976 Dr. Heifer's Third Report [Dec 



is likewise an uncontrolled, sometimes very rigorous, absolutism ; yet 

 it appears Siam is advanced one step farther in civilization than Bur- 

 mah, for its ruler not only protects agriculture, but encourages com- 

 merce; its inhabitants are undoubtedly more industrious, and in 

 consequence, their country more wealthy. The fertility of the great 

 valley and of the plains formed by the delta of the Meram river, 

 is highly spoken of. The great number of Chinese settled amongst 

 them has doubtless contributed to establish a more general and im- 

 proved cultivation. The custom prevailing to this day of driving 

 the population of whole districts, when conquered, to remote parts; 

 forcing them to cultivate the ground, though in itself for the depopu- 

 lated countries highly pernicious, seems to indicate that the govern- 

 ment knows duly to appreciate the value of the labour of husbandmen. 

 Though no positive data of the whole amount of the revenue are 

 known, yet it must be, judging only from the duties levied at Ban- 

 kouk, at least double that of the Burman empire. 



The feelings of the court of Bankouk, manifested towards the 

 British Government of India, have been hitherto those of amity and 

 good- will. These feelings are dictated partly by apprehension for their 

 own safety, partly by their hereditary enmity towards the Burmese; 

 they viewing the British as the natural enemies of that nation. The 

 Burmese and Siamese have been for a long time rivals, and in conse- 

 quence, never friends. The weakening the Burmese gave additional 

 strength to the Siamese. Before the British war with Burmah, 

 neither of the two powers, though almost uninterruptedly engaged in 

 petty warfare, could subdue the other; their military force and prowess 

 being equal. 



Their mode of warfare was confined in latter times to temporary 

 invasions, accompanied by mutual devastations, generally to both 

 parties equally injurious. The consequence was, that the confines 

 of the two powers have been rendered a waste, and hence it is 

 accounted for that the frontiers of the Tenasserim provinces towards 

 Siam are totally uninhabited, desolate, uninterrupted forests, from 

 thirty to eighty miles in breadth. 



It appears from the late accounts of Dr. Richardson, that the high 

 opinion which the court of Bankouk had conceived of the British 

 power, and which they knew only to measure by the progress of British 

 arms in the last war, has somewhat diminished, within the last two 

 years. With the returning belief of their own strength, and dimi- 

 nishing apprehension of their new neighbours, the feelings of amity, 

 and the desire of mutual peace, will be lessened. 



