The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-04-21

IL JOSEPH CLIFFORD.

The first intercourse oil the Christian
world with the Kingdom and people Of
Siam was o1encl by the Portuguese in
the sixteenth century. though the country
has remained out iiiilc known Until receut
years. Lying south OF the Chinese empire,
from which it is separated by mountains,
its boundaries between Birmah on the one
hand, and Anam and Cambodia on the
other, are not so easily defined, owing to
the occasional wars with these neighbor-
ing countries. or with the independent
tribes nhabitirg the borders. the disputed
territory frequently changing hands.
About the river Nleinam, as in Egypt
about the Nile, the wealth and population
Of the country are gathered Rising in
the mountains whicn are ii continuation
eastward Of the llimalayas, i, flows south.
ward for eight hundred miles, dividing
into several outlets and reaching the guilt
by three different mouths. The vast plains
through which it flows, thickly grown with
jungle and forest, and covering an area Of
nearly twenty thousands square miles, is
cne Of the mos, fertile and productive
regions of the world. The cause of this
fertility. as ia the ease of the Nile, is the
annual inundations From June to Nov.
ember the river, swollen by the rains
and the melting Of The SHOWS in the noun.
tains. .overspreads this plain, presenting the
appearance ofa lake, studded with islands.
The rice fields and sugar plantations
sometimes suffer from these floods, trees
are swept away, and cattle perish but
ensuing seasons Of unusual abundance
compensate for the loss
All the productions Of the tropics grow
luxuriantly in the valley of the Nleinam
Its forests abound with palms, and fig.
tree, ,guttapercha, ,cocoa.nut betel palmyra,
tamarind, and tho mangostene, orange
pineapple, banana. and an innumerablc
variety Of fruits. Dye.stutfs and medicine
grow in the jungles. Rice, cotton, sugar.
spices, ivory, rosewood and ebony are
among the expectations.
Among the native animals are the tiger,
rhinoceros, and bears, wild pigs, deer,
gazelles, monkeys, cats. and bats Of very
large size. Birds are abundant peacocks,
parrots, parrobuets, crows, jays, pigeons,
inhabit the forest trees. Crocodiles are
numerous in the rivers. and there is no
lack Of serpsnts. OF all the beasts native
to .he country, the elephant is held in
highest esteem. When captured, the
process of tanning commences BY keeping
them several days without food. A cord
is then attached to their feet, and fastened
to a strong column. The food of which
they are most fond is then supplied them,
as sugar cane or plantains. At the end
OF few days they become domesticated
and resigned to their fate. Without the
aid Of the elephant it would scarcely be
possible to traverse the woods and iungles
of Siam. lie makes his way as he goes,
crushing with his trunk all that resists
his progress, drags himself over deep
morasses and when he has to cross
stream, swims, breathing through his trunk
when submerged. He descends into
ravines and crosses steep mountains where
it would seem impossible for SO large a
beast to make its way. His usual pace
is about five miles an hour. When he is
tired he strikes the ground with his trunk,
the sound resembling that Of horn, to
announce to his driver that he desires to
rest. The traveller reposes in the howdah,
large rooted basket which he carries.
Tie sebeasts are much employed in battle.
The white elephant, found only in Siam.
and there very rarely, is the object Of
great veneration, and when captured, is
conveyed to quarters near the royal pal.
ace,where he is luxuriously fed and stabbed
served by retinue Of officers and slaves,
and, in case of Illness attended by the