Book fit travelsvTl^l, " "Jg~ 



chap. xvm. 



Of the Kingdom of Siam. 



>-p HE greateft part of the Kingdom of Siam lies between the Golf of Siam 

 and the Go If of Bengal*- bordering upon Pegu toward the North, and the 

 PmnfitU of Malacca toward the South. The fliorteft and neareft wav for the 

 Europeans to go to this Kingdom, is to go to Ifrahan, from Jfpaban to Ormus 

 from Ormm to Snr*t y from S*r*r to Golcondai from GW<w^ to Maflipatan there 

 to embark for Dertouferhf, which is one of the Ports belonging to the' King- 

 dom of Siam. From Denoufcrin to the Capital City, which is alfo calPd SiJt- 

 is thirty-five days journey, part by Water, part by Land, by Wa^on, or upon 

 Elephants. The way, whether by Land or Water, is very troublefome • for bv 

 Land you mult be always upon your guard, for fear of Tigers and Lions- bv 

 Water, by reafon of the many falls of the River, they are fore'd to hoife ud 

 their Boats with Engines. r 



All the Countrey of Siam is very plentiful in Rice and Fruir:; \ the chiefrft 

 whereof are Mangos, Durions, and Mangnftans. The Forefts :rt fuUofHartsj 

 Elephants, Tigers, Rhinocero's, and Apes j where there grow alfo large Bambou's 

 in great abundance. Under the knots of thefe Bambou's are Emets nefts as bier 

 as a mans head, where every Emet has his apartiment by himfelf , Hr rhere is 

 but one hole to enter into the neft. They make their nefb in thefe Canes to 

 preferve themfelves from the rains which continue four or five months together. 



In the night time the Serpents are very bufie. There arc fame two foot 

 long, with two heads ; but one of them has no motion. 



There is alfo another creature in Siam, like our Salamander, with a forked 

 tail, and very venomous. 



The Rivers in this Kingdom are very large ; and that which runs by Siam is 

 equally as large as the reft. The water is very wholefome j but it is very full 

 of Crocodiles of a monftrous bigneft, that devour men if they be not very care- 

 ful of themfelves. Thefe Rivers overflow their banks while the Sun is in the 

 Southern Tropick j which makes the fields to be very fertile as far as they flow 5 

 and it is obferv'd, that the Rice grows higher or lower, as the floods do more 

 or lefs increafe. 



Siam, the Capital City of the Kingdom, where the King keeps his Court, is 

 wall'd about, being about three of our Leagues in circuit j it is fituated in an 

 Ifland, the River running quite round it, and might be eafily brought into eve- 

 ry ftreet in the Town, if the King would but lay out as much Money upon 

 that defign, as *e fpends in Temples and Idols. 



The Stamen have thirty-three Letters in their Alphabet. But they write 

 from the left to the right, as we do, contrary to the cuftom of Japon, China, 

 Cochinchina, and Ttfa<ptin t who write from the right to the left. 



All the Natives of this Kingdom are flaves, either io the King or the great 

 Lords. The women as well as the men cut their hair j neither are they very 

 rich in their habits. Among their complements, the chiefeft is, never to go 

 before a perfon that they refpeft, unlefs they firft ask leave, which they do by 

 holding up both their hands. Thofe that are rich have feveral Wives. 



The Money of the Country is already defcrib'd. 



The King of Siam is one of the richeft Monarchs in the Eaft, and ftiles him- 

 felf King of Heaven and Earth'; though he be Tributary to the Kings of China. 

 He feldom (hews himfelf to his Subjects; and never gives Audience, but to 

 the principal Favourites of his Court. He trufts to his Minifters of State, 

 for the management of his affairs,, . who fometimes make very bad ufe of their 

 authority. He never (hews himfelf in publick above twice a year ; but then 

 it is with an extraordinary magnificence. The firft is, when he goes to a cer- 

 tain Pagod within the City, which is guilded round both within and without. 

 There are three Hols between fix and feven foot high, which are all of maflie 



Gold 5 



