OF SIAM. 



263 



meat, chiefly venison, fish and other food — these are boiled, broiled, roasted, 

 stewed and chopped : — perhaps thirty dishes (China cups gilded) are 

 served up regularly. Tea is a beverage which amongst the higher ranks 

 is always on table, but it does not form as in Europe an essentially 

 component part of a breakfast. Having breakfasted the king takes the 

 betel and the pipe, and towards the afternoon he proceeds to the great hall 

 where he hears the reports of his officers regarding the internal adminis- 

 tration, the resort of shipping to his ports, and the condition of sur- 

 rounding states. He dines at 8 or 9 and retires to rest. 



There is a Rong So-at mon or Ha So-at mon — a sort of chapel in the 

 palace where the queen and her attendants go to pray. The king's is separate. 



Every written mandate emanating from the king must bear an impres- 

 sion of the royal seal, without which it would be invalid. The impression 

 is either that of the (^) KJiotcliasee or fabulous tusked lion — or it is of the 

 Rachasee, another fanciful species. Every public officer has his seal of 

 office. That of the P,]ira KJdang, the minister for foreign affairs, has a 

 lotus engraved on it, and the same kind is employed by the PJiriya or 

 governor of Ligor. 



It is affirmed by intelligent natives that the temper in which the Court 

 may be for the time, is evinced by the nature of the seal affixed to a docu- 

 ment or letter. The king's seals are preserved with great care, nor are they 

 entrusted beyond his presence. A seal bearing the impression of a yak or 

 Rakhsha^ is indicative of a hostile feeling. The yak is the Rakhsha of 

 India — a sort of Pan at times -but with few exceptions a malicious monster. 



The Hierarchy. 



The Church holds actually the second civil rank in the state and is 

 under tiie governance of the PJira Phoottjia ony or high priest. But no 

 priest can hold a lay appointment. 



(') Gajasiha for Sinha) (^) Rdjaha. 



* A sort of sylvan deity —half human, gigantic, and of mixed moral qualities. 



