The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-28
MUST CLEAR BANGKOK.
NOTICE EIsGIVEN OFTHE BLOCKADE
By THE FRENCH FLEET.
II VIII Extend Along tho Entire North
Coast of the Gulf OF Slam.
Something About Siam.


that they must clear Bangkok and Kok-
Si-Chang before Saturday or submit to
detention.
The blockade will extend along the
entire north coast of the gulf Of Siam.
The French fleet, with NJ. Pavie, French
minister resident. has gone to Kok-si-
Chang.
PARIS, July H.-Lord Dufferln, the
British ambassador. had conference
with NJ. Deyelle. the foreign minister.
this morning.
This evening the following seml-oflicial
statement was issued:
1T may be taken for granted that
France intends in the first place to set
tie the question of treaty vc'otiors and
national dignity which have been created
by Slams attitude. Frances rule OF
action will be not to allow any foreign
interference In this matter
LONDON, July A-Sir Nliam George
Pierce member OF the House OF Com
mons for Plymouth. and chairman of
Oriental Steamship Company asked the
government whether France would con-
slider rice contraband Of war during the
blockade of the Samese coast.
Sir Edward Grey, Parliamentary sec
rotary of the foreign Office, referred Sir
William to the blue book on the subject
for the Information he desired.
Sir Edward added that the question as
TO what is or is not contraband does not
arise in connection with a blockade.
In the house of Lords the Earl Of Rose
berry, seer re,ary of state for foreign af-
fairs, announced that he could not make
full statement regarding Siamese af-
fai
Lord Duaerin, the british ambassador
to France. as to what had taken place
at his second interview with NJ. Deyelle,
the Fl ench foreign minister.
This Interview took place yesterday,
and the report Of the British ambassador
was not yet at hand.
Russian warships Ordered 10 Siam.
PARIS. July IA newspaper to-day
publishes a dispatch from st. Petersburg
stating that he Car has ordered Vice
Admiral Tirtoff Commander Of the Rus
sian Pacific squadron, to proceed to Siam
with all available speed The dispatch
adds that it is understood i'm ST. Peters
burg that Russia intends to observe abb
soutely a neutral attitude I'm the Franco
Siamese dispute.
Rumors OF u Compromise.
LONDON, July H.-Thp Standards
Paris correspondent says: II gather that
NJ. Develle and Lord Duferin have agreed
10 a compromise on the frontier question.
| The newspapers have no inkling OF this,
| and are aggressive as ever"
LONDON, July B.-The Pekin corre-
| spondent OF the Standard says: whilst
| China is not likely 10 attempt 10 enforce
her suZerain rights as long as the scene
| Of the conflict be limited to the lower Me-
! kong. can state positively on the highest
authority that she is fully determined TO
| uphold her dominion on the upper Me-
| kong II France encroaches above Iati-
tude q degrees she will ind China IN her
path"
| LONDON, July 6-The Pail Mall Ga
zette this afternoon says: I'VE learn from
authority that is deserving Of the highest
respect that the Franco-Siamese difficulty
has been settled. France has agreed 20
accept Slams proposals, and has aban-
dOned her claims 10 the territory lying
| between the eighteenth and twenty-third
parallels Of latitude.
Something About siam.
The kir sdom Of Siam includes the
greater part Of the Malay peninsular; its
| western limits are cCntcrminOus along
the hills with those Of British Burmdn,
IL Is bounded on the north by British
Burmah and on the east by the hills OF
| inner Annam. The capital and metropolis
Of Siam and center of trade is the city OF
Bangkok, which stands on both sides OF
| the Menam or Bangkok river. about twen-
| ty-five miles by river and fourteen miles
| direct above it's mouth. The former capt
| tll, named Ayuthia, lay about forty-nve
miles farther up the river 1t was founded
in the year 1856 beginning Of authentic
| Samese history and was destroyed In a
| war with BuTnah in No6
Three miles within the mouth OF the
| river on the eastern bank Is Paknlm,
where vessels must anchor to discharge
| guns and ammunition and take on board
a custcm-house officer. Around Paknam
| on both sides of the river are forts, as
| well as one at the western entrance point
| Going up the river when nearing the city
| the first important objects seen are the
| American consulate, on the west bank OF
| the river, and the ship-buildlng yards
| on the east bank. Beyond this the river
| is lined with floating houses, over Whlch
| can he seen thick clusters OF wooden
| houses built on piles, and several mag
| nincent temples. Farther on is the vailed
| city on the east bank. and In the opposite
| suburb are some European stores ana
| lodging houses. In the city are maQy
| temples conspicuous for beauty. me
palaces of their majesties, the first ana
/ -.
| a long river frontage, furnished with eie-
| CANT and commodiOus landings for royal
| use. Floating houses continue for three
or four miles up the river above the
palaces. The population Of BANGKOK Is
| about 10000.
| The Siamese proper form only about
one-third the population of Slam. They
| are well proportioned people, shorter gen
| orally than the Chinese, but taller than
the Malays, with olive-coiored skin ana
| black hair, which they shave on leaving
/ a tuft ON top OF the head, supposed 10
| resemble the lotus flower sacred object
| 20 all Ruddhlsts. The country is DIVIDED
| into forty-one provinces, each under
governor. .,..,.,
The Government of Siam is theoretical
~ duarchy, practically a monarchy.
| Tbe crown is Hereditary Dut WithVu'
nrtrooeniture, being bequeathed, with
i,a,,c,,on of princes and mobiles, TO any
SON OF the Queen; but intrigue and Vio-
| 1a,cs have often diverted the succession
| from the high royal line. the kins Is
hv title sacred lord OF heads, posses
/ sor of ALL" and property ana HE are at
| his will, TO be taken at gofernHehldi
| necessity or caprice. The Queen Consort,
| ~ Vie supreme among hundreds, must
he ~ native and royal blood, and she Is
ricf,lIv kent from all possible intercourse
,,t,h an inferior She has separate
| court in which appear the princesses,
and. as they are not allowed to marry
beneath them, they rarely marry al an
The queen has her female guards IN
,rIform and arms. The number OF fe-
males within the palace is about nVe
| thousand. ,,,
The second King appears to be simply
a counsellor, and not co-ruier or sue
| cessor. He never appears at the au-
| diences. but his opinion and sanction