The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1868-08-27
WEsTMINSTER, MD. THURSDAY. AUGUST n. lse8-
"A Floating City.


the world is Bankok, the capital Of Siam
On either side Of the vide majestic
stream moored 10 regular streets and
alleys, extending MS far as the eye can
reach, are upwards Of 200, 900 neat little
houses, each house floating on com.
pact raft Of bamboos, aud the whole 10.
termediate space Of the river presenting
to our astonished gaze one dense mass
OF ships, junks, aud boats Of every con.
sccivablc shape, color and size. As we
glide among these, VIC occasionally On.
counter stray house broken loose from
its moorings aud hsrryiug down the
stream with The tido amid the uproar
aud shouts Of the inhabitaurs aud al
the spectators We also notice that all
the front row Of houses are neatly paint.
cd shops, ia which various tempting
commodilicsare exposed FOR sale. behind
these, again, at aa equal distance, rise
che lofty elegant towers Of various tenn
plcs.
Ga our right b nd side, as far away
as We eau see, are thfee stately pillars.
TcTeeiel 10 the malnory of three delunct
kings celebrated for gone net Of yalor
and insticcs and . little beyoad these
looming like Iiae Of battle shin among
aIpt oecoeklezhells, rises tbe Staggering
and not very elegant place Of the king.
where his siancs majesty, with ever 60
many wives aud chiidrep, rcsi,Ies Eigia
ahead, where the city Terminates, and
the river, makiug 4 curve, flows Lehind
the palace i a Eeat looking fort. sur.
mounted With top cf mango trees
oyer which peep tLs roofs Of lwo houses
and q flagstaff, from which floats the
royal pcmant and jack ~ siam--a fIas
Of rod ground work, with white ele.
plant worked 10 the ecntre. This IL
the fort and palace Of the Prince Chou
Eau, King of Sian', aud one of the most
extraordinary aod Intellectual men, 10
The east,
Now 10 careful how yon step from
che boat into the f0ating lousn, for II
viii rocede by the force Of your effort
10 mount, and Il not aware ~ this YOU
lose your balance and fail into The fiver.
Nov We arc safely trauhippad, for VIC
canaos say landed, but we now form an
idea, though very small one, or Tie
yast population Of the city Of Bankek
We take brief survey of our present
apartments. aud and oyefylbiag though
incooycpieuily small, eIcan aud 10 other
respects comfortable First We have a
lutte balcony that ovGrhaues The river
and Is about tNeuty yards long by one
aud n hait bs0ad Then VIC have an cx.
cclleht sitting room, which serves "a for
a faglpr, ,liniag room and all thea We
have iiftle side room for books and
writing, aud behind these, extending
the length Of the other two, bod room
ul cosfao We must brisg or make our
furniture, for the Siamcse have seldom
anything beside lheir bedding matcri
als, few pots and pans 70 cook with, a
few jars Of stores, aud 6shing net or
two.
Eyery house has a canoe attached 10
i, aud no nation dc,osts walking SO
much as the SIsmcse 1t the slime time
they are expert SKINNER aud both men
and women begin TO acquire this very
aeccssary art at very early age. With
out, a man runs a momentaTy risk Of
being drowned. ns when a canoe upsos
Dcue " tho passers by yhmk il necessary
TO lend any aid, suppoaing them fally
adequate 70 the task ofsayine their own
liyes. Canoes are hourly upset, owing
to the vast eoncoarse Of vessels plying
70 and lroj aud owing 70 the negligence
er eaFelessncss 10 rendering assistance,
an American missionary lost his life,
some years ago, having upset his canoe,
aud though surrounded with boats il
was not thought necessary to stop and
pick him up.