1863. ] A visit to Xiengmai. 393 
keeping his high backed chair, and we ours, for I made it always a 
pot to have carried to such audiences, two cane chairs for myself 
and Mr. Clarke, which I had brought with me froia Bangkok, (and IL 
may as well observe en parenthese, | brought them back thither on. 
my return). 
As soon as the ceremony was performed, we returned to our resi- 
dence ; I saw already that Chao Operat was not very favourably 
inclined to us. 
On our return from the Deputy Viceroy, we took a ride through 
the town. The bazar is held ip the principal street, extending east and 
west : the goods for sale are exposed in open stalls along the lines of the 
street. ‘They consist of English manufactured goods, such as cotton 
handkerchiefs, prints, cups and saucers, plates, needles and thread ; 
raw silk from China, lacquered boxes from Ava and a number of knick 
knacks from other countries. For the sake of opposition, I believe, 
speculating geniuses exhibit for sale in the next stall, pork, vegetables, 
and the indispensable betel-nut with all its accessories. There were, 
likewise short clay-pipes and tobacco finely cut, similar to the Turkish, 
for supplying them with the necessary ingredient. The stalls in 
the bazar are tenanted by women, who, when their attention is not 
claimed by purchasers, occupy themselves with making those pretty 
embellishments or embroideries worked with gold thread and all kinds 
of coloured silks, which adorn the Lao ladies’ petticoats. Others were 
occupied in embroidering upon black velvet, ornamental designs accord- 
ing to their conception, for the covering of head cushions, and here and 
there the mother would have her darling, of course the youngest, to 
nurse, notwithstanding that her fingers were busily employed in em- 
broidering. The silk for the manufacture of petticoats, &c., is import- 
ed from the Chinese territories. 
We extended our ride round the town “ proper” not including the 
suburb. It is surrounded by a double wall—each wall having a ditch 
in front. The entrance to the town is by double gates with bastions to 
protect them. The suburbs are stockaded, but the gates of that per- 
tion of the town, are also fortified. I regret that some differences 
which arose between myself and Chao Operat, regarding the jurisdiction 
over British subjects residing in Xiengmai, rendered every act I did, 
suspicious in the eyes of that individual, and I could not ascertain with 
precision the extent of the city. I believe, however, that it is no less 
3D 2 
