The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-10-11

4 a embarks upon one of the
small steamers which take
tbe mails To Bangkok. The steamer
makes for the low mangrOvefringed
shore which marks his destination ana
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 De-
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 so t0rtuous
is the river that il is fully three hours
before we arrive. Here Il score of
small steamers are anchored in 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
wharf and land amidst piles of goods.
Motley Throng in the Street.
Behind the wharfS and mills which
line the river on its eastern side, we
come upon long street, white and
dusty in the dry months. and in the
rainy season a lane of mud. Here at
all seasons motley crowd of Chinese
Siamese, Malays. Hindus and Mahom-
etans jostle each other, while coolies
toll along ut foot pace with rick
shaws in the last stages of dilapida-
ton. A crazy gharry. hearing "A dis
tant resemblance To n London GROWER
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,
the thrOng of pedestrians. However il
we are lucky se may find near by Il
stable. at whiCx we may hire a pair
horse gharry, = sort of miniature vic
tOria. We will not look on while the
ponies are being pat in, for it is not
well 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 ou
: we must be thankful.
,, On either side are rows of one
stored wooden houses. The shops OF
the ground floor are quite open to th'
street. and we can see Chinese carpen
tiers, tailOrs and bOotmakers at wOrl
: inside, while elsewhere cheap cOttoi
: goods and hardware are displayed
| Now and then we pass Il Chinese joss
l house with fantastic rOOf-ridge, an,
| through the open door we see an alta
i decked with tinsel and peacockS
L feathers
l Official Quarter and Royal Palace.
Our driver expects us to direct hir
II
will keep straight on and we shall pres
emily come to the old city wall, whit,
washed now. and much disfigured wit
telegraph wires, but with pictursqu
battlements shaped like the leaves {
the sacred 30 tree. Within we are 4
once sensible of great improvement
as we bowl over the well-kept surfaC
of a broad avenue, planted with plan
trees, and bOrdered by neat rows {
brick houses. As we cross n canal "
catch glimpse of trees reflected
the water, and trim lawns. and beyon
them pagodas blazing with pure go
in the sunlight. This is the Otlici
quarter Here. too, is Il
Royal Palace, whose brilliant roo