SIAM. 



maintains its prefent extent, Siam, we can have little doubt, 

 will ere long be deprived of its independence. But it is an 

 event not, perhaps, lefs probable, that the Birman empire 

 itfelf will fall into confuAon, and be difmtmbered. 



Every thing we are told refpeftingthe government, the laws, 

 the literature, the arts, and perfonal qualities of the Siamefe, 

 indicates a correfponding ftate of advancement with that 

 of the Birmans. That the religion of the Siamefe is the 

 fame with that of the Birmans, and derived from the fame 

 origin as that of the Hindoos, there feems to be fuffi- 

 cient evidence. Sommona-Codam, mentioned by Loubere 

 as the chief idol of Siam, is interpreted by competent judges 

 to be the fame with the Boodh of Hindooitan. The facred 

 language called Bali is of the fame origin : the moft eileemed 

 book feems to be the Vinac, and the precepts of morality 

 are chiefly five ; viz. not to kill, not to (leal, not to com- 

 mit uncleannefs, not to lie, and not to drink any intoxicating 

 liquor. Loubere has given a tranflation of a more minute 

 code of morals, chiefly compiled for the ufe of perfons de- 

 dicated to religion, whom he calls Talapoins. Their laws 

 are faid to be in high reputation all over the Eaft ; and it is 

 not certain, whether, like thofe of the Birmans, they are of 

 Hindoo, or of indigenous birth. Their fyitem of legifla- 

 tion is reprefented by all writers on this country, as extremely 

 fevere in its fantlions ; death or mutilation being punilh- 

 ments of unimportant offences. The Siamefe imitate the 

 Chinefe in their feitival of the dead ; and in fome other of 

 their rites. The government of Siam is defpotic, and the 

 fovereign, as among the Birmans, is revered with honours 

 almoll divine. The fuccefTion to the crown is hereditary in 

 the male line. The population has not been accurately afcer- 

 tained, nor have we any documents for this purpofe. Al- 

 lowing to the Birman empire more than fourteen millions, as 

 fome have Hated, the Siamefe dominions may probably be 

 peopled by about eight millions. However, Loubere affures 

 us in his time, that from aftual enumeration, there were only 

 found, of men, women, and children, 1,900,000. Loubere 

 fays that the Siamefe had no army, except a few royal 

 guards ; but Mandelflo eitimated the army, which may be 

 occafionally raited, at 60,000, with no lefs than 3000 or 

 4000 elephants. The navy is compofed of a number of 

 veflcls of various fizes, which difplay a fingular fantaflic 

 elegance, like thofe of the Birmans ; and naval engagements 

 frequently occur. The revenues of this (ovcreignty are of 

 uncertain computation. Mandelflo delcribes them as arifing 

 from the third of all inheritances, from trade, conduiled by 

 royal agents, annual prcfents from the governors of pro- 

 vinces, duties impofed on commerce, and the difcovcry of 

 gold, which feems to be a royal claim. Tin is alfo a royal 

 metal, except that found in .Jnnkfeylon, which is abandoned 

 to the adventurers. Loubere adds a kind of land-tax, and 

 other particulars, among which is the royal domain. 



Siam appeared to the French, in the reign of Louis XIV. 

 to be of confidcrable political importance ; for this monarch 

 was ambitious of forming permanent fettlements, by ren- 

 dering it a rich mart of Indian commerce. If we had any 

 apprehenfion that tlio Birmans would become dangerous 

 to our poffeirions in Bengal, our alliance with Siam might 

 be highly ferviceable. In a merely commercial point of 

 view, as it may bo difficult to prefcrve the friendlhip of 

 both the Birmans and the Siamefe, it is not ealy to deter- 

 mine from which itatc fuperior advantages might be derived. 

 If direded by European policy, Siam would form llritt 

 alliances with the more ealleni Hates of exterior India, as 

 a common defence againft the growing preponderance of 

 the Birmans. 



As to the manners and culloms of the Siamefe, as they 



have embraced a branch of Hindoo faith, they arc rather 

 Hindooftanic than Chinefe; though its fituation is centrical 

 between the vaft countries of China and Hindooitan. Lou- 

 bere has given a detailed account of the Siamefe manners. 

 The females are under few reftraints, and marry at an 

 early age, and are pad parturition at forty. Marriages 

 are conducted by female mediation, and a priett or magician 

 is ufually confulted concerning the propriety of an alliance. 

 On the third vifit the parties are confidered as wedded, 

 after the exchange of a few prefenta, without any farther 

 ceremony, civil or facred. Polygamy is allowed, more from 

 oftentation than any other motive; and one wife is always 

 acknowledged as fupreme. Royal marriages, from confi- 

 derations of pride, are fometimes incefl;uous ; nor does a 

 king helitate to efpoufe his own filler. Divorce is feldom 

 praftifed ; but the rich may chufe a more compliant wife 

 without difmiffing the former. Few women become nuns, 

 till they are advanced in years. The Siamefe funerals re- 

 ferable thofe of the Chinefe. On this occafion, the Tala- 

 poins iiiig hymns in the Bali tongue. After a folemn pro- 

 ceflion the body is burnt on a funeral pile of precious woods, 

 ereited near fome temple ; and the magnificence of the 

 fpeftacle is enhanced by theatrical exhibitions, in which the 

 Siamefe are faid to excel. The tombs are pyramidal, and 

 thofe of the kings are large and lofty. The common food 

 of the Siamefe confills of rice and fifh ; they alfo eat 

 lizards, rats, and feveral kinds of infefts. The buffaloes 

 yield rich milk ; but butter would melt and become rancid ; 

 and cheefe is unknown. 



In Siam little animal food is ufed ; the mutton and beef 

 being very bad. The doftrine of Boodh infpires the Siamefe 

 with horror at the effufion of blood. The houfes arc fmall, 

 and conftrudled of bamboos, upon pillars, in order to guard 

 againll inundations, which are common. The palaces only ex- 

 ceed common habitations by occupying a wider fpace, and 

 being conftrufted of timber, with a few ornaments. They 

 are alfo more elevated, but have never more than one floor. 

 With regard to tlieir perfons, the Siamefe are rather fmall, 

 but well made. The figure of the countenance, fays 

 Kaempfer, both of men and women, has lefs of the oval 

 than of the lozenge form, being broad, and raifed at tiie 

 top of the cheeks ; and the fore-head fuddenly contrafts, 

 and is almoll as pointed as the chin. Their eyes, riling to- 

 wards the temples, are fmall and dull ; and the luhile h 

 commonly completely yellow. Their cheeks are hollow ; 

 mouth very large, with thick pale lips, and teeth bbckened 

 by art ; the complexion coarlc, brown mixed with red, to 

 which the climate greatly contributes. From this dcfcrip- 

 tion the Siamefe appear to be much inferior in perfonal ap- 

 pearance to the Bfrmans ; and to approach rather to the 

 Tartaric or Chinefe features. 



The drefs of the Siamefe is flight, clothes being rendered 

 almoll unnecellary by the warmth of the climate. A mullin 

 Ihirt, with wide flceves, and a kind of loofe drawers, are 

 almoll the only garments of the rich, a mantle being added 

 in winter, and a high conic cap upon the head. The 

 women ufe a fcarf inllead of the lliirt, and the petticoat ia 

 of painted calico ; but with this flight drefs they are ex- 

 tremely modelt. 



The Siamefe are faid to excel in theatrical amufcmeiits ; 

 the fnbjedls being taken from their mythology, and from 

 traditions concerning their ancient heroes. Their ordinary 

 amulemcnts confill of races of oxen, and thofe ot boats, 

 the combats of elephants, cock-fighting, tumbling, wref- 

 tling, and rope-dancing, religious procclTions, illuminations, 

 and beautiful exhibitions of lire-works. The men are gene- 

 rally very indolent, and fond of games of chance ; while 



the 



