390 



ON SIAMESE LITERATURE. 



Siamese translation and Siamese actors ; the Malays of Kedder and 

 Penang are here alluded to. 



Smoking. 



People of all ranks and ages in Siam smoke tobacco : it is made into 

 segars. Even amongst the great, the Indian hookah has not been yet 

 introduced, although pipes are frequent. 



: The segar is presented along with the betul mixture to a stranger 

 on his entering a house. Tea accompanies it in some houses ; if the visitor 

 has come from a distance he is presented with food immediately, or is 

 invited to stay to dinner. 



Medicine. 



There are two houses appertaining to the Royal establishment in 

 Avhich medicines are kept. At one of these the poor may be supplied with 

 such as they require. 



The King's physician occasionally administers to those who solicit his 

 aid. There are women who possess to be actuated on occasions by a spirit, 

 and who are consulted by those labouring under diseases. 



Fidd Sports. 



Siamese Princes do not follow the chase — or shoot animals, because 

 the religion they profess makes such practices sinful. Their subjects 

 however indulge in field sports. They catch elephants and other animals, 

 laying snares, nets and traps for them ; they shoot elephants, wild cattle, 

 rhinosceroses, deer, bears and hogs, for their teeth and skins chiefly, 

 but for food also in the cases of the cattle, deer and hog. — They also 

 train dogs to run down deer and to seek tortoises, which last they dis- 

 cover to their masters by barking. They pretend also that their alligator 

 killers will dive under water, get on the back of one and finally kill him 

 or bring him on shore ! Several persons, Malays and Siamese, have 

 positively averred to me that they saw a feat of this nature performed ! 

 So that the feat in America on a Kayman* must be ranked as second 



Vide Waterton's Wanderings. 



