Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-09-09

answer with their lives for her
seclusion. Several very magnificent
temples are within the limits
of the palace walls, the most
remarkable being that of the "Sleep-
ing Idol" and that of the Emer-
aid IDOL The Sleeping Idol is statue
$50 feet long. overlaid from head to foot
with plate gold, in many places covered
with Inscriptions and representations of
the transmigrations of Buddha. Not far
away is the palace of the White Ele-
plant, who is really a deity and through
out Siam is reverenced IS such. lie has
his court, his attendants, his throngs of
servants, and is treated like prince.
The White Elephant is an albino, not
completely white, but here and there
having spots of cream color over his
otherwise dusky hide. The Emerald
Idols temple is a wonderful structure OF
the utmost magnilicence, the doors and
much of the wall being plated with gold.
The idol itself is said to be solid Ger
aid twelve inches high by eight wide,
the hair and dress of the rude figure
being made of gold studded with precious
gems.
Siam is one of the least known of the
great countries of Asia. 1t lies at the
lower part of the peninsula of tarthe,
India, and it is cut up by the gulf OF
Siam. The mighty river Menam runs
through it from north to south aud the
whole country is network of canals.
In the winter large part of it is covered
with water and the people go from house
to house and from place to place in
boats.
Siam is about four times as big as the
State of New York; it contains about
10000, 900 people, and the country and
the people, body and soul, belong to the
king The king has the right to every
mans labor, and any woman whom he
calls upon must enter his harem. He
has the most arbitrary power of any
king of the East, and he is one of the
rich monarchs of the world.
THE ROYAL PALACE.
His palace in Bangkok is magnii-
cent structure, with golden elephants
guarding its entrances. 1t has twenty
five acres of ground about it, and it is
said that 5000 people live within the
palace walls.
The king is said to have 300 wives,
but the queen, who is the chief of these,
is his majesty's half sister. She is very
bright woman and has made herself
noted for her charity. She rules the
harem and smokes cigarettes.
Siam is the home of Buddhism. There
are 5000 Buddhist priests in the ST.
amese capital. and these are of all ages,
from 1G to 49, They go about with
shaved heads and yellow stripes of cloth
wound about their half-naked bodies,
and they chew the betel and smoke
cigarettes as they 60 begging from house
to house.
Chululong Kom, the king, is one of
the brightest of Asiatic rulers and has
done much to advance civilization in
Siam. He has put telegraph lines
throughout great part Of his kingdom.
There is now street Car line in Bank
kok and the city has electric lights.
1t used to be that the money used in
Siam was cowne shells, or silver and gold
buttons. The king has adopted Il coin
age, making money much the same as
that of ours. He has mint of his own,
and he imports Mexican dollars and re-
casts these into coins for the use of his
people. The unit of value in Siam is the
tecal, and the chief silver coin is about
the size of half dollar.
He has a post Office department, and
Siam belongs to the international postal
union. The king talks English, and he
is thinking Of building railroad which
will open up the interior of his rich
kingdom. Siam is full of valuable re-
sources. 1t has mighty forests of teak
wood and its mines contain the finest of
gold and silver.
The king has an income Of about
$t0000,0 900 year, and he is said to have
about $50, 900, 600 stored away in his
Golfers. He has his own secretary of the
treasury, but he signs all the checks him
SELF and is said to be a very fine business
man. He has his cabinet, Just as our
president has, and he has his war depart
ment, state department, interior depart
mcnt and agricultural department.
His country is divided up into forty
one provinces, presided over by COVER
nors, and he runs things to suit himself,
making such appointments as he chooses.
THE BURDEN OF TAXES.
The people of Siam are taxed for all
they are wopth. Everything under the
sun has to pay "A percentage to the gov
eminent. A great part Of the revenue
of the king comes from the gambling
establishments. The people are a nation
of gamblers and the gambling taxes
bring in $500, 900 year. The taxes are
all farmed out, as are also the people,
who as slaves of the king are ordered tc
work FOR him part of every year.
1t is only the Chinese who are not
subject to such service, and they are re
leased from it by the payment of pol
tax. There are many Chinese in Siam
and It is said that they are fast swallow
ing up the country.
The king of Siam is very anxious te
strengthen the relations with foreign
powers. lie realizes the danger which
constantly menaces his country from ITS
geographical position. IL Is the meat o.
the sandwich Of farther India. one sic,
of this sandwich belongs to France, and
includes Cochin China. The other slic'
belongs ~ Great Britain. AM Il takes uF
the provinces ut Burmah siam lies u
the eautrr and il L richer than either