272 KING OF SI AM. 



and civilians en </rande tenae, etc. The motley crowd 

 in the streets was dense, and all the balconies were 

 filled with well-dressed people; flags were fivini,'' in 

 every direction, and the excitement was at its heit(ht, 

 when His Majesty, accompanied Ijy his uncle and his 

 younger brother, supported by a swarm of noble 

 followers, made their appearance in small boats. The 

 King, then a sallow-complexioned youth of eighteen with 

 intelligent features and of soldierly appearance, was 

 dressed in a short military coat of dark grey silk and 

 a good deal of gold lace ; his legs were enveloped from 

 waist to knee in folds of similar material ; he wore 

 white silk stockings and shoes with silver buckles, a 

 jewelled sword at his side, and a Prussian helmet on his 

 head. It seemed a pity, though, that the royal state 

 requires his teeth to be blackened, for it is by no means 

 ornamental. King Khoulaloukoru was conducted to 

 the improvised reception-hall, where he received 

 addresses, standing under a throne of crimson velvet. 

 A curious group here was that of Chinamen, headed by 

 a mandarin in his long embroidered robe, felt shoes, 

 and bell-shaped hat. In the evening there was 

 a banquet given to His Majesty, which ended with 

 toasts, as usual; and on the next day he took his 

 departure. 



Anxious to see something of the country beyond the 



