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SIAM. 283
ceived a paltry Chinese umbrella, which might have
been purchased in the bazar for a rupee. All this
might have been expected from the known character
and customs of the Indo-Chinese courts ; and indeed,
the treatment which Col. Symes met with, and more
especially Capt. Cox, at Amarapura, might have put
Mr. Crawfurd upon his guard against degrading con-
cessions in the first instance. A mercantile agent
would naturally be looked upon in a very contemptuous
light by these haughty courts, and by the Portuguese
'and Malay traders with any but friendly feelings.
Mr. Crawfurd's mission failed in every respect. They
were received with coldness, treated with contempt,
and dismissed with indifference.
They had been at Bankok about a month, when it
so happened that a Cochin- Chinese embassy arrived at
Packnam and ; now, they had the mortification of
beholding how the court of Siam was accustomed to
receive the recognised representative of an equal state.
Notice of his arrival having been transmitted to the
court, the chief of Packnam was ordered to entertain
the ambassador, while preparations were made for
conducting him in due form to the capital. The festivities
lasted for several days, consisting of scenic
representations, musical entertainments, and gymnastic
exercises. At the end of a week, all things
being ready, he embarked with his train, and proceeded
by easy stages up the river.
" The scene,"
says Mr. Finlayson, " was interesting beyond expectation
; it was both beautiful and picturesque. The
rapidity with which the boats and barges moved, the
order and regularity with which innumerable rowers
raised and depressed their paddles, guided by the shrill
notes of a song that might well be deemed barbarous,
together with the singular and barbaric forms, the