The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1893-08-26
THE VENICE OF THE EAST.
Features of Bangkok, the siamese
Capital.

Capital.
Entering the Menam, the most i'm
portant though not the largest river of
Siam, u wonderful panorama is unfold
ed on both sides. The river is shallow
and forms numerous sand banks at its
mouth, but deepens soon. On both
sides as far as the eye can reach is a
flat country, intersected by countless
canals and in places highly cultivated.
Extensive fields OF rice stretch in all
directions, and above them here and
there tower palms, bamboos and other
tropical trees, crowned with lixuriant
foliage and covered with dense creep
ers. In many places the banks Of the
rivers are concealed beneath IL tangled
growth of tropical jungle. In many
places, again, the plain is fringed by
swampS of considerable extent, here
exposed to the burning sun, there con-
cealed by tall grass.
Sometimes, and especially during the
annual foundations occurring from
June to November, the plain of the
lower Menam is converted into one
immense lake, over which the small
Siumesc and Chinese boats glide in all
directions. 1t is only eighteen miles
from the mouth of the river to III"
capital and the approach to the river
| is guarded by numerous Notifications.
The batteries of Paknam, near the
mouth, cover both banks of the river
and are posted also on IL sandy island
! near the right bank. In PIknam the
customs are also levied, though some
of the vessels pay duties further up At
! Paklat. This is the second fortified
place on the river. The Menam begins
to turn here to the eastward, form
ing little further on almost a circle,
SO that to shorten the communication
two canals have been dug. Between
these two canals are the bat cries.
The country is very densely populat.
ed, houses, villas, bamboo huts and
gardens stretching on both sides of the
river. Before reaching Bankolem, or,
more correctly, Bangknlem, almost at
the outskirts of the city, one must
pass the so-called "foreign town." that
is, the residences of different Consuls
and foreign representatives at the
court of Bangkok. These residences
are built mostly in the Italian style of
architecture. Rich foreign merchants
and some Chinese mil,ionairesalsnl live
here. Bangkolem is the third fortified
place, the approaches to the capital
being defend d by two frowning forts
armed with modern Krupp guns.
Banskolem passed, the traveller is
soon in the city, in Bangkok, the
beautiful, the noble, the glorious, the
city Of the golden effigy, the queen of
capitals, "Venice Of SIAM" as the
enthusiastic inhabitants call this I'M
doubtedly wonderful city.
The name of "Venice of Siam" is
more appropriate thHn any other
Bangkok is built on The water, numer,
Gus canals intersecting the city in
every direction. Not even the first
view of Lisbon, Venice CT Maple can
compare in >plendor with this marvel
uu, picture. I he broad stream is al
most invisible, so densely is it covered
with floating houses, some of them
regular palaces, eXqui>itcly carved il
that peculiar art, half Hindoo and
hall Chinese. ana yet distinct, which
has made Siam celebrated ali over the
world. Some Of these houses move slow
ly upon the spark ing waters of the
river, while some are mOoled to the
shores. The banks are green to the
waters edge and fragrant with the
odOr Of the most gorgeous flower of the
tropics. The roofs OF the houses are
scarcely visible among the dense foil
age, but above them rise the sculp,
tured pyramids Of the temples and
pagodas decorated with chased metal
work and covered with mos,,ics, glis,
ening and glittering in the sun like
FURNISHED silver.
But once landed, and wandering
over the streets of the capital, you vii
feel disappointed, in tn" same manner
as you would t cl on landing in Con
stantinOple. The city does not sustair
the first impression. Probably hail
The population of Bangkok consists O.
Chinese, and their quarter and theil
streets are-well like the Chinese
streets anywhere else--dirty, dlapidat
ed and ill-smelling. Some Of the Siam
ese quarters are also not over clean
With all that, however, the city il
magnificent enough to interest any
body. The pagod IS are works of art ir
themselves and contain magnficen
efiigies of Buddha. One of them is O
solid gold and another gilded one fill
II nave ITO feet long. The modern
buildings are mostly in the Italian
style, and in the same style is the
royal castle or palace, fine and yer.
large struc,u.e