The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-28
THE KING OF SIAM.
He Assembled the Throne Mt Fifteen,
and Has Many Wives.

The Lady's Realm.
Probat Somdetch Pra Paranindr Maha
Chulalongkorn Patindr Tepa Maha Mong
lxut Pra Chula Chom Klao Chow Yu Hua,
King Of Siam, was born on Sept. II, 1853,
and succeeded to the throne on Oct. 1, 1865;
and, although only youth of fifteen, he
was already the. father of two children. His
Majesty reads writes and speaks English
with ease. and all conversation between him
and the Tsarewitch-the present Tsar-who
visited Siam in 1891, was carried ON in that
language. His earliest lessons were from an
later in life under an American resident,
who acted as tutor In addition to other
Asiatic languages. he possesses a knowledge
OF Pail. and his admirers claim that he is
also a good Sanskirt scholar The Kings
private life Is passed i'll. utter SecluSiOn
within the Khang Nal or Inside. as the
harem is known among the Samese. This
Inner Palace is forbidden ground to any
man, European or native except under very
special circumstances, and then only when
accompanied by a guard or trusted serv-
ants 1t Is safe to assert that no man has
ever been personally acquainted. even in a
remote degree, with the life or history of
the inmates.
The King IS the only representative of his
sex who lives IN this community of women
of female police for preserving order and
Furnishing any unruly members. Fogging
with a rattan is resorted to for certain Of
lenses. and only those wives who are of
royal birth enjoy immunity from such
treatment. few favored European ladies
Palace. and on the authority of one of them
/ can state that the first Queen under
stands a little English This is less sur
prisng from the fact that the King had for
some years an English tutor for the princess
-four of whom are now being privately
educated in England and one at Harrow.
IL is doubtful If any European could fully
explain the position of the ladies of the
harem. Even If the Siamese themselves
know. they do not impart the information;
In fact among them it is contrary to ETH
quette to make any allusion to the subject.
One of the wives is known the FIRST
Queen" and takes official precedence of all
the others. Another is often referred 70
as the second. and sometimes third is
mentioned These are all near relatives of
the King. and. with the other wives of roy
al blood take precedence of those who may
be regarded as comnoners.
There is no limit to the number OF wom-
Ell that the King may take to wife. and
although they may be dismissed at will. TO
have been admitted as q member of the
Khang Nal far from being in any wav
deroga tory, is regarded as an honor. All
their children are legitimate.
The Kings sisters dc not marry. for fear
OF creating possible rivalry for the throne;
neither do his daughters who remain all
their lives IN the harem; but perchance
some future King may offer them a posi-
ton similar to that held by their mothers.
So jealously are these ladies guarded from
contact with the world that in 1879 an elder
sister OF the first Queen was allowed to
drown in the presence of a number of spec
tators not one of whom was permitted TO
put halid on her. even TO save her from
certain death.
In common with most of the siamese. the
King is firm believer in omens. and moth
ing OF Importance IS done without reference
to the Brahnin scothsayers and astrolo-
gers who are attached to the palace. AS
an example. 1t may be mentioned that on
June p. 1894 his Majesty returned from
Kohsi-Chang his seaside residence: but as
the day was considered unpropitious by the
astrologers. the vessel anchored near the
mouth of the Mesnam until the next day.
The country palace Of the King of Siam is
called Bang-pa-iu. About forty miles north
of Bangkok. on the Meiram. arc two ISL
ands. separated by narrow channel not
$50 feet wide. On the smaller of these is
q Buddhist temple and college, and on the
other IS the country residence of the King
Of Siam. which consists of three buildings
palaces Each is separated from the other
by canals. with which the island is inter-
sectcd. and which, in places. are enlarged
into small artificial lakes Sluice gates are
provided between the canal and river,
which serve TO maintain the level Of the wa
ter In the former. and also for flushing:
for although some seventy-two miles from
three and four feet Through these gates
pass the boats containing tie ladies of the
household who. 70 escape r.slllic notice are
landed few feet from their apartments.
The ko-pra, or landing stage, is wooden
gangway, hinged at both ends, and resting
on a pontoon anchored IN water deep
enough TO allow large launches to moor
alongside At the top of the bank IA a
band stand. close against portico OF class
zeal design which forms the entrance to the
official palace. and looks down a narrow
strip OF water and lawn. shaded By mango
and tamarind trees. On the occasion OF a
grand fete this was the site OF an enor-
nous device that was used for an electric
light illumination.