A new historical relation of the kingdom of Siam by Monsieur De La Loubere ... ; done out of French, by A.P. Gen. R.S.S.

PART I. Of the Country of Siam. (Book 1)

CHAP. I. The Geographical Description.

NAvigation has sufficiently made known the Sea Coasts of the King∣dom of Siam, and many Authors have described them;* 1.1 but they know almost nothing of the Inland Country, because the Siameses have not made a Map of their Country, or at least know how to keep it secret. That which I here present is the work of an European, who went up the Menam, the principal River of the Country, to the Frontiers of the King∣dom; but was not skilful enough to give all the Positions with an entire exact∣ness. Besides he has not seen all; and therefore I thought it necessary to give his Map to Mr. Cassini, Director of the Observatory at Paris, to correct it by some Memorials which were given me at Siam. Nevertheless I know it to be still defective; but yet it fails not to give some notices of this Kingdom which were never heard of, and of being more exact in those we already have:

Its Frontiers extend Northward to the 22^d. Degree, or thereabouts;* 1.2 and the Road which terminates the Gulph of Siam, being almost at the Latitude of 13 degrees and a half, it follows, that this whole extent, of which we hardly have any knowledge, runs about 170 Leagues in a direct Line, reckoning 20 Leagues to a degree of Latitude, after the manner of our Seamen.

The Siameses do say that the City of Chiamai is fifteen days journey more to the North, than the Frontiers of their Kingdom, that is to say at most,* 1.3 be∣tween sixty and seventy Leagues; for they are Journeys by water, and against the Stream. 'Tis about thirty years since their King, as they report, took this City, and abandon'd it, after having carried away all the People; and it has been since repeopled by the King of Ava, to whom Pegu does at present render Obedience. But the Siameses which were at that expedition, do not know that famous Lake, from whence our Geographers make the River Menam arise, and to which, according to them, this City gives its Names: which makes me to think either that it is more distant than our Geographers have conceived, or that there is no such Lake. It may also happen that this City adjoyning to se∣veral Kingdoms, and being more subject than another to be ruined by War, has not always been rebuilt in the same place: And this is not difficult to imagine of the Cities which are built only with wood, as all in these Countreys are, and which in their destruction leave not any Ruines nor Foundations. How∣ever it may be doubted, whether the Menam springs from a Lake, by reason it is so small at its entrance into the Kingdom of Siam, that for about fifty Leagues, it carries only little Boats capable of holding no more than four or five Persons at most.

The Kingdom of Siam is bounded from the East to the North by high Moun∣tains, which separate it from the Kingdom of Laos,* 1.4 and on the North and West by others, which divide it from the Kingdoms of Pegu and Ava. This double Chain of Mountains (inhabited by a few, savage, and poor, but yet free Peo∣ple, whose Life is innocent) leaves between them a great Valley, containing in some places between fourscore and an hundred Leagues in bredth, and is wa∣tered

from the City of Chiamai to the Sea, that is to say from the North to the South, with an excellent River which the Siameses call Me-nam, or Mother-water, to signifie, a great water, which being encreased by the Brooks and Rivers it re∣ceives on every side, from the Mountains I have mentioned, discharges it self at last into the Gulph of Siam by three months, the most navigable of which is that toward the East.

* 1.5On this River, and about seven Miles from the Sea, is seated the City of Bancok: and I shall transiently declare, that the Siameses have very few habita∣tions on their Coasts, which are not far distant from thence; but are almost all seated on Rivers navigable enough to afford them the Commerce of the Sea. As to the names of most of these places, which for this reason may be called Ma∣ritime, they are disguised by Foreigners. Thus the City of Bancok is called Fon in Siamese, it not being known from whence the name of Bancok is derived, altho there be several Siamese Names, that begin with the word Ban, which signifies a Village.

* 1.6The Gardens which are in the Territory of Bancok, for the space of four Leagues, in ascending towards the City of Siam to a place named Talacoan, do supply this City with the Nourishment which the Natives of the Country love best, I mean a great quantity of Fruit.

* 1.7The other principal places which the Menam waters, are, Me-Tac the first City of the Kingdom to the North North-West, and then successively Tian-Tong, Campeng pet or Campeng simple, which some do pronounce Campingue, Laconcevan, Tchainat, Siam, Talacoan, Talaqueou, and Bancok. Between the two Cities of Tchainat and Siam, and at a distance, which the Maeanders of the River do render almost equal from each other, the River leaves the City of Louvo a little to the East, at the 14 d. 42 m. 32 S. of Latitude, according to the observations which the Jesuites have published. The King of Siam does there spend the greatest part of the year, the more commodiously to enjoy the diver∣sion of Hunting: but Louvo would not be habitable, were it not for a channel cut from the River to water it. The City of Me-Tac renders obedience to an Hereditary Lord, who, they say, is a Vassal to the King of Siam, whom some call Paya-Tac, or Prince of Tac. Tian-Tong is ruin'd, doubtless by the Ancient Wars of Pegu. Campeng is known by the Mines of excellent Steel.

* 1.8At the City of Laconcevan the Menam receives another considerable River which comes also from the North, and is likewise called Menam, a name common to all great Rivers. Our Geographers make it to spring from the Lake of Chia∣mai: but it is certain that it hath its source in the Mountains, which lye not so much to the North as this City. It runs first to Meuang-fang, then to Pitchiai, Pitsanoulouc, and Pitchit, and at last to Laconcevan, where it mixes, as I have said with the other River.

Pitsanoulouc, which the Portugueses do corruptly call Porselouc has formerly had hereditary Lords, like the City of Me-Tac: and Justice is at present exe∣cuted in the Palace of the Ancient Princes. 'Tis a City of great commerce, fortified with fourteen Bastions, and is at 19 degrees and some minutes Lati∣tude.

Laconcevan stands about the mid-way from Pitsanoulouc or Porselouc to Siam, a distance computed to be Twenty five days Journey, for those that go up the River in a Boat or Balon; but this voyage may be performed in twelve days when they have a great many Rowers, and they ascend the River with speed.

* 1.9These Cities, like all the rest in the Kingdom of Siam, are only a great num∣ber of Cabbins frequently environ'd with an enclosure of Wood, and some∣times with a Brick, or Stone Wall, but very rarely of Stone. Nevertheless as the Eastern people have ever had as much magnificence and pride in the figures of their Language▪ as simplicity and poverty in whatever appertains to Life, the names of these Cities do signifie great things; Tian-Tong, for in∣stance, signifies True Gold; Campeng pet, Walls of Diamond; and 'tis said that its Walls are of Stone:* 1.10 and Laconcevan signifies the Mountain of Heaven.

But as for what concerns Meuang fang, the word Fang being the name of a Tree famous for dying, and which the Portugueses have called Sapan; some in∣terpret

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A MAPP of the Course of the River MENAM from SIAM to the SEA.

it the City of the Wood of Sapan. And because that there is kept a Tooth, which is pretended to be a Relick of Sommona-Codom, to whose Memory the Siameses do erect all their Temples; there are some who call not this City Meuang-fang, but Meuang-fan, or the City of the Tooth. The superstition of these people continually draws thither a great number of Pilgrims, not Siameses only, but from Pegu, and Laos.

Such another Superstition prevails at a place named Prabat,* 1.11 about five or six leagues to the East-North-East of the City of Louvo; the superstition is this; In the Balie Language, which is the learned tongue of the Siameses, or the Tongue of their Religion, Bat signifies a Foot, and the word Pra, of which it is not possible exactly to render the signification, signifies in the same tongue whatever may be conceived worthy of veneration and respect. The Siameses do give this title to the Sun and Moon, but they do also give it to Sommona-Co∣dom, to their Kings, and some considerable Officers.

The Prabat is therefore the print of a mans foot,* 1.12 cut by an ill Graver upon a Rock; but this impression containing about 13 or 14 inches in depth, is five or six times as long as a man's Foot, and proportionably as broad. The Siameses adore it, and are perswaded that the Elephants, especially the white ones, the Rhinoceros, and all the other Beasts of their Woods, do likewise go to wor∣ship it when no person is there; And the King of Siam himself goes to adore it once a year with a great deal of Pomp and Ceremony. It is covered with a Plate of Gold, and inclosed in a Chappel which is there built. They report that this Rock which is now very flat and like a new mown Field, was formerly a very high Mountain, which shrunk and waxed level on a sudden under the Foot of Sommona-Codom, in memory of whom they believe that the Impression of the Foot does there remain. Nevertheless it is certain by the Testimony of ancient men, that the Antiquity of this Tradition exceeds not 90 years. A Talapoin, or Religious Siamese, of that time, having doubtless made this Impression himself, or procured it to be made, and then feigned to have miraculously discovered it; and without any other appearance of Truth, gave Reputation and Credit to this Fable of the levell'd Mountain.

Now in all this the Siameses are only gross Imitators.* 1.13 In the Histories of In¦dia it is related, with what respect a King of the Island of Ceylon kept an Apes Tooth, which the Indians averred to be a Relique, and with what Sums he en∣deavoured to purchase and ransom it from Constantine of Brigantium, then Vice∣roy of the Indies, who had found it amongst the Spoils taken from the Indians: But Constantine chose rather to burn it, and afterwards throw the Ashes into a River. 'Tis known likewise that in the same Island of Ceylon, which the Indi∣ans do call Lanca, and on a real Mountain which is not levelled, there is a pre∣tended print of a Man's foot, which has for a long time been in great Venera∣tion there. It doubtless represents the Left foot: For the Siameses report that Sommona-Codom set his right foot on their Prabat, and his left on Lanca; altho the whole Gulph of Bengala runs between them.

The Portuguese have called the Print at Ceylon Adam's Foot,* 1.14 and believe that Ceylon was the Terrestrial Paradise, from the Faith of the Indians at Ceylon, who declare that the Impression which they reverence, is the Print of the first Man: Every one of these Heathenish Nations vigorously asserting that the first Man inhabited their Country. Thus the Chineses do call the first man Puoncuò, and believe that he inhabited China. I say nothing of some other Impressions of this nature, which are rever'd in several places of the Indies; nor of the pre∣tended print of Hercules foot, mentioned by Herodotus.* 1.15 I return to my subject.

CHAP. II. A Continuation of the Geographical Description of the King∣dom of Siam, with an Account of its Metropolis.

* 1.16ON the Frontiers of Pegu is seated the City of Cambory, and on the borders of Laos the Town of Corazema, which some do call Carissima, both very Famous. And in the Lands which lie between the Rivers above the City of Laconcevan, and on the Channels which have a Communication from one River to the other, there are two other considerable Cities, Socotai, almost in the same Latitude with Pitchit, and Sanquelouc more to the North.

* 1.17The Country being so hot that it is inhabitable only near Rivers, the Siameses have cut a great many Channels; and without having better Memoirs or Notes, 'tis impossible to reckon up all the Cities seated thereon.

'Tis by the means of these Channels, called by the Siameses Cloum, that the City of Siam is not only become an Island, but is placed in the middle of seve∣ral Islands, which renders the situation thereof very singular. The Isle wherein it is situated, is at present all inclosed within its walls, which certainly was not in the time of Ferdinand Mendez Pinto; if notwithstanding the continual mistakes of this Author, who seems to rely too much on his memory, we may believe what he says, that the Elephants of the King of Pegu, who then besieged the City of Siam, did so nearly approach the Walls, as with their Trunks to beat down the Palisado's which the Siameses had there placed to cover them∣selves.

Its Latitude, according to Father Thomas the Jesuit, is 14 d. 20 m. 40 S. and its Longitude 120 d. 30 m. It has almost the figure of a Purse, the mouth of which is to the East, and the bottom to the West. The River meets it at the North by several Channels, which run into that which environs it; and leaves it on the South, by separating itself again into several streams. The King's Palace stands to the North on the Canal which embraces the City; and by turning to the East, there is a Causey, by which alone, as by an Isthmus, People may go out of the City without crossing the water.

The City is spacious, considering the Circuit of its Walls, which, as I have said, incloses the whole Isle; but scarce the sixth part thereof is inhabited, and that to the South-East only. The rest lies desart, where the Temples only stand. 'Tis true that the Suburbs, which are possessed by strangers, do conside∣rably increase the number of the People. The streets thereof are large and strait, and in some places planted with Trees, and paved with Bricks laid edge∣wise. The Houses are low, and built with Wood; at least those belonging to the Natives, who, for these Reasons, are exposed to all the Inconveniences of the excessive heat. Most of the streets are watered with strait Canals, which have made Siam to be compar'd to Venice, and on which are a great many small Bridges of Hurdles, and some of Brick very high and ugly.

* 1.18The Name of Siam is unknown to the Siamese. 'Tis one of those words which the Portugues of the Indies do use, and of which it is very difficult to discover the Original. They use it as the Name of the Nation, and not of the Kingdom: And the Names of Pegu, Lao, Mogul, and most of the Names which we give to the Indian Kingdoms, are likewise National Names; so that to speak rightly, we must say, the King of the Peguins, Laos, Moguls, Siams, as our An∣cestors said, the King of the Franc's. In a word, those that understand Portu∣guese, do well know that according to their Orthography, Siam and Siaom are the same thing; and that by the Similitude of our Language to theirs, we ought to say the Sions, and not the Siams: so when they write in Latin, they call them Siones.* 1.19

The Siameses give to themselves the Name of Tai, or Free, as the word now signifies in their Language: And thus they flatter themselves with bearing the

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A Map of the Citty of SIAM

• A. The Citty
• B. The Pallace
• C. The Port
• D. y^e Arsenall for y^e Ships
• E. y^e Arsenall for y^e Ballons & Galleys.
• F. The Street of y^e Bazars
• G. The Seminary
• H. The Portuguese Iacobins
• I. The Portuguese Iesuites
• K. The Dutch Factory
• L. The Inclosur where the Elephants are taken
• M. A House begun for the French Ambassadors
• 800 French Toises

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The Bambou Tree

The Arvore de Raiz

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A Map of Bancock

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A Vessell of filigran

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A Plaugh

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The Arc Kier

Name of Francs, which our Ancestors assum'd when they resolved to deliver the Gauls from the Roman Power. And those that understand the Language of Pegu, affirm that Siam in that Tongue signifies Free. 'Tis from thence perhaps that the Portugues have derived this word, having probably known the Siame∣ses by the Peguins. Nevertheless Navarete in his Historical Treatises of the King∣dom of China, chap. 1. art. 5. relates that the Name of Siam, which he writes Sian, comes from these two words Sien lo, without adding their signification, or of what Language they are; altho' it may be presumed he gives them for Chi∣nese, Meuang Tai is therefore the Siamese Name of the Kingdom of Siam (for Meuang signifies Kingdom) and this word wrote simply Muantay, is found in Vincent le Blanc, and in several Geographical Maps, as the Name of a Kingdom adjoining to Pegu: But Vincent le Blanc apprehended not that this was the King∣dom of Siam, not imagining perhaps that Siam and Tai were two different Names of the same People.

As for the City of Siam, the Siameses do call it Si-yo-thi-ya, the o of the Syl∣lable yo being closer than our Dipthong an. Sometimes also they call it Crung the-papra maha nacon: But most of these words are difficult to understand, because they are taken from this Baly Language, which I have already declared to be the learned Language of the Siameses, and which they themselves do not always perfectly understand. I have already remark'd what I know concerning the word Pra, that of Maha signifies Great. Thus in speaking of their King, they stile him Pra Maha Crassat; and the word Crassat, according to their re∣port signifies living; and because the Portugues have thought that Pra signifies God, they imagin that the Siameses called their King, The great living God. From Si-yo-thi ya, the Siamese Name of the City of Siam, Foreigners have made Judia, and Odiaa, by which it appears that Vincent le Blanc, and some other Authors, do very ill distinguish Odiaa from Siam:

In a word, the Siameses, of whom I treat, do call themselves Tai Noe,* 1.20 little Si∣ams. There are others, as I was informed, altogether savage, which are called Tai yai, great Siams, and which do live in the Northern Mountains. In several Relations of these Countries, I find a Kingdom of Siammon, or Siami: but all do not agree that the People thereof are savage.

In fine, the Mountains which lie on the common Frontiers of Ava,* 1.21 Pegu and Siam, gradually decreasing as they extend to the South, do form the Peninsula of India extra Gangem, which terminating at the City of Sincapura, separates the Gulphs of Siam and Bengala, and which with the Island of Sumatra forms the famous Strait of Malaca, or Sincapura. Several Rivers do fall from every part of these Mountains into the Gulphs of Siam and Bengala, and render these Coasts habitable. The other Mountains which rise between the Kingdom of Siam and Laos, and extend themselves also towards the South, do run gradually decreasing, till they terminate at the Cape of Camboya, the most Eastern of all those in the Continent of Asia toward the South. 'Tis about the Latitude of this Cape, that the Gulph of Siam begins; and the Kingdom of this Name ex∣tends a great way towards the South in form of an Horseshoe on either side of the Gulph, viz. along the Eastern Coast to the River Chantebon, where the King∣dom of Camboya begins; and opposite thereunto, viz. in the Peninsula extra Gan∣gem, which lies on the West of the Gulph of Siam, it extends to Queda and Patana, the Territories of the Malayans, of which Malaca was formerly the Me∣tropolis.

After this manner it runs about 200 Leagues on the side toward the Gulph of Siam, and 180, or thereabouts, on the Gulph of Bengal,* 1.22 an advantageous situation which opens unto the Natives of the Countrey the Navigation on all these vast Eastern Seas. Add that as Nature has refus'd all manner of Ports and Roads to the Coast of Coromandel, which forms the Gulph of Bengal to the West, it has therewith enrich'd that of Siam which is opposite to it, and which is on the East of the same Gulph.

A great number of Isles do cover it,* 1.23 and render it almost everywhere a safe Harbor for Ships; besides, that most of these Isles have very excellent Ports, and abundance of fresh water and wood, an invitation for new Colonies. The

King of Siam affects to be called Lord thereof, altho' his People, who are very thin in the firm Land, have never inhabited them; and he has not strength enough at Sea to prohibit or hinder the enterance thereof to strangers.

* 1.24The City of Merguy lies on the North-West Point of a great and populous Island, which at the extremity of its course forms a very excellent River, which the Europeans have called Tenasserim, from the Name of a City seated on its Banks about 15 Leagues from the Sea. This River comes from the North, and after having passed through the Kingdoms of Ava and Pegu, and enter'd into the Lands under the King of Siam's Jurisdiction, it discharges itself by three Cha∣nels into the Gulph of Bengal, and forms the Island I have mention'd. The Ports of Merguy, which some report to be the best in all India, is between this Isle and another that is inhabited, and lies opposite, and to the West of this, wherein Merguy is situated.

CHAP. III. Concerning the History and Origine of the Siameses.

* 1.25THE Siamese History is full of Fables. The Books thereof are very scarce, by reason the Siameses have not the use of Printing; for upon other Ac∣counts I doubt of the report, that they affect to conceal their History, seeing that the Chineses, whom in many things they imitate, are not so jealous of theirs. However that matter is, notwithstanding this pretended Jealousy of the Siame∣ses, they who have attain'd to read any thing of the History of Siam, assert that it ascends not very high with any character of truth.

* 1.26Behold a very dry and insipid Chronological Abridgment which the Siameses have given thereof: But before we proceed, it is necessary to tell you, that the current year 1689, beginning it in the month of December 1688, is the 2233 of their Aera, from which they date the Epocha, or beginning (as they say) from Sommona-Codom's death. But I am persuaded that this Epocha has quite another foundation, which I shall afterwards explain.

* 1.27Their first King was named Pra Poat honne sourittep-pennaratui sonanne bopitra. The chief place where he kept his Court was called Tchai pappe Mahanacon, the situation of which I ignore; and he began to reign An. 1300. computing after their Epocha. Ten other Kings succeeded him, the last of which, named Ipoja sanne Thora Thesma Teperat, remov'd his Royal Seat to the City of Tasco Nacora Louang, which he had built, the situation of which is also unknown to me. The twelfth King after him, whose Name was Pra Poa Noome Thele seri, obli∣ged all his People in 1731, to follow him to Locintai, a City seated on a River, which descends from the Mountains of Laos, and runs into the Menam a little above Porselouc, from which Locontai is between 40 and 50 Leagues distant. But this Prince resided not always at Locontai; for he came and built, and inhabited the City of Pipeli on a River, the mouth of which is about two Leagues to the West of the most occidental mouth of Menam. Four other Kings succeeded him, of which Rhamatilondi, the last of the four, began to build the City of Siam in 1894, and there established his Court. By which it appears, that they allow to the City of Siam the Antiquity of 338 years. The King Regent is the twen∣ty fifth from Rhamatilondi, and this year 1689, is the 56^th or 57^th year of his age. Thus do they reckon 52 Kings in the space of 934 years, but not all of the same Blood.

* 1.28Mr. Gervaise in his Natural and Political History of the Kingdom of Siam, gives us the History of the now Regent King's Father; and Van Vliet gives it us much more circumstanciated, in his Historical Relation of the Kingdom of Siam, printed at the end of Sir Thomas Herbert's Travels into Persia. I refer the Reader thither to see an Example of the Revolutions, which are common at Siam; for this

King who was not of the Royal Race, tho' Vliet asserts the contrary, took away the Scepter and Life of his Natural Lords, and put to death all the Princes of their Blood except two, which were alive when Vliet writ, but of whom I could not learn any News. Without all doubt this Usurper put them to death like the rest. And in truth, John Struys, in the First Tome of his Voyages, asserts that this was the Fate of the last of these two Princes, who was alive in the year 1650, and was then 20 years old; the Tyrant put him to death that very year, with one of his Sisters, upon an Accusation notoriously false: But a re∣markable Circumstance of the History of his Usurpation, was, that entering by force of Arms into the Palace, he forced the King to quit it, and flie into a Temple for refuge; and having drag'd this unfortunate Prince out of this Temple, and carry'd him back a Prisoner to the Palace, he caus'd him to be de∣clared unworthy of the Crown and Government, for having deserted the Palace. To this Usurper who died in 1657, after a Reign of 30 years, succeeded his Brother; because his Son could not, or durst not then to dispute the Crown with him. On the contrary, to secure his Life, he sought a Sanctuary in a Cloyster, and cloath'd himself with the inviolable Habit of a Talapoin. But he afterwards so politickly took his measures, that he dispossess'd his Uncle, who flying from the Palace on his Elephant, was slain by a Portuguese with a Musquet.

Ferdinand Mendez Pinto relates that the King of Siam,* 1.29 who reigned in 1547, and to whom he gives great Praises, was poyson'd by the Queen his Wife at his return from a military Expedition. This Princess deliberated thus to prevent the vengeance of her Husband, by reason that during his absence she had maintain'd an amorous Commerce, by which she prov'd with Child. And this Author adds, that she soon after destroy'd the King her own Son in the same manner, and had the Credit to get the Crown set upon her Lover's Head the 11^th of November 1548. But in January 1549, they were both assassinated in a Temple, and a Bastard Prince, the Brother and Uncle of the two last Kings, was taken out of a Cloyster to be advanced on the Throne. The Crowns of Asia are always instable, and those of India, China and Japan, much more than the others.

As for what concerns the Origine of the Siameses, it would be difficult to judge whether they are only a single People,* 1.30 directly descended from the first Men that inhabited the Countrey of Siam, or whether in process of time some other Nation has not also setled there, notwithstanding the first Inhabi∣tants.

The principal Reason of this Doubt proceeds from the Siameses understand∣ing two Languages, viz. the Vulgar, which is a simple Tongue,* 1.31 consisting almost wholly of Monosyllables, without Conjugation or Declension; and another Lan∣guage which I have already spoken of, which to them is a dead Tongue, known only by the Learned, which is called the Balie Tongue, and which is enricht with the inflexions of words, like the Languages we have in Europe. The terms of Religion and Justice, the names of Offices, and all the Ornaments of the Vulgar Tongue are borrow'd from the Balie. In this Language they compose their best Songs; so that it seems at least that some Foreign Colony had for∣merly inhabited the Countrey of Siam, and had carry'd thither a second Lan∣guage. But this is a Dispute that might be rais'd concerning all the Countries of India; for, like Siam, they all have two Languages, one of which is still re∣maining only in their Books.

The Siameses assert that their Laws are Foreign,* 1.32 and came to them from the Countrey of Laos, which has, perhaps, no other Foundation than the Confor∣mity of the Laws of Laos with those of Siam, even as there is a Conformity between the Religions of these two Nations, and with that of the Peguins. Now this does not strictly prove that any of these three Kingdoms hath given its Laws and its Religion to the rest, seeing that it may happen that all the three may have deriv'd their Religion and their Laws from another common Source. However it be, as the Tradition is at Siam, that their Laws and Kings came from Laos, the same Tradition runs at Laos, that their Kings and most of their Laws came from Siam.

* 1.33The Siameses speak not of any Country where the Balie Language, which is that of their Laws and their Religion, is now in use. They suspect indeed, according to the report of some amongst them, which have been at the Coast of Coromandel, that the Balie Language has some similitude with some one of the Dialects of that Country: but they agree at the same time that the Letters of the Balie Language are known only amongst them. The secular Missionaries established at Siam, are of opinion that this Language is not entirely extinct: by reason they saw in their Hospital a man come from about the Cape of Como∣rin, who interspers'd several Balie words in his discourse, affirming that they were used in his Country, and that he had never studied, and knew only his Mother Tongue. They moreover averr for truth, that the Religion of the Siu∣meses came from those Quarters, because that they have read in a Balie Book, that Sommona-Codom whom the Siameses adore, was the Son of a King of the Island of Ceylon.

* 1.34But setting aside all these uncertainties, the vulgar Language of the Siameses, like in its Simplicity to those of China, Tonquin, Cochinchina, and the other States of the East, sufficiently evinces that those who speak it, are near of the same Genius with their Neighbours. Add hereunto their Indian Figure, the colour of their Complexion mixt with red and brown, (which corresponds neither to the North of Asia, Europe, nor Africk,) Add likewise their short Nose rounded at the end, as their Neighbours generally have it; the upper Bone of their Cheeks high and raised, their Eyes slit a little upwards, their Ears larger than ours, in a word all the Lineaments of the Indian and Chinese Physiognomy; their Countenance naturally squeez'd and bent like that of Apes, and a great many other things which they have in common with these Animals, as well as a mar∣vellous passion for Children. For nothing is equal to the Tenderness which the great Apes expressed to their Cubs, except the Love which the Siameses have for all Children, whether for their own, or those of another.

* 1.35The King of Siam himself is incompass'd with them, and delights to educate them till seven or eight years old: after which, as they lose the childish Air, they do also lose his Favour. One alone, say some, was there kept till between twenty and thirty years of Age, and is still his favourite. Some do call him his adopted Son, others suspect him to be his Bastard; He is at least Foster Brother to his Lawful Daughter.

* 1.36But if you consider the extreamly Low Lands of Siam, that they seem to escape the Sea as it were by miracle, and that they lye annually under rain wa∣ter for several Months, the almost infinite number of very incommodious In∣sects which they engender, and the excessive Heat of the Climate under which they are seated; it is difficult to comprehend that others could resolve to inhabit them, excepting such as came thither by little and little from places adjacent: And it may be thought that they have been inhabited not many Ages, if a Judg∣ment may be made thereof by the few Woods that are stubbed as yet. More∣over it would be necessary to travel more to the North of Siam, to find out the warlike People which could yield those innumerable swarms of men, which de∣parted out of their own Country to go and possess others. And how is it possi∣ble that they should not be stopp'd on the Road, among some of those soft and effeminate People, which lye between the Country of the Scythians, and the Woods and impassable Rivers of the Siameses? 'Tis not therefore probable that the Lesser Siameses, which we have spoken of, are descended from the Greater, and that the Greater withdrew into the Mountains which they inhabit, to free themselves from the Tyranny of the neighbouring Princes, under which they were born.

* 1.37Nevertheless it is certain that the Siamese blood is very much mixed with fo∣reign. Not to reckon the Peguins, and the Inhabitants of Laos, which are at Siam, and whom I consider almost as the same Nation with the Siameses; 'tis not to be doubted that there formerly fled to Siam a great number of Strangers from different Countries, upon the account of a free Liberty of Trade, and by reason of the Wars of the true India, China, Japan, Tonquin, Cochinchina, and other States in the South part of Asia. They report likewise that in the City of

[illustration]

[illustration]

Three Baly Alphabets

• Kià 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Keù̈ 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Keuà 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Koù̈a 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Koüà 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Ké 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Kê 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Ko 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Kaou 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Koum 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Kam〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Karama〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Ko〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Koüaí 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Keua 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• reu 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• reû 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• leu 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• leû 〈☐〉〈☐〉

• Ca 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Kha 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Kha 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• go 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• nga〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Tcha 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Tcha 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Tcha 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Tcha 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• ya 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• thá 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• tha 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• da〈☐〉〈☐〉
• na 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Ta 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• tha 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• t••a 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• da 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• na 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• pa 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• ppa 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• da 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• me 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Ca 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• ra 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• la 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• ua 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• ta 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• ha 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• la 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• ang 〈☐〉〈☐〉

• Ka 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Kaa 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Ki 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Ku 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Kou 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Koû 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Ke 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Kái 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Ko 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Káon 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Kam̀ 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Ká 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Ka-na〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Ka nâ〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Kad-ni〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Kard 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Kanou 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Kanou 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Ka-ne 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Kanai 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Ka na 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Ka naoń 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Kananǵ 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• Ka-na 〈☐〉〈☐〉

[illustration]

The Siamese Cyphers

• 1 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• 2 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• 3 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• 4 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• 5 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• 6 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• 7 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• 8 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• 9 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• 10 〈☐〉〈☐〉

[illustration]

The Siamese numeral Names.

• 1 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• 2 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• 3 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• 4 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• 5 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• 6 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• 7 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• 8 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• 9 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• 10 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• 11 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• 12 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• 20 〈☐〉〈☐〉
• 30 〈☐〉〈☐〉

[illustration] depiction of a Hookah

A Smoaking Instrument w^ch: the Mod•••• of Siam••do use.

AA. a Pipe of Bambou 8 or 9 footlong

[illustration]

The Chinese-Chese-Boord.

• 1 The King
• 2 The Guards
• 3 The Elephants
• 4 The Knights
• 5 The Waggons
• 6 The Canons
• 7 The Pawns
• 8 The River

[illustration]

A Musical Instru∣ment w^th. Bells

The Chinese Abacus or Arithmetical Instrume^nt. or Counting

Siam, there are forty different Nations: but inasmuch as Vincent le Blanc speaks in these very terms concerning the City of Martaban, this affected Number of Forty Nations appears unto me an Indian Vanity. The entire annihilation of the Commerce of Siam, having in these last years forc'd most of the Foreigners, that fled thither, to seek out new Retreats, three or four Canoniers which are of Bengal, do now compose a Nation; three Cochinchinese Families do make another; the Moors alone which ought to be reckon'd only for one, do make more than ten, as well for that they came to Siam from different Nations, as for their being of various conditions, as Merchants, Soldiers, and Labourers. (I call Moors af∣ter the Spanish manner, not the Negro's, but those Mahometans of Arabian Extra∣ction, which our Ancestors have called Sarracens, and whose race is spread al∣most through our whole Hemisphere.) And notwithstanding all this, when the Ambassadors of the Foreigners, which at Siam are called the Forty Nations, came to salute the King's Envoys, there were reckoned no more than one and twenty Nations, computing as the Siameses would have us.

They inhabit different quarters in the City or Suburbs of Siam;* 1.38 and yet this City is very little inhabited in respect to its Bigness, and the Country much less in Proportion. It must be imagined that they desire not a greater People, for they count them every year; and do well know, what no person ignores, that the only secret to encrease them, would be to ease them in the Taxes and Im∣positions. The Siameses do therefore keep an exact account of the Men, Wo∣men, and Children; and in this vast extent of Land, according to their own Confession, they reckon'd up the last time but Nineteen Hundred Thousand Souls. From which I question not that some retrenchment is to be made for Vanity and Lyes, Characters essential to the Eastern people; but on the other hand, thereunto must be added the Fugitives, which do seek a Sanctuary in the Woods against the Government.

CHAP. IV. Of the Productions of Siam, and first of the Woods or Trees.

THe Country of Siam lyes almost wholly incultivated and cover'd with Woods. One of their most eminent Trees is a kind of Reed,* 1.39 called in Indi∣an, Mambou, in Portuguese, Bambou, in Siamese, Mai pai. The Indians apply it to an in∣finite number of uses. Aelian lib. 4. cap. 34. mentions it as their most ancient nou∣rishment. At present they use it little; and that only in some of their dishes, when it is tender; and to preserve it, they Pickle it up in Vinegar, as we do Cucumbers and Samphire. This Tree resembles the Poplar, it is strait and tall, and the Leaves thereof few, pale, and longish. It is hollow, and grows in shoots like our Reeds, and its shoots are separated from one another by knots: but it has Branches and Thorns, which our Reeds have not. It grows very close, and the same Roots do shoot forth several stems, so that nothing is thick∣er or more difficult to pass than a Forest of Bambou; and so much the more be∣cause the wood thereof is hard and difficult to cut, although it be easie to cleave. The Siameses do set it on fire by Friction, which is a token of its hardness. They have two pieces of Bambou clest, which are like two pieces of Lath, in the edge of the one they do make a notch, and do forcibly rub in this hole with the edge of the other, as with a Saw; and some dry leaves, or other combustible matter, which is put in the notch, fails not to catch fire without firing the Bambou. There is no Reed but has naturally somewhat either more or less of a Sugary juice. That of the Bambou is famous in some places of India, as an excellent Remedy for several Maladies. It escaped my curiosity to ask whether the Sugar of the Bambou of Siam is as much sought after upon this account, as that of the Bambou of Malaca, which is not far distant.

* 1.40The Siameses report that they likewise have that Tree, which the Portuguese have called Arvore de Raiz, and they Co-pai, but that they have no plenty: and they add that its wood hath this property (doubtless by its smell) that when any person hath a little of it near him in his Bed, it drives away the Gnats. 'Tis from the Branches of this Tree, so frequently described in the Relations of India, that several Fibers do hang down to the ground, which there take root, and become as so many new Trunks: so that by little and little this Tree gains a considerable plot of ground, on which it forms a kind of Labyrinth by its stems, which continually multiply, and which adhere to one another by the branches, from which these stems are fall'n. We have seen the Siameses seek out other Remedies against the Gnats than that of this wood: and this perswades me either that it is very rare, or that this vertue which is attributed there∣unto, is not well attested.

* 1.41But the Siameses have other Trees more useful, and in great plenty. From the one they do gather Cotton: another yields them Capoc, a kind of Cotton-wool extreamly fine, and so short that 'tis impossible to spin it, to them it serves instead of Down.

* 1.42From certain Trees they extract several Oyls which they mix in Ciments, to render them more binding. A wall that is plaister'd therewith, is whiter, and bears as good a Polish as Marble; and a Bason made of one of these Ciments preserves water better then glazed Earth. They do likewise make better Mor∣tar than our's: by reason that in the water which they use, they do boyl a cer∣tain bark, the skins of Oxen, or Buffalo's, and Sugar. A kind of Trees very common in their Woods yeilds that Gum, which composes the body of that excellent Varnish, which we see on several works of Japan, and China. The Portuguez do call this Gum Cheyram, a word perhaps derived from Cheyra, which signifies a Perfume, although this Gum has not any Odor of it self. The Siameses do not well know how to put it in use. At Siam I saw a Tunquinese of this Trade, but he wrought nothing well for want perhaps of a certain Oil which was necessary to mix with the Cheyram, and which he supplied, as he could, by a much worse. I would have brought him to France, had he not been afraid to pass the Sea, as he had promised me at first. In a word, some say that the best way to render the Varnish more curious, is to lay on the more coverings, but this is to make it much dearer. The Relations of China do also declare, that there are two diffe∣rent Materials for the Varnish, and that the one is much better than the other. The Cheyram is proved by a drop thereof pour'd into Water; and if this drop sinks to the bottom without separating, the Cheyram is good.

* 1.43The Siameses make Paper of old Cotton rags, and likewise of the bark of a Tree named Ton coi, which they pound as they do the old rags: but these Pa∣pers have a great deal less Equality, Body and Whiteness than ours. The Sia∣meses cease not to write thereon with China Ink. Yet most frequently they black them, which renders them smoother, and gives them a greater body; and then they write thereon with a kind of Crayon, which is made only of a clayish Earth dry'd in the Sun. Their Books are not bound, and consist only in a very long Leaf, which they roll not up as our Ancestors did theirs, but which they fold in and out like a Fan: and the way which the Lines are wrote, is accord∣ing to the length of the folds, and not according to their breadth. Besides this they write with a Styletto and the Leaves of a Tree resembling the Palm: This Tree they call Tan, and these Leaves Bailan; they cut them in a very long and narrow Square, and on these Tables are writ the Tables and Prayers, which the Talapoins do sing in their Temples.

The Siameses have also Timber proper for the building of Ships, and furnish∣ing them with Masts: But they having no Hemp, their Cordages are made of the Brou* 1.44 of Coco, and their Sails are Mats of great Rushes: These Equipments do not countervail ours by much; but their Sails have this advantage, that spon∣taneously supporting themselves, they do better receive the Wind, when it is near it; that is to say when it blows as much against us as possibly it can, with∣out being contrary to the Course.

In fine, the Siameses have Timber proper for building of Houses,* 1.45 for Wainscotting and Carving; they have both light and very heavy Wood, some easie to cleave, and others which cleaveth not, what Wedges soever it receives. This last is called by the Europeans, Wood-Mary, and is better than any to make the Ribs of Ships. That which is heavy and tough is called Iron-wood, very well known in our Islands of America, and it is affirmed in process of time it eats the Iron. They have a Wood which for its Lightness and Colour some conceive to be Fur, but it takes the Carver's Chisel in so many different ways without split∣ting that I question whether we have any like it in Europe.

But above all, the Siameses have Trees so high and so strait,* 1.46 that one alone is sufficient to make a Boat or Balon, as the Portugueses speak, between 16 and 20 Fathom long. They hollow the Tree, and then by the heat of the Fire enlarge the Capacity thereof; which done, they raise the sides with an edge, that is to say with a Board of the same length: And in fine, at both the ends they fasten a Prow and a Poop very high, and a little bending out, frequently adorn'd with sculpture and gilding, and with some pieces of Mother of Pearl.

Nevertheless amongst so many different sorts of Wood,* 1.47 they have none of those which we know in Europe.

They have not been able to raise any Mulberry Trees, and for this reason they have no Silk-worms. No Flax also grows amongst them, nor in any other place of India, or at least it is not in any esteem. The Cotton which they have in a∣bundance is, they say, more agreeable and more healthful to them; by reason that Cotton-cloth grows not cold by being wet with sweat, and consequently occasions not the catching cold, as Linnen does.

They have the Cinnamon Tree,* 1.48 inferior indeed to that of the Island of Cey∣lon, but better than any other; they have the Sapan, and other Woods proper for Dying.

They have also the Wood Aquila or Aloes,* 1.49 not so good indeed as the Calam∣ba of Cochinchina, but better than the Wood Aquila of any other Country. This Wood is found only in pieces, by reason they are only certain rotten places in Trees of a certain kind. And every Tree of this same Species has it not, and those which have, have them not all in the same place; so that it requires a te∣dious search in the Wood. 'Twas formerly very dear at Paris, but is at present to be had at a reasonable rate.

CHAP. V. Concerning the Mines of Siam.

NO Country has a greater Reputation of being rich in Mines than the Coun∣try of Siam,* 1.50 and the great quantity of Idols and other cast works which are there seen, evinces that they have been better cultivated there in former times, than now they are. 'Tis believed likewise that they thence extracted that great quantity of Gold, wherewith their Superstition has adorned not only their almost innumerable Idols, but the Wainscot and Roofs of their Temples. They do likewise daily discover Pits anciently dug, and the remains of a great many Furnaces, which are thought to have been abandon'd during the ancient Wars of Pegu.

Nevertheless the King that now reigns has not been able to find any Vein of Gold or Silver, that is worth the pains that he has therein employed;* 1.51 although he hath applied unto this work some Europeans, and amongst the rest a Spaniard that came from Mexico, who found, if not a great fortune, at least his Subsistence for twenty years, even to his Death, by flattering the Avarice of this Prince, with the imaginary promises of infinite Treasures. After having dug and min'd in several places, they light only on some very mean Copper Mines, tho inter∣mixt

with a little Gold and Silver: Five hundred weight of Ore scarce yielding an Ounce of Metal; neither understood they how to make the separation of Metals.

* 1.52But the King of Siam, to render his mixture more precious, caus'd some Gold to be added thereunto: and this is what they call Tambac. 'Tis said that the Mines of the Isle of Borneo do naturally produce it very Rich: and the scarceness augments the price thereof, as it formerly increased that of the famous Corinthi∣an Brass; but certainly that which makes the true value thereof amongst the Sia∣meses, is the quantity of Gold wherewith it is thought to be mixed. When their Avarice creates desires it is for the Gold, and not for the Tambac; and we have seen that when the King of Siam has ordered Crucifixes to be made to present to the Christians, the most noble and smallest part, which is the Christ, has been of Gold, the Cross alone of Tambac. Vincent le Blanc relates, that the Peguins have a mixture of Lead and Copper, which he calls sometimes Ganze, and sometimes Ganza, and of which he reports that they make Statues, and a small Money which is not stampt with the Kings Coin, but which every one has a right to make.

* 1.53From Siam we brought back Mr. Vincent the Physitian. He departed from France, to go into Persia, with the late Bishop of Babylon, and the report of the arrival of the King's first Ships at Siam, made him to go thither as well out of a desire to travel, as in hopes of procuring his return into France. He understood Mathematicks and Chymistry, and the King of Siam retained him some time at the work in his Mines.

* 1.54He informed me that he rectified the labours of the Siamese in some things, so that they obtain a little more profit than they did. He show'd them a Mine of very good Steel at the top of a Mountain, which had been already discovered, and which they perceived not. He discovered to them one of Crystal, one of Antimony, one of Emeril, and some others, with a Quarry of white Marble. Besides this, he found out a Gold Mine, which to him appear'd very rich, as far as he was able to judge without trying it; but he has not showed it them. Se∣veral Siameses, most Talapoins, came secretly to consult him about the Art of purifying and separating Metals, and brought him divers specimens of very rich Ore. From some he extracted a very good quantity of fine Silver, and from others, the mixture of several Metals.

* 1.55As for Tin and Lead, the Siameses have long since improved it from very plentiful Mines, and though not very skilful, yet they cease not to get a con∣siderable revenue by it. This Tin, or Calin, as the Portuguese report, is sold through all India; 'Tis soft and basely purified, and a specimen thereof is seen in the common Tea Boxes or Cannisters, which come from this Country. But to render it harder and whiter, like that of the finest Tea Boxes, they mix it with Cadmia, a sort of Mineral easily reducible to powder, which being melt∣ed with the Copper, makes it yellow: but it renders both these Metals more brittle: And 'tis this white Tin which they call Tontinague. This is what Mr. Vincent relates on the subject of the Mines of Siam.

* 1.56In the Neighbourhood of the City of Louvo they have a Mountain of Load∣stone. They have another also near Jonsalam, a City seated in an Island of the Gulph of Bengal, which is not above the distance of a Mans voice from the Coast of Siam: but the Loadstone which is dug at Jonsalam loses its vertue in three or four Months; I know not whether it is not the same in that of Louvo.

* 1.57In their Mountains they find very curious Agate, and Mr. Vincent inform'd me that he has seen, in the hands of the Talapoins, who secretly busie themselves in these researches, some samples or pieces of Saphires and Diamonds that came out of the Mine. He assured me also that some particular Persons having found some Diamonds, and given them to the King's Officers, were retired to Pegu by by reason they had not receiv'd any recompence,

* 1.58I have already said that the City of Campeng-pet is famous for Mines of excel∣lent Steel. The Inhabitants of the Country do forge Arms thereof after their fashi∣on, as Sabres, Poniards, and Knives. The Knife which they call Pen is used by all, and is not look'd upon as Arms, although it may serve upon occasion: The blade

thereof is three or four Fingers broad, and about a Foot long. The King gives the Sabre and the Poniard. They wear the Poniard on the left side, hanging a little before. The Portuguese do call it Christ, a word corrupted from Crid, which the Siameses use. This word is borrow'd from the Malayan Language, which is famous throughout the East, and the Crids which are made at Achim in the Isle of Sumatra, do pass for the best of all. As for the Sabre, a Slave always carries it before his Master on his right shoulder, as we carry the Musquet on the left.

They have Iron Mines which they know how to melt,* 1.59 and some have inform'd me that they have but little thereof; besides, they are bad Forge-men. For their Gallies they have only wooden Anchors, and to the end that these An∣chors may sink to the bottom, they fasten stones unto them. They have nei∣ther Pins, nor Needles, nor Nails, nor Chisels, nor Saws. They use not a Nail in building their Houses, altho' they be all of Wood. Every one makes Pins of Bambou, even as our Ancestors us'd Thorns for this purpose. To them there comes Padlocks from Japan, some of Iron, which are good; and others of Copper, which are very naught.

They do make very bad Gunpowder. The defect, they say,* 1.60 proceeds from the Salt-Petre which they gather from their Rocks, where it is made of the dung of Batts, Animals which are exceeding large and very plentiful throughout India. But whether this Salt-Petre be good or bad, the King of Siam sells a great deal of it to Strangers.

Having described the natural Riches of the Mountains and Forests of Siam, 'twould be proper in this place to speak of the Elephants, Rhinoceros, Tygers, and all other savage Beasts wherewith they are stored: yet seeing this matter has been sufficiently explicated by a great many others, I shall omit it, to pass on to the inhabited and cultivated Lands.

CHAP. VI. Of the cultivated Lands, and their Fertility.

THey are not Stony, it being very difficult to find a Flint;* 1.61 and this makes me to believe of the Country of Siam, what some have reported of Egypt, that it has been gradually formed of the clayish Earth which the Rain-waters have carry'd down from the Mountains. Before the mouth of the Menam, there is a Bank of Owse, which, in the Sea-phrase, is call'd the Bar, and which prohibits entrance to great Ships. 'Tis probable that it will increase itself by little and little, and will in time make a new Shore to the firm Land.

'Tis therefore this Mud descending from the Mountains,* 1.62 that is the real cause of the Fertility of Siam, where-ever the Inundation extends itself. In other, and especially on the highest places, all is dry'd and burnt with the Sun, in a little time after the Rains. Under the Torrid Zone, and likewise in Spain, whose Climate is more temperate, if the Lands are naturally fertile, (as for Ex∣ample, between Murcia and Carthagena, where the Seed yields sometimes an hundred fold) they are nevertheless so subject to Drought, Insects, and other Inconveniences, that it frequently happens that they are deprived of the whole Harvest several years together: And 'tis this which betides all the Countries of India which are not subject to be overflowed, and which besides the barrenness of the Soil, do suffer the ravages of contagious and pestilential Distempers which succeed it. But the annual Inundation gives to Siam the assurance and plenty of the Rice Harvest, and renders this Kingdom the Nourisher of several others.

Besides the Inundations fatning the Land, it destroys the Insects;* 1.63 altho' it always leaves a great many, which extremely incommode. Nature instructs all the Animals of Siam to avoid the Inundation. The Birds which perch not in

our Countries, as Partridges and Pigeons, do all perch in that. The Pismires doubly prudent, do here make their Nests and Magazines on Trees.

* 1.64There are white Ants, which, amongst other ravages which they make, do pierce Books through and through. The Missionaries are oblig'd to preserve theirs, by varnishing them over the cover and edges with a little Cheyram, which hinders them not from opening. After this precaution, the Ants have no more power to bite, and the Books are more agreeable, by reason that this Gum be∣ing mixt with nothing that colours it, has the same lustre as the Glasses where∣with we cover Pictures in Miniature. This would be no dear nor difficult Ex∣periment, to try whether the Cheyram would not defend the wood of our Beds against Buggs. 'Tis this same Cheyram, which being spread upon Canvas, makes it appear like Horn. Therewith they us'd to environ the great Cresset-lights, which some reported to be of Horn, and all of a piece. Sometimes also those little Cups varnish'd with red, which come to us from Japan, and whose lightness astonishes us, do consist only of a double Cloth put into the form of a Cup, and cover'd over with this Gum mixt with a colour, which we call Lacca, or Chinese Varnish, as I have already declar'd: these Cups last not long, when too hot Liquors are put therein.

* 1.65To return to the Insects, which we have begun occasionally to speak of, the Marin-gouins are of the same Nature as our Gnats; but the heat of the Climat gives them so much strength, that shamois Stockings defend not our Legs against their Stings. Nevertheless it seems possible to know how to deal with them; for the Natives of the Country, and the Europeans that have inhabited there for several years, were not so marked with them as we were.

* 1.66The Millepede or Palmer is known at Siam, as in the Isles of America. This little Reptile is so called, because it has a great number of feet along its body, all very short in proportion to its length, which is about five or six Inches. What it has most singular (besides the scales in form of rings, which cover its body, and which insert themselves one into the other in its motions) is, that it pinches equally with its head and tail, but its Stings, tho' painful, are not mortal. A French Man of that Crew which went to Siam with us, and whom we left there in perfect health, suffer'd himself to be stung in his Bed above a quarter of an hour, without daring to lay hold on the Worm to relieve himself. The Siameses report, that the Millepede has two heads at the extremities of its body, and that it guides itself six months in the year with the one, and six months with the other.

* 1.67But their History of Animals must not easily be credited, they understand not Bodies better than Souls; and in all matters their inclination is to imagine Wonders, and persuade themselves so much the more easily to believe them, as they are more incredible. What they report of a sort of Lizard named Toc-quay, proceeds from an Ignorance and Credulity very singular. They imagine that this Animal feeling his Liver grow too big, makes the Cry which has im∣pos'd on him the name of Toc-quay, to call another Insect to its succor; and that this other Insect entering into his Body at his mouth, eats the overplus of the Liver, and after this repast retires out of the Toc-quay's body, by the same way that he enter'd therein.

* 1.68The shining Flyes, like Locusts, have four wings, which do all appear when the Fly takes a flight; but the two thinnest of them are concealed under the strongest when the Fly is at repose. We hardly saw these little Animals, by reason that the rainy time was past when we landed. The North-winds, which begin when the Rains cease, either kill them, or drive them all away. They have some light in their Eyes, but their greatest splendor proceeds from under their wings, and glitters only in the Air, when the wings are display'd. What some report therefore is not true, that they might be us'd in the Night instead of Candles; for tho' they had light enough, what method could be contriv'd to make them always flie, and keep them at a due distance to illuminate? But thus much may suffice to be spoken concerning the Insects of Siam; they would afford matter for large Volumes to know them all.

I shall say only that there are not fewer in the River and Gulph,* 1.69 than on the Land; and that in the River there are some very dangerous, which is the reason that the rich Men do bathe themselves only in houses of Bambou.

CHAP. VII. Of the Grain of Siam.

RICE is the principal Harvest of the Siameses, and their best Nourishment;* 1.70 it refreshes and fattens: And we found our Ship's Crew express some re∣gret, when after a three months allowance thereof, they were return'd to Bisket; and yet the Bisket was very good, and well kept.

The Siameses know by experience how to measure the water,* 1.71 fire and time ne∣cessary to the Rice, without bursting the Grain, and so it serves them for Bread. Not that they mix it with all their other Food as we do Bread; when they eat Flesh or Fish for example, they eat the one and the other without Rice; and when they eat Rice, they eat it separately. They squeeze it a little between the ends of their Fingers to reduce it into a Paste, and so they put it into their mouth, as our Poor do eat Pottage. The Chineses do never touch any meat but with two small Sticks squar'd at the end, which do serve them instead of a Fork. They hold to their lower Lip a small Porcelane or China Cup, wherein is their portion of Rice; and holding it steady with their left hand, they strike the Rice into their mouth with the two Sticks which they hold in their right hand.

The Levantines, or Eastern People,* 1.72 do sometimes boil Rice with Flesh and Pepper, and then put some Saffron thereunto, and this Dish they call Pilau. This is not the practice of the Siameses: but generally they boil the Rice in clear wa∣ter, as I have said; and sometimes they boil it with milk, as we do on fasting days.

At Siam, in the Lands high enough to avoid the Inundation,* 1.73 there grows Wheat: they water them either with watering Pots like those in our Gardens, or by overflowing it with the Rain-water, which they keep in Cisterns much higher than these Lands. But either by reason of the Care or Expence, or that the Rice suffices for common use, the King of Siam only has Wheat; and perhaps more out of Curiosity, than a real Gusto. They call it Kaou Possali, and the word Kaou simply signifieth Rice. Now these terms being neither Ara∣bian, nor Turkish, nor Persian, I doubt of what was told me, that Wheat was brought to Siam by the Moors. The French which are setled there, do import Meal from Surrat; altho' near Siam there is a Windmil to grind Corn, and ano∣ther near Louvo.

In a word, the Bread which the King of Siam gave us, was so dry,* 1.74 that the Rice boil'd in pure water, how insipid soever, was more agreeable to me. I less wonder therefore at what the Relations of China report, that the Soveraign of this great Kingdom, altho' he has Bread, does rather prefer Rice: yet some Euro∣peans assur'd me, that the wheaten Bread of Siam is good, and that the driness of ours must proceed from a little Rice-flower, which is doubtless mixt with the Wheat, for fear perhaps lest the Bread should fail.

At Siam I have seen Pease different from ours. The Siameses, like us,* 1.75 do make more than one Crop, but they make only one in a year upon the same Land: not that the Soil was not good enough, in my opinion, to yield two Crops in a year, as some have related concerning some other Cantons of India, if the Inundation did not last so long. They have Turky-Wheat only in their Gardens. They do boil or parch the whole Ear thereof, without unhusking or breaking off the Grains, and they eat the inside.

CHAP. VIII. Of the Husbandry, and the difference of the Seasons.

* 1.76THey equally employ Oxen and Buffalo's in Husbandry. They guide them with a Rope put through a hole which they make in the Cartilage that separates the Nostrils: And to the end that the Rope may not slip when they draw it, they do tie a knot on each side. This same Cord runs also through a hole, which is at the end of the draught Tree of their Plough.

* 1.77The Plough of the Siameses is plain, and without Wheels. It consists in a long Beam which is the Rudder, in another crooked piece which is the Handle, and in another shorter and stronger piece, fastned almost at Right Angles under∣neath at the end of the Handle; and 'tis this Third which bears the share. They fasten not these four pieces with Nails, but with leather Thongs.

* 1.78To unhusk the Rice, they employ large Beasts; when it is trodden out; they let it fall by little and little from a very high place, to the end that the wind may carry away the Chaff. And because the Rice has an hard Skin like Spelt, a sort of Corn very common in Flanders, and other places, they bruise it in a great wooden Mortar, with a Pestle of the same; or in a Hand-mill, all the pieces of which are also of Wood. They knew not how to describe them to me.

* 1.79They know only three Seasons, the Winter, which they call Nanaou, the Begin∣ning of Cold; the Little Summer, which they call Naron, the Beginning of Heat; and the Great Summer, which they call Naron-yai, the Beginning of Great Heat; and which strips the Trees of their Leaves, as the Cold does ours. They have two years together consisting of twelve months, and a third of thirteen.

* 1.80They have no word to express Week; but, like us, they call the seven days by the Planets, and their days correspond to ours. I mean, that when it is Monday here, it is Monday there, and so of the rest; but the day begins about six hours sooner there, than here. Amongst the Names they have given to the Pla∣nets, that of Mercury is Pout, a Persian word, which signifies an Idol; from whence comes Pout-Gheda, a Temple of false Gods; and Pagode comes from Pout-Gheda.

* 1.81They begin their year on the first day of the Moon in November or December, according to certain Rules; and they do not always denote the years by their number, but by the names they give them; for they make use of a Cycle of sixty years, like the other Eastern Nations.

* 1.82A Sexagenary Cycle is a Revolution of sixty years, as a week is a Revolu∣tion of seven days; and they have names for the years of the Cycle, as we have for the days of the week. 'Tis true, I have not been able to discover that they have more than twelve different names, which they repeat five times in every Cycle to arrive at the number of sixty, and in my opinion with some ad∣ditions which do make the differences thereof. They will date therefore, for instance, from the year of the Pigg, or of the Great Serpent, which amongst them are the names of the year; and they will not always denote what year of their Aera this shall be, as we sometimes date a Letter upon one of the days of the week to which we set down the name, without noting what number it is in the month. At the end of this Relation, I will give you the twelve names of the years in Siamese, with those of the seven days of the week.

* 1.83Their months are vulgarly esteem'd to consist of thirty days. I say vulgar∣ly, because that in Astronomical exactness there may be some month longer or shorter; but the Siameses do observe it otherwise than we, in that we give names to the months, and they do not. They call them by their order, the first month, second month, &c.

* 1.84The two first Months, which answer almost to our Months of December and January, do make their whole Winter; the third, fourth, and fifth, do belong to their little Summer, the seven others to their great Summer. Thus they have

Winter at the same time as we; by reason they lye to the North line like us. But their greatest Winter is at least as hot as our greatest Summer. After the time of the Inundation they cover the Plants in their Gardens from the heats of the Sun, as we do sometimes cover ours from the cold of the Night or Winter: But as to their Persons, the diminution of the heat appears unto them a very in∣commodious cold. The little Summer is their Spring, and they utterly ignore the Autumn. They only reckon a great Summer; although it seems that they might reckon two after the manner of the Ancients, who have written of India, seeing that they have the Sun perpendicularly over their heads twice a year; once when it comes from the Line to the Tropick of Cancer, and another time when it returns from the Tropick of Cancer towards the Line.

Their Winter is dry, and their Summer rainy.* 1.85 The Torrid Zone would doubt∣less be uninhabitable, as the Ancients have held, were it not for that marvellous Providence which makes the Sun continually to draw the Clouds and Rains af∣ter it, and the Wind incessantly to blow there from one of the Poles, when the Sun is toward the other. Thus at Siam in Winter, the Sun being in the mid∣dle of the Line, or towards the Antarctick Pole, the North-winds do constant∣ly prevail, and temper the Air very sensibly to refresh it. In Summer, when the Sun is on the North of the Line, and perpendicularly over the head of the Si∣ameses, the South-winds which continually blow there, do cause continual Rains, or at least do make the weather always inclined to Rain; leaving most People in doubt whether this Season of Rains ought not to be called the Winter of Siam. 'Tis this constant Rule of the Winds, which the Portuguese have called Monçaos, and we after them Monsoons (Motiones aëris, according to Ozorius and Maffeus.) And this is the reason that the Ships can hardly arrive at the Bar of Siam during the six Months of the North-winds, and that they can hardly depart thence during the six Months of the South-winds. At the end of this work I will give the order of the Winds and Tides in the Gulph of Siam, in favour of those that love to reason on Philosophical matters.

The Siameses do not give many forms to their Lands.* 1.86 They till them and sowe them, when the Rains have sufficiently softened them; and they gather their harvest when the waters are retired, and sometimes when they are yet remain∣ing on the ground, and they can go only by Boat. All the land that is over∣flowed is good for Rice, and 'tis said that the Ear always surmounts the waters; and that if they encrease a foot in twenty four hours, the Rice grows a foot also in twenty four hours: but though it be averr'd that this happens sometimes, I cannot without much difficulty believe it in so vast an Inundation: And I ra∣ther conceive that when the Inundation surmounts the Rice at any time, it rots it.

They gather Rice also in divers Cantons of the Kingdom which the Rains do not overflow; and this is more substantial, better relisht, and keeps longer.* 1.87 When it has grown long enough in the Land where it was sown, it is transplant∣ed into another, which is prepared after this manner. They overflow it, as we do the Salt Marshes, until it be throughly soft; and for this purpose it is ne∣cessary to have high Cisterns, or rather to keep the Rain-water in the Field it self by little Banks made all round. Then they let the water go to feed the Land, level it, and in fine, transplant the Rice-Roots one after the other, by thrusting them in with the Thumb.

I am greatly inclin'd to believe,* 1.88 that the Ancient Siameses lived only upon Fruits and Fish, as still do several people of the Coasts of Africk; and that in process of time Husbandry has been taught them by the Chineses. We read in the History of China that 'twas anciently the King himself, that annually first set his hand to the Plough in this great Kingdom, and that of the Crop which his Labour yielded him, he made the Bread for the Sacrifices. The Lawful King of Tonquin and Cochinchina together, who is called the Buado's, likewise observe this Custom of first breaking up the Lands every year; and of all the Royal Functions, this is almost the only one remaining to him. The most im∣portant are exercised by two Hereditary Governors, the one of Tonquin, and the other of Cochinchina, who wage war, and who are the true Soveraigns; although

they profess to acknowledge the Bua, which is at Tonquin, for their Soveraign.

* 1.89The King of Siam did formerly also set his hand to the Plough, on a certain day of the year: For about an Age since, and upon some superstitious Observa∣tion of a bad Omen, he labours no more; but leaves this Ceremony to an ima∣ginary King, which is purposely created every year: yet they will not permit him to bear the Title of King, but that of Oc-ya-Kaou, or Oc-ya of the Rice. He is mounted upon an Ox, and rides to the place where he must plough, attended with a great train of Officers that are obedient to him. This Masquerade for one day gets him wherewithal to live on the whole year. And by the same su∣perstition has deterred the Kings themselves. It is look'd upon as ominous and unlucky to the person. I suspect therefore that this custom of causing the lands to be ploughed by the Prince, came from China, to Tonquin, and Siam, with the Art of Husbandry.

* 1.90It may perhaps have been invented only to gain credit to Husbandry, by the example of Kings themselves; but it is intermixt with a great many superstiti∣ons, to supplicate the good and evil Spirits, whom they think able to help or hurt the goods of the Earth. Amongst other things, the Oc-ya-Kaou offers them a Sacrifice, in the open field, of an heap of Rice-sheaves, whereunto he sets fire with his own hand.

CHAP. IX. Of the Gardens of the Siameses, and occasionally of their Liquors.

* 1.91THE Siameses are not less addicted to the manuring of Gardens, than to the ploughing of Arable Lands. They have Pulse and Roots, but for the most part different from ours. Amongst the Roots the Potatoe deserves a par∣cular mention. It is of the form and size almost of a Parsenep, and the inside thereof is sometimes white, sometimes red, sometimes purple; but I never saw any but the first sort: Being roasted under the Ashes, it eats like the Chesnut. The Isles of America made it known to us; it there frequently supplies, as some report, the place of Bread. At Siam I have seen Chibbols, and no Onions, Garlick, Turneps, Cucumbers, Citruls, Water-melons, Parsley, Bawm, Sorrel. They have no true Melons, nor Strawberries, nor Raspberries, nor Artichoaks, but a great deal of Asparagus, of which they do not eat. They have neither Sallory, nor Beets, nor Coleworts, nor Coleflore, nor Turneps, nor Parseneps, nor Carrots, nor Leeks, nor Lettuce, nor Chervil, nor most of the Herbs whereof we compose our Sallads. Yet the Dutch have most of all these Plants at Batavia, which is a sign that the Soil of Siam would be proper thereunto. It bears large Mushromes, but few and ill tasted. It yields no Truffles, not so much as that insipid and scentless kind, which the Spaniards do call Criadillas de tierra, and which they put into their pot.

* 1.92The Siameses do eat Cucumbers raw, as they do throughout the East, and also in Spain; and it is not impossible but their Cucumbers may be more wholsom than ours, seeing that Vinegar doth not harden them: They look upon them, and call them a kind of Water-Melons. Mr. Vincent inform'd me that a Persian will eat 36 pound weight of Melons, or Cucumbers, at the beginning of the sea∣son of these Fruits to purge himself. The Chibbols, Garlick, and Radishes have a sweeter taste at Siam, than in this Country. These sort of Plants do lose their Rankness by the great Heat: And I easily believe what those who have experi∣enc'd it have assured me, that nothing is more pleasant than the Onions of Aegypt, which the Israelites so exceedingly regretted.

* 1.93I have seen a great many Tuberoses in the Gardens of Siam, and no Roses, nor Gillyflowers; but it is said there are plenty of Gillyflowers, and few Roses, and that

these Flowers have less scent here than in Europe; so that the Roses have hardly any. The Jasmine is likewise so rare, that 'tis said, there are none but at the King's House. We were presented with two or three Flowers as a wonder. They have a great many Amaranthus, and Tricolors. Except these most of the Flowers and Plants which adorn our Gardens, are unknown to them: But in their stead they have others which are peculiar to them, and which are very agree∣able for their Beauty and Odor. I have remark'd of some that they smell only in the Night, by reason that the heat of the day dissipates all their Spirits. Our Flowers have most scent about the Evening, and we have some, but few, that smell only at Night.

Whatever has not naturally a great deal of taste and smell,* 1.94 cannot keep them in Countries extreamly hot. Thus though there be Grapes in Persia, and at Su∣ratt, yet there can be no Muscadine Grapes, what care soever is therein employ∣ed. The best Plants, which are transported thither from Europe, do presently degenerate, and yield the second year ordinary Grapes only.

But at Siam, where the Climate is much hotter, there are no good Grapes.* 1.95 The few Vines which are planted at Louvo, in the King's Garden, produce only some bad Grapes, which are small and of a bitter taste.

Pure Water is their ordinary Drink; they love only to drink it perfum'd,* 1.96 whereas to our Palate Water which has no smell, is the best. As the Siameses go not to draw it at the Springs, which are doubtless too remote, it is wholesom only when it has been setled more or fewer days, according as the Inundation is higher or lower, or wholly run out: For when the Waters retire, and they are filled with Mud, and perhaps with the ill Juices which they take from the Earth, or when the River is re-entred into its Channel sufficiently muddy, they are more corrosive, do cause Disenteries and Lasks, and cannot be drunk without danger, till they have let them stand in great Jars or Pitchers, the space of three Weeks or a Month.

At Louvo the Waters are much more unwholsome than at Siam;* 1.97 by reason that the whole River flows not thither, but only an Arm, which has been turned thither, which runs always decreasing after the Rains, and at last leaves its Channel dry. The King of Siam drinks water from a great Cistern made in the Fields, on which is kept a continual Watch. Besides that this Prince has a little house called Tlee Poussone, or Rich Sea, about a League from Louvo. It is seated on the brink of certain Low-lands, about two or three Leagues in extent, which receive the Rain-waters and preserve them. This little Sea is of an irre∣gular figure, its Shores are neither handsom nor even; but its Waters are whole∣some, by reason they are deep and setled, and I have also heard that the King of Siam drinks thereof.

For pleasure and conversation the Siameses do take Tea,* 1.98 I mean the Siameses of the City of Siam. For the use of Tea is unknown in all the other places of the King∣dom. But at Siam the Custom is throughly setled, and 'tis amongst them a necessary Civility to present Tea to all that visit them. They call it Tcha, as do the Chineses, and have not two Terms, the one for what we call Tea, and the other for what we call Cha, or Flower of Tea. 'Tis certain that it is not a Flower But to assert whether they are the budding Leaves, and consequently the ten∣derest, or the highest, and consequently the less nourished, or the point of the Leaves, which have been boil'd at China, or a kind of particular Tea; is what I cannot determine, by reason that various Accounts have been given me thereof.

The Siameses do reckon three sorts of Tea, the Tchaboui or Boui Tea,* 1.99 which is reddish, which some say fattens and is astringent; 'tis look'd upon at Siam as a Remedy for the Flux. The Somloo Tea, which on the contrary purges gently. And the third sort of Tea, which has no particular Name, that I know, and which neither loosens nor binds.

The Chineses and all the Orientals, use Tea as a Remedy against the Head-ach:* 1.100 But then they make it stronger, and after having drunk five or six Cups, they lye down in their bed, cover themselves up, and sweat. It is not very difficult, in such hot Climates, for Sudorificks to operate, and they are looked upon there almost as general Remedies.

* 1.101They prepare the Tea in this manner. They have Copper Pots tinn'd on the inside, wherein they boil the Water; and it boils in an instant, by reason the Copper thereof is very thin. This Copper comes from Japan, if my Memory fails me not; and 'tis so easie to work, that I question whether we have any so pliant in Europe. These Pots are called Boulis; and on the other hand they have Boulis of red Earth, which is without taste, tho without Varnish. They first rince the Earthen Bouli with boiling water to heat it, then they put in as much Tea, as one can take up with the Finger and Thumb, and afterwards fill it with boiling water; and after having covered it, they still pour boiling water on the outside, they stop not the Spout as we do. When the Tea is sufficiently infu∣sed, that is to say when the Leaves are precipitated, they pour the Liquor into China dishes; which at first they fill only half, to the end that if it appear too strong or too deep, they may temper it, by pouring in pure water, which they still keep boiling in the Copper Bouly. Nevertheless if they will still drink, they do again fill the Earthen Bouly with this boiling water, and so they may do several times without adding any more Tea, until they see that the water re∣ceives no tincture. They put no Sugar into the Dishes, by reason they have none refin'd which is not candy, and the candy melts too slowly. They do therefore take a little in their mouth, which they champ as they drink their Tea. When they would have no more Tea, they turn the Cup down on the Saucer; because that 'tis the greatest incivility among them to refuse any thing, and that if they leave the Cup standing, they fail not to serve them again with Tea, which they are oblig'd to receive. But they forbear to fill the Dish, unless they would testifie to him unto whom they present it full, that 'tis, as some say, for once, and that it is not expected that he ever come again to the House.

* 1.102The most experienced do say that the Water cannot be too clear for Tea, that Cistern-water is the best as being the most pure, and that the finest Tea in the world becomes bad in water, which is not excellent.

* 1.103In a word, if the Chineses drink Tea so hot, 'tis not perhaps that they have found it either more wholesom or more pleasant after this manner; for they drink all sorts of Liquor at the same degree of heat, unless the Tartars have now taught them, as it is said, to drink Ice. 'Tis true that the infusion of Tea is perform'd quicker in hot water than cold; but I have drunk with pleasure what I had infused cold for above a day.

The Siameses adhere not to Tea: they freely drink Wine, when they have it; altho whatever inebriates is prohibited them by their Morality. The Eng∣lish and Dutch do sometimes bring it them from Schiras in Persia, or from Eu∣rope. Our Bourdcaux and Chors Wines came very sound to Siam, altho they had twice passed the Line; and at our return the remainder of these Wines, was perhaps much stronger and better kept, than it would have been, had it conti∣nued always a shore. I say nothing concerning the Wines of China and Japan, which are only Beers exceedingly well mixt, but very pleasant. The China Wine, of which I have brought a bottle, would not keep to France, altho the Dutch Beer kept very well to the Indies.

* 1.104The Siameses do likewise drink two sorts of Liquors, which are called Tari and Neri, and which they extract from two sorts of Trees called Palmites, from a name general to every Tree which has great Leaves, like the Palm-tree. The manner of collecting this drink is, in the Evening to make an Incision in the bark of the Tree, near the top of its Trunk, and to apply thereunto a Bottle as close as it is possible, luteing it with Clay, that the Air may not enter therein. The next Morning the Bottle is full, and this Bottle is generally a Pipe of great Bambou, to which the knot serves as a bottom. These two Liquors may also be collected in the day time, but it is said that then they are eager, and are used as Vinegar. The Tari is drawn from a sort of wild Cocotier, or Coco-tree, and Neri from the Arequier, a sort of Tree which I shall presently speak of.

* 1.105But as in hot Countries the continual dissipation of the Spirits, makes them desire what encreases them, they passionately esteem Aqua Vitae, and the strong∣est more than the others. The Siameses do make it of Rice, and do frequently rack it with Lime. Of Rice they do at first make Beer, which they drink not;

but they convert it into Aqua Vitae which they call Laou, and the Portuguese Arak, an Arabian word, which properly signifies sweat, and metaphorically essence, and by way of excellence Aqua Vitae. Of the Rice Beer they likewise make Vi∣negar.

The English inhabiting at Siam do use a drink which they call Punch,* 1.106 and which the Indians do find very delicious. They put half a pint of Brandy or A∣rak, to a pint of Limonade with Nutmeg and a little Sea Bisket toasted and broke, and beat it all together until the Liquors be well mixed. The French call this drink Boule Ponche, and Bonne Ponche, from the two English words, a Bowl of Punch.

In a word, the Moors of Siam drink Coffee,* 1.107 which comes to them from Ara∣bia, and the Portuguese do drink Chocolate, when it comes to them from Manille, the chief of the Phillipines, where it is brought from the Spanish West-Indies.

The Siameses do esteem fruit better than all things;* 1.108 they eat all the day long if they have it. But excepting Oranges, Citrons and Pomegranates, there is not at Siam any of the fruits that we know. The Citrons which they call Ma-crout, are small, full of Juice and very sowre, and the skin very smooth. They appeared to me of a singular quality, in that they are rotten on the inside, when their peel is sound and entire. But they have moreover a kind of sowre, and no sweet Lemons, and on the contrary the Oranges and Pomegranates are all sweet; un∣less for sowre Oranges they would take the Pampelmouses, which have the taste and shape thereof, but which are as big as Melons, and have not much Juice. The Siameses do with reason range them among the species of Oranges, and call them Soum-o, and Soum signifies an Orange. Amongst the sweet Oranges the best have the Peel very green and rough; they call them Soum-keou, or Crystal Oranges; not that they have any transparency, but because they appear to them in their kind, of the repute of Crystal, which they highly value. They give of these Soum-keou to their sick, and sell them, as 'tis said, at five sous a piece when the season is past; a considerable price in a Country where a man commonly lives for two Liards a day.

Now tho this sort of Oranges lasts not the whole year,* 1.109 yet there is always one sort or other. There is also of that Fruit which the Europeans call Bananas, or Indian-Figs, and the Siameses Clouei, all the year. All the other Fruits con∣tinue only a time. 'Tis at Achem only at the North Point of the Isle of Suma∣tra, that Nature produces them all at every season. Those excellent Canes of one single Shoot or Joynt, between nine and ten foot long, do grow only at Achem; but Rice, which is their principal nourishment, frequently fails them: and they do then dearly purchase it with the Gold, which they find so plenti∣fully amongst them, that they contemn it. without Philosophy.

I designedly omit the Description of several Fruits,* 1.110 and refer it to the end of this work. I will now only speak of the Areca, and shall say of the Indian Fruits in general, that they have for the most part so strong a taste and smell, that one loves them not, till accustomed thereunto; and I think that then they do no hurt. By a contrary reason, our Fruits are at first insipid and without flavor, to him that is accustomed to the Indian Fruits.

The Areca, which the Siameses do call Plou, is a kind of great Acorn,* 1.111 which yet wants that wooden Cup wherein our Acorn grows: When this Fruit is yet tender, it has at the center or heart a greyish substance, which is as soft as Pap. As it drys it waxes yellower and harder, and the soft substance it has at the heart grows hard too: It is always very bitter and savory. After having cut it into four parts with a Knife, they take a piece every time, and chew it with a Leaf resembling Ivy called Betel by the Europeans which are at the Indies, and Mak by the Siameses. They wrap it up to put it the more easily into the mouth, and do put on each a small quantity of Lime made of Cockle-shells, and redded by I know not what art. For this reason the Indians do always carry this sort of Lime in a very little China dish, for they put so little on every Leaf, that they consume not much In a day, altho they incessantly make use of the Areca, and the Betel. The Areca whilst tender wholly consumes in the Mouth, but the dry always leaves some remains.

* 1.112The sensible effect of this Acorn and this Leaf is to excite much spitting, if they care not to swallow the Juice; but it is good to spit out the two or three first Mouthfuls at least, to avoid swallowing the Lime. The other less sensible effects, but which are not doubted in the Indies, are to carry from the Gums, perhaps by reason of the Lime, whatever may prejudice them, and to fortifie the Stomach, either by reason of the Juice that is swallowed at pleasure, and which may have this quality, or by reason of the superfluous moistures which they discharge by spitting. Thus have I never found any person at Siam with a stinking breath, which may be an effect of their natural Sobriety.

* 1.113Now as the Areca and Betel do cause a red spittle independently on the red Lime which is mix'd therewith, so they leave a Vermilion Tincture on the Lips and Teeth. It passes over the Lips, but by little and little it thickens on the Teeth till they become black: So that persons that delight in neatness, do blacken their Teeth, by reason that otherwise the spittle of the Areca and Betel, mix'd with the natural whiteness of the Teeth, causes an unpleasant effect, which is remarked in the common People. I shall transiently declare, that the Vermi∣lion Lips, which the Siameses saw in the Pictures of our Ladies which we had carried to this Country, made them to say that we must needs have in France, better Betel than theirs.

* 1.114To blacken their Teeth, they do thereon put some pieces of very sowre Le∣mon, which they hold on their Jaws or Lips for an hour, or more. They report that this softens the Teeth a little. They afterwards rub them with a Juice, which proceeds either from a certain Root, or from the Coco, when they are burnt, and so the operation is perform'd. Yet it pleases them sometimes to relate that it continues three days, during which it is necessary, they say, to lye on their Belly and eat no solid Food: But some have assur'd me that this is not true, and that it is sufficient to eat nothing hot for two or three days. I be∣lieve rather that their Teeth are too much set on edge, to be able for some time to eat any thing solid. It is necessary continually to renew this operation to make the effect thereof continue; for this Blackness sticks not so strong to the Teeth, but that it may be rub'd off with a burnt Crust of Bread reduc'd to Pow∣der. They love also to redden the Nails of their little Fingers, and for this end they scrape them, and then apply a certain Juice, which they extract from a lit∣tle Rice bruised in Citron Juice with some Leaves of a ree, which in every thing resembles the Pomegranate Tree, but bears no Fruit.

* 1.115In brief, the Arequier or Arectree, and all the Trees which are called Palmites, have no Branches, but great, long and broad Leaves, like the Palm-tree; and they have their Leaves only at the top of the stalk, which is hollow. These sorts of Trees do annually produce a new Shoot of Leaves, which spring out of the middle of the Leaves of the preceeding year, which then fall off, and leave a mark round the Trunk; so that by these marks which are so many knots, and which are close together, they can easily compute the Years, or Age of the Tree.

This is what I had to say concerning the Extent and Fertility of the Kingdom of Siam, I will now discourse of the Manners of the Siameses in general; that is to say of their Habit, Houses, Furniture, Table, Equipage, Diversions and Affairs.

[illustration]

[illustration]

A Siamese Mandarin.

[illustration]

A Siamese Mandarin.

[illustration]

A Siamise woman w^th: her Child.

[illustration]

The Kings Apartment

I The Hall of Audience

[illustration]

A House of a Siamese.

Notes

• * 1.1

  How much this Kingdom is unknown.
• * 1.2

  Its Frontiers Northward.
• * 1.3

  The City of Chiamai and its Lake.
• * 1.4

  The Country of Siam is only a Valley.
• * 1.5

  Cities seated on the River.
• * 1.6

  The Gardens of Bancok.
• * 1.7

  Other Cities on the Menam.
• * 1.8

  Another River likewise called Menam.
• * 1.9

  Cities of Wood.
• * 1.10

  The supersti∣tion of the Si∣ameses at Meu∣ang-fang.
• * 1.11

  Another Su∣perstition at Prabrat.
• * 1.12

  What it is.
• * 1.13

  The Original of this Super∣stition.
• * 1.14

  What the A∣dam's foot of Ceylon is.
• * 1.15

  Lib. 4. c. 82.
• * 1.16

  Other Cities of the King∣dom of Siam.
• * 1.17

  A Countrey intersected with Chan∣nels. The City of Siam descri∣bed.
• * 1.18

  Its Names.
• * 1.19

  The true Name of the Siameses signi∣fies Francs.
• * 1.20

  Two different People called Siameses.
• * 1.21

  Other Moun∣tains, and o∣ther Frontiers.
• * 1.22

  The Coasts of Siam.
• * 1.23

  Isles of Siam in the Gulph of Bengal.
• * 1.24

  The City of Merguy.
• * 1.25

  The Siameses little curious of their Hi∣story.
• * 1.26

  The Epocha of the Siameses.
• * 1.27

  Their Kings.
• * 1.28

  The Race of the present King.
• * 1.29

  Another Ex∣ample of the Revolutions of Siam.
• * 1.30

  A Doubt as to the Origine of the Siame∣ses.
• * 1.31

  Two Langua∣ges at Siam.
• * 1.32

  What the Sia∣meses report concerning the Origine of their Laws and Religion.
• * 1.33

  Of the Balie Language.
• * 1.34

  The Siameses resemble their Neighbours.
• * 1.35

  The King of Siam loves Children till 7 or 8 years old.
• * 1.36

  That the Sia∣meses came not from far to In∣habit their Country.
• * 1.37

  Strangers that have come to Siam.
• * 1.38

  The people of the Kingdom of Siam not very nume∣rous.
• * 1.39

  The Bambou.
• * 1.40

  The Arvore de Raiz.
• * 1.41

  The Cotton Tree and Ca∣poquier.
• * 1.42

  Trees which produce Oyls or Gums.
• * 1.43

  Trees whose Bark serves to make Paper.
• * 1.44

  Brou is a green Bark or skin which is on the Coco, like as on our Nuts: but that of the Coco is three fingers thick, and its Fibers may be twisted into a Cord.
• * 1.45

  Wood for o∣ther uses.
• * 1.46

  Trees for Ba∣lons.
• * 1.47

  They have none of our Wood.
• * 1.48

  The Cinna∣mon and Fir Tree.
• * 1.49

  Wood Aquila.
• * 1.50

  The Reputa∣tion of the Mines of Siam.
• * 1.51

  The State of the Mines at present.
• * 1.52

  Tambac.
• * 1.53

  Mr. Vincent the Physitian re∣tained by the King of Siam to work in his Mines.
• * 1.54

  What he re∣lates concern∣ing the Mines of Siam.
• * 1.55

  Tin and Lead.
• * 1.56

  Mines of Loadstone.
• * 1.57

  Precious Stones.
• * 1.58

  Steel.
• * 1.59

  Iron.
• * 1.60

  Salt-Petre and Powder.
• * 1.61

  The Country of Siam is Clayie.
• * 1.62

  The annual Inundation fattens the Lands of Si∣am.
• * 1.63

  It destroys the Insects.
• * 1.64

  White Ants at Siam.
• * 1.65

  The Marin-gouins.
• * 1.66

  The Millepede.
• * 1.67

  The Igno∣rance of the Siameses in things Natu∣ral.
• * 1.68

  Shining Flyes.
• * 1.69

  Insects in the waters.
• * 1.70

  Rice.
• * 1.71

  The way of boiling it in pure water;
• * 1.72

  Or in milk.
• * 1.73

  Wheat.
• * 1.74

  Wheaten Bread too dry at Siam.
• * 1.75

  Other Grain.
• * 1.76

  Oxen and Buffalo's em∣ploy'd in Husbandry.
• * 1.77

  The Siamese Plough.
• * 1.78

  How they cleanse the Rice from the Chaff.
• * 1.79

  Three Seasons only, and two sorts of years.
• * 1.80

  The names of their days from the Planets.
• * 1.81

  From whence they begin their years.
• * 1.82

  The Cycle of 60 years.
• * 1.83

  Their months.
• * 1.84

  The distin∣ction of their Seasons.
• * 1.85

  Of the Mon∣soons.
• * 1.86

  The time of ploughing and reaping.
• * 1.87

  Another sort of Rice.
• * 1.88

  The original of Agriculture with the Sia∣meses.
• * 1.89

  The Ceremo∣ny of the Sia∣meses touching Agriculture.
• * 1.90

  It is Politick and Supersti∣tious both to∣gether.
• * 1.91

  Their Pulse and Roots. The Potatoe.
• * 1.92

  Cucumbers, Chibbols, Garlick, Radishes.
• * 1.93

  Flowers.
• * 1.94

  Why there is no Muscadine Grapes in Persia nor at Suratt.
• * 1.95

  Nor Grapes at Siam.
• * 1.96

  Pure water the ordinary drink of the Siameses.
• * 1.97

  The Waters of Louvo and of Tlee Poussone.
• * 1.98

  Tea.
• * 1.99

  Three sorts of Tea.
• * 1.100

  Tea is a sudo∣rifick.
• * 1.101

  The manner of preparing Tea.
• * 1.102

  Excellent wa∣ter necessary for Tea.
• * 1.103

  Whether it is necessary to drink the Tea hot.
• * 1.104

  Other Li∣quors, Tari and Neri.
• * 1.105

  Aqua vitae pre∣ferred before all, and of what they make it.
• * 1.106

  Punch, an En∣glish Drink.
• * 1.107

  Coffee and Chocolat.
• * 1.108

  Fruits.
• * 1.109

  Certain Fruits at every Sea∣son.
• * 1.110

  The difference of the Fruits of Siam from ours.
• * 1.111

  The Areca and Betel,
• * 1.112

  Their effect.
• * 1.113

  Another effect of the Areca and Betel.
• * 1.114

  How they blacken their Teeth, and how they red∣den the Nails of their little fingers.
• * 1.115

  Of the Pal∣mites in gene∣ral.