Produced by Annie R. McGuire
[Illustration: Book Cover]
[Illustration]
THE BOY TRAVELLERS IN THE FAR EAST
_PART SECOND_
* * * * *
ADVENTURES OF TWO YOUTHS IN A JOURNEY
TO
SIAM AND JAVA
WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF COCHIN-CHINA, CAMBODIA, SUMATRA AND THE MALAY
ARCHIPELAGO
BY
THOMAS W. KNOX
AUTHOR OF "CAMP-FIRE AND COTTON-FIELD" "OVERLAND THROUGH ASIA"
"UNDERGROUND" "JOHN" ETC.
Illustrated
NEW YORK
HARPER & BROTHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE
1882
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1880, by
HARPER & BROTHERS,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
PREFACE
The favorable reception accorded to "The Boy Travellers in Japan and
China" has led to the preparation of the present book.
Frank and Fred have continued their journey under the guidance of Doctor
Bronson, and the plan of their travels and observation is identical with
the one they followed through the Celestial Empire and the Land of the
Mikado. The incidents in the narrative were mainly the experiences of
the author at a recent date; and the descriptions of countries, cities,
temples, people, manners, and customs are nearly all from his personal
observations and notes. He has endeavored to give a faithful account of
Siam, Java, and the adjacent countries as they appear to-day, and trusts
that the only fiction of the book is in the names of the individuals who
tell the story.
In a few instances the narrative has been slightly interrupted, in order
to introduce matters of general interest to young readers. The details
of the progress of naval architecture and the accounts of submarine
operations, together with the wonderful adventures of Marco Polo, may be
classed as digressions. It is hoped they will meet the same welcome that
was accorded to the episode of a whaling voyage in the first record of
the travels of Frank and Fred.
The publishers have kindly allowed the use of some illustrations that
have already appeared in their publications relative to the Far East, in
addition to those specially prepared for this volume. The author has
consulted the works of previous travellers in the East to supplement his
own information, and to some of them he is under obligations. Especially
is he indebted to Mr. Frank Vincent, Jr., author of that excellent and
well-known book, "The Land of the White Elephant," not only for details
respecting Cambodia and adjacent regions, but for some of the admirable
engravings that adorn his volume. Other authorities are credited with
the text of their work or in foot-notes to the pages where quotations
are made.
The author is not aware that any book describing Siam, Java, Cochin
China, Cambodia, and the Malay Archipelago, and especially addressed to
the young, has yet appeared. Consequently he hopes that this volume will
meet with as warm a welcome as was given to "The Boy Travellers in Japan
and China," by adult as well as juvenile members of many families
throughout the United States.
T. W. K.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. PAGE
DEPARTURE FROM HONG-KONG. 13
CHAPTER II.
VOYAGE TO SAIGON.--ARRIVAL IN COCHIN CHINA. 23
CHAPTER III.
HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.--FIRST SIGHTS AND SCENES IN ANAM. 34
CHAPTER IV.
A WONDERFUL TEMPLE.--RUINS OF NAGKON WAT AND ANGKOR. 47
CHAPTER V.
CAMBODIA.--ITS CAPITAL AND KING. 61
CHAPTER VI.
DEPARTURE FROM SAIGON.--VISITING A CHINESE JUNK. 73
CHAPTER VII.
THE WONDERFUL STORY OF MARCO POLO. 86
CHAPTER VIII.
ARRIVAL IN SIAM.--FIRST DAY IN BANGKOK. 106
CHAPTER IX.
TEMPLES AT BANGKOK.--THE FOUNDER OF BUDDHISM. 119
CHAPTER X.
ASCENDING THE MENAM, FROM BANGKOK TO AYUTHIA. 131
CHAPTER XI.
VISITING THE PRINCE OF THE ELEPHANTS.--AYUTHIA.--SOMETHING ABOUT
CROCODILES. 143
CHAPTER XII.
STORIES OF ELEPHANT-HUNTING.--SCENES OF THE CHASE. 161
CHAPTER XIII.
BANG-PA-IN TO BANGKOK.--STUDIES IN NATURAL HISTORY AND BOTANY. 177
CHAPTER XIV.
THE KING IN HIS STATE BARGE.--BETEL AND TOBACCO. 190
CHAPTER XV.
WOMEN, HAIR-CUTTING, AND SLAVERY. 202
CHAPTER XVI.
CREMATION IN SIAM.--TRADE, TAXES, AND BIRDS. 215
CHAPTER XVII.
PRESENTATION TO THE KING.--DINNER AT THE PALACE. 228
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE WHITE ELEPHANT.--VISIT TO THE SECOND KING OF SIAM. 237
CHAPTER XIX.
LEAVING SIAM.--LIFE UNDER THE OCEAN WAVE. 249
CHAPTER XX.
LIGHT UNDER WATER.--PEARL-FISHING AND TURTLE-HUNTING. 262
CHAPTER XXI.
INCIDENTS OF A SEA-VOYAGE.--SINGAPORE. 280
CHAPTER XXII.
SIGHTS AND SCENES IN SINGAPORE. 294
CHAPTER XXIII.
CROSSING THE EQUATOR.--ADVENTURE WITH MALAY PIRATES. 311
CHAPTER XXIV.
SUMATRA AND ITS PECULIARITIES.--SNAKES AND ORANG-OUTANGS. 326
CHAPTER XXV.
ARRIVAL IN JAVA.--SIGHTS AND SCENES IN BATAVIA. 343
CHAPTER XXVI.
BATAVIA TO BUITENZORG.--TROPICAL SCENES.--BIRDS OF PARADISE. 358
CHAPTER XXVII.
A CHAPTER ON POLITICAL ECONOMY.--THE DUTCH CULTURE SYSTEM IN JAVA. 374
CHAPTER XXVIII.
RICE CULTURE IN JAVA.--MILITARY AND SOCIAL MATTERS. 387
CHAPTER XXIX.
A POST RIDE IN JAVA.--FROM BUITENZORG TO BANDONG. 400
CHAPTER XXX.
VISITING A TEA PLANTATION.--PREPARATION OF TEA. 411
CHAPTER XXXI.
EASTERN JAVA, LOMBOCK, TIMOR, AND THE ARU ISLANDS. 422
CHAPTER XXXII.
WANDERINGS IN THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO.--GOOD-BYE. 435
ILLUSTRATIONS
Scene on the Headwaters of the Menam River _Frontispiece_
Map _To face page_ 13
PAGE
Hong kong, from Kellet's Island 13
Mary and Effie reading Frank's Letter 15
Arrival of the French Mail Steamer 18
Private Parlor of the "Yuen Fat Hong" 20
A Chinese Boatwoman 21
Frank's Dream 22
Hurricane during the Change of the Monsoon 23
A favoring Monsoon 24
Running before the Trade-wind 25
Rice-fields on the Mekong 28
A Native Woman 30
Street in the Chinese Quarter 31
Plants in the Botanical Garden 32
A New Acquaintance 33
A Mosquito of Saigon 33
Native Gentleman at Saigon 35
View of the French Quarter of Saigon 37
Native Soldiers at Saigon 39
The King of the Beggars 41
View of Cholon 43
A Chinese Family at Cholon 44
A Cab for Two 45
Cambodian Female Head-dress. Ancient Sculpture 47
Plan of the Temple at Nagkon 49
Unfinished Pillars 50
Columns in the Temple 51
Sculptures on the Walls of Nagkon Wat 52
View from the Central Tower of the Temple 54
Gallery of Sculptures 56
Ancient Tower overgrown with Poh-trees 58
Huts of the Priests 59
Stone with Ancient Sculptures 60
A Cambodian Idol 61
Fishing-village on Lake Thalysap 62
Panompin, the Capital of Cambodia 64
Specimen of Cambodian Gold-work 66
The King of Cambodia 67
Queen of Cambodia and Royal Children 69
The Harbor of Oodong, Cambodia 70
A Girl of Oodong 71
House in the Suburbs 72
A Chinese Junk 74
Outline of Modern Ship, showing Compartments 76
A Junk Sailor at Breakfast 77
Chinese River Boat 78
Ship of the Fourteenth Century 79
"The Great Harry" 80
The "Tennessee" 81
The Public Highway of the Future 82
The Bomb Ferry 83
Moonlight at Sea in the Tropics 84
A Story of the Sea 85
Marco Polo 87
The Great Khan delivering a Tablet to the Elder Polo Brothers.
From a Miniature of the Fourteenth Century 88
Arms of the Polo Family 88
Nicolo Polo. Father of Marco 89
Portrait of Kublai-Khan. From a Chinese Engraving 91
Marco Polo's Galley in Battle 93
Alan shuts up the Caliph of Baudas in his Treasure-tower 96
Dog-headed Men of Angamanain 97
Mediæval Tartar Huts and Wagons 99
The Roc, from a Persian Drawing 100
Roc's Egg, now in the British Museum. 100
Chinese Bank-note of the Ming Dynasty 101
Chinese Conjuring Extraordinary 103
Captain Clanchy at Work 104
Come to Dinner! 105
A Natural Shower-bath 106
Flying-fish 107
View near Paknam 108
Native Hut on the Menam River 110
A Village Pathway in Siam 111
Chinese Field-laborers 112
General View of Bangkok 114
House in the Foreign Part of Bangkok 115
A Siamese Priest 118
Bird's-eye View of Bangkok 120
Temple of Wat Chang 121
Temple of the Sleeping Idol 123
Brass Idol in a Temple 124
Priests Playing Chess 126
Gate-way of a Temple at Bangkok 128
Temple of the Emerald Idol 129
Private Garden near Bangkok 133
A Siamese Forest Scene 135
Parasite and Palm 138
The Bamboo-tree 139
The Boat they narrowly Missed 140
Scene at Bang-pa-in 141
A River Scene 142
The Young Prince 144
Portrait of "Chang" 145
Macedonian Coin, with Ancient Goad 146
Modern Goad 146
A War Elephant 147
Near the Palace 149
In the Ruined City 150
Crocodiles at Home 152
Taking a Bite 153
The Doctor's Crack Shot 154
The Trochilus 155
Alligator and Crane 155
Trochilus and Crocodile 156
The Alligator and the Bear 158
Just Hatched 159
Coming out to Sun himself 160
An Elephant Fence 161
Form of a Corral 161
Beginning the Drive 162
Driving into the Corral 163
Securing the Captives 165
Siribeddi's Prize 166
The Prisoners tied up 168
A little Head Work 169
In a Heap of Trouble 170
Refusing to Move on 171
Sliding down hill 173
Elephant-hunting on Foot 174
The Hunter Hunted 175
Taking a Nap 176
Cocoa-nuts Full Grown and just Forming 178
The Bread-fruit 179
Pineapple 180
Star-apple 180
A New Kind of Fruit 181
Tailor-bird and Nest 182
A Climbing-fish 183
The Snake and the Squirrel 185
Monkeys at Home 187
Monkeys 188
Eagle capturing a Monkey 189
State Barge of the King of Siam 191
A Body of the Royal Guards 192
The King visiting a Temple 194
The Front of the Temple 195
The Tobacco-plant 197
Sir Walter Raleigh and his Pipe 197
Pipes of all Nations 199
Young America 200
The East 201
The West 201
Siamese Gentleman and Lady 203
A Young Prince of the Royal House, with his Attendant 205
Female Head-dress and Costume 206
Minister of Foreign Affairs 207
Lakon Girls 209
A Native Band of Music 210
A Siamese Theatrical Performance 211
Scene on a Small Canal near Bangkok 216
Burial-mounds 217
Urn containing Ashes 217
Jessamine Flowers 218
Buddhist Priest 219
Characters in the Procession 220
Haunts of Sea-birds on the Coast 223
Edible Swallows' Nests 224
Siamese Water Birds 225
Pheasant and Young 227
Court-yard of the Royal Palace at Bangkok 229
Chulalonkorn I., Supreme King of Siam 231
Prime-minister of Siam 233
The King of Siam in his State Robes 234
A Younger Brother of the King 235
The Hour-glass 236
A White Elephant worshipping the Sun and Moon. From a Chinese
Drawing 237
White Monkey in Elephant Stables 240
How an Elephant Feeds 241
Elephants' Trunks 242
Elephants Drinking 243
Fred's Tormentor 244
The Second King of Siam, in State Robes 247
The Doctor getting Ready 249
Coast of Siam, near the Mouth of the River 251
Water-fowl of Siam 252
A Wreck among the Breakers 253
Pearl Fisher attacked by a Shark 253
Nests of the Water-spider 254
Divers in their Armor 255
Divers at Work 256
Diving over the Side of a Steamer 257
Coral-fishing in the Mediterranean 259
The Coral-worm 260
Cup-coral and Brain-coral 260
An Atoll in the Pacific Ocean 261
Submarine Observations 263
The Bellows-fish, or Angler 264
A Curious Home 265
Crabs in a Quarrel 266
Sea-anemones 267
The Sponge at Home 268
How Sponges are Speared 269
Cleopatra dissolving the Pearl 270
Pearl-bearing Shells 271
Sizes of Pearls 272
Pearl-fishery at Bahrein 273
Persian Gulf Diver 274
M. Jaquin's Experiment 275
The Bleak 276
The Doctor's Discovery 276
The Turtle at Home 278
Turtle-hunting 279
On a Frail Raft 282
The Rescue 283
Gulf-weed 284
Haunts of the Sea-birds 285
In the Harbor 286
Boatmen at Singapore 287
A Chinese Contractor 289
Chinese Tailors at Singapore 290
A Group of Jacoons 291
Garri with a Load of Sailors 292
Full Dress at the Straits 293
Chinese Garden at Singapore 296
Maternal Care 297
Rural Scene in Singapore 298
Fruit-sellers at Singapore 299
A Bungalow 300
Chinese Gentleman's Garden 301
The God of Gamblers 302
Malay Boy in the Bird-market 303
Head of Black Cockatoo 304
Ejecting an Intruder 306
A New Type of Mankind 308
Klings and Chinese 312
Native Nurses and Children 313
Coaling at the Dock 314
Carrying Coal on Board 315
Servants on Duty 316
Scene on the Sumatra Coast 317
Crossing the Line on a Man-of-war 319
Chief's House in a Pirate Village 322
Harbor of Pirates 323
The Pirates' Victim 324
Sinews of War 325
A Trading-station on the Coast 327
A Bayou on the Palembang River 328
Arab Houses at Palembang 329
Lounging under a Mango-tree 330
Alligators taking Sun and Air 331
View in a Sumatran Village 332
Chased by a Tiger 333
Treed by a Bear 334
Shooting a Boa-constrictor 335
A Snaky Creek 336
Monkey Examining a Tortoise 337
Female Orang-outang. From a Photograph 338
Natives of Borneo Fighting with an Orang-outang 339
A Flying-frog 341
A Sumatran Butterfly 342
Arrival in Port 344
The Carriage at the Custom-house 345
The National Taste 346
Their Servant 347
The Mango 348
A Trifle too Peppery 349
After Breakfast 349
An Early Call 350
Native House on the River that Feeds the Canal 352
Family Party in Batavia 354
Fan-palm in the Botanical Garden 355
Chinese Porters 356
Goddess of Sailors and her Assistants 357
Some of the Third-class Passengers 359
View in a Private Garden 360
Native Village near the Railway 361
Tropical Growths along the Line 362
"Mangosteens!" 363
Veranda of the Hotel Bellevue 365
View from the Veranda at Buitenzorg 366
A Bad Road 367
The Vanda Lowii 368
A Tree Growing in Mid-air 369
Group of Birds in the Malay Archipelago 371
Magnificent Bird of Paradise 372
Superb Bird of Paradise 372
Six-shafted Bird of Paradise 373
Long-tailed Bird of Paradise 373
The Yankee Elephant 375
The Chinese Elephant 375
The Operatic Elephant 375
The Elephant in Love 376
Ancient Bas-relief--Java 376
A Monster Volcano 377
Peasant Farm-houses 379
Home of a Prosperous Contractor 380
Coffee-plantation in the Mountains 381
"Old Government Java" 382
A Javanese Chief 383
An Improved Sugar Estate 384
Retainers of a Javanese Regent 385
"Good-night" 386
The House at the Spring 388
Pounding Coffee 389
Dutch Overseers 390
Foot-bridge over a Mountain Stream 392
Rewards for Good Conduct 394
Pirate Prisoners on a Colonial Gun-boat 395
Passport Office 396
Ordered Out of the Country 398
No Admittance 399
Starling on the Journey. 401
By the Roadside 402
Lodgings of the Stable-men 403
Just Imported 404
The Waiter at Sindinglaya 406
Sleeping-room in the Sanitarium 407
A Mountain Cascade 409
Javanese Boys 410
Train of Coffee-carts 412
Seed-pods of the Tea-plant 413
Gathering Tea-leaves 415
Drying Tea in the Sun 416
Drying over Charcoal 416
Roasting Tea 417
Handy with his Feet 418
Roasting Green Tea 419
Tea Regions of the United States 420
Roasting-basket 421
Volcano in Eastern Java 423
Ruins near Sourabaya 424
An Island Port 425
Wild Fig-tree 425
A Village in Lombock 426
View near Mataram 427
Where the Great Spirit and the Rajah met 428
Gun-boring in Lombock 430
Natives of Timor 431
Delli, Portuguese Timor 432
Natives of Aru Shooting the Great Bird of Paradise 433
A Native Anchor 434
Great Street of Dobbo in the Trading-season 436
Wearing the Cangue 437
A Native of Aru 438
Sea-cucumber 439
A Papuan Pipe 439
A Bird of Amboyna 440
Sago Club 440
Preparing Sago 441
Sago Oven 442
Sugar-palm of Macassar 442
Climbing the Mountain 443
Coming Down the Mountain 445
"Good-bye!" 446
[Illustration: _Map to accompany "The Boy Travellers of the far East"_]
THE BOY TRAVELLERS
IN
THE FAR EAST.
CHAPTER I.
DEPARTURE FROM HONG-KONG.
"There she comes!" shouted Frank Bassett, as he pointed away to the
eastward.
Doctor Bronson and his nephew Fred were standing close beside Frank, and
their eyes eagerly followed the direction of his hand.
"Yes, there she is!" Fred responded; "what a splendid sight!"
They were on the lookout platform on Victoria Peak, 1800 feet above the
harbor of Hong-kong. The city, the island, the surrounding waters, and
the neighboring coast of China all lay before them like a map. They had
been studying the scene, and the Doctor had explained to the boys its
remarkable resemblance to the view from the summit of the Rock of
Gibraltar.
[Illustration: HONG-KONG, FROM KELLET'S ISLAND.]
Their geographical observations were interrupted by the announcement of
the sergeant in charge of the signal-station that the Pacific Mail
steamer _City of Peking_ was just outside the harbor, and would shortly
enter through the Ly-ee-moon Pass. Hong-kong harbor has two entrances;
the one to the eastward is known as the Ly-ee-moon, while that to the
west is called the Lama Passage. Both are easy of navigation, and admit
ships of the largest class to one of the finest harbors in the world.
The great steamer ploughed steadily forward; and as she passed Kellet's
Island, which is a fortified rock near the Ly-ee-moon, she turned
gracefully, and headed straight for her anchorage. Our friends watched
her till she came to her resting-place, and her engines had ceased
working; then they said good-bye to the signal-station, and proceeded to
the sedan-chairs which were waiting for them. The chair-coolies had also
seen the steamer, and, as they were anxious to reach the city before the
passengers could come ashore, they made the best possible time on their
way down the mountain. They ran rather than walked, and two or three
times the boys narrowly escaped a fall in the sudden bends of the zigzag
road.
The adventures of Doctor Bronson, Frank Bassett, and Fred Bronson, and
their reasons for being in Hong-kong, have been narrated in a previous
volume.[1]
[1] "The Boy Travellers in the Far East. Adventures of Two Youths in a
Journey to Japan and China." By Thomas W. Knox. Published by Harper &
Brothers, New York, 1880.
They expected the _City of Peking_ to bring letters that would determine
their future movements. Is it any wonder they were in a hurry to have
her mails landed, and the precious letters delivered?
Their letters were addressed in care of the banking-house on which their
credits were drawn, and very naturally the boys were eager to go at once
to that establishment. The Doctor suggested that it would be quite time
enough to go there after lunch; and, as the appetites of the trio had
been sharpened by the excursion up the mountain, the proposal met no
opposition whatever.
The meal was served in the dining-room of the hotel, and as soon as it
was ended the party walked leisurely to the banking-house. In a little
while their letters were handed to them, and greatly rejoiced were the
boys at the arrival of these precious missives from home. The return to
the hotel was a rapid one on the part of the youths, who left the good
Doctor far behind, in their eagerness to be once more in their rooms,
where they could be safe from interruption while they read the messages
from their friends.
The letters were full of good news.
[Illustration: MARY AND EFFIE READING FRANK'S LETTER.]
The parents of both the boys expressed their delight at the good use
which Frank and Fred had made of their time, and the interesting
accounts they had given of their experiences in Japan and China, and
their voyage over the Pacific Ocean. Mary and Miss Effie had received
the presents which Frank bought for them in Japan, and Mary confessed in
her letter that since the arrival of the precious box they had thought
and talked of nothing else. They had dressed themselves in Japanese
garments, and Miss Effie was sure that, if their eyes were properly
sloped at the corners, they could readily pass for residents of Tokio or
Kioto.
The Doctor reached the hotel while they were in the midst of their
reading. His package of letters was quite as large as that of either of
the boys, and among them there was a very portly letter, which had
required a liberal amount of stamps to pay for its transportation. This
he opened first, and, after perusing it carefully, he smiled, and laid
it aside. Evidently the contents were pleasing.
Frank and Fred were through with their letters about the same time, and
as soon as they were at liberty they began comparing notes. Both were a
good deal disappointed, as they had received no indication of their
future course. Would they go directly back across the Pacific Ocean, or
would they proceed on a journey around the world? Perhaps the Doctor
could tell them; but just then he was occupied, and they did not wish to
disturb him.
There was a rap at the door, followed by the entrance of a servant
bringing a letter, which had been overlooked at the banker's. It was for
Mr. Frank Bassett; and that young gentleman was not long in breaking the
seal and possessing himself of its contents.
His air of melancholy changed to one of delight. He threw his arms
around Fred, and made a start in the direction of the Doctor, as if
intending to favor him with an embrace, but speedily checked himself,
and confined his demonstrations to a quiet leap over a chair that stood
in the middle of the room; then he held out the letter for Fred to read.
Fred's delight at the intelligence conveyed in the document was quite
equal to Frank's. The question was settled; they were to continue on
their journey around the world. The necessary letters of credit would be
sent in care of Doctor Bronson, and should be in the mail brought by the
_City of Peking_.
Frank saw the large letter on the table in front of the Doctor, and at
once divined that it was the important missive containing papers similar
to the one with which he was provided before he left home. There was yet
a goodly amount remaining on his letter of credit, but not enough to
carry him to America by way of Europe. Fred was in a similar
predicament, and therefore a permission to go forward would be of no
great use if unaccompanied by the necessary cash or its equivalent.
Doctor Bronson relieved their doubt by handing them the letters of
credit which had come in the bulky parcel in question. They were
considered too valuable to be intrusted to the ordinary mail, and
therefore they had been "registered." And from their experience with the
Post-office in China and other Eastern countries, our three friends were
unanimously of the opinion that all valuable letters going there should
be sent by registered post. The Japanese postal service was the most
perfect one they found in their travels, and the Doctor declared that
some of our officials at home might learn what would be to their
advantage if they would visit the post-office at Yokohama and see how
admirably it was conducted.
"Well, boys," said Dr. Bronson, "it's all settled."
The boys had a moment of standing on tiptoe in their exuberant delight,
and then Frank asked,
"Where are we to go, Doctor, and when are we to start?"
"That is what we must determine now," was the reply. "We have several
routes open to us, and each has its advantages."
"I think," answered Frank, "that we could not do better than leave the
selection of the route to Doctor Bronson. He has proved such an
excellent guide and friend thus far, that we have the most implicit
confidence in his judgment, and are quite willing to adopt his
suggestions without question."
This was said as if Frank had been addressing himself to his cousin
rather than the Doctor. Fred instantly accepted the proposal, and it was
promptly agreed that the whole matter should be left in Doctor Bronson's
hands to arrange. The latter thanked the youths for the expression of
their confidence in him, and then proceeded to designate on the map the
routes leading westward from Hong-kong.
"The regular mail steamers," said he, "go from here to Singapore, which
you see is down close to the equator, and at the entrance of the Straits
of Malacca. The English steamers go directly there without stopping; but
the French ones touch at Saigon, in Cochin China, which is a colony of
the French Government."
"I have thought out a plan," he continued, "while we have been waiting,
and what I propose is this:
"We will go from here to Saigon by one of the French ships, and then
make a stay in Cochin China long enough to see what we wish of the
country. Then we can find a trading-ship of some kind to take us to
Siam, and once there, we shall have no trouble in getting to Singapore,
as there is a regular line between that city and Bangkok, the capital of
Siam. There is much to be seen in Siam, as well as in Cochin China; and
I think this route will be far preferable to the direct one by the mail
steamers, though it will not be so comfortable. We must be prepared to
"rough it" a little both on shore and at sea, but our privations will be
more than compensated by the abundance of interesting sights on the
way."
The boys agreed at once to the proposal, and the conversation came to an
end. The Doctor went to arrange for the proposed journey, and the youths
brought out their writing materials, and devoted the rest of the
afternoon to the preparation of letters in answer to those they had just
received.
[Illustration: ARRIVAL OF THE FRENCH MAIL STEAMER.]
The French steamer arrived from Shanghai in the evening, and her great
hull loomed majestically in the light of the full-moon as she came to
anchor. It is a condition of the contracts for the transportation of the
mails, that a steamer is not to lie more than twenty-four hours at any
of the stopping-places along the route unless detained by unforeseen
accidents. Consequently, when one of these ships arrives, it is pretty
certain that her departure will occur within the time above specified;
and it was shortly announced that the ship in question would leave at
noon the next day. The mail service between Europe and the Far East is
performed almost as regularly as that across the Atlantic, and the
arrivals at the various points can be guessed with tolerable accuracy.
The English and French steamers perform each a fortnightly service both
ways, and, as they run alternately, the residents of China and Japan
have weekly mail-days for sending and receiving their letters.
Doctor Bronson engaged passage for the party by the French steamer as
far as Saigon, and then went to the office of the "Yuen Fat Hong" to
ascertain if there was a vessel for Bangkok by way of Cochin China.
In the last few years the Chinese merchants have gone somewhat
extensively into the business of running steamships. There is a company
with a capital of two million dollars that owns several lines of
steamers along the coast and on the great river of China, the
Yang-tse-kiang, and its officers and stockholders are all of them
Chinese. There are several smaller companies, and there are Chinese
commission-houses that act as agents for English and other steamers in
the Eastern trade. The Yuen Fat Hong was one of these commission-houses,
and it managed the business of a line of English ships running between
Hong-kong and Bangkok, with an occasional call at Saigon.
[Illustration: PRIVATE PARLOR OF THE "YUEN FAT HONG."]
Doctor Bronson found the office without any difficulty, and was shown
into a neatly-arranged parlor, where four well-dressed Chinese were
sitting. Three of them were holding fans in their hands, while the
fourth was indulging in the luxury of a pipe. Plants in pots stood near
the walls, and there was a table in the centre of the room, where the
oldest and most serious of the Oriental gentlemen was seated. Evidently
it was a time of relief from labor, and so there was no delay in
attending to the inquiries of the Doctor.
The information he obtained was entirely satisfactory. The house was to
send a ship in a week or ten days to Bangkok by way of Saigon; it would
stop two or three days in the latter port, and if the party would be
satisfied with the limited accommodations, they could secure passage
from there to Siam.
It was secured at once, and then the Doctor returned to the hotel.
[Illustration: A CHINESE BOATWOMAN.]
The next morning the boys were up early; and long before the hour fixed
for their departure from the hotel they had all their baggage in
readiness. The trunks and valises were delivered to the porters and
carried to the landing-place, whence they were to be transported in a
small boat to the great steamer that lay smoking in the harbor. The boat
that the party engaged was a reminder of Canton, as it was occupied by
an entire family; two or three children were quietly seated in a sort
of box at the stern, and the crew consisted of two women and a man. One
of the women was evidently captain; at least Frank thought so, when he
observed her air of authority in giving directions for the movement of
the boat. The harbor service of Hong-kong is nearly all performed by
Chinese from the famous boat-population of Canton; they are not
forbidden to live on shore as they are at Canton, but from long habit,
and also from motives of economy, they continue to make their homes on
the boats.
While on the way to the ship, Fred made a sketch of the younger of the
two women, and declared his intention was rather light in complexion for
an inhabitant of Southern China; her hair was covered by a thick
kerchief, tied in a knot under her chin, and her jacket or blouse was
buttoned in front, and hung loosely down like a silk wrapper. As soon as
she discovered that she was the subject of a sketch she put on her
sweetest smile, and was evidently proud of the honor that Fred was
showing her.
Less than an hour after they reached the ship they were under way for
Saigon.
Our friends spent the afternoon on deck, where they had plenty of
occupation watching the irregular line of the coast, and observing the
play of light and shade on the water. There were but few passengers, so
that they had an abundance of room; the weather was delightful, and both
Frank and Fred declared that none of their travel by sea up to that time
had been more agreeable. They abandoned all ideas of being sea-sick; and
when the bell called them to dinner they were promptly in their places
at table.
Suddenly Fred turned to his cousin and asked if he was aware that China
was the worst country in the world for wheeled vehicles.
Frank said he knew the Celestial Empire was very badly off for means of
locomotion, but he was not certain that it was the most unfortunate in
this respect.
"It is a great country," said Fred, "and has an enormous population: we
are going to Saigon, which is the capital of Cochin China."
"Well," replied Frank, "what has that to do with the matter of wheeled
vehicles?"
"Don't you see?" responded Fred, "there is only one coach in China!"
"That is a very good conundrum," remarked the Doctor, who had been
listening to the dialogue between the boys; "but it is as old as it is
good. I heard it when I first came to China, years ago."
Fred confessed that he found the conundrum in question in a book on
China which he had picked up in Hong-kong, and thereupon it was agreed
that no more jokes should be made until they were again on shore.
At an early hour the boys retired to their rooms, and it did not require
a long time for them to fall asleep. Fred made no report of any unusual
occurrence during his sleeping hours, but it was otherwise with Frank.
In the morning he intimated that the letters from home had set him to
dreaming, and that all his relatives and friends had congratulated him
on his pleasant and prosperous journey. Fred asked if any one had been
more profuse in congratulations than any one else, and the young dreamer
admitted that such was the case. He mentioned no names, but the Doctor
and Fred had no difficulty in determining who that one was.
[Illustration: FRANK'S DREAM.]