are abandoned to the casual culture of a few
strangers. A t Bang-kok, we found that all the
medical practitioners were Chinese, or Cochin
Chinese,—that these "were in much repute, and
that they imported all their medicines or nostrums
from China. Divination and astronomy
are now, as at all former periods of our acquaintance
with Siam, in the hands of the Brahmins
settled in the country. I t was from these that
we obtained the first Indian astronomical tables
brought to Europe ; but the present race, from
all I could learn, are very ignorant, and even
incapable of making the necessary calculations
for regulating the kalendar, which is at present
effected with the assistance of the Pekin almanack,
the arrival of which is anxiously looked
for by the first Chinese junk of the season,
which is commonly one of those from the Island
of Hai-nan.
The following is a sketch of the mode of reckoning
and dividing time amongst the Siamese.
The day commences at sun-rise. The forenoon
is divided into six watches, and the afternoon
to sun-set into the same number. From sun-set
to midnight makes only two watches, and from
midnight to morning again makes the same number.
The day watches are called in Siamese
Mong, and those of the night Thum. I did
not hear that any smaller sub-divisions of time
obtained. The time-keeper made use of is similar
to the contrivance used by the Hindoos, viz.
a cup with an aperture at the bottom, placed in a
bowl of water, and which sinks at the termination
of each watch.
The Siamese week is of seven days, and these
correspond generally with those of the other nations
of the old world. They are as follow,
viz.—Sunday, A th it; Monday, Chan; Tuesday,
Anghhan.; Wednesday, Phut', Thursday, Prahat;
Friday, S u k ; and Saturday, San. The months
are alternately of twenty-nine and thirty days,
and twelve months or three hundred and fifty-
four days make a year. The months, with the
exception of the two first, of the derivation of
which I could get no explanation, take their
names from the Siamese numerals, the word
Uuan, or moon, being prefixed to each. They
are repeated as follow:—
Days.
1. Duan-ai . 29
% Duan J i . 30
3. Duan Sam . 29
4.- Duan Si . . 3 0
5. Duan Hà . 29
6. Duan Hoe . 3 0
7. Duan Chet . . 29
8. Duan Pe t . 30
9. Duan Kàu . 2 9
10. Duan Sip 30
11. Duan Sibet . . 29
12. Duan Sip Song . 30