A SCIENTIFIC MISSION TO CAMBODIA. 



317 





on land and on his narrow pirogue, and also occupying but little 

 space. The furnace of Campong-Chnang is in the shape of a cala- 

 bash, divided by a horizontal plane into two parts. The smaller end, 

 provided with three legs, is the kettle ; and the other end holds 

 the coal, wood, aud ashes. With this apparatus the native can do his 

 cooking anywhere, on the ground or on the lightest boat, without 

 danger of fire. Nothing could be better for its purpose. The people 

 also have a taller kind of furnace, but it is less convenient and more 

 fragile, and is not in general use. The vessels for cooking have nearly 

 always the same shape, and differ only in size. Vessels of the same 

 kind are also used for pitchers, and when designed for this purpose 

 are furnished with a withe, which, after being wrapped around the 

 narrow part several times, is formed into a handle. They are used in 

 pairs, and carried by means of a bar over the shoulders. The meals 

 are eaten sitting on the ground. Tables are used only to put things 

 on temporarily. The countrymen have two meals — the first at ten 

 o'clock in the morning and the other at five o'clock in the afternoon. 

 In the towns they sometimes have three — the first at nine o'clock, the 

 second at one, and the last at six o'clock in the evening. The one- 

 o'clock meal is light, and con- 

 sists chiefly of a pottage of 

 rice. The others are more 

 substantial, and include, be- 

 sides rice, which takes the 

 place of bread, fresh fish in 

 the morning and salt fish in 

 the evening ; and when they 

 have chicken and meat, it is 

 at these meals. At meal-time 

 the members of the family 

 collect around a mat which 

 is set in a particular part of 

 the house, the usual place for 

 that house, but different in 

 different houses. They sit 

 on the ground, with their 

 legs thrown over to one side. 

 Some of them, perhaps, will 

 squat, in what is an habitual 

 position of resting with this people. The wife in a poor family, 

 or a slave in wealthier ones, then brings in a dish furnished with 

 bowls containing the meats, one of which is given to each com- 

 mensal. In the event of a more elaborate repast, where a variety is 

 provided, the different dishes are brought on in succession. But this 

 is rare ; for the Cambodian, like the people of warm climates gener- 

 ally, is extremely sober, and it is not without considerable astonish- 



Cambodian Elephant and Tent. 



