OF SIAM 43 



and no doubt yet another is to escape from the 

 snakes, toads, worms and multitude of other crawl- 

 ing things which drag their length over the soil of 

 lower Siam. 



Past the floating houses along the river, and 

 among the stilted houses through the klawngs, 

 flows a scarcely ever ending procession of passen- 

 ger boats, house boats, freight boats and canoes of 

 all sizes, for in Siam may be seen the most remark- 

 able variety of water craft in the world; and, I 

 may add, of the most graceful lines. Unless it be 

 the Burman, really of about the same stock, no 

 builder anywhere compares with the Siamese, who 

 make their boats large and small of teak, and give 

 them lines unequalled. Here is one art at least in 

 which the natives continue proficient. 



My travels have never brought me among a peo- 

 ple seemingly more contented, more happy, than 

 these Siamese. Their wants are few and easily 

 supplied: a single piece of stuff completes the 

 scanty, inexpensive costume; rice and fruit and 

 fish, to be had for almost nothing, constitute the 

 food ; betel-nuts, which high and low chew, may be 

 gathered. Life moves very easily for them, and 

 they go to their death with unbounded faith that 

 Buddha will take care of the next world, wherever 

 it may be. Living, they hold to their simple faith 

 as conscientiously as the Mohammedans, which is 



