449 



the BuflTerer was then pricked with very sharp 

 instruments to cause liim to hold in his breath, 

 and the executioner^ seizing a favorable opportu- 

 nity, severed the body at the wairt at one blow> 

 when, a hot plate of brass being applied to the 

 upper part of the body, the blood vessels were 

 seared, and the miserable wretch remained for 

 some lime alive in inexpressible torment. These 

 bloody and cruel executions lasted for four 

 months, during which period about 3,000 per- 

 sons lost their livos.-^ 



I have merely qu™d the foregoing cases, as il- 

 lustrative of the sanguinary and despotic charac- 

 ter of the Siamese laws, which are essentially the 

 same at the present day. Oojong Salang being 

 oppressed by such a code, her population is rpb- 

 bed of its energy, and her resources are prevent- 

 ed from developeraeut, and when Kedah shall be 

 more fully at the foot of Siam, the same effects 

 will inevitably follow, and, as surely, hasten the 

 ruin of the declining trade of Prince of Wales s 

 island. 



The religion of the inhabitants of Oojong Sa- 

 lang, although essentially Siamese, is much min- 

 gled with Mahommedanism, pork being prohibit- 

 ed food. The Siamese religion is virtually 

 Buddhistic, and appears to be of the same form 

 as that existing in Burmah, Cochin China, 

 All their sacred books are vvritten in the Bali 

 language, and their priesia, or Talapoins, are ha- 

 bited in the usual yellow vestments : they shave 

 their heads, and vow celibacy. Should they in- 

 fringe this vow, they are condemned to be burnt 



I '2 



