The record-union., 1893-07-25
SIAM-BANGKOK.

Now that the covetous eye Of France
frets the peaceable people of Siam, we
are going to hear good deal about that
land and Bangkok, the Siamese Capital,
where dwells King Chulalongkorn 1. and
his sixty wives in palace, the walls of
which are mile in circumference.
The city has a population of 500, 900,
half of whom are Chinese, and who keep
themselves distinct and apart and are
only temporary jewellers, just as is their
case in this country. Bangkok is called
the Venice of the East. because of its
noble river, its numerous canal streets
and waterways.
There are two daily papers, one printed
in English and one in -Siamese, in the
Capital. Within two years electric light
ing has been introduced and a system of
street railways. The architecture of
Bangkok is picturesque rather than sub
stantial. The houses are of wood. in the
main, and are raised upon piles, and the
material used mostly is bamboo. Thou
sands of the people live in house boats,
which line both banks of the river.
The old or original city is surrounded
by a wall thirty feet in hight, and from
ten to twelve feet thick and composed of
very creditable masonry. The city, as a
both banks of the river, and at some
points is from five to seven, and at others
from one to two miles wide. The Menam
River at Bangkok averages a width of
1900 feet.
The temples and palaces, of which there
are more than one hundred, are built OF
masonry, brick and stone, and some of a
species of cement and pebble composite.
They however have the most gorgeous
decorated exteriors. the Siamese delight
ing in gliding, gay colors and fantastic
ornamentation, especially along roof
ridges, gables and caves.
The interior of the temples are floored
with mats of silver thread, with some OF
pure gold thread, silk, satin and linen.
About the walls are statues in marble,
jasper and onyx, and relics of war, chase
and sea. Everywhere Buddha's statue
or image appears. Within the great
white palace of the King are the stalls
for the sacred elephants, and these are al
ways kept filled, the animals being care
fully cared for and with a nicely that is
astonishing. Throughout the city ever
green trees of the most luxuriant char
acter abound. Indeed, so rich in tree
growth is the soil that Bangkok has been
spoken of as the evergreen city," the
''city of luxurious shades" the 'city OF
the green leaf,' etc.
The Kings income is $4,000, 900; he is
an absolute monarch. Fortunately for
the Siamese he is a very intelligent.
kindly and considerate ruler. He adopts
Caucasian habits and customs so far as be
finds them to serve the good of his peo-
pie. His army is mainly differed by
Europeans, and Germans constitute the
strength of the commercial forces of the
Capital. Americans are very few in
Siam. but are much liked despite the
efforts of the Germans TO have them dis
countenanced.
No country in the world has a finer
river system than Siam. The CHIEF
stream is the Menam Chow Phragah, on
the banks of which Bangkok stands. AT
the mouth of this river the King has
several good forts heavily armed, and be
has a navy of ten vessels of excellent
build and finely equipped.
The Siamese rarely emigrate; they are
a kindly-disposed, indolent people and
by no means pugnacious. They do moi
live as closely as Chinese, are more
Clearly, as mimics are their equal, and
as learners of the arts of civilization their
superiors. But they are not given tC
education in their own tongue as are the
Chinese, and their history boasts of but
few talented men or writers of distine-
ton.
Siam, properly Siyam, kingdom O