1840.] Mission to the Court of Siam. 243 



prince and Chowkoon-booden ; he said neither Mr. Crawford 

 nor Mr. Roberts (the American envoy) had an audience of 

 leave, and that it was not at all necessary ; and that the 

 prince and Chowkoon must have notice before I visited them ; 

 that as my business was principally in his own department 

 he saw me at any time in a friendly way. I said, though 

 disappointed of not again seeing his Majesty, of course I 

 must be guided by him, and wished to pay my other visits, 

 so as to get away by the 16th. On starting, he said he did 

 not wish to detain me, as he wanted to go down again to the 

 fleet, and could not leave whilst I was here. He then told Rad- 

 sithee to inquire when the prince and Chowkoon would see me. 

 I requested him to give an answer about Jaung-Kieuk's wife ; 

 he said she might go, but she had some debts here which she 

 must pay. I told him the woman denied owing any money, 

 but stated she had a good deal of property and some slaves ; he 

 said the slaves could not accompany her, but he knew she had 

 debts, part of which he believed had been paid, and part was 

 still due. I begged him to order the business to be settled, as I 

 wished to start on Saturday. He wished me health, a plea- 

 sant journey, and all kinds of good wishes, and said he should 

 think of me when I was gone ; indeed, that he thought of me 

 every day now, and always sent me something to eat ; and con- 

 cluded by complimenting me on my knowledge of Siamese cus- 

 toms. I reciprocated his good wishes, and said I was obliged for 

 his attention to my private wants and comforts ; and we took our 

 leave amidst expressions of his esteem. On our return home 

 we found the prince Chow-fa, who remained an hour; and 

 about 10 p.m. Radsithee came in and told me the prince Croma- 

 luang-rak was too unwell to see me. To-morrow is the com- 

 mencement of the new year, and the Praklang told Mr. Hunter 

 to-day he knew the prince would not give up his plays to see 

 any body. The Chow-pra-koon-booden said he would see me 

 on Friday evening. I have been fortunate in obtaining permis- 

 sion to proceed to Laos, by which journey I hope I shall be 

 able to throw some light on the geography of 5° of latitude 

 in this country, hitherto never visited by a European ; and the 

 very act of traversing the country, when done without violence 



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