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ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[Siam, #c. 



by the current, a narrow bank or quay is left, which is built upon in many 

 places. Several large canals from the river run quite through the city, 

 generally at right angles, and many smaller ones branch out from them. 

 Ships may come from the river up into the town, and land their cargoes 

 near the principal houses. The streets run in a straight line along the 

 canals; some of them are tolerably large, but the greater part narrow, 

 and in general very dirty ; some are also overflowed at spring tides. The 

 first street, on entering the city, runs W. along the wall ; it contains the best 

 houses, and is that in which the European factories formerly were. The 

 middle street, which runs N., is well inhabited, and full of the shops of 

 tradesmen and artificers. Numbers of Chinese and Moors reside here ; 

 their houses are all built of stone, very small and low, covered with flat tiles; 

 those of the natives are in general of timber and bamboos, covered with palm- 

 leaves. The many canals occasion a great number of bridges; those which 

 are over the great canals are built of stone, but those over the smaller are 

 generally constructed of wood. 



Round the city lie many suburbs, or villages, some of which consist 

 of inhabited vessels rather than houses, containing two or three families 

 each: they remove them from time to time, and float them, particularly 

 when the waters are high, to pJaces where fairs are kept, to sell their goods. 

 The houses which stand upon firm ground, are generally built of bamboos, 

 planks, and mats; those on the banks of the river stand on posts about six 

 feet high, that the waters may freely pass under them. Each house is fur- 

 nished with steps to come down in dry weather, and with a boat to go about 

 when the waters are out. 



A mission from the Indian Government was dispatched to Siam in 

 18£2 ; but few authentic particulars are yet known of the country from 

 this source. 



Trade. — From the different parts of India and China are brought 

 the following articles for the use of the country, few of which are again 

 exported : — Brasiery, scarlet cloth, cutlery, China-ware, glass-ware of every 

 kind, guns and pistols, hardware, ironmongery, ink of China, lackered 

 ware, looking-glasses, gold lace, nankeen, opium, piece-goods of sorts, 

 paper, raw silk, silk piece-goods, China saffron, sweetmeats, swords, spices, 

 sugar-candy, tea, toys, vermilion, watches, and coarse woollens. 



Various articles of eastern produce are brought by Malay proas to 

 meet the country ships and China junks, which are enumerated among 

 those exported. 



The King is the principal merchant, and engrosses the greatest part of 



