420 
THEFT. 
Nothing' is more simple, under au irresponsible government, than 
to create an uncompromising, merciless, and keenly scrutinizing sys¬ 
tem of espionage and to derive from the passive subject that aid 
towards its efficiency which alike contributes to his personal exemp¬ 
tion from danger and loss, and to rivet his own political chains. 
Such is the case in Siam where the Sddn or Department of Police 
may be considered sufficiently coercive, where every man is com¬ 
manded to be a spy on his neighbour, and where he is punished if 
he is known to have concealed what he ought by the laws to have 
disclosed. 
The who^ male population is portioned orit into bands, under 
Nai or heads who are responsible lor them, a certain number Watch 
and continue on duty for one day, being relieved by a similar number. 
They go rounds at night beating a small gong, and recommending 
people to beware of fire, no one must be seen out after 10 o’clock 
at night, under pain of being without full cause shewn imprisoned 
until next morning. A watchman who should suspect the owner of 
a house of being engaged in gaming or other forbidden practices, 
cannot enter by force himself. He must go for an officer, and wit¬ 
nesses, and bring them to enter the premises along with him. 
Each large village has its Kavnnan or Net l Iictn who is the head. 
He is assisted by the 2 officers or Kweng and a P,kan Ned ban , ser¬ 
vants of Government. Small villages have each one officer of Police. 
The duty of the chief consists in superintending cultivation, assisting 
in the collection of the revenue, and taking the census of the people 
alone- with the P,hra Satsadee, and in settling petty causes and dis- 
putes. From his decisions appeals may be made to the nearest Court, 
There is nothing like the little republican system by which a Hindoo 
village is regulated, to he found in a Siamese one. The Siamese 
Government is afraid of trusting the most limited degree of autho¬ 
rity to persons not directly in its employment. 
informers are rewarded, and severe punishments inflicted on those 
who do not give information of consequence. 
Thieves use charms to impose, as they fancy, silence on watchmen, 
and dogs. One used by other persons runs thus. It is from the 
