The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-02-07
LAND OF THE WHITE ELEPHANT.
The American Minister Res'sIent-Inter-
esting Sketch oil the Kingdom of Siam.

esting Sketch oil the Kingdom of Siam.
! Colonel j. T. Child. minister resi-
dent of the United State. to Siam, left
on the Oceanic yesterday for his post
says the San Francisco Examiner. Col.
Child was appointed minister about
two months ago, and has been enjoy
ing his first leave of absence for the
last five weeks at his home in Rich
mOnd, Mo.
The Colonel last night gave lot of
curious information to an Examiner
ambassador about the kingdom of
Siam. ut is about as big as four cf
! our states," said he, "and is all cut up
into provinces, ruled by raiahs as SUBJ
0rdinates. The kingis, ChuIalongkora,
81 years of age, who has worn the crown
since he was 21, but who ruled before
that under a regency. He has power
of life and death. but never heard of
his having anybody killed. A board
OF commissioners, appointed by him
| self, settles that. There is a standing
| army of 10000 men, commanded by a
| prince, half-brother of the king, who
is very able general. they use the
best-made English and French rifles,
and they have some big forts, with
large guns to fortify them. The big
gest fort is at the mouth of the big
Menan Chopea river.
''If you will look at a map you will
see the country is about tue shape of q
horseshoe, and curves around the gulf
of Siam. The climate is very much
like that of central Florida. The prin-
cipai products are rice. pepper. teak
wood (Which is cross between your
(.alifnPnia tsefltrsfNI nj
and teal seed, from which oil is ex-
tracted and sent over to France, where
they use it to give gloss TO their silk.
There are from seven million to ten
million people in Siam. You can't tell
exactly, because no census has been
taken for a long time.
There are lots of reptiles in the jun
giles. A good many boa-constricttas,
pathons, and cobras are there, and you
can get some of them almost any size
you want.
There are a lot of big, athletic fell
lows, something like the Tartars, upon
the borders of Anam, who swoop down
on the Siamese once in while and do
considerable damage. A short time
ago they came down aud did some
robbing and piliaging, but were soon
stopped.
Il am about as far away in Siam
from Corea as You are here from Mon
treal, so don't know anything about
Judge Denny, and those other things,
than what l have heard in q fragmen-
tary way.
Islam is at peace with us and every
body. There is no trouble at ALL The
country is now buying a good many
American goods. 1t is heavy pur-
chaser of California fruits. wines, and
flour. In fact, some Englishmen have
just got cash concession from the
king to survey road from Bangkok
out to Burmah, to connect there with
line being built through India. The
king will look at the field notes
when they get through and see Just
where the road runs, and decide
whether he wants it to go through or
not.
''A street railroad nine miles long,
the cars of which are pulled by those
little native horses, is running in
Bangkok. This is all the railroad of
any sort built in the kingdom.
There are good many Americans
in Siam, principally missionaries. The
most noted American there, perhaps,
is Doctor Mcfarland, president of
King Chulalongkorn's college.
lone of the most interesting studies
to me is the Chinese question in Siam,
if may call it such. The Chinese are
the traders as well as the heavy labor
ers there. They lead the Siamese in
business aud run out all competitors,
as indeed they do everywhere. Ilcall
them human ferrets, for they seem to
suck the life blood of every nation with
which they come in contact.
''The Siamese seem to respect them
and give them good chances. A rela-
tive of King Chulalongkorn went to
England to get an education, and
when he returned he said to the king:
"'May1 say what / please In q
newspaper which 1 intend to runP
''The king answered.; Yes; but if
it does not please me / will have you
bambooed.'
'The young man at once began to
denounee Chinese immigration. He
was not bambooed, but he was notified
to let someone else run the paper and
to devote himself to the foreign Office"
"Are the duties of the ministry on
erous and fatiguing to you?" was
asked.
MY chief duties have been to draw
my salary from the United States gov
erment and read the best fiction could
purchase. The hardest part of the
work is enduring the dismal hanish-
ment from the civilization we are ae-
custOmed to-no beer, no restaurants,
no great American theaters.