The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-07-01

and desired TO present me valuable proper
ty in Bangkok. which /, however. persuaded
him 10 present TO the Government, 80 that it
has now legation there"
''The Siamese Government is inclined to he
quite friendly with our own then. is il not?''
''Oli. yes 1t sent a representative here a
wear ago, rs Won will remember. and now that
our Government has Minister resident
there. rs il has never had until within the
past few years, the relations are very Satisfac-
tory. The King realizes, too, that this cOun-
try does not want Siam in part or in whole
and that all it wants * friendly relations with
her and share in her trade, while on the
other hand there Is constant suspicion that
the French and English Governments may
have designs on his territory
'What sort of people are the SiameSey
"A peacea Die people devoting their time
principally to agriculture. raising rice and
living on il, weating very little in the way of
clothing. and having few wants.
''Fcw wants, except as To- wives, eh?'
''Well, lac smiled, lit must be admitted
that they are great deal married. though
polygamy l. not aS common among them as
some people suppose. Among those able to
support more wives than one il prevails to a
considerable degree. The King. for instance.
l. a very much married man; his wives, it l.
understood. number some hundreds. OF
course don't know or ask to know anything
officially in regard To this. but this is the inn
Il
spent there. His harem is close by the pal
ace, and with it, wives and their servants and
attendants i an establishment of some thous-
andS OF people. into which no man except the
King is admitted"
What sort of Il man is the King person
alyg'
a rather intelligent. bright young man of
-. small of statue with black muStache, hair
parted in the middle. black eyes, Il good adj
dress, and easily approached. | had no diff
Guilty i'm reaching him whenever | 81 desired.
He seemed rather glad to receive visits of this
nature. and has by no means IL cNacting or
ccremoniOus rs lac was reported To he For
instance, | was told that must never turn my
back upon him while in his presence. rs il
was a grave breach OF etiquette. Well. j
was not accustomed to this sort of thing.
am, a YOU sec. very large man, weighing
some 30 pounds and for me to 90 racking
about and running the risk of stumbling
over something l. quite dangerous, as well a.
uncomfortable. 30 / said that ii was not the
custom in our country, and was not done i'm
audiences with our President. and while
was quite willing to give the King all the
VOnors we paid our President at home.
would ask To follow the custom OF my coun-
try. 80 in my audiences | talked until | had
said all wanted To say. and without waiting
for the King to terminate the interview i'm
the formal way they have there. rose took
my leave in the usual form OF words and
bOwing to him, turned and walked To the
door. where Turned and bowed again before
passing out. This sort of performance aston
| ished the Europeans there rs well aS the ma
tiycS very much but ii seemed to please the
King. He always very cordial to me,
shaking hands with after the English
fashion when | called. talking pleasantly and
| quite unre>eryedly. and at one time. when
ON an elephant hunt. l was not only invited
TO be Il member of the royal party, hut was
given a seat beside the King"
GLOW does the King dress"
After the English fashion with coat
closely buttoacd, SASH some decorations on