- Author:
- Wright, Arnold
- Publication Info:
-
London:
Lloyd's Greater Britain Pub. Co.,
1908,
pg 54
Text on page 54
54
TWENTIETH CENTIJRV IMPRESSIONS OF SIAM 54
their importunities." The treatment of the mission did not improve with the lapse of time. Mr. Crawfurd and his colleagues were kept under a rigid surveillanceawere, in fact, practically prisoners until the ceremony of introduction was over. This was postponed from time to time in circumstances which seemed to indicate a desire to humiliate the mission. At length, after more than a week's delay, the reception took place. Mr. Finlayson thus describes it :a
" In the evening a message was brought by the Malay to say that the minister would be glad to see Mr. Crawfurd. Accompanied by Captain Dangerlield, he accordingly paid him a visit. He received them in a large and lofty hall, open on one side, spread with carpets, and hung with glass lights and Chinese lanterns. They took their seats on carpets spread for the purpose and were entertained with tea, fruit, and Chinese preserves. It would appear that the conversation was of a general nature and rather formal. They were well pleased with the attention of the chief and spoke favourably of their reception. He offered to make what alterations were deemed necessary to fit the house for our convenienceaan offer which he subsequently bore little in remembrance. The servility which the attendants of this man observed towards him appears to have been quite disgusting and altogether degrading to humanity. During the whole of the visit they lay prostrate on the earth before him, and at a distance. When addressed they did not dare to cast their eyes towards him, but, raising the head a little, and touching the forehead with both
A PRINCE OF THE EARLY NINETEENTH CENTURY IN FULL DRESS.'
(From "The Kingdom and People of Siam.")
hands united in the manner by which we should express the most earnest supplication, their looks still directed to the ground, they whispered an answer in the most humiliating tone. The manner in which he was ap-
proached by the servants of his household was even still more revolting to nature. When refreshments were ordered they crawled forward on all-fours, supported on the elbows and toes, the body being dragged on the
ceived by Prince Kromchiat, the eldest son of the king. Accompanied by Lieut. Rutherford, Mr. Crawfurd proceeded at eight o'clock in the evening to the prince's palace. The visitors were ushered into a large hall " deco-
THE OLD PALACE AT BANGKOK AS IT WAS IN 1824.
(From " The Kingdom and People of Siam.")
ground. In this manner they pushed the dishes before them from time to time, in the best manner that their constrained and beast-like attitude would admit, until they had put them into their place, when they retreated backwards in the same grovelling manner, but not turning round. How abominable, how revolting this assumption of despotic power ! . . . Yet this haughty chief was himself but a minister of the fifth order in importance, doomed to take his turn of beast-like grovelling, as was subsequently exhibited in visiting Chromachit, son to the king. Every man here is doomed to crawl on the earth before his superiors."
Mr. Crawfurd himself in his narrative mentions a curious circumstance connected with this complimentary feast at Paknam. While they were enjoying the good things which were provided for them their attention was attracted by a curtain suspended across one end of the apartment. Their curiosity being aroused they sought information, and were told that the hanging concealed the body of the late chief of Paknam, who had died five months previously and whose remains were awaiting an auspicious day for burial. The next day more particular inquiries were made of the host relative to this gruesome experience, and some of the members of the mission were shown the corpse, which was " wrapped up in a great many folds of cloth like an Egyptian mummy, apparently quite dry, and covered with such a profusion of aromatics that there was nothing offensive about it."
A few days after the interview with the governor of Paknam Mr. Crawfurd was re-
rated with European lustres of cut glass, with European and Chinese mirrors, and with a profusion of Chinese lanterns." They discovered the prince, "a heavy and corpulent figure about thirty-eight years of age but having the appearance of fifty," sitting on a mat in the upper part of the chamber. The courtiers kept at a great distance, crouching to the very ground with their hands clasped before them. ' Mr. Crawfurd and his companion seated themselves on a carpet which was pointed out to them between the prince and his courtiers. It had been provided that the interpreters should be admitted, but when these individuals appeared they were jostled by the attendants and forced to withdraw. A somewhat long conversation was nevertheless carried on between the prince and the envoy. After some inquiries had been made relative to the Viceroy, the prince said, " I have heard of his reputation for justice and wisdom from the merchants of all nations who have of late years resorted to this country." Later, in reference to another matter, the prince observed, " When I speak of Europeans in general I do not mean the English, for their superiority over all other people, in this respect, is well known." The audience lasted two hours, and on arriving home after it the visitors found eight large tubs of sweetmeats which had been sent as a present to them by the prince.
Ultimately the 8th of April was appointed by the king for an audience. The question of the nature of the obeisance to be made to his Majesty was settled with less difficulty than had been anticipated. " It was finally determined that upon appearing in the presence weUltimately the 8th of April was appointed by the king for an audience. The question of the nature of the obeisance to be made to his Majesty was settled with less difficulty than had been anticipated. " It was finally determined that upon appearing in the presence we
