Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-26

the water for Bangkok is only 13 degrees
80 minutes north of the equator. and the
mean annual temperature of that section
of Siam is no less than 50 degrees.
The river en- which, CT rather in which,
the city stands is called the Menam, and 1T
empties into the Gulf of Siam. about
up this river from the gulf to the city is
remarkable, on account Of the great growth
of jungle either bank. The muddy
stream floods the adjacent country every
American man-of-war, the jungle looked
all af1oat. Rising up from the thick UNI
dergrowth on both banks were mangroves,
pandanus, rattans and tail palms. Near
background were occasional groups of
huts built on piles. A small buddhist
temple generally stood in the midst OF
them, and the Buddhist priests, whose
guished from our decks by the SAFFRON
color of their robes. Terribly unhealthy
these villages on the edge of the jungle
appeared. and I afterward heard that white
men could not live in them without losing
their health or lives.
Received by the King.
The animal life common to the warmer
regions of the tropics abounds in Siam, and
there are to be seen tigers, rhinoceroses,
elephants and bears. Smaller than these,
but hardly less terrible. are the beasts that
one finds in every house. Tarantulas. scor-
pions and lizards are liable to appear at
any time. The Siamese keep iguanas in
their houses for the express purpose OF
driving these vermin away. but to for
eigner an iguana itself is not pretty
creature to contemplate The bed that
slept in one night at the hotel had its legs
placed in small tin pals of water to keep
all reptiles off. and was also provided with
a mosquito net to bar out all winged ami
mails. But night in hotel at Bangkok is
not a time of rest for stranger; there is
rI1cf Inns a nd hug
ing in the darkness to allow his nerves to
be calm. We were only too glad to return
to our ship at night and thereby escape
these perilS.
Our visit was an unusual event. for
American men-of-war do not often go to
Bangkok. for the reason that American
interests are unimportant in Siam. and also
because only a small ship can cross the
bar that Is formed in the gulf just below
the delta Of the Menam river. The king.
who lives in Bangkok, sent his aid with
an invitation to US to call at the palace.
We went, and imagine our surprise to find
that the King Of Siam had a residence no
less incongruous than an italian palace!
In the audience room the furniture and
decorations were wholly European. the
corridors of the building were lined with
busts of eminent men, all of whom were
Caucasians. The reason of these foreign
surroundings was that the king and sew
eral members Of the royal family have re-
ceived foreign Quotations and some of
them have been to Europe as children.
Our interview with the king was little
more than what is usual in such cases;
that is, an interchange Of good wishes.
which on this occasion were made known
through an interpreter. The king had a
quiet dignity of manner, and was dressed
in a dark silk robe. wound about his waist
and legs, and a short, dark jacket. On
his feet were European shoes and stock
fngs His face was agreeable, except when
he smiled. when his teeth, dscolored by
the use of betel nut, would show them
selves I learned that everybody in Siam,
men, women and children, chew this stuff.
which is made from the areca palm, and
stains the teeth a dull red, giving a re-
pulsive appearance to the mouth.
The kings brother conducted US about
tie palace and spoke English with ease.
1t was curious to observe that whenever a
native servant soldier about the palace
wished to pass by this prince, the inferior