DEBTS SLAVERY. 
It is to be feared that the humane maxims inculcated regarding 
the treatment of dependants and slaves in the Bali moral codes 
are considered in Siam as fit objects for cold speculation only, and 
are scarcely mfluencial on the surface of private life ; much in the 
same manner as the moral axioms of the Chinese, and the common 
place moralities so rapidly and glibly uttered by Mussulmans, make 
no part of their real mental creed. 
As before observed, the Siamese are exceedingly addicted to gam¬ 
ing. The women are only restrained by a sense of decency from fre¬ 
quenting the licensed gaming houses, for, during the two great Festi¬ 
vals called 7'root and Songkjiraan , they play with the utmost keen¬ 
ness at games of chance, meeting for the purpose in private houses. 
A sort of carnival takes place at these periods, and gaming is allow¬ 
ed free of duty, to all ranks, during two or three days at each of them. 
DEBTS SLAVERY. 
A Debtor, as lias been stated, subjects himself to slavery by a fail¬ 
ure to pay when his debt becomes due. Should he have agreed to 
pay at the rate of 6 per cent per mensem (the highest rate) and 
thereafter have failed to pay; the Creditor will receive, by the award 
of a Court, at the rate of <5 per cent per mensem for the three first 
months, and at the medium legal rate of 3 per cent for the remain¬ 
ing months, and until the debt shall be paid ; but this in the event 
only of its being proved that the debtor has not the means of paying 
at once. 
Money lent on a mortgage of property which may be employed in 
the mean time to the advantage of the mortgagee, such as cattle, 
implements'of agriculture, carts, 8u\, will not be charged with inter¬ 
est. Absence does not cancel a debt however long that may he, A 
person who rents a slave pays one third of his value to the owner 
should the slave die. 
Tim children of a female slave, by a man who is not her master, 
belong to her master. It a master cohabits with his female slave, she 
will be entitled to manumission. 
In some cases the bare act of incurring debt, without an attending 
