The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-07-27
THE COVETED LAND.
A Former Missionary Talks o.
Far-Dis.ant Siam.
FRENCH AND BRITISH CLAIMS.


lecture 1t the church this evening on Siam.
Mr.. Bradley Was born and reared in that
country, and has several relatives still
living in Bangkok. To reporter for the
Posr-ISrxILfsExcER he spoke yesterday Of
his early life and experience there - fol-
lows:
s.My father went 70 Siam under the au-
spices Of the q. >. Congregational mis-
Sionary board In 1885, and Vas born
and brought up in Bangkok I lett
there in 1877 and came TO this country 20
finish my education at Oberiin college,
where was . ciassmate With Mr.. Homer
T. Hill Of this city. When my father
went to Siam all intercourse With foreign
nations was interdicted, and Christian
missionaries were hardly tolerated. Every
once in awhile an edics would go forth
banishing the foreigners from the country.
bat By hook or crook our family man.
eyed 20 remain. At that time the throne
was occupied by an usurper. while the
rightfui heir, MAha Mongkout, father Of
the present ruler, was . refugee IN
monastery, where my father taught him
English, Latin, mathematics and history.
The usurper died and the mobiles called
Maha Mongkout from his exile In iS46.
He was . iberal-minded king and made
powers and adopted many ideas of Western
civilization in his administration. Ale
though my father was unable to convert
the king 20 Christianity he had onsider-
able influence with him, and obtained
liberal treatment for the foreign mission
aries in the country. In 1868 the present
ruler. Chualongkorn, came to the throne.
and he 10 now II years Of age.
During my youth there were several
foreign families in Bangkok. composed of
eight or ten missionaries, besides foreign
consuls and sea captains. associated in
play aud study with the children of these
families and did not mingle much with
the native children, although. % course.
We had plenty of natives - servants. Most
Of the foreign families sent their children
70 France. England or America to be edu-
Gated, after We had received the rudiments
Of instruction from our parents. Siam
abounds In schools, but they are religious
institutions, being the Buddhist monas-
teries taught BY the priests. who are
celibates and the violation Of their VOWS il
punished BY death: Girls are never given
any education whatever except those
trained for theatrical purposes. In the
monasteries boys and young men are
taught reading, writing, . little arithmetic
and the Buddhist religion. The Buddhist
priests are men of very acute minds and
there are some fine scholars among them,
accomplished Iinguists and profound
''Of childish sports We had very much
the same sort ~ are common in other
countries. Instead Of marbles, the chill
dren play much the same kind Of . game
with cowrie shells. Shuttlecock is also =
favorite game. but kite flying is the ma
tionai amusement. There are frequent
religious festivals in Siam. and on these
children. indulge in kite flying, and it
often seems a. ii the air were full Of kites.
Among young men sprintiug and boxing
are great sports. a. we'll ~ polo matches,
swimming contests, lance and sword
tournaments, fencing. quarter staff con-
tests. tightrope walking, tumblng. canoe
racing. etc. Funerals are occasions OF
great festivity and when great man dies
the celebration is kept up sometimes for
two weeks. At such times there are great
tournaments Of these sports. As boxers
and prixefghters they are great They do
no; use gloves, but tight with the naked
fists. and are very expert and scien-
they are very nimble. and while
they display great skill in lodging
and warding blows their contests are 10 =
finish. They are nos mere boxing exhibit
tons for points. but are trials of endurance
as well. and oftentimes men are killed in
them. The Siamese are brave and cour.
ageous and have considerable moral cour-
play bail or fish or hunt for sport, although
they are great hunters of game for proflt.
The national vice Is gambling. aud young
and old are addicted to it. Dancing 10
confined to women and among them to
the professionals. II is not social amuse-
ment. IL Is a theatrical spectacle. per-
formed by slave girls trained for that pur.
pose.
Slavery is still in vogue in Siam, but
under the liberal rule of the present king
gradual emancipation is being brought
about. / believe a law was made that no
child should be sold into slavery after 1890
Marriage has the sanction Of religion. and
their marriage obligations. Poiygamy ex-
lists, but 1t 10 only the rich who can afford
~ A man may marry as many wives rs
he chooses, but he must support them
Usually a poiygamist has one chief wife
and number of concubines who are
slaves. The monks In the monasteries are
celibates for life and violation Of their
VOWS Is punished with death. In the large
cities prostitution exists to some extent.
The syssem Was introduced by the Chi.
ncse. who maintain il. and il is source Of
revenue TO the government, which
licenses the prostitutes and exercises
certain amount of regulation and
control over them. The burdens of gov
eminent. which are very heavy, fall upon
the middle class--that is, the merchant.
the artisans. the agricusturists. etc. The
nooies lew the taxes. and the slaves are
exempt. The taxes are faYmed out TO the
thinese merchants. who are wonderfully
thrifty. l have known of several Chimes Sc
merchants. who, during single lifetime,
have accumulated fortunes amounting 10
so. on oo 10 $40. 0p 600. The Chinese are
favored class. aud have certain exemp-
lions. In fact, the present king Is one
eighth thinese on his mothers side The
taxes are very buraensome and in addi-
ron 10 heavy personal tax and liability
10 military CONSUMPTION. they amount to
about 10 per cent Of all his labor Every.
thing Is taxed. the ntan himself. his hand;-
work and al his products He paws his
n'hes in Kind, but has the privilege of
committing and paying in cash And vet
the people are happy and contented aud
ssprasperous as they could be under such
an onerois system.
Ms mother and two hrothsrx .rs ..,II
living IN Bangkok had a brother ID n
bradley, ~ho died IN this country a couule
OF years ago. and who for MANY wears WA
private secretary and translator for the
Siafnese foreign minister. He told me-
thai the present trouble with France was
eoaha 10 come sooner or later. Forty
years ago the French secured a co,linr
station at saisaa, shs princsn PAL srsrort 81
Tam eodia. AZ the mouth OF the Mekoag
rsver. THIS river flows through the heart
OF the Anamese peninsula and Is the
natarsl highway through . vast. rich and
popaiaas territory. The French grassu-
ally extended their territorial rights hy
one pretexs or another. and thirty wears
ago seized the whole Of Camboytia. Later
iaey attached Cochin Chins. and Il se wear.
ago they had a war with China over the
annexation oi Tonauin IN the northern par,
oi Cochin China The MekonS river risen in
buFmAA, which once belonged To Sam.