Ji'iioto trom l,ea I'eDiger 
THE TEMPLE OE WAT CHANG, ON THE BANKS OF THE MENAN RIVER, A MIEE EROM 
BANGKOK 
main source of wealth, one million Hvo 
hundred thousand tons being the annual 
average crop, of which they export about 
one-half. The teak- wood industry from 
the forests in the north also add greatly 
to the country's wealth. 
Bangkok is not unlike our own Manila, 
with the ancient city surrounded by a 
wall, only much of the wall has been 
•demolished to make way for modern im- 
provements. The inner wall around the 
palace grounds is, however, still intact. 
The crenellations on the top of the wall, 
instead of being the conventional square 
pattern, are shaped like the ace of 
spades. 
The city is full of "klongs," or esteros, 
in former times the only mode of com- 
munication between sections, though now 
there are over one hundred miles of wide 
macadamized streets, constructed within 
the last ten years, where automobiles are 
much in evidence. I was told that the 
King has fifty- four for his own use and 
his entourage. 
"Wats," or temples, take the place of 
convents and churches, and "prachidees" 
the place of spires. The "^prachidee" is 
used almost as a national crest. The 
royal crown is designed from it, it is a 
part of the coat of arms, and is used like 
our eagle on their uniform ornaments. 
The erection of one near some temple is 
the favorite way of "acquiring merit," so 
dear to the Buddhistic heart. 
Men and women both, in all walks of 
life, wear the "panung," a piece of silk 
or cotton cloth about three yards long 
415 
