The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-04-09


figures going through the same gestures ana
pastures with the precision of one machine al
this takes time aud constant drill. The cos
fumes are gorgeous aud grotesque, dresses ana
armor OF real gold aud silver, skin-tlghl dresses
of gold gauZc. Sometimes Jewels ln proiusloh
are added when the performance IS Tor the
benefit Of some high company. The amount OF
money expended upon these troupes is enor-
NOUS aud as they never perform except IA
private there is no return for the outlay except
tho qualification which the host has IN the so-
miration Of his guests.
During each Of my two visits 10 Siam was Tor
tuuate TO see performance, once at the Kings
Palace az BanFpayin, the second time al inc
house OF the General commanding al the sla-
mese troops The latter was considered the best
in the kingdom, and that one will describe.
On each occasion the play WAS the same, ana
certainly the Generals theatrical troupe lar
eEceled the other The play was ordered es-
pecaly for the officers Of the ship. The host,
GenoIalissimo Chow ma Mahn, who was a
very Jolly, urbane man of over 60, having been
especially pleased by the exercise with our big
guns, which we had when he visited the shih
took this method OF returning the courtesy,
and chose as the play the " Invasion OF Siam
and the Siege Sack and Burning OF AyatheR by
the Armies from Anam"
THE PALACE OF TIRE GENERAL
was upon one OF the canals not far from the
Royal Palace Large grounds Enclosed the
house, and beautifully laid-Out gardens, hlled
with tropical flowers, bewildered the eye by
their variety aud size. The courtyard was in
closed on two sides by the house, with an over
hanging balcony some "a feet from the ground,
upon the other two by a wall, consisting OF
long, high arches. with a low coping thus
forming theuteF opcn overhead to the sky,
and on two sides upon the gardens. On clear,
bright nights tho top WIS left open, but could
be- closed, as silk curtains and heavy canvas
awnings were arranged 10 slide on rods across
the entire width.
The court was 300 feet long by $50 feet wide.
The cross rods were supported by two rows OF
iron pillars Inc entire length 81 the building.
This immense space was lighted by huge hang
ing lamps from the balcony and the center OF
each arch, aud Others fixed on the pillars. The
lamps were open copper pans Of palm oil, each
pan having dozens Of Wicks along its Circum-
ference. Besides this two immense cauldrons
for they were little less stood in the center
line Of the court, and seemed fairly boiling
with fire, so many and huge were the wicks.
There was light enough, but il was that
FLARIEG, FLksHY, FLAMING,
smoky kind, which, while it illuminated, did
81 by ftful pulsuiOns.
Upon the evening in question the steam
yacht Of the General came for us 10 the ship at
a. and we reached the palace at $50. A light
opening upon the balcony at the end of the
court The side balcony was 20 be used by the
wives and women Of the household and their
friends. Ii was open for as ii we wished 10 20
there. At our end were divans with soft cush-
ions, servants passing ices and liqueurs and our
water pipes, while a hugo pun-zah, or swing
ing ian, by its incessant movement, kept the
air cool aud drove away the smoke Of the
lamps la the courtyard.
While we were Tanaking Of the collation. the
General through his interpreter explained
how, some hundred years before, the Kingdom
Of Siam had been invaded by an immense army
from hnam that after various battles, ia which
Though sometimes successful, the Siamcso were
slowly beaten in toward their Capital Aynthea,
and alter series Of battles before the city were
finally driven into and obliged 10 stand siege
that lasted for months. How finally the city
was
SET on FIRE,
and the armies Of Anam during the confagra-
zion succeeded lu forcing the gates aud sacking
the place, carrying away hundreds Of the
women aud children into captivity
The city was totally destroyed and had
never been rebuilt, bat n new city al Bangkok
made The Capital. lie finished Isis description
BY saying that some years later the Siamese
had been able 10 defeat the armies OF Anam.
nnd, driving them from the country, had ex-
tended tie kingdom by anuexing large part
Of the Auamite territory; ia fact, rather sug-
Fested THAT hnam was now only dependency
o. Siam, 50 severe had been the lesson that had
been administered.
oar rcpast being over, he invited us 10 take
places on tile balcony, arranging our chairs SO
thbt VIC could see thr whole OF the large court
YARD. Our arrival was tho signal for the band
O. commence, which they did with miserable
attempt % Yankee Doodle. This musical corps
consisted o. q series Of most peculiar look iup
iustruments--a flute fully four feet long: !
lhhdcah pipe ~ SIX reeds. side By side: q
French horn and key buglc; four taphong o.
drums, o various sizes, one foot long BY three
iDcbes broad, two four feet long by ] 5 inches
broad aud a bass drum two feet high by two,
Gud-a-haif feet wide; d harmoHicon. consist.
lnR u two circular frames supported on legs
between which were suspended &c metal iscs
hke s1nc'fs the player sitting in the center
aud striking them with
LITTLE HAMMERS:
ranal, which consisted OF a boat sbapea frsyn,
Ecr0sE which were drawn two cords bet wccr
which were strips Of seasoned bamboo wood
tha also being played on with hammers
violin Tour feet long, with graceful y-curve,
neck WITH three strings; aud fOur-stringe,
guitar even longer than the violin.
The players of all these instruments sa
cross legged on the ground, just under our bal
cUny. Alter We lad taken our seats the Con
n
which continued without cessation Tor over sil
h0un. Entering from tie arches under th
AIDE building s. troupe Of nearly 200 uarche,
out, dressed In respondent costumes of red am,
Eoid the arms, bodies aud legs spark ling wit
alternate stripes made by gold bands owe
crimson SILK tights; upon the fingers tins q
gold aud silver with 1Be-drawn points full
HiE inches long, gracefully curved upward
Ep9u tie heads of some dozen curious helmet
masks. whose golden points and hideous face
were illuminated by red green and blue On
aIncl ln strange combinations The others Wor
F0id-aud red caps Of pyramidical shape. END
inR Boz long spike All wore black sandAls
Entering IN single lle 10 a weird musicl
march which we were told was the
sIAMssE NATIONAL AIR,
they made the circuit Of the court. and the
breaking into two c0lumHh then into four "a
lines halted and faced inward. The music D.
changed ~ low monotone, and the actors, wit
great precision and faultless time commences
asnccessun Of pOsturinp8-adyancin retreal
Ing. The arms were extended IN front benin,
Giuft the bodies swaycd FIRST 10 the right tie
" the left, backward and forward a. and GU
anti the eye fairly whirled with the sparklin
ohAneluF unduHtinR mass Of brightness The
seemed never % repeat the Same posture viii
She pulsonnR light added new beauties Asthe
stood with 0utstretched arms the strange lnp,
tIe gave peculiar aspect and when the arm
were given sinu0ug, billOwy motion the seer
seemed filed with gorgeous Ecrpents fro
whose rcspendent scales the eVanesceut lipl
threw sparks. Then, as their arms fell Al
they whirled round aud round, every other Oh