CHAP. I. The Geographical Description .

NAvigation has sufficiently made known the Sea Coasts of the Kingdom of Siam , and many Authors have described them ; How much this Kingdom is unknown . but they know almost nothing of the Inland Country , because the Siameses have not made a Map of their Country , or at least know how to keep it secret . That which I here present is the work of an European , who went up the Menam , the principal River of the Country , to the Frontiers of the Kingdom ; but was not skilful enough to give all the Positions with an entire exactness . Besides he has not seen all ; and therefore I thought it necessary to give his Map to Mr. Cassini , Director of the Observatory at Paris , to correct it by some Memorials which were given me at Siam . Nevertheless I know it to be still defective ; but yet it fails not to give some notices of this Kingdom which were never heard of , and of being more exact in those we already have :

Its Frontiers extend Northward to the 22d. Degree , or thereabouts ; Its Frontiers Northward . and the Road which terminates the Gulph of Siam , being almost at the Latitude of 13 degrees and a half , it follows , that this whole extent , of which we hardly have any knowledge , runs about 170 Leagues in a direct Line , reckoning 20 Leagues to a degree of Latitude , after the manner of our Seamen .

The Siameses do say that the City of Chiamai is fifteen days journey more to the North , than the Frontiers of their Kingdom , that is to say at most , The City of Chiamai and its Lake . between sixty and seventy Leagues ; for they are Journeys by water , and against the Stream . 'T is about thirty years since their King , as they report , took this City , and abandon'd it , after having carried away all the People ; and it has been since repeopled by the King of Ava , to whom Pegu does at present render Obedience . But the Siameses which were at that expedition , do not know that famous Lake , from whence our Geographers make the River Menam arise , and to which , according to them , this City gives its Names : which makes me to think either that it is more distant than our Geographers have conceived , or that there is no such Lake . It may also happen that this City adjoyning to several Kingdoms , and being more subject than another to be ruined by War , has not always been rebuilt in the same place : And this is not difficult to imagine of the Cities which are built only with wood , as all in these Countreys are , and which in their destruction leave not any Ruines nor Foundations . However it may be doubted , whether the Menam springs from a Lake , by reason it is so small at its entrance into the Kingdom of Siam , that for about fifty Leagues , it carries only little Boats capable of holding no more than four or five Persons at most .

The Kingdom of Siam is bounded from the East to the North by high Mountains , which separate it from the Kingdom of Laos , The Country of Siam is only a Valley . and on the North and West by others , which divide it from the Kingdoms of Pegu and Ava . This double Chain of Mountains ( inhabited by a few , savage , and poor , but yet free People , whose Life is innocent ) leaves between them a great Valley , containing in some places between fourscore and an hundred Leagues in bredth , and is watered from the City of Chiamai to the Sea , that is to say from the North to the South , with an excellent River which the Siameses call Me-nam , or Mother-water , to signifie , a great water , which being encreased by the Brooks and Rivers it receives on every side , from the Mountains I have mentioned , discharges it self at last into the Gulph of Siam by three months , the most navigable of which is that toward the East .

Cities seated on the River . On this River , and about seven Miles from the Sea , is seated the City of Bancok : and I shall transiently declare , that the Siameses have very few habitations on their Coasts , which are not far distant from thence ; but are almost all seated on Rivers navigable enough to afford them the Commerce of the Sea . As to the names of most of these places , which for this reason may be called Maritime , they are disguised by Foreigners . Thus the City of Bancok is called Fon in Siamese , it not being known from whence the name of Bancok is derived , altho there be several Siamese Names , that begin with the word Ban , which signifies a Village .

The Gardens of Bancok . The Gardens which are in the Territory of Bancok , for the space of four Leagues , in ascending towards the City of Siam to a place named Talacoan , do supply this City with the Nourishment which the Natives of the Country love best , I mean a great quantity of Fruit.

Other Cities on the Menam . The other principal places which the Menam waters , are , Me-Tac the first City of the Kingdom to the North North-West , and then successively Tian-Tong , Campeng pet or Campeng simple , which some do pronounce Campingue , Laconcevan , Tchainat , Siam , Talacoan , Talaqueou , and Bancok . Between the two Cities of Tchainat and Siam , and at a distance , which the Maeanders of the River do render almost equal from each other , the River leaves the City of Louvo a little to the East , at the 14 d. 42 m. 32 S. of Latitude , according to the observations which the Jesuites have published . The King of Siam does there spend the greatest part of the year , the more commodiously to enjoy the diversion of Hunting : but Louvo would not be habitable , were it not for a channel cut from the River to water it . The City of Me-Tac renders obedience to an Hereditary Lord , who , they say , is a Vassal to the King of Siam , whom some call Paya-Tac , or Prince of Tac. Tian-Tong is ruin'd , doubtless by the Ancient Wars of Pegu. Campeng is known by the Mines of excellent Steel .

Another River likewise called Menam . At the City of Laconcevan the Menam receives another considerable River which comes also from the North , and is likewise called Menam , a name common to all great Rivers . Our Geographers make it to spring from the Lake of Chiamai : but it is certain that it hath its source in the Mountains , which lye not so much to the North as this City . It runs first to Meuang-fang , then to Pitchiai , Pitsanoulouc , and Pitchit , and at last to Laconcevan , where it mixes , as I have said with the other River .

Pitsanoulouc , which the Portugueses do corruptly call Porselouc has formerly had hereditary Lords , like the City of Me-Tac : and Justice is at present executed in the Palace of the Ancient Princes . 'T is a City of great commerce , fortified with fourteen Bastions , and is at 19 degrees and some minutes Latitude .

Laconcevan stands about the mid-way from Pitsanoulouc or Porselouc to Siam , a distance computed to be Twenty five days Journey , for those that go up the River in a Boat or Balon ; but this voyage may be performed in twelve days when they have a great many Rowers , and they ascend the River with speed .

Cities of Wood. These Cities , like all the rest in the Kingdom of Siam , are only a great number of Cabbins frequently environ'd with an enclosure of Wood , and sometimes with a Brick , or Stone Wall , but very rarely of Stone . Nevertheless as the Eastern people have ever had as much magnificence and pride in the figures of their Language ▪ as simplicity and poverty in whatever appertains to Life , the names of these Cities do signifie great things ; Tian-Tong , for instance , signifies True Gold ; Campeng pet , Walls of Diamond ; and 't is said that its Walls are of Stone : The superstition of the Siameses at Meuang-fang . and Laconcevan signifies the Mountain of Heaven .

A MAPP of the Course of the River MENAM from SIAM to the SEA .

Such another Superstition prevails at a place named Prabat , Another Superstition at Prabrat . about five or six leagues to the East-North-East of the City of Louvo ; the superstition is this ; In the Balie Language , which is the learned tongue of the Siameses , or the Tongue of their Religion , Bat signifies a Foot , and the word Pra , of which it is not possible exactly to render the signification , signifies in the same tongue whatever may be conceived worthy of veneration and respect . The Siameses do give this title to the Sun and Moon , but they do also give it to Sommona-Codom , to their Kings , and some considerable Officers .

The Prabat is therefore the print of a mans foot , What it is . cut by an ill Graver upon a Rock ; but this impression containing about 13 or 14 inches in depth , is five or six times as long as a man's Foot , and proportionably as broad . The Siameses adore it , and are perswaded that the Elephants , especially the white ones , the Rhinoceros , and all the other Beasts of their Woods , do likewise go to worship it when no person is there ; And the King of Siam himself goes to adore it once a year with a great deal of Pomp and Ceremony . It is covered with a Plate of Gold , and inclosed in a Chappel which is there built . They report that this Rock which is now very flat and like a new mown Field , was formerly a very high Mountain , which shrunk and waxed level on a sudden under the Foot of Sommona-Codom , in memory of whom they believe that the Impression of the Foot does there remain . Nevertheless it is certain by the Testimony of ancient men , that the Antiquity of this Tradition exceeds not 90 years . A Talapoin , or Religious Siamese , of that time , having doubtless made this Impression himself , or procured it to be made , and then feigned to have miraculously discovered it ; and without any other appearance of Truth , gave Reputation and Credit to this Fable of the levell'd Mountain .

Now in all this the Siameses are only gross Imitators . The Original of this Superstition . In the Histories of India it is related , with what respect a King of the Island of Ceylon kept an Apes Tooth , which the Indians averred to be a Relique , and with what Sums he endeavoured to purchase and ransom it from Constantine of Brigantium , then Viceroy of the Indies , who had found it amongst the Spoils taken from the Indians : But Constantine chose rather to burn it , and afterwards throw the Ashes into a River . 'T is known likewise that in the same Island of Ceylon , which the Indians do call Lanca , and on a real Mountain which is not levelled , there is a pretended print of a Man's foot , which has for a long time been in great Veneration there . It doubtless represents the Left foot : For the Siameses report that Sommona-Codom set his right foot on their Prabat , and his left on Lanca ; altho the whole Gulph of Bengala runs between them .

The Portuguese have called the Print at Ceylon Adam's Foot , What the Adam's foot of Ceylon is . and believe that Ceylon was the Terrestrial Paradise , from the Faith of the Indians at Ceylon , who declare that the Impression which they reverence , is the Print of the first Man : Every one of these Heathenish Nations vigorously asserting that the first Man inhabited their Country . Thus the Chineses do call the first man Puoncuò , and believe that he inhabited China . I say nothing of some other Impressions of this nature , which are rever'd in several places of the Indies ; nor of the pretended print of Hercules foot , mentioned by Herodotus . Lib. 4. c. 82. I return to my subject .

CHAP. II. A Continuation of the Geographical Description of the Kingdom of Siam , with an Account of its Metropolis .

Other Cities of the Kingdom of Siam . ON the Frontiers of Pegu is seated the City of Cambory , and on the borders of Laos the Town of Corazema , which some do call Carissima , both very Famous . And in the Lands which lie between the Rivers above the City of Laconcevan , and on the Channels which have a Communication from one River to the other , there are two other considerable Cities , Socotai , almost in the same Latitude with Pitchit , and Sanquelouc more to the North.

A Countrey intersected with Channels . The City of Siam described . The Country being so hot that it is inhabitable only near Rivers , the Siameses have cut a great many Channels ; and without having better Memoirs or Notes , 't is impossible to reckon up all the Cities seated thereon .

'T is by the means of these Channels , called by the Siameses Cloum , that the City of Siam is not only become an Island , but is placed in the middle of several Islands , which renders the situation thereof very singular . The Isle wherein it is situated , is at present all inclosed within its walls , which certainly was not in the time of Ferdinand Mendez Pinto ; if notwithstanding the continual mistakes of this Author , who seems to rely too much on his memory , we may believe what he says , that the Elephants of the King of Pegu , who then besieged the City of Siam , did so nearly approach the Walls , as with their Trunks to beat down the Palisado's which the Siameses had there placed to cover themselves .

It s Latitude , according to Father Thomas the Jesuit , is 14 d. 20 m. 40 S. and its Longitude 120 d. 30 m. It has almost the figure of a Purse , the mouth of which is to the East , and the bottom to the West . The River meets it at the North by several Channels , which run into that which environs it ; and leaves it on the South , by separating itself again into several streams . The King's Palace stands to the North on the Canal which embraces the City ; and by turning to the East , there is a Causey , by which alone , as by an Isthmus , People may go out of the City without crossing the water .

The City is spacious , considering the Circuit of its Walls , which , as I have said , incloses the whole Isle ; but scarce the sixth part thereof is inhabited , and that to the South-East only . The rest lies desart , where the Temples only stand . 'T is true that the Suburbs , which are possessed by strangers , do considerably increase the number of the People . The streets thereof are large and strait , and in some places planted with Trees , and paved with Bricks laid edgewise . The Houses are low , and built with Wood ; at least those belonging to the Natives , who , for these Reasons , are exposed to all the Inconveniences of the excessive heat . Most of the streets are watered with strait Canals , which have made Siam to be compar'd to Venice , and on which are a great many small Bridges of Hurdles , and some of Brick very high and ugly .

Its Names . The Name of Siam is unknown to the Siamese . 'T is one of those words which the Portugues of the Indies do use , and of which it is very difficult to discover the Original . They use it as the Name of the Nation , and not of the Kingdom : And the Names of Pegu , Lao , Mogul , and most of the Names which we give to the Indian Kingdoms , are likewise National Names ; so that to speak rightly , we must say , the King of the Peguins , Laos , Moguls , Siams , as our Ancestors said , the King of the Franc's . In a word , those that understand Portuguese , do well know that according to their Orthography , Siam and Siaom are the same thing ; and that by the Similitude of our Language to theirs , we ought to say the Sions , and not the Siams : so when they write in Latin , they call them Siones . The true Name of the Siameses signifies Francs .

A Map of the Citty of SIAM A. The Citty B. The Pallace C. The Port D. the Arsenall for the Ships E. the Arsenall for the Ballons & Galleys . F. The Street of the Bazars G. The Seminary H. The Portuguese Iacobins I. The Portuguese Iesuites K. The Dutch Factory L. The Inclosur where the Elephants are taken M. A House begun for the French Ambassadors 800 French Toises

The Bambou Tree The Arvore de Raiz

A Map of Bancock

A Vessell of filigran

A Plaugh

The Arc Kier

As for the City of Siam , the Siameses do call it Si-yo-thi-ya , the o of the Syllable yo being closer than our Dipthong an . Sometimes also they call it Crung the-papra maha nacon : But most of these words are difficult to understand , because they are taken from this Baly Language , which I have already declared to be the learned Language of the Siameses , and which they themselves do not always perfectly understand . I have already remark'd what I know concerning the word Pra , that of Maha signifies Great . Thus in speaking of their King , they stile him Pra Maha Crassat ; and the word Crassat , according to their report signifies living ; and because the Portugues have thought that Pra signifies God , they imagin that the Siameses called their King , The great living God . From Si-yo-thi ya , the Siamese Name of the City of Siam , Foreigners have made Judia , and Odiaa , by which it appears that Vincent le Blanc , and some other Authors , do very ill distinguish Odiaa from Siam :

In a word , the Siameses , of whom I treat , do call themselves Tai Noe , Two different People called Siameses . little Siams . There are others , as I was informed , altogether savage , which are called Tai yai , great Siams , and which do live in the Northern Mountains . In several Relations of these Countries , I find a Kingdom of Siammon , or Siami : but all do not agree that the People thereof are savage .

In fine , the Mountains which lie on the common Frontiers of Ava , Other Mountains , and other Frontiers . Pegu and Siam , gradually decreasing as they extend to the South , do form the Peninsula of India extra Gangem , which terminating at the City of Sincapura , separates the Gulphs of Siam and Bengala , and which with the Island of Sumatra forms the famous Strait of Malaca , or Sincapura . Several Rivers do fall from every part of these Mountains into the Gulphs of Siam and Bengala , and render these Coasts habitable . The other Mountains which rise between the Kingdom of Siam and Laos , and extend themselves also towards the South , do run gradually decreasing , till they terminate at the Cape of Camboya , the most Eastern of all those in the Continent of Asia toward the South . 'T is about the Latitude of this Cape , that the Gulph of Siam begins ; and the Kingdom of this Name extends a great way towards the South in form of an Horseshoe on either side of the Gulph , viz. along the Eastern Coast to the River Chantebon , where the Kingdom of Camboya begins ; and opposite thereunto , viz. in the Peninsula extra Gangem , which lies on the West of the Gulph of Siam , it extends to Queda and Patana , the Territories of the Malayans , of which Malaca was formerly the Metropolis .

After this manner it runs about 200 Leagues on the side toward the Gulph of Siam , and 180 , or thereabouts , on the Gulph of Bengal , The Coasts of Siam . an advantageous situation which opens unto the Natives of the Countrey the Navigation on all these vast Eastern Seas . Add that as Nature has refus'd all manner of Ports and Roads to the Coast of Coromandel , which forms the Gulph of Bengal to the West , it has therewith enrich'd that of Siam which is opposite to it , and which is on the East of the same Gulph .

A great number of Isles do cover it , Isles of Siam in the Gulph of Bengal . and render it almost everywhere a safe Harbor for Ships ; besides , that most of these Isles have very excellent Ports , and abundance of fresh water and wood , an invitation for new Colonies . The King of Siam affects to be called Lord thereof , altho' his People , who are very thin in the firm Land , have never inhabited them ; and he has not strength enough at Sea to prohibit or hinder the enterance thereof to strangers .

The City of Merguy . The City of Merguy lies on the North-West Point of a great and populous Island , which at the extremity of its course forms a very excellent River , which the Europeans have called Tenasserim , from the Name of a City seated on its Banks about 15 Leagues from the Sea . This River comes from the North , and after having passed through the Kingdoms of Ava and Pegu , and enter'd into the Lands under the King of Siam's Jurisdiction , it discharges itself by three Chanels into the Gulph of Bengal , and forms the Island I have mention'd . The Ports of Merguy , which some report to be the best in all India , is between this Isle and another that is inhabited , and lies opposite , and to the West of this , wherein Merguy is situated .

CHAP. III. Concerning the History and Origine of the Siameses .

The Siameses little curious of their History . THE Siamese History is full of Fables . The Books thereof are very scarce , by reason the Siameses have not the use of Printing ; for upon other Accounts I doubt of the report , that they affect to conceal their History , seeing that the Chineses , whom in many things they imitate , are not so jealous of theirs . However that matter is , notwithstanding this pretended Jealousy of the Siameses , they who have attain'd to read any thing of the History of Siam , assert that it ascends not very high with any character of truth .

The Epocha of the Siameses . Behold a very dry and insipid Chronological Abridgment which the Siameses have given thereof : But before we proceed , it is necessary to tell you , that the current year 1689 , beginning it in the month of December 1688 , is the 2233 of their Aera , from which they date the Epocha , or beginning ( as they say ) from Sommona-Codom's death . But I am persuaded that this Epocha has quite another foundation , which I shall afterwards explain .

Their Kings . Their first King was named Pra Poat honne sourittep-pennaratui sonanne bopitra . The chief place where he kept his Court was called Tchai pappe Mahanacon , the situation of which I ignore ; and he began to reign An. 1300. computing after their Epocha . Ten other Kings succeeded him , the last of which , named Ipoja sanne Thora Thesma Teperat , remov'd his Royal Seat to the City of Tasco Nacora Louang , which he had built , the situation of which is also unknown to me . The twelfth King after him , whose Name was Pra Poa Noome Thele seri , obliged all his People in 1731 , to follow him to Locintai , a City seated on a River , which descends from the Mountains of Laos , and runs into the Menam a little above Porselouc , from which Locontai is between 40 and 50 Leagues distant . But this Prince resided not always at Locontai ; for he came and built , and inhabited the City of Pipeli on a River , the mouth of which is about two Leagues to the West of the most occidental mouth of Menam . Four other Kings succeeded him , of which Rhamatilondi , the last of the four , began to build the City of Siam in 1894 , and there established his Court. By which it appears , that they allow to the City of Siam the Antiquity of 338 years . The King Regent is the twenty fifth from Rhamatilondi , and this year 1689 , is the 56th or 57th year of his age . Thus do they reckon 52 Kings in the space of 934 years , but not all of the same Blood .

The Race of the present King . Mr. Gervaise in his Natural and Political History of the Kingdom of Siam , gives us the History of the now Regent King's Father ; and Van Vliet gives it us much more circumstanciated , in his Historical Relation of the Kingdom of Siam , printed at the end of Sir Thomas Herbert's Travels into Persia . I refer the Reader thither to see an Example of the Revolutions , which are common at Siam ; for this King who was not of the Royal Race , tho' Vliet asserts the contrary , took away the Scepter and Life of his Natural Lords , and put to death all the Princes of their Blood except two , which were alive when Vliet writ , but of whom I could not learn any News . Without all doubt this Usurper put them to death like the rest . And in truth , John Struys , in the First Tome of his Voyages , asserts that this was the Fate of the last of these two Princes , who was alive in the year 1650 , and was then 20 years old ; the Tyrant put him to death that very year , with one of his Sisters , upon an Accusation notoriously false : But a remarkable Circumstance of the History of his Usurpation , was , that entering by force of Arms into the Palace , he forced the King to quit it , and flie into a Temple for refuge ; and having drag'd this unfortunate Prince out of this Temple , and carry'd him back a Prisoner to the Palace , he caus'd him to be declared unworthy of the Crown and Government , for having deserted the Palace . To this Usurper who died in 1657 , after a Reign of 30 years , succeeded his Brother ; because his Son could not , or durst not then to dispute the Crown with him . On the contrary , to secure his Life , he sought a Sanctuary in a Cloyster , and cloath'd himself with the inviolable Habit of a Talapoin . But he afterwards so politickly took his measures , that he dispossess'd his Uncle , who flying from the Palace on his Elephant , was slain by a Portuguese with a Musquet .

Ferdinand Mendez Pinto relates that the King of Siam , Another Example of the Revolutions of Siam . who reigned in 1547 , and to whom he gives great Praises , was poyson'd by the Queen his Wife at his return from a military Expedition . This Princess deliberated thus to prevent the vengeance of her Husband , by reason that during his absence she had maintain'd an amorous Commerce , by which she prov'd with Child . And this Author adds , that she soon after destroy'd the King her own Son in the same manner , and had the Credit to get the Crown set upon her Lover's Head the 11th of November 1548. But in January 1549 , they were both assassinated in a Temple , and a Bastard Prince , the Brother and Uncle of the two last Kings , was taken out of a Cloyster to be advanced on the Throne . The Crowns of Asia are always instable , and those of India , China and Japan , much more than the others .

As for what concerns the Origine of the Siameses , it would be difficult to judge whether they are only a single People , A Doubt as to the Origine of the Siameses . directly descended from the first Men that inhabited the Countrey of Siam , or whether in process of time some other Nation has not also setled there , notwithstanding the first Inhabitants .

The principal Reason of this Doubt proceeds from the Siameses understanding two Languages , viz. the Vulgar , which is a simple Tongue , Two Languages at Siam . consisting almost wholly of Monosyllables , without Conjugation or Declension ; and another Language which I have already spoken of , which to them is a dead Tongue , known only by the Learned , which is called the Balie Tongue , and which is enricht with the inflexions of words , like the Languages we have in Europe . The terms of Religion and Justice , the names of Offices , and all the Ornaments of the Vulgar Tongue are borrow'd from the Balie . In this Language they compose their best Songs ; so that it seems at least that some Foreign Colony had formerly inhabited the Countrey of Siam , and had carry'd thither a second Language . But this is a Dispute that might be rais'd concerning all the Countries of India ; for , like Siam , they all have two Languages , one of which is still remaining only in their Books .

The Siameses assert that their Laws are Foreign , What the Siameses report concerning the Origine of their Laws and Religion . and came to them from the Countrey of Laos , which has , perhaps , no other Foundation than the Conformity of the Laws of Laos with those of Siam , even as there is a Conformity between the Religions of these two Nations , and with that of the Peguins . Now this does not strictly prove that any of these three Kingdoms hath given its Laws and its Religion to the rest , seeing that it may happen that all the three may have deriv'd their Religion and their Laws from another common Source . However it be , as the Tradition is at Siam , that their Laws and Kings came from Laos , the same Tradition runs at Laos , that their Kings and most of their Laws came from Siam .

Of the Balie Language . The Siameses speak not of any Country where the Balie Language , which is that of their Laws and their Religion , is now in use . They suspect indeed , according to the report of some amongst them , which have been at the Coast of Coromandel , that the Balie Language has some similitude with some one of the Dialects of that Country : but they agree at the same time that the Letters of the Balie Language are known only amongst them . The secular Missionaries established at Siam , are of opinion that this Language is not entirely extinct : by reason they saw in their Hospital a man come from about the Cape of Comorin , who interspers'd several Balie words in his discourse , affirming that they were used in his Country , and that he had never studied , and knew only his Mother Tongue . They moreover averr for truth , that the Religion of the Siumeses came from those Quarters , because that they have read in a Balie Book , that Sommona-Codom whom the Siameses adore , was the Son of a King of the Island of Ceylon .

The Siameses resemble their Neighbours . But setting aside all these uncertainties , the vulgar Language of the Siameses , like in its Simplicity to those of China , Tonquin , Cochinchina , and the other States of the East , sufficiently evinces that those who speak it , are near of the same Genius with their Neighbours . Add hereunto their Indian Figure , the colour of their Complexion mixt with red and brown , ( which corresponds neither to the North of Asia , Europe , nor Africk , ) Add likewise their short Nose rounded at the end , as their Neighbours generally have it ; the upper Bone of their Cheeks high and raised , their Eyes slit a little upwards , their Ears larger than ours , in a word all the Lineaments of the Indian and Chinese Physiognomy ; their Countenance naturally squeez'd and bent like that of Apes , and a great many other things which they have in common with these Animals , as well as a marvellous passion for Children . For nothing is equal to the Tenderness which the great Apes expressed to their Cubs , except the Love which the Siameses have for all Children , whether for their own , or those of another .

The King of Siam loves Children till 7 or 8 years old . The King of Siam himself is incompass'd with them , and delights to educate them till seven or eight years old : after which , as they lose the childish Air , they do also lose his Favour . One alone , say some , was there kept till between twenty and thirty years of Age , and is still his favourite . Some do call him his adopted Son , others suspect him to be his Bastard ; He is at least Foster Brother to his Lawful Daughter .

That the Siameses came not from far to Inhabit their Country . But if you consider the extreamly Low Lands of Siam , that they seem to escape the Sea as it were by miracle , and that they lye annually under rain water for several Months , the almost infinite number of very incommodious Insects which they engender , and the excessive Heat of the Climate under which they are seated ; it is difficult to comprehend that others could resolve to inhabit them , excepting such as came thither by little and little from places adjacent : And it may be thought that they have been inhabited not many Ages , if a Judgment may be made thereof by the few Woods that are stubbed as yet . Moreover it would be necessary to travel more to the North of Siam , to find out the warlike People which could yield those innumerable swarms of men , which departed out of their own Country to go and possess others . And how is it possible that they should not be stopp'd on the Road , among some of those soft and effeminate People , which lye between the Country of the Scythians , and the Woods and impassable Rivers of the Siameses ? 'T is not therefore probable that the Lesser Siameses , which we have spoken of , are descended from the Greater , and that the Greater withdrew into the Mountains which they inhabit , to free themselves from the Tyranny of the neighbouring Princes , under which they were born .

Three Baly Alphabets

Kià Keù̈ Keuà Koù̈a Koüà Ké Kê Ko Kaou Koum Kam Karama Ko Koüaí Keua reu reû leu leû Ca Kha Kha go nga Tcha Tcha Tcha Tcha ya thá tha da na Ta tha t●a da na pa ppa da me Ca ra la ua ta ha la ang Ka Kaa Ki Ku Kou Koû Ke Kái Ko Káon Kam̀ Ká Ka-na Ka nâ Kad-ni Kard Kanou Kanou Ka-ne Kanai Ka na Ka naoń Kananǵ Ka-na

The Siamese Cyphers

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

The Siamese numeral Names .

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 20 30

depiction of a Hookah A Smoaking Instrument which : the Mod●● of Siam●do use .

AA . a Pipe of Bambou 8 or 9 footlong

The Chinese-Chese-Boord .

1 The King 2 The Guards 3 The Elephants 4 The Knights 5 The Waggons 6 The Canons 7 The Pawns 8 The River

A Musical Instrument with . Bells

The Chinese Abacus or Arithmetical Instrume nt . or Counting

They inhabit different quarters in the City or Suburbs of Siam ; The people of the Kingdom of Siam not very numerous . and yet this City is very little inhabited in respect to its Bigness , and the Country much less in Proportion . It must be imagined that they desire not a greater People , for they count them every year ; and do well know , what no person ignores , that the only secret to encrease them , would be to ease them in the Taxes and Impositions . The Siameses do therefore keep an exact account of the Men , Women , and Children ; and in this vast extent of Land , according to their own Confession , they reckon'd up the last time but Nineteen Hundred Thousand Souls . From which I question not that some retrenchment is to be made for Vanity and Lyes , Characters essential to the Eastern people ; but on the other hand , thereunto must be added the Fugitives , which do seek a Sanctuary in the Woods against the Government .