The true Democrat., 1856-11-11


 U. s. STEAMSHIP SAN JActNro,
 Hong Kong, June 10, 1856.
 Mir. EDIToR-After leaving Singapore, we made for the Gulf of Siam, and came to an chor few miles from the mouth of the river Menam, on Sunday, April 18th. The object of our visit to this place was to form treaty of commerce and friends hip with the Siamese government, and to this effect Mir Harris. Consul General to Japan, whom we received aboard at Penang had received plenipotentiary power.
 The existence of bar of the mouth off the Menam on which Bangkok, the present capital of Siam,~ Is situated, prevents vessels of a draught of more than fourteen feet from as cend!ng the river. Shortly after our arriv val we dispatched messenger up to Bangkok. and on the following Tuesday the Kings steam yacht. having on board the Praklan, or Prime Minis ter Ot Siam, and various other official person. ages, anchored at a short distance from the ship. They soon came aboard, and paid their respects to the Commodore and officers. They were received with the honors accorded to per sons of high rank. They were clad in the pa- lam or Skeu waist-cloth, and in silk jackets of rich and gorgeous patterns. The Praklan, who IS man of evident intelligence, examined the guns and m achinery of the first American stea mer which had ever visited the waters of the Samese Cult, with great seeming interest," The party were much pleased and fully i'm preset with the great superiority of our coun- trymen as compared with their own
 Accompanying these noble visitors were a re- tnue ot slaves, bearing the swords, betel. nut and segar boxes, and tea pots of their masters. As soon as the slaves got on deck, down they squatted on all fours, it being the rule that persons of an inferior rank in society shall keep the head lower than that of the superior, when he Is present. The sword hilts, scabbards. and boxes were all of gold, studded with precious stones
 After collation. in the ward room and cabin. they departed for the capital, to report to the King. Next day, the King sent down large presents of sugar, fruit and poultry to the ships company and officers, for which We were very grateful, as indicating benevolent disposition on the part of his Siamese Majesty. and probable success in our efforts at treaty making.
 Early on Monday, April 22d, two large bar ges each manned by thirty oarsmen, dressed in a red cotton uniform, and with red caps, with the royal steam watch, made their appearance oil the ship, and lay ill readiness to carry Mir. Harrs, Com. Armstrong, and all the officers who could be spared from the ship, to Bangkok. at which place the negotiations were to be car ried on.
 At Paknam, town situated at the mouth of the Menam, and which with its Notifications. commands the entrance to the river. We discm- parked and were received by the Governor of the place, and entertained with a capital dinner. During our progress, boats, laden with presents ol the finest Of the country, came of to us.- ~ aoout hVe o'clock, I. M., we reached Bang koN where large and commodious bamboo house had been erected for our accommoda- non. We were received by a deputatiou of the principal of Menam; soon the stars and s'rlpes hoated proudly from the flagstaff; ana We were installed in our new temporary home.
 The river Menam (mother of waters) is wide and deep, and its banks are clothed with a oe"se luAurlouS vegetation, coming down to the waters edge, aud adding immensely to it's beauty
 The house erected for the accommodation of the Embassy, was large but frail, being con- struoted entirely of bamboo. It stood a short distance from the right bank of the river. and tronted on large canal. IL contained large
 
 and the Commodore, and spacious, we'll venti lated rooms for the officers. Outhouses for the servants and marines, and bathing rooms. with constant supply of water were also attached.
 Bangkok, the capital of Siam. is built on both banks of the Menam, about forty miles from its mouth. The houses are most entirely built of bamboo, and are generally supported niles Or aioht faat fr,,,, .L The river itself forms grand thoroughfare. be- ing lined on both sides with shops, which are built on large rafts of bamboo poles and moored to piles driven into the river bank There are no streets canals intersect the river at different points, and through these the people reach the various parts of the town All tra- vehnS is done from the grand and gorgeouslv fitted boats of the kings and nobles. down to the tiny shallop, in which the young Siamese or Chinaman paddles about, selling his pork or fruit.
 Many of the people, especially the Chinese portion of the inhabitants, live in their laroe covered boats. These boats are generally abont twelve or fifteen feet in length, the middle DOT. ton of which being covered with roof of plated cane and thatched with plautain leaves. ln these. families live, and float up and down the Menam, selling their fruit dry goods or Chlna ware, as the case may be. The women generally do the rowing-one in the bow and another in the stern-if may so speak. Pro- perly speaking the boats have no stern: both ends are the same The river is also filled with smaller boats, in which women paddle about various wares, fruits and vegetables, etc. Not the least important among these are the betel- nut vendors. Their boats are easily distin- guished by the large tubs of semitlud lime, coored red, and the bask ct of betel- nut leaves The practice of chewing the bete-hut leaf is universal throughout Siam. They spread a small portion of the chunam, or lime. over the surface of the leaf of the Piper Betel and this will roll up in the shape of cone; then a little catechu, with piece of the Areca nut. and sometimes small portion of tobacco con- pletes the "chew." The teeth become black ed by this practice, the mouth and lips also are discolored and distorted, and in many cases the countenance acquires hedous expression. In fact, It ppeared as if the chief occupations of many of the SiameSe, were chewing betel, drink ing tea, and sleeping.
 In accordance with the habitual slowness of the Slamese the audience with the first king did not take place for ten days after our arrival at Bangkok. The royal boats were sent down to the house of the embassy, and the officers. marines, and band proceeded to the palace; and, there, in the royal audience hail. with the king seated on his golden throne, surrounded by the nobles of Siam, in their richly brocaded dresses, all on their hands and knees, the letter from the president to the king was read by the secretary of legation, and interpreted by the Rev. Ste phen Lattoon, interpreter to the American am- bassador. After this, and signifcaton from the king that commissioners would be appoint ed in a few days to treat with the United States, we adjourned to a sumptuous ban