The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-07-09

perstitions skeptics in the city. who hate them,
would soon make a finish Of the SARA a .drds,
and add another lost calrs to the History Of
events.
The most of the temples OF Bangkok have q
sort of eolian harp arranged in some part OF the
roof,-whichh fills the air in places. not over
whelmed by the ~caw-cawing Of the crows, with .
| variety Of tender. melodious notes. This moiian
harp contrivance is a taste, and a popularity OF
l all the Malay stock; the Siameso being Malays.
In approaching the eampongs. or hamlets OF the
I great islands of the Malay Archipelago, the
traveller is surprised and delighted with the
sweet tones Of melody that seem TO eli the air.
and float around him. produced by Eolian harps.
The Chinese control the trade OF Bangkok.
The man with the long quepe Is evidently be-,
coming the universal shop-keeper. He is also
the chief c~ultivator of Siam. The natives Of the
land of the White Elephant, supply a King aud
Court, a Government, an army, and an easy
1 going, prolific population; but the Chinese make
the business aud create TO a large extent the
revenue of the country. But fortunately the
Chinaman has no political ambition: and allows
the natives Of all countries of whom ne il the
virtual master, to govern as they please.
One popularity observed by our travellers in
respect 10 the Chinese in Siam, was that they
were the only parties with whom they could hold
some communication Every Chinaman encoun-
tered in Bangkok could jabbeT with facility the
iargon of pigeon English" of the Chinese
ports; but they did not meet with a Siamcse.
with the exception of aPrince or two. who could
speak a word of English; aud at one time when
the travellers were anxious TO give some instruc.
tons in respect to their washing, and not being
able to convey a ray Of light on the question 10
a crowd of Siamese Wallets, they were finally
forced to seek the presence OF princely dignitary.
who was enabled to comprehend the laundry de-
tails that were required.
THE BANGKOK MARKET.
The following prices compared with our Homo
lulu market prices, very clearly show, that .
Siamese laborer, who works for l5 cents a day.
would not better his condition by coming here to
get double, or even treble the pay for his labor
he gets in his own country.
Egg plants, Is TO 90 pieces. ........ 4 ruanE-.0 s cent.
Water melons, s 10 10 pleces.......-i fuang-0s
G onsngas rs :, 90 & &c 50 pIsses...-."".I fsnE-@
Cane sugar, grocery grade, / picui or issN
T.rO, extensively grown in siam. i picai or "''' 7'0"0
Mol,sses : . c:ion u ueAi-.eo ess's.
sweet ppo ettt iasSI lbs u.i.,@ "
Rice, picul or l3lN bs.........~......2 tcal-ti.20
The Siamese mango is described ss greatly
superior TO our Hawaiian varieties. Those found
in the market of Bangkok, are said 10 be fully
three times larger than any seen in Honolulu;
and the Siamese variety has a delicate fragrant
pulpy meat. that ietaches freely without string
or fibre from the stone Or seed, like a hne
free stone peach. Our travellers are enthusias.
tic about those Siamese mangoes, and We hopns
that erelong our horticulturists will have SOME
seeds 10 plant.
It's mosquitoes are one of the drawbacks Of
Siam. They are represented as three times
the size of our busy evening hummers; some
what resembling the Western American GALL
nipper; and probe the susceptible stranger, as
though he were prodded with a hay fork.