Untitled - Sabrizain.org

274 SIAM.
neat and striking. The houses were built of boards, of
a neat oblong form, and towards the river were provided
with a covered platform, on which were displayed
numerous articles of merchandize, fruit, rice, meat, &c.
This was, in fact, a floating bazar, in which all the
various products of China and of the country were
exposed for sale. At either end, the houses were
bound to long bamboos driven into the river. They
are thus enabled to move from place to place, accord-
ing as convenience may demand. Every house is furnished
with a small canoe, in which they visit and go
from place to place to transact business. Almost all
those collected in this quarter seem to be occupied by
merchants, many of them very petty, no doubt, and
by tradespeople, as shoemakers, tailors, &c. The
latter occupations are followed almost exclusively by
the Chinese. The houses are in general very small,
consisting of a principle centre room, and one or two
small ones, the centre being open in front, for the
display of their wares. The houses are from twenty
to thirty feet in length, and about half that space in
breadth. They consist of a single stage, the floor
raised above the water about a foot, and the roof
thatched with palm-leaves. At low water, when the
stream is rapid, there appears to be but little business
done in these shops. Their proprietors are then to be
seen lolling or sleeping in front of their warehouses,
or otherwise enjoying themselves at their ease. At
all hours of the day, however, many boats are passing
and repassing. They are so light and sharp in their
form, that they mount rapidly against the stream.
They are rowed with paddles, of which the long canoes
have often eight or ten on each side. The number of
Chinese appears to be very considerable ; they display
the same activity and industry here that they do