Siamese Courtly Etiquette [pp. 178-192]

1857.] Siamese Courtly Etiquette-Titles-Forms of Ceremony, &c.
who on this occasion acted as master of
ceremonies, interpreter, &c.
-The king's first question was, why Mr.
H. had not gone to Europe as he had
some time before stated it was his intention to do.
Being answered that Mr. H.'s business
did not permit him to leave at that season
of the year, until some one arrived to fill
his place, the king next inquired whether
his business was profitable, and whether
he had made much money in Siam. To
this the merchant replied that formerly
he had done a good business, but that for
the last two years his losses had been so
great from bad debts and heavy duties,
that the profits had been considerably less
than nothing.
Phyk Chuliah said he durst not repeat
this answer, for fear of the king's wrath,
and merely answered that "formerly the
gain had been great, lately not quite so
much." IIis Majesty next inquired after
the welfare of Captain Coffin, who had
once visited Bangkok, and expressed regret that the Americans did not open a
trade with Siam. He then spoke of Captain Morgan, as "the man with the silver
coat," and asked why more Englishmen
and Americans did not come to his kingdom to trade. Mr. H. answered that the
profits were not so large as at many other
places, but that if fortunes could be readily amassed, very many would come. This
answer also the interpreter declined giving, and said in lieu thereof, "Mr. H.
does not know the cause."
Tke king next inquired if some English
officer whom he had formerly known, was
a royal physician, and on being told that
he was not a medical man at all, he asked,
"does he then occupy the pesition of chief
barber to his majesty of England?" To
this he was also answered in the negative,
when somewhat aside as if merely soliloquizing, he exclaimed, "why then is his
uniform so dazzling? I thought he had
occupied some high position under government." It is hardly necessary to add,
that in Siam, to be physician to His Majesty, is the-very highest honor to which
a subject (not nobly born) may aspire;
and next to that comes the honor of being
the royal barber! Both these officers an
bringing their incumbents into constant
proximity to the king, during his more
private hours, and consequently placing
his life in a great measure in their hands,
are never held but by persons of undoubted probity and well-proven fidelity. Hence
the inference of the king.
At this pe riod t he Siamese were at war
with.Cochin China, and the king asked
what Europeans thought of the relative
strength of the two powers. Whether
Cochin China was large and strong, and
their army a formidable one. Mr. H. replied that it was a large and populous
country, but by no means a powerful one,
and their troops but indifferently disciplined. This answer pleased his majesty,
and led him to compliment the English on
their shrewdness and powers of discrimination.
Many other questions were asked, and
much kindly feeling on the part of the
Siamese government expressed toward
the English and Americans, and then the
king, after ordering refreshments for his
foreign guests, excused himself on account of the intense heat, and withdrew,
leaving his half brother (the present king)
to do the honors. The day was so excessively hot, that every body was glad to be
relieved from the tedium of ceremony,
and therefore all present hailed with delight the departure of His Majesty and
the prospect of a speedy conclusion of the
morning's levee.
After the king's exit, the visitors were
shown round the palace and grounds, and
visited the king's stud, consisting of about
one hundred horses, most of them remarkably fine animals. Among them were
several genuine Arabs, noble, graceful
creatures, with long flowing manes, dovelike eyes, and every motion a very impersonation of grace and beauty. Others
were half Arab breed, less beautiful than
the first, but larger and stronger and better fitted for heavy duty. Besides these,
there were fine specimens of the gentle,
graceful little Java pony, with its form of
perfect symmetry, slender, pliant neck,
and lordly carriage. They are all kept
merely for show, being seldom, if ever
used, and are only brought out occasionally for fresh air and exercise. They are
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