New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-06

great belief In the taismanic powers oi '
railway, pointing to the extraordinary Things "0
complshed by II In India. and MT Smy'h ooo.
not pretend that what would obviously DC gnu
for China would be positively bad for Sia"' nc
notes the joy with which the Burman mas TAKEN
to the railroad going for trip In the cars ID VII
a picnic The Samese. doubt. would tahe
kindred pleasure in the new toy. But time Is io
object 10 the Siamese. and his country Is ainioS'
Venetian In the number of It's waterways Are
these not. asks Mr.. Smyth. the true lines aiohs
which the needed system Of communications
should be established?
1t has taken eight years to build ninety miles
OF railroad In Siam. For fifty times eight years
the natives have travelled on the rivers until
they might be called amphibious race. Even
the old priests from the innumerable watts
or monasteries go about asking for aims In
boats that the ordinary Western man would
find no safer than wicker basket. The use of
the boat being thus universal in Siam. IL Is
doubtful II railroads would pay unless subsi-
died by the Government. Then. II the tolls
were not too high. the European manufacturer
would be in clover. The native might. at some
time in the dim future. contribute materially
to the support of the enterprise. but in Mr..
smyth's opinion he would probably cling to his
has been said time is object in Siam. but
because in their leisurcly Journeys the natives
find many Of Their social pleasures The rail-
road would have the disadvantage. too, OF max
ing access TO bangkok easier for the peasant,
and In the capital there is little to improve the
character OF the latter. On the contrary. Il is
in every way n vicious and corrupting city.
Pinning his faith Oh the waterways. Mr.. Smyth
cI,S that fhei WOuld
piled a thousandfold ii they were properly
dredged and policed At present the encroach-
ments OF the silt in many valuable water
course render navigation annually more ditii-
cult. and bands of frecbooters constantly ravage
the boats Of the merchants and peasants. Touch
ing the first problem il would have been inter-
esting il Mr. Smyth had gone little deeper
into the attitude Of the people toward the river
question !Ia omits to mention the proiouhd
tenacity among the Sa'nesc OF the BudlhiS'!c
law against the destruction OF animal lie
Curiously brutal and greedy in much OK their
bunting and fishing, the natives heVert"e-
less show extraordinary reverence 10 amman
life upon occasion. the priests especially prac-
Using merciful tenets. The latter strain the
river water before drinking. in order to avoid
the destruction OF the animalcuP. is It not
possible that this feeling. one more manifesto
ton o. the Siamese generation for 'tamniem
forms part OF the popular inertia when river
dredging is talked Of? The King. who appreciates
the situation. can advance but slowly in dealing
with IT, In tine he his descendants may
turn Siam into another Holland. for convenience
and healthfuness in communication by water
but If Mr. Smyth looks toward that happy con-
summation with confidence h. is not too GER
tain he speaks with reservations.
or every subject connected with Siam re
speaks with IN )deration. but he is. on the whole,
hopeful about the future of the country. we
are living In a remarkable age. watching the
beginnings of tremendous changes In the East
China occupies the horizon just now. 10 the ex-
cusion Of other Oriental lands: but Siam. with
its vast teak forests its ruby mines. and divers
useful products. is bound TO hold its own as
factor in the development of the Eastern peo-
pies. Mr. Smyth. writing as a specialist. pre-
sents the country in its most serious aspects.
but his book is not without light and shade, and
the dyerling quality inherent In strange places
and things He describes royal elephant hunt.
for example. and. better yet. the unfamiliar
methods OF the humble jungle man in tracking
and capturing the huge beasts. We may fifty
close with the following description:
Three men do the work together They start
away into the forest. and must take to the for
est life must seek and track the herd. and with
out alarming it select their prey. They must
cut and make their rattan cables twenty -hVe TO
thirty five fathOmS long. according 10 the size
Of the animal chosen; and then begins the long
watching pursuit of the herd. Not a sound is
made, not dry stick broken. no fire Is lit TO
boil the rice. II is tedious. hungry work by
night and day. but at last the chance occurs
The beast. a fine young tusker Is snooZng in
{ ne hot noontide in a bamboo brake, away from
the others one foot half off the ground. Silently
,i,l f,- hp Hfriir "A