Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-02-13

Chinese was wonderful. They IN no way
were excited, but We afterwards heard that
they seldom made any effort TO save drown.
log man; they believe the spirits want him
and when he falls IN the water no should be
drowned. The ship came around beautifully
the man was picked up by the boat, the buoy
recovered and the boat back in its place and
our ship again ON its course in seventeen
minutes.
|. Eightdays after leaving Hong Kong we
were in the Gulf of Siam and soon at the
mouth OF the river Menam. Here We had to
liz twelve hours for high tide. The bar conld
easily be removed but the king will not allow
II; the bar, even at high tide, prevents large
warships from coming upto the capital hence
ii Is protection.
The sail of IS miles up the river to Bang.
kok is most beautiful The tropical luxuri-
ance of the country was a revelation to one
born In northern cline. From the bridge
Of the ship one can see the thousands Of acres
all emerald green with rice, and nearer the
cocoaput, lemon, orange and AREA nut trees
interminglei in great profusion; the attap
palms growing from five to fifteen feet in
height add beauty also to the edge OF the
river. The palms IRE useful in thatching Z! e
roofs Of the native huts when cut and dried
at certain time of the year. The river has,
every mile or two, a Wat (temple) on Its
banks, the Watts, white and surrounded by
prachadees, bailt either Of marble white stone
or brick covered with mortar and whitened.
These are built over the ashes Of some noble
or built to obtain merit from Bhuddah. The
city Of Bangkok with its nearly one million
Of Inhabitants Is seen in the distance and you
feel assured you will coon be at anchor but
you are disappointed as again the river has
large curve and you seem tc be going away
from your destination, but all things come to
an end, If one has only patience, and at last
you are at anchor IN one ofthe largest rivers
in the world. We had not dropped anchor
before trim launch was at our side and
quickly came our host, DR.. T. Hayward Hays,
Surgeon in Chief Of His Majesty's Navy, on
board to welcome us to his adopted city. A
mile in his launch with the Siamese flag
flying from our stern. brought us to the
wharf of the Oriental Hotel where the doc
tors carriage, drawn by two Australian
ponies, awaited US, ana we were speedily
driven oyer very good streets to his hospita-
bic compound.
The first public affair we attended was at
the English Legation on Nov. 9th. Mr.. and
Mrs. Archer gave garden party in honor of
King Edward Wis birthday. Here we met
the diplomats of all the foreign countries as
we'll as many of the Siamese, including Prince
Dcvaevongse, Minister of Foreign Affairs,
and Prince and Princess Mares with their
three sons.
Bangkok is situated on both sides of the
river AM from the numerous klongs (canals)
running 10 every direction some 100 miles in
length to other rivers, is called the Venice OF
the Orient. and It is well named a. thousands
of the natives live in houses built on boats
so tina, in case Of fire they can cut themselves
loose and drift out into the river. The klongs
are used as means of traffic; lumber, lice and
all the fruits are conveyed from one part Of
the city TO the other. One frequently sees
drifting down the river great RATS of logs
two or three hundred feet long that have
come from the teak forests In the north and
have been on the way two or three mon tbs.
The river is at all times most interesting;the
many ships in harbor. the Samese navy
which ia by no means to be despised, the
many house boats beautiful in construction,
launches, the sampans filled with fruit, piled
up with oranges africa nuts in color from
light green to beautiful golden. piles of
)coanuts, the vendors of flowers and plants,
tinware, books, all cry their wares as though
they were in the street instead Of beautiful
river Many Of the floating houses are fitted
up as stores with good stock Of goods and
their customers come in boats in fact to be o
resident here You must haye house boat or
a launch. The city viewed from the top of
a temple does not look unlike Pekin with
the exception of the river, the same green
effect is seen, due to the many trees and the
houses being low. The streets are good but
getting very dusty now due to the absence
Of rain, as the dry, cool season started the
early part of Move mber The suburbs abound
in beautiful houses with large porches both
on the first and second stories, surrounded
by flowers and plants in great profuson.
These homes are either the palaces of the
princes or houses CT the Europeans. The
drives in and around Duct Park, which con-
tains one of the summer palaces of the king.
are well made, with trees planted all along,
and the many beautiful turnouts would sur
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