The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-01-22
AN AsIAT,c PoTENTATF
The King of Cambotfia as Described by M
Adolphe-Relot.

AdoIphe fselot.
Norodom, king of Cambodia, is some.
what of wag in his way. 1t is said
he had great desire to visit the Paris
exhibition, but it appears there were
some political objections to his doing
so. Although, as consequence of the
French protectorate in Indo- China, he
has to a certain extent adopted the
habits of European civilization, yet in
the main he still remains a purely
Asiatic monarch, ruling over a court
whose fantastical customs can not but
appear most singular to us. We have
it on the authority of M. Adolphe Belot,
who has journeyed to Cambodia and
has had audience of the king, that un-
der no pretense whatever is any one of
his subjects permitted to touch him
without special order. This exag-
gerated Difference is not infrequently
attended with inconvenience to himself.
On one occasion, his horse having taken
fright and bolted and run foul of
post, his majesty was thrown out of
his carriage and lay wounded and
bleeding on the ground. There were
numerous mandarins and attendants
on the spot, but none of them dared to
European happened to pass by at the
time, and taking pity on this forlorn
king, whom a silly etiquet had con-
demned to die unattended, he took him
up in his arms and carried him into
the palace: His being nursed in i'll
ness is entirely a matter for the hands
of the ''bonzes," or body-servants,
whose fingers have to be bound in strips
of cloth of gold. His hair-dresser,
previous to operating on the royal
head, has to put on gloves over which
are worn heavy rings set with precious
stones. Working under these condi-
tions is no easy matter, and King Nor
odom's hair is undoubtedly the worst
cut of any in the world. His majesty
has adopted style of dress in vogue
in Europe seventy years ago. He wears
a blue tail-coat with gold buttons, satin
knee-breeches, and pumps. Notraveler
who has had an audience of his majesty
in his palace of Pnon-Peuh has been
able to suppress smile at the sight of
this Asiatic potentate in the evening
attire worn in the reign of George ".
King Norodom's harem is noted for
its beautiful women-all Asiatics from
different regions. Lately he had no
less than 500 wives, and he considered
that moderate number. On one oc-
casion, being demonstrated with on the
subject by a missionary, who pointed
out to him that he ought to be satisfied
with fewer wives-for instance, 100 as
being unit of q century-he replied
that he would just as soon be bachel-
or. This legion of spouses is watched
over, not by eunuchs, as is generally
| ha int tha hT1fh b01 hi n
formed specimens of humanity. The
law in Cambodia is that whenever a
child is born deformed, infirm, or
crippled his parents shall hand him
over to the king, who rears him and
raises him to the dignity of a guardian
of his harem. By these means he con-
siders he insures conjugal security.
But tradition says that these precau-
tions have not at all times been attend
ed with success, inasmuch as on one
occasion certain favorite beauty
eloped with an ugly hunchback. The
runaways were SO unwise as to seek a
refuge with a tribe of semi-savages
known as the Phuongs, who, being alb
solutely callous to the charms of the
| fair sinner, delivered both her and her
lover into the hands of the king in eX-
change for four oxen and sack of salt.
The guilty pair were Immediately de-
capitated. Norodom is not naturally
cruel, but he thought it was necessary
to make an example. Being practical
monarch he insists on his wives max
ing good use of their time. Some at
tend to household duties, others have
the care of the royal wardrobe, and
others devote their energies and talents
to acting and dancing in plays invent
ed by the king himself on the models of
the ancient poets, for he is an artist in
his way,
Norodom has sixty children, and is
reported au affectionate father. As q
husband having the responsibility of so
many wives he has, it appears, found
it necessary to adhere to an old Asiatic
custom which prescribes moderate
physical punishment of the fair sex, in
the belief that it is not without good
effect. Now and again a few slight
strokes of light rattan cane are ad-
ministered to the comely shoulders of
an unruly spouse. The punishment is
generally inflicted after King Norodom
has lost at play, for he is unfortunately
addicted to gambling. He puts on a
| good face over his losses before his
partners, and invariably pays up; but
no sooner has he returned to his harem
than his ill-humor breaks out, and then
the ladies have a mauvais quart
d'heure. The beauty who happens to
be at fault had best keep out of his
reach. He understands French pretty
well, but can not speak it. The whole
of his vocabulary consists of two words
-honjour, tres-bien, But then tres
bien spoken at the right time may i'm
ply a good deal.