or small1 from war or peace to rain or drought1 and in indicating or determining future possibilities by the aspect and position of the stars4 ,the people universally wear charms and talismans1 to which they ascribe supernatural virtues4 ,a patient in fever with delirium is said to be possessed of a devil2 and should he grow frantic and unmanageable in the paroxysms1 the one becomes a legion4 ,at the close of each year1 a thread of unspun cotton1 of seven fibres1 consecrated by priests1 is reeled round all the walls of the palace2 and from sunset until dawn a continuous cannonading is kept up from all the forts within hearing1 to rout the evil spirits that have infested the departing year4 ,,xxv4 ,,the ,,subordinate ,,king ,a second or subordinate kingship is an anomalous device or provision of sovereignty peculiar to ,siam1 ,cambodia1 and ,laos4 ,inferior in station to the ,supreme ,king only1 and apparently deriving from the throne of the ,phra-batts1 to which he may approach so near1 a reflected majesty and prestige not clearly understood by his subjects nor easily defined by foreigners1 the ,second ,king seems to be1 nevertheless1 belittled by the very significance of the one exclusive privilege that should distinguish him1--that of exemption from the customary prostrations before the ,first ,king1 whom he may salute by simply raising his hands and joining them above his head4 ,here his proper right of royalty begins and ends4 ,the part that he may play in the drama of government is cast to him in the necessity1 discretion1 or caprice of his absolute chief next1 and yet so far1 above him2 it may be important1 insignificant1 or wholly omitted4 ,like any lesser ducus of the realm1 he must appear before his lord twice a year to renew his oath of allegiance4 ,in law1 he is as mere a subject as the slave who bears his betel-box2 or that other slave who1 on his knees1 and with averted face1 presents his spittoon4 ,in history1 he shall be what circumstance or his own mind may make him3 the shadow or the soul of sovereignty1 even as the intellectual and moral weakness or strength may have been apportioned between him and his colleague4 ,from his rank he derives no advantage but the chance4 ,illustration3 ,the ,princess of ,chiengmai4 ,somdetch ,p'hra ,pawarendr ,ramesr ,mahiswarer1 the subordinate king of ,siam1 who died on the #bith of ,december1 #ahfe1 was the legitimate son of the supreme king1 second of his dynasty1 who reigned from #ahji to #ahbd4 ,his father had been second king to his grandfather1 grand supreme of ,siam1 and first of the reigning line4 ,his mother was lawful first queen consort2 and the late first or major king1 ,somdetch-,p'hra ,paramendr ,maha ,mongkut1 was his elder full brother4 ,being alike legitimate offspring of the first queen1 these two lads were styled ,somdetch ,chowfas1 ,celestial ,royal ,princes2 and during the second and third reigns they were distinguished by the titles of courtesy pertaining to their royal status and relation1 the elder as ,chowfa ,mongkut1 the younger as ,chowfa ,chudha-,mani3 ,mongkut signifying ,royal ,crown1 and ,chudha-,mani ,royal ,hair-pin4 ,on the death of their father 7in #ahbd71 and the accession1 by intrigue1 of their elder half-brother1 the ,chowfa ,mongkut entered the ,buddhist priesthood2 but his brother1 more ardent1 inquisitive1 and restless1 took active service with the king1 in the military as well as in the diplomatic department of government4 ,he was appointed ,superintendent of ,artillery and ,malayan ,infantry on the one hand2 and on the other1 ,translator of ,english ,documents and ,secretary for ,english ,correspondence4 ,in a cautious and verbose sketch of his character and services1 written after his death by his jealous brother1 the priest-king1 wherein he is by turns meanly disparaged and damned with faint praise1 we find this curious statement3-- ,after that time 7#ahba7 he became acquainted with certain parties of ,english and ,east ,indian merchants1 who made their appearance or first commenced trading on late of second reign1 after the former trade with ,siam which had been stopped or postponed several years in consequence of some misunderstanding before4 ,he became acquainted with certain parts of ,english language and literature1 and certain parts of ,hindoo or ,bengali language1 as sufficient for some unimportant conversation with ,english and ,indian strangers who were visitors of ,siam1 upon the latter part of the reign of his royal father2 but his royal father did not know that he possessed such knowledge of foreign language1 which had been concealed to the native persons in republic affairs1 whose jealousy seemed to be strong against strangers1 so he was not employed in any terms with those strangers foreign affairs1--that is1 during the life of his father1 at whose death he was just sixteen years old4 ,early in the third reign he was sent to ,meeklong to superintend the construction of important works of defence near the mouth of the ,meeklong ,river4 ,he pushed this work with vigor1 and completed it in #ahce4 ,in #ahdb he commanded successfully an expedition against the ,cochin-,chinese1 and1 in returning1 brought with him to ,siam many families of refugees from the eastern coast4 ,then he was commissioned by the king to reconstruct1 after ,western models1 the ancient fortifications at ,paknam2 and having to this end engaged a corps of ,european engineers and artisans1 he eagerly seized the advantage the situation afforded him1 by free and intelligent intercourse with his foreign assistants1 to master the ,english language1--so that1 at his death1 he notably excelled the first king in the facility with which he spoke1 read1 and wrote it1--and to improve his acquaintance with the ,western sciences and arts of navigation1 naval construction and armament1 coast and inland defence1 engineering1 transportation1 and telegraphy1 the working and casting of iron1 etc4 ,on the #bfth of ,may1 #ahea1 twelve days after the coronation of his elder brother1 the student and priest ,maha ,mongkut1 he was called by the unanimous voice of the king and council to be ,second ,king2 and throughout his subordinate reign his sagacious and alert inquiry1 his quick apprehension1 his energetic and liberal spirit of improvement1 engaged the admiration of foreigners2 whilst his handsome person1 his generous temper1 his gallant preference for the skilful and the brave1 his enthusiasm and princely profusion in sports and shows1 endeared him more and more to his people4 ,maha ,mongkut--at no time inclined to praise him beyond his deserts1 and least of all in the latter years of his life1 imbittered to both by mutual jealousy and distrust--wrote almost handsomely of him under the pressure of this public opinion4 ,he made everything new and beautiful1 and of curious appearance1 and of a good style of architecture1 and much stronger than they had formerly been constructed by his three predecessors1 the second kings of the last three reigns1 for the space of time that he was second king4 ,he had introduced and collected many and many things1 being articles of great curiosity1 and things useful for various purposes of military acts and affairs1 from ,europe and ,america1 ,china1 and other states1 and placed them in various departments and rooms or buildings suitable for those articles1 and placed officers for maintaining and preserving the various things neatly and carefully4 ,he has constructed several buildings in ,european fashion and ,chinese fashion1 and ornamented them with various useful ornaments for his pleasure1 and has constructed two steamers in manner of men-of-war1 and two steam-yachts1 and several rowing state-boats in ,siamese and ,cochin-,chinese fashion1 for his pleasure at sea and rivers of ,siam2 and caused several articles of gold and silver being vessels and various wares and weapons to be made up by the ,siamese and ,malayan goldsmiths1 for employ and dress of himself and his family1 by his direction and skilful contrivance and ability4 ,he became celebrated and spread out more and more to various regions of the ,siamese kingdom1 adjacent ,states around1 and far-famed to foreign countries1 even at far distance1 as he became acquainted with many and many foreigners1 who came from various quarters of the world where his name became known to most as a very clever and bravest ,prince of ,siam4444 ,as he pleased mostly with firing of cannon and acts of ,marine power and seamen1 which he has imitated to his steamers which were made in manner of the man-of-war1 after he has seen various things curious and useful1 and learned ,marine customs on board the foreign vessels of war1 his steamers conveyed him to sea1 where he has enjoyed playing of firing in cannon very often4444 ,he pleased very much in and was playful of almost everything1 some important and some unimportant1 as riding on ,elephants and ,horses and ,ponies1 racing of them and racing of rowing boats1 firing on birds and beasts of prey1 dancing and singing in various ways pleasantly1 and various curiosity of almost everything1 and music of every description1 and in taming of dogs1 monkeys1 c41 c41 that is to say briefly that he has tested almost everything eatable except entirely testing of ,opium and play4 ,also he has visited regions of ,northeastern ,province of ,sarapury and ,gorath very often for enjoyment of pleasant riding on ,elephants and ,horses1 at forests in chasing animals of prey1 fowling1 and playing music and singing with ,laos people of that region and obtaining young wives from there4 ,what follows is not more curious as to its form of expression than suspicious as to its meaning and motive4 ,to all who know with what pusillanimity at times the ,first ,king shrank from the approach of ,christian foreigners1--especially the ,french priests1--with what servility in his moody way he courted their favor1 it will appear of very doubtful sincerity4 ,to those who are familiar with the circumstances under which it was written1 and to whom the attitude of jealous reserve that the brothers occupied toward each other at the time of the ,second ,king's death was no secret1 it may seem 7even after due allowance is made for the prejudices or the obligations of the priest7 to cover an insidious1 though scarcely adroit1 design to undermine the honorable reputation the younger enjoyed among the missionaries1 and the cordial friendship with which he had been regarded by several of the purest of them4 ,certainly it is suspiciously of a piece with other passages1 quoted further on1 in which the king's purpose to disparage the merits of his brother1 and damage the influence of his name abroad1 is sufficiently transparent4 ,in this connection the reader may derive a ray of light from the fact that on the birth of the ,second ,king's first son1 an ,american missionary1 who was on terms of intimacy with the father1 named the child ,george ,washington2 and that child1 the ,prince ,george ,washington ,krom ,mu'n ,pawarwijagan1 is the present ,second ,king of ,siam4 ,but to ,maha ,mongkut1 and his art of putting things3-- ,he was rumored to be baptized or near to be baptized in ,christianity1 but the fact it is false4 ,he was a ,buddhist1 but his faith and belief changed very often in favor of various sects of ,buddhism by the association of his wives and various families and of persons who were believers in various sects of the established religion of the ,siamese and ,laos1 ,peguan and ,burmese countries4 ,why should he become a ,christian8 when his pleasures consisted in polygamy and enjoyment1 and with young women who were practised in pleasant dancing and singing1 and who could not be easily given up at any time4 ,he was very desirous of having his sons to be ,english scholars and to be learned the art of speaking1 reading and writing in ,english well like himself1 but he said he cannot allow his sons to enter the ,christian ,missionary-,school1 as he feared his descendants might be induced to the ,christianity in which he did not please to believe4 ,pawarendr ,ramesr had ever been the favorite and darling of his mother1 and it was in his infancy that the seeds of that ignoble jealousy were sown between the royal brothers1 which nourished so rankly and bore such noxious fruit in their manhood4 ,from his tenderest years the younger prince was remarkable for his personal beauty and his bright intelligence1 and before his thirteenth birthday had already learned all that his several masters could teach him4 ,from an old priest1 named ,p'hra ,naitt1 ,i gathered many pleasant anecdotes of his childhood4 ,for example1 he related with peculiar pride how the young prince1 then but twelve years old1 being borne one day in state through the eastern gate of the city to visit his mother's lotos-gardens1 observed an old man1 half blind1 resting by the roadside4 ,commanding his bearers to halt1 he alighted from his sedan and kindly accosted the poor creature4 ,finding him destitute and helpless1 a stranger and a wayfarer in the land1 he caused him to be seated in his own sedan1 and borne to the gardens1 while he followed on foot4 ,here he had the old man bathed1 clad in fresh linen1 and entertained with a substantial meal2 and afterward he took his astonished client into his service1 as keeper of his cattle4 ,later in life the generous and romantic prince diverted himself with the adventurous beneficence of ,haroun al ,raschid1 visiting the poor in disguise1 listening to the recital of their sufferings and wrongs1 and relieving them with ready largesse of charity and justice2 and nothing so pleased and flattered him as to be called1 in his assumed name of ,nak ,pratt1 the wise1 to take part in their sports and ftes4 ,the affectionate enthusiasm with which the venerable poonghee remembered his royal pupil was inspiring2 and to see his eyes sparkle and his face glow with sympathetic triumph1 as he described the lad's exploits of strength or skill in riding1 fencing1 boxing1 was a fine sight4 ,but it was with saddened look and tone that he whispered to me1 that1 at the prince's birth1 the astrologer who cast his horoscope had foretold for him an unnatural death4 ,this1 he said1 was the secret of the watchful devotion and imprudent partiality his mother had always manifested for him4 ,for such a prince to come into even the empty name of power was to become subject to the evil eye of his fraternal lord and rival1 for whose favor officious friends and superserviceable lackeys contended in scandalous and treacherous spyings of the ,second ,king's every action4 ,yet1 meanly beset as he was1 he contrived to find means and opportunity to enlarge his understanding and multiply his attainments2 and in the end his proficiency in languages1 ,european and ,oriental1 became as remarkable as it was laudable4 ,it was by ,mr4 ,hunter1 secretary to the prime minister1 that he was introduced to the study of the ,english language and literature1 and by this gentleman's intelligent aid he procured the text-books which constituted the foundation of his educational course4 ,in person he was handsome1 for a ,siamese2 of medium stature1 compact and symmetrical figure1 and rather dark complexion4 ,his conversation and deportment denoted the cultivation1 delicacy1 and graceful poise of an accomplished gentleman2 and he delivered his ,english with a correctness and fluency very noticeably free from the peculiar spasmodic effort that marked his royal brother's exploits in the language of ,shakespeare4 ,in his palace1 which1 he had rebuilt after the model of an ,english nobleman's residence1 he led the life of a healthy1 practical1 and systematic student4 ,his library1 more judiciously selected than that of his brother1 abounded in works of science1 embracing the latest discoveries4 ,here he passed many hours1 cultivating a sound acquaintance with the results of investigation and experiment in the ,western world4 ,his partiality for ,english literature in all its branches was extreme4 ,the freshest publications of ,london found their way to his tables1 and he heartily enjoyed the creations of ,dickens4 ,for robust and exhilarating enjoyment1 however1 he had recourse to hunting expeditions1 and martial exercises in the drilling of his private troops4 ,punctually at daybreak every morning he appeared on the parade-ground1 and proceeded to review his little army with scrupulous precision1 according to ,european tactics2 after which he led his well-trained files to their barracks within the palace walls1 where the soldiers exchanged their uniform for a working-dress4 ,then he marched them to the armory1 where muskets1 bayonets1 and sabres were brought out and severely scoured4 ,that done1 the men were dismissed till the morrow4 ,among his courtiers were several gentlemen of ,siam and ,laos1 who had acquired such a smattering of ,english as qualified them to assist the prince in his scientific diversions4 ,opposite the armory stood a pretty little cottage1 quite ,english-looking1 lighted with glass windows1 and equipped with ,european furniture4 ,over the entrance to this quaint tenement hung a painted sign1 in triumphant ,english1 ,,watches ,,and ,,clocks ,,made ,,and ,,repaired ,,here2 and hither came frequently the ,second ,king and his favorites1 to pursue assiduously their harmless occupation of horlogerie4 ,sometimes this eccentric entertainment was diversified with music1 in which his ,majesty took a leading part1 playing with taste and skill on the flute1 and several instruments of the ,laos people4 ,such a prince should have been happy1 in the innocence of his pastimes and the dignity of his pursuits4 ,but the same accident of birth and station to which he owed his privileges and his opportunities imposed its peculiar disabilities and hindrances4 ,his troubles were the troubles of a second king1 who chanced to be also an ardent and aspiring man4 ,weary with disappointment1 disheartened in his honorable longing for just appreciation1 vexed with the caprice and suspicions of his elder brother2 oppressed by the ever-present tyranny of the thought--so hard for such a man to bear--that the woman he loved best in the land he was inexorably forbidden to marry1 because1 being a princess of the first rank1 she might be offered and accepted to grace the harem of his brother2 a mere prisoner of state1 watched by the baleful eye of jealousy1 and traduced by the venal tongues of courtiers2 dwelling in a torment of uncertainty as to the fate to which his brother's explosive temper and irresponsible power might devote him1 hoping for no repose or safety but in his funeral-urn1--he began to grow hard and defiant1 and that which1 in the native freedom of his soul1 should have been his noble steadfastness degenerated into ignoble obstinacy4 ,among the innumerable mean torments with which his pride was persecuted was the continual presence of a certain doctor1 who1 by the king's command1 attended him at all times and places1 compelling him to use remedies that were most distasteful to him4 ,he was gallantly kind and courteous toward women2 no act of cruelty to any woman was ever attributed to him4 ,his children he ruled wisely1 though somewhat sternly1 rendering his occasional tenderness and indulgence so much the more precious and delightful to them4 ,never had ,siam a more popular prince4 ,he was the embodiment of the most hopeful qualities1 moral and intellectual1 of his nation2 especially was he the exponent and promise of its most progressive tendencies2 and his people regarded him with love and reverence1 as their trusty stay and support4 ,his talents as a statesman commanded the unqualified admiration of foreigners2 and it was simply the jealous and tyrannical temper of ,maha ,mongkut that forced him to retire from all participation in the affairs of government4 ,at last the mutual reserve and distrust of the royal brothers broke out in open quarrel1 provoked by the refusal of the ,first ,king to permit the ,second to borrow from the royal treasury a considerable sum of money4 ,on the day after his order was dishonored1 the prince set out with his congenial and confidential courtiers on a hunting expedition to the ,laos province of ,chiengmai1 scornfully threatening to entrap one of the royal white elephants1 and sell it to his ,supreme ,majesty for the sum he would not loan4 ,at ,chiengmai he was regally entertained by the tributary prince of that province2 and no sooner was his grievance known1 than the money he required was laid at his feet4 ,too manly to accept the entire sum1 he borrowed but a portion of it2 and instead of taking it out of the country1 decided to sojourn there for a time1 that he might spend it to the advantage of the people4 ,to this end he selected a lovely spot in the vicinity of ,chiengmai1 called ,saraburee1 itself a city of some consideration1 where bamboo houses line the banks of a beautiful river1 that traverses teak forests alive with large game4 ,on an elevation near at hand the ,second ,king erected a palace substantially fortified1 which he named ,ban ,sitha 7the ,home of the ,goddess ,sitha71 and caused a canal to be cut to the eastern slope4 ,here he indulged freely1 and on an imposing scale1 in his favorite pastime of hunting1 and privately took to wife the daughter of the king of ,chiengmai1 the ,princess ,sunartha ,vismita4 ,and here he was happy1 only returning to ,bangkok when called thither by affairs of state1 or to take the semi-annual oath of allegiance4 ,among the prince's concubines at this time was a woman named ,kliep1 envious1 intriguing1 and ambitious1 who by consummate arts had obtained control of his ,majesty's cuisine1--an appointment of peculiar importance and trust in the household of an ,oriental prince4 ,finding that by no feminine devices could she procure the influence she coveted over her master's mind and affections1 she finally had recourse to an old and infamous sorcerer1 styled ,khoon ,hte-nah 7,lord of ,future ,events71 an adept of the black art much consulted by women of rank from all parts of the country2 and he1 in consideration of an extraordinary fee1 prepared for her a variety of charms1 incantations1 philters1 to be administered to the prince1 in whose food daily1 for years1 she mixed the abominable nostrums4 ,the poison did its work slowly but surely1 and his sturdy life was gradually undermined4 ,his strength quite gone1 and his spirit broken1 his despondency became so profound that he lost all taste for the occupations and diversions that had once delighted him1 and sought relief in restless changing from one palace to another1 and in consulting every physician he could find4 ,it was during a visit to his favorite residence at ,saraburee that the signs of approaching dissolution appeared1 and the king's physician1 fearing he might die there1 took hurried steps to remove him to his palace at ,bangkok4 ,he was bound in a sedan1 and lowered from his high chamber in the castle into his barge on the canal at the foot of the cliff2 and so1 with all his household in train1 transported to the palace of ,krom ,hluang ,wongse1 physician to the king1 and one of his half-brothers4 ,now miserably unnerved1 the prince1 once so patient1 brave1 and proud1 threw his arms round his kinsman's neck1 and1 weeping bitterly1 implored him to save him4 ,but he was presently removed to his own palace1 and laid in a chamber looking to the east4 ,that night the prince expressed a wish to see his royal brother4 ,the king hastened to his bedside in company with his ,excellency ,chow ,phya ,sri ,sury-,wongse1 the ,kralahome1 or prime minister2 and then and there a silent and solemn reconciliation took place4 ,no words were spoken2 only the brothers embraced each other1 and the elder wept bitterly4 ,but from the facts brought to light in that impressive meeting and parting1 it was made plain that the ,second ,king died by slow poison1 administered by the woman ,kliep1--plain to all but the ,second ,king himself1 who died in ignorance of the means by which the tragic prophecy of his horoscope had been made good4 ,in the very full account of his brother's death which ,maha ,mongkut thought it necessary to write1 he was careful to conceal from the public the true cause of the calamity1 fearing the foreign populace1 and1 most of all1 the ,laotians and ,peguans1 who were devoted to the prince1 and might attach suspicion to himself1 on the ground of his notorious jealousy of the ,second ,king4 ,the royal physicians and the ,supreme ,council were sworn to secrecy2 and the woman ,kliep1 and her accomplice ,khoon ,hte-nah1 together with nine female slaves1 were tortured and publicly paraded through the environs of ,bangkok1 though their crime was never openly named4 ,afterward they were thrown into an open boat1 towed out on the ,gulf of ,siam1 and there abandoned to the mercy of winds and waves1 or death by starvation4 ,among the women of the palace the current report was1 that celestial avengers had slain the murderous crew with arrows of lightning and spears of fire4 ,in his ,majesty's account of the last days of his royal brother1 we have the characteristic queerness of his ,english1 and a scarcely less characteristic passage of ,pecksniffian cant3-- ,the lamentable patient ,second ,king ascertained himself that his approaching death was inevitable2 it was great misfortune to him and his family indeed4 ,his eldest son ,prince ,george ,footnote3 ,george ,washington4 ,krom ,mu'n ,pawarwijagan1 aged #bg years on that time1 became very sick of painful rheumatism by which he has his body almost steady on his seat and bed1 immovable to and fro1 himself1 since the month of ,october1 #ahfe1 when his father was absent from ,bangkok1 being at ,ban ,sitha as aforesaid4 ,when his royal father returned from ,ban ,sitha he arrived at his palace at ,bangkok on #fth ,december4 ,he can only being lifted by two or three men and placed in the presence of his father who was very ill1 but the eldest son forenamed prince was little better1 so before death of his father as he can be raised to be stood by two men and can cribble slowly on even or level surface1 by securing and supporting of two men on both sides4 ,when his father became worse and approaching the point of death1 upon that time his father can see him scarcely2 wherefore the ,second ,king1 on his being worse1 has said to his eldest and second daughters1 the half sisters of the eldest son1 distempered so as he cannot be in the presence of his father without difficulty1 that he 7the ,second ,king7 forenamed on that time was hopeless and that he could not live more than a few days4 ,he did not wish to do his last will regarding his family and property1 particularly as he was strengthless to speak much1 and consider anything deeply and accurately3 he beg'd to entreat all his sons1 daughters1 and wives that none should be sorry for his death1 which comes by natural course1 and should not fear for misery of difficulty after his demise4 ,all should throw themselves under their faithful and affectionate uncle1 the ,supreme ,king of ,siam1 for protection1 in whom he had heartfelt confidence that he will do well to his family after his death1 as such the action or good protection to several families of other princes and princesses in the royalty1 who deceased before4 ,he beg'd only to recommend his sons and daughters1 that they should be always honest and faithful to his elder full brother1 the ,supreme ,king of ,siam1 by the same affection as to himself1 and that they should have much more affection and respect toward ,paternal relative persons in royalty1 than toward their maternal relative persons1 who are not royal descendants of his ancestors4444 ,on the #bith ,december #ahfe1 in the afternoon1 the ,second ,king invited ,his ,majesty the ,supreme ,king1 his elder full brother1 and his ,excellency ,chow ,phya ,sri ,sury-wongse ,samuha ,p'hra-,kralahome1 the ,prime ,minister1 who is the principal head of the ,government and royal cousin1 to seat themselves near to his side on his bedstead where he lay1 and other principals of royalty and nobility1 to seat themselves in that room where he was lying1 that they might be able to ascertain his speech by hearing4 ,then he delivered his family and followers and the whole of his property to ,his ,majesty and ,his ,excellency for protection and good decision1 according to consequences which they would well observe4 ,not a word of that royal reconcilement1 of that remorseful passion of tears1 of that mute mystery of humanity1 the secret spell of a burdened mother's love working too late in the hearts1 of her headstrong boys6 ,not a word of that crowning embrace1 which made the subordinate king supreme1 by the grace of dying and forgiving6 ,,xxvi4 ,,the ,,supreme ,,king3 ,,his ,,character ,,and ,,administration4 ,,of ,somdetch ,p'hra ,paramendr ,maha ,mongkut1 ate ,supreme ,king of ,siam1 it may safely be said 7for all his capricious provocations of temper and his snappish greed of power7 that he was1 in the best sense of the epithet1 the most remarkable of the ,oriental princes of the present century1--unquestionably the most progressive of all the supreme rulers of ,siam1 of whom the native historians enumerate not less than forty1 reckoning from the founding of the ancient capital 7,ayudia or ,ayuo-deva1 the abode of gods7 in ,a4,d4 #acej4 ,he was the legitimate son of the king ,p'hra ,chow-,p'hra ,pooti-lootlah1 commonly known as ,phen-den-,klang2 and his mother1 daughter of the youngest sister of the ,king ,somdetch ,p'hra ,bouromah ,rajah ,p'hra ,pooti ,yout ,fah1 was one of the most admired princesses of her time1 and is described as equally beautiful and virtuous4 ,she devoted herself assiduously to the education of her sons1 of whom the second1 the subject of these notes1 was born in #ahjd2 and the youngest1 her best beloved1 was the late ,second ,king of ,siam4 ,one of the first public acts of the ,king ,p'hra ,pooti-lootlah was to elevate to the highest honors of the state his eldest son 7the ,chowfa ,mongkut71 and proclaim him heir-apparent to the throne4 ,he then selected twelve noblemen1 distinguished for their attainments1 prudence1 and virtue1--most conspicuous among them the venerable but energetic ,duke ,somdetch ,ong ,yai1--to be tutors and guardians to the lad4 ,by these he was carefully taught in all the learning of his time2 ,sanskrit and ,pali formed his chief study1 and from the first he aspired to proficiency in ,latin and ,english1 for the pursuit of which he soon found opportunities among the missionaries4 ,his translations from the ,sanskrit1 ,pali1 and ,magadthi1 mark him as an authority among ,oriental linguists2 and his knowledge of ,english1 though never perfect1 became at least extensive and varied2 so that he could correspond1 with credit to himself1 with ,englishmen of distinction1 such as the ,earl of ,clarendon and ,lords ,stanley and ,russell4 ,in his eighteenth year he married a noble lady1 descended from the ,phya ,tak ,sinn1 who bore him two sons4 ,two years later the throne became vacant by the death of his father2 but 7as the reader has already learned7 his elder half-brother1 who1 through the intrigues of his mother1 had secured a footing in the favor of the ,senabawdee1 was inducted by that ,royal ,council into power4 ,unequal to the exploit of unseating the usurper1 and fearing his unscrupulous jealousy1 the ,chowfa ,mongkut took refuge in a monastery1 and entered the priesthood1 leaving his wife and two sons to mourn him as one dead to them4 ,in this self-imposed celibacy he lived throughout the long reign of his half-brother1 which lasted twenty-seven years4 ,in the calm retreat of his ,buddhist cloister the contemplative tastes of the royal scholar found fresh entertainment1 his intellectual aspirations a new incitement4 ,he labored with enthusiasm for the diffusion of religion and enlightenment1 and1 above all1 to promote a higher appreciation of the teachings of ,buddha1 to whose doctrines lie devoted himself with exemplary zeal throughout his sacerdotal career4 ,from the ,buddhist scriptures he compiled with reverent care an impressive liturgy for his own use4 ,his private charities amounted annually to ten thousand ticals4 ,all the fortune he accumulated1 from the time of his quitting the court until his return to it to accept the diadem offered by the ,senabawdee1 he expended either in charitable distributions or in the purchase of books1 sacred manuscripts1 and relics for his monastery4 ,footnote3 ,on the third reign he himself served his eldest royal half-brother1 by superintending the construction and revision of royal sacred books in royal libraries3 so he was appointed the principal superintendent of clergymen's acts and works of ,buddhist religion1 and selector of religious learned wise men in the country1 during the third reign4--,from the pen of ,maha ,mongkut4 ,it was during his retirement that he wrote that notable treatise in defence of the divinity of the revelations of ,buddha1 in which he essays to prove that it was the single aim of the great reformer to deliver man from all selfish and carnal passions1 and in which he uses these words3 ,these are the only obstacles in the search for ,truth4 ,the most solid wisdom is to know this1 and to apply one's self to the conquest of one's self4 ,this it is to become the enlightened1--the ,buddha6 ,and he concludes with the remark of ,asoka1 the ,indian king3 ,that which has been delivered unto us by ,buddha1 that alone is well said1 and worthy of our soul's profoundest homage4 ,in the pursuit of his appointed ends ,maha ,mongkut was active and pertinacious2 no labors wearied him nor pains deterred him4 ,before the arrival of the ,protestant missionaries1 in #ahbj1 he had acquired some knowledge of ,latin and the sciences from the ,jesuits2 but when the ,protestants came he manifested a positive preference for their methods of instruction1 inviting one or another of them daily to his temple1 to aid him in the study of ,english4 ,finally he placed himself under the permanent tutorship of the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,caswell1 an ,american missionary2 and1 in order to encourage his preceptor to visit him frequently1 he fitted up a convenient resting-place for him on the route to the temple1 where that excellent man might teach the poorer people who gathered to hear him4 ,under ,mr4 ,caswell he made extraordinary progress in advanced and liberal ideas of government1 commerce1 even religion4 ,he never hesitated to express his respect for the fundamental principles of ,christianity2 but once1 when pressed too closely by his reverend moonshee with what he regarded as the more pretentious and apocryphal portions of the ,bible1 he checked that gentleman's advance with the remark that has ever been remembered against him1 ,i hate the ,bible mostly6 ,as ,high-,priest of ,siam--the mystic and potential office to which he was in the end exalted--he became the head of a new school1 professing strictly the pure philosophy inculcated by ,buddha3 the law of ,compensation1 of ,many ,births1 and of final ,niphan1 ,footnote3 ,attainment of beatitude4--but not ,nihilism1 as the word and the idea are commonly defined4 ,it is only to the idea of ,god as an ever-active ,creator that the new school of ,buddhists is opposed1--not to the ,deity as a primal source1 from whose thought and pleasure sprang all forms of matter2 nor can they be brought to admit the need of miraculous intervention in the order of nature4 ,in this connection1 it may not be out of place to mention a remark that the king 7still speaking as a high-priest1 having authority7 once made to me1 on the subject of the miracles recorded in the ,bible3 ,you say that marriage is a holy institution2 and ,i believe it is esteemed a sacrament by one of the principal branches of your sect4 ,it is1 of all the laws of the universe1 the most wise and incontestable1 pervading all forms of animal and vegetable life4 ,yet your ,god 7meaning the ,christian's ,god7 has stigmatized it as unholy1 in that he would not permit his ,son to be born in the ordinary way2 but must needs perform a miracle in order to give birth to one divinely inspired4 ,buddha was divinely inspired1 but he was only man4 ,thus it seems to me he is the greater of the two1 because out of his own heart he studied humanity1 which is but another form of divinity2 and1 the carnal mind being by this contemplation subdued1 he became the ,divinely ,enlightened4 ,when his teacher had begun to entertain hopes that he would one day become a ,christian1 he came out openly against the idea1 declaring that he entertained no thought of such a change4 ,he admonished the missionaries not to deceive themselves1 saying3 ,you must not imagine that any of my party will ever become ,christians4 ,we cannot embrace what we consider a foolish religion4 ,in the beginning of the year #ahea his supreme ,majesty1 ,prabat ,somdetch ,p'hra ,nang ,klou1 fell ill1 and gradually declined until the #c;d of ,april1 when he expired1 and the throne was again vacant4 ,the dying sovereign1 forgetting or disregarding his promise to his half-brother1 the true heir1 had urged with all his influence that the succession should fall to his eldest son2 but in the assembly of the ,senabawdee1 ,somdetch ,ong ,yai 7father of the present prime minister of ,siam71 supported by ,somdetch ,ong ,noi1 vehemently declared himself in favor of the high-priest ,chowfa ,mongkut4 ,this struck terror to the illegitimates1 and mainly availed to quell the rising storm of partisan conflict4 ,moreover1 ,ong ,yai had taken the precaution to surround the persons of the princes with a formidable guard1 and to distribute an overwhelming force of militia in all quarters of the city1 ready for instant action at a signal from him4 ,thus the two royal brothers1 with views more liberal1 as to religion1 education1 foreign trade1 and intercourse1 than the most enlightened of their predecessors had entertained1 were firmly seated on the throne as first and second kings2 and every citizen1 native or foreign1 began to look with confidence for the dawn of better times4 ,nor did the newly crowned sovereign forget his friends and teachers1 the ,american missionaries4 ,he sent for them1 and thanked them cordially for all that they had taught him1 assuring them that it was his earnest desire to administer his government after the model of the limited monarchy of ,england2 and to introduce schools1 where the ,siamese youth might be well taught in the ,english language and literature and the sciences of ,europe4 ,footnote3 ,in this connection the ,rev4 ,messrs4 ,bradley1 ,caswell1 ,house1 ,matoon1 and ,dean are entitled to special mention4 ,to their united influence ,siam unquestionably owes much1 if not all1 of her present advancement and prosperity4 ,nor would ,i be thought to detract from the high praise that is due to their fellow-laborers in the cause of ,christianity1 the ,roman ,catholic missionaries1 who are1 and ever have been1 indefatigable in their exertions for the good of the country4 ,especially will the name of the excellent bishop1 ,monseigneur ,pallegoix1 be held in honor and affection by people of all creeds and tongues in ,siam1 as that of a pure and devoted follower of our common ,redeemer4 ,there can be no just doubt that1 at the time1 it was his sincere purpose to carry these generous impulses into practical effect2 for certainly he was1 in every moral and intellectual respect1 nobly superior to his predecessor1 and to his dying hour he was conspicuous for his attachment to a sound philosophy and the purest maxims of ,buddha4 ,yet we find in him a deplorable example of the degrading influence on the human mind of the greed of possessions and power1 and of the infelicities that attend it2 for though he promptly set about the reforming of abuses in the several departments of his government1 and invited the ladies of the ,american mission to teach in his new harem1 nevertheless he soon began to indulge his avaricious and sensual propensities1 and cast a jealous eye upon the influence of the prime minister1 the son of his stanch old friend1 the ,duke ,ong ,yai1 to whom he owed almost the crown itself1 and of his younger brother1 the ,second ,king1 and of the neighboring princes of ,chiengmai and ,cochin ,china4 ,he presently offended those who1 by their resolute display of loyalty in his hour of peril1 had seated him safely on the throne of his ancestors4 ,from this time he was continually exposed to disappointment1 mortification1 slights1 from abroad1 and conspiracy at home4 ,had it not been for the steadfast adherence of the ,second ,king and the prime minister1 the sceptre would have been wrested from his grasp and bestowed upon his more popular brother4 ,yet1 notwithstanding all this1 he appeared1 to those who observed him only on the public stage of affairs1 to rule with wisdom1 to consult the welfare of his subjects1 to be concerned for the integrity of justice and the purity of manners and conversation in his own court1 and careful1 by a prudent administration1 to confirm his power at home and his prestige abroad4 ,considered apart from his domestic relations1 he was1 in many respects1 an able and virtuous ruler4 ,his foreign policy was liberal2 he extended toleration to all religious sects2 he expended a generous portion of his revenues in public improvements1-- monasteries1 temples1 bazaars1 canals1 bridges1 arose at his bidding on every side2 and though he fell short of his early promise1 he did much to improve the condition of his subjects4 ,for example1 at the instance of her ,britannic ,majesty's ,consul1 the ,honorable ,thomas ,george ,knox1 he removed the heavy boat-tax that had so oppressed the poorer masses of the ,siamese1 and constructed good roads1 and improved the international chambers of judicature4 ,but as husband and kinsman his character assumes a most revolting aspect4 ,envious1 revengeful1 subtle1 he was as fickle and petulant as he was suspicious and cruel4 ,his brother1 even the offspring of his brother1 became to him objects of jealousy1 if not of hatred4 ,their friends must1 he thought1 be his enemies1 and applause bestowed upon them was odious to his soul4 ,there were many horrid tragedies in his harem in which he enacted the part of a barbarian and a despot4 ,plainly1 his conduct as the head of a great family to whom his will was a law of terror reflects abiding disgrace upon his name4 ,yet it had this redeeming feature1 that he tenderly loved those of his children whose mothers had been agreeable to him4 ,he never snubbed or slighted them2 and for the little princess1 ,chow ,f-ying1 whose mother had been to him a most gentle and devoted wife1 his affection was very strong and enduring4 ,but to turn from the contemplation of his private traits1 so contradictory and offensive1 to the consideration of his public acts1 so liberal and beneficent4 ,several commercial treaties of the first importance were concluded with foreign powers during his reign4 ,in the first place1 the ,siamese government voluntarily reduced the measurement duties on foreign shipping from nineteen hundred to one thousand ticals per fathom of ship's beam4 ,this was a brave stride in the direction of a sound commercial policy1 and an earnest of greater inducements to enterprising traders from abroad4 ,in #ahee a new treaty of commerce was negotiated with his ,majesty's government by ,h4,b4,m4's plenipotentiary1 ,sir ,john ,bowring1 which proved of very positive advantage to both parties4 ,on the #bith of ,may1 #ahef1 a new treaty1 substantially like that with ,great ,britain1 was procured by ,townsend ,harris1 ,esq41 representing the ,united ,states2 and later in the same year still another1 in favor of ,france1 through ,h4 ,i4 ,m4's ,envoy1 ,m4 ,montigny4 ,before that time ,portugal had been the only foreign government having a consul residing at ,bangkok4 ,now the way was opened to admit a resident consul of each of the treaty powers2 and shortly millions of dollars flowed into ,siam annually by channels through which but a few tens of thousands had been drawn before4 ,foreign traders and merchants flocked to ,bangkok and established rice-mills1 factories for the production of sugar and oil1 and warehouses for the importation of ,european fabrics4 ,they found a ready market for their wares1 and an aspect of thrift and comfort began to enliven the once neglected and cheerless land4 ,a new and superb palace was erected1 after the model of ,windsor ,castle1 together with numerous royal residences in different parts of the country4 ,the nobility began to emulate the activity and munificence of their sovereign1 and to compete with each other in the grandeur of their dwellings and the splendor of their cortges4 ,so prosperous did the country become under the benign influence of foreign trade and civilization1 that other treaties were speedily concluded with almost every nation under the sun1 and his ,majesty found it necessary to accredit ,sir ,john ,bowring as plenipotentiary for ,siam abroad4 ,early in this reign the appointment of harbor-master at ,bangkok was conferred upon an ,english gentleman1 who proved so efficient in his functions that he was distinguished with the fifth title of a ,siamese noble4 ,next came a ,french commander and a ,french band-master for the royal troops4 ,then a custom-house was established1 and a live ,yankee installed at the head of it1 who was also glorified with a title of honor4 ,finally a police force was organized1 composed of trusty ,malays hired from ,singapore1 and commanded by one of the most energetic ,englishmen to be found in the ,east1--a measure which has done more than all others to promote a comfortable sense of law and order throughout the city and outskirts of ,bangkok4 ,it is to be remembered1 however1 in justice to the ,british ,consul-,general in ,siam1 ,mr4 ,thomas ,george ,knox1 that the sure though silent influence was his1 whereby the minds of the king and the prime minister were led to appreciate the benefits that must accrue from these foreign innovations4 ,the privilege of constructing1 on liberal terms1 a line of telegraph through ,maulmain to ,singapore1 with a branch to ,bangkok1 has been granted to the ,singapore ,telegraph ,company2 and finally a sanitarium has been erected on the coast at ,anghin1 for the benefit of native and foreign residents needing the invigoration of sea-air4 ,footnote3 ,his ,excellency ,chow ,phya ,bhibakrwongs ,maha ,kosa ,dhipude1 the ,p'hraklang1 ,minister for ,foreign ,affairs1 has built a sanitarium at ,anghin for the benefit of the public4 ,it is for benefit of the ,siamese1 ,europeans1 or ,americans1 to go and occupy1 when unwell1 to restore their health4 ,all are cordially invited to go there for a suitable length of time and be happy2 but are requested not to remain month after month and year after year1 and regard it as a place without an owner4 ,to regard it in this way cannot be allowed1 for it is public property1 and others should go and stop there also4--,advertisement1 ,siam ,monitor1 ,august #bi1 #ahfh4 ,during his retirement in the monastery the king had a stroke of paralysis1 from which he perfectly recovered2 but it left its mark on his face1 in the form of a peculiar falling of the under lip on the right side4 ,in person he was of middle stature1 slightly built1 of regular features and fair complexion4 ,in early life he lost most of his teeth1 but he had had them replaced with a set made from sapan-wood1--a secret that he kept very sensitively to the day of his death4 ,capable at times of the noblest impulses1 he was equally capable of the basest actions4 ,extremely accessible to praise1 he indiscriminately entertained every form of flattery2 but his fickleness was such that no courtier could cajole him long4 ,among his favorite women was the beautiful ,princess ,tongoo ,soopia1 sister to the unfortunate ,sultan ,mahmoud1 ex-rajah of ,pahang4 ,falling fiercely in love with her on her presentation at his court1 he procured her for his harem against her will1 and as a hostage for the good faith of her brother2 but as she1 being ,mohammedan1 ever maintained toward him a deportment of tranquil indifference1 he soon tired of her1 and finally dismissed her to a wretched life of obsoleteness and neglect within the palace walls4 ,the only woman who ever managed him with acknowledged edged success was ,khoon ,chom ,piem3 hardly pretty1 but well formed1 and of versatile tact1 totally uneducated1 of barely respectable birth1--being ,chinese on her father's side1--yet withal endowed with a nice intuitive appreciation of character4 ,once conscious of her growing influence over the king1 she contrived to foster and exercise it for years1 with but a slight rebuff now and then4 ,being modest to a fault1 even at times obnoxious to the imputation of prudishness1 she habitually feigned excuses for non-attendance in his ,majesty's chambers1--such as delicate health1 the nursing of her children1 mourning for the death of this or that relative1--and voluntarily visited him only at rare intervals4 ,in the course of six years she amassed considerable treasure1 procured good places at court for members of her family1 and was the means of bringing many ,chinamen to the notice of the king4 ,at the same time she lived in continual fear1 was warily humble and conciliating toward her rival sisters1 who pitied rather than envied her1 and retained in her pay most of the female executive force in the palace4 ,in his daily habits his ,majesty was remarkably industrious and frugal4 ,his devotion to the study of astronomy never abated1 and he calculated with respectable accuracy the great solar eclipse of ,august1 #ahfh4 ,the ,french government1 having sent a special commission1 under command of the ,baron ,hugon le ,tourneur1 to observe the eclipse in ,siam1 the king erected1 at a place called ,hua ,wnn 7,the ,whale's ,head71 a commodious observatory1 besides numerous pavilions varying in size and magnificence1 for his ,majesty and retinue1 the ,french commission1 the ,governor of ,singapore 7,colonel ,ord7 and suite1 who had been invited to ,bangkok by the king1 and for ministers and nobles of ,siam4 ,provision was made1 at the cost of government1 for the regal entertainment1 in a town of booths and tabernacles1 of the vast concourse of natives and ,europeans who followed his ,majesty from the capital to witness the sublime phenomenon2 and a herd of fifty noble elephants were brought from the ancient city of ,ayudia for service and display4 ,the prospect becoming dubious and gloomy just at the time of first contact 7ten o'clock71 the prime minister archly invited the foreigners who believed in an overruling ,providence to pray to him that he may be pleased to disperse the clouds long enough to afford us a good view of the grandest of eclipses4 ,presently the clouds were partially withdrawn from the sun1 and his ,majesty observing that one twentieth of the disk was obscured1 announced the fact to his own people by firing a cannon2 and immediately pipes screamed and trumpets blared in the royal pavilion1--a tribute of reverence to the traditional fable about the ,angel ,rahoo swallowing the sun4 ,both the king and prime minister1 scorning the restraints of dignity1 were fairly boisterous in their demonstrations of triumph and delight2 the latter skipping from point to point to squint through his long telescope4 ,at the instant of absolute totality1 when the very last ray of the sun had become extinct1 his ,excellency shouted1 ,hurrah1 hurrah1 hurrah6 and scientifically disgraced himself4 ,leaving his spyglass swinging1 he ran through the gateway of his pavilion1 and cried to his prostate wives1 ,henceforth will you not believe the foreigner4 ,but that other ,excellency1 ,chow ,phya ,bhudharabhay1 ,minister for ,northern ,siam1 more orthodox1 sat in dumfoundered faith1 and gaped at the awful deglutition of the ,angel ,rahoo4 ,the government expended not less than a hundred thousand dollars on this scientific expedition1 and a delegation from the foreign community of ,bangkok approached his ,majesty with an address of thanks for his indiscriminate hospitality4 ,but the extraordinary excitement1 and exposure to the noxious atmosphere of the jungle1 proved inimical to the constitution of the king4 ,on his return to ,bangkok he complained of general weariness and prostration1 which was the prelude to fever4 ,foreign physicians were consulted1 but at no stage of the case was any ,european treatment employed4 ,he rapidly grew worse1 and was soon past saving4 ,on the day before his death he called to his bedside his nearest relatives1 and parted among them such of his personal effects as were most prized by him1 saying1 ,i have no more need of these things4 ,i must give up my life also4 ,buddhist priests were constant in attendance1 and he seemed to derive much comfort from their prayers and exhortations4 ,in the evening he wrote with his own hand a tender farewell to the mothers of his many children1--eighty-one in number4 ,on the morning of his last day 7,october #a1 #ahfh7 he dictated in the ,pali language a farewell address to the ,buddhist priesthood1 the spirit of which was admirable1 and clearly manifested the faith of the dying man in the doctrines of the ,reformer2 for he hesitated not to say3 ,farewell1 ye faithful followers of ,buddha1 to whom death is nothing1 even as all earthly existence is vain1 all things mutable1 and death inevitable4 ,presently ,i shall myself submit to that stern necessity4 ,farewell6 for ,i go only a little before you4 ,feeling sure that he must die before midnight1 he summoned his half-brother1 ,h4 ,r4 ,h4 ,krom ,hluang ,wongse1 his ,excellency the prime minister1 ,chow ,phya ,kralahome1 and others1 and solemnly imposed upon them the care of his eldest son1 the ,chowfa ,chulalonkorn1 and of his kingdom2 at the same time expressing his last earthly wish1 that the ,senabawdee1 in electing his successor1 would give their voices for one who should conciliate all parties1 that the country might not be distracted by dissensions on that question4 ,he then told them he was about to finish his course1 and implored them not to give way to grief1 nor to any sudden surprise1 that he should leave them thus2 'tis an event that must befall all creatures that come into this world1 and may not be avoided4 ,then turning his gaze upon a small image of his adored teacher1 he seemed for some time absorbed in awful contemplation4 ,such is life6 ,those were actually the last words of this most remarkable ,buddhist king4 ,he died like a philosopher1 calmly and sententiously soliloquizing on death and its inevitability4 ,at the final moment1 no one being near save his adopted son1 ,phya ,buroot1 he raised his hands before his face1 as in his accustomed posture of devotion2 then suddenly his head dropped backward1 and he was gone4 ,that very night1 without disorder or debate1 the ,senabawdee elected his eldest son1 ,somdetch ,chowfa ,chulalonkorn1 to succeed him2 and the ,prince ,george ,washington1 eldest son of the late ,second ,king1 to succeed to his father's subordinate throne1 under the title of ,krom ,p'hra ,raja ,bowawn ,shathan ,mongkoon4 ,the title of the present supreme king 7my amiable and very promising scholar7 is ,prabat ,somdetch ,p'hra ,paramendr ,maha ,chulalonkorn ,kate ,klou ,chow-yu-,hua4 ,about a year after my first ill-omened interviews with ,maha ,mongkut1 and when ,i had become permanently installed in my double office of teacher and scribe1 ,i was one day busy with a letter from his ,majesty to the ,earl of ,clarendon1 and finding that any attempt at partial correction would but render his meaning more ambiguous1 and impair the striking originality of his style1 ,i had abandoned the effort1 and set about copying it with literal exactness1 only venturing to alter here and there a word1 such as ,i hasten with wilful pleasure to write in reply to your ,lordship's well-wishing letter1 etc4 ,whilst ,i was thus evolving from the depths of my inner consciousness a satisfactory solution to this conundrum in ,king's ,english1 his ,majesty's private secretary lolled in the sunniest corner of the room1 stretching his dusky limbs and heavily nodding1 in an ecstasy of ease-taking4 ,poor ,p'hra-,alck6 ,i never knew him to be otherwise than sleepy1 and his sleep was always stolen4 ,for his ,majesty was the most capricious of kings as to his working moods1--busy when the average man should be sleeping1 sleeping while letters1 papers1 despatches1 messengers1 mail-boats waited4 ,more than once had we been aroused at dead of night by noisy female slaves1 and dragged in hot haste and consternation to the ,hall of ,audience1 only to find that his ,majesty was1 not at his last gasp1 as we had feared1 but simply bothered to find in ,webster's ,dictionary some word that was to be found nowhere but in his own fertile brain2 or perhaps in excited chase of the classical term for some trifle he was on the point of ordering from ,london1--and that word was sure to be a stranger to my brain4 ,before my arrival in ,bangkok it had been his not uncommon practice to send for a missionary at midnight1 have him beguiled or abducted from his bed1 and conveyed by boat to the palace1 some miles up the river1 to inquire if it would not be more elegant to write murky instead of obscure1 or gloomily dark rather than not clearly apparent4 ,and if the wretched man should venture to declare his honest preference for the ordinary over the extraordinary form of expression1 he was forthwith dismissed with irony1 arrogance1 or even insult1 and without a word of apology for the rude invasion of his rest4 ,one night1 a little after twelve o'clock1 as he was on the point of going to bed like any plain citizen of regular habits1 his ,majesty fell to thinking how most accurately to render into ,english the troublesome ,siamese word phi1 which admits of a variety of interpretations4 ,footnote3 ,ghost1 spirit1 soul1 devil1 evil angel4 ,after puzzling over it for more than an hour1 getting himself possessed with the word as with the devil it stands for1 and all to no purpose1 he ordered one of his lesser state barges to be manned and despatched with all speed for the ,british ,consul4 ,that functionary1 inspired with lively alarm by so startling a summons1 dressed himself with unceremonious celerity1 and hurried to the palace1 conjecturing on the way all imaginable possibilities of politics and diplomacy1 revolution or invasion4 ,to his vexation1 not less than his surprise1 he found the king in dishabille1 engaged with a ,siamese-,english vocabulary1 and mentally divided between deuce and devil1 in the choice of an equivalent4 ,his preposterous ,majesty gravely laid the case before the consul1 who1 though inwardly chafing at what he termed the confounded coolness of the situation1 had no choice but to decide with grace1 and go back to bed with philosophy4 ,no wonder1 then1 that ,p'hra-,alck experienced an access of gratitude for the privilege of napping for two hours in a snuggery of sunshine4 ,mam-kha1 ,footnote3 ,kha1 your slave4 he murmured drowsily1 ,i hope that in the ,chat-,nah ,footnote3 ,the next state of existence4 ,i shall be a freed man4 ,i hope so sincerely1 ,p'hra-,alck1 said ,i4 ,i hope you'll be an ,englishman or an ,american1 for then you'll be sure to be independent4 ,it was impossible not to pity the poor old man1--stiff with continual stooping to his task1 and so subdued6--liable not only to be called at any hour of the day or night1 but to be threatened1 cuffed1 kicked1 beaten on the head1 ,footnote3 ,the greatest indignity a ,siamese can suffer4 every way abused and insulted1 and the next moment to be taken into favor1 confidence1 bosom-friendship1 even as his ,majesty's mood might veer4 ,alack for ,p'hra-,alck6 though usually he bore with equal patience his greater and his lesser ills1 there were occasions that sharply tried his meekness1 when his weak and goaded nature revolted1 and he rushed to a snug little home of his own1 about forty yards from the ,grand ,palace1 there to snatch a respite of rest and refreshment in the society of his young and lately wedded wife4 ,then the king would awake and send for him1 whereupon he would be suddenly ill1 or not at home1 strategically hiding himself under a mountain of bedclothes1 and detailing ,mrs4 ,p'hra-,alck to reconnoitre and report4 ,he had tried this primitive trick so often that its very staleness infuriated the king1 who invariably sent officers to seize the trembling accomplice and lock her up in a dismal cell as a hostage for the scribe's appearance4 ,at dusk the poor fellow would emerge1 contrite and terrified1 and prostrate himself at the gate of the palace4 ,then his ,majesty 7who1 having spies posted in every quarter of the town1 knew as well as ,p'hra-,alck himself what the illness or the absence signified7 leisurely strolled forth1 and1 finding the patient on the threshold1 flew always into a genuine rage1 and prescribed decapitation on the spot1 and sixty lashes on the bare back1 both in the same breath4 ,and while the attendants flew right and left1--one for the blade1 another for the thong1--the king1 still raging1 seized whatever came most handy1 and belabored his bosom-friend on the head and shoulders4 ,having thus summarily relieved his mind1 he despatched the royal secretary for his ink-horn and papyrus1 and began inditing letters1 orders1 appointments1 before scymitar or lash 7which were ever tenderly slow on these occasions7 had made its appearance4 ,perhaps in the very thick of his dictating he would remember the connubial accomplice1 and order his people to release her1 and let her go4 ,slavery in ,siam is the lot of men of a much finer intellectual type than any who have been its victims in modern times in societies farther west4 ,p'hra-,alck had been his ,majesty's slave when they were boys together4 ,together they had played1 studied1 and entered the priesthood4 ,at once bondman1 comrade1 classmate1 and confidant1 he was the very man to fill the office of private secretary to his royal crony4 ,virgil made a slave of his a poet1 and ,horace was the son of an emancipated slave4 ,the ,roman leech and chirurgeon were often slaves2 so1 too1 the preceptor and the pedagogue1 the reader and the player1 the clerk and the amanuensis1 the singer1 the dancer1 the wrestler1 and the buffoon1 the architect1 the smith1 the weaver1 and the shoemaker2 even the armiger or squire was a slave4 ,educated slaves exercised their talents and pursued their callings for the emolument of their masters2 and thus it is to-day in ,siam4 ,mutato nomine1 de te fabula narratur1 ,p'hra-,alck6 ,the king's taste for ,english composition had1 by much exercise1 developed itself into a passion4 ,in the pursuit of it he was indefatigable1 rambling1 and petulant4 ,he had ,webster's ,unabridged on the brain1--an exasperating form of king's evil4 ,the little dingy slips that emanated freely from the palace press were as indiscriminate as they were quaint4 ,no topic was too sublime or too ignoble for them4 ,all was copy that came to those cases1-from the glory of the heavenly bodies to the nuisance of the busybodies who scolded his ,majesty through the columns of the ,bangkok ,recorder4 ,i have before me1 as ,i write1 a circular from his pen1 and in the type of his private press1 which1 being without caption or signature1 may be supposed to be addressed to all whom it may concern4 ,the ,american missionaries had vexed his exact scholarship by their peculiar mode of representing in ,english letters the name of a native city 7,prippri1 or in ,sanskrit ,bejrepuri74 ,whence this droll circular1 which begins with a dogmatic line3-- ,none should write the name of city of ,prippri thus--,p'et cha poory4 ,then comes a pedantic demonstration of the derivation of the name from a compound ,sanskrit word1 signifying ,diamond ,city4 ,and the document concludes with a characteristic explosion of impatience1 at once critical1 royal1 and anecdotal3 ,ah6 what the ,romanization of ,american system that ,p'etch' abury will be6 ,will whole human learned world become the pupil of their corrupted ,siamese teachers8 ,it is very far from correctness4 ,why they did not look in journal of ,royal ,asiatic ,society1 where several words of ,sanskrit and ,pali were published continually8 ,their ,siamese priestly teachers considered all ,europeans as very heathen2 to them far from sacred tongue1 and were glad to have ,american heathens to become their scholars or pupils2 they thought they have taught sacred language to the part of heathen2 in fact1 they themselves are very far from sacred language1 being sunk deeply in corruption of sacred and learned language1 for tongue of their former ,laos and ,cambodian teachers1 and very far from knowledge of ,hindoostanee1 ,cinghalese1 and ,royal ,asiatic ,society's knowledge in ,sanskrit1 as they are considered by such the ,siamese teachers as heathen2 called by them ,mit ch'a thi-thi1 c41 c41 i4e4 wrongly seer or spectator1 c41 c4 ,in another slip1 which is manifestly an outburst of the royal petulance1 his ,majesty demands1 in a displayed paragraph3-- ,why name of ,mr4 ,knox ,thomas ,george ,knox1 ,esq41 ,british ,consul was not published thus3 ,missa ,nok or ,nawk4 ,if name of ,chow ,phya ,bhudharabhay is to be thus3 ,p'raya ,p'oo t'a ra ,p'ie4 ,and why the ,london was not published thus3 ,lundun or ,landan1 if ,bejrepuri is to be published ,p'etch' abury4 ,in the same slip with the philological protest the following remarkable paragraphs appear3-- ,what has been published in ,no4 #be of ,bangkok ,recorder thus3-- ',the king of ,siam1 on reading from some ,european paper that the ,pope had lately suffered the loss of some precious jewels1 in consequence of a thief having got possession of his ,holiness' keys1 exclaimed1 ,what a man6 professing to keep the keys of ,heaven1 and cannot even keep his own keys6' ,the king on perusal thereof denied that it is false4 ,he knows nothing about his ,holiness the ,pope's sustaining loss of gems1 c41 and has said nothing about religious faith4 ,this is curious1 in that it exposes the king's unworthy fear of the ,french priesthood in ,siam4 ,the fact is that he did make the rather smart remark1 in precisely these words3 ,ah6 what a man6 professing to keep the keys of ,heaven1 and not able to guard those of his own bureau6 and he was quite proud of his hit4 ,but when it appeared in the ,recorder1 he thought it prudent to bar it with a formal denial4 ,hence the politic little item which he sent to all the foreigners in ,bangkok1 and especially to the ,french priests4 ,his ,majesty's mode of dealing with newspaper strictures 7not always just7 and suggestions 7not always pertinent7 aimed at his administration of public affairs1 or the constitution and discipline of his household1 was characteristic4 ,he snubbed them with sententious arrogance1 leavened with sarcasm4 ,when the ,recorder recommended to the king the expediency of dispersing his ,solomonic harem1 and abolishing polygamy in the royal family1 his ,majesty retorted with a verbal message to the editor1 to the purport that when the ,recorder shall have dissuaded princes and noblemen from offering their daughters to the king as concubines1 the king will cease to receive contributions of women in that capacity4 ,in ,august1 #ahfe1 an angry altercation occurred in the ,royal ,court of ,equity 7sometimes styled the ,international ,court7 between a ,french priest and ,phya ,wiset1 a ,siamese nobleman1 of venerable years1 but positive spirit and energy4 ,the priest gave ,phya ,wiset the lie1 and ,phya ,wiset gave it back to the priest1 whereupon the priest became noisy4 ,afterward he reported the affair to his consul at ,bangkok1 with the embellishing statement that not only himself1 but his religion1 had been grossly insulted4 ,the consul1 one ,monsieur ,aubaret1 a peppery and pugnacious ,frenchman1 immediately made a demand upon his ,majesty for the removal of ,phya ,wiset from office4 ,this despatch was sent late in the evening by the hand of ,monsieur ,lamarche1 commanding the troops at the royal palace2 and that officer had the consul's order to present it summarily4 ,lamarche managed to procure admittance to the penetralia1 and presented the note at two o'clock in the morning1 in violation of reason and courtesy as well as of rules1 excusing himself on the ground that the despatch was important and his orders peremptory4 ,his ,majesty then read the despatch1 and remarked that the matter should be disposed of to-morrow4 ,lamarche replied1 very presumptuously1 that the affair required no investigation1 as he had heard the offensive language of ,phya ,wiset1 and that person must be deposed without ceremony4 ,whereupon his ,majesty ordered the offensive foreigner to leave the palace4 ,lamarche repaired forthwith to the consul1 and reported that the king had spoken disrespectfully1 not only of his ,imperial ,majesty's consul1 but of the ,emperor himself1 besides outrageously insulting a ,french messenger4 ,then the fire-eating functionary addressed another despatch to his ,majesty1 the purport of which was1 that1 in expelling ,lamarche from the palace1 the ,king of ,siam had been guilty of a political misdemeanor1 and had rudely disturbed the friendly relations existing between ,france and ,siam2 that he should leave ,bangkok for ,paris1 and in six weeks lay his grievance before the ,emperor2 but should first proceed to ,saigon1 and engage the ,french admiral there to attend to any emergency that might arise in ,bangkok4 ,his ,majesty1 who knew how to confront the uproar of vulgarity and folly with the repose of wisdom and dignity1 sent his own cousin1 the ,prince ,mom ,rachoday1 ,chief ,judge of the ,royal ,court of ,equity1 to ,m4 ,aubaret1 to disabuse his mind1 and impart to him all the truth of the case4 ,but the furious ,frank seized the imposing magnate by the hair1 drove him from his door1 and flung his betel-box after him1--a reckless impulse of outrage as monstrous as the most ingenious and deliberate brutality could have devised4 ,rudely to seize a ,siamese by the hair is an indignity as grave as to spit in the face of a ,european2 and the betel- box1 beside being a royal present1 was an essential part of the insignia of the prince's judicial office4 ,on a later occasion this same ,aubaret seized the opportunity a royal procession afforded to provoke the king to an ill-timed discussion of politics1 and to prefer an intemperate complaint against the ,kralahome1 or prime minister4 ,this characteristic flourish of ill temper and bad manners1 from the representative of the politest of nations1 naturally excited lively indignation and disgust among all respectable dwellers1 native or foreign1 near the court1 and a serious disturbance was imminent4 ,but a single dose of the ,king's ,english sufficed to soothe the spasmodic official1 and reduce him to a sense of his situation4 ,,to ,,the ,,hon4 ,,the ,,monsieur ,,aubaret1 the ,consul for ,h4,i4,m4 ,,sir3--,the verbal insult or bad words without any step more over from lower or lowest person is considered very slight inconsiderable4 ,the person standing on the surface of the ground or floor ,cannot injure the heavenly bodies or any highly hanging ,lamp or glope by ejecting his spit from his mouth upward it will only injure his own face without attempting of ,heavenly bodies--c4 ,the ,siamese are knowing of being lower than heaven do not endeavor to injure heavenly bodies with their spit from mouth4 ,a person who is known to be powerless by every one1 as they who have no arms or legs to move oppose or injure or deaf or blind c4 c4 cannot be considered and said that they are our enemies even for their madness in vain--it might be considered as easily agitation or uneasiness4 ,persons under strong desires without any limit or acting under illimited anger sometimes cannot be believed at once without testimony or witness if they stated against any one verbally from such the statements of the most desirous or persons most illimitedly angry hesitation and mild enquiry is very prudent from persons of considerable rank4 ,no signature4 ,never were simplicity with shrewdness1 and unconscious humor with pathos1 and candor with irony1 and political economy with the sense of an awful bore1 more quaintly blended than in the following extraordinary hint1 written and printed by his ,majesty1 and freely distributed for the snubbing of visionary or speculative adventurers3 ,,notice4 ,when the general rumor was and is spread out from ,siam1 circulated among the foreigners to ,siam1 chiefly ,europeans1 ,chinese1 c1 in three points3-- #a4 ,that ,siam is under quite absolute ,monarchy4 ,whatever her ,supreme ,sovereign commanded1 allowed1 c all cannot be resisted by any one of his ,subjects4 #b4 ,the ,treasury of the ,sovereign of ,siam1 was full for money1 like a mountain of gold and silver2 ,her ,sovereign most wealthy4 #c4 ,the present reigning ,monarch of ,siam is shallow minded and admirer of almost everything of curiosity1 and most admirer of ,european usages1 customs1 sciences1 arts and literature c1 without limit4 ,he is fond of flattering term and ambitious of honor1 so that there are now many opportunities and operations to be embraced for drawing great money from ,royal ,treasury of ,siam1 c4 ,the most many foreigners being under belief of such general rumour1 were endeavoring to draw money from him in various operations1 as aiming him with valuable curiosities and expectations of interest1 and flattering him1 to be glad of them1 and deceiving him in various ways2 almost on every opportunity of ,steamer coming to ,siam1 various foreigners partly known to him and acquainted with him1 and generally unknown to him1 boldly wrote to him in such the term of various application and treatment1 so that he can conclude that the chief object of all letters written to him1 is generally to draw money from him1 even unreasonable4 ,several instances and testimonies can be shown for being example on this subject--the foreigners letters addressed to him1 come by every one steamer of ,siam1 and of foreign steamers visiting ,siam2 #aj and #ab at least and #dj at highest number1 urging him in various ways2 so he concluded that foreigners must consider him only as a mad king of a wild land6 ,he now states that he cannot be so mad more1 as he knows and observes the consideration of the foreigners towards him4 ,also he now became of old age1,footnote3 ,he was sixty-two at this time4 and was very sorry to lose his principal members of his family namely1 his two ,queens1 twice1 and his younger brother the late ,second ,king1 and his late second son and beloved daughter1 and moreover now he fear of sickness of his eldest son1 he is now unhappy and must solicit his friends in correspondence and others who please to write for the foresaid purpose1 that they should know suitable reason in writing to him1 and shall not urge him as they would urge a madman6 ,and the general rumours forementioned are some exaggerated and some entirely false2 they shall not believe such the rumours1 deeply and ascertainedly4 ,,royal ,,residence ,,grand ,,palace ,,bangkok #bnd ,july #ahfg4 ,and now observe with1 what gracious ease this most astute and discriminating prince could fit his tone to the sense of those who1 familiar with his opinions1 and reconciled to his temper and his ways1 however peculiar1 could reciprocate the catholicity of his sympathies1 and appreciate his enlightened efforts to fling off that tenacious old-man-of-the-sea custom1 and extricate himself from the predicament of conflicting responsibilities4 ,to these1 on the ,christian ,new ,year's day of #ahfg1 he addressed this kindly greeting3-- ,s4,p4,p4,m4 ,,mongkut3 ,called in ,siamese ',p'hra-,chomklau chao-yuhua' in ,magadhi or language of ,pali ',siamikanam ,maha ,rajah1' ,in ,latin ',rex ,siamensium1' ,in ,french ',le ,roi de ,siam1' ,in ,english ',the ,king of ,siam' and in ,malayan ',rajah ,maha ,pasah' c4 ,begs to present his respectful and regardful compliments and congratulations in happy lives during immediately last year1 and wishes the continuing thereof during the commencing ,new ,year1 and ensuing and succeeding many years1 to his foreign friends1 both now in ,siam namely1 the functionary and acting ,consuls and consular officers of various distinguished nations in ,treaty ,power with ,siam and certain foreign persons under our salary1 in service in any manner here1 and several ,gentlemen and ,ladies who are resident in ,siam in various stations3 namely1 the ,priests1 ,preachers of religion1 ,masters and ,mistresses of ,schools1 ,workmen and ,merchants1 c1 and now abroad in various foreign countries and ports1 who are our noble and common friends1 acquainted either by ever having had correspondences mutually with us some time1 at any where and remaining in our friendly remembrance or mutual remembrance1 and whosoever are in service to us as our ,consuls1 vice consuls and consular assistants1 in various foreign ports4 ,let them know our remembrance and good wishes toward them all4 99 99 99 99 99 ,though we are not ,christians1 the forenamed ,king was glad to arrive this day in his valued life1 as being the #bb1gbjth day of his age1 during which he was aged sixty-two years and three months1 and being the #e1gaath day of his reign1 during which he reigned upon his kingdom #ae years and #h months up to the current month4 ,in like manner he was very glad to see know and hope for all his ,royal ,family1 kindred and friends of both native and foreign1 living near and far to him had arrived to this very remarkable anniversary of the commencement of ,solar ,year in ,anno ,christi #ahfg4 ,in their all being healthy and well living like himself1 he begs to express his royal congratulation and respect and graceful regards to all his kindred friends both native and foreign1 and hopes to receive such the congratulation and expression of good wishes toward him and members of his family in very like manner1 as he trusts that the amity and grace to one another of every of human beings who are innocent1 is a great merit1 and is righteous and praiseworthy in religious system of all civil religion1 and best civilized laws and morality1 c4 ,given at the ,royal ,audience ,hall1 ',anant ,samagome' ,grand ,palace1 ,bangkok1 etc41 etc4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the remoter provinces of ,siam constitute a source of continual anxiety and much expense to the government2 and to his ,majesty 7who1 very conscious of power1 was proud to be able to say that the ,malayan territories and rajahs--,cambodia1 with her marvellous cities1 palaces1 and temples1 once the stronghold of ,siam's most formidable and implacable foes2 the ,laos country1 with its warlike princes and chiefs--were alike dependencies and tributaries of his crown7 it was intolerably irritating to find ,cambodia rebellious4 ,so long as his government could successfully maintain its supremacy there1 that country formed a sort of neutral ground between his people and the ,cochin-,chinese2 a geographical condition which was not without its political advantages4 ,but now the unscrupulous ,french had strutted upon the scene1 and with a flourish of diplomacy and a stroke of the pen appropriated to themselves the fairest portion of that most fertile province4 ,his ,majesty1 though secretly longing for the intervention and protection of ,england1 was deterred by his almost superstitious fear of the ,french from complaining openly4 ,but whenever he was more than commonly annoyed by the pretensions and aggressive epistles of his ,imperial ,majesty's consul he sent for me1--thinking1 like all ,orientals1 that1 being ,english1 my sympathy for him1 and my hatred of the ,french1 were jointly a foregone conclusion4 ,when ,i would have assured him that ,i was utterly powerless to help him1 he cut me short with a wise whisper to consult ,mr4 ,thomas ,george ,knox2 and when ,i protested that that gentleman was too honorable to engage in a secret intrigue against a colleague1 even for the protection of ,british interests in ,siam1 he would rave at my indifference1 the cupidity of the ,french1 the apathy of the ,english1 and the fatuity of all geographers in setting down the form of government in ,siam as an absolute monarchy4 ,i an absolute monarch6 ,for ,i have no power over ,french4 ,siam is like a mouse before an elephant6 ,am ,i an absolute monarch8 ,what shall you consider me8 ,now1 as ,i considered him a particularly absolute and despotic king1 that was a trying ,question2 so ,i discreetly held my peace1 fearing less to be classed with those obnoxious savans who compile geographies than to provoke him afresh4 ,i have no power4 he scolded2 ,i am not absolute6 ,if ,i point the end of my walking-stick at a man whom1 being my enemy1 ,i wish to die1 he does not die1 but lives on1 in spite of my 'absolute' will to the contrary4 ,what does ,geographies mean8 ,how can ,i be an absolute monarchy8 ,such a conversation we were having one day as he assisted at the founding of a temple2 and while he reproached his fate that he was powerless to point the end of his walking-stick with absolute power at the peppery and presumptuous ,monsieur ,aubaret1 he vacantly flung gold and silver coins among the work-women4 ,in another moment he forgot all ,french encroachments1 and the imbecility of geographers in general1 as his glance chanced to fall upon a young woman of fresh and striking beauty1 and delightful piquancy of ways and expression1 who with a clumsy club was pounding fragments of pottery--urns1 vases1 and goglets--for the foundation of the watt4 ,very artless and happy she seemed1 and free as she was lovely2 but the instant she perceived she had attracted the notice of the king1 she sank down and hid her face in the earth1 forgetting or disregarding the falling vessels that threatened to crush or wound her4 ,but the king merely diverted himself with inquiring her name and parentage2 and some one answering for her1 he turned away4 ,almost to the latest hour of his life his ,majesty suffered1 in his morbid egotism1 various and keen annoyance1 by reason of his sensitiveness to the opinions of foreigners1 the encroachments of foreign officials1 and the strictures of the foreign press4 ,he was agitated by a restless craving for their sympathy on the one hand1 and by a futile resentment of their criticisms or their claims on the other4 ,an article in a ,singapore paper had administered moral correction to his ,majesty on the strength of a rumor that the king has his eye upon another princess of the highest rank1 with a view to constituting her a queen consort4 ,and the ,bangkok ,recorder had said3 ,now1 considering that he is full threescore and three years of age1 that he has already scores of concubines and about fourscore sons and daughters1 with several ,chowfas among them1 and hence eligible to the highest posts of honor in the kingdom1 this rumor seems too monstrous to be credited4 ,but the truth is1 there is scarcely anything too monstrous for the royal polygamy of ,siam to bring forth4 ,by the light of this explanation the meaning of the following extract from the postscript of a letter which the king wrote in ,april1 #ahff1 will be clear to the reader1 who1 at the same time1 in justice to me1 will remember that by the death of his ,majesty1 on the #ast of ,october1 #ahfh1 the seal of secrecy was broken4 ,,very ,,private ,,post ,,script4 ,there is a newspaper of ,singapore entitled ,daily ,news just published after last arrival of the steamer ,chowphya in ,singapore1 in which paper1 a correspondence from an ,individual resident at ,bangkok dated #afth ,march #ahff was shown1 but ,i have none of that paper in my possession 444 ,i did not noticed its number date to state to you now1 but ,i trust such the paper must be in hand of several foreigners in ,bangkok1 may you have read it perhaps--other wise you can obtain the same from any one or by order to obtain from ,singapore2 after perusal thereof you will not be able to deny my statement forementioned more over as general people both native foreigners here seem to have less pleasure on me my descendant1 than their pleasure and hope on other amiable family to them until the present day4 ,what was said there in for a princess considered by the ,speaker or ,writer as proper or suitable to be head on my harem 7a room or part for confinement of ,women of ,eastern monarch7 ,footnote3 ,a parenthetical drollery inspired by the dictionary4 there is no least intention occurred to me even once or in my dream indeed6 ,i think if ,i do so1 ,i will die soon perhaps6 99 99 99 99 99 ,this my handwriting or content hereof shall be kept secretly4 ,i beg to remain ,your faithful well-wisher ,s4 ,p4 ,p4 ,m4 ,,mongkut ,e4 ,s4 on #eddath day of reign4 the writer here of beg to place his confidence on you alway4 ,as a true friend to his ,majesty1 ,i deplore the weakness which betrayed him into so transparent a sham of virtuous indignation4 ,the princess of the highest rank1 whom the writer of the article plainly meant1 was the ,princess of ,chiengmai2 but from lack of accurate information he was misled into confounding her with the ,princess ,tui ,duang ,prabha1 his ,majesty's niece4 ,the king could honestly deny any such intention on his part with regard to his niece2 but1 at the same time1 he well knew that the writer erred only as to the individual1 and not as to the main fact of the case4 ,the ,princess of ,chiengmai was the wife1 and the ,princess ,tui ,duang the daughter1 of his full brother1 the ,second ,king1 lately deceased4 ,much more agreeable is it--to the reader1 ,i doubt not1 not less than to the writer--to turn from the king1 in the exercise of his slavish function of training honest words to play the hypocrite for ignoble thoughts1 to the gentleman1 the friend1 the father1 giving his heart a holiday in the relaxations of simple kindness and free affection1--as in the following note3-- ,dated ,,ranchaupury #cdth ,february #ahfe4 ,to ,,lady ,l---- ,,her ,,son ,,luise1 ,bangkok4 ,we having very pleasant journey 444 to be here which is a township called as above named by men of republick affairs in ,siam1 called by common people as ',parkphrieck' where we have our stay a few days will take our departure from hence at dawn of next day4 ,we thinking of you both regardfully beg to send here with some wild aples barries which are delicate for tasting some tobacco which were and are principal product of this region for your kind acceptance hoping this wild present will be acceptable to you both4 ,we will be arrived at our home ,bangkok on early part of ,march4 ,we beg to remain ,your faithful ,s4 ,p4 ,p4 ,m4 ,,mongkut ,e4 ,s4 in #ejceth day of reign4 ,and your affectionate pupils ,,ying ,,yulacks4 ,,maneabhadahorn4 ,,somdetch ,,chowfa ,,chulalonkork ,footnote3 ,the present king4 ,,kritahinihar4 ,,prabhassor4 ,,somawati4 ,,xxvii4 ,,my ,,retirement ,,from ,,the ,,palace4 ,in #ahfd ,i found that my labors had greatly increased2 ,i had often to work till ten o'clock at night to accomplish the endless translations required of me4 ,i also began to perceive how continually and closely ,i was watched1 but how and by whom it seemed impossible to discover4 ,among the inducements to me to accept the position of teacher to the royal family was his ,majesty's assurance1 that1 if ,i gave satisfaction1 he would increase my salary after a year's trial4 ,nearly three years had passed when ,i first ventured to remind the king of this promise4 ,to my astonishment he bluntly informed me that ,i had not given satisfaction1 that ,i was difficult and unmanageable1 more careful about what was right and what was wrong than for the obedience and submission4 ,and as to salary1 he continued3 ,why you should be poor8 ,you come into my presence every day with some petition1 some case of hardship or injustice1 and you demand 'your ,majesty shall most kindly investigate1 and cause redress to be made'2 and ,i have granted to you because you are important to me for translations1 and so forth4 ,and now you declare you must have increase of salary6 ,must you have everything in this world8 ,why you do not make them pay you8 ,if ,i grant you all your petition for the poor1 you ought to be rich1 or you have no wisdom4 ,at a loss what answer to make to this very unsympathetic view of my conduct1 ,i quietly returned to my duties1 which1 grew daily in variety and responsibility4 ,what with translating1 correcting1 copying1 dictating1 reading1 ,i had hardly a moment ,i could call my own2 and if at any time ,i rebelled1 ,i brought down swift vengeance on the head of the helpless native secretary4 ,but it was my consolation to know that ,i could befriend the women and children of the palace1 who1 when they saw that ,i was not afraid to oppose the king in his more outrageous caprices of tyranny1 imagined me endued with supernatural powers1 and secretly came to me with their grievances1 in full assurance that sooner or later ,i would see them redressed4 ,and so1 with no intention on my part1 and almost without my own consent1 ,i suffered myself to be set up between the oppressor and the oppressed4 ,from that time ,i had no peace4 ,day after day ,i was called upon to resist the wanton cruelty of judges and magistrates1 till at last ,i found myself at feud with the whole ,san ,luang4 ,in cases of torture1 imprisonment1 extortion1 ,i tried again and again to excuse myself from interfering1 but still the mothers or sisters prevailed1 and ,i had no choice left but to try to help them4 ,sometimes ,i sent ,boy with my clients1 sometimes ,i went myself2 and in no single instance was justice granted from a sense of right1 but always through fear of my supposed influence with the king4 ,my ,siamese and ,european friends said ,i was amassing a fortune4 ,it seemed not worth my while to contradict them1 though the inference was painful to me1 for in truth my championship was not purely disinterested2 ,i suffered from continual contact with the sufferings of others1 and came to the rescue in self-defence and in pity for myself not less than for them4 ,a ,chinaman had been cruelly murdered and robbed by a favorite slave in the household of the prime minister's brother1 leaving the brother1 wife1 and children of the victim in helpless poverty and terror4 ,the murderer had screened himself and his accomplices by sharing the plunder with his master4 ,the widow cried for redress in vain4 ,the ears of magistrates were stopped against her1 and she was too poor to pay her way2 but still she went from one court to another1 until her importunity irritated the judges1 who1 to intimidate her1 seized her eldest son1 on some monstrous pretext1 and cast him into prison4 ,this double cruelty completed the despair of the unhappy mother4 ,she came to me fairly frenzied1 and commanded me to go at once into the presence of the king and demand her stolen child2 and then1 in a sudden paroxysm of grief1 she embraced my knees1 wailing1 and praying to me to help her4 ,it was not in human nature to reject that maternal claim4 ,with no little trouble ,i procured the liberation of her son2 but to keep him out of harm's way ,i had to take him into my own home and change his name4 ,i called him ,timothy1 which by a ,chinese abbreviation became ,ti4 ,when ,i went with this woman and the brother of the murdered man to the palace of the premier1 we found that distinguished personage half naked and playing chess4 ,seeing me enter1 he ordered one of his slaves to bring him a jacket1 into which he thrust his arms1 and went on with the game2 and not until that was finished did he attend to me4 ,when ,i explained my errand he seemed vexed1 but sent for his brother1 had a long talk with him1 and concluded by warning my unhappy protgs that if he heard any more complaints from them they should be flogged4 ,then turning to me with a grim smile1 he said3 ,chinee too much bother4 ,good by1 sir6 ,this surprised me exceedingly1 for ,i had often known the premier to award justice in spite of the king4 ,that same evening1 as ,i sat alone in my drawing-room1 making notes1 as was my custom1 ,i heard a slight noise1 as of some one in the room4 ,looking round1 ,i saw1 to my amazement1 one of the inferior judges of the prime minister's court crouching by the piano4 ,i asked how he dared to enter my house unannounced4 ,mam1 said he1 your servants admitted me2 they know from whom ,i come1 and would not venture to refuse me4 ,and now it is for you to know that ,i am here from his ,excellency ,chow ,phya ,kralahome1 to request you to send in your resignation at the end of this month4 ,by what authority does he send me this message8 ,i asked4 ,i know not2 but it were best that you obey4 ,tell him1 ,i replied1 unable to control my anger at the cowardly trick to intimidate me1 ,i shall leave ,siam when ,i please1 and that no man shall set the time for me4 ,the man departed1 cringing and crouching1 and excusing himself4 ,this was the same wretch at whose instigation poor ,moonshee had been so shamefully beaten4 ,i did not close my eyes that night4 ,again and again prudence advised me to seek safety in flight1 but the argument ended in my turning my back on the timid monitor1 and resolving to stay4 ,about three weeks after this occurrence1 his ,majesty was going on an excursion up country1 and as he wished me to accompany my pupils1 the prime minister was required to prepare a cabin for me and my boy on his steamer1 the ,volant4 ,before we left the palace one of my anxious friends made me promise her that ,i would partake of no food nor taste a drop of wine on board the steamer1--an injunction in the sequel easy to fulfil1 as our wants were amply provided for at the ,grand ,palace1 where we spent the whole day4 ,but ,i cite this incident to show the state of mind which led me to prolong my stay1 hateful as it had become4 ,after this1 affairs in the royal household went smoothly enough for some time2 but still my tasks increased1 and my health began to fail4 ,when ,i informed his ,majesty that ,i needed at least a month of rest1 and that ,i thought of making a trip to ,singapore1 he was so unwilling that ,i should rate highly the services ,i rendered him1 that he was careful to assure me ,i had not favored him in any way1 nor given him satisfaction2 and that if ,i must be idle for a month1 he certainly should not pay me for the time2 and he kept his word4 ,nevertheless1 while ,i was at ,singapore he wrote to me most kindly1 assuring me that his wives and children were anxious for my return4 ,after the sad death of the dear little princess1 ,chow ,f-ying1 the king had become more cordial2 but the labor he imposed upon me was in proportion to the confidence he reposed in me4 ,at times he required of me services1 in my capacity of secretary1 not to be thought of by a ,european sovereign2 and when ,i declined to perform them1 he would curse me1 close the gates of the palace against me1 and even subject me to the insults and threats of the parasites and slaves who crawled about his feet4 ,on two occasions--first for refusing to write a false letter to ,sir ,john ,bowring1 now ,plenipotentiary for the ,court of ,siam in ,england2 and again for declining to address the ,earl of ,clarendon in relation to a certain ,british officer then in ,siam--he threatened to have me tried at the ,british ,consulate1 and was so violent that ,i was in real fear for my life4 ,for three days ,i waited1 with doors and windows barred1 for ,i knew not what explosion4 ,after the death of the ,second ,king1 his ,majesty behaved very disgracefully4 ,it was well known that the ladies of the prince's harem were of the most beautiful of the women of ,laos1 ,pegu1 and ,birmah2 above all1 the ,princess of ,chiengmai was famed for her manifold graces of person and character4 ,etiquette forbade the royal brothers to pry into the constitution of each other's srail1 but by means most unworthy of his station1 and regardless of the privilege of his brother1 ,maha ,mongkut had learned of the acquisition to the subordinate king's establishment of this celebrated and coveted beauty2 and although she was now his legitimate sister-in-law1 privately married to the prince1 he was not restrained by any scruple of morality or delicacy from manifesting his jealousy and pique4 ,footnote3 ,see portrait1 ,chap4 ,,xxv4 ,moreover1 this disgraceful feeling was fostered by other considerations than those of mere sensuality or ostentation4 ,her father1 the tributary ruler of ,chiengmai1 had on several occasions confronted his aggressive authority with a haughty and intrepid spirit2 and once1 when ,maha ,mongkut required that he should send his eldest son to ,bangkok as a hostage for the father's loyalty1 and good conduct1 the unterrified chief replied that he would be his own hostage4 ,on the summons being repeated in imperative terms1 the young prince fled from his father's court and took refuge with the ,second ,king in his stronghold of ,ban ,sitha1 where he was most courteously received and entertained until he found it expedient to seek some securer or less compromising place of refuge4 ,the friendship thus founded between two proud and daring princes soon became strong and enduring1 and resulted in the marriage of the ,princess ,sunartha ,vismita 7very willingly on her part7 to the ,second ,king1 about a year before his death4 ,the son of the ,king of ,chiengmai never made his appearance at the court of ,siam2 but the stout old chief1 attended by trusty followers1 boldly brought his own hostage thither2 and ,maha ,mongkut1 though secretly chafing1 accepted the situation with a show of graciousness1 and overlooked the absence of the younger vassal4 ,with the remembrance of these floutings still galling him1 the ,supreme ,king frequently repaired to the ,second ,king's palace on the pretext of arranging certain family affairs intrusted to him by his late brother1 but in reality to acquaint himself with the charms of several female members of the prince's household2 and1 scandalous as it should have seemed even to ,siamese notions of the divine right of kings1 the most attractive and accomplished of those women were quietly transferred to his own harem4 ,for some time ,i heard nothing more of the ,princess of ,chiengmai2 but it was curious1 even amusing1 to observe the serene contempt with which the interlopers were received by the rival incumbents of the royal gynecium1--especially the ,laotian women1 who are of a finer type and much handsomer than their ,siamese sisters4 ,meantime his ,majesty took up his abode for a fortnight at the ,second ,king's palace1 thereby provoking dangerous gossip in his own establishment2 so that his head wife1 the ,lady ,thieng1 even made bold to hint that he might come to the fate of his brother1 and die by slow poison4 ,his harem was agitated and excited throughout1--some of the women abandoning themselves to unaccustomed and unnatural gayety1 while others sent their confidential slaves to consult the astrologers and soothsayers of the court2 and by the aid of significant glances and shrugging of shoulders1 and interchange of signs and whispers1 with feminine telegraphy and secret service1 most of those interested arrived at the sage conclusion that their lord had fallen under the spells of a witch or enchantress4 ,such was the domestic situation when his ,majesty suddenly and without warning returned to his palace1 but in a mood so perplexing as to surpass all precedent and baffle all tact4 ,i had for some time performed with surprising success a leading part in a pretty little court play1 of which the well-meant plot had been devised by the ,lady ,thieng4 ,whenever the king should be dangerously enraged1 and ready to let loose upon some tender culprit of the harem the monstrous lash or chain1 ,i--at a secret cue from the head wife--was to enter upon his ,majesty1 book in hand1 to consult his infallibility in a pressing predicament of translation into ,sanskrit1 ,siamese1 or ,english4 ,absurdly transparent as it was1--perhaps the happier for its very childishness1--under cover of this naive device from time to time a hapless girl escaped the fatal burst of his wrath4 ,midway in the rising storm of curses and abuse he would turn with comical abruptness to the attractive interruption with all the zest of a scholar4 ,i often trembled lest he should see through the thinly covered trick1 but he never did4 ,on his return from the prince's palace1 however1 even this innocent stratagem failed us2 and on one occasion of my having recourse to it he peremptorily ordered me away1 and forbade my coming into his presence again unless sent for4 ,daily1 after this1 one or more of the women suffered from his petty tyranny1 cruelty1 and spite4 ,on every hand ,i heard sighs and sobs from young and old2 and not a woman there but believed he was bewitched and beside himself4 ,i had struggled through many exacting tasks since ,i came to ,siam1 but never any that so taxed my powers of endurance as my duties at this time1 in my double office of governess and private secretary to his ,majesty4 ,his moods were so fickle and unjust1 his temper so tyrannical1 that it seemed impossible to please him2 from one hour to another ,i never knew what to expect4 ,and yet he persevered in his studies1 especially in his ,english correspondence1 which was ever his solace1 his pleasure1 and his pride4 ,to an interested observer it might have afforded rare entertainment to note how fluently1 though oddly1 he spoke and wrote in a foreign language1 but for his caprices1 which at times were so ridiculous1 however1 as to be scarcely disagreeable4 ,he would indite letters1 sign them1 affix his seal1 and despatch them in his own mail-bags to ,europe1 ,america1 or elsewhere2 and1 months afterward1 insist on my writing to the parties addressed1 to say that the instructions they contained were my mistake1--errors of translation1 transcription1 anything but his intention4 ,in one or two instances1 finding that the case really admitted of explanation or apology from his ,majesty1 ,i slyly so worded my letter1 that1 without compromising him1 ,i yet managed to repair the mischief he had done4 ,but ,i felt this could not continue long4 ,always1 on foreign-mail days1 ,i spent from eight to ten hours in this most delicate and vexatious work4 ,at length the crash came4 ,the king had promised to ,sir ,john ,bowring the appointment of ,plenipotentiary to the ,court of ,france1 to negotiate1 on behalf of ,siam1 new treaties concerning the ,cambodian possessions4 ,with characteristic irresolution he changed his mind1 and decided to send a ,siamese ,embassy1 headed by his ,lordship ,p'hra ,nan ,why1 now known as his ,excellency ,chow ,phya ,sri ,sury-wongse4 ,no sooner had he entertained this fancy than he sent for me1 and coolly directed me to write and explain the matter to ,sir ,john1 if possible attributing his new views and purpose to the advice of her ,britannic ,majesty's ,consul2 or1 if ,i had scruples on that head1 ,i might say the advice was my own1--or anything ,i liked1 so that ,i justified his conduct4 ,at this distance of time ,i cannot clearly recall all the effect upon my feelings of so outrageous a proposition2 but ,i do remember that ,i found myself emphatically declining to do anything of the kind4 ,then1 warned by his gathering rage1 ,i added that ,i would express to ,sir ,john his ,majesty's regrets1 but to attribute the blame to those who had had no part in the matter1 that ,i could never do4 ,at this his fury was grotesque4 ,his talent for invective was always formidable1 and he tried to overpower me with threats4 ,but a kindred spirit of resistance was aroused in me4 ,i withdrew from the palace1 and patiently abided the issue1 resolved1 in any event1 to be firm4 ,his ,majesty's anger was without bounds2 and in the interval so fraught with anxiety and apprehension to me1 when ,i knew that a considerable party in the palace--judges1 magistrates1 and officers about the person of the king--regarded me as an eminently proper person to behead or drown1 he condescended to accuse me of abstracting a book that he chanced just then to miss from his library1 and also of honoring and favoring the ,british ,consul at the expense of his ,american colleague1 then resident at ,bangkok4 ,in support of the latter charge1 he alleged that ,i had written the ,american ,consul's name at the bottom of a royal circular1 after carefully displaying my own and the ,british functionary's at the top of it4 ,the circular in question1 which had given just umbrage to the ,american official1 was fortunately in the keeping of the ,honorable ,footnote3 ,here the title is ,siamese4 ,mr4 ,bush1 and was written by the king's own hand1 as was well known to all whom it concerned4 ,these charges1 with others of a more frivolous nature1--such as disobeying1 thwarting1 scolding his ,majesty1 treating him with disrespect1 as by standing while he was seated1 thinking evil of him1 slandering him1 and calling him wicked1--the king caused to be reduced to writing and sent to me1 with an intimation that ,i must forthwith acknowledge my ingratitude and guilt1 and make atonement by prompt compliance with his wishes4 ,the secretary who brought the document to my house was accompanied by a number of the female slaves of the palace1 who besought me1 in the name of their mistresses1 the wives of the ,celestial ,supreme1 to yield1 and do all that might be required of me4 ,seeing this shaft miss its mark1 the secretary1 being a man of resources1 produced the other string to his bow4 ,he offered to bribe me1 and actually spent two hours in that respectable business2 but finally departed in despair1 convinced that the amount was inadequate to the cupidity of an insatiable ,european1 and mourning for himself that he must return discomfited to the king4 ,next morning1 my boy and ,i presented ourselves as usual at the inner gate of the palace leading to the school1 and were confronted there by a party of rude fellows and soldiers1 who thrust us back with threats1 and even took up stones to throw at us4 ,i dare not think what might have been our fate1 but for the generous rescue of a crowd of the poorest slaves1 who at that hour were waiting for the opening of the gate4 ,these rallied round us1 and guarded us back to our home4 ,it was1 indeed1 a time of terror for us4 ,i felt that my life was in great danger2 and so difficult did ,i find it to prevent the continual intrusion of the rabble1 both men and women1 into my house1 that ,i had at length to bar my doors and windows1 and have double locks and fastenings added4 ,i became nervous and excited as ,i had never been before4 ,my first impulse was to write to the ,british ,consul and invoke his protection2 but that looked cowardly4 ,nevertheless1 ,i did prepare the letter1 ready to be despatched at the first attempt upon our lives or liberty4 ,i wrote also to ,mr4 ,bush1 asking him to find without delay the obnoxious circular1 and bring it to my house4 ,he came that very evening1 the paper in his hand4 ,with infinite difficulty ,i persuaded the native secretary1 whom ,i had again and again befriended in like extremities1 to procure for him an audience with the king4 ,on coming into the presence of his ,majesty1 ,mr4 ,bush simply handed him the circular1 saying1 ,mam tells me you wish to see this4 ,the moment the caption of the document met his eye1 his ,majesty's countenance assumed a blank1 bewildered expression peculiar to it1 and he seemed to look to my friend for an explanation2 but that gentleman had none to offer1 for ,i had made none to him4 ,and to crown all1 even as the king was pointing to his brow to signify that he had forgotten having written it1 one of the little princesses came crouching and crawling into the room with the missing volume in her hand4 ,it had been found in one of the numerous sleeping-apartments of the king1 beside his pillow1 just in time6 ,mr4 ,bush soon returned1 bringing me assurances of his ,majesty's cordial reconciliation2 but ,i still doubted his sincerity1 and for weeks did not offer to enter the palace4 ,when1 however1 on the arrival of the ,chow ,phya steamer with the mail1 ,i was formally summoned by the king to return to my duties1 ,i quietly obeyed1 making no allusion to my bygones4 ,as ,i sat at my familiar table1 copying1 his ,majesty approached1 and addressed me in these words3-- ,mam6 you are one great difficulty4 ,i have much pleasure and favor on you1 but you are too obstinate4 ,you are not wise4 ,wherefore are you so difficult8 ,you are only a woman4 ,it is very bad you can be so strong-headed4 ,will you now have any objection to write to ,sir ,john1 and tell him ,i am his very good friend8 ,none whatever1 ,i replied1 if it is to be simply a letter of good wishes on the part of your ,majesty4 ,i wrote the letter1 and handed it to him for perusal4 ,he was hardly satisfied1 for with only a significant grunt he returned it to me1 and left the apartment at once1--to vent his spite on some one who had nothing to do with the matter4 ,in due time the following very considerate but significant reply 7addressed to his ,majesty's one great difficulty 7 was received from ,sir ,john ,bowring3-- ,,claremont1 ,,exeter1 #cj ,june1 #ahfg4 ,,dear ,,madam3--,your letter of #abth ,may demands from me the attention of a courteous reply4 ,i am quite sure the ancient friendship of the ,king of ,siam would never allow a slight1 or indeed an unkindness1 to me2 and ,i hope to have opportunities of showing his ,majesty that ,i feel a deep interest in his welfare4 ,as regards the diplomacy of ,european courts1 it is but natural that those associated with them should be more at home1 and better able to direct their course1 than strangers from a distance1 however personally estimable2 and though1 in the case in question1 the mission of a ,siamese ,ambassador to ,paris was no doubt well intended1 and could never have been meant to give me annoyance1 it was not to be expected he would be placed in that position of free and confidential intercourse which my long acquaintance with public life would enable me to occupy4 ,in remote regions1 people with little knowledge of official matters in high quarters often take upon themselves to give advice in great ignorance of facts1 and speak very unadvisedly on topics on which their opinions are worthless and their influence valueless4 ,as regards ,m4 ,aubaret's offensive proceedings1 ,i doubt not he has received a caution ,footnote3 ,aubaret1 ,french ,consul at ,bangkok1 whose overbearing conduct has been described elsewhere4 on my representation1 and that he1 and others of his nation1 would not be very willing that the ,emperor--an old acquaintance of mine--should hear from my lips what ,i might have to say4 ,the will of the ,emperor is supreme1 and ,i am afraid the ,cambodian question is now referred back to ,siam4 ,it might have been better for me to have discussed it with his ,imperial ,majesty4 ,however1 the past is past4 ,personal influence1 as you are aware1 is not transferable2 but when by the proper powers ,i am placed in a position to act1 his ,majesty may be assured--as ,i have assured himself--that his interests will not suffer in my hands4 ,i am obliged to you for the manner in which you have conveyed to me his ,majesty's gracious expressions4 ,and you will believe me to be ,yours very truly1 ,,john ,,bowring4 ,no friend of mine knew at that time how hard it was for me to bear up1 in the utter loneliness and forlornness of my life1 under the load of cares and provocations and fears that gradually accumulated upon me4 ,but ah6 if any germ of love and truth fell from my heart into the heart of even the meanest of those wives and concubines and children of a king1 if by any word of mine the least of them was won to look up1 out of the depths of their miserable life1 to a higher1 clearer1 brighter light than their ,buddha casts upon their path1 then indeed ,i did not labor in vain among them4 ,in the summer of #ahff my health suddenly broke down1 and for a time1 it was thought that ,i must die4 ,when good ,dr4 ,campbell gave me the solemn warning all my trouble seemed to cease1 and but for one sharp pang for my children1--one in ,england1 the other in ,siam1--,i should have derived pure and perfect pleasure from the prospect of eternal rest1 so weary was ,i of my tumultuous life in the ,east2 and though in the end ,i regained my strength in a measure1 ,i was no longer able to comply with the pitiless exactions of the king4 ,and so1 yielding to the urgent entreaties of my friends1 ,i decided to return to ,england4 ,it took me half a year to get his ,majesty's consent2 and it was not without tiresome accusations of ingratitude and idleness that he granted me leave of absence for six months4 ,i had hardly courage to face the women and children the day ,i told them ,i was going away4 ,it was hard to be with them2 but it seemed cowardly to leave them4 ,for some time most of them refused to believe that ,i was really going2 but when they could doubt no longer1 they displayed the most touching tenderness and thoughtfulness4 ,many sent me small sums of money to help me on the journey4 ,the poorest and meanest slaves brought me rice cakes1 dried beans1 cocoanuts1 and sugar4 ,it was in vain that ,i assured them ,i could not carry such things away with me2 still the supplies poured in4 ,the king himself1 who had been silent and sullen until the morning of my departure1 relented when the time came to say good by4 ,he embraced ,boy with cordial kindness1 and gave him a silver buckle1 and a bag containing a hundred dollars to buy sweetmeats on the way4 ,then turning to me1 he said 7as if forgetting himself73 ,mam6 you much beloved by our common people1 and all inhabitants of palace and royal children4 ,every one is in affliction of your departure2 and even that opium-eating secretary1 ,p'hra-,alck1 is very low down in his heart because you will go4 ,it shall be because you must be a good and true lady4 ,i am often angry on you1 and lose my temper1 though ,i have large respect for you4 ,but nevertheless you ought to know you are difficult woman1 and more difficult than generality4 ,but you will forget1 and come back to my service1 for ,i have more confidence on you every day4 ,good by6 ,i could not reply2 my eyes filled with tears4 ,then came the parting with my pupils1 the women and the children4 ,that was painful enough1 even while the king was present2 but when he abruptly withdrew1 great was the uproar4 ,what could ,i do1 but stand still and submit to kisses1 embraces1 reproaches1 from princesses and slaves8 ,at last ,i rushed through the gate1 the women screaming after me1 ,come back6 and the children1 ,don't go6 ,i hurried to the residence of the heir-apparent1 to the most trying scene of all4 ,his regret seemed too deep for words1 and the few he did utter were very touching4 ,taking both my hands and laying his brow upon them1 he said1 after a long interval of silence1 ,mam cha klap ma thort6--,mam dear1 come back1 please6 ,keep a brave and true heart1 my prince6 was all that ,i could say2 and my last ,god bless you6 was addressed to the royal palace of ,siam4 ,to this young prince1 ,chowfa ,chulalonkorn1 ,i was strongly attached4 ,he often deplored with me the cruelty with which the slaves were treated1 and1 young as he was1 did much to inculcate kindness toward them among his immediate attendants4 ,he was a conscientious lad1 of pensive habit and gentle temper2 many of my poor clients ,i bequeathed to his care1 particularly the ,chinese lad ,ti4 ,speaking of slavery one day1 he said to me3 ,these are not slaves1 but nobles2 they know how to bear4 ,it is we1 the princes1 who have yet to learn which is the more noble1 the oppressor or the oppressed4 ,when ,i left the palace the king was fast failing in body and mind1 and1 in spite of his seeming vigor1 there was no real health in his rule1 while he had his own way4 ,all the substantial success we find in his administration is due to the ability and energy of his accomplished premier1 ,phya ,kralahome1 and even his strength has been wasted4 ,the native arts and literature have retrograded2 in the mechanic arts much has been lost2 and the whole nation is given up to gambling4 ,the capacity of the ,siamese race for improvement in any direction has been sufficiently demonstrated1 and the government has made fair progress in political and moral reforms2 but the condition of the slaves is such as to excite astonishment and horror4 ,what may be the ultimate fate of ,siam under this accursed system1 whether she will ever emancipate herself while the world lasts1 there is no guessing4 ,the happy examples free intercourse affords1 the influence of ,european ideas1 and the compulsion of public opinion1 may yet work wonders4 ,on the #eth of ,july1 #ahfg1 we left ,bangkok in the steamer ,chow ,phya4 ,all our ,european friends accompanied us to the ,gulf of ,siam1 where we parted1 with much regret on my side2 and of all those whose kindness had bravely cheered us during our long 7,i am tempted to write7 captivity1 the last to bid us ,god-speed was the good ,captain ,orton1 to whom ,i here tender my heartfelt thanks4 ,,xxviii4 ,,the ,,kingdom ,,of ,,siam4 ,with her despotic ruler1 priest and king2 her religion of contradictions1 at once pure and corrupt1 lovely and cruel1 ennobling and debasing2 her laws1 wherein wisdom is so perversely blended with blindness1 enlightenment with barbarism1 strength with weakness1 justice with oppression2 her profound scrutiny into mystic forms of philosophy1 her ancient culture of physics1 borrowed from the primitive speculations of ,brahminism2--,siam is1 beyond a peradventure1 one of the most remarkable and thought-compelling of the empires of the ,orient2 a fascinating and provoking enigma1 alike to the theologian and the political economist4 ,like a troubled dream1 delirious in contrast with the coherence and stability of ,western life1 the land and its people seem to be conjured out of a secret of darkness1 a wonder to the senses and a mystery to the mind4 ,and yet it is a strangely beautiful reality4 ,the enchanting variety of its scenery1 joined to the inexhaustible productiveness of its soil1 constitutes a challenge to the charms of every other region1 except1 perhaps1 the country watered by the great river of ,china4 ,through an immense1 continuous level of unfailing fertility1 the ,meinam rolls slowly1 reposefully1 grandly1 in its course receiving draughts from many a lesser stream1 filling many a useful canal in its turn1 and1 from the abundance the generous rains bestow1 distributing supplies of refreshment and fatness to innumerable acres4 ,in a soil at once so rich and so well watered1 the sun1 with its vivifying heats1 engenders a mighty vegetation1 delighting the eye for more than half the year with endless undulations of grain and a great golden ,eden of fruit4 ,its staples are solid blessings3 rice1 the ,asiatic's staff of life2 sugar1 most popular of dietetic luxuries2 indigo1 most valuable of dyes2 in the drier tracts1 cotton1 tobacco1 coffee1 a variety of palms 7from one species of which sugar not unlike that of the maple is extracted71 the wild olive1 and the fig4 ,then there are vast forests of teak1 that enduring monarch of the vegetable kingdom1 ebony1 satin-wood1 eagle-wood2 beside ivory1 beeswax and honey1 raw silk1 and many aromatic gums and fragrant spices4 ,and though the scenery is less various and picturesque than that of the regions of ,gangetic ,india1 where ranges of noble mountains make the land majestic1 nevertheless nature riots here in bewildering luxuriances of vegetable forms and colors4 ,vast tracts1 shady and cool with dense dark foliage2 trees1 tall and strong1 spreading their giant arms abroad1 with prickly1 shining shrubs between1 while parasites and creepers1 wild1 bright1 and beautiful1 trail from the highest boughs to the ground2 the bamboo1 shooting to the height of sixty feet and upward1 with branches gracefully drooping2 the generous1 kind banana2 fairy forests of ferns of a thousand forms2 tall grasses1 with their pale and plumy blossoms2 the many-trunked and many-rooted banyan2 the boh1 sacred to ,buddha1--all combine to form a garden that ,adam might have dressed and kept1 and only ,eve could spoil4 ,it is only when he approaches the borders of the land that the traveller is greeted by grand mountains1 crowned with impenetrable forests1 and forming an amphitheatre around the graceful plains4 ,along the coast the view is more diversified2 islands1 the most picturesque1 and rich with diversified vegetation1 make happy1 striking contrasts1 here and there1 with the deep blue sea around them4 ,the extent and boundaries of the kingdom and its dependencies have been variously described2 but according to the statement of his ,majesty ,maha ,mongkut1 the dominion of his predecessors1 before the possession of ,malacca by the ,portuguese1 extended over the whole of the ,malayan peninsula1 including the islands of ,singapore and ,pinang1 which at that time formed a part of the realm of the ,rajah of ,quedah1 who still pays tribute to the crown of ,siam4 ,it was at the instigation of ,english settlers that the states of ,johore1 ,singapore1 ,rambo1 ,talangore1 ,pahang1 and ,puah became subject to ,british rule2 so that to-day the ,siamese dominion1 starting from the little kingdom of ,tringamu1 extends from the fourth to the twenty-second degree of north latitude1 giving about #a1cej miles of length1 while from east to west its greatest breadth is about #dej miles4 ,on the north it is bounded by several provinces of ,laos1 tributaries of ,ava and ,china2 on the east by the empire of ,anam2 on the west by the sea and ,british possessions2 on the south by the petty states of ,pahang and ,puah4 ,beyond ,siam proper are the kingdom of ,ligor and the four small states1 ,quedah1 ,patan1 ,calantan1 and ,yeingana2 on the east a part of the kingdom of ,cambodia1 ,muang ,korat1 and several provinces of ,laos2 on the north the kingdoms of ,chiengmai1 ,laphun1 ,lakhon1 ,muang ,phi1 ,muang ,naun1 ,muang ,loan1 and ,luang ,phrabang4 ,the great plain of ,siam is bounded on the east by a spur of the ,himalayan range1 which breaks off in ,cambodia1 and is found again in the west1 extending almost to the extremity of the ,malayan states2 on the north these two mountain ranges approach each other1 and form that multitude of small hills which imparts so picturesque an aspect to the ,laos country4 ,this plain is watered by the river ,meinam1 ,footnote3 ,mother of ,waters1--a common ,siamese term for all large streams4 or ,chow ,phya1 whose innumerable branches1 great and small1 and the many canals which1 fed by it1 intersect the capital in all directions1 constitute it the high-road of the ,empire4 ,for many miles its banks are fringed with the graceful bamboo1 the tamarind1 the palm1 and the peepul1 the homes of myriads of birds of the land and of the water1--creatures of brilliant plumage and delightful song4 ,siam has some excellent harbors1 though the principal one1 on the gulf1 is partially obstructed by great banks of sand that have accumulated at the mouth of the ,chow ,phya4 ,ships of ordinary burden1 however1 can cross these banks at high tide1 and in a few hours cast anchor in the heart of the capital1 in from sixty to seventy feet of water4 ,here they are snug and safe4 ,besides1 the gulf itself is free from the typhoons so destructive to shipping on the ,china seas4 ,in all the ,malayan ,islands there are numerous unimportant streams1 which1 though limited in their course1 form excellent harbors at their debouchement on the coast4 ,the eastern regions of ,laos and ,cambodia are watered by the river ,meikhong1 which has a course of nearly a thousand miles2 but its navigation1 like that of the ,meinam at its mouth1 is impeded by sand-banks4 ,the smaller streams1 ,chantabun1 ,pet ,rue1 and ,tha ,chang1 all run into the ,meikhong1 which1 mingling its waters with those of the ,meinam1 flows through ,chiengmai1 receives the waters of ,phitsalok1 and then1 diverging by many channels1 inundates the great plain of ,siam once every year1 in the month of ,june4 ,by the end of ,august this entire region has become one vast sheet of water1 so that boats traverse it in every direction without injury to the young rice springing up beneath them4 ,the climate of ,siam is more or less hot according to the latitude2 only continual bathing can render it endurable4 ,there are but two seasons1 the wet and the dry4 ,as soon as the southwest monsoon sets in1 masses of spongy cumuli gather on the summits of the western mountains1 giving rise to furious squalls about sunset1 and dispersing in peals of thunder and torrents of refreshing rain4 ,from the beginning to the end of the rainy season1 this succession of phenomena is repeated every evening4 ,the monsoon from the north brings an excess of rain1 and the thermometer falls4 ,with the return of the dry season the air becomes comparatively cool1 and most favorable to health2 this continues from ,october to ,january4 ,the dews are extremely heavy in the months of ,march and ,april4 ,at dawn the atmosphere is impregnated with a thick fog1 which1 as the sun rises1 descends in dews so abundant that trees1 plants1 and grass drip as from a recent shower of rain4 ,the population of ,siam is still a matter of uncertainty2 but it is officially estimated at from six to seven millions of souls1 comprising ,siamese or ,thai-,malay1 ,laotians1 ,cambodians1 ,peguans1 ,kariens1 ,shans1 and ,loas4 ,siam produces enormous quantities of excellent rice1 of which there are forty distinct varieties2 and her sugar is esteemed the best in the world4 ,her rivers and lakes abound in fish1 as well as in turtles and aquatic birds4 ,the exports are rice1 sugar1 cotton1 tobacco1 hemp1 cutch1 fish 7salted and dried71 cocoanut oil1 beeswax1 dried fruits1 gamboge1 cardamoms1 betel-nuts1 pepper1 various gums and barks1 sapan-wood1 eagle-wood1 rosewood1 krachee-wood1 ebony1 ivory1 raw silk1 buffalo-hides1 tiger-skins1 armadillo-skins1 elephants' tusks and bones1 rhinoceros bones1 turtle-shells1 peacocks' tails1 bird's-nests1 king-fishers' feathers1 c4 ,the revenue arising from duties and tolls on imported and native produce being mostly collected in kind1 only a small part is converted into specie2 the rest is distributed in part payment of salaries to the dependants of the court1 whose name is legion4 ,princes of the blood royal1 high officers of state1 provincial governors1 and most of the judges1 receive grants of provinces1 districts1 villages1 and farms1 to support their several dignities and reward their services2 and the rents1 fees1 fines1 bribes1 and sops of these assignments are collected by them for their own behoof4 ,thus1 to one man are given the fees1 to another the fines or bribes1 which custom has attached to his functions2 to others are alloted offices1 by virtue of which certain imposts are levied2 to this man the land2 to another the waters of rivers and canals2 to a third the fruit-bearing trees4 ,but money is distributed with a niggard hand1 and only once a year4 ,every officer of revenue is permitted to pocket1 and charge to salary1 a part of all that he collects in taxes1 fines1 extortions1 bribes1 gifts1 and testimonials4 ,the rulers of ,laos pay to the crown of ,siam a tribute of gold and silver trees1 rings set with gems1 and chains of solid gold4 ,the trees1 which appear to be composed entirely of the precious metals1 are really nothing more than cylinders and tubes of tin1 substantially gilt or plated1 designed to represent the graceful clove-tree indigenous to that part of the country2 the leaves and blossoms1 however1 are of solid gold and silver4 ,each tree is planted in an artificial gilt mound1 and is worth from five hundred to seven hundred ticals1 while the chains and rings are decorated with large and pure rubies4 ,the raw silk1 elephants' tusks1 and other rare products of ,siam1 are highly prized by the ,mohammedan traders1 who compete one with another in shipping them for the ,bombay markets4 ,they are usually put up at auction2 and1 strange to say1 the auctioneers are women of the royal harem1 the favorite concubines of the ,first ,king4 ,the shrewd ,moslem broker1 turning a longing eye upon the precious stores of the royal warehouses1 employs his wife1 or a trusty slave1 to approach this ,nourmahal or that ,rose-in-bloom with presents1 and promises of generous premium to her whose influence shall procure for the bidder the acceptance of his proposal4 ,by a system of secret service peculiar to these traders1 the amount of the last offer is easily discovered1 and the new bidder sees that 7if ,i may be permitted to amuse myself with the phraseology of the ,mississippi bluff-player7 and goes a few ticals better4 ,there are always several enterprising ,stars of the ,harem ready to vary the monotony by engaging in this unromantic business2 and the agitation among the sealed sisterhood1 though by no means boisterous1 is lively1 though all have tact to appear indifferent in the presence of their awful lord4 ,the meagreness of the royal allowance of pin-money is the consideration that renders the prize important in the eyes of each of the competitors2 and yet it is strange1 in all the feminine vanity and vexation of spirit that the occasion engenders1 how little of jealous bitterness and heartburning is directed against the lucky lady4 ,the competitors agree upon a favorable opportunity to present the tenders of their respective clients to his ,majesty4 ,each selecting the most costly and attractive of her bribes1 and displaying them to advantage on a tray of gold1 lays the written bid on the top2 or with a shrewd device of the maternal instinct1 so fertile in pretty tricks of artfulness1 places it in the hands of a pet child1 who is taught to present it winningly as the king descends to his midday meal4 ,the attention of his ,majesty is attracted by the display of showy toys2 he deigns to inquire as to the donors2 the sealed proposals are respectfully1 and doubtless with more or less coquetry1 pressed upon him2 and the matter is then and there concluded1 almost invariably in favor of the highest bidder4 ,this semi-romantic mode of traffic was gravely encouraged by his late ,majesty1 for the benefit of his favorites of the harem2 and great store of produce1 of the finer varieties1 was thus disposed of in the palace4 ,the poll-tax on the ,chinese1 levied once in three years1 is paid in bullion4 ,the annual income of the public treasury rarely exceeds the outgo2 but whatever the state of the exchequer1 and of the funds reserved for the service of the state1 the personal resources of the monarch are always most abundant4 ,nor do the great sums lavished upon his favorites and children deplete1 in any respect1 his vast treasures1 because they are all supported by grants of land1 monopolies of market1 special taxes1 tithes1 douceurs1 and other patrimonial or tributary provisions4 ,a certain emolument is also derived from the valuable mines of the country1 though1 poorly worked as they are1 but small importance has as yet been ascribed to these as a source of revenue2 yet the gold of ,bhangtaphan is esteemed the purest and most ductile in the world4 ,beside mines of iron1 antimony1 gold1 and silver1 there are quarries of white marble4 ,the extraordinary number of idols and works of art cast in metal seems to indicate that these mines were once largely worked2 and it is believed that the vast quantities of gold which for centuries has been consumed in the construction of images and the adornment of temples1 pagodas1 and palaces1 were drawn from them4 ,the country abounds in pits1 bearing marks of great age2 and there are also remains of many furnaces1 which are said to have been abandoned in the wars with ,pegu4 ,mineral springs--copious and1 no doubt1 valuable--are numerous in some parts of the country4 ,the exports of ,siam are various and profitable2 and of the raw materials1 teak timber is entitled to the first consideration4 ,the domestic consumption of this most useful wood in the construction of dwellings1 sacred edifices1 ships1 and boats1 is enormous2 yet the forests traversed by the great rivers seem inexhaustible1 and the supply continues so abundant that the variations in the price are very slight4 ,the advantage the country must derive from her extensive commerce in a commodity so valuable may hardly be overrated4 ,next in importance are the native sugars1 rice1 cotton1 and silk1 which find their way in large quantities to the markets of ,china and ,hindostan4 ,among other articles of crude produce may be mentioned ivory ,footnote3 ,in ,siam reserved as a royal appropriation4 7a single fine tusk being often valued at five thousand dollars71 wax1 lead1 copper1 tin1 amber1 indigo1 tobacco1 honey1 and bird's-nests4 ,there are also precious stones of several varieties1 and the famous gold of ,bhangtaphan4 ,forty different kinds of rice are named1 but these may properly be reduced to four classes1 the ,common or table1 the ,small-grained or mountain1 the ,glutinous1 and the ,vermilion rice4 ,from the glutinous rice arrack is distilled4 ,the areca1 or pinang-nut1 and the betel1 are used almost universally1 chewed with lime1 the lime1--being dyed with turmeric1 which imparts to it a rich vermilion tint2 the areca-nut is also used in dying cotton thread4 ,the characteristic traits of the ,siamese ,court are hauteur1 insolent indifference1 and ostentation1 the natural features and expression of tyranny2 and every artifice that power and opulence can devise is employed to inspire the minds of the common people with trembling awe and devout veneration for their sovereign master4 ,though the late ,supreme ,king wisely reformed certain of the stunning customs of the court with more modest innovations1 nevertheless he rarely went abroad without extravagant display1 especially in his annual visitations to the temples4 ,these were performed in a style studiously contrived to strike the beholder with astonishment and admiration4 ,the royal state barge1 one hundred cubits long1 beside being elaborately carved1 and inlaid with bits of crystal1 porcelain1 mother-of-pearl1 and jade1 is richly enamelled and gilt4 ,the stem1 which rises ten or eleven feet from the bows1 represents the nagha mustakha sapta1 the seven-headed serpent or alligator4 ,a phrasat1 or elevated throne 7also termed p'hra-the-nang71 occupies the centre1 supported by four pillars4 ,the extraordinary beauty of the inlaying of shells1 mother-of-pearl1 crystal1 and precious stones of every color1 the splendor of the gilding1 and the elegance of the costly kinkob curtains with which it is hung1 combine to render this one of the most striking and beautiful objects to be seen on the ,meinam4 ,the barge is usually manned by one hundred and fifty men1 their paddles gilt and silver-tipped4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,royal ,,barge ,this government reproduces1 in many of its shows of power1 pride1 and ostentation1 a tableau vivant of ,european rule in the darker ages1 when1 on the decline of ,roman dominance1 the principles of feudal dependence were established by barbarians from the ,north4 ,under such a system1 it is impossible to ascertain1 or to represent by any standards of currency1 the amount of the royal revenues and treasures4 ,but it is known that the riches of the ,siamese monarch are immense1 and that a magnificent share of the legal plunder drawn into the royal treasury is sunk there1 and never returns into circulation again4 ,the hoarding of money seems to be the cherished practice of all ,oriental rulers1 and even a maxim of state policy2 and that the general diffusion of property among his subjects offers the only safe assurance of prosperity for himself and stability for his throne is the last precept of prudence an ,asiatic monarch ever learns4 ,the armies of ,siam are raised on the spur of the moment1 as it were1 for any pressing emergency4 ,when troops are to be called out1 a royal command1 addressed to all viceroys and governors1 requires them to raise their respective quotas1 and report to a commander-in-chief at a general rendezvous4 ,these recruits are clothed1 equipped with arms and ammunition1 and subsisted with daily rations of rice1 oil1 etc41 but are not otherwise paid4 ,the small standing army1 which serves as the nucleus upon which these irregulars are gathered and formed1 consists of infantry1 cavalry1 elephant-riders1 archers1 and private body-guards1 paid at the rate of from five to ten dollars a month1 with clothing and rations4 ,the infantry are armed with muskets and sabres2 the cavalry1 with bows and arrows as well as spears2 but the spear1 which is from six to seven feet long1 is the favorite weapon of this arm of the service1 and they handle it with astonishing dexterity4 ,the king's private body-guards are well paid1 clothed1 and quartered1 having their stations and barracks within the palace walls and near the most attractive streets and avenues1 while other troops are lodged outside4 ,it is customary to detain the families of conscripts in the districts to which they belong1 as prisoners on parole1--hostages for the good conduct of their young men in the army2 and for the desertion or treachery of the soldier1 his wife or children1 mother or sisters1 as the case may be1 are tortured1 or even executed1 without compunction or remorse4 ,the long and peaceful reign of the late king1 however1 has almost effaced from the minds of the youth of ,siam the remembrance of such monstrous oppressions4 ,the ,siamese are but indifferent sailors1 their nautical excursions being mainly confined to short coasting trips1 or boating in safe and familiar channels4 ,the more adventurous export trade is carried on almost wholly by foreigners4 ,about one thousand war-boats constitute the bulk of the navy4 ,these are constructed from the solid bole of the teak-tree1 excavated partly with fire1 partly with the adze2 and1 while they are commonly from eighty to a hundred feet long1 the breadth rarely exceeds eight or nine feet1 though the apparent width is increased by the addition of a sort of light gallery4 ,they are made to carry fifty or sixty rowers1 with short oars working on a pivot4 ,the prow1 which is solid1 has a flat terrace1 on which1 for the king's up-country excursions1 they mount a small field-piece1 a nine or a twelve pounder4 ,there are also several men-of-war belonging to the government1 built by ,european engineers4 ,the number of vessels in the merchant marine cannot be great4 ,dwelling so long in peace and security at home1 the tastes and the energies of the ,siamese people have been confirmed1 by their political circumstances1 in that inclination toward agricultural rather than commercial pursuits which their geographical conditions naturally engender4 ,the extreme fertility of the soil1 watered by innumerable streams1 and intersected in every direction by a network of capacious canals 7of which the ,klong ,yai1 ,klong ,bangkok-noi1 and ,klong ,p'hra- cha-dee1 are the most remarkable72 the generating heats of the climate2 the teeming plains of the upper provinces1 bulwarked by mighty mountains2 and1 above all1 that magnificent mother1 the ,meinam1 winding in her beauty and bounty through a vast and lovely vale to the sea1 in her course subjecting all things to the enriching and adorning influence of her touch1--all combine by their irresistible inducements to determine the native to the tilling of the ground4 ,nothing can be more delightful than an excursion through the country immediately after the subsidence of the floods4 ,then nature is draped in hues as charming as they are various1 from the palest olive to the liveliest green2 broad fields wave with tall golden spires of grain1 or are dotted with tufted sheaves heavy with generous crops2 the refreshed air is perfumed with the fragrance of the orange1 lemon1 citron1 and other tropical fruits and flowers2 and on every side the landscape is a scene of lovely meadows1 alive with flocks and herds1 and busy with herdsmen1 husbandmen1 and gardeners4 ,the most considerable of the many canals by which communication is maintained with all parts of the country is ,klong ,yai1 the ,great ,canal1 supposed to have been begun in the reign of ,phya ,tk4 ,it is nearly a hundred cubits deep1 twenty ,siamese fathoms broad1 and forty miles long4 ,bangkok has been aptly styled the ,venice of the ,orient2 for not only the villages thickly studding the banks of the ,meinam1 but the remoter hamlets as well1 even to the confines of the kingdom1 have each its own canals4 ,in fact1 the lands annually inundated by the ,mother of ,waters are so extensive1 and for the most part lie so low1 and the number of water-ducts1 natural and artificial1 is so great1 that of all the torrents that descend upon the country in the months of ,june1 ,july1 and ,august 7when the whole land is as a sea1 in which towns and villages show like docks connected by drawbridges1 with little islets between of groves and orchards1 whose tops alone are visible71 not a tithe ever returns to the ocean4 ,the modern bridges of ,siam1 which are mostly of iron in the ,european style1 are made to be drawn for the passage of the ,king's barge1 since the royal head may not without desecration pass under anything trodden by the foot of man4 ,the more ancient bridges1 however1 are of stone and brick2 and here and there are strange artificial lakes1 partly filled up with the debris of temples that once stood on their banks4 ,of roads there are but few that are good1 and all are of comparatively recent construction4 ,,xxix4 ,,the ,,ruins ,,of ,,cambodia4--,,an ,,excursion ,,to ,,the ,,naghkon ,,watt4 ,footnote3 ,the ,cambodian was1 without doubt1 in its day1 one of the most powerful of the empires of the ,east4 ,as to its antiquity1 two opinions prevail1--one ascribing to it a duration of #a1cjj years1 the other of #b1djj4 ,the native historians reckon #b1djj years from the building of the ,naghkon ,watt1 or ,naghkon ,ongkhoor2 but this computation1 not agreeing with the mythological traditions of the country1 which date from the ,year of the ,world #bje1 is not accepted as authentic by the more learned ,cambodians4 ,our journey from ,bangkok to ,kabin derived its memorable interest from those features and feelings which join to compose the characteristic romance of ,eastern travel by unhackneyed ways1--the wild freedom of the plain1 the tortuous1 suspicious mountain track1 the tangled jungle1 the bewildering wastes and glooms of an unexplored region1 with their suggestions of peril and adventure1 and especially that glorious participation in the enlargement and liberty of an ,eastern wanderer's life which these afford4 ,once you begin to feel that1 you will be happy1 whether on an elephant or in a buffalo-cart1--the very privations and perils including a charm of excitement all unknown to the formal ,european tourist4 ,the rainbow mists of morning still lay low on the plain1 as yet unlifted by the breeze that1 laden with odor and song1 gently rocked the higher branches in the forest1 as our elephants pressed on1 heavily but almost noiselessly1 over a parti-colored carpet of wild-flowers4 ,strange birds darted from bough to bough among the wild myrtles and limes1 and great green and golden lizards gleamed through the shrubbery as we approached ,siemrp4 ,the more extensive and remarkable ruins of ,cambodia seem concentrated in this part of the country1 though they are by no means confined to it1 but are found widely scattered over the neighboring territories4 ,from ,sisuphon we diverged in a northeasterly direction1 and at evening found ourselves in the quaint1 antique town of ,phanomsk1 half ruined and deserted1 where the remains of a magnificent palace can still be traced4 ,the country between ,cambodia and ,siam is an inclined plane falling off to the sea1 beginning from the ,khoa ,don ,rke1 or highlands of ,korat1 which constitutes the first platform of the terraces that gradually ascend to the mountain chain of ,laos1 and thence to the stupendous ,himalayas4 ,khoa ,don ,rke 7the ,mountain1 which ,bears on the ,shoulders1 the ,cambodian ,atlas7 includes in its domain the ,dong ,phya ,fai 7,forest of the ,lord of ,fire71 whence many tributary streams flow into the beautiful ,pachim ,river4 ,at sunrise next morning we resumed our journey1 and after a long day of toiling through treacherous marshes and tangled brushwood came at sunset upon an object whose presence there was a wonder1 and its past a puzzle1--a ridge or embankment of ten or twelve feet elevation1 which1 to our astonishment1 ran high and dry through the swampy lowlands4 ,in the heart of an interminable forest it stretches along one side of the tangled trail1 in some places walling it in1 at others crossing it at right angles2 now suddenly diving into the depths of the forest1 now reappearing afar off1 as if to mock our cautious progress1 and invite us to follow it4 ,the eye1 wistfully pursuing its eccentric sweep1 suddenly loses it in impenetrable shadows4 ,there is not a vestige of any other ruin near it1 and the long lines it here and there shows1 ghostly white in the moonlight1 seem like spectral strands of sand4 ,our guides tell us this isolated ridge was once the great highway of ancient ,cambodia1 that it can be traced from the neighborhood of ,nohk ,burree to ,naghkon ,watt1 and thence to the very heart of ,cochin ,china2 and one assures us that no man has ever seen the end of it4 ,so on we went1 winding our devious way over pathless ground1 now diving into shady valleys1 now mounting to sunny eminences where the breeze blew free and the eye could range far and wide1 but not to find aught that was human4 ,gradually the flowering shrubs forsook us1 and dark forest trees pressed grimly around1 as we traversed the noble stone bridges that those grand old ,cambodians loved to build over comparatively insignificant streams4 ,the moon1 touching with fantastic light the crumbling arches and imparting a charm of illusion to the scene1 the clear spangled sky1 the startling voices of the night1 and the influence of the unknown1 the mysterious1 and the weird1 overcame us like a dream4 ,truly there is naught of the commonplace or vulgar in this land of ruins and legends1 and the foretaste of the wonders we were about to behold met our view in the great bridges4 ,taphan ,hin 7the ,stone ,bridge7 and the finer and more artistic ,taphan ,thevadah 7the ,angel's ,bridge7 are both imposing works4 ,arches1 still resting firmly on their foundations1 buttressed by fifty great pillars of stone1 sup-port a structure about five hundred feet long and eighty broad4 ,the road-bed of these bridges is formed of immense blocks or beams of stone1 laid one upon another1 and so adjusted that their very weight serves to keep the arches firm4 ,in a clearing in the forest1 near a rivulet called by the ,cambodians ,sthieng ,sinn 7,sufficient to our ,need71 we encamped2 and1 having rested and supped1 again followed our guides over the foaming stream1 and recrossed the ,stone ,bridge on foot1 marvelling at the work of a race of whose existence the ,western nations know nothing1 who have no name in history1 yet who builded in a style surpassing in boldness of conception1 grandeur of proportions1 and delicacy of design1 the best works of the modern world1--stupendous1 beautiful1 enduring6 ,the material is mostly freestone1 but a flinty conglomerate appears wherever the work is exposed to the action of the water4 ,formerly a fine balustrade crowned the bridge on both sides1 but it has been broken down4 ,the ornamental parts of these massive structures seem to have been the only portions the invading vandals of the time could destroy4 ,the remains of the balustrade show that it consisted of a series of long quarry stones1 on the ridges of which caryatidian pillars1 representing the seven-headed serpent1 supported other slabs grooved along the rim to receive semi-convex stones with arabesque sculptures1 affording a hint of ancient ,cambodian art4 ,on the left bank we found the remains of a staircase leading down to the water1 not far from a spot where a temple formerly stood4 ,next morning we crossed the ,taphan ,teph1 or ,heavenly ,bridge1--like the ,taphan ,hin and the ,taphan ,thevadah a work of almost superhuman magnitude and solidity4 ,leaving the bridges1 our native pilots turned off from the ancient causeway to grope through narrow miry paths in the jungle4 ,on the afternoon of the same day we arrived at another stone bridge1 over the ,paleng ,river4 ,this1 according to our guides1 was abandoned by the builders1 because the country was invaded by the hostile hordes who destroyed ,naghkon ,watt4 ,slowly crumbling among the wild plantains and the pagan lotoses and lilies1 these bridges seem to constitute the sole memorial1 in the midst of that enchanting desolation1 of a once proud and populous capital4 ,from the ,paleng ,river1 limpid and cheerful1 a day's journey brought us to the town of ,siemrp2 and1 after an unnecessary delay of several hours1 we started with lighter pockets for the ruins of ,naghkon ,watt4 ,naghkon1 or ,ongkoor1 is supposed to have been the royal city of the ancient kingdom of ,cambodia1 or ,khaimain1 of which the only traditions that remain describe in wild extravagances its boundless territory2 its princes without number who paid tribute in gold1 silver1 and precious stuffs2 its army of seventy thousand war elephants1 two hundred thousand horsemen1 and nearly six millions of foot soldiers2 and its royal treasure-houses covering three hundred miles of ground4 ,in the heart of this lonely region1 in a district still bearing the name of ,ongkoor1 and quite apart from the ruined temples that abound hard by1 we found architectural remains of such exceeding grandeur1 with ruins of temples and palaces which must have been raised at so vast a cost of labor and treasure1 that we were overwhelmed with astonishment and admiration4 ,what manner of people were these8 ,whence came their civilization and their culture8 ,and why and whither did they disappear from among the nations of the earth8 ,the site of the city is in itself unique4 ,chosen originally for the strength of its position1 it yet presents none of the features which should mark the metropolis of a powerful people4 ,it seems to stand aloof from the world1 exempt from its passions and aspirations1 and shunning even its thrift4 ,confronting us with its towering portal1 overlaid with colossal hieroglyphics1 the majestic ruin1 of the watt stands like a petrified dream of some ,michael ,angelo of the giants--more impressive in its loneliness1 more elegant and animated in its grace1 than aught that ,greece and ,home have left us1 and addressing us with a significance all the sadder and more solemn for the desolation and barbarism which surround it4 ,unhappily1 the shocks of war1 seconding the slowly grinding mills of time1 have left but few of these noble monuments2 and slowly1 but ruthlessly1 the work of destruction and decay goes on4 ,vainly may we seek for any chronicle of the long line of monarchs who must have swayed the sceptre of the once powerful empire of ,maha ,naghkon4 ,only a vague tradition has come down1 of a celestial prince to whom the fame of founding the great temple is supposed to belong2 and of an ,egyptian king1 who1 for his sacrilege1 was changed into a leper4 ,an interesting statue1 representing the latter1 still stands in one of the corridors1--somewhat mutilated1 but sufficiently well preserved to display a marked contrast to the physical type of the present race of ,cambodians4 ,the inscriptions with which some of the columns are covered are illegible2 and if you question the natives as to the origin of ,naghkon ,watt1 they will tell you that it was the work of the ,leper ,king1 or of ,p'hra-,inn-,suen1 ,king of ,heaven1 or of giants1 or that it made itself4 ,these magnificent edifices seem to have been designed for places of worship rather than of royal habitation1 for nearly all are ,buddhist temples4 ,the statues and sculptures on the walls of the outer corridor are in alto relievo1 and generally life-size4 ,the statue of the ,leper ,king1 set up in a sort of pavilion1 is moderately colossal1 and is seated in a tranquil and noble attitude2 the head especially is a masterpiece1 the features being classic and of manly beauty4 ,approaching the temple of ,ongkoor1 the most beautiful and best preserved of these glorious remains1 the traveller is compensated with full measure of wonder and delight for all the fatigues and hardships of his journey4 ,complete as is the desolation1 a strange air of luxury hangs over all1 as though the golden glow of sunshine amid the refreshing gloom were for the glory and the ease of kings4 ,at each angle of the temple are two enormous lions1 hewn1 pedestal and all1 from a single block4 ,a flight of stone steps leads up to the first platform of terraces4 ,to reach the main entrance from the north staircase we traverse a noble causeway1 which midway crosses a deep and wide moat that seems to surround the building4 ,the main entrance is by a long gallery1 having a superb central tower1 with two others of less height on each side4 ,the portico of each of the three principal towers is formed by four projecting columns1 with a spacious staircase between4 ,at either extremity are similar porticos1 and beyond these is a very lofty door1 or gateway1 covered with gigantic hieroglyphs1 where gods and warriors hang as if self-supported between earth and sky4 ,then come groves of columns that in girth and height might rival the noblest oaks4 ,every pillar and every part of the wall is so crowded with sculptures that the whole temple seems hung with petrified tapestry4 ,on the west side1 the long gallery is flanked by two rows of almost square columns4 ,the blank windows are cut out of the wall1 and finished with stone railings or balconies of curiously twisted columns2 and the different compartments are equally covered with sculptures of subjects taken from the ,ramayna4 ,here are ,lakshman and ,hanuman leading their warriors against ,rawana1--some with ten heads1 others with many arms4 ,the monkeys are building the stone bridge over the sea4 ,rama is seen imploring the aid of the celestial protector1 who sits on high1 in grand and dreamy contemplation4 ,rama's father is challenging the enemy1 while ,rawana is engaged in combat with the leader of the many-wheeled chariots4 ,there are many other figures of eight-handed deities2 and all are represented with marvellous skill in grouping and action4 ,illustration3 ,ruins of the ,naghkon ,watt4 ,the entire structure is roofed with tiers of hewn stone1 which is also sculptured2 and remains of a ceiling may still be traced4 ,the symmetrical wings terminate in three spacious pavilions and this imposing colonnade1 which1 by its great length1 height1 and harmonious proportions1 is conspicuous from a great distance1 and forms an appropriate vestibule to so grand a temple4 ,traversing the building1 we cross another and finer causeway1 formed of great blocks of stone carefully joined1 and bordered with a handsome balustrade1 partly in ruins1 very massive1 and covered with sculptures4 ,on either side are six great platforms1 with flights of steps2 and on each we find remains of the seven-headed serpent1--in some parts mutilated1 but on the whole sufficiently preserved to show distinctly the several heads1 some erect as if guarding the entrance1 others drawn back in a threatening attitude4 ,a smaller specimen is nearly perfect and very beautiful4 ,we passed into an adytum1 wardered by gigantic effigies whose mystic forms we could hardly trace2 above us that ponderous roof1 tier on tier of solid stone1 upheld by enormous columns1 and incrusted with strange carvings4 ,everywhere we found fresh objects of wonder1 and each new spot1 as we explored it1 seemed the greatest wonder of all4 ,in the centre of the causeway are two elegant pavilions with porticos2 and at the foot of the terrace we come upon two artificial lakes1 which in the dry season must be supplied either by means of a subterranean aqueduct or by everlasting springs4 ,a balustrade not unlike that of the causeway1 erected upon a sculptured basement1 starts from the foot of the terrace and runs quite round the temple1 with arms1 or branches1 descending at regular intervals4 ,the terrace opens into a grand court1 crowded with a forest of magnificent columns with capitals1 each hewn from a single block of stone4 ,the basement1 like every other part of the building1 is ornamented in varied and animated styles2 and every slab of the vast pile is covered with exquisite carvings representing the lotos1 the lily1 and the rose1 with arabesques wrought with the chisel with astonishing taste and skill4 ,the porticos are supported by sculptured columns2 and the terraces1 which form a cross1 have three flights of steps1 at each of which are four colossal lions1 reclining upon pedestals4 ,the temple is thus seen to consist of three distinct parts1 raised in terraces one above the other4 ,the central tower of the five within the inner circle forms an octagon1 with four larger and four smaller sides4 ,on each of the four larger faces is a colossal figure of ,buddha1 which overlooks from its eminence the surrounding country4 ,this combination of four ,buddhas occurs frequently among the ruins of ,cambodia4 ,the natives call it ,p'hra ,mook ,bulu 7,lord of ,four ,faces71 though not only the face1 but the whole body1 is fourfold4 ,a four-faced god of majestic proportions presides over the principal entrance to the temple1 and is called ,bhrama1 or1 by corruption1 ,phrm1 signifying divine protection4 ,as the four cardinal points of the horizon naturally form a cross1 called phram1 so we invariably find the cross in the plan of these religious monuments of ancient ,cambodia1 and even in the corridors1 intersecting each other at right angles4 ,footnote3 ,the cross is the distinctive character and sign for the ,doctors of ,reason in the primitive ,buddhism of ,kasyapa4 ,these corridors are roofed with great blocks of stone1 projecting over each other so as to form an arch1 and1 though laid without cement1 so accurately adjusted as to leave scarcely a trace of the joinings4 ,the galleries of the temple also form a rectangle4 ,the ceilings are vaulted1 and the roofs supported by double rows of columns1 cut from a single block4 ,there are five staircases on the west side1 five on the east1 and three on each of the remaining sides4 ,each of the porticos has three distinct roofs raised one above the other1 thus nobly contributing to the monumental effect of the architecture4 ,in some of the compartments the entire space is occupied with representations of the struggle between angels and giants for possession of the snake-god1 ,sarpa-deva1 more commonly called ,phya ,naghk4 ,the angels are seen dragging the seven-headed monster by the tail1 while the giants hold fast by the heads4 ,in the midst is ,vishnu1 riding on the world-supporting turtle4 ,the most interesting of all the sculptures at ,naghkon ,watt are those that appear to represent a procession of warriors1 some on foot1 others mounted on horses1 tigers1 birds1 and nondescript creatures1 each chief on an elephant at the head of his followers4 ,i counted more than a thousand figures in one compartment1 and observed with admiration that the artist had succeeded in portraying the different races in all their physical characteristics1 from the flat-nosed savage1 and the short-haired and broad-faced ,laotian1 to the more classic profile of the ,rajpoot1 armed with sword and shield1 and the bearded ,moor4 ,a panorama in life-size of the diverse nationalities1 it yet displays1 in the physical conformation of each race1 a remarkable predominance of the ,hellenic type--not in the features and profiles alone1 but equally in the fine attitudes of the warriors and horsemen4 ,the bass-reliefs of another peristyle represent a combat between the king of apes and the king of angels1 and if not the death1 at least the defeat1 of the former4 ,on an adjoining slab is a boat filled with stalwart rowers with long beards1--a group very admirable in attitude and expression4 ,in fact1 it is in these bass-reliefs that the greatest delicacy of touch and the finest finish are manifest4 ,on the south side we found representations of an ancient military procession4 ,the natives interpret these as three connected allegories1 symbolizing heaven1 earth1 and hell2 but it is more probable that they record the history of the methods by which the savage tribes were reclaimed by the colonizing foreigners1 and that they have an intimate connection with the founding of these monuments4 ,one compartment represents an ovation3 certain personages are seen seated on a dais1 surrounded by many women1 with caskets and fans in their hands1 while the men bring flowers and bear children in their arms4 ,in another place1 those who have rejected the new religion and its priests are precipitated into a pit of perdition1 in the midst of which sits the judge1 with his executioners1 with swords in their hands1 while the guilty are dragged before him by the hair and feet4 ,in the distance is a furnace1 and another crowd of infidels under punishment4 ,but the converted 7the born again7 are conducted into palaces1 which are represented on the upper compartments4 ,in these happier figures the features as well as the attitudes denote profound repose1 and in the faces of many of the women and children one may trace lines of beauty and tender grace4 ,illustration3 ,sculptures of the ,naghkon ,watt4 ,on the east side a number of men1 in groups on either hand1 are in the act of dragging in contrary directions the great seven-headed dragon4 ,one mighty angel watches the struggle with interest1 while many lesser angels float overhead4 ,below is a great lake or ocean1 in which are fishes1 aquatic animals1 and sea-monsters4 ,on another panel an angel is seated on a mountain 7probably ,mount ,meru71 and other angels1 with several heads1 assist or encourage those who are contending for possession of the serpent4 ,to the right are another triumphal procession and a battle scene1 with warriors mounted on elephants1 unicorns1 griffins1 eagles with peacocks' tails1 and other fabulous creatures1 while winged dragons draw the chariots4 ,on the north side is another battle-piece1 the most conspicuous figure being that of a chief mounted on the shoulders of a giant1 who holds in each hand the foot of another fighting giant4 ,near the middle of this peristyle is a noble effigy of a royal conqueror1 with long flowing beard1 attended by courtiers with hands clasped on their breasts4 ,these figures are all in alto relievo1 and well executed4 ,the greater galleries are connected with two smaller ones1 which in turn communicate with two colonnades in the form of a cross2 the roofs of these are vaulted4 ,four rows of square columns1 each still hewn from a single block1 extend along the sides of the temple4 ,these are covered with statues and bass-reliefs1 many of the former being in a state of dilapidation which1 considering the extreme hardness of the stone1 indicates great age1 while others are true chefs-d'oeuvre4 ,the entire structure forms a square1 and every part is admirable both in general effect and detail4 ,there are twelve superb staircases1 the four in the middle having from fifty to sixty steps1 each step a single slab4 ,at each angle is a tower4 ,the central tower1 larger and higher than the others1 communicates with the lateral galleries by colonnades1 covered1 like the galleries themselves with a double roof4 ,opposite each of the twelve staircases is a portico with windows resembling in form and dimensions those described above4 ,in front of each colonnade connected with the tower is a dark1 narrow chapel1 to which there is an ascent of eight steps2 each of these chapels 7which do not communicate with each other7 contains a gigantic idol1 carved in the solid wall1 and at its feet another1 of the same proportions1 sleeping4 ,this mighty pile1 the wondrous ,naghkon ,watt1 is nearly three miles in circumference2 the walls are from seventy to eighty feet high1 and twenty feet thick4 ,we wandered in astonishment1 and almost with awe1 through labyrinths of courts1 cloisters1 and chambers1 encountering at every turn some new marvel1 unheard of1 undreamed of1 until then4 ,even the walls of the outer courts were sculptured with whole histories of wars and conquests1 in forms that seemed to live and fight again4 ,prodigious in size and number are the blocks of stone piled in those walls and towers4 ,we counted five thousand and three hundred solid columns4 ,what a mighty host of builders must that have been6 ,and what could have been their engines and their means of transport1 seeing that the mountains from which the stone was quarried are nearly two days' journey from the temple8 ,all the mouldings1 sculptures1 and bass-reliefs seem to to have been executed after the walls and pillars were in their places2 and everywhere the stones are fitted together in a manner so perfect that the joinings are not easy to find4 ,there is neither mortar nor mark of the chisel2 the surfaces are as smooth as polished marble4 ,on a fallen column1 under a lofty and most beautiful arch1 we sat1 and rested our weary1 excited eyes on the wild but quiet landscape below2 then slowly1 reluctantly departed1 feeling that the world contains no monument more impressive1 more inspiring1 than1 in its desolation1 and yet wondrous preservation1 the temple of ,maha ,naghkon ,watt4 ,next morning our elephants bore us back to ,siemrp through an avenue of colonnades similar to that by which we had come2 and as we advanced we could still descry other gates and pillars far in the distance1 marking the line of some ancient avenue to this amazing temple4 ,,xxx4 ,,the ,,legend ,,of ,,the ,,maha ,,naugkon ,footnote3 ,translated from a ,,ms4 presented to the author by the ,supreme ,king of ,siam4 ,many hundreds of thousands of years ago1 when ,p'hra ,atheitt1 the ,sun-god1 was nearer to earth than he is now1 and the city of the gods could be seen with mortal eyes1--when the celestial sovereigns1 ,p'hra ,indara and ,p'hra ,insawara1 came down from ,meru1 the sacred mountain1 to hold high converse with mortal kings1 sages1 and heroes1--when the moon and the stars brought tidings of good-will to men1 and wisdom flourished1 love and happiness were spread abroad1 and sorrow1 suffering1 disease1 old age1 and death were almost banished1--there lived in ,thaisiampois a mighty monarch whose years could hardly be numbered1 so many were they and so long4 ,and yet he was not old2 such were the warmth and strength and vigor imparted by the near glories of the ,p'hra ,atheitt1 that the span of human life was lengthened unto a thousand1 and even fifteen hundred years4 ,the days of the ,king ,sudarsana had been prolonged beyond those of the oldest of his predecessors1 for the sake of his exceeding wisdom and goodness4 ,but yet this ,king was troubled2 he had no son1 and the thought of dying without leaving behind him one worthy to represent his name and race was grievous to him4 ,so1 by the advice of the wise men of his kingdom1 he caused prayers and offerings to be made in all the temples1 and took to wife the beautiful ,princess ,thawadee4 ,at that very time ,p'hra ,indara1 ruler of the highest heaven1 dreamed a dream2 and behold6 in his sleep a costly jewel fell from his mouth to the lower earth2 whereat ,p'hra ,indara was troubled4 ,assembling all the hosts of heaven1 the angels1 and the genii1 he showed them his dream1 but they could not interpret it4 ,last of all1 he told it to his seven sons2 but from them likewise its meaning was hidden4 ,a second time ,p'hra ,indara dreamed1 and yet a third time1 that a more and more costly jewel had fallen from his lips2 and at last1 when he awoke1 the interpretation was revealed to his own thought1--that one of his sons should condescend to the form of humanity1 and dwell on the earth1 and be a great teacher of men4 ,then the ,king of ,heaven imparted to the celestial princes the meaning of the threefold vision1 and demanded which of them would consent to become man4 ,the divine princes heard1 and answered not a word2 till the youngest and best-beloved of ,heaven opened his lips and spake1 saying3 ,hear1 ,o my ,lord and ,father6 ,i have yearned toward the race thou hast created out of the fire and flame of thy breast and the smoke of thy nostrils4 ,let me go unto them1 that ,i may teach them the wisdom of truth4 ,then ,p'hra ,indara gave him leave to depart on his mission of love2 and all the hosts of heaven1 knowing that he should never more gladden their hearts with his presence1 accompanied him1 sorrowful1 to the foot of ,mount ,meru2 and immediately a blazing star shot from the mount1 and burst over the palace of ,thaisiampois4 ,that night the gracious ,princess ,thawadee conceived and became with child1 and the ,p'hra ,somannass was no longer a prince of the highest heaven4 ,the ,princess ,thawadee had been the only and darling daughter of a mighty king1 and still mourned her separation from her beloved sire4 ,her only solace was to sit in the phrasat of the ,grand ,palace1 and look with longing toward her early home4 ,here1 day after day1 she sat with her maidens1 weaving flowers1 and singing low the songs of her childhood4 ,when this became known abroad among the multitude1 they gathered from every side to behold one so famed for her goodness and beauty4 ,thus by degrees her interest was aroused4 ,she became thoughtful for her people1 and presently found happiness in dispensing food1 raiment1 and comfort to the poor who flocked to see her4 ,one day1 as she was reposing in the porch after her customary benefactions1 a cloud of birds1 flying eastward1 fell dead as they passed over the phrasat4 ,the sages and soothsayers of the court were terrified4 ,what might the omen be8 ,long and anxious were their counsels1 and grievous their perturbations one with another2 until at last an aged warrior1 who had conquered many armies and subjugated kingdoms1 declaring that as faithful servants they should lay the weighty matter before their lord1 bade all the court follow him1 and approached his sovereign1 saying3-- ,long live ,p'hra ,chow ,p'hra ,sudarsana1 lord and king of our happy land1 wherefrom sorrow and suffering and death are wellnigh banished6 ,let him investigate with a true spirit and a clear mind the matter we bring for judgment1 even though it be to the tearing out of his own heart and casting it away from him4 ,speak1 said the ,king1 and fear not6 ,has it ever been thought that evil is dearer unto me than good8 ,even to the tearing out of my heart and casting it to dogs shall justice be rendered in the land4 ,then the sages1 soothsayers1 and warriors spake as with one voice3 ,it is well known unto the lord our ,king1 that the ,queen1 our lovely lady ,thawadee1 is with child4 ,but what manner of birth1 is this that she has conceived1 in that it has already brought grief and death into the land8 ,for as the ,queen sat in the porch of the temple1 a great flight of birds that hastened1 thirsty1 toward the valleys of the east1 when they would have passed over the phrasat were struck dead1 as by an unseen spirit of mischief4 ,let the ,king search this matter1 and put away the strange thing of evil out of our land1 lest it make a greater sorrow4 ,when the ,king heard these words1 he was sore smitten1 and hung down his head1 and knew not what to say2 for the ,queen1 so gentle and beautiful1 was very dear to him4 ,but1 remembering his royal word1 he shook off his grief and took counsel with his astrologers1 who had foretold that the unborn prince would prove either a glorious blessing or a dire curse to the land4 ,and now1 by the awful omen of the birds1 they declared that the ,queen had conceived the evil spirit ,kala ,mata1 and that she must be put to death1 she and the fiend with her4 ,then the ,king in council commanded that the sweet young ,thawadee should be set upon a floating raft1 and given to the mercy of winds and waves4 ,but the brave chief who should have executed the sentence1 overcome on beholding her beauty and innocence1 interceded for her with the council2 and it was finally decreed that1 for pity's sake1 and because the ,queen was unconscious of any evil1 she should not be slain1 but put away1 after the dreadful birth4 ,to this the stricken monarch thankfully agreed4 ,in due time the ,queen was delivered of a male child1 so beautiful that it filled all beholders with delight4 ,his eyes were as sunshine1 his forehead like the glow of the full moon1 his lips like clustered roses1 and his cry like the melody of many instruments2 and the ,queen loved him1 and comforted herself with his beauty4 ,when the mother was strong again1 the infant prince being then about a month old1 the sentence of the council was carried into effect1 and the poor princess and her child were banished forever from the beloved land of ,thaisiampois4 ,clasping her baby to her breast1 she went forth1 terrified and stunned4 ,on and on1 not knowing whither1 she wandered1 pressing her sleeping babe to her bosom1 and moaning to the great gods above4 ,then ,p'hra ,indara1 king of highest heaven1 came down to earth1 assumed the form and garb of a ,bhramin1 and followed her silently1 shortening the miles and smoothing the rough places1 until she reached the bank of a deep and rapid stream4 ,here1 as she sat down1 faint and foot-sore1 to nurse her babe1 there came to her a grave and venerable pilgrim1 who gently questioned her sorrows and comforted her with thrilling words1 saying her child was born to bring peace and happiness to earth1 and not trouble and death4 ,quickly ,thawadee dried her tears1 and consented to be led by the good old man1 who had come to her as if from heaven4 ,from under his garment he produced a shell filled with food from paradise1 of which she partook with ecstasy2 and gave her to drink water from everlasting springs1 that overflowed her soul with perfect peace4 ,then he led her to a mountain1 and prepared in the cleft of a rock a hiding-place for her and her child1 and left her with a promise of quick return4 ,for fifty years she dwelt in the cave1 knowing neither trouble nor weariness nor hunger1 nor any of the ills of life4 ,the young ,somannass1 as the good ,bhramin had named him1 grew to be a youth of wondrous beauty4 ,the melody of his voice tamed the wild creatures of the forest1 and charmed even the seven-headed dragons of the lake in which his mother bathed him every morning4 ,then again ,p'hra ,indara appeared to them in the form and garb of the aged ,bhramin2 and he rejoiced in the strength and beauty of the young ,somannass1 and his heart yearned after his beloved son4 ,but1 hiding his emotion1 he held pleasant converse with the ,queen1 and begged to be permitted to take the boy away with him for a season4 ,she consented2 and instantly1 as in a flash of lightning1 he transported the prince into the highest heaven1 and ,somannass found himself seated on a glorious throne by the side of ,p'hra ,indara the ,divine1 before whom the hosts of heaven bowed in homage4 ,here he was initiated in all the mysteries of life and death1 with all wisdom and foresight4 ,his celestial royal father showed him the stars coursing hither and thither on their errands of love and mercy2 showed him comets with tails of fire flashing and whizzing through the centuries1 spreading confusion and havoc in their path2 showed him the spirits of rebellion and crime transfixed by the spears of the ,omnipotent4 ,he heard the music of the spheres1 he tasted heavenly food1 and drank of the river that flows from the footstool of the ,most ,highest4 ,and so he forgot the forlorn ,queen1 his mother1 and desired to return to earth no more4 ,then ,p'hra ,indara laid his hand upon the brow of the lad1 and showed him the generations yet to come1 rejoicing in his prayers and precepts2 and ,somannass1 beholding1 stretched his arms to the earth again4 ,and ,p'hra ,indara promised to build him a palace hardly less grand and fair than the heavenly abode1 a temple which should be the wonder of the world1 a stupendous and everlasting monument of his love to men4 ,so ,somannass returned to the ,queen1 his mother2 and ,p'hra ,indara sent down myriads of angels1 with ,phya ,kralewana1 chief of angels1 to build a dwelling fit for the heavenly prince4 ,in one night it was done1 and the rising sun shone on domes like worlds and walls like armies4 ,and because the seven-headed serpent1 ,phya ,naghk1 had shown the way to the mines of gold and silver and iron1 and the quarries of marble and granite1 the grateful builders laid the sign of the serpent on the foundations1 terraces1 and bridges2 but on the walls they left the effigy of the ,queen ,thawadee1 the beautiful and bountiful lady4 ,then swift-winged angels flew to heaven1 and1 returning1 brought fruits and flowers the most curious and exquisite2 and immediately there bloomed a garden there1 of such ravishing loveliness and perfume that the gods themselves delighted to visit it4 ,also they filled the great stables with white elephants and chargers4 ,and then the angels transported ,thawadee and ,somannass to their new abode1 the fame of which was so spread abroad that the great ,king ,sudarsana1 with all his court1 and followers without number1 and all his army1 came to see it4 ,and great was their astonishment to find again the fair and gentle ,thawadee1 who thus was reunited to her husband2 and he took up his abode with her1 and they lived together in love4 ,but the ,prince ,somannass built temples1 and preached1 and taught the people1 and healed their infirmities1 and led them in the paths of virtue and truth4 ,and the fame of his wisdom and goodness flew through all the lands1 so that many kings became willing vassals unto him2 but there came from a far-off country1 where the heavens drop no rain1 but where one great river suddenly floods the plains and then shrinks back into itself like a living thing1 a king of lofty stature and exceeding craft4 ,and the ,prince ,somannass was gracious toward him1 and showed him many favors4 ,but his heart was black and bad1 and he would have turned the pure heart of the prince to worship the dragon and other beasts2 wherefore ,somannass changed him into a leper1 and cast him out of his palace1 and caused a stone statue to be made of him1 which stands to this day1 a warning to all tempters and evil-doers4 ,and he caused the face of the great ,p'hra ,indara to be carved on the north and on the south and on the east and on the west--so that all men might know the true ,god1 who is ,god alone in heaven1 ,sevarg-,savan6