duct and his fuccefs in the management o f affairs, rofe to__ the
higheft dignities, and became prime minifter to the reigning
prince.
His ambition proved his ruin, and brought him to a violent
death by the hands of the executioner. He became fo intoxicated
with power, as to entertain a defign upon the throne, to
depofe his royal mailer, and to place over the Siamefe, Monpi
Totfo, fon-in-law to the monarch, a phantom of a king, who was;
to be dependent on his will, and to be depofed as foon as affairs
came to a crifis. The king was at that time extremely ill o f a
dropfy ; on his deceafe, the whole royal lineage was to be put
to death, and Phaulkon ufurp the power.
In order to accompliih his defigns, it was neceffary to call in
foreign aid; he perfuaded his weak mailer to fend an embaffy to
Louis XIV. to requeil his molt Chriitian Majefty to fend perfons
qualified to inilrudl in the arts his unpoliihed fubjecfts, fo that he
might ihine pre-eminent among the Eailern nations. The firft,.
who fet out in 1680, were ihipwrecked; the fecond arrived fafe
in 1686. The vanity o f Louis made him receive with every mark
o f refpedl thefe grotefque legates ; the memory o f their reception
is preferved in a medal *. The king is reprefented feated on
his throne; the embafladors making their obeifance; above his
majeity is infcribed Fama virtutis, intimating that the fame o f
his high qualities had induced them to come from this diilant
country. Louis, in compliance with the wilh of the embaffy,
fent Jefuits, artifts, and military officers; General de Fargues
landed with feveral hundred foldiers, and was put into pofleflion
* Hiftoire de Medailles, tab. ccxvi.
o f
o f Bankok, the key of the kingdom, feated on the river, between
the capital and the fea. Juit as every thing was ready for execution,
in May 1689, the plot was difcovered; Monpi was feized
by the king’s fon, and his head call at Phaulkon's feet. The mi-,
nilter, thus hurled from his greatnefs, was tortured and almofl
llarved to death, then carried out of town, and beheaded; his
body cut in two, and covered with a little earth, was foon devoured
by the dogs; a fad proof how Ambitio male fuada ruit.
T he kingdom o f Siam is divided from north to fouth by a Account or
long range o f lofty mountai• ns. On the welnt fri- di e, or next to the Siam.
bay of Bengal, the country is vifited by continual rains during' the
time the Monfoons blow from that quarter. On the eailern fide
no fuch deluges are known, nor any floods but what are the effedts
of the moderate inundations o f the Meinamx which fertilize the
country beyond defcription. The ufeful grain rice is produced F e r t i l i t y .
in amazing crops, and every delicate fruit o f the Indies without
cultivation. Raynal mentions among the productions o f Siam,
log-wood like that cut in Campeachy. It is a terreilrial paradife,
but lofes all its advantages by groaning under the moil defpotic
government on earth. The monarch rules within his feraglio,
and his grandees are let loofe to opprefs the wretched commonalty,
according to their caprice and unreilrained will. Dominions
thus governed, ilretch near a thoufand miles from north
to fouth, or from Lat. 20* 35' to Lat. 7° o', and in the broadeft part
extend three hundred and fixty.
T he religion of the country is the fame with that inculcated R e l i g i o n .
by the Bramins ; but the Bramins o f Siam are not a peculiar
race, like thofe o f Hindoojlan; here every, one who chufes affumes