OUR AMERICAN MISSIONARIES.
Reading edition
“Siam has not been disciplined by English and French guns, like China, but the country has been opened by missionaries.”—Remark of His Grace the late Ex-Regent of Siam.
FULLY ILLUSTRATED.
PHILADELPHIA: PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION, No. 1334 CHESTNUT STREET.
COPYRIGHT, 1884, BY
THE TRUSTEES OF THE
PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Westcott & Thomson, Stereotypers and Electrotypers, Philada.
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.
The Indo-Chinese Peninsula. An Introductory Sketch. PAGE 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
CHAPTER XXX.
China to British India, via Cheung Mai. M. A. Cheek, M. D., Cheung Mai. 543
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
His Supreme Majesty, Chulalangkorn I., King of Siam.
Frontispiece.
Burmese Temple 23
Ruins of a Pagoda at Ayuthia 29
Siamese Gentleman in Modern Court-Dress 32
Siamese Lady in Modern Court-Dress 33
View of Paknam, on the Menam 37
Port of Chantaboon 41
Lion Rock, at the Entrance of the Port of Chantaboon 44
Types of Women of Farther India 57
Scene on an Oriental River 65
The Bread-Fruit 72
The Lotus 74
Bird of Paradise 77
Monkeys Playing with a Crocodile 79
Bangkok, on the Menam 83
House-Sparrow 84
Floating Stores at Bangkok 89
Missionary-Boat for Touring in Siam 97
Prabat 103
House at Petchaburee 113
View of the Mountains of Petchaburee 116
Monkeys 121
Java Sparrows 122
The Cobra 123
Hunting the Crocodile 127
Elephants at Home 129
An Elephant Ploughing 131
The White Elephant 141
Home of Rich Chinaman 146
Chinese Boat-People 151
Chinese Cemetery 152
Paper Prayers 155
Parlor of Chinese House 156
Mission-House 171
Siamese Ladies Dining 179
A Young Siamese Prince 189
A Chinese Street-Show 191
Removal of the Tuft of a Young Siamese 195
A School in Siam 215
A Few of the Children of the Late First King of Siam 223
Carrying the King to the Temple 231
Siamese Actress 234
Cremation Temple: A Temporary Building 251
Tomb of a Bonze 263
Banyan Tree 270
Siamese Temple 271
Temple at Ayuthia 275
Monastery of Wat Sisaket 277
Brass Idol in a Temple at Bangkok 279
The Great Tower of the Pagoda Wat Cheug 283
Buddhist Priest 285
Buddhist Priests gathering Food 295
Ruins of a Temple and Statue at Ayuthia 303
Attaché of Siamese Embassy: Court-Costume in 1883 313
The Late First King and Queen 323
Somdetch Chowfa Chulalangkorn 339
Hall of Audience, Palace of Bangkok 341
Brahman at Worship 345
Coronation of a Laos King 421
A Laos Funeral 429
Tapping the Borassus Palm 449
A Laos Home 499
Camping in a Laos Forest 529
SIAM AND LAOS.
PART I.
SIAM.