The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-26

generous and righteous policy cannot be
maintained towards her, so that she would
be unhampered by the remarkable methods
of foreign diplomacy and the desires for
territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
Bangkok, the capital Of SIAM is one of
the largest and most prosperous cities OF
southern Asia. Having now 100000 inhabit-
ants, ii is rapidly reaching on TO the mill
lion mark. 1t has electric street car lines
tor tramways, as termed in Europe), cleo
trio lights and various other modern char
acteristics that surprise the average trav-
eler, but at the same time 1t has beautiful
temples, palaces, buildings and other
tive features that make it one of the most
interesting cities of all Asia to visit. Bang
kok is located about thirty miles from the
Gulf of Siam, on the Menam river. but this
stream affords fair harbor, and 1t is not
an unusual sight to see dozen or more
foreign merchant vessels in port. Regular
lines ply to Hong-Kong. Singapore and
Saigon, and Bangkok can be readily visited
by taking direct steamer either at Hong
Kong or Singapore. There is a hotel that
comfortably accommodates strangers
A RICH COUNTRY.
Islam has a population variously esti-
mated from 100000 to 15,0O0,00O. and its
area is between 100000 and 100000 square
miles, according to whether sections where
France and England are supposed to exert
special influence are included or not. For
comparison it can be said that it Is larger
than Japan or Korea, and reaches nearly
1000 miles north towards China from its
most southern point on the Malay penin-
sula. Its area of fertile soil is so great
that 1t is often called the garden of the
East. The principal exports are rice, teak
wood, ivory, spices, skins; and the foreign
trade averages about 46,0O0000 $50 O00, 900
gold, per annum. Siam offers rich field
for the exploitation of American and Euro
pean merchants engineers and promoters,
If they will only deal with the government
a mi Ia xrvifh fot h~v,
success of some of the great foreign firms
already established there is proof of the
wide opportunities. Nearly 1000 foreigners
reside in SIAM 600 of whom dwell in Bang
kok. There Is an excellent Social Club and
there are golf, tennis. cricket, sailing and
shooting clubs an and annual gymkhana
Europe and the United States have min
| listers resident there, and the Siamese gov
| eminent does everything possible to make
| their life in this tropical land agreeable
| The recent uprisings in the north of Siam
which for the moment seemed to endanger
| foreigners were exceptional, and probably
| will not be repeated. The instruction was
| not general, and represented no deep
| seated feeling against either the govern
ment or people.
| 1.-The Crown Prince, who is now return
| ing nome after an absence of ten years, is
| bright-eyed, clean-limbed, well-man-
| nered, and wholesome-appearing young
man OF about twenty-five years of age. He
| speaks English fiuently and has a good
| working knowledge of French and Ger
| man. His conversation shows that he has
IDEAS of his own and that his education in
| England has brought out the best that is
in him. He should be able to exert good
| influence over the young men of his native
land and prove of great assistance to his
| father upon his return to Siam, where a
| splendid reception is awaiting him. During
| his stay in the United States he will make
| a special visit TO st. Louis as the guest of
| the Louisiana Purchase Exposition man.
| agement, so as to be able to report thereon
| to the King, who has ordered that his
| country shall be creditably represented
I'm hasty interview of this character
1t is not possible to give correct picture
OF Siam; her remarkable King and of the
| Crown Prince, but these passing observa-
| tons may be of interest at the moment
| While have naturally mentioned the bet
ter side OF things connected with Siam.
| admit that there are some conditions NOT
altogether satisfactory, but they are out
weighed py what is favora bic and promis-
ing; and it is wearisome to hear only criti.
cism of Siam by foreigners and foreign in
terests who fail TO remove the beams from
their own eyes before noting the NOTES IN
those Of struggling Asiatics."