- Author:
- Corner, Miss (Julia)
- Publication Info:
-
London:
H.G. Bohn,
1853,
pg 375
Text on page 375
BANG-KOK, THE CAPITAL.
375
of the river presented a very busy scene ; boats and canoes of all
sizes were passing to and fro. The Menam with its tributaries, and the canals, are the one commou highway; for there are hardly any roads, even near the capital. Many of the boats were shops, containing fresh pork, dried fish, fruit, earthenware, and the like. The itinerant venders were hawking their several commodities, and crying them, as in a European town. Many of the moored boat-houses were occupied by Chinese traders, who made a good display of goods in the fronts of their shops. Among those who were in motion on the river, rowing or paddling the canoes, wras a very large proportion of women and priests, the talapoins being readily distinguished by their shaven heads and yellow raiments. This was the hour in which these priests are wont to go lagging.
View of Bang-kok.
Fresh delays and impediments were raised in the wray of our negociators, whose patience and gravity were put to a very severe test. Some of the forms, ceremonies, and scruples of the mandarins, w^ere more laughable than any farce. The greed and selfishness of these grandees, their eagerness to know what presents the mission had brought, and their impatience to get sight and possession of them, almost exceeded belief. They were detected in many falsehoods, and did notFresh delays and impediments were raised in the wray of our negociators, whose patience and gravity were put to a very severe test. Some of the forms, ceremonies, and scruples of the mandarins, w^ere more laughable than any farce. The greed and selfishness of these grandees, their eagerness to know what presents the mission had brought, and their impatience to get sight and possession of them, almost exceeded belief. They were detected in many falsehoods, and did not
