THE VEGETABLE PRODUCTS OP SIAM. 361." 



where, likewise, a small quantity of white pepper is manufactured, which, 

 however, has not as yet become an important article of export. 



I have already mentioned the betel, and the use which is made of its 

 leaves, and may likewise observe that another species, the sixih (Cliavica 

 betle or Siriboa), is equally cultivated for a similar purpose. Two kinds 

 of cardamoms are produced in Siam, and are exported. The best are 

 obtained from several species of the genus Elettaria or Alpinia ; an inferior 

 kind is called bastard cardamoms, which are brought here from the country 

 of the Laos. They are described as the seed of a tree (or plant ?) of about 

 a man's height, at the end of the branches of which grow clusters of flowers, 

 which produce the bastard cardamoms. Ginger is cultivated with the 

 greatest facility, but only a small quantity is exported, the root being 

 mostly used for home consumption. 



Amongst the fibres of plants growing in Siam useful for textile fabrics, 

 a species of hemp has been exported which is said to be prepared from a 

 plant resembling a nettle in appearance. This has probably been obtained 

 from the Urtica tenacissima, the fibres of which have been pronounced iden- 

 tical with the celebrated China grass. The real hemp is likewise cultivated, 

 not so much for its fibres, as for extracting its intoxicating and narcotic 

 qualities, for the preparation of the haschish of the Arabs or guncha of the 

 Siamese, which is used for the same purposes as the opium, producing, when 

 being smoked, exhilarating effects, with subsequent prostration and sleep.* 

 The cultivation of cotton has not received that attention which it deserves. 

 Small quantities are produced in the Laos country, samples of which I have 

 transmitted to Her Majesty's Government. The great distance of the 

 country where it is at present cultivated, and the difficulty of transport 

 to Bangkok from the interior, have no doubt injuriously operated in 

 preventing the development of the trade. Judging from the countries 

 that produce cotton which I have visited — namely, the United States, the 

 West Indies, and Guiana — I see no reason why the alluvial districts of 

 Siam should not produce as fine a cotton as the countries previously 

 stated. A want is seriously felt to effect an extensive cultivation, — 

 namely, the scarcity of labourers. The distance of the country where 

 cotton is cultivated from Bangkok is very great ; and as the article is so 

 bulky for transport in canoes down the river, this is one of the circum- 

 stances which has operated against a greater development of this trade. 

 To obviate this difficulty in some regard, Her Majesty's Government 

 has included amongst the presents forwarded to the sovereigns of Siam a 

 hydraulic press, to compress the cotton into bales. 



A substance called silk or tree cotton is much employed by the Siamese 



* A somewhat similar effect is produced by the seeds of the Datura Stramonium 

 and Datura fatuosa, which, it is asserted, the talpoins, or priests, make frequent use 

 of to procure fantastic dreams and ravings. They assert that they take it to sharpen 

 their memory. It is stated that the priests of the Delphic Temple used the seeds of 

 the Datura Stramonium to cause that state, bordering on raving, during which their 

 words were considered prophetic. 



