Chapter I: Preface

This volume is a response to calls for information on Siam and Laos. A score of missionaries have contributed chapters. Some have written amidst conflicting claims of the crowded field-life; others, during brief visits to the home-land; several are children of missionaries and were born in Indo-China; others are noble pioneer workers, whose long years of service abroad are now ended. A few of the chapters originally appeared in a missionary periodical. Two of the writers have “entered into rest.” The editor is much indebted also to the standard works of Pallegoix, Bowring, Crawford, Mouhot and several more recent travelers, to geographical papers and official reports, and to valuable original data furnished by Dr. House, Dr. Cheek and others.

Adaptation and necessary condensation of the information thus gathered make special credit often impossible, but doubtful points have been verified by reference to competent authority, so far as practicable.

The contributions of our missionaries have special value. For years they have been brought into close contact with the people in their homes, schools, wats and markets, mingling as honored guests in social gatherings and at official ceremonials, enjoying full opportunity of studying the natives at work, at play and at worship. As teachers, physicians, translators and trusted counselors they are recognized as public benefactors by the king and many high officials. Siam owes the introduction of printing, European literature, vaccination, modern medical practice, surgery and many useful mechanical appliances to our American missionaries. They have stimulated philosophical inquiry, paved the way for foreign intercourse with civilized nations, given a great shock to the grosser forms of idolatry among the more enlightened, leavened the social and intellectual ideas of the “Young Siam” party, and, almost imperceptibly, but steadily, undermined the old hopeless Buddhist theories with the regenerating force of gospel truth.

The young king publicly testified on a late occasion: “The American missionaries have lived in Siam a long time; they have been noble men and women, and have put their hearts into teaching the people, old and young, that which is good, and also various arts beneficial to my kingdom and people. Long may they live, and never may they leave us!”

May this volume aid in arousing a more intelligent and generous interest in this field――the sacred trust of our American Presbyterian Church; may it promote a truer sense of the heroic sacrifices, the patient and multiplied labors, of the noble band who for the past half century have toiled and waited in hope for the spiritual regeneration of the Siamese and Laos!

SCHENECTADY, May, 1884.

N. B. Uniformity in the spelling of Siamese and Laos proper
names is not yet attainable. Different ears catch the
foreign sounds and transliterate them differently, giving an
endless variation. Thus the single city which we give as
Cheung Mai, following Dr. Cheek, may be found in books and
maps as Cheng Mai, Cheang Mai, Zimma, Chang Mai, etc. To
ascertain the pronunciation in such cases, see what one
pronunciation can be made to cover all of these spellings.
It is hoped that the present volume is a step in the
direction of a correct transliteration of Siamese names.

CONTENTS.

PART I.

SIAM.

CHAPTER I.
PAGE
THE INDO-CHINESE PENINSULA. _An Introductory Sketch._ 15

CHAPTER II.

SIGHT-SEEING IN BANGKOK. _Mrs. S. R. House, formerly
of Bangkok._ 81

CHAPTER III.

TOURING IN SIAM. _Mrs. S. R. House, formerly of Bangkok._ 96

CHAPTER IV.

IN AND ABOUT PETCHABUREE. _Miss Sarah Coffman, Petchaburee._ 112

CHAPTER V.

ANIMALS OF SIAM. _Mrs. S. R. House, Bangkok._ 120

CHAPTER VI.

THE CHINESE IN SIAM. _Mrs. N. A. McDonald, Bangkok._ 145

PART II.

VARIETIES OF SIAMESE LIFE.

CHAPTER VII.

A SIAMESE WEDDING. _Mrs. J. W. Van Dyke, Petchaburee._ 162

CHAPTER VIII.

HOUSEKEEPING IN SIAM. _Miss M. L. Cort, Petchaburee._ 175

CHAPTER IX.

CHILD-LIFE IN SIAM. _Miss H. H. McDonald, Bangkok._ 184

CHAPTER X.

FIRST HAIR-CUTTING OF A YOUNG SIAMESE.
_Samuel R. House, M. D., Bangkok._ 193

CHAPTER XI.

THE SCHOOLS OF SIAM. _Mrs. S. G. McFarland, Bangkok._ 206

CHAPTER XII.

HOLIDAYS IN SIAM. _Mrs. S. R. House, Bangkok._ 224

CHAPTER XIII.

A GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENT.
_The late D. Bradley, M. D., Bangkok._ 233

CHAPTER XIV.

SIAMESE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF MEDICINE.
_E. A. Sturge, M. D., Petchaburee._ 236

CHAPTER XV.

CHOLERA-TIMES IN BANGKOK. _Samuel R. House, M.D._ 241

CHAPTER XVI.

SIAMESE CUSTOMS FOR THE DYING AND DEAD.
_The late D. Bradley, M. D., of Bangkok._ 247

CHAPTER XVII.

THE WATS OF SIAM. _A Compilation._ 269

PART III.

HISTORICAL SKETCHES.

CHAPTER XVIII.

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF SIAM.
_Rev. Eugene P. Dunlap, Petchaburee._ 304

CHAPTER XIX.

MISSIONARY LADIES IN THE KING’S PALACE.
_Mrs. Mattoon, formerly of Bangkok._ 320

CHAPTER XX.

CORONATION OF HIS MAJESTY THE SUPREME KING OF SIAM.
_Rev. N. A. McDonald, Bangkok._ 338

CHAPTER XXI.

HISTORY OF THE MISSIONS IN SIAM AND LAOS.
_Samuel R. House, M. D., Bangkok._ 351

PART IV.

LAOS.

CHAPTER XXII.

LAOS LAND AND LIFE. _Mrs. S. C. Perkins, Philadelphia._ 419

CHAPTER XXIII.

FROM BANGKOK TO CHEUNG MAI.
_Mrs. Jonathan Wilson, Cheung Mai._ 460

CHAPTER XXIV.

RECOLLECTIONS OF CHEUNG MAI.
_Miss Emelie McGilvary, Cheung Mai._ 479

CHAPTER XXV.

A DAY AT CHEUNG MAI. _Mrs. Jonathan Wilson, Cheung Mai._ 491

CHAPTER XXVI.

A LAOS CABIN. _Rev. Jonathan Wilson, Cheung Mai._ 497

CHAPTER XXVII.

SUPERSTITIONS OF THE LAOS. _Dr. and Mrs. Cheek, Cheung Mai._ 504

CHAPTER XXVIII.

TREATMENT OF THE SICK. _M. R. Cheek, M. D., Cheung Mai._ 511

CHAPTER XXIX.

A TOUR IN THE LAOS COUNTRY.
_The late G. W. Vrooman, M. D., Cheung Mai._ 525