ADVANTAGES THAT MIGHT ACCRUE FROM COMMERCIAL RELATIONS
WITH SIAM AND THE NEIGHBOURING KINGDOMS.
There is no doubt that owing to the ill-luck experienced by the French
in Siam at the end of the last century, no new trading stations have
been formed in that country. The ministers have invariably turned deaf
ears to the suggestions of the missionaries, and consider that their
business consists more in the saving of souls than in dabbling with
commerce and politics.
But if we bear in mind the advantages that Europeans of other
nationalities have obtained, we must acknowledge that the French
allowed themselves to be rebuffed by the initial obstacles, and that
they took no notice of sources of wealth which did not present
themselves on the spot.
The King of Siam had granted permission to the French to open a
trading station; the French merchants were held in high estimation and
were more favoured than those of other nations. Two cities had been
ceded without reservation to Louis XIV. in return for the military
help sent for the defence of the kingdom. The revolution that occurred
during Faulcon's tenure of office obliged the French to leave a
country to which they had been summoned as its defenders, and from
that time onwards, but few French vessels entered the ports of Siam.
Formerly the Council of Pondicherry had sent several ships to Siam in
the course of each year and one vessel had always been bound for the
port of Mergui alone. They were exempt from ordinary taxation and the
French missionaries, who were respected for their rectitude, were the
only foreign judges who were able to give a decision in cases between
Europeans and Siamese.
The English had been for more than a century in Siam without any
trading station or representative. Some of them carried on certain
profitable amount of trade.
The Dutch had gained the commercial supremacy. Their factory was the
finest and most beautiful building in the kingdom and they enjoyed
many privileges of great value.
The King of Siam, by a policy detrimental to his interests, but as a
boon to his subjects, reserves the monopoly of foreign trade. Thus
trade is not in a flourishing condition as the interested despot fixes
the price of merchandise at his own sweet will.
Since the last revolution the system of government has been entirely
changed, and today it would be an easy matter for the French to regain
their commercial supremacy by the establishment of a trading station
at Mergui as in former times, or at some spot near the capital. The
station could be protected by a fortress as was formerly the case at
Bangkok the foundations and ruins of which remain to this day.
A wide and deep river forms a defence to the approaches and it would
only be a matter of 12 leagues from the sea. The French could rebuild
this fortress for the following reasons, (1) Compensation is due for
the losses suffered in 1680. (2) The site had been granted to them
without reservation. (3) The Siamese Government is still in debt to
the India Company, and lastly owing to the fact that a weak minded
nation, who tremble at the sight of an armed Frenchman, could easily
be imposed upon.
Since the retreat of the Burmese, the kingdom of Siam has been
governed by several petty chieftains who are at perpetual strife with
each other. Bangkok and Mergui have their rulers. The French minister
might make arrangements with one of these usurpers, who might feel
flattered to be under French protection, and, in return might well
grant a piece of land on which to build a fortress for the protection
of commerce.
Such a fortified trading station would be handy as a port of call for
Pondicherry in connection with commerce with China.
The country produces all sorts of building materials, brick-clay,
cement, and shell-lime.
All the neighbouring nations would crowd to the new mart, many
wandering Christian families, homeless since the Burmese invasion,
would take refuge there, and the Chinese who equip vessels at a cheap
rate, would send at least forty ships per annum. They would hasten to
bring their merchandise in the hope of a brisk trade. The India
Company would be spared the expenses that are incurred in having to
seek trade-openings further afield, and that absorb so much of its
profits.
The Mahomedan descendants of the Arabs, Moguls, and Persians have had
commercial relations with the capital for a considerable time, and to
renew them, they are only waiting for a establishment of a depôt by
which trade may be expedited. The foundations would be easy to lay and
by the re-establishment of the college that the French missionaries
had formerly in the kingdom and which enjoyed the highest respect, the
success of the former project could be ensured. The old King when he
was informed that Christianity inculcates obedience to rulers, had
always extended a cordial welcome to the missionaries.
These men had not left their country to seek their fortunes. Their
disinterestedness was favourable to the Company who trusted them, but
not as paid agents for their share of the profits, nor for whatever
they could appropriate. It would be of great advantage that a well
ordered society should be established in this foreign country so as to
become familiarised with the manners, customs, vices and virtues of
those with whom they dwell. The knowledge of the principal Eastern
languages is also an important matter so that the French merchants
need not be at the mercy of untrustworthy interpreters. The natural
history of this country tells us of the productions that are of
commercial value, and even if such productions as agate, diamonds,
pearls, perfumes dye-stuffs and scented woods, which are known to be
found in the country, could not be discovered in paying quantities;
great advantages could be gained by the trade with the neighbouring
nations for which this kingdom is, geographically speaking, the
meeting place.
A short sketch should be given of the peoples of the Indo-Chinese
peninsula in order to lead to the better understanding of the
advantages that would accrue from the establishment of trading
stations as above mentioned. The northern part of the peninsula
includes nine kingdoms, viz., Asem, Tipra, Aracan, Pegu, Ava, Laos,
Siam, Cambodia, and Cochin-China.
The Kingdom of Asem is almost unknown owing to its situation lying
beyond the usual routes favoured by travellers and to reach it, a
considerable détour is necessary.
It is one of the richest countries of Asia and has no need of any of
the produce of its neighbours to whom it supplies a large quantity of
metals. In this country are mines of gold silver, lead and iron.
As the inhabitants are free from taxation, the King holds the monopoly
of the mineral products, and, mindful of the well-being of his
subjects, employs slave-labour only in the mines. This is the only
country in Asia, where humanity is not crushed by the weight of
despotic power.
A creature differing somewhat from our ordinary silkworm produces silk
from which a glossy fabric of inferior quality is produced. Gum-lac is
the most valuable product of the country and is of the finest quality
produced in the East. There are two varieties. The red is used as a
dye-stuff, as a varnish for articles of furniture and for wax. Silver
is the currency of the country.
The inhabitants are of sturdy build, but the women and are somewhat
snub-nosed. Both sexes are practically naked, and cover their private
parts only. They wear blue caps trimmed with pig's teeth. Their
bracelets, which display a certain amount of taste, are made of coral,
yellow amber, and sometimes of tortoise shell or sea shells. Poverty,
tyranny and oppression are unknown. Every man is master of his own
property and has several wives, each of whom has her appointed
household duties. Although four-footed animals are plentiful, dog's
flesh is the favourite dish. They grow many varieties of vines and the
grape is used for the preparation of brandy only. They extract salt
from the green scum of stagnant pools and they obtain it also from the
leaves of a tree known as Adam's fig tree. The leaves are burnt and an
intensely saline residue is obtained from the ashes. They have a
secret process of extraction by boiling and straining the mother
liquor through a linen fabric. They manufacture gun-powder of the
finest quality and Eastern peoples ascribe the glory of the invention
of this agent of destruction to them, but what is more extraordinary
this country has been engaged in no war for 500 years. The secret has
passed to the Peguans, who in turn handed on to the Chinese, who pose
as the inventors, as doubtless they were the first nation to employ it
in warfare.
The kingdom of Tipra produces nothing that excites the curiosity of
the traveller or the greed of the merchant. A gold mine is situated in
the country, but the metal is of rather poor quality, and is exchanged
for silver in China. There is also plenty of silk, but of very coarse
quality and is used for common purposes only. The inhabitants are
addicted to intoxicating liquors. Instead of figures, they calculate
with pebbles that have the appearance of small agates. They rarely
journey from their own country and have no commercial relations with
other nations who know them by name only. The kingdom of Aracan has so
extended a coast line that it seems to invite all commercial nations
to trade. The climate is good, plague and other infectious diseases
are unknown. The rich and fertile plains produce all the necessaries
of life. Many tribes live in the pleasant valleys which afford
pasturage to all sorts of wild and domestic animals. Horses are rarely
seen. Horned buffaloes are employed for agricultural operations. Their
anger is aroused at the sight of red. They let those whom they wish to
attack pass quietly by and then gore them from behind with their
murderous horns. These animals, intractable, by nature are obedient
only to the native in charge of them, and gather around him at the
sound of the horn by which he calls them.
The winter, so to speak, as it is the rainy and stormy season, begins
in April and finishes in October. There is no other season but summer
during which abundant crops of beans, grain and fruits are produced;
but neither wheat nor rye can be grown. The capital gives a good idea
of this kingdom. It is several leagues in extent, its population is
equal to that of the largest towns in Europe, and it contains 600
temples. The magnificence of the King's palace shows that gold is
plentiful. The Hall of Gold is thus named as it is covered with the
precious metal from roof to floor. A hundred ingots of gold each
weighing 40 pounds are fixed to the throne, which itself is of massy
gold. There are in addition seven golden images of the size of an
ordinary man. They are hollow inside, but the metal is two inches
thick. They are of immense value owing to the emeralds, rubies,
sapphires and diamonds which are set in the forehead, arms and girdles
of these vain images. In this hall there may be seen a square stand
made entirely of gold upon which is a golden cabinet inlaid with
precious stones. The King owns two rubies, each as long as the little
finger, and at one end of the size of a hen's egg. These rubies have
been the cause of desperate conflicts between the neighbouring Kings
owing to the superstition attached to these stones that the possessor
will be arbiter of the fate of the others. The King wears them on the
day of his coronation only. The people, contented with the products of
their land, cannot understand why men risk their lives in the pursuit
of wealth. They take up arms for war only, and never for trade, which
is carried on solely by foreigners from all parts of the world.
The Mahommedans, especially, carry on a great trade in elephants which
they export to the Coromandel Coast, to Golconda and to Persia from
whence they import fabrics, silks and spices.
The most plentiful articles of commerce of the country are timber,
lead, tin and ivory. It is worth while to make a few remarks on the
manners and customs of a nation with which commercial relations could
well be established. The Aracanese have broad and flat foreheads which
results from a peculiarity of taste rather than from a freak of
nature, as the work of nature is marred by the application of a leaden
plate to the infant's forehead.
Their nostrils are large and open and the lobes of their ears are so
long that they nearly reach down to their shoulders. Their dress
consists of a cotton shirt that covers the arms, chest and abdomen.
They wear, in addition, a long trailing garment, and so many other
articles of attire that when they are fully dressed they look more
like rolls of wadding than men. Their hair is piled on the back of
their heads in the fashion of the Dutchwomen. The women have no other
head gear than their coiffure which is kept in place by clasps, and
this style of hairdressing is very effective. Their dishes are not
appetising to European ideas. They eat rats, mice, snakes and all
sorts of humble creatures. They are also fond of fish,--the staler,
the better. Their principal beverage is pure water or a liquor
extracted from the trunk of a certain species of palm tree. Female
chastity commands no respect whatever. Husbands prefer to risk
becoming the fathers of other peoples children rather than to take a
virgin to wife. As a rule the Dutch sailors are paid well for their
services in this matter.
The King, shut up in his palace, passes a lazy life with the Queen and
his concubines.
Every year each of the twelve provincial governors selects a dozen
girls of the same age in his district, and exposes them to the ardent
rays of the sun in order to induce perspiration.
They are then wiped dry with pieces of fine linen which are sent to
the Court so that the odour may indicate those who are most worthy to
enter the harem. Those who are refused admittance become concubines of
the courtiers who receive them as a pledge of royal favour. It is said
that the King's body guard consists of concubines who receive a
certain amount of military training.
The King takes the following pompous title.
"Emperor of Aracan, possessor of the White Elephant and of the Two
Rubies, Lawful heir of Pegu and Burma, Lord of Twelve provinces of
Bengal, Disposer of Kings who place their heads beneath the soles of
his feet."
The liberal arts are utterly ignored if one can judge by the scanty
progress therein made. Medicine, especially, is only a fraud founded
on superstition. The priests known as "Raulins" are summoned to the
bedsides of the sick. They breathe over them and mutter mysterious
incantations. A sacrifice of fowls, pigs or fat beasts is offered to
the god of the four winds. This sacrifice must be repeated four times
to prevent the death of the patient. The Raulins, however, devour the
sacrifices offered to their gods.
In severe illness their fertile knavery prescribes a strange remedy by
which the Raulins gain no small advantage. The wife, children or the
relations of the patient bedeck an altar on which is placed an image,
and place it in a well furnished room wherein are assembled the
priests and relatives as for a grand banquet. The Master of the
Ceremonies dances and hops about until he is exhausted. A rope is then
fastened to the ceiling and the performer supports himself by it and
jumps higher and higher until he falls down in a swoon which is
considered to be a divine trance Everyone pretends to be envious of
his good luck, as they are sure he is enjoying a tête á tête with
his god. The priests, who solemnly preside at this fantastic ceremony,
anoint the sick man with oil and perfumes, and, if he happens to die
they never blame themselves. They say that his death is a blessing
from the gods who have taken him from this vale of tears to the
mansions of the blest.
Their gross superstitions are seen to best advantage in their funeral
rites. Whilst the priests are chanting prayers and burning incense,
the friends and relatives of the deceased thump copper vessels in
order to scare away black cats, for if by ill luck one of these
animals were to touch the corpse, the soul of the deceased would be
exiled from the heavenly abode where it would have its fill of
pleasures of all sorts and would be reincarnated in mortal shape.
There is a certain sect of priests who believe that they share in the
power of the gods. They are summoned to a grand banquet by the
relatives of the deceased, and if they refuse the invitation, it is a
sign that the soul of the dead man has been cast into the nethermost
hell. Hired mourners are engaged to make a loud outcry. The dead whose
relatives have not been able to honour with a funeral pyre, are
exposed at the water's edge, and are carried away by the stream.
Sometimes the corpses are devoured by birds of prey, which latter
having always plenty of available foodstuff increase and multiply and
even attack buffaloes and oxen.
Sometimes they hasten the death of their friends and relations when
they are seem to be suffering from the pains of old age or from some
incurable malady. This action, which is a crime among civilized
nations, is regarded by them as an act of piety, as they say that it
is cruel to let those for whom happiness is waiting in Heaven, suffer
here on earth. These peoples are sunk in the lowest depths of
idolatry. Their temples are built in pyramidical shape and contain a
large assortment of idols. They have gods of the house whose images
they brand on their arms and shoulders with a hot iron. The barking of
dogs, the bellowings of bulls, the howls of wild beasts, the songs of
birds are considered as omens of coming events which the priests
interpret to their own advantage. They celebrate a feast of the dead
at which their fanaticism is pushed to its cruellest limits. One of
their idols is dragged on a heavy car and is accompanied by Priests
dressed in white. The fanatical devotees cast themselves under the
wheels, and their blood is held to be a most pleasing offering to the
god. Others are fastened by iron hooks to the car and, covered with
blood, they are placed in a temple where they become objects of public
worship. It is a matter of congratulation to all those on whose
garments a drop of their blood falls. These holy madmen are worshipped
as martyrs. There are three grades of priests. The head priest, who
lives in the island of Munay, has control of public worship. His
commands are very rarely infringed. The respect he inspires almost
approaches to adoration. The King, absolute as he is, never disputes
the precedence of the head-priest on ceremonial occasions and never
covers himself before him. All the priests are vowed to perpetual
celibacy, and should one of them break his vows of chastity, he is at
once disgraced and expelled from the priesthood. Although they all
obey the same head priest, they do not conform to a universal rule of
life. Some live in their own houses at their own expense and are not a
burden on society. Remote from the stresses of the world and despising
mundane joys, they are unnoticed by the public and make their dwelling
among the rocks or in deep forests or in deserts. When they are
obliged to appear in public, they are of humble mien and with eyes
downcast, but this show of modesty is but a clever method of
attracting attention. Other, more happy and sociable, live in fine
palaces in the idle enjoyment of the multifarious gifts that the King
and the Princes proffer to them in profusion in order to gain the
favour of Heaven.
The education of the young is entrusted to these idolatrous priests,
as if men whose sole functions seem to be prayer and ascetism, could
have the necessary abilities for the upbringing of magistrates,
warriors, artists or statesmen.
There are hermits as well, a variety of wild men whose sanctity is in
proportion to their eccentricities. They, like the priests are divided
into classes, and all renounce the pleasures of life.
Although Europeans have had considerable intercourse with the Kingdom
of Ava, it is really a country about which very little is known. The
majority of those who have given descriptions of this land have been
either soldiers or traders, whose aims have been the acquisition of
wealth rather than the desire to make accurate observations. All
travellers agree that the fertile soil produces an abundance of rice
and fruits, and that mines of lead, copper and silver exist, but that
the natives have not sufficient skill to work them. In Ava, the
capital of the kingdom, there is a considerable trade in musk, and in
rubies and sapphires of the finest quality. The natives are quite
successful in working these mines. Trade would flourish if public
peace so necessary to industrial occupations, were not so frequently
disturbed by various revolutions.
The form of Government is despotic. The King who should be merely the
administrator of the law has usurped the rights of making, and
breaking the law at his own pleasure.
Each province has its deputy at the Court under whose protection it
resides. This delegate has the right of representing the needs of his
fellow citizens and as the King is always well posted in state
affairs, oppressors are speedily brought to justice and punished. The
following are the titles assumed by the King.
"King of Kings who should be obeyed by everyone. Friend and Relation
of the gods of Heaven and Earth, who from their regard for him
preserve the animals and govern the seasons. Brother of the Sun,
Cousin of the Moon and of the Stars. Absolute Master of the ebb and
flow of the Tides. King of the White Elephant and of the Twenty Four
Umbrellas." The arrogance of the Monarch is such that on rising from
table, he orders that a trumpet be sounded to announce the fact to the
other Kings of the earth that they have his permission to take their
repast. Foreign ambassadors as well as his own subjects must prostrate
themselves before him and even the elephants are trained to crouch
down when he passes.
The military forces do not draw their pay from the public treasury.
Each provincial governor has certain lands in his province, the
produce of which is devoted to the support of the soldiery in time of
peace, and in war time he supplies them with arms, food, and clothing.
Officers are distinguished from the rank and file by the magnificence
of their pipes which have certain joints to indicate the rank.
The Kingdom of Jangoma is situated on the north of Siam. It is not
easy to define its boundaries accurately as they have changed owing to
revolutions and political events. The country is governed by the
priests whose power should be limited by law since the inhabitants
style themselves "free-men," a title which servile and degraded races
ought not to assume. Few details are known of the country and its
inhabitants and we can only draw our conclusions from certain Chinese
accounts and Siamese traditions. The following is all that is at
present known to us on this matter.
The inhabitants are a well-built and vigorous race. Owing to the heat
of the sun they wear scanty raiment consisting of a thin loin cloth.
They go bareheaded and have never used shoes. The women are as
voluptuous as the Peguans, but are much more handsome and are greatly
in demand for the harems of pleasure loving Kings. Although the soil
produces every necessary and even some luxuries of life, corn cannot
be cultivated. But instead of bread, rice cakes form the staple
article of diet. Besides necessaries of life the country produces
musk, pepper, silk, gold, silver, copper and gums. It is true that
certain travellers say that the bulk of these products come from
China. But it would be less costly for a company established in Siam
to procure them from Jangoma, rather than from the remotest East, and
more so as this nation having had no commercial relations is unaware
of the advantages of its geographical position.
We have very little information about the customs of the country, but
it is known that the devil plays an important part in the beliefs of
the inhabitants. The sick promise him sacrificial offerings and if he
condescends to restore them to health they celebrate their recovery by
a great feast to which all their friends and relations bring gifts of
fruits to propitiate the evil spirit whom they look upon as the author
of all diseases.
They are quite sure that the devil has no ear for music, as it is by
instrumental efforts that they endeavour to drive him out of the
house. The same motive, doubtless prompts them to summon priests to
chant round the bedside of the sick man, who encouraged by their
dismal voices expects a speedy relief from his pains. Death, which is
a cause of mourning to men of other races of the earth, is for this
nation a festal and delightful event. There seems to be a total lack
of regret for the departed or at least they skilfully disguise their
feelings in the matter. The corpse is borne on a reed litter by
sixteen men to the place of cremation. The friends and relations,
preceded by a band, follow in the procession. Quantities of presents
are offered to the idolatrous priests who like birds of prey, live on
the spoils of the dead. When the corpse has been cremated the funeral
party returns to the house and the next two days are spent in feasting
and dancing. After this, the widow bedecked with the trappings of woe
proceeds to the cremation ground. All groan loudly and weep as they
pick up the bones left by the flames. As a sign of mourning they
merely get their hair cut.
Laos, which signifies thousands of elephants, derives its name from
the numbers of these animals living in the forests of that country.
The climate is so mild and the air so pure that we are told that men
of a hundred and even a hundred and twenty years still retain the full
powers of their manhood. The bounties of nature are manifest in the
plains and valleys and even the hilly districts. The watercourses
which receive the mountain torrents, distribute the water evenly over
the land and there are neither marshes nor stagnant ponds. The eastern
bank of the river is the more fertile, the animals on this side are
larger and finer, and the trees are more lofty. Here is grown the best
rice of the East. The ground on which it has been sown, becomes
covered with a sort of foam after the harvest and the heat of the sun
converts it into solid salt.
Benzoin and lacquer of the best quality are found in the country, and
from the latter Spanish wax is made.
Although ivory of superior quality is abundant, they consider
rhinoceros horn to be of more value, as it is supposed to have the
property of rendering the possessors lucky. The people of the upper
classes as they happen to become more prosperous, discard the horn
they possess so as to buy another which is reputed to be more
efficacious and none of their valuables is guarded with greater care.
The flowers that stud the plains nourish swarms of bees which supply
honey and wax. Tin, lead and iron mines are an important asset to the
country. Gold and silver are found in the rivers whence it is
extracted by means of iron nets.
Musk, which is one of the chief articles of commerce, is not a product
of this country, but a composition of ambergris and the secretion of a
species of cat, which gives off an agreeable perfume is used instead.
In the forests are plenty of wild animals, but cultivation is carried
on by the help of buffaloes and oxen. The rivers teem with fish, some
so large that two men can hardly carry one. The poor live on salt fish
and rice. Although there is no salt water in the country, they find
splendid rubies. Doubtless the foam that covers the fields after the
rice harvest supplies the lack of salt for the formation of this
precious stone in the bosom of the earth.
The Chinese carried on a considerable trade with Laos before the
Tartar invasion. They brought velvets, silks, stuffs, carpets,
horse-hair, cottons, gold, silver and porcelain which they bartered
for ivory, opium and drugs.
In the province of Laos from whence the kingdom takes its name, there
is a deep mine whence rubies and emeralds are extracted. The King
possesses an emerald of the size of an ordinary orange.
Commercial relations, if established in this country, would be
assuredly fruitful for the reason that the Laosians are the most
upright and honest people in the Indo-Chinese peninsula. Not that they
desire to possess every curious article of foreign origin they may
see, but they prefer to be importunate in their demands for it rather
than to attempt to gain possession of it by violence. The greatest
praise that can be bestowed upon them is to remark on their fidelity
to their pledged word. Robbery and murder are rarely heard of on the
main routes, as the townships and villages are held responsible for
any insults offered to travellers in the vicinity.
Their virtues are not unmixed with vices. By nature incorrigible
idlers, they work only when absolutely obliged to. Arduous toil
disgusts them, and destitute of perseverence, they cannot fix their
attention for long on a single object and never examine anything more
than superficially. Unbridled in their desires for the opposite sex,
they seem to live merely for reproduction.
Sorcery and magic are the sources of many crimes and superstitions,
but it is a weakness of the oriental mind never to undertake any
important matter before having consulted and paid highly for the
services of their duly qualified humbugs. The purity of the air tends
to make the people long lived, and although the country is not very
large, an army of 500,000 fighting men could easily be raised and it
would not be difficult to raise a large force of centenarians, all
healthy and vigorous. The inhabitants are less temperate than in other
Eastern countries. They take four meals a day. Rice, fish and buffalo
meat form their staple articles of diet. They rarely eat veal, beef or
poultry. Birds are roasted with their feathers which impart a
disagreeable taste to the flesh.
As a rule the magistrates and the higher officials do not take more
than one wife, but this moderation is due to motives of economy. They
wish to give the impression that they are so busy with state affairs
that they have no time to give to their own pleasures.
However they keep large numbers of concubines which make up for the
fact of their only keeping one wife. Marriage is a life-institution,
but divorce is so common that marriage appears to be but a passing
fancy. When a woman is convicted of adultery the husband can inflict
whatever punishment he thinks fit.
Funerals are occasions of festivity rather than of mourning. The
priests are well paid and are magnificently entertained. They
contribute tears and funeral dirges and point out the road to the
heavenly mansions to the spirit of the deceased. In the grave are
placed offerings of money. It is to be presumed that the priests, as
owners of the graves put the wealth buried by ignorance into
circulation again. It should be noticed that the trade of this country
has suffered from the various revolutions. In former times its
products were taken to Siam, but since the Burmese invasion, they have
been diverted to Pegu. The hatred inspired by the continuous state of
hostility between these two nations has driven trade to Cambodia where
the Laosians find a ready market for their gums, lacquer and other
articles.
This ignorant nation boasts that it taught the Siamese the art of
writing on palm leaves; the language and the characters are similar,
but the Laosians cannot pronounce the letters R. and L. It is said
that in the olden time, their mode of worship was unmixed with
superstitious beliefs. They had no temples but worshipped a Creator
god who ruled the world, and who could only be pleased by the practice
of virtue and not by sacrifice and ceremony. They believe that after
the lapse of a certain number of centuries, the universe will be
renewed. This idea of a Periodical Great Year has been adopted by
nearly all the nations of old time.
Commercial intercourse with the Chinese has altered these simple
beliefs.
They had priests who became legislators and who, in order to avoid the
risk of having their arguments refuted, produced books written in
foreign characters. As their teachings were not understood, they
appeared to be highly mysterious and were greatly respected, and it
was no difficult matter for these cunning impostors to attribute a
divine origin to their doctrinal hypotheses. Their learned men are
divided into three classes. Some teach how the universe and the gods
have been created, but they base their arguments on fables and not on
facts. Others who are styled 'the enlightened' reconcile all
embarrassing questions and contradictory statements.
The new doctrine proclaims the eternity of Heaven and sixteen worlds,
and that, in the highest of them, the lucky inhabitants taste of
perpetual felicity unmixed with sorrow. These worlds are liable to
destruction and renewal and they reckon 18,000 years since the renewal
of the actual earth. They grant the existence of a hell, but the
priests never mention the torments prepared for the wicked, lest they
should intimidate the feeble minded. Polygamy is the reward hoped for
in the next world by the righteous, but as this doctrine is somewhat
distasteful to the women, they are told that those who lead a godly
life will be changed into men. The same reward is promised to all
those who bestow their wealth on religious objects, by the assurance
that the donor will have as many women as could be purchased by the
treasure they have laid up in heaven.
The priests, sworn to celibacy, console themselves with the belief
that after death they will have the power to create a number of women
with whom they may do as they please. They practise chastity during
their lifetime with the sole idea of satiating their vicious desires
in the next world, and that which is regarded as a virtue in Heaven is
considered to be a vice on earth. Their monasteries are schools of
debauchery or are filled with men of the lowest class. Puffed up with
the dignity of their office they compel such a respect that the chief
of the nation himself can refuse to grant it at his peril only.
Their cells are separate and that of the abbot is magnificently
appointed. Gold and silk and articles of luxury are everywhere
apparent. Seated on a dazzling throne the abbot receives the worship
of his underlings and of the devout public.
I shall not enter into details of their mode of life as I should then
be obliged to repeat what I have already remarked about the priests,
but I ought to mention certain customs which seem to justify the
opinion of those who maintain that Christianity in its early forms was
established among these people.
On the fourteenth day of every month they are obliged to assemble to
make a public confession of their sins. A humble avowal is sufficient
to gain absolution, and as the penances are not painful, backsliders
are frequent. They frequently employ holy water of which they always
keep a supply handy. They consider that it is a highly efficacious
remedy against the severest diseases.
The priests, in fact, consider it as an article of of trade; and
barter it for valuable liquors. The altars are adorned with flowers,
and illuminated by torches. They also make use of rosaries, the beads
of which are often of diamonds or rubies to assist the ignorance of
those who are unable to read their prayers and hymns. They observe an
Easter and a Jubilee. During those solemn occasions, all work is
forbidden, and in consequence this time of rest in given up to
debauchery. The preachers mount on pulpits whence they announce rules
of conduct of a fairly pure and stringent nature, which however are
broken by most people. The rich purchase indulgences, but the greedy
priests only grant them for a limited period, and on expiration of the
term, a new permit to transgress the laws must be purchased. Only the
very poor need despair of the attainment of eternal felicity. The
wealthy expend vast sums on these impostors who in return agree to
expiate their peccadilloes.
The hermit priests live in dark caverns, in the midst of the forests,
where in solitary retirement a large colony grows up around them in
proof of their libidinous habits. It must not however be inferred that
there are not some melancholy individuals who disgusted with life,
bury themselves in these subterranean abodes and give themselves up to
prayer and contemplation. A life of asceticism is by no means
wearisome in tropical climates, where laziness is regarded as a
variety of annihilation. Their occult researches have undoubtedly
resulted in the discovery of certain tricks by which they impose on
popular credulity. All of their mystic rites seem to have been
modelled on or derived from the doctrines of Pythagoras or of the
Priests of Egypt. Magic was the foundation, of these doctrines, and
traces of such practice are visible in the writings of Apulius,
Iamblichus and Porphery.
The Kingdom of Cambodia is known to few travellers, who having made a
short visit there have given us very vague accounts. It is to be hoped
that the Missionaries who have planted colonies there will give us
information as to the possible advantages to be thence derived. Their
scrupulous accuracy pays greater attention to that which is useful to
us rather than to embellishments.
It is known that this country, protected by a mountain range, is
watered by the great river that traverses the country. Its equatorial
situation must of necessity give it a torrid climate, and in order to
avoid the burning heat only the banks of rivers or lakes are
inhabited. Travellers have much to suffer from the attacks of insects.
This country, one of the most fertile of the Indies produces corn,
rich harvests of rice, vegetables of fine quality, and oil which
commands a high price. Seafarers of all nationalities have landed to
take in supplies. Besides these important products, sugar and indigo
of good quality are produced, which form leading native industries.
The country is well wooded and fruit trees are plentiful. Sapan,
sandal and other rare woods occur in the forests. All sorts of drugs,
opium and camphor are abundantly produced. An extremely transparent
variety of crystal is found in the rocks. This happy land produces
amethysts, rubies, topazes, chrysolites, agates, bloodstones and other
precious stones. Raw silk and ivory are very cheap. An ox weighing 500
lbs costs only a crown, and 150 lbs of rice can be bought for eight
sols. Everyone is allowed to hunt elephants, and tigers and lions are
found in the forests as well as most of the wild beasts which appear
to flourish only in the African deserts.
The coast line 140 leagues in extent has only five or six safe
anchorages for vessels. The most noteworthy port is opposite to the
Siamese coast and has a great trade in lac, gums and ivory. The
harbour of Pontameas would attract a great number of foreign ships but
its trade has greatly fallen off since it was demolished in 1717 by
the Siamese. The other harbours are but little known. The sea lying
between this kingdom and that of Siam is dotted by numerous islets
which render navigation dangerous. The two largest, although fertile,
have been laid waste because the pirates who infest these seas have
seized the results of the work and industry of the inhabitants. It
would be an easy matter to set up an advantageous trading-station in
Quadrol island where there are many natural sandy harbours. There is
as well a group of eight islands having a good anchorage; Pulocondor
is the only inhabited member of the group. This island is called the
island of Orleans by the French and is about three leagues long and
one and a half wide.
The harbour is commodious and the anchorage easy. The sea abounds with
many species of fish, and turtles, the shells and oil of the latter
being valuable articles of trade. It is a land of monkeys and lizards
some of which are ugly and covered with scales. Their bite is fatal.
Others have claws and their tails, seven or eight feet long, are
triangular in shape. They are good to eat. Flying squirrels and rats
having ears shaped like those of human beings are to be seen. Most of
the trees are balsamic, one species yielding gum has the bark and
leaves like that of a chestnut tree. Oil is extracted by making an
incision in the trunk and applying heat. There are many wild fruit
trees bearing appetising looking fruits, but of insiped taste and
frequently poisonous. A botanist could make a fine collection of
plants and flowers unknown in other climates.
There is only one village inhabited by about 400 persons; frequently
it is deserted as the inhabitants take up their abode in spots where
they can satisfy their needs. The Cochin Chinese send the Christians
to this island. It was captured by the English who set up a trading
post in 1702. The governor had hired Macassar mercenaries and had
promised to terminate their engagement after three years. He did not
keep to his agreement and he kept them to strengthen the growing
colony. This breach of trust ought to have made him wary, but he
forgot that his example might cause his betrayal. As a result these
savages, who although being rigid observers of treaties, thought they
had a right to exact vengeance, and all the English were massacred the
same night.
The Kingdom of Cambodia is inhabited by Portuguese, Japanese,
Cochin-Chinese and Malays of whom some are passing traders, but others
have become residents. The Portuguese have no priests and their
religion is a mixture of idolatry and Christianity. They are in
receipt of a small subsidy from the King, which together with the
spoils of the chase forms their means of livelihood. The men are well
built, and the women are distinctly handsome, but their lack of
modesty counterbalances all the advantages they might otherwise derive
from their personal appearance. These people never risk the perils of
the sea in order to gain wealth, but they see the ships of all nations
coming to their harbours for the purchase of the natural products of
the land which are plentiful. They dig a fair quantity of gold and
manufacture fabrics of as good quality as those of Holland. Their
skill in embroidery is well known. The Dutch used to have a trading
station and they had estimated that by the export of black lacquer,
deer-skins, oxen and buffaloes to Japan, a profit of from 40 per cent
to 70 per cent could be gained. But they met with opposition from the
Portuguese who were jealous of their prosperity, and, on account of
the various revolutions which have disturbed the peace of the kingdom,
they have been obliged to forego all the advantages that they had
hoped to gain. For these reasons, the different European nations have
had no desire to form trading stations in these parts.
The religion is somewhat similar to that of Siam. They grant the
existence of several heavenly abodes for the souls of the departed. In
some of these heavens they are regaled with the finest liquors and the
most delicious viands, and the senses are stimulated by all manner of
delights. Women always young and beautiful, reciprocate the passion
they inspire.
There is another heaven specially reserved for the solitary priests
who have lived apart from the world. Their felicity consists in the
utter absence of sensation, a sort of annihilation which is considered
the height of bliss by lazy folks. The gods abide in the highest
heaven and the privileged persons who imitate their virtues partake of
their happiness. They also grant the existence of thirteen hells to
which evil-doers are consigned according to the heinousness of their
offences.
The priesthood contains many members and is divided into several
classes, of which the first takes precedence even of the King himself.
The second class consider themselves as his equals, and as the general
belief is that they share the perfection of the deity, a profound
respect is paid to them although the majority of them are of the
lowliest origin. Their chief is known as the King of the priests and
in certain districts he has supreme authority.
There are two ranks of nobility. The governors of towns and provinces,
the ministers and judges are drawn from the first rank and are
distinguished by a golden betelnut box. The nobles of the second rank
have silver boxes.
The King is absolute. He can dispose of the goods of his subjects or
rather slaves as he pleases. Children have no right of inheritance and
whatever the King condescends to leave them is regarded as a personal
favour. Although this Kingdom is of large extent it can scarcely put
an army of 30,000 men in the field. This petty king is as proud and
luxurious as the greatest rulers of Asia and it is this idea of
imaginary greatness that frequently renders him insolent towards
foreigners.
The country of Champa has a short coast-line with many commodious bays
and harbours. Travellers have never penetrated the interior. No other
town is known but Feneri, which used to be the royal residence before
the country fell under the rule of the Cochin-Chinese, who, flying
from Tartar tyranny were welcomed by the people whose rulers they have
become. Their weapons are muskets, pikes and sabres in the use of
which they show great skill. They are gentle and affable especially to
foreigners. They show great respect for law from the King down to the
lowest of his subjects. Their code is severe and the slightest faults
do not fail to be punished. The people are not allowed to possess
silver, and anyone convicted of its possession is severely punished.
Gold is an article of trade and copper coin is the only currency. All
callings are sold at a price and the consideration they enjoy is
proportionate to the price. Whoever has sunk his fortune in the
purchase of an office soon recovers his losses by means of exactions
which are not punished, so as not to intimidate those who may wish to
become office-holders. Liberty of worship is enjoined by the laws but
most of the people are either Mahommedans or followers of Confucius;
there are also idolators, some of whom worship reptiles and the lowest
animals, while others regard the sun and moon as the creative powers.
The Mahomedans of this country do not observe the Koran strictly. They
eat pork and are so hospitable that they have no shame in prostituting
their wives to their guests. They however make an exception in the
case of the principal wife whom they cannot repudiate unless she has
been convicted of adultery.
The Chinese come annually to trade in tea, porcelain, silk and various
commodities which they barter for scented woods and for gold which is
of finer quality than the gold found in China.
No country has had greater commercial intercourse with Siam than
Cochin-China, a name signifying Western China given to it by the
Portuguese in contradistinction to China proper. The country is easy
of access, the harbours are numerous and commodious and a depth of 80
fathoms is common in the bays. The country is densely populated and
there are many towns and cities. Its fertility is due to the
periodical inundations which leave a fine alluvial deposit on their
retreat, and the heat of the sun brings the vegetable products to
maturity early and imparts a fine flavour. There is a certain species
of tree grown here known as the 'indestructible' as the timber never
rots either in water or in the earth. It is used for ship's anchors.
The mountains where this tree flourishes also produces various kinds
of scented woods and all manner of flowers and perfumes. In this
country are quarries of marble of various kinds and numerous gold
mines. The inhabitants have learnt the art of smelting metals from the
Chinese but they have not divulged the secret to them of casting iron
into cannon and mortars. On the mountains are many rhinoceros of a
larger size than any others in the Indies. Trade with the interior is
considerable, merchants resort to the fairs at which all kinds of
merchandize is offered for sale. The silk produced in this land is not
of the first quality, but it is so plentiful that it is used for
making ropes and sails. The land tortoises furnish oil. A considerable
trade is carried on in pepper, sugar, honey and wax. The Chinese and
the Japanese have the commercial supremacy. These foreigners are not
subject to the laws of the country, they are magistrates who
adjudicate all commercial disputes that arise between the traders of
their nations. The impressions of the Cochin-Chinese given to us by
travellers are partly unfavourable, and partly favourable. The Dutch
who have suffered ill usage at their hands accuse them of
faithlessness to their promises, of arrogance in their demeanour, and
of treachery. Others who have been well received by them praise their
kindliness towards foreigners, their commercial rectitude and above
all their respect for the duties of hospitality. In spite of these
conflicting opinions, all modern travellers concur in the view that
their manners are as simple as their customs. Their gentleness of
character saves them from acts of violence that in an instant ruin the
impressions derived from years of exemplary conduct.
Their diet is simple, the sole articles being rice, fish and
vegetables. Their usual beverage is a kind of tea that differs from
the Chinese variety. They mingle sugar derived from a certain tree
with their drinking water which thus acquires a pleasant taste and
odour. They have a few wines, but prefer strong liquors to wine which
they nevertheless use in moderation at marriages and other solemn
festivals, which are the only occasions of excess. Although dependent
on neighbouring nations, they allow their hair to grow long as a sign
of their freedom. Their grandees keep up splendid establishments and
wear robes embroidered with pearls which they prefer to diamonds. The
women are veiled, but uncover their faces in salutation. Their medical
men are dressed in black and wear a mitre shaped headdress. They trim
neither their beard nor their nails as a sign that they are less
desirous to please than to instruct. They know that respectability is
well assured by the adaptation of strange habits.
Their houses have no other ornamentations than paintings and gilded
sculptures. Marriage ceremonies, funeral rites and festivals are
similar to those of the Chinese from whom they are descended, but in
this, their new country, they have extinguished the torch of the
liberal arts which illumined the land of their origin. It is not that
they are without seats of learning, but such as they have are schools
of error in which under the pretext of studying astronomy, they devote
themselves to all the lies of astrology in order to seek for
revelations of the future. They predict eclipses without being able to
calculate their exact time, extent and duration and, regarding them as
omens of serious evil, employ thousands of weird methods to counteract
their supposed malign influence.
The King and all the chief officers of state as well as the learned,
follow the doctrines of Confucius, which they have received from their
ancestors. They have neither temples nor priests, but all pay deep
respect to the great god Tien. The common people, plunged in the
depths of the darkest idolatry, give themselves up to the most vulgar
superstitions. They have bonzes who are divided into several classes.
Some of them live on the produce of the land and waters assigned to
them; others, subservient to a chief, live on the alms of the people;
a more certain source than the hard won produce of the ground. If we
can judge by the filthy state of their temples, most of which are in
ruins, it seems that the priests and their devotees are the only
persons who are attached to their religion. The foreign missionaries
have made great conquests for the faith in these parts and it merely
needs a greater number of workers to gather in an abundant harvest.
Those who believe in metempsychosis are loth to kill either the most
dangerous animals, or the vilest insects, but by a strange
contradiction as is usual in erroneous doctrines, they sacrifice swine
to their gods and to the spirits of the departed. They believe that
souls which do not pass into other corporeal forms are changed into
demons, fairies or goblins. Thus it is that the fear inspired by these
malign creatures gives credence to thousands of fables.
The law is no respecter of persons. The King a severe and upright
judge passes sentence on the guilty, but his representatives in the
provinces are more lenient, as they are amenable to bribery. A woman
convicted of adultery is trampled to death by an elephant. A first act
of theft is punished by the loss of a finger, the second by the loss
of an ear, and the third by death. This graduated system of punishment
should be a lesson to those nations generally whose laws inflict the
same penalty on one, who by a passing weakness has committed some
crime, or on another who is a hardened criminal. False witness is
punished according to the nature of the charge brought. When the King
pronounces sentence he is mounted on a fine elephant and petitioners
may only approach within eighty paces of the royal presence.
This Prince is wealthy for the reason that many of his neighbours pay
a high price for his protection. He derives a considerable revenue
from the elephants, wax, and ivory produced in his country; the
tribute paid in scented woods and gold dust by his vassals forms
another source of income. Besides the tribute exacted from the vassal
states, there is a general poll-tax, and every man from the age of 18
to 60 has to pay about fifteen livres. This tax is less derogatory
than the forced labour of eight months to which every slave or subject
is liable. The grandees are obliged to offer valuable gifts on certain
days of the year to the King, and these would exhaust their resources
if it were not for the gifts which they in return extort from their
inferiors to replace the losses caused by these forced benevolences.
At the death of each land-owner, the King takes possession of the
landed property and leaves only the money and personal effects of the
deceased to the heirs. The tariff dues on foreign merchandise are
still another source of revenue.
The Government of the Kingdom of Cochin-China is purely military. The
weapons of the country are muskets, bows and daggers. Drill is
performed in silence. The leader directs all the evolutions by motions
of his baton, and if he makes a mistake he is reduced to the ranks.
The Court is an example of Asiatic pomp. The first dignities of the
state are conferred on eunuchs, as it is supposed that as they are
unable to beget children, they will be all the less avaricious.
This policy has not succeeded in Europe, where experience has shown
that celibate ministers have accumulated vast wealth. The
heir-presumptive to the throne has command of the navy, and of his
private body guard of 5,000 men. The younger son is commander-in-chief
of the army. He has also a body guard of 2,000 men. A standing army is
maintained as a protection against rebellions.
Crimes against the King's person are cruelly punished. The guilty
party is tied up to a post and each soldier cuts off a piece of his
flesh until nothing but the skeleton remains. The severity of the code
in force proves that the nation is prone to crime. The law endeavours
to deter crime by the threats of severe punishment. The soldiers are
clad in satin and the uniforms of the officers are of velvet and
silver.
There are military schools in which children are trained at the public
expense. The spirit of emulation is fostered by rewards which pander
to the growing mind. They receive silk dresses and other accoutrements
that flatter their vanity. Those who take no advantage from their
lessons are dressed in linen.
Christianity has made great progress in this land, but has had much to
fight against. The ignorance of the idolatrous priests, and the
foolish nature of their doctrines, have been favourable to the
progress of Missionary enterprise.