N 
384 
Chapter XI. 
SLAVERY. 
9 * 
It is worthy of remark,, as it is somewhat consolatory to reflect, 
that, amidst many perverted institutions of Indian and Indo-Chinese 
despotisms, that of slavery has rarely, perhaps never, been inflicted 
with that remorseless and savage rigor, which for ages tarnished the 
fairest records of civilized Europe, and unfortunately, even yet, exerts 
a sinister influence over the destiny of millions in the third quarter 
of the globe. 
Slavery has, however, in one shape or other, been established, from 
time immemorial, over all of these regions ; and without wishing to 
trace its distant origin to any other cause than that of the power 
which the strong exert over the weak, we shall proceed to examine 
the conditions in which it exists in Siam. 
In the first place, it is a bounden duty of every Siamese to maintain 
and clothe his dependants of every description,—not perhaps a hard 
one considering their half naked state, and the cheapness of food.* 
The Siamese are all Kha lo ang or “ Slaves of the ruling power,” 
the last term agreeing pretty closely with the Indian word sirkar or 
drear. Every man betwixt the age of 20 to 60, or even to his 
death, is, in so far, a slave that he must obey the usual mandate of 
Government, (however ruinous obedience may be to his private in¬ 
terests,) to serve it for three or four months in the year, (Loubere 
rates it at six months, which native authorities do not support,) with¬ 
out remuneration beyond a scanty supply of rice. The services of 
* “ The Master has all power over his slave excepting that of iuflieting 
death.” 
“ A Siamese may he born or may become a slave.” 
“ Captives in war, debtors, or persons who have been confiscated by jus¬ 
tice can be enslaved.” 
“ Children of a debtor slave, born during his period of slavery, remain 
slaves after he has purchased his liberty again.” 
“ One is born a slave when born of a slave mother; and in slavery the 
children are divided as on a divorce, the master standing in the place of the 
father. The other children in the same rank belong to the father if he is 
free, or to his master if he is a slave. But if the interco use with the female 
slave was without the consent of her master the latter takes all the chil¬ 
dren.” 
