A well-informed correspondent of the Times declares that modern Siam,
despite the apparent civilisation of Bangkok, with its electric lights, tram-cars, and fine buildings, is a purely Oriental State. The King is despotic, even in details ; the people are serfs oppressed with corvees, and the Courts are universally corrupt. The Siamese so detest work, that a boat's crew will hire another crew to pull for them, sitting the while in the boat looking on, and half the year is occupied with holidays. The people expect a British Protectorate, but the French have advanced westward to the Mekong, and there will be a sharp contest between the two nations for the posses- sion of Siam. It would not be pleasant to have the French there, as the garrison of Burmah would have to be enlarged ; but if they will remain quiet, we hope Siam may remain independent for another generation. Whatever the abuses, the people are tranquil and happy, and we have eaten so much territory in the decade, that if we do not take care, we shall have indigestion. The Siamese would furnish no soldiers, and the Malay regi- ments which we should probably raise to garrison the country, are not easy to manage. It is by no means certain, either, that European claimants of Siam would escape a deadly quarrel with the Chinese.
Previous page
