Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-22
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Bit OF Bangkok From the River With o
Royal Procession of Boats.

Royal Procession of f3oats.
wives take q romp in the beautiful gardens
within the palace walls. It is easy for all
Bangkok to know when the king and his goodly
air. for then the great wall 10 entirely sur
rounded by thousands OF troops. The frailsst
of these pretty women has no chance to elope
and the most daring Lothario would be cut
down before he reached the wall
The king has favorite daughter, 0 rather
pretty girl, chiefly noteworthy for the richness
Of her attire. But her grandeur pales before
the ragnifcence OF the little crown prince In
his state costume, weighted down as be Is BY over
81. 900. 900 worth OF diamonds and otbergems and
gold. Treasure of all sorts in Siam seems to
pour naturally through the palace gates into
the royal abode In the kings palace are sew
eral million dollars worth of gold vessels kept
in glass cases. IL is amusing to observe the
anxious care with which all the treasures are
guarded BY the underlings whenever thronc of
Europeans is admitted. The kings state chair.
In which he is borne through the streets on the
shoulders Of eight men, is Q gorgeous affair Of
gold
The White Elephants.
Next to the chief inmate Of the palace the
white elephants are, to the Simess at least, the
most interesting objects in Bangkok There
are four Of them in the palace grounds They
are a sort of a dingy yellow in color, with some
white spots, and are called white only because
they are SO much lighter than other elephants.
1t is mistake to suppose that they are wor-
SHIPPED by the Siamese. Tho Siamese like
other Buddhists, believe in the transmigration
Of souls, and they haven't the slightest doubt
that the spirits Of some Of their deceased kings
make their abode in the bodies OF these white
elephants.
Nh. Gaylor, Barnum's agent, had q funny ex-
perience trying to buy one Of these treasures.
He did his best to secure an audience With the
ring Init lie oiaat xarr11 49,
finally got the ear Of the foreign minister with
an offer of $50, 900 for one Of the elephants
''N IT. warmly CALCULATED his highness
DO lou think all the gold you could offer
would buy one Of these elephants? No, sirl
Would you Americans sell 70 us the tomb Of
Gen George Washington?"
That settled the business. Gaylor could not
buy the present abode of deceased ROYALTY and
SO he hurried off to Burmah. where after much
tribulation, he secured a dingy specimen. He
had hardly started IL on its journey before
some devout Buddhist poisoned the animal
rather than have il made public spectacle in
country OF unbelievers- So Gaylor had to 60
back. negotiate all over Again, and finally be
got away with one OF the spotted treasures
These albinos are exceedingly rare, and, % .
goodly number OF them in the royal stables is
a sure presage OF q long and glorious reign,
they are valued above price. The present king
is lucky enough to have four, each Of which
has a fine stable to himself aud a rstipue of
attendants. The king himself never comes
into their presence without making . humble
obeisance. They are held in the greatest
honor and respect, but are not worshiped.
An American finds Bangkok full Of the
strangest contrasts and oldest sights He Gees
the river banks lined for miles with floating
houses, the homes of many Thousands and the
scene Of busy trade. On one corner 10 the
splendid palace OF . nobieman and on the next
the novels OF the very poor. Here are groups Of
Buddhist priests in yellow garb. shielding
their faces with fans for fear the sight Of
women will induce unholy thoughts. and near
them are gangs Of the toughest Of convicts
clanking their chains as they toll in the
streets. Here are iepsrs horribly rspulsive,
unrestrained, and clsmorous for aims,
and soon, perhaps, the king passes with . bril-
liant retinue, sitting on his state chair. Fine
ladies have teeth as black - polished ebony.
whose teeth are white. When . member Of the
royal house dies the cremation ceremonies cost
q fortune, and while Thousands are witnessing
the imposing display vultures are tearing dead
bodies to pieces in the heart Of Bangkok, and
the poor are burying their dead, O couple of
armfuls OF wood serving ~ the funeral pyrs.
One would think that such practices in
great city would breed pestilence. Here Il q
great capital in which nearly 800 900 people
live who have absolutely no sanitary regula-
tions. No quarantine guards the port against
contagious diseases from abroad. The refuse
Of the kitchen 10 dumped In front Of palaces
and splendid temples.
Temples in Plenty.
The temples, by the way, are very striking
objects seen from afar, and some Of them are
beautiful. but generally, a. ID the case With
most things oriental, distance lends snchant-
ment to the view. Upon near inspection n 10
found that there Is q great deal Of tinseI about
them, and their g.udy. cheap ornamsntstion
does not fayorably impress ths A~.r,c.n
They are not neatly kept, and the visitor piciu
his way through rubbish heaps to the temple
entrances. Here come the people in swarms
to pray and to listen to the monotonous chants
| OF crowds Of lazy priests. The lover part Of
the edifce contains the images Of Buddha, and