ceded it, and in the same order. After these,
came the late King’s brothers, forty in number,
all on horseback, in single file, and according
to seniority. Each was followed by a train of
servants on foot, dressed in white. The procession
terminated at twelve o’clock, with little
confusion, and no outrage whatever, notwithstanding
the immense crowd which was collected,
and which consisted of nearly the whole
population of Bang-kok, and a vast number of
strangers from the most distant provinces of the
kingdom.
“ On the following day, we were invited to
see the body lie in state on the funeral pile, in
the small temple, within the great dome, previous
to its being burnt. On our arrival within
the palace enclosure, we were conducted in by
old Phya Chula and his son,* who of course did
not forget to exact from us all the necessary
marks of respect to the body of their late master.
The large dome had four entrances, each
of which was guarded night and day by a prince
of the blood, from the time the body was
placed within it. On our arrival at one of these
entrances, we were obliged to take off our shoes.
Having then paid our compliments to the Prince,
we proceeded to the place where the body lay.
On approaching it, we made our obeisance, and
* Mahomedans of the sect of Ali, employed in the department
of the customs.
AND COCHIN CHINA. 1 7
sat down, of course, on the floor, which was,
however, well covered with mats. The scene
presented here was the most magnificent I ever
saw. From the roof of the large dome were
suspended the most beautiful ornaments of
Siamese manufacture in gold and silver, made
for the occasion, as well as an infinite variety
of European chandeliers, lamps, &c. . But the
small temple was still more sumptuously ornamented,
being literally covered with gold and
silver leaf. Over the body were suspended a
variety of gold and silver branches, or small
trees; and the floor round it was covered with
a variety of musical instrujnents, clocks, looking-
glasses, and other furniture, all that could be
begged or borrowed throughout the country.
The whole had a surprising effect. Having
taken our leave of this place, with the same
reverence as we entered it, we proceeded to
view the amusements provided for the evening
; consisting of fire-works, tumbling, rope-
dancing, wrestling, &c. The most amusing part
of the exhibition, was the scrambling of the
mob for the pieces of money, scattered among
them from four small tablets erected for the
purpose. These were placed at short distances
from each other, immediately before the place
where the King and his suite sat. From each
of these were thrown occasional handsful of coin,
consisting of half and quarter ticals. In this
VOL. I I . c