AMONG THE SIAMESE. Observations of an American Female Missionary.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 194, 12 March 1887, Page 5 (Supplement)

AMONG THE SIAMESE. Observations of an American Female Missionary.

Miss Lovisa Cort, who has just wiitten a book, "Siam, or the Heart of Farther India," left Colorado in 1574, and joining other missionaries on the way, reached Bangkok at the end of the year. Lately she returned for a visit, and has gone back again to her school of small, dart-eyed Siamese, as profoundly convinced as ever that her way of looking afc religion is the only way, and that Western cloth© 3 , gas lamps and locomotives are only the beginning of a general conversion of the (t heathen " to Christianifcj in its nioab engaging Presbyterian form. Bangkok is paid to b6 far from unhealthy, and ita festivals are observed with great pomp on land and water. It is a Venice in its use of the livor. " The palaces and temples have their gatea upon the rivev. Out upon the river c:uiq the kings in their great dragon boats that look like contipedal monaters with uplifted heads. As theee strange craft make swiftly toward one, and the sharp, startling cry of the dusky and almost naked oareman breaks uDon the ear, no eecond exhortation is * required to clear tho way for royalty. Out upon the river corns the kings for coronation or burial. Out upon the liver come the priests to viait or beg or *o perform their priestly functions at some distant shrine. Out upon the river come the pedlars with their merj chandiee and the hucksters with their various supplie?. Out upon the liver for a visit, or a purchase, or an airing, all muat go who live in Bangkok, as you v ould go out upon Broadway or upon the Avonue U you are living in New York, It is nob necessary to go to tho Feejee islands to see babies dreseed in scarlet handkerchiefs, for that ib a favourite costume in Siam. There are other cults as ludricous, viz , biacelets, anklets, and a woollen hood ; a birthday suit and a warm, comfortable cigar ; a waistcioth and a piece of lace for a scarf ; and there goes a pretty nobleman who failed to finish his toilet before he left the house, for be is followed by a train of servants carry ing his hat, shoes and umbrella, and others bearing his betel, his box, bia cigars, teapot, and cup. We meet Chinese, Siamese, Laoe, Cambodians and Karens, and now and then a disdainful Hindoo, who, no matter what caste he belongs to himself, seems to feel quite sure every one else he meets is a ' pariah." Of the Chinese MLs Cort haa nothing good to say. Their secret societies are tormidable, and many, especially the Ang Ye, which sometimes disturb a the peace of the city and threatens the kingdom. "Ite members eeem banded together for mutual protection in wrongdoing !" The Chinese are privileged far above the natives. There u a colony of Mohamraodan merchants front India ; the ea Tying trade is in the hand* of the English and Germans ; all the great , nations are represented at the capital ; in the streets domestic offices are preformed* artisans ply their trades, and merchants of all kinds sell their wares. The Siamese are great bathers, but use neither eoap nor lowelp, are given to much jewellery, to drinA and gambling,

She — " I think'any man ought to be ab!«r to support a woman." He— •• Well, I don't know about that ; some women are initappor table, you know." A tourifct without money is a tramp, , A tramp who bae money ia a tourist* ,