Book HI. Travels in India. 



chap. xvni. 



Of the Kmgdom of Siam,; 



THE greateft part of the Kingdom of Siam lies between the Golf of Siam 

 and the Golf of Bengala; bordering upon Pegu toward the North, and the 

 Peninfula of Malacca toward the South. The (horteft and neareft way for the 

 £urop&ans to go to this Kingdom, is to go to IJpahaxs, from Ifpahan to Ormus t 

 from Ormus to Surai, from Surat to Golconda, from Golconda to Majlipatan, there 

 to embark for Denoufcrin, which is one of the Ports belonging to the King- 

 dom of Siam. From Denonferin to the Capital City, which is alfo call'd Siam, 

 is thirty-five days journey, part by Water, part by Land, by Waggon, or upon 

 Elephants. The way, whether by Land or Water, is very troublelbme ; for by 

 Land you muft be always upon your guard, for fear of Tigers and Lions j by 

 Water, by reafon of the many falls of the River, they are fore'd to hoifè up 

 their Boats with Engines. 



All the Countrey of Slam is very plentiful in Rice and Fruits ; the chiefeft 

 whereof are Mangos, Durions, and Mangujlans. The Forefts are full of Harts, 

 Elephants, Tigers, Rhinocero's, and Apes ; where there grow alfo large Bambou's 

 in great abundance. Under the knots of thefe Bambou's are Emets nefts as big 

 as a mans head, where every Emet has his apartiment by himfelf ; but there is 

 but one hole to enter into the neft, They make their nefts in thefe Canes to 

 prefèrve themfelvcs from the rains which continue four or five months together. 



In the night time the Serpents are very bufie. There are fome two foot 

 long, with two heads ; but one of them has no motion. 



There is alfo another creature in Siam, like our Salamander, with a forked 

 tail, and very venomous. 



The Rivers in this Kingdom are very large ; and that which runs by Siam is 

 equally as large as the reft. The water is very wholefome ; but it is very full 

 of Crocodiles of a monftrous bignefs, that devour men if they be not very care- 

 ful of themfelves. Thefe Rivers overflow their banks while the Sun is in the 

 Southern Tropick ; which makes the fields to be very fertile as far as they flow j 

 and it is obferv'd, that the Rice grows higher or lower, as the floods do more 

 or lefs increafe. 



Siam, the Capital City of the Kingdom, where the King keeps his Court, is 

 wall'd about, being about three of our Leagues in circuit ; it is fituated in an 

 Ifland, the River running quite round it, and might be eafily brought into eve- 

 ry ftreet in the Town, if the King would but lay out as much Money upon 

 that defign, as he fpends in Temples and Idols. 



The Siamers have thirty-three Letters in their Alphabet. But they write 

 from the left to the right, as we do, contrary tô thé Cuftom of fapon, China, 

 Cochinchina, and Tunquin, who write from the right to the left. 



All the Natives of this Kingdom are Haves, either to the King of the great 

 Lords. The women as well as the men cut their hair -, neither are they very 

 rich in their habits. Among their complements, the chiefeft is, never to go 

 before a perfon that they refpect, nnlefs they firft ask leave, which they do by 

 holding up both their hands. Thofe. that are rich have feveral Wives. 



The Money of the Country is already defcrib'd. 



The King of Siam is one of the richeft Monarchs in the Eaft, and ftilés him- 

 felf King of Heaven and Earth ; though he be Tributary to the Kings of China. 

 He fcldom (hews himfelf to his Subjects ; and never gives Audience, but to 

 the principal Favourites of his Court. He trufts to his Minifters of States 

 for the management of his affairs, who fometimes make very bad ufe of their 

 authority. He never (hews himfelf in publick above twice a year ; but theri 

 it is with an extraordinary magnificence. The firft is, when he goes to a cer- 

 tain Pagod within the City, which is guilded round both within and without. 

 There are three Idols between fix and (even foot high, which are all of maffie 



Gold 5 



