Travels in the central parts of Indo-China (Siam), Cambodia, and Laos : during the years 1858, 1859, and 1860 . ty, the habit of chewing the betel-nut producing an unsightly blackening of the teeth andswelling of the lips. It is impossible to state the exact population of Bangkok,the census of all Eastern countries being extremely im-perfect. It is estimated, however, at from three to fourhundred thousand inhabitants. Owing to its semi-aquaticsite, we had reached the centre of the city while Ibelieved myself still in the country; I was only unde-ceived by the sight of various European building
Travels in the central parts of Indo-China (Siam), Cambodia, and Laos : during the years 1858, 1859, and 1860 . ty, the habit of chewing the betel-nut producing an unsightly blackening of the teeth andswelling of the lips. It is impossible to state the exact population of Bangkok,the census of all Eastern countries being extremely im-perfect. It is estimated, however, at from three to fourhundred thousand inhabitants. Owing to its semi-aquaticsite, we had reached the centre of the city while Ibelieved myself still in the country; I was only unde-ceived by the sight of various European buildings, and thesteamers which plough this majestic river, whose marginsare studded with floating houses and shops. Bangkok is the Yenice of the East, and whether benton business or pleasure you must go by water. In placeof the noise of carriages and horses, nothing is heard butthe dip of oars, the songs of sailors, or the cries of theCipayes (Siamese rowers). The river is the high streetand the boulevard, while the canals are the cross streets,along which you glide, lying luxuriously at the bottom ofyour Chap. I. FOEEIGN MEECHANTS. 45 We cast anchor in front of the cathedral of theFrench Mission and of the modest palace of MonseigneurPallegoix, the worthy archbishop, who, for nearly thirtyyears, without any assistance but that of missionaries asdevoted as himself, has made the revered emblem ofChristianity and the name of France respected in thesedistant regions. The sight of the Cross in foreign lands speaks to theheart like meeting with an old friend; one feels comfortedand no longer alone. It is beautiful to see the devotion,self-denial, and courage of these poor and pious mis-sionaries ; a blessing as they are, also, to travellers, itwould be ungrateful not to render them the gratitudewhich is their just due. For some time past, particularly since the wars inChina and Cochin-China, Siam has been much talked ofin Europe; and, relying on the faith of treaties of peaceand c
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1864
