After he became familiar with the methods, the doctor was ready
to make long tours, once freed from the restricting cares of the
dispensary. The married men did not find it convenient to leave
their wives and young children for a long period so that this
work was largely taken up by the doctor, who gained a keen relish
for it. In December, 1848, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Mattoon,
Dr. House set out with two boats for Petchaburi, the capital of
the province by that name on the western peninsula. The trip had
several points of interest.
In the first place the Lieutenant-Governor of the province had come
to Dr. House for medical treatment a few months after his arrival;
and being pleased with his treatment, invited the doctor to come to
Petchaburi. Upon his recommendation the Governor of the province
also, while in Bangkok, came to the mission house, curious to see
the skeleton which the doctor had. The Governor manifested such
an interest and friendliness that Dr. House resolved to visit the
provincial capital and discover the possibilities of mission work.
Arriving at Petchaburi, they called upon the two officials and
offered to them gifts of foreign articles. When they were about
to leave for home, the officials in return sent very generous
presents of fruit and sugar to their boats. In later years the
under-governor, having been promoted, made earnest solicitation
for the missionaries to teach English in his capital, and as an
inducement offered freedom to teach religion.
Another item of interest was of a different sort. Having learned
that the original home of the Siamese twins was in the village of
Meklong, near the head of the Gulf of Siam, the Americans sought
out the family. They found only one brother living there, and
learned that a sister was living in Bangkok, while the mother had
died a year previously. The brother expressed a longing to see
his brothers again or to hear from them; and at the doctor’s own
suggestion he wrote a letter to the absent twins, dictated by the
brother. It told of the pious wish of the dying mother for them
“to do merit for her spirit.” Some years later, when Rev. Daniel
McGilvary visited the twins in their home in South Carolina, they
spoke of receiving this letter.