The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-08-12
A Siamese Custom.

Late Siam papers are received, and con-
tain interesting matter relating to the af-
fairs of the country. The late death of
the King and the ascension of new ruler
has brought to notice curious custom
which is peculiar to the Siamese nation,
and is not to be commended for imitation.
1t is called marking the people, Every
male subject of the government must select
a government official whom he will recog-
nze as his master, and then must have a
mark on the back of one of his wrists indi-
eating the department to which he is thus
attached. All persons thus marked are
liable to be called upon to render personal
service in the department to which he
belongs. The government official is re-
sponsible for government work according
to the number of men marked to him. 1t
is in many cases optional with the master
whether he will require personal service,
or accept substitutes or money for procur-
ing them. But, in some cases, personal
service must be exacted. The amount Of
service required varies considerably. Some
are required to give their whole time, receiv-
ing a nominal salary only, wholly made
to their support even in the style of the
poorest class of laborers in that country.
But, as rule, they are required to give
only portion of time-a certain portion
of each month, quarter, or half year.
This system Of marking is, as may be
inferred, unpopular with the people, and
greatest vigilance is required on the part
of government officials to prevent a gener-
al emigration from the country of those
subject to the mark. But bad as the GUS
tom is of itself, it is made far worse by
being made the prolific source of great
abuse and oppression to the common peo-
pie. The power of the government Off
cial over those marked to him and their
families is almost unlimited, and they are
often the worst of men. The greatest
instance of oppression are in the cases of
the death of marked men. The unscrup-
ulous master finds this his opportunity. He
not served for long number of years, and
claims the arrears from a wife or mother.
AS certificates are not given, the wife or
mother can bring no available proof that
her husband or son has served or paid.
The mother must, if able, pay the demand
or give paper of Indebtedness selling her.
self or fair young daughters, or young sons,
as many as the master deems a fair equiv
alent for the amount claimed, and the mas
ter is enriched in money, or by additional
handsome wives and personal servants. If
of these personal servants any are boys,
next time there is an edct to mark the
people, these swindled boys are reported
as slaves, and marked as slaves of the mas
ter Thus marked, they are exempt from
rendering personal service at government
call, and the master pays for each u ticals
(ninety cents per annum in lieu of all
government demands. In this way promi-
nent noblemen become possessed Of many
personal servants, of whose services the
government is deprived and in lieu of which
it gets paltry sum per annum, while many
fair woman and talented man augments
the pleasure, comfort, or wealth of unprin-
sipled masters.
Proclamations for marking for service,
under the present reign, were issued in
April. Officers were appointed to go
through the kingdom to see that the bust
ness was promptly attended to and con-
cluded with as little delay as possible.
| Detectives were also assigned to the duty
of ferretipg out any who might contrive to
escape. Men marked for the previous reign
were to be remarked for this, and all young
men measuring two and half sok fifty
inches) to shoulder were by the proclama.
ton required to seek the government mas
ter, under whom their fathers served, and
solicit him to take them to be marked in
the same department, and for the same
service that was required of their father.
Young Siamese-born men, whose fathers
had not been marked, could select masters
for themselves. 1t is the desire, generally,
of the government to have as many as pos
sible marked to the King, or for service in
the army.
This custom is said to be of great detri-
ment to the country. 1t prevents the i'm
migration of Chinese and others, who, but
for this would settle permanently and
become subjects of the Government, and it
also causes as many as can of the native
population to leavs. This marking system,
operating in this way, and the extensive
prevalence of polygamy, combine to keep
the population much below what the coun-
try is capable of supporting, and not suf1i-
riant tn fully dnyelon ire raSources