GENERAL REMARKS. 29 



best judge for himself when he understands 

 that it has been the same in kind for nearly 

 forty years. The fashions you know, in gen- 

 eral, are often changing like the moon ; and 

 what is in fashion now, will next year appear 

 ancient. Can it be expected, then, that the 

 furniture which was selected for the house I 

 live in during the past century, will correspond 

 with the fashions of the present ? 



In Siam, they build their houses on posts or 

 pillars. This is because the country is low, 

 and apt to be overflowed every year by the 

 rivers ; and to build on high posts is the only 

 way to secure themselves against these floods. 

 My house, as you will see hereafter, stands on 

 3* 



