The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1868-04-25
A Floating City.

one of the mos, wonderful cities il Tie world
is Bankok, the capital OF Siam. Did you ever
witness such sight in your life. On either side
Of the wide, majestic stream, moored 10 regular
streets aud allsys, extending far the eye can
reach. are upwards OF 20, coo neat little huuses.
each house floating on a compact raft OF bamboos
and the whole intermediate space o; The rive.
presents 10 our asionished gaze one dense mas
Of ships, junks aud boats OF every conceivable
shape, color aud size. As we glide amongst these
We occasionally encounter o stray house broken
loosc from lie moorings and hurrying down the
stream with the tide. amidst the upfoar and shosis
OF the inhabitants and all the spectators. Veal
so noticed that all the from, row OF houses are
neatly painted shops, in which various tempting
commodities are exposed soE sale behind these
again, at equal distances, rise the lofty. elegant
porcelain towers Of the various watts aIsl temples
TN our right hand side, as FAR away as wc e4n
see are three stately pillars erected to the iacmoy
OF three defunct kiuSs, celebrated foT gone acts
oi valor and justice, and IL little beyond these.
looming like line-of-baitle ships among lot 81
cocklc-shells rises the struggling and not vcry
elegant palace OF the king, where his - ilmcs,
majesty, with ever % many wives and chil'ea
resides.
Right ahead, where the city terminate. .4l
the river, making curve, flows behsi O.. PAL
ace, Is a neat looking fort, surmouniei with atop
OF mango trees, over which peep the roof e..
two houses aud q flagstaff, from which floats lhe
royal pcnnani and jack q Siam flag oi rel
groundwork, with White elephant worked ia
the centre. This Is the fort and palace Of ihp
Prince chou Eau King Siam, and one Of the mos
extraordinary and intellectual men in the East
Of Lim, however. we shall sec anil hear more AZ
ter We have bundled our traps on shogc and tax
en- little rest. Now BE- careful how you sf,r
out OF the boat into the balc1ny Of the floating
hOnsc, iut IL will rccede To The force of your ci-
fort to mount, and II no aware o. this, YOU los.
your balance and fall into the river. Now "
are safely uanshippcd, for We cannot as yet 81.
landed but We now form an idea, thougha scr,
small one, OF tho vast population Of the city Of
Bankok.
We take brief survey - our prcscni np,is
mcnis, aud find everything though incouteui.
entity small. clcII, and iu aii.rr respect comfort
allie. First, We have a llga Aalcony that otrf-
hangs the river, snG is nhou' twenty ,aris lonl
by one and half broad 7 ga wc have au ~
crllrnt siiing-to0m which ,.fvts u ,u. a pario.
dining-room aud al ,h,u 81" have little sid.
room for books aud writing and hchiul ilcs.
extending the length Of thr uil.rt two, lcl ranm
Of course me must bring ~ u@kc oIr uen ~
nitufc ter though ihrsc hoH-' ire prcii, Welt oN
on this score the SiNmcs" hN, 'rlhum aaytAiu.
besides their h',lding materials, few lai anI
pans 10 cook with few jtfs " s,orrs AHa o
fshing-nct or two. Eycry huuse has q carot ..i
iarhcd 60 Il and no nation deicsis Walhiut ..
much ~ the Sianicsr ~ the san.c time thts 49,, 20
expert swimmer and both inen aud women O.,
gin 20 acquire this very nec,ssary art at q A.t1
early age Without IL q man runs "a uuintuiaf,
risk OF being drowned, ~. when a canoe ulsrt.
one OF the passess by ever thinh Il nsces.afa 2,
lend any aid, surprising ihcni lully adrqust, %.
the task Of saving their cwH lives. CAM Hf,
hourly bring upset, owing Ia the vast conc,af.-
Of vesscls and boais plying ,o aud fro, anl nv
ing 10 ,his neg geneo ur caFrl, ssnets IN Tsud .r
assistance, n Mr.. Benham. an American mis.iou
ary lost his life some twelve lcars ago, having
uPse, his eanoe when it was jnFt getting dusk aud
though surrounded by boats, M one ale.nlei I
necessary 10 stop aud pick the POOR man ur
RffinsoTe SaH.