New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-23

natural and scicntif, boundary between New
York and New-En gland and should ther'upon
take to itself all those portions of the New-Eng-
land States lying west OF that stream. That is
the scheme which is being executed to-day
Now the half of Siam which France is about TO
appropriate is rich in resources, and is populated
donselv by numerous and diverse tribes, OF which
those OF Laos demand chief attention For IL
was they, as have seen, who most troubled
Siam in the days Of Mendez Pinto, and II IL they
who have made of themselves iirebrand in this
present instance Moreover, in themselves they
command attention, az picturesque peopl" VINO
have TO this day remained as they were wren IN"
Portuguese adventurcr observed them; all SOW
ereians.' by which ne meant that they had no
general government, but each man was a law UNTO
himself They number something more than TWO
millions and NAV be generally divided into two
great clans. the tattoocd and the non-tattooed
In language and dress they resemble TN" Siam
oso but their writing is more like that Of the
Camboeians They build their bamboo houses
elevated 1pon piles with yards for cattle, pigs
and poultrv underneath. Their temples are large
and spendidly adorned with gold and jewels As
for household utensils, porcelain and such wares
are little known nearly all dishes being maj OF
wicker Chairs, tables be lsteads, are seldom
SEEM bnt the floors are str'wn win h'a'S ana
cushions In food they are well ngh omhiVoro"s'
their dietary including rice. meat poultry "S",
fruit vegetables. rats, bats. snakes, insects ana
other objects strange 10 polite paiats' men
weanons are guns spears, and blow guns lheH
medical art makes much Use oil snch uia''ridi d.
scrrents' teeth, tigers bones, crocodl'S ia' """
various charms and talismans
Buddhism is their religion, or form OF IT. More.
pcrlaps. than TO Buddha, their WORSHIP Is or'"'c"
70 various aenii, such as the WOO" ue'hohS' WIZ
hold sway in the jungle; the fear demons WHO
husv themselves with frightening iolK DIV ne'ns
- horrid sbancs or sounds: the malignant demons,
who cause all manner Of diseases anu 'hr '"'''N''
domons or Guardian angels, who give them pro-
,oc,ion from ill., TO these last an altar Is cr'c'e"
in Ivory house, on which are offered wax 'apeis
.;oo sondalwood. and copious libations OF arracH.
nocuIi,ritv of these tutelary demons Is that they
ara NOT ,loased 70 have strangers received into a
, for a longer time than three days.
,tarv travellers have expressed favorabie opih
;os Of the people of Laos, saying that uev are
,oaccful paticnt. sober ana honest In these ~
s,octs they resemble closely the Sianese' ln'y
a-osoid too "a have an especial horror OF stealing
and one Of their kings is SAID 10 nave hao ti'i'"'
boiIod in oil. Slavery is an institution 70 which
,hov are devoted. Now and then the man1arihs
oroanize regular expeditions against the VIII tloes
49, tal,en into captivity. But Of these captives'
sc Of the Slaves in Siam proper, 1t may at least
me said that they are treated kindly
Of siam itself and the Siamesc, little nced DC
aid since so much has already been sali IN re-
.ort years IL is a curious country, with th' nlp''
advancod civilization and the most primitive va,
h.risno logging elbows at every step. Ehpha'i
callv the god of things "a they ar" i wv so' "
Siam The amiable, INDECENT. happy go-ucky peo-
Mo ask nothing better than TO 20 on livln3 ~ ,h'i'
fathers lived before them. But not, th'feio'''
,voull they cppos,, tho introduction OF moh'rh AZ"
,on,ort \.suradlv not The newspaper, the
,,i,,oad ,hc telegraph, the telephone, nave al
boon welcomed and vastly wondered at am nav
taken their place in Siamese sociaI ecoho"' ".Vr9
with tie white elephant. the umbrella pro'cHsoh'
and the interminable compilation OF magic sP""i,'
II NAV not be true as limited on timc' tia' ,n'
stable of the sacred white elephant i llghth VIII"
olcctricitv. but there are in fact, many MIXTURE"
equally nrotesoue to be found on every hand
The present King is wise. liberal and progr'S
siye ruler yct as absolute an aLtocra; a. the i''
s,an Gar His father used u pride himself OH
lcine a constitutional monarch. subject IN al
,oors of State 10 the decisions OF his Council oil
Ministers But this King claims the right oil az
solutc authority. and he exercises 1t without w
,r,o There is no thought OF agitating iof COZ"
.,itutional forms or for limiting the royal pr"
,oc,tive Nor does any one think OF con'plri"s
AGAINST the stability Of the throne or tie pefsoh'
safetv of its occupant The King may 90 ""o,'
no will. about Bangkok or in the remotest VII