The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-08-19
SIAM AND MADAGASCAR.

SIAM AND MADAGASCAR.
Naslaual and Natural characteristics.
n, Very much Of our knowledge of Oriental ldnds,
rs they exist TO- day, comes 70 US through letters
Srom missionaries In the East. In the last num-
Der Of the Presbyterian Banner, paper published
Of PitssbuTg, Pennsylvania, We find an interesting
communication from a missionary at Bangkok,
Biam, from which We condense the following.
The letter is dated May 81
The Kingdom of Siam is drained principally BY
ehree large streams, which dow south or sonth-
eouthwest into the Gulf-the Bampakong on the
east the Meuam or Menam Chowpaga IN the
middle, and the Tachin on the west. These three
eonstitute the principal arteries OF the Kingdom,
although there are other minor streams OF con
siderable importance. All these streams are con-
aected together by series OF canals and creeks,
winding and twisting through each other, so as
90 form kind Of intricate network. These are
khe highways of the kingdom, and consequently
so many avenues of trade TO the capital.
Boats of all sizes and descriptions are con-
etantly seen winding through these canals, OF
floating upon the bosom OF these oroaa nSets. s
During z the dry season, one special work OF the
missionary Is TO thread these weary canals, and
TO ascend these broad rivers and distribute the
Bible 20 the perishing natives. Occasionally, 100
he makes boldcr push out into the gulf, and
visits some province two or three hundred miles
down the coast. On the present occasion we
concluded TO take the Tachin, as region as yet
comparatively little visited by MISSIONARIES.
a. A FLOATING HONE.
Iunarfna n native boat about forty feet long, aud
about six feet across the beam, and in the centre
n small cabin, about twelve ieet long. This caon
serves as state room, dining saloon, sitting-room,
.&e. Then imagine the missionary, his wife, and
thIee or four children as the case may be, slowed
away in that small cabin, together with stores,
beds, bedding, cooking utensils, and other lnds-
Densables for the journey, and yOu have pretty
good picture of the missionaries in siam upon q
TAM moi
swarthy natives acting as boatmen, 70 propel the
boat with oars when necessary, out when Dree1e
gprings up 20 hoist sail, and then stretch them
selves upon the deck, and perhaps sleep IN the
SIAN SUGAR.
The region along the Tachin river has been
devoted chiefly 10 the cultivation OF sugar-cane
Nv the Chinese. Vast numbers OF Chinese OF all
dialects flock TO Siam every year, and indeed
they are now the chief producers of the Kingdom.
Some of the more wealthy have gone into the
sugar bnsness, and employ vast numbers OF
Coolies. On each bank OF the river may be seen
vast fields Of sugar-cane, and in some places It is
snt down and collected into heaps, ready TO be
put into boats and taken to the mills, which STU
The banks Of the stream in great numbers. Inc
cane is ground upon crude wooden concern
something like an fashioned cider mill, only
on o much larger scale, and is turned viii
buffsloes. 3,
into Kind of tank, whence IL is taken in bucket
TO the place OF boiling. kind Of furnace is built
about ten or twelve feet high, in the Top of Whic
a large iron kettle is placed. The whole opera
lion is conducted in rather primitive style, ano
hike all sugar-mills one who uses much OIL "a
article had better shut his eyes while visitln
them. They manage, however, 70 make som
very pretty sugar, and very cheap, TOO, whc
makes a person wonder, after seeing the crud
processes through which IL has 70 pass. a yOnu
Chinese noblemRn in Bangkok has sent TO Enrol
for an improved steam sugar inlll, Whlch ls G.
pected shortly.
sIAMFsE FABNINO COMMUNITY.
Leaving the sugar district, we came into a farr
ing neighhOrhOOd. The Palmyra began to re
hs LOFTY head, which indicates riee-growu
region. Occasionally plantain- garden was SCI
on the bank Of the river, the broad leaves, up
by the winds were "stTenming In shreds IN {
breeze. The inhabitants of farming commnni
generally live in little villages upon the banks
the river. During the day they work in the nell
and at night they return home. The houses
built Of bamboo and covered with the leaf Oi I
Nayfra palm, or kind OF thatch made oil 10
coarse grass -,
most Of the bamboo houses In the city. In th
villages the houses are placed very closely
gethey and, 30 far as q al anger can see, and es
s~things eommen." They live thus in commu
ties perhaps because they are somewhat clanni
AID partly for mutual defense. Like all coun
residents, they arc comparatively free from ms
of the vices found In the larger cities, such
gambling, drinking, SC. The temples, too,
conner scarcer in proportion 20 the distance ir
che city.
now THE rRIEsTS REcHIyK RELtoIous INSTR
TIoE.
The priests ore generally lazy, arrogant
Ignorant. They are looked up 70 by the peo
and indeed they are the professors Of the co
try, and thus they are spoiled. The temples
abe public schools and colleges throu ghOut
kingdom. We entered one Of these ten
grounds with an armful of books. The prie
H1ovices and boys gathered around as TO the nj
her of about thirty or forty. We commeu
telling them, as well as we could, the stor5
Jesus; but that only excited their rdicule.
cell them they are wicked, and must be lost,
less saved by Christ but that Is equally abs
for they have been laying up merit for years.
secure attention we have 10 touch more ton
point ~. =,
aquestion az which they are at once brough
stand. BY looking round abont, and refer
20 the works Of nature by which we are
ROUNDED, VIC ask them who created the world
al things In II. Aher some hesitation we get
usual reply, heyt eng--4iteraiy, "bon itself,
came by chance We then proceed TO tell q
the impossibiity Of such thing, and then p.
90 the evidence o. design 10 all things, and the
90 the Great Designer. These and other rema
had the desired eject In securing attention
after distributing some books, we left them Re
ing az the top Of their voices. the history OF cl
tion and some Of che gospels and acts,
A PooR PLACE FOR TOURISTS.
There is a total lack OF variety In the seer
all along these rivers. When a person has
.fbree miles Of t. he has seen the whole. One
OfeVen the little Juniata is worth the whole {
There Is not even pleasing legend come
with Il, 20 give IL interest. Where such q
- attempted, Il $50 fabulous that it DeconAes