The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1896-09-03
DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY.
As Seen by a Scotland Neck Boy.

| CaQC OF WQlcQ are CQ0 M0n8m ana the
Mekong; and along the banks and val
leys of these rivers and their small
tributaries is located the majority of
its population
Along the lower part of its course
the Menam winds through a plane
formed of rich deposit, thlckly over
grown with mangrove and palmetto,
while further from its mouth are beau
tiful rice and cocoanut farms, extending
on both sides as far as the eye can reach.
There are a great many large canals
cut from the rivers through the coun-
try for means of transportation to diff
ferent parts of the Kingdom. The
trees are decked with lovely flowers of
all kinds. There are large trees matted
with vines whose blossoms resemble a
lilac; the birds fly to and fro across the
putting streams. The king has a
beautiful yacht and it flies blood red
flag of Siam, upon which is depicted
the white Elephant" the index of
all government institutions.
People In Siam do not chew tobacco
but they chew some stuff they call
betel and it turns their teeth as black
as ink. The Menam river is subject to
an overflow once or twice year, when
1t overflows it brings down thick silt
or mud, which is left on the land every
year forming layer some three inches
in thickness of fine fertile soil. When
this occurs there Is always good crop
of rice made the following year. The
natives use rice for a diet at a wedding
and they almost worship fice in some
places. The houses are built of light
frame of poles, sides of straw and csne
mating and are covered with very
steep thatched roofs. The windows
and doors are of mating tied with a
mating string for a hinge. Those
houses that are built on piles have a
rough ladder or a pair OF rude steps
leading up to the doorway from the
waters edge. About eight miles from
Bangkok there is a large warehouse
situated back from the river brink and
is built on the European plan and you
will see painted on its large white walls
in large Roman letters the words, "Ker-
osene Depot" and by seeing these
words it recalls the memory of the
land of the living, the "United States
of America"
The former capital of Siam was
Aguthia and is situated on the Menam
river eight miles from the mouth.
During war they were forced to de-
sert this place. That was about one
hundred years ago. Then they built
the city of Bangkok which is now the
capital of Siam. The population of
Bangkok is estimated from three hum
drea thousand to four hundred thou
sand. One half of these people live
upon the water in their floating houses
and canoes. In this city you can see
articles OF all nations and of every kind
from all parts OF the world native
leopard skins, japanese matches, Eng
lish tin ware, American agricultural
implements and mineral oil. About
one third of the people in this city are
Chinese. There are some beautiful
temples in and around the city. Their
religion is Buddhism. The king has
one hundred concubines and two wives
and they are the daughters of the
Siamese mobiles. They all live inside
the palace walls. The king has a
number of children and they all ap-
pear to have the same social standing,
only those who are in line of pro
motion to the "throne" are loved more
by their parents. They are all called
princes and princesses. They all ride
the white elephant in royal process
sion. The crown prince is fine man.
ly looking boy about Is years of age.
The palace grounds are very large and
are separated from the city by a wall
fifteen feet high and eight miles in
circumference. About 5000 people,
as oervants, guard and live inside this
wall. The king has l3 large elephants
and they are regarded as deity. They
worship all white animals. They
think that they were at some past time
some superior human being. When
a white elephant is caught he Ii
brought down the river on a large raft
OF bull-rushes and polls and 1t is decor
ated with fruits and flowers of all kinds
and escorted by boats and great dis
playing of fire works When they ar
rive at Bangkok the raft is met by the
king himself and he names the anlma
land confers the title Of nobility on hin