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THE LAND OF THE WHITE ELEPHANT. 16 7
43. THE LAND OF THE WHITE ELEPHANT.
1. Fifty years ago, we knew very little of the
kingdom of Siam, beyond th e fact th at th e people
worshipped whi te elephants. But English civilization
made its way through India to Burmah , and opened
th e closely-sealed ports of Siam and Cochin China.
Th e lat e King of Siam chose an Englishman for
one of his counsellors. The new king has not only
opened his kingdom for English education, but is
encouraging th e schools by royal gifts and favour.
2. Siam has not th e tropical heat of India. The
climate is delicious. Th e Bay of Bengal on the one
side, and the Gulf of Siam on th e other, keep this
kingdom refreshed. with sea- breezes. Bangkok, the
capital, built out into the river Menam , is called the
"Venice of th e East." Indeed, it is even more of a
water city than th e "Queen of th e Adriatic; " for
whil e Venice has its foundations on solid ground,
Bangkok actually floats on the water. Huge bamboo
rafts ar e constructed, and on th ese houses, shops, and
even gardens ar e built.
3. We chanced to arrive at Bangkok on a feastday.
It was evening when we came round a bend in
the river and caught sight of th e floating city. A
marvellous pan orama, an illuminated world , seemed
spread out before us. Thousand s of fire-globes shed
th eir brilliant light over th e broad bosom of th e wat er;
and on either side, as far as th e eye could reach, there
was an endless suecession of ligh ts of every imaginable
eolour and shape, forming an illumination such
as only Eastern ingenuity can devise.
4. Every house was decorated with lanterns ; the