our persons or property. I feel convinced that
the property of a merchant or other stranger
visiting Siam, is as secure from treachery or
violence at Bangkok, either through the act of
the government or of private individuals, as it
would be in the best regulated city in Europe.
In domestic life the character exhibited by
the Siamese is, under all circumstances, commendable.
Parental affection is strong, and perhaps
too indulgent, and filial duty is prescribed
even by the sanctions of religion, nor did we
hear of any barbarous or revolting usages tending
to impair the force of these ties. The Siamese
women are not immured as in many other
Asiatic countries, nor rigorously excluded from
the society of strangers of the other sex. The
numerous wives of the Phraklang were in the
habit of passing and repassing our dwelling
unveiled, and without any attempt at concealment.
On the river we often met large parties
of females belonging to the families of
the King and princes, sitting under canopies in
their barges. On such occasions they drew aside
the curtains to satisfy their curiosity, and afforded
us an ample opportunity of gratifying
ours in return, for concealment was by no means
their object. Notwithstanding these outward appearances,
women are far from being treated with
respect, but on the contrary are viewed, as in
other barbarous countries, as beings of a lower
order. It is but justice, howeVer, to state, that
we never saw them subjected to any species of
brutality or ill treatment. The severe toil which
they are compelled to undergo, for they perform
every description of outdoor and field labour,
such as carrying burdens, rowing, ploughing,
sowing and harrowing, cannot fairly be quoted
as examples of ill treatment towards them, for
these labours fall naturally to their share, and
are the necessary consequences of the conscription,
which calls the men from their natural employments
to the worthless and unprofitable drudgery
of the State. As far as we could judge,
the Siamese set no very high value on female
virtue. The women, however, are not profligate,
and at Bangkok they value themselves upon
their chastity when compared with the Burman,
Peguan, and Cochin Chinese women, who furnish
the greater number of public prostitutes, a
class sufficiently numerous. Divorces are frequent,
being granted without difficulty, and on
slight occasions. The punishment of adultery is
not heavy, being a pecuniary fine, varying according
to the rank and wealth of the offender
from two catties of silver (twenty pounds) to
six catties (sixty pounds), or the substitution of
imprisonment and the bamboo when the mulct
is not forthcoming. Polygamy is allowed by the
law and religion of the country, and the rich
indulge in it to the extent of their ability.