The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1919-10-10

A L Singapore the traveller bound /.
IA for Siam quits the liner and
1 "a embarkS upon one of the
small steamers which take /
the mails to Bangkok. The steamer .
makes for the low mangrovefrinsed
shore which marks his destination and .
presently enters the muddy Bangkok .
river writes l.. A. Thompson in .
siam" ON either side stretch salt .
marshes, soon hidden behind the lux /
uriant vegetation. Here on the Oozy |
banks are fern-like attap and rank |
tropical growths. half submerged, |
while rising from the firmer ground be- /
hind are the slender trunks and grace |
full fronds of areca and coconut palms. .
Bangkok is twelve miles from the |
coast in direct line, but 50 tortuous
is the river that it is fully three hours
before we arrive. Here n score of
small steamers are anchored III mid
stream. Others lie alongside the
wharfs together with sailing vessels
of all descriptions: merchantmen from
Europe, rice boats from up country,
and fishing boats from the gulf. Every
where We see Chinese toiling. Boats
ply to and fro between the banks, and
every now and then the little vessels
are set dancing and plunging in the
wash of the steam launches which tear
by. At length we, too, draw in to "A
wharf and land amidst piles of goods.
Motley Thronq in the Street.
Behind the wharfs and mills which
line the river on its eastern side, we
come upon long street, white and
iuSty in the dry months. and in the
rainy season lane of mud. Here at
all seasons Il motley crowd of Chinese,
Siamese, Malays, Hindus and Mahom-
etans jostle each other, while coolies
toll along at foot pace with rick
| shaws in the last stages of diIapida-
| ton. A crazy gharry, bearing dis
tant resemblance to London growler
| and drawn by diminutive pony
| bumps over the uneven surface, and
| on one side of the road electric trans,
| packed with natives, are screeching
| along the ill-laid track. None of these
| methods of locomotion appeals to us
nor do we feel inclined to mingle with
the throng Of pedestrians. However, if
we are lucky we may find near by Il
stable, at which we may hire pair
horse gharry, a sort of miniature vic
toria. We will not look on while the
ponies are being put in, for it is not
we'll to know exactly how much string
is used in the composition of our har-
ness. 1t is certain that the proportion
is large, but if only the reins hold out
we must he thankful.
On either side are rows of one
stored wooden houses. The shops on
the ground floor are quite open to the
street, and We can see Chinese earpen.
tiers, tailors and bootmakers at work
inside, While elsewhere cheap cotton
goods and hardware are displayed
NOW and then we pass Chinese loss
house with fantastic roof-ridge. and
through the open door we see an altar
decked with tinsel and peacocks
feathers.
Official Quarter and Royal Palace.
Our driver expects us to direct hin
ut every step. so if we say nothing he
will keep straight on and we shall pres
ently come to the old city wall, white
washed now, and much distigured will
, telegraph wires but with picturesou,
battlements shaped like the leaves o
the sacred Ro tree. Within we are a
once sensible Of great Improvement
us we bowl over the well-kept surfac,
of broad avenue, planted with plon
trees and bordered by neat rows o
brick houses. AS we cross canal "
catch glimpse of trees reflected |,
the water, and trim lawns, and beyon,
them pagodas blazing with pure gol
In the sunlight This is the officio
quarter. Here. too, is tn
: Royal Palace, whose brilliant roof
and irldescent spires are seen over IN
. dazzling Wilderness Of the outer wall.
Just outside the city wall Is tn
Golden Mount, bell-shaped noun,
!, faced with brick, hut so overgrown h
I trees that 1t has the appearance OF
natural hillOck. On the summit ia
:. little shrine surmounted by pagod
and to 1t leads flight of steps, win,
Ing about hill. From here we loo
down upon forest Of palms and plar
trees, through which break the r.
: roofs Of the houses. Everywhere ri
I Ing above the trees are graceful spir,
: and the manifold roofs Of temple