The times., 1897-05-09
THE FIGHTING FISH OF SIAM.

Next TO the far-famed tree-climbing fish
peculiar to portions of South America, L
have failed to discover that the habitable
waters hold any denizen much more re-
markahle than the fighting fish Of Siam.
The Siamese are notorious gamblers. In
their innocent, Lrattling, fond" simple
way they will stake their little all uIon
their favorite wrestler, their favorite
juggier, their most admired cock, and even
upon their choicest champion of the finny
tribe. For these fighting fish" are no
myth, and | am writing of something that
| have seen with my own eyes
Walking quietly on the streets of Bang
kok one afternoon, when the tropic sun was
beginning 10 wane, and the shoTn priests
were beginning their weird inyocations to
Buddha in the watts of that extraordinary
and malodorous city, was aware OF
great CONJUNCTION. in the near distance.
Natives We're ming about shouting ex-
citedly in the Siamese lingo, and generally
conveying the impression that something
out OF the ordinary was n process of being.
what's the natter" 1 inquired.
THE fighting fish! The fighting fish"
replied several excited voices.
direction indicated, and forced my way
through a small throng of natives. all
talking and gesticulaung their fastest,
but still religiously chewing tand when
are they not?) the inevitable and unpleasant
betel-nut. What a scene it was, TO be
sure! AS soon as / could get near enough
to see an ything definite / perceived that
the center OF attraction was q huge bowl
three parts full OF water, the surface of
which was at that moment cburned into a
veTitable foam, streaked with blood. In
addition 20 the water, the bowl contained
several fish, about the size OF ordinary
English river-fish. and OF much the same
appearance, save as regards the gills,
which looked particularly ferociOus and
warlike. In all save this the eombatants
might at first sight have been mistaken
for the perch, roach or small pike Of our
own rivers, or so il appeared to me- They
Were fighting in every different way
known to the smaller fish, sayageiy bit
ing, lashing about them with their tails,
and losing no opportunity of using their
sharp, Enife-like fins Anon fish would
turn over and over the curdIed water would
take e still ruddier tinge, and the beaten
enemy woCld roll over on his back or side
dead.
The excited onlookers never paused one
moment either as regarded the babel of
their raised voices. the pantomime of their
gesticulation. or the quantities of ats
as the copper coinage of the country is
called which they were stalking uron
the fishes OF their fancy. Such as had not
the actual coin employed cowrie Shells
which, being the original currency Of
Siam. still find favor with the masses,
and are recognized rs legal tender. What
q race of gamblers this people isl l be-
lieve they would part with their soulless
souls (but for fear of the BuddhI1 for the
chance of "a quiet gamble upon some
thing or somebody 1t is species of
mania which we in the West cannot
approach
/ never waited for the final result OF
the fish fight. but walked way, though
the hoarse shouts and cries of the gam
bleIs fingered in my ears for many hun
dred yards. 1t would he interesting 10
know whether the explanation is a race
enmity" between the fish themselves: but
If it is not. what can be the explanation?
In any case it is a curious spectacle to
European eyes, and one not without a
seni-savage interest of its own. Look
for 1t beyond the borders of the Land of
the White Elephant and you will find it
not. These fighting fish make excellent
eating.-St. Paul's.