St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-20
The King Of ca1n.oala ana III. People

ICOIrler uee Ethts HE
NJ Delaporte, Lieutenant on board a
French war vessel, gives an account of a re-
cent visit to King Norodom of Cambodia.
THE royal residence he says, sis a town
in itself. Several thousand peple are lodged
in the enclosure, all of whom are attached to
the service Of the King. At the end Of the
first courtyard, surrounded by different kinds
of buildings, stands the European palace,
which is quite similar to the dwellings of the
rich merchants Of Saigon. Behind that, in
another enclosure, Is the native habitation,
gardens, and huts. This is the division set
apart for the harem- and is closed to the
profane. The mandarins are the most en-
ergetic purveyors of the harem. They hope
10 obtain favor BY giving their best-ioeking
daughters to the King. The women are al
lowed to go out, and. by one of those strange
carprices common enough among the mon
archs Of the East. who are by turus cruel and
pafernal they are allowed TO marry, the
King giving up ali his Claims at the reqest of
the lovers But. on the other hand, any at
tempt to enter the sacred harem surreptiti-
ousIy is punished with the utmost severity.
The first time I visited Cambodia Young
bouze. in high favor at the court. was dis
covered flirting with one of the prettiest
wives of NorUdom. The latter. according TO
the usual custom, ordered the two lovers to
be buried alive The accused, however, es-
capped the punishment through the iuterven-
ton OF the old queen mother, who is 4 zeal
Gus Buddhist devotee. Sine that time i
appears that the fair sex have not become
wiser, but their punishment has been
changed. On returning from our.expedi-
ton. the King, who had come to visit the
chief OF the French protectorate, asked for
some details IS 10 the European method Of
Of executing, or rather shooting, criminals.
II MoGra, without attaching muc fmport-
anee &c the question, gratiied his Maiesfy's
curiosity. But what was our s5tonishment
when two hours Afterwards we learned that
four roung women of the Earem had been
shot IN the European military style, and their
heads taken of and hung I'D for the enceur-
agement Of the other ladies' Of the house
hold
ssThe king received Us cor iiaIly. and prom
ised 70 facilitate 20 the utmost sf his ability
our archaeological researches .Afterward be
asked for one Of our doctors. He was Iarucd
oF a recent fall and it is an article of faith
IN Cambodia that an infrm or lame king Is
unfit to govern, be told us in confidence that
he was obliged. in conformity with The super
stitiOus customs Of his subjects, to consult
inn1merable quaeks, astrDlogers, and
OWNERS None Of them was able to cure
him. and al agreed il irnpuzing 70 evil spirits
she persistence Of his trouble. Our doctor
immediately placed him scIf a. the disposition
sof his majesty. Ceremony required that the
august invalid could oaly be examined
through the Intermediary Of one OF his s1ves-
but the doctor convinced him Of the insaifiei-
eney Of tits method, and close examination
of the hurt vas made and tie remedies 4p-
piled.
--On going out Of the palace We found At
/. the 6oT gr0up Of BONES On their knees