from the discovery in Bengal of a cheap process
for obtaining a valuable colouring matter from it.
The places which produce this commodity are the
forests of Pi-sa-luk and So-ko-tai, with that of
Changmai, and other parts of Lao, and of the
mountains of the Isthmus, lying between the
Bays of Bengal and Siam. The lac of Siam is of
very superior quality, containing a larger portion
of colouring matter than that either of Bengal or
Pegu. I was informed, when in Siam, that in
some parts of the country the lac insect is bred as
the Coccus Cacti, which affords the cochineal, is
in Mexico.
CH A PT ER IV.
Geography.—Boundaries and Extent of the present Siamese
Empire.—General aspect.—Rivers.—Explanation of Native
names of places.—Description of the Coasts of Siam, and adjacent
Countries and Islands.—Siam Proper.—Lao, Siamese
Kamboja, and'Malayan tributaries.—Account of the different
races inhabiting or sojourning in the Kingdom of Siam.—
Population.
T h e present Siamese Empire is composed of
the following parts, viz. Siam, or the proper
country of the Siamese race ; a large portion of
Lao, a portion of Kamboja, and certain tributary
Malay States. Its limits, in this wide acceptation,
may be stated as follows : Its farthest southern
boundary, on the western shore of the Malay
Peninsula, is Kurao, in about the latitude of five
degrees North. Its boundary, on the eastern
shore, is Kamamang, in nearly about the same
parallel. The northern boundary, in the present
state of our information, is very little better than
conjecture, but probably extends to about 21 degrees;
so that the dominions of Siam have a
range of no less than 16 degrees of latitude.
The extreme western limits of Siam, including
some desert islands in the Bay of Bengal, are
nearly in 97° 50' East longitude. Its eastern