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

Siamese, Chinese, Malay, or European
there the stiffness unbrokcn save by soft
strains OF music from the palaces, or the
tiukling bells of some Dagoda.
These pagOdas, or temples, exceed the pal
aces in costlincss and magniticcnCe, and arC
~ tasteful architecture. The most splendid
one in Bangkok from the base to the tip OF
It's spirc measures more than two hundred
feet every inch of its surface glttcring with
ornament, or wrought with figures of men and
birds and grotcsquc beasts and from every
angle and projection hang swcettoncd bell,
with little gidcd fans attached To their tong
ues, and vibrating to the slightest breeze, \
temple within the enclosure of the king,
palace is remarkable for the richness of its
decorations. 1t has silver mats upon tho floor
n large collection of curiositics and articles
Of value and beauty, and contains the ccle
brated statue of Buddha, known rs the emcr
aid gold 1t is about a foot and a half high
and is probably not carved from an emerald
but is of malachitc or porphyry, 1t is said
that at the coronation Of each King statue
of this idol is constructed and setup, litcsizc
and of solid gold
\ few houses in Bangkok al c built of stone
and brick, those of the middle class of wood
and the dwellings, of the poor of light BAN
boo, and rooted with leaves of the palm. The,
generally have verandah in front and 4
wing upon each side. The city is so com
pletcly embowcrcd in shade, that to one gaZ
ing down upon 1t from the spire of some pa
CODA, 1t has the appearance Of dense forest
The walls are nearly five miles in circumfor
encc, though they do not include the entire
city, the population of which is estimated at
more than half u million.
The Siamese are An indolent race, nature
being so lavish that little cXertion is required
to maintain existence. They are gentle
cheerful, and atiectionate in disposition, fond
of sports, rope.dancing, theatrical displays
and the like, spending half their time in
amusements. They are sharp and witty in
conversation. Here are some of their pIthy
sayings or proverbs
when you 90 into a wood, do not forget
YOUR woOd.knife"
| AN elephant, though he has four legs, may
slip; and doctor is not always right"
60 up by land, you meet a tiger; % down
by water, you meet u crocodile"
"lt a dog bite you, do not bite him again
In spite Of the efforts of the missionaries
among them, the large proportion Of these
cling to their worship Of Buddha. \ favor
tie resort for pilgrims Is the shrine Of the
footsteps of Buddha. This footstcp was dis
covered by the King of Siam during the sew
tenth century. The relic is to be seen At
Phrabat some distance north of Bangkok
where temple has been constructed. 1t is
probably the footprint of some antediluvian
or unknown animal.
1t is prevailing practice among the Siam
csc for an inferior in rank to crouch or knecl
in the presence of superior Princes, mobiles,
and even his own children, remain PROSTATE
in the presence of the king, though recent
decree Of the present occupant of the throne
leaves this ceremony optional with those
members of his court who, like himself, adopt
the European costume. The magnifcenCc OF
the royal establishment has been described rs
equalng that which we read OF in the Arabian
Nights The present king, however, in his
desire to initiate European manners, has
built a new palace, modern in architecture
and all its belongings. Like his predecessor,
who distinguished himsefby his wisdom and
spirit of progress, he is inclined to DO away
with much Of the superstition and barbarism
of his subjects. Slavery has been abolished
within a few years, the printing press has
been introduced treaties have been entered
into with western nations, and the influx OF
foreigners and contact with them is working
a great change among these people; and the
Land of the White Elephant promises soon
to rival China and Japan in its march toward
civilization