The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-03-14
Siam.
BY JOSEPH CLIFFORD.

The first intercourse OF the Christian world
with the kingdom and people of siam was
opened by the Portuguese in the beginning of
the sixteenth century, though the country has
remained but little known until recent years.
Lying south of the Chinese empire, from
which is separated by mountains, its boun-
diaries between Birmah on the one hand, and
Anam and Calnbodia on the other, are not so
easily defined, owing to the occasional wars
with these neighbOring countries, or with the
! independent tribes inhabiting the borders the
| disputed territory frequently changing hands
About the river Meinam, us IN Egypt about
the Nile, the wealth and population of the
country are gathered Rising in the noun.
j tains, which are a continuation eastward of
the IImalayas, it flows southwark for eight
hundred miles dividing INTO several outlets
and reaching the gulf by three different
mouths The vast plains through which il
| flows, thickly grown with jungle and forest,
and covering an area of nearly twenty thou
sand square miles, is one of the most fertile
and productive regions of the world The
cause of this fertility, as in the case of the
Nile, is the annual foundations. From June
to November, the liver. swollen by the rains
and the melting of the SHOWS in the noun
tains, ovcrspreads this plain, presenting the
appearance of lake, studded with islands
The rice fields and sugar plantations some
times 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 lux
Iuriantly in the valley of the Mcinam It's
forests abound with palms the tig-trec, gutta
lpcrcha, cocoa.nut betcl, palmyra, lamarind
and the mangOStenc, orange, pineapple, ba-
pana, and an innumcrablc variety of fruits
iri l, lny
Rice, cotton, sugar, spices, ivory, rosewood
aud ebony are among the expectations.
Among the native animals are the tiger
rhinoccros and bears, wild pigs deer gaZellcs
monkeys cats, and bats of very large size
Birds are abundant; pcac ,ckS, parrots parro.
quets, crows, lays, pigeons, inhahit the forest
trees Crocodilrs are numerous in the rivers
and there is no lack of serpents. OF all the
beasts native TO the country, the elephant is
held the highest. When captured, The pro-
cess of tanning commences by keeping them
several days without food. A cord is then at
taChed to their feet and fastened To Il strong
column. The food of which they are most
fond is then supplied them, as sugar-canc or
plantains, At the end of few days they be-
come dOmesticated and resigned 10 their fate.
Without the aid of the elephant it would
scarcely be possible to traverse the woods and
iunglcs of Siam lie makes his way as he
goes, crushing with his trunk all that rrsists
his progress, drags himself over deep mo-
rasscS, and when he has 10 cross a stream.
swims, breathing through his trunk when sub
merged. He desCCnds Into ravincS and crosses
steep mountains where II would seem impOS-
siblC for SO large beast to make lis 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,
a A his Dir iVpr tlut la. It .rr..s ia,
rest The traveller repoScS in the howhah, IA
large rooted basket which he carries. These
beasts are much employed in battle.
The white clcphantiuund only in sam, and
there very rarely, is the object of great veneer
alton, and when captured, is conveyed to
/ quarters near the royal palace, where hc is
! luXuriously ted and stalled, served 10y re-
tnuc of officers and slaves, and, in case of
Illness, attended by the court physician, while
the priests offer up prayers Tor his recovery
and sprinkle him with cOnSccratcd water
His presence is believed TO be pledge Of
prosperity Ia Tie king and country.
Bangkok, :hc capital OF siam, Is situated
ON the Mcinam al some distance from its
mouth, and Is called the Venice of the east.
The river Is its principal thOroughtarc, and
lnpUn this and the tributary canals most of
the travel and carriage j. conducted, though
there are also, "a ia Venice, pasSagc-ways for
pedestrians. These waicry streets are
lthrongcd with boats of every size and variety,
and with bargcs, upon which are constructed
abodes of bamboo. In suck floating abudes
large numbers u ihc people dwell The
shores are pleasantly trinEed with trees and
lined with houses and shops; and sail along
the river is described as being exceedingly
delightful. the scene ever varying. here ami
T mated will the traffic of people OF many ma