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diff --git a/44564-0.txt b/44564-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5968e68 --- /dev/null +++ b/44564-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6736 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44564 *** + + HISTORY OF THE KINGDOM OF SIAM + AND + OF THE REVOLUTIONS THAT + HAVE CAUSED THE OVERTHROW + OF THE EMPIRE, + UP TO A. D. 1770. + + + Compiled by M. TURPIN from manuscripts + received from M. the Bishop of TABRACA + Vicar Apostolic of Siam and from other + Missionaries in the Kingdom. + + + PUBLISHED ORIGINALLY AT + PARIS A. D. 1771. + + _Translated from the original French by_ + B. O. CARTWRIGHT, B.A. + EXHIBITIONER KING'S COLLEGE (CAMB). + + + BANGKOK 1908. + Printed under the auspices of the + Committee of the Vajirañàna + National Library. + + + BANGKOK: + Printed at the "American Presby. Mission Press." + 1908. + + + + + CONTENTS. + + + PAGE. + + Translator's Preface IV. + + CHAPTER I. + + The First Kings of Siam 1 + + CHAPTER II. + + The Reign of Chao Narai 31 + + CHAPTER III. + + The Revolt of the Macassars 53 + + CHAPTER IV. + + The Revolution that brought about the downfall of Faulcon + and the French 65 + + CHAPTER V. + + The Breach between the French and the Usurper 89 + + CHAPTER VI. + + The Persecution of the Christians after the departure + of Des Farges 99 + + CHAPTER VII. + + Events leading up to the Revolution of 1760 109 + + CHAPTER VIII. + + The Revolution of 1760 115 + + CHAPTER IX. + The Revolution of 1767 137 + + CHAPTER X. + + The Misfortunes of the Europeans after the Revolution 169 + + CHAPTER XI. + + After the Revolution of 1767 176 + + CHAPTER XII. + + Advantages that might accrue from commercial neighbouring + relations with Siam and the Kingdoms 185 + + CHAPTER XIII. + + Tonkin 220 + + + + + TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. + + +Turpin's History of Siam, published at Paris in the year 1771 consists +of two volumes, the first of which deals merely with the natural +History of Siam.-- + +The present book is a translation of the second volume only, and is of +considerable interest owing to the fact that it is the only extant +European work dealing with the events leading up to and succeeding the +fall of the old capital, Ayuthia.-- + +We have no accounts of the compiler M. Turpin himself and therefore +are unable to give any account of his life or position.-- + +The present volume falls into the following parts:-- + +a. A short resumé of the early history of Siam. Few names are given, +and the accounts are somewhat vague. _Chapter 1_. + +b. An account of the reign of Phra Narai and his immediate successors +_Chapter 2-6_. This portion has been compiled from the earlier +accounts of Forbin and La Loubère; but Tachard's remarks are not +treated as serious history. + +c. A short chapter _(Chapter 7)_ giving a somewhat vague account of +the period intervening between the above and the next.-- + +d. The events leading up to the fall of Ayuthia. + +A description of the Burmese attack on the capital and of the early +years of the reign of Phya Tak _(Chapter 8-11.)_ This forms the part +of greatest interest. + +e. A description of the Kingdoms bordering on Siam _(Chapter 12-13)_. + +Taken on the whole, the book gives a very fair and impartial account, +but as the bulk of the information was derived from the Catholic +Missionaries, a somewhat biassed view is taken of the religion of the +countries treated of.-- + +The original has been carefully followed in the translation; here and +there a few sentences have been omitted for the reason that such +sentences are merely remarks of a moralizing nature on the part of M. +Turpin himself, and have no connection whatever with the relation of +the historical events.-- + + + B. O. CARTWRIGHT. + + BANGKOK: + _November, 1908._ + + + + + HISTORY OF SIAM. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + THE FIRST KINGS OF SIAM. + + +Eastern despotism, which casts a blight on the soul and quenches +public spirit, is the primary cause of all revolutions by which the +people seek to ameliorate their condition by the overthrow of their +tyrants. + +Every State in which there is One against All, has a defective +constitution, which causes it to pass in succession from greatness to +humiliation, from strength to weakness, and which, in its suicidal +policy, awaits but a foreign invasion which will restore to the +People, the enjoyment of their Rights. + +The unstable and tottering thrones of Asia at last crumble away, and +the ambitious, arrogating to themselves the privileges of attempting +all things, are overwhelmed by their fall, and, reduce the weak to +violate everything in their despair. + +The right of the strong is that of a footpad who plunders unarmed +travellers, and who, having enjoyed a period of immunity, dies under +the axe of the headsman. The Ruler who has the greater share in the +benefits of the Law does not recognise his advantages, and when +unwilling to extend them prefers to see himself surrounded by +trembling slaves who murmur in secret, and only await a leader to +become rebels. The crude legislation of Siam has been the cause of all +the public ills of the nation. It knows neither the extent of +authority nor the limits of obedience. This nation, indifferent +regarding the choice of its masters, has received fetters from the +hands of ambitious men who spurned the nation while coercing it. +Invariably unfortunate, the people have no hope save in a future +revolution, which will enslave them to a new tyrant insolently +bedecked with the imposing title of "Deliverer". + +What can be the motive that prompts a despot to retain the privilege +of laying violent hands on the liberty and welfare of his subjects? A +despot who replaces natural rights by arbitrary power! He passes away +like a torrent which leaves but the remembrance of its devastation +behind it. The Kings of Siam, invisible to their subjects made +themselves known merely by acts of authority. Thus they could never +instil those tender feelings which are inspired by the presence of a +King who is both Father and Citizen. + +I will not attempt to lift the veil which conceals the beginnings of +this Kingdom. This people has never known the art of printing which +alone enshrines the virtues and shortcomings of those who preside over +the public destinies. Their historical records are founded only on +vulgar fables, or on tradition sanctioned by priestly imposture, which +gives credence rather to the marvellous than to the simple truth. The +Siamese were unknown to us until the discovery of the Indies by the +Portuguese, and it is from that period that we ought to reckon their +history. + +Their first King, according to their vague records began to reign in +B.C. 1444. He had forty successors up to the King who was reigning in +A.D. 1546. All these Kings were of different families, who were in +turn driven from the throne which they had seized, because, having +become despots, they were punished for the abuse of their power. + +The proud and jealous spirits of a limited dependency ought, in the +degradation to which they have been reduced, to console themselves +with the hope that their degradation is but transitory, and that their +posterity shall be delivered from the chains which have weighed them +down. Rarely does tyranny transmit the fruits of its crimes to its +descendants. + +History has not given us the name of the King who reigned in 1550 +A.D., although the chief events of his reign have been chronicled. It +was in this reign that the Kingdom of Siam was laid waste by the +incursions of several neighbouring nations who carried fire and sword +throughout the towns and the country side. Thirty thousand innocent +victims were sacrificed to their ruthless vengeance, and this swarm of +warriors seemed to prefer to lay waste the crops and to destroy the +towns rather than to conquer and govern them. + +The King of Siam, alarmed at their progress, arose at the murmurings +of his people. He raised a large army. All those capable of bearing +arms were summoned to the flag and those who were so cowardly as to +excuse themselves from fighting for their country, were threatened +with the punishment of being burnt alive. Foreigners were bound by +this law. + +At that time there were 130 Portuguese in the Kingdom, of whom 120 +were obliged to take up arms. The King believed himself to be +invincible, when he saw this handful of Europeans whom he regarded as +so many heroes at his disposal. + +A powerful army of 400,000 men including 70,000 non Siamese took the +field with the King at the head. The army was further reinforced on +the way by 100,000 men and 4000 elephants. We must regard these +numbers as a gross exaggeration. It is true that the temperate nature +of Eastern races renders the question of the food-supply an easy +matter for the largest armies; but how could so great an army have +been collected together in a country which boasts but few inhabitants. +However we will set forth the facts as they have been handed down to +us, and we can only question them by the light of their probability. + +The army, under the command of four leaders (of whom two were Turks +and the other two Portuguese) advanced to put a stop to the +devastation of the country side. As soon as the armies confronted each +other, the enemy commenced a furious attack on the Siamese rear, which +would have been destroyed, had not the King altered his tactics. The +new disposition of his forces gave him the advantage, and helped by +the Portuguese who fought side by side, he was enabled to rally his +troops. A general action was then commenced in which his elephants and +artillery scattered death and destruction in the opposing ranks of the +enemy, who retired under the cover of darkness leaving 130,000 dead on +the battle field. This battle cost the Siamese 50,000 men, and flushed +with victory, a force of 400,000 Siamese invaded the Kingdom of +_Quibem_ which was governed by a Queen who had favoured the enemy. The +towns which they conquered were looted and the inhabitants, always the +victims of the quarrels of rulers, were put to the sword. The capital +would have suffered the same fate, had not the Queen, putting aside +her natural hauteur, submitted to the conqueror and to the conditions +of peace which were imposed. This princess, cognizant of her weakness, +consented to pay an annual tribute of 60,000 Portuguese ducats, and +her nine year old son paid homage as a vassal to the conqueror who +carried him off to Siam to grace his triumph. + +The victorious monarch did not enjoy his glory for long; his days of +prosperity were changed to days of mourning. The Queen, in his +absence, had indulged in a criminal liaison with palpable results. The +fear of being punished for her adultery led her to commit another +crime, and, to secure her position, she administered poison to her +husband in a cup of milk. The King remained alive for five days, +during which time he engaged in affairs of State. + +Benefits were conferred upon the Portuguese allies; their nation was +declared exempt from taxation of every description for a period of +three years, and their priests were permitted to preach the gospel in +every part of the Kingdom. His son was proclaimed King, and the joy of +seeing his successor in power rendered him indifferent to the pangs of +death. As soon as the monarch was dead the chief officers of State +handed over the reins of government to the Queen of whose misdeeds +they were unaware. Her liaisons which could no longer be kept secret, +revealed her unchastity, but hardened to crime and with a conscience +untouched by remorse, she acted her part with perfect calmness, and, +to make matters worse, she openly lived with her guilty paramour. +After this act which was the cause of a certain amount of +dissatisfaction, but did not create any actual rebellion, she +determined to elevate her lover to the throne, and to dispose of the +young King by the same method employed in the case of his father. The +disaffection both of the nobility and of the common people, checked +her in her career of crime, and the national outcry was favourable to +her designs. She pretended to fear that attempts would be made against +her son's life, whereas in reality she was his sole enemy; and, to +frustrate such attempts, she desired to have a body-guard to protect +his august head from the wicked plots of which she said she had had +information. + +She was granted 12,000 foot soldiers and 500 mounted men for his safe +keeping. + +It was an innovation, that there should be a permanent guard in a +State which hitherto, had called up soldiers only in time of external +danger, but, it is the means usually employed in all ages to +intimidate the lives and liberties of citizens who support their +oppressors. No sooner had she found herself in power, but she used it +to wreak vengeance on all those who had opposed her, or, who had +grumbled at her ill-regulated life. The most distinguished citizens +were the first victims. Two of the leading nobles perished by torture +on frivolous charges. This Princess, headstrong in her loves and +hatreds, imagined that she could retain her position by force, but the +shedding of so much blood was a seed from which new opposition to her +tyrannical rule sprang up. The confiscation of the property of those +innocent victims enabled her to maintain a certain number of +partisans, but those whose friendship it was expedient to purchase +gave their allegiance only on condition of being supplied with +whatever appealed to their greed. She soon found out that instead of +friends, she had but traitors pledged to serve their own interests. It +was then that she placed her paramour on the throne and declared him +to be her consort, considering that a man, rather than a woman who had +given so many examples of the frailty of her sex, would be more +capable of overawing the disaffected. + +The young King, a mere puppet on the throne, was deposed by his +hard-hearted mother, and the fatal draught which she personally +administered to him anticipated the vengeance which was about to +overtake her; but she did not enjoy the fruits of her crime for long. +At the moment of self congratulation on having acquired an ascendency +over her subjects, she found by experience that crime engenders +nothing but enmity. + +The nobles, emboldened by their hatred, and encouraged by the King of +_Cambaye_, made a conspiracy to deliver the kingdom from a creature +who could not even satiate herself with the blood of her victims. They +invited her and her consort to a feast at which both were slain. The +throne which they had disgraced was taken by a brother of the late +king's father, who, during these tumultuous times had passed his life +in the seclusion of a monastery. This new king, during his retirement, +had become morose and savage and he neglected the importance of making +himself beloved. His barbarous policy had made him believe that +obedience depended on fear, and that punishment was a better +instrument of government than clemency. The debauchery into which he +plunged could not soften his natural harshness, and, from voluptuous +surroundings, he dictated bloodthirsty commands which filled the state +with trouble and discontent. His unfitness aroused the ambition of a +powerful neighbour. The king of Burma saw that the conquest of the +kingdom would be no difficult matter. This nation has had so great an +influence on the fortunes of Siam that it cannot be passed over +without a few remarks. + +People are apt to confuse the kingdoms of Pegu, Ava and of Burma +because they are now under the rule of the same king. This country +united and open has mountains on its frontiers only. The air is pure +and the soil produces all kinds of corn and fruits. The plains and +forests abound with game, elephants, buffaloes, goats, deer, and +poultry is fine and plentiful. There are mines of iron and lead, which +metals are used as a medium of barter, and it is this country that +produces the finest rubies and the best sapphires. The diamonds which +are very small are found only in the crops of fowls and especially of +pheasants. The right of selling diamonds is a monopoly of a single +family, and it is a grave offence to dig the ground in hopes of +finding them. + +The natives of the country differ from the Burmese their conquerors +both in dress and in appearance. The Peguans although somewhat stout, +are well made and have regular features. Their complexion is of an +olive tint. They wear no beard, but carefully pull it out as they +consider it to be troublesome growth. Their teeth are naturally white, +but they blacken them so that they may have no resemblance to those of +a dog. The women who are lighter in colour than the men, are small +with plump cheeks and well proportioned limbs. Generally speaking, +they are gentle in their way, but very voluptuous. Lewd and +licentious, they have quite abandoned all sense of shame. When they +appear in public they wear a piece of white cotton stuff draped round +their heads which bear no further ornamentation than their raven +tresses. The rest of the body is practically naked, they wear but a +piece of thin cloth at the waist which allows that to be seen which +modesty prefers to hide. This scanty attire was not introduced by +reasons of sensuality; it is said that it was the work of a sagacious +Queen in order to attract the men who in their transports of passion +were addicted to unnatural desires. + +The dress of the Burmese is different. They wear a robe of transparent +muslin through which the skin tattoed with charcoal dust, can be seen. +This ornamentation which is peculiar to them distinguishes them from +the Peguans. Their feasts are loathsome and disgusting, as soon as the +viands are produced hunger is satisfied. They flavour everything they +eat with rotten fish which they use as a substitute for oil or butter +just as Europeans use garlic, a plant whose odour is no less +unpleasant. + +Having no corn, they supply its lack by cakes of rice. Their usual +beverage is pure water or a liquid of agreeable flavour which they +extract from a certain species of tree. + +Whoever takes a wife is obliged to purchase her like other cattle, and +if disgust follows possession, the husband has a means of disposing of +her. The woman has the same privilege, by the repayment of her +purchase price. The rights of hospitality allow fathers to prostitute +their daughters to their guests, who take a woman on hire in the same +way as they would a house. The majority of persons whose business +takes them to Pegu contract temporary alliances of this nature which +have nothing of the stigma of concubinage. The Law has provided for +such inconveniences as might arise. The King is the heir of all his +subjects, but when there are children he has a third share only. + +The purity of the air makes up for the lack of medical skill. When +anyone falls sick they set a table on which a choice repast is spread, +to propitiate the demon, that they consider has been the author of the +illnesses that afflict mankind. + +The ceremony is conducted by some venerable impostor to whom they give +the title of the father of the demon, and although the state of the +invalid ought to induce a feeling of sympathy, the whole house +resounds with music and song in order to assuage the wrath of the evil +minded being. + +Gold, silver, rubies and musk are the chief articles of export, and, +under the general term "rubies" topazes, sapphires, amethysts and +other precious stones should be included. Europeans give in exchange +beaver-hats, and the gold and silver brocaded ribbons with which the +nobles adorn their heads. All trade is carried on by court officials +who hold themselves responsible for payment and if they are convicted +of breach of trust, the creditor is allowed by law to seize their +wives, children and slaves and to expose them to the glare of the sun +at his door. + +The Peguans, like all Indian peoples grant the existence of a creator +god, whom the people have the exclusive privilege of worshipping. +There are lesser deities to whom the people pray in time of need, and +the Devil is one of their chief objects of adoration. At early dawn +the people are to be seen carrying some rice for his delectation in +order that he may be gracious to them during the day time: others +throw titbits over their shoulders for him during meal times. This +puerile religion is based upon ghost worship. They grant an eternal +succession of worlds each of which has a special deity as its ruler. +The doctrine of transmigration has many adherents who believe that +souls having passed through the bodies of birds, beasts and fishes, +are cast into a place of punishment which they leave to enter a +paradise of pleasure where everything awakes and appeals to the +senses, and finally that after several transmigrations they will be +united with the Supreme Being of whose happiness they will be +partakers. They have great respect for monkeys and envy the blessed +fate of those who are eaten by crocodiles. + +On ceremonial occasions, the assembled people hire women and +hermaphrodites who perform dances in honour of the gods of the Earth. +The dancers bestir themselves so violently that they fall down in a +swoon. It is after this fit that they prophesy the future which has +been revealed to them by their gods. + +The Priests vowed to celibacy, set a good example of abstemiousness to +the populace. They eat but once a day and sobriety is their most +prominent virtue. When the soil of the district to which they are +assigned is insufficient to furnish to their needs, they send out +young novices in search of alms and the credulous mob encourages +idleness by liberal donations. The poorest citizens are always those +who waste their property in pious offerings. Their morals are simple +and it is by their studied mortifications that they impose on the +populace whose ideal of the Sublime is the Extraordinary and the +Peculiar. + +They live far from the haunts of men, in the depths of forests in a +sort of cage built in the upper parts of trees, so as to escape the +dangers of wild beasts. The obscurity of their lives increases the +veneration of superstitious folk who from the earliest times have +believed that the deity prefers the silence of the forests or the +fearsome solitude of a mountain peak. There are certain days on which +they exhort the people to practise virtue. Simple as their preaching +is they never argue on knotty points of doctrine. They believe that +every religion is acceptable to God and that the observance of the +laws of nature will always be worthy of a heavenly reward. + +The nobility is noticeable in many ways. Though being in great honour, +it nevertheless presents an example of the most abject servility and +trembles before a despot who can either raise or degrade it. It +consents to cringe in the most servile manner, but often it awakes +from its slumber and cuts off the hand that strikes it. A proud race +is always ready to take up arms for liberty and for the enjoyment of +its rights. Thus it is the noble or the servile inclinations of his +subjects, that a wise King ought to study so that he can extend or +limit his authority. + +The King never appears in public without great pomp and ceremony. +Everything inspires a respect which would seem to exclude devotion. +Seated on a car drawn by 16 horses, he never travels unless preceded +by either the army or a crowd of nobles. Four of his favourites in +gorgeous apparel are seated with him in this car. His ordinary +progress is more magnificent than a Roman triumph. Although the Law, +or rather custom only grants him a single wife, he has the right to +keep 300 concubines. + +The arms used by the Peguans in warfare consist of the lance, sword, +and shield, their firearms, finer than those of Europe yield nothing +to them in point of excellence. Their arsenals are equipped with many +pieces of artillery which are however of not much practical use owing +to the lack of skill on the part of their gunners. Although they +possess harbours and an abundance of good timber, they do not build +fleets as they have neither carpenters nor experienced sailors. The +forces of the Kingdom are strong. The armies more numerous than those +of Darius, are usually composed of from 100,000 to 1,500,000 men who +receive pay from the King. + +In time of war he supplies them with arms and accoutrements and in time +of peace, he gave grants lands and towns to the nobility for their +support. This number of troops is without doubt an exaggeration, but it +becomes more easy of comprehension if the natural frugality of the +Peguans be taken into account. They require but a little salt and water +to season the roots and herbs which they find on the march. The most +loathsome creatures, cats, rats and the humblest reptiles excite their +appetite and their fertile country furnishes them with an abundant +supply of all that is necessary to life. + +This kingdom, founded by a fisherman about 1,100 years ago was +governed by hereditary Kings until 1539 A.D. About that period it was +conquered by the Burmese who prior to this had been confined to a +narrow strip of territory but they founded an Empire extending some +800 miles from North to South and 250 miles from East to West. + +These people, though of a warlike disposition had been obliged to +yield to the numerical superiority of the Peguans. The Peguan +conquerors had exacted a toll of 30,000 Burmese to be employed on +various works of public utility. Such toilsome slavery provoked their +proud spirit, and unwilling to see themselves working in the mines, +formed a general scheme for their deliverance. + +The Monarch was accustomed to go in company with all his train to +visit the works, and to reward industry and to punish idleness. The +Burmese captives took this opportunity to compass his assassination, +and, having robbed the Queen and the concubines of their valuables +fled to their own land with a great booty. The successor of the +murdered Prince was unable to avenge his death. The nobles fomented +discords in the state from motives of self-aggrandizement, and passed +directly from slavery to independence. They declared for the rivals of +their master by whom they had been reduced to servitude. + +_Mandara_, King of Burma took advantage of their internal dissensions +to attempt the conquest of Pegu. He invaded the Kingdom at the head of +an army of 1,000,000 men and 5,000 elephants. His fleet was commanded +by _Cayero_, a daring Portuguese adventurer who had 1,000 of his +compatriots under him. The Peguans were unable to oppose a barrier to +the swarms of the invaders. + +Mandara, conqueror of Pegu then turned his arms against the vassal +states of the Empire which he had just conquered. Martaban, the +capital of a Kingdom of the same name was taken, but the brilliancy of +the action was tarnished by acts of cruelty. Mandara had promised to +spare the lives of the King and his wife and children who were ordered +to spend the rest of their days in exile; but the savage conqueror was +faithless to his word. The captured Queen was conducted to his +pavilion together with her two sons and forty young girls who charmed +all by their beauty and still more so by their misfortunes. Priests +recited prayers to appease the wrath of heaven. The King her husband +at last appeared, mounted on an elephant and dressed in black velvet. +He had a rope round his neck and seemed to be more concerned at the +misfortunes of his family than with his own. + +The next day the Queen and her children with the ladies of the court +were led to a mound in the midst of the soldiery who forgetting their +natural savagery, appeared to be moved by pity. + +The Princess and her children were suspended by the feet to gallows +destined for criminals of the deepest dye. The unfortunate King was +allowed to survive his family for a few days to brood over the sadness +of their fate. He was afterwards hung in a similar fashion and a stone +being tied round his neck he was cast into the sea together with fifty +of his chief officials who had committed no crime further than their +devotion to King and country. This gross act of barbarity aroused the +indignation of all the Burmans, and a revolt was imminent had it not +been crushed by the diplomacy of the conqueror who held out the +prospect of unlimited plunder. The capital was given over to pillage, +a hundred million gold pieces were taken from the public treasury and +distributed to the army. Everything that did not excite the greed of +the conquerors was given over to the flames. Seventeen hundred temples +and 140,000 houses were destroyed 60,000 of the inhabitants perished +by fire and sword. The survivors of their country's downfall were +condemned to drag out the rest of their days in slavery. The +neighbouring Kings, jealous of Mandara's rapid success leagued +themselves together to check his victorious progress. In great alarm +he strengthened his out-posts and put himself at the head of 900,000 +men. The rapidity of his movements anticipated the designs of his foes +to whom he gave no time to collect their scattered forces. He laid +siege to Prome the capital of a Kingdom of the same name which at that +time was governed by a Queen acting as regent for her son aged 13 +years. A stubborn defence was offered and the Princess's spirit so +animated the courage of the troops, that the efforts of the besieging +force would have been rendered futile, had it not been for traitors +who opened the gates. As soon as the Burmans had proved victorious, +the King ordered that the bodies of 2,000 children who had been killed +in the general carnage should be dismembered and given to the +elephants. The Queen, in a state of nudity, was given over to lust of +the brutal soldiery, after which, executioners armed with whips, tore +her in pieces. When, amid fearful tortures, she had breathed her last +they tied her corpse to that of the King her son and cast them into +the water. It is said that Mandara indulged in this cruel excess, +because of his hatred towards, her father the King of Ava, who had +refused her in marriage. Three hundred of the chief officials of the +State were impaled and their corpses had no burial other than in the +water. + +The King of Ava, learning of the tragic end of his daughter, raised a +large army, the command of which he entrusted to his son, who had no +thoughts but those of vengeance for the death of his beloved sister. +Mandara sent a force of 200,000 men to oppose his progress under the +command of his foster-brother, a leader of proved courage and ability. +The Burmans made a furious onslaught on the rear guard of the foe. The +battle was hard fought, but the victory was gained by the Burmans who +lost 115,000 men, although the army of the Prince of Ava numbered +about 30,000 men of whom at least 800 deserted to the conqueror. + +Mandara, who knew both how to conquer and how to turn his victories to +account, sought enemies everywhere in order to increase the number of +his vassals. No sooner was he informed of the troubled condition of +Siam than he made preparations to annex so rich a prey, but before +making a start, he wished to consult with his subjects, not so much as +for taking their advice as for assuring himself of their support. The +scheme, which, if successful would open a way to China, met with +universal approbation. Martaban was the rallying point of his army +which consisted of 800,000 infantry 40,000 cavalry, 5,000 elephants, +and 1,000 pieces of artillery drawn by buffaloes and rhinoceros. The +commissariat and the baggage was carried by oxen. This brave, but +undisciplined array was far more suitable for a marauding expedition +than for one of conquest. A force of ten thousand Europeans skilled in +military tactics could have easily dispersed this motley rabble, which +had to deal with a people quite as undisciplined, and less brave than +themselves. + +The chief strength of the Burmans consisted in a force of 2,000 brave +Portuguese commanded by one Diego Suarèz, who, by favour of the King, +had been raised to one of the chief dignitaries of the State. We must +remark that in this century the Portuguese scattered over the Indies +sold their lives to the service of any King who would pay them well +enough. These adventurous heroes decided the issue of wars by their +bravery, and the Monarch who had the greatest number in his pay, +marched confidently to victory. + +The first blow fell on the fortified post of _Taparan_ whose garrison +of 6,000 Siamese were put to the sword. This slaughter was +insufficient to satisfy the fury of the pitiless conqueror who was so +cruel as to sacrifice women and children to the memory of the soldiers +killed in the operations. + +After this carnage, he determined to make himself master of the +capital, and without halting at unimportant places, which might have +weakened his army, he advanced directly on the royal city, headed by a +force of 60,000 pioneers who levelled the difficult tracks through a +country covered with forests. + +The Siamese, having no sound knowledge of the methods of attack and +defence, remained apathetic whilst a numerous army surrounded their +ramparts. Terrified, and unskilled in combat, they put their whole +trust in their lofty walls which they regarded as being impregnable to +attack. At last they were roused from their lethargy by the sounds of +an onset. The love of life, rather than that of liberty aroused their +courage and they offered a stubborn resistance to the foe who were +repulsed with great loss. The besieging force adopted new tactics, +which though deadly were not successful. Suarèz, seeing the repulse +of the soldiers and that the elephants were terrified by the fire, +thought it best to beat a retreat. But the King inflexible in his +resolution to capture the city, ordered a fresh assault in the course +of which he displayed the greatest bravery, but was wounded by an +arrow which confined him to his bed for the space of a week. His wound +relaxed the vigour of the siege operations. During the time of +inaction he caused wooden towers 65 feet high, mounted on 25 iron +wheels and filled with combustible materials to be built. These +engines, which demonstrated his skill in mechanics were intended for +use against the ramparts. A dark and stormy night was chosen for the +attempt and the glare of the lightning and the rumble of the thunder +added to the terror they were to inspire. It was in the midst of this +blinding storm that the towers were run up to the walls. + +The Siamese putting aside their wonted timidity, sustained the attack +with great bravery. They set fire to the engines which became fatal to +their owners. So stout a resistance only served to increase the +courage of the Burmans, but while the King was consulting with Suarèz +on the best course that should be adopted, news was brought that the +Peguans had risen in revolt to gain the rights of their ancient +independence. He raised the siege and instead of attempting the +conquest of new territory, he considered it more prudent to take +measures for the protection of His own Kingdom. + +Having put down the rebellion, he made fresh preparations against +Siam, but was assassinated by a gang of conspirators who could not +conceal the fact that they had had everything to fear from his +vengeance. + +Chaumagrin, the foster brother of the murdered King, and to whose +instrumentality the late victories were due, succeeded to the throne. +He adopted the warlike policy of his predecessor without delay. This +Burman would have held a high position amongst heroes if he had had +chroniclers to immortalize his deeds which, as it is, have only come +down to us by vague tradition. It is said that his mighty army of +1,600,000 men overwhelmed the neighbouring Kingdoms that he extended +his conquests to China and Tartary and that he was sovereign ruler of +24 Kingdoms. + +The possession of a white elephant of which the King of Siam was very +fond was the pretext for a sanguinary war between the rival monarchs. +The King of Burma offered large sums of money for the animal which was +considered to be remarkably intelligent; but, on being refused, +resolved to capture it by force. In reality the sight of two nations +in mortal combat for the possession of an elephant is no more to be +marvelled at, than the spectacle of European rulers causing the +slaughter of thousands of men for the possession of some useless +fortress. + +The Burmans invaded Siam with a large force, and laid siege to the +capital where they expected to meet a long and stubborn resistance. In +order to spare the lives of his soldiers, the leader bribed certain +traitors who rendered him master of a town by purchase rather than by +conquest. The King of Siam became the vassal of Burma. The Queen and +her children were exiled to Pegu from which event the rulers of Pegu +have taken the title of "Prince of the white elephant" since one of +these creatures had been the occasion of a war leading to such +glorious results. + +After the death of the conqueror his son named _Prunginiko_ succeeded +to the throne. His first act was to demand the tribute which the King +of Siam had agreed to pay. But the latter said, that he acknowledged +no master. On this refusal, the Burmans sent a punitive expedition, +under the command of a subordinate officer, to take vengeance on the +faithlessness of his vassal. + +The Siamese Monarch, terrified by this invasion, gave him to +understand that if the King had come in person, there would have been +no difficulty in rendering his dues, but that under the circumstance +he was unable to comply without compromising his dignity in receiving +orders from a subordinate. The haughty Burman replied that his vassal +Kings as well as the meanest slaves were expected to obey his behests. + +The Siamese army commanded by the son of the King, (who was known as +the Black Prince to distinguish him from his brother) took the field +and gained a brilliant victory, Prunginiko annoyed, rather than +dispirited, raised an army of 1,700,000 men under the leadership of +his eldest son, who self confident in numerical superiority assumed +the title of King of Siam. The reports of his march caused general +consternation, but the Black Prince, calm amid the stress, did not +lose hope of dispersing them. His soldiers fired by his example, were +eager for the fray. A battle was fought on which the fate of the +Empire hung in the balance. With equal ferocity, the two leaders +mounted on elephants sought each other out and careless of danger, +engaged in single combat, appearing to fear death less than the shame +of being vanquished by a hated rival. At last the Burmese Prince fell +in the dust and died with every symptom of rage and despair. His +soldiers, panic stricken, turned and fled and the Siamese harassed +them in the rear for a month as they pursued them like wild beasts, +and, slaughtered them without mercy. After a glorious reign, the Black +Prince who succeeded his father left the Kingdom in a settled +condition to his brother the White Prince who had no skill in the art +of government. This new King, a prey to greed and suspicion, allowed +himself to be ruled by one of the chief nobles at the Court who in +order to render the King more odious, encouraged his vices and +follies. This faithless favourite with a large retinue of slaves +including 280 Japanese, plotted to gain possession of the throne. The +King enfeebled by debauchery was in danger of death, but his son, the +heir-apparent, was an obstacle to the ambitious ideas of the +favourite. The King misled by the representations of his favourite +pronounced sentence of death on his innocent son, but the successor to +the throne avenged the crime by the death of the favourite to whom it +was due. The blood of the guilty was the cause of new troubles. The +slaves of the ambitious favourite and especially his Japanese +retainers took upon themselves to avenge the death of their master. +These bandits, nurtured on crime and rebellion, obliged the King to +deliver over to them four of the chief nobles whom they massacred +without pity. Their fury extended even to the King who was obliged to +sign in his own blood the conditions which they had the audacity to +impose. They furthermore demanded that the chief priests should be +given up to them as hostages for the promises they had extorted. + +This first attempt was followed by the sack of the town and after +having despoiled the citizens, they took their departure unmolested +with a great booty. The tyranny of the late King had prepared the way +for all these outrages. Whoever calls in foreign defensive assistance +is no more than an oppressor who has more trust in the mercenaries he +pays, than in the subjects he plunders, but he has the sad experience +that his paid defenders often turn out to be only traitors. All +countries in whose armies foreigners have predominated have only had +transitory periods of prosperity, for the reason that those who have +brought about their success, have also been the cause of their +downfall. + +The neighbouring tribes wishing to profit by the troubles in the +Kingdom, made an invasion. Their army came within three day's march of +the capital, but peace had then been restored as the Japanese had +taken their departure. The King of Siam collected his troops, and +struck such terror into them that, they retreated precipitately +without risking the issue of a battle. + +This Prince, with the assistance of the Portuguese, recaptured several +provinces which had previously been seized by the Kings of Ava and +Pegu, and, full of gratitude towards his brave auxiliaries, he offered +the Port of Martaban to the King of Portugal as a base for his fleet. +The ambassadors who made this offer to the Viceroy of Goa returned +loaded with gifts. They were accompanied by a Dominican friar to whom +the negociation was entrusted. They were received with every mark of +distinction and concluded a treaty the terms of which were extremely +advantageous to the Portuguese. This first success was the cause of a +new embassy in 1621 which assisted the progress of the Faith. Some +Franciscans were demanded by the King to preach the Gospel in his +realm. He built them a church at his own expense and wished to make +them wealthy, to which latter proposal they turned a deaf ear. Their +disinterested motives of which the country furnished so few examples, +increased the admiration which their other virtues had evoked. + +This Prince was a curious mixture of strength and weakness, of vice +and of virtue. Brave to the point of foolhardiness, he was cruel and +savage, and the cowardly and timorous side of his character sacrificed +both innocent and guilty to his suspicions. An absolute despot, he was +not over-scrupulous in financial transactions. He was tyrannical, but +not miserly. Having a strict eye for justice he cast robbers and +dacoits to crocodiles and to tigers and even found a savage pleasure +in attending such functions. Ingenious in his methods of reprisal, he +imprisoned a vassal King, who had made a rebellion, in a cage and gave +him no other food than the flesh which he caused him to tear from his +own body. He took delight in the torture of his subjects; he himself +cut off the legs of seven of the Court ladies as a punishment for +walking too quickly; and performed the same operation on three others +who had been too slow to obey his orders. Thus it was an equally +heinous offence to walk either to too fast or too slowly. His +brutality was extended even to birds and animals. He caused the head +of a horse to be struck off because the animal had been disobedient, +and the same fate overtook a tiger which had spared the life of a +criminal that it ought to have devoured. + +This crowned monster of iniquity, died in his bed with all the +complacency of a benevolent monarch. Perhaps the horror inspired by +his crimes was modified by his brilliant talents and the other virtues +he possessed. Faithful to his promises and lavish of rewards for +services rendered, liberal and magnificent, he had many supporters who +having become his accomplices guaranteed his immunity from revenge for +his crimes. + +He entrusted a large sum of money to a Portuguese to purchase certain +articles from Malacca. This madman gambled away the money and then had +the hardihood to return to Siam where he expected to meet with severe +punishment. The King welcomed him graciously and said, "I think more +highly of your confidence in my mercy than of all the rare articles +that you ought to have brought me." Like all tyrants, this prince had +a favourite who introduced five or six hundred Japanese, disguised as +merchants, into the Kingdom as tools for his own aggrandisement. As +soon as the King had closed his eyes; he made use of them to ensure +possession of the crown. But the son of the late King rallied his +forces and snatched the sceptre from the hand of the usurper. He was +more fortunate in recovering it than in retaining it as he was shortly +afterwards assassinated. + +He left the throne to his younger brother who conceived a violent +dislike to the Japanese as he considered them a dangerous gang, +watching for an opportunity to take his life. Many of these Japanese +were killed and the rest were compelled to leave the country. Peace +having been restored, it was imperilled by the murder of the King's +brother who had been suspected of aspirations to supreme power. A +prince of the blood taking advantage of the feeling inspired by this +crime, proclaimed himself King. This new usurper, under pretence of +safeguarding the interests of the state maintained an armed force in +time of peace, and this force was more vexatious to the citizens, than +it was dangerous to foreign foes. However by keeping up a standing +army he was able to dispose of the partisans of the legitimate heir to +the throne. The Dutch to whom he gave trading facilities were his most +zealous upholders. + +It has been presumed that this usurper was the celebrated _Chao Pasa +Thong_ whom some maintain was of royal birth, but to whom others +assign a lowly origin. For a long time he had held the office of +Chacri or Chancellor during the tenure of which he deceived his +master, oppressed the people, and made use of his ill gotten gains to +consolidate his position. His wealth was lavished on his fellow +conspirators. As soon as he was on the throne, he desired to marry the +daughter of his predecessor, but the princess unwilling to bedeck +herself with the spoils of his brothers who were the proper heirs to +the throne, looked upon this criminal union with disgust. The tyrant +enraged at their love for their sister ordered them to execution. + +Having disposed of his rivals, he showed all the ferocity of his +nature. The death of his daughter furnished an excuse for his harsh +policy of removing all those who might have checked him in the path of +crime. Having celebrated her funeral rites with the utmost pomp; he +himself gathered up her ashes, and on seeing a morsel of flesh +unconsumed by the fire, made up his mind that his daughter had been +poisoned. Mad in his suspicions, he had all the women who had been in +attendance on the poisoned Princess, put under guard, and tried to +extort by torture an avowal from them of an imaginary crime. The whole +court was a scene of punishments. Even so large a number of victims +could not appear the cruelty of the tyrant. All the nobles of the +Kingdom were summoned before him, and he caused trenches to be dug and +filled with glowing charcoal so as to put them to the ordeal by fire. +They began by scraping the soles of their feet with a sharp piece of +iron and then made them pass over the burning matter. Those whose feet +were injured by the fire were held to be guilty. + +This tyrant, a cunning inventor of punishments, devised new methods. +Some victims were crushed under the feet of elephants, others, buried +up to the shoulders, begged for death which alone could terminate +their sufferings. It was a heinous offence to give them the least +assistance or to hasten their death. He employed fearsome tortures. +The bodies of victims were squeezed so tightly by cloths that the +cloth appeared to be part and parcel of the body of the sufferer. Some +were pierced with needles of various shapes and then were cut in half, +the upper portion being placed on a copperplate so as to stop the +bleeding and to prolong the agony. + +Three thousand persons were sacrificed to the barbarity of the tyrant, +who under the pretext of avenging the death of his daughter, found a +means of removing the enemies of his usurped power. + +There still remained other important victims namely the two sons and +the daughter of the late King. As he could only revile them for their +misfortune and degradation, he brought a false charge against the +eldest daughter whom he accused of having given an exhibition of +unholy glee at the cremation of the Princess. She was condemned to the +ordeal by fire together with all the ladies of her suite and the pain +extorted from her the avowal of a crime of which she was innocent. The +executioner at once received the order to cut off a piece of her flesh +and to make her eat it. When she was offered this disgusting repast, +she cried out. "Vile tyrant! you can rend my body, but remember that +my spirit is not under your command. You will observe that the fixity +of my purpose renders me superior to your tortures. Learn also that +your crimes will not go unpunished and that my blood shall be a seed +from which shall arise the avengers of my family and country." + +At this, the tyrant highly enraged, ordered her to be cut in pieces +and to be cast into the river. The brother of the Princess who at that +time was twenty years of age met with the same fate. He had previously +pretended to be insane but as soon as he was mounted on the scaffold, +he made it known that it was the love of life that had caused him to +act in a cowardly manner. The beauty of his countenance which his sad +position rendered more touching, caused tears to come into the eyes of +the most hardened. When he saw the executioner approaching, he cursed +the author of his misfortune. "Although innocent," he said, "I am +about to suffer the death of the guilty. The tyrant wishes that I +should die, and I shall not demean myself to beg his clemency, a +virtue of which he is quite ignorant. I prefer to arouse the feelings +of the people and to encourage them to thoughts of vengeance." This +usurper, who was notorious only for his cruelties, died after a reign +of 30 years. He left a son whom the devotion of the people called to +the throne, but he was supplanted by his uncle who based his claim to +the throne on the custom which placed the crown on the head of the +late King to the exclusion of his children. + +The young Prince cleverly dissembled his resentment and waited for a +favourable opportunity to show it. His uncle, a man of unbridled +passions, wished to take his sister as a concubine. The opposition +which her brother made to the match caused his uncle to resolve in his +death, which he only escaped by flight. The Portuguese sympathised +with him and in hopes of his protection offered him their help to +reclaim his brother's heritage. This prince, supported by 1000 of +these brave Europeans forced his way into the palace, of which he made +himself master before any one suspected his designs. The usurper +hoping to flee in disguise mixed with a crowd of slaves, but a +Portuguese seeing him escape, seized him and stabbed him to the heart +with a dagger. The Prince punished only those who had been concerned +in the tyrant's misdemeanours and his liberal policy secured him many +adherents. + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + THE REIGN OF CHAO NARAI. + + +The death of the usurper opened the way to his nephew's possession of +the throne. It was in this reign that the barriers which had divided +Europe from the Kingdom of Siam were broken down. The welcome that +Chao Narai extended to foreigners, drew them from all parts of the +world in the hopes of gaining wealth which in reality did not exist or +which at least had been much exaggerated by the reports of +untrustworthy travellers. This Prince, endowed by nature with all the +qualifications necessary for kingship would have been the creator of +this nation, had not the intractable nature of his subjects been +opposed to all the good he wished to do for them. They however +invariably preferred the old customs to useful innovations. Abuses +founded on prejudice and custom are rarely capable of being reformed. +Chao, desirous of glory, and carried away by his energetic nature did +not, like other Kings of the Indies, seclude himself in the gloom of a +harem, there to grow weak in debauch and to forget his duties. His +throne shaken by the turbulence of the nobles needed a firm hand to +keep it secure. His first victories were those over his subjects, and +all premonitory symptoms of internal dissensions were promptly +repressed by the death of the rebels. Though naturally of a kindly +disposition yet severe in his methods of government, he clearly +understood that it was always necessary to be ready for all +emergencies when dealing with a people who were ready to renounce +their allegiance if not intimidated by fear. A chief priest, proud of +his authority took upon himself the onus of reading him a lecture. He +dared to tell the King that the whole nation was grumbling in secret +at his great severity. The Prince listened to what he had to say +without appearing to be annoyed by his indiscretion. Some days later +in order to make him see the folly of his remarks, the King sent a +monkey (an animal which is intensely disliked by the Siamese) to the +priest and told him to take great care of it and to let it play about +without hindrance. + +The Priest suffered great inconvenience from his guest who upset all +the furniture, broke the crockery and bit all the servants. At last, +exasperated by the animal's tricks he implored the King to relieve him +of its presence. "Well" said the Prince, "Can you not put up with the +petty annoyances of an animal for two days; and yet you wish that I +should endure, for the rest of my life, the insults of a people one +thousand times worse mannered than all the monkeys in the forests! +Learn then, that even if I punish wickedness still more will I reward +virtue and merit." Having crushed the rebellion, he put himself at the +head of his army and his first expedition was crowned by a brilliant +victory. The Peguans had invaded the outlying portion of the Kingdom +and had committed great havoc. These people, so often the conquerors +of Siam, found by bitter experience that they could not always be +invincible, and after sustaining a disastrous defeat hurriedly +retreated with their shattered forces to their own territories. + +Whilst thus engaged in the repulse of foreign foes, storms were +brewing in the heart of his Kingdom. This Prince too enlightened to +give himself up to superstitious idolatry, soared above popular +prejudice. The priests feared that they would fall in public +estimation and that the people, following the example of so popular a +ruler, would forsake the altars of their gods. They thought that they +might prevent their loss of prestige by the murder of the King. The +zeal for the interests of heaven urged them to the crime of attempting +his life and misled by sanctimonious piety they chose for their fell +deed, a feast day on which the King entered the temple, more as a +censor, than a partaker in their vulgar rites. The success of this +sacrilegious plot seemed assured, owing to the fact that the royal +body-guard was not allowed to enter the temple precincts. A fortunate +chance averted the danger. Two officials, sent to examine the +preparations for the ceremony, perceived that the temple was filled +with a mob of priests, all of whom were armed with swords and daggers +concealed under their robes. These warlike preparations were +considered suspicious. On hearing the news, the King surrounded the +temple with soldiers who cut down the guilty priests without mercy. +This just punishment was regarded as an act of sacrilege by the +populace who are apt to confound the cause of God with the crimes of +His ministers. The priests, to whose interest it was to decry him, +proclaimed him to be a bloodstained Ruler who cared naught for God and +man. Such was cause of the hatred that this King felt for the priests. + +It was under these favourable circumstances that three French bishops +came to Siam to plant the standard of their faith. Their enlightened +character contrasted strongly with that of the idolatrous priests, +sunk in the depths of ignorance and in the mire of debauchery. + +In order to slight the priests, the King made as though to favour +Christianity. The prelates established a Seminary on a piece of land +given to them by the King. The aim of this institution was to educate +the young, and to enable them to learn the languages of their +neighbours all of whom had establishments in the capital known as +'camps,' that of the French being known as the camp of St. Joseph. The +King built them a church at his own expense. This generosity seemed to +indicate his leanings towards Christianity, but in reality he was +indifferent to all religions and above all took delight in showing his +contempt for the idolatrous priests whom he loved to humiliate. The +Mahomedans shared his favours with the Christians and if he had been +obliged to make choice of a religion, it is most probable that he +would have declared for the Koran. A Prince surrounded by concubines +would naturally vote for a religion which authorises his +predilections. The logic of the Court furnished overwhelming arguments +which silenced the voice of reason. The executive was entrusted to a +foreigner, who, brought up in the bosom of Christianity, favoured its +progress. This man was equally celebrated for his rise and fall; he +has played too important a part on the world's stage for us to omit a +sketch of him. + +Constantine Faulcon, a Greek by nationality, was born in 1650 in the +island of Cephalonia. Father Tachard assures us that his father was a +noble Venetian who was the governor of the island, and that his mother +was a daughter of one of the leading families. This Jesuit, whose +works must be read with a great deal of distrust, created titles to do +honour to those of his friends and protectors to whom good birth had +been denied. + +The name of Faulcon does not occur among those of the noble families +of Venice, and Forbin, better informed and less of a flatterer, says +that he was the son of an innkeeper in a small village known as La +Custode in the island of Cephalonia, at which place Faulcon received +an education commensurate with his abilities. Nature revenged herself +on the caprice of Fortune and his high spirit was evident as he grew +up, and his pride could not stand a locality where every thing +recalled his lowly origin. + +At the age of twelve he took ship for England and did not delay in +making himself known for his commercial abilities. His lively +imagination knew how to place everything in a favourable light. His +ready speech and interesting conversation bore witness to his birth in +that happy land which in former times produced the teachers of the +nations. He was sought after by the greatest people at Court, and his +intelligence fertile, though uncultivated gave him ready access to the +most refined courtiers and the wisest of the learned. Mr. White, a +rich English merchant recognised his talents, and seeing the advantage +that might accrue from his society, took him on a voyage to the Indies +where his skill justified his preconceived ideas. + +Having passed through his English service, he found himself possessed +of sufficient means to be independent, and started trading for +himself. His efforts were not crowned with success. Twice he embarked, +and twice was his ship wrecked near the mouth of the Menam. These +mishaps did not damp his commercial ardour. He embarked on a third +venture, but was again wrecked on the coast of Malabar. He was barely +able to save himself from the fury of the elements and managed to +recover but 2000 crowns, as the sole relics of his fortune. + +Overcome by exhaustion, he fell asleep on the lonely and unknown +shore. His disordered imagination gave him a vision of a beautiful and +majestic female who, casting tender glances at him, told him to return +to Siam where he would meet with better fortune. This dream which he +afterwards regarded as a sign from heaven led him to seek means to +carry out the project. Thus, smarting from his recent misfortunes, it +was from a idle dream, that this man whose talents have been so +belauded, took his directions which indeed led him to power. Many +unfortunate persons have been led to their doom by following such +untrustworthy guides. + +Next day, as he was walking along the shore regarding the devouring +element that had swallowed up his fortune, he was met by a man in a +most wretched plight. It was a Siamese ambassador, who, returning from +Persia, had been shipwrecked on the same coast. This personage, having +lost all his property thought that he had only been saved from the +waves to die on the shore. He was agreeably surprised to meet a +sympathetic fellow creature in a similar situation. The account of +each other's mishaps cemented a friendship such as is rarely known +between those on whom fortune is wont to smile. Faulcon, wealthy +compared with his destitute friend, used his remaining wealth to +purchase food, clothing and a boat in which they sailed to Siam +together, Faulcon found a home in the seminary where he lived on the +bounty of the archbishop of Beryta. + +The ambassador touched by Faulcon's kindness sang his praises to the +Barcalon who desired to see his benefactor. Faulcon captivated the +minister by the brilliancy of his talents. The trust he inspired +rendered him a necessity to the Barcalon who, a foe to hard work, +preferred pleasure to business. He found the burden of the +administration could well be borne by a subordinate whose +well-directed operations redounded both to the credit of the Monarch +and of himself. Faulcon was chosen to accompany an embassy to a +neighbouring kingdom where he kept up appearances without causing +unnecessary expense. The Mores insatiable in their avarice wasted the +public money as they were in charge of the state's finances. Faulcon +repressed their greed. This parsimony rendered him dear to the King, +who, after the death of the chief minister appointed him as his +successor, but the Greek was wise enough to refuse the position as he +saw that, he a foreigner, would incur the hatred of the Nobles who +invariably aspired to offices without endeavouring to render +themselves worthy of their trust. But if he had no show of power, he +had all the reality. He was careful to hide behind the machine of +which he pulled the strings, and, minister without the title and +decorations, he presided as an invisible yet guiding spirit over +public affairs. + +A Malay who had received the appointment of Barcalon endeavoured to +undermine his influence, but the falsity of his charges having been +proved, was punished by loss of his office. Nations have spoken +differently concerning this singular personage. These who take his +lowly origin into account assume him to have been the possessor of +superior attainments by which he surmounted the obstacles which hinder +the progress of ordinary people. + +The French priests supported by his generosity and possibly misled by +imposing externals have depicted him in the most glowing colours. +Tachard, loud in his praise has represented him as having a nobility +of character, a facile mind and polished manners, very rare qualities +to be found in a sailor who had passed his life on shipboard in the +company of wild, uncouth, seafaring men. + +He has also supplied him with natural eloquence and persuasiveness, +but the proofs which this Jesuit has brought forward are so open to +doubt, that it is fairly apparent that Tachard himself was the author +of all the elegant productions which he assigns to Faulcon. The other +European nations jealous doubtless of his preference for the French or +the Portuguese Catholics, have taken pleasure in vilifying his +character. They have painted him with all the vices to which both +ancient and modern Greeks are addicted. Perfidious and cringing, +concealing the symptoms of frenzied ambition under the cloak of +moderation, polite in manner and haughty in character, he did not +trouble to disguise his vices in his dealings with a people accustomed +to servile obedience. Implacable in revenge, he skilfully laid the +onus of the punishment of his enemies upon the king. Everyone agrees +that he was possessed of certain virtues which never became obscured +throughout his life. A sincere despiser of wealth, he made use of +riches only for the purpose of personal aggrandisement. His +incorruptible nature was never suspected of receiving bribes in the +administration of justice. Eager for the honours from which his birth +seemed to have excluded him, he was all the more anxious to secure +them. Faithful to his master, the only reward of his service that he +claimed, was the privilege of maritime commerce, which furnished him +with the money necessary for his expenses. It seems that he was a true +Catholic, since free to make choice of a religion, he deserted the +Anglican faith which would have been less of a hindrance to his +desires. + +He was a man of medium stature, with bright penetrating eyes. Although +having an intelligent expression, there were traces of gloom in his +character, indicative of a conscience smitten by remorse. + +Such was the condition of the court of Siam when the question of an +alliance with France was considered. A new treaty, the motives of +which could not be clearly understood, drew the attention of those +interested in politics. + +Those who were jealous of Faulcon declared that he had invited the +French, only for the purpose of furtherance of his schemes and to +place him on the throne that was the summit of his ambition. It is +quite possible that feeling himself exposed to the envy of the court, +he might have wished to have raised some barrier against the designs +of his foes and that in protecting the French, he was actuated by +regard for his personal safety rather than by that of his master's +prestige. + +Whatever his ideas may have been on that point there is no doubt that +he was fully alive to the advantages which would accrue to the kingdom +from commerce. Otherwise the Dutch, the masters of the Malay +Peninsula, would have been the arbiters of the fate of the Indies the +kings of which needed an alliance to counterbalance the power of these +formidable republicans. Their dangerous proximity was the lure the +minister made use of to bring the king round to his ideas. + +The Bishops, newly arrived in Siam gave such glowing accounts of Louis +XIV that the Siamese monarch was greatly flattered by the prospect of +obtaining so illustrious an ally. A pompous announcement of the list +of presents sent was made, but fearing lest these gifts might be +seized by the Dutch who at this time were at war with France, it had +been decided to leave them at Bantam. This delay might have been fatal +in a court ruled by avarice, and it was to be feared that over-zealous +courtiers, jealous of the favour in which the prelates were held, took +every opportunity of doing them harm by declaring that they were +secretly plotting to possess themselves of these presents. The king +anxious to receive these gifts was persuaded that he would receive +them in due course; but hardly had the vessel set sail, than the Dutch +caring naught for the King of Siam seized the presents as a prize of +war. The Court of Siam broke out in threats at this audacious act; but +the Dutch, too powerful to fear any act of reprisal, foresaw a rupture +from which nothing was to be gained. So in order to depreciate the +high ideal the Siamese had of Louis XIV., they craftily restored all +the gifts of small worth, but retained those which were valuable so as +to belittle the offering of the King of France. + +The King of Siam, hearing of this act of bad faith was only the more +eager to hasten the projected alliance, and, to ensure its +consummation, he pretended to have decided leanings towards +Christianity. The Buddhist temples were closed and those who disobeyed +this order were severely punished. The King was pleased to hear the +Bishops discourse on Christianity. His gifts helped to embellish the +Seminary. He caused a gilt throne to be carried there, the +magnificence of which seemed to indicate the respect for the doctrines +there promulgated. On the cessation of hostilities between the Dutch +and the French, ambassadors were chosen to bear a reply to the French +monarch. The King built a church at his own expense. This edifice +still remains and the memory of its founder made it to respected by +the persecutors of the followers of Christ. The people, free to select +a religion, would have ranged themselves under the banner of the +Gospel, if the chief minister had not secretly disobeyed the order of +his master. + +The first ambassadors had many obstacles to overcome. The Court, +impatient at receiving no tidings, sent two other high officials +accompanied by M. M. Vachet and Pascal two enlightened missionaries to +be their guides in a land where the manners and customs would be +unfamiliar. + +It was at the beginning of January 1684 that they set sail on board an +English vessel, together with six young Siamese who were to be +instructed in European arts and sciences. They arrived in London after +voyage of six months and thence took for ship Calais. It was then that +M. Vachet resigned the position of chief of the embassy in order that +the Siamese officials might enjoy the dignities of the post. + +M. de Seignelay, before making the news public, wished to learn +verbally the reason for the embassy. M. Vachet told him that the fame +of Louis XIV, had penetrated to the extreme Orient and that the King +of Siam hoping to form an alliance, offered him, if his efforts were +successful, a position in a state where a French company might +establish a trading station to extend commercial operations to China +and all parts of the Indies. + +The minister, having previously been misled by false reports, appeared +to doubt the truth of this recital. "Be careful," he said, "in +speaking of this embassy we know very well that it has not been sent +by the King of Siam and that Louis XIV. fears that his dignity would +be compromised if he were to send an embassy to him." M. Vachet had no +difficulty in surmounting this obstacle. Louis XIV., who was better +informed on the matter, summoned him to his presence and entered into +the details of the affair. He appointed a day for the audience of the +ambassadors to whom the ministers lent their equipages and retainers. + +They went to Versailles, where their presence aroused the interest of +the whole Court. Their dress was rich and elegant, they wore white +pointed head-dresses ornamented with a ring of gold three inches in +width. The spectacle was interesting from its novelty. + +They were conducted with great ceremony to the Royal Presence. On the +appearance of His Majesty they prostrated themselves with their faces +to the ground, having the hands above the head, in the same posture as +they were wont to adopt towards their own King. M. Vachet acted as +interpreter and the King replied "Tell these officials that We shall +have great pleasure in doing what our brother the King of Siam +desires." + +Afterwards they dined with the King and the luxury of the table +appointments, made a great impression on men naturally accustomed to +frugality. They were conducted over the park where the fountains which +were playing seemed to them to be an exhibition of magical power. +Having satisfied their curiosity, they were invited to magnificent +banquet. The King's brother was their host at a splendid entertainment +at St. Cloud at which the choice vintages excited their appetites. The +objects of art in the Prince's apartments attracted their attention +and many Frenchmen were astonished to find such good taste and +appreciation in strangers coming from so distant a country. The Prince +of Condé, who inherited the inborn courtesy of the heirs of his +house, invited them to Chantilly. The most distinguished persons vied +with each other in the magnificence of their receptions and during a +stay of more than two months in France, they appeared of more account +than their master. + +On their return to Siam, they rendered account of their negociations +and the King pleased with their success and the honours they had +received, called M. Vachet to renew to him the assurance of his +protection. He addressed him in these words which sounded strange from +the mouth of an idolatrous prince. + +"Father Vachet, do not pride yourself on the success of your voyage, +it is not you that have effected such great things, it is the God of +Heaven and Earth to whom all praise be due." + +These negociations were the fruit of Faulcon's intrigues and above all +of the zeal of the missionaries for the glory of their religion and of +their King. + +The French merchants who foresaw new openings for commerce were also +greatly interested in the scheme. Louis XIV. had resolved to send out +Jesuit mathematicians to China, where their observations might perfect +the knowledge of geography and navigation. He seized the occasion of +the visit of the Siamese ambassadors to carry out his design. The +Chevalier de Chaumont was appointed ambassador to Siam with the Abbé +de Choisy as his co-adjutor with instructions to reside in the Indies +until the King of Siam had been converted to Christianity and to work +in conjunction with the missionaries to further the great work. + +The Abbé who was a most agreeable personage, was bent more on +pleasure, than on the giving of instruction but it is not by amenities +of character that apostleship is successful. + +The Chevalier de Chaumout cast anchor in the Gulf of Siam on September +27th 1687 after a voyage of six months duration. He was accompanied by +M. M. Ceberet and La Loubere the chiefs of the deputation, five +missionaries and fourteen Jesuits. Father Tachard who had no rank +other than that of a mathematician was the life and soul of the party +of which he alone imagined he pulled the strings. The stress he lays +on the smallest details of the negociations ought at once to make his +position suspected. The French were received with every mark of +distinction. The King of Siam, laying aside the hauteur of an Asiatic +monarch became quite familiar. It was then that the ambassadors become +apostles and begged the King to become a Christian. + +Their efforts were redoubled on receiving the news that an ambassador +had just arrived from Persia to convert the King to Islam. The +Missionaries in their zeal and desire to gain so illustrious a +convert, overstepped the limits of his favour. The Chevalier du +Chaumont under instructions from them and from Faulcon (who though +animated by the same zeal had yet other motives) never ceased pointing +out to the King on every possible occasion, that it was the ardent +wish of Louis XIV that he should embrace Christianity. + +Narai, wearied by his importunity, asked what had led the King of +France to believe that he had wished to become a Christian. + +The following was the King's reply from the memory of those who were +present and who were desirous of his conversion. Faulcon himself acted +as interpreter. + +"I regret that the King of France sets me so difficult a choice. I +should be rash to embrace a religion of which I know nothing. I wish +for no other judge than this wise and virtuous prince. A sudden change +might cause a revolution and I do not intend to forsake lightly a +religion received and practised without interruption in my kingdom for +the last 2229 years. Besides this I am greatly surprised at the +eagerness with which this King upholds the cause of heaven, it seems +that God himself takes no interest whatever in the matter, and that He +has left the mode of worship which is due to Him to our own +discretion. For could not this true God who has created heaven and +earth and all the dwellers therein and has endued them with diverse +characters, in granting souls and bodies to mankind, have inspired +mankind with similar ideas on the religion they ought to follow, and +have indicated to them the mode of worship most agreeable to Him and +to have submitted all nations to a uniform law. As He has not done so +we ought to conclude that He has not wished it to be so. This ordered +unity of worship depends entirely upon a divine Providence that could +have introduced it into the world just as easily as the diversity of +sects that are established. It is then natural to believe that the +True God takes as much pleasure in being worshipped in different ways +as by being glorified by a vast number of creatures who praise Him +after one fashion. Would the diversified beauty which we so admire in +the physical, be less admirable in the ethical world or less worthy of +the Divine Wisdom? Whatever may happen, since God is the absolute +ruler and director of the world I resign myself and my kingdom +entirely to His good providence and with all my heart I trust that His +eternal wisdom will so order them according to His good pleasure." + +These brilliant sophisms showed that the Prince had no great leanings +towards Christianity. The Abbé de Choisy was quite capable of +understanding their hollowness but, convinced that the logic of Kings +is hard to refute, became tired of his apostleship owing to the small +hope he held of success. + +The French were none the less well received, and in virtue of a secret +treaty, Mergui and Bangkok were banded over to the soldiery to whom +the King extended a welcome. These towns were reckoned as two of the +ramparts of the country the one on the Bay of Bengal and the other on +the Gulf of Siam. Des Farges was appointed governor and commander in +chief of the French soldiery. + +These foreigners transferred to the Kingdom of Siam, were regarded as +its defenders. Twenty-four of them were selected to act as a bodyguard +to the prime minister, and the King himself never appeared in public +without a French escort. One of these men was raised to the rank of +colonel of the guards and others were placed in command of Siamese +regiments in order to instruct them in military discipline. The +soldier who fell ill was sent to Louvo where he received better +attention than he would have in his own home. These privileges were +extended to all Christians who enjoyed full rights of citizenship. The +French Jesuits were allowed to preach the Gospel in all parts of the +Kingdom. The King appointed many of them to Buddhist temples under the +pretext of their having to learn Siamese, but in reality to observe +their procedure as the priests were neither suited for, nor willing to +act as spies. The minister laid the foundations of a college for the +education of the younger member of the nobility under the name of +College of Constantine. M. the Chevalier de Chaumont having brought +the negociations to a conclusion departed from Siam at the end of +1688. He was accompanied by three Siamese Ambassadors equally +distinguished by birth and ability and who were in charge of some rich +gifts for the King of France. + +The object of this mission was to demand that engineers should be sent +to instruct the Siamese in the art of fortification and in the methods +of attack and defence of positions. They were also empowered to +request a body of troops to perfect the Siamese in military +evolutions. + +The French officers and soldiers who remained in Siam abused the +consideration they had enjoyed. Convinced of their superiority in +power and knowledge, they were rash enough to presume upon it, and +instead of laying themselves out to please, desired to be thought much +of. With impudent mockery they condemned every thing that differed +from their own customs. The people and nobles at first suffered the +pride of their insolent guests in silence. The Bishops and clergy +alone were not exposed to the popular dislike. Keeping within the +seminary and devoting their time to labour, they were neither vain nor +ambitious, they were known by the services they rendered to the public +and above all to the unfortunate. + +The Jesuits, animated without doubt by the same motives had other +means to attain their end; and it was by the brilliancy of their +accomplishments that they endeavoured to enjoy the public confidence. + +Surgeons, physicians, astronomers and mathematicians, they beheld men +of all stations in life coming to ask their advice and to follow their +teaching. + +But while making converts, they multiplied enemies. The more they +displayed the superiority of their talents the more were they +suspected of dangerous designs. It was incredible that such learned +men should expose themselves to such fatigue and danger for the mere +purpose of dressing wounds free of charge, and to teach how to +calculate eclipses or the periodicity of comets. They were both +admired and hated, and the Siamese were told that it was merely by +this display of secular learning that they had succeeded in having a +powerful following in Japan. In such manner they decried the zeal of +these religious persons pure in their motives, but perhaps too +ostentatious in their methods. + +Many of the Siamese, attached to their own habits and customs were +alarmed at seeing so many foreign priests and soldiers introduced into +the Kingdom. They could not but perceive that this policy was a +forecast of an approaching change in the laws and religion of the +country. Faulcon, the author of these innovations, became the object +of public execration. A zealous, but indiscreet Malay informed the +King that the minister, the accomplice of the French, had conspired +against him and the state. The Monarch having been forewarned of this +tale would not deign to listen to the proofs he had to offer and +instead of receiving the rewards that he thought would be his due, was +condemned to be devoured by tigers. + +The Prince of Johore, a vassal of the King of Siam, wrote to the King +to induce him to expel these foreigners from his Kingdom; alleging +that the French after having been received as allies would soon +attempt to become masters. This prince with the connivance of the +Dutch, offered his troops to help in the liberation of the Kingdom +from these new oppressors. His advice was rejected in anger, and the +envoys would have been beheaded had not Faulcon been wise enough to +check an act of violence which might have led to disastrous results. + +A few remarks should be made here on this embassy which was a +brilliant, rather than a useful achievement. + +The French clergy who had been the primary occasion of the embassy had +only the interests of Christianity at stake, but the political party +regarded it as an advancement of the prestige of the King of France, +who, in his turn, surrounded by flatterers, was misled by their +counsels. + +Father Tachard, ready to grasp anything that would advance the +interests of either his master or his sect, thought that the conquest +of Siam was reserved for his own society. He was seconded by Pere de +la Chaise, who removed all the opposition on the part of the ministers +to this expensive and useless alliance. + +The Chevalier de Chaumont and the Abbé de Choisy had had but a very +superficial idea of the Siamese nation. They had been present at +banquets and hunting parties and the Royal Treasures had been +displayed to their view. They had been conducted round the temples +where they had been told that the colossal images therein were of +solid gold, whereas in reality they were only of plaster skilfully +gilt. The ambassadors, dazzled by what they saw, deceived the Court of +France in their turn. + +Count Forbin, the head of the navy and a thorough Spartan, had +observed all this parade in a philosophic spirit. This brave soldier +who preferred the roar of cannon, to any more sensuous form of music, +perceived that the French were being blinded by a bogus magnificence. +The simple account he has given of this journey is a complete +refutation of the meretricious lies of Tachard and Choisy. + +His insight into the wretched state of the country was keen, and +Faulcon, fearing lest he should discredit the reports that the +ambassadors were about to carry to the French Court, asked the +Chevalier de Chaumont that Forbin should be appointed Admiral of the +fleet. The Count was obliged to obey the orders of the ambassador and +was duly appointed Admiral and Commander-in-chief of the land and sea +forces of the Kingdom of Siam. This grandiloquent title gave him +opportunities of investigating the true state of the country the +misery and weakness of which he soon discovered. Some days after he +had an audience with the King whom he found surrounded by officials +seated on wicker-work mats. A single lamp illuminated the hall and +whoever wished to read, pulled out a yellow wax taper from his pocket, +lit it, and then extinguished it with great economy when he had +finished with it. + +One day the mean and miserly Monarch asked the Count "Well Admiral, do +you not find great pleasure in your appointment at Court?" Forbin was +obliged to answer that he considered himself highly favoured to be in +his service. This plain-spoken sailor ground his teeth as he uttered +this polite lie. + +The severity with which the slightest faults were punished made him +squeamish. Those who did not speak sufficiently had their mouths slit +from ear to ear and those who spoke too much had the mouths sewed up. +Petty offenders were burnt in the arm or lacerated in the thigh, +Forbin was surprised to see that the highest officials were exposed to +such shameful treatment, from which even the King's brothers +themselves were not exempt. He feared for his personal safety, but was +reassured by Faulcon who employed every artifice to retain him in the +service. He was not over-satisfied with the allowance made for his pay +and accomodation which was quite out of proportion to his +grandiloquent title. + +He was given thirty six slaves to wait on him, and two elephants. His +house was small and poorly furnished. He was presented with twelve +plates two large silver cups, four dozen table napkins and a daily +allowance of two of yellow wax tapers. + +Such were the emoluments of Count Forbin, Admiral and +Commander-in-chief of the forces of the Kingdom of Siam. This mean +equipage can give some idea of what an Asiatic monarch considered to +be luxury. + +It seems that Fortune, in retaining Count Forbin in the service of a +nation incapable of profiting by his example, had foreseen that the +chance would be given him of acting as the country's defender, as +happened in the Macassar revolt which broke out two years later and of +which the circumstances shall now be related. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + THE REVOLT OF THE MACASSARS. + + +A people to whom the Kingdom of Siam had given refuge in their +misfortunes, were the cause of an event that shook it to its +foundations. The King of Macassar, a district in the island of +Celebes, had been dethroned by the Dutch. One of his sons, escaping +from the vengeance of the conquerors, had sought asylum in Siam. The +King of Siam, attracted by the rank of the unfortunate prince, granted +him land on which houses were built for him and his followers who had +accompanied his flight. + +This locality which still retains its name of 'The field of the +Macassars' was situated adjacent to that assigned to the Malays who +were also a Mahommedan people. + +The benefits showered on the fugitive Prince only made him ungrateful, +and when he ought to have sacrificed everything for his benefactor, he +made an attempt on his life, in order to place the King's younger +brother on the throne. The conspiracy was discovered and the author of +it deserved severe punishment, but Narai overlooked the offence and +magnanimously pardoned him. Daen (this was the name of the treacherous +Prince) emboldened by impunity, considered himself more powerful than +the Prince to whom he was so much indebted. + +Base characters regard clemency as a sign of weakness, not as a +virtue. Humiliated by an unmerited pardon, he rendered himself still +more unworthy by entering into a new conspiracy. As he needed +fellow-conspirators for the execution of his evil designs, he +corrupted by means of specious promises, the three Princes of Champa, +who, like himself had sought refuge in Siam, after the death of their +father to escape from the machinations of their brother, who having +succeeded to the throne, would have in accordance with Mahommedan +usage, laid violent hands on possible rivals. + +These Princes conspired with the Prince of Macassar to open a road to +the throne. Their plot was, at first, to place the crown on the head +of the youngest of the King's brothers and to reign in the name of the +crowned phantom. They were resolved to compass his destruction after +having elevated him to the throne and to substitute one of themselves +by vote. It seemed that the interests of their religion justified the +conspiracy in their sight. They intended to offer to Christians and +Mahomedans alike, the alternatives of death or the Koran. + +One of these three Princes occupied a high position at Court. He was +the youngest, and the others placed him at the head of the conspiracy. +He was of an age at which ignorance of the risk he ran, might lead him +into crime without his perceiving the fatal results. He followed the +counsels of a bold Malay who had nothing to lose and who was ready for +any desperate deed. It was necessary to enlist the sympathy of heaven +for their cause so as to inspire their followers with that fanatical +enthusiasm which regards the present life as a mere prelude to eternal +felicity. + +They received great assistance from the impostures of a Mahomedan +priest who informed the Malay and Macassar encampments that a sign of +evil omen had appeared in the sky and that their nation was threatened +by a grave disaster. For the space of three months he published these +dreadful tales. Fanatical madness is contagious, and an imposter who +misuses the name of the Deity can soon reckon on a numerous following. + +With the exception of three hundred Malays, everyone eagerly drank in +his words. When the plot was ripe, the three ringleaders sought means +to win over these three hundred to their side, as the success of the +plot largely depended on their co-operation. They decided that on the +appointed day, they would summon them to their meeting and that they, +seeing their compatriots armed for the common cause, would no longer +hesitate to throw in their lot with them. It was resolved to break +open the prisons and to liberate the captives to augment their forces. +As their financial resources were limited, they signified their +intention of looting the palace and the treasury in the hope of +encouraging the bravery of their fellow-conspirators by the prospect +of a rich booty. + +On the appointed day, before striking the first blow, the two Princes +wrote to their brother, who was holding office in Louvo, to advise him +to put as great a distance as he could between himself and the Court. +He received the letter at nightfall and the messenger disappeared +without waiting for an answer. The hasty departure of the messenger +aroused the prince's suspicions and guessing that the letter contained +some important secret information, gave it unopened to Faulcon, who +alarmed at the news of the rising, hurried off to inform the King. +Three thousand men were sent to defend the palace. The guards +stationed near Louvo prevented the outbreak of the revolt by their +vigilance. Forbin was sent to Bangkok to attend to the defence of that +important port. + +The conspirators ignorant of the discovery of their plot, assembled to +carry out their designs. When the three hundred Malays, whom the +conspirators had been endeavouring to win over, had discovered the +nature of the plot, they became highly indignant and protested that +far from wishing to betray the King their benefactor, they were ready +to shed their blood in his defence. + +Their fidelity brought back many to a proper sense of their position. +The Mahomedan priest trembled for his life and saw no better way out +of his difficult position than by revealing the secrets of those whom +he had deceived. The princes no longer doubted that they were +discovered, especially when they learnt that the palace was defended +by three thousand men and that armed guards were keeping watch on the +ramparts. + +They returned home without striking a blow. The King, although he +could have punished them very severely, showed his clemency and +pardoned them. + +The Malay leader, who had been the arch-plotter deserted the camp of +the Princes whom he had so seriously compromised. He divulged all the +secrets and sources of the plot and avowed that he had only served +with the Princes in order to be able to disclose the matter to the +King. + +Faulcon was sent to interview the rebels and to induce them to return +to their allegiance. He pardoned all those who came and acknowledged +their faults. The Malays who had rebelled simply because they had been +prevailed upon by the others, gave testimony of their repentance and +obedience in future. But the Macassars, who were unprincipled +scoundrels, showed a ferocious courage that feared death less than the +shame of submission. Their Prince was frequently ordered to appear +before the King's tribunal, not to be judged, but merely to +acknowledge his guilt and to reveal the names of his +fellow-conspirators. He excused himself on various pretexts and +alleged that although he was not guilty, yet he could not endure the +shame of having to justify his actions. If he had anything to reproach +himself with, it was the fact that he was unable to reveal the names +of those who had entrusted him with their secrets, but that his +dignity would have been compromised had he condescended to play the +part of a spy and informer, and furthermore that far from wishing to +betray the King to whom he owed so much, he was incapable of traducing +the very least of his friends. The King who could not subdue his pride +by kindness, found that he was obliged to resort to force. But the +Macassars too hardy to blench at the approach of death, gave him to +understand that the most formidable enemies are those who are prepared +to die. + +Hearing of their resistance, the King of Macassar sent slaves and +money to the rebellious princes to ensure them a means of subsistance. + +A Malay captain, one of the ringleaders of the revolt, thought that he +could take advantage of the ship which had brought these gifts to +Bangkok, to find a home in some other land. But the Chevalier de +Forbin by means of a warrant he had received for his arrest, prevented +his escape. He had asked for, and obtained a passport to leave the +Kingdom, but on his arrival at the chain stretched as a barrier across +the river, Forbin sent an order that he should land and give an +account of the members of his suite. + +The Captain, perceiving the threatened danger, replied that he would +only submit to the governor's order on condition of his being +accompanied by all his suite bearing arms. + +After some deliberation he was allowed to land with an escort of eight +soldiers armed with daggers. These daggers are formidable weapons as +they are usually poisoned. The possession of one of these daggers is a +mark of honourable distinction among the Macassars, and the surrender +of it to an enemy is considered to be the greatest disgrace, and +whoever draws his weapon and does not succeed in killing his adversary +is held to be dishonoured in the sight of the nation. The captain, +apprehensive of danger, fearlessly disembarked from his ship and made +it known to his companions that it was his determination to plunge his +dagger into the breast of the first man that attempted to disarm him. +On his arrival at the fort he was ordered to send for the rest of his +suite who remained in the ship. He was obliged to yield as the hall +was filled with soldiery. An officer commanded him in the King's name, +to surrender his dagger, but instead of obeying, the Malay stabbed him +to the heart. Two Siamese soldiers tried to seize him, but they met +with the same fate as their officer, and a fourth man succumbed to his +blows. Then in a frenzy of rage he and his companions rushed on the +soldiers who were armed with pikes, and forced their way through in +defiance of death. They sprang upon a bastion, but the musketry fire +compelled them to leap into the fosse. Some, even were able to make a +stand against the guards posted to stop their flight, but, sorely +wounded, they received the fatal strokes they had desired to deal. +When the captain lay dying in the dust, a French officer advanced to +seize his dagger, but instead of grasping it by the handle, he only +managed to get the scabbard. The Macassar, recalled to action by the +fear of losing his weapon, snatched it and ripped up his adversary and +exhausted by the effort, died together with him. By this stubborn +resistance Forbin was assured that the survivors would sell their +lives dearly. He turned out the garrison which numbered four hundred. +There were only thirty-two Macassars and they were reduced to +desperation. These savages, more like wild beasts than men, wished to +dictate terms rather than to make them. They demanded the body of +their captain and threatened to punish the French if they refused to +give it up. When they perceived that Forbin was making preparations to +attack them, they made ready for a vigorous defence. They twisted +strips of cloth round their arms and shoulders to serve as shields. An +English captain, underrating the strength of these fanatics, told the +general that he would go forth and bring them back in chains. He +advanced, but soon fell a victim to his daring. The Macassars fell +upon him and stabbed both him and his followers through and through +with their daggers. The garrison on seeing this rash venture, were +panic-stricken and broke their ranks. Forbin made vain efforts to +rally them and ran a great risk of losing his own life. If the +Macassars had but known how to take advantage of the terror they had +inspired, they could have rendered themselves masters of the fort. But +as they were more desirous of the blood of their enemies than of +dictating terms; they massacred without mercy all the soldiers, women +and children who fell into their hands. Having glutted their thirst +for vengeance, they dispersed into the jungle where they suffered +greatly from hunger and the attacks of leeches and mosquitoes. They +were hunted like wild beasts, and in spite of their desperate +condition, they had the courage to face death with their weapons in +readiness. They appeared merely to regret the fact of death in cases +where they could not take the lives of their adversaries. + +Those who were taken alive, begged for death, and tired of life, they +merely desired the same fate as their companions whom they did not +wish to survive. + +The Prince of the Macassars, to whom the fate of his companions should +have been a warning, ought to have yielded himself to the mercy of the +King; but he still persisted in his refusal to appear at Court. + +A force of 6000 men under the command of Faulcon was sent to force his +submission. This body of troops ought to have been more than +sufficient to crush a handful of undisciplined men, but the Macassars +are the bravest and most determined of the Eastern races. Energetic +and fearless in danger, they despise luxurious habits that sap +vitality and extinguish all sparks of courage. + +On hearing the trumpets sounding the attack, they maddened themselves +with drugs and in a blind frenzy of passion fell upon the foe. +Faulcon, who relied on strategy more than on numerical superiority, +embarked in a ship with an Englishman the captain of a war-vessel +stationed at the bar of the river. He was accompanied by a missionary +and several Europeans who were more reliable than the Siamese who +trembled at the mere mention of the name of the enemy. + +The captain of the guard at, the head of fourteen slaves, made an +advance in the direction of the Macassar camp, without taking +precautions to cover his retreat. A Macassar with thirty men springing +from an ambush fell upon them and slew the captain and seven of the +slaves. The remainder of the party fled in the darkness. At the same +time the English captain of the war vessel made an attack on the +extreme point of the camp. Their musketry fire riddled the Macassar +huts and caused the inmates to beat a hasty retreat. The captain, +followed by a dozen Englishmen and a French officer pursued them. The +Macassars turned at bay and then with a haughty defiance, advanced, +armed with their daggers, determined neither to ask nor to give +quarter. The English captain fell dead on the scene of the combat, his +companions fled in terror, and the French officer had to swim for his +life. + +The Macassars deserted their ruined camp and endeavoured to reach the +Portuguese quarter in order to make a furious attack on the +Christians. Faulcon seeing their plan, made arrangements to circumvent +it; and, followed by eight Frenchmen, two Siamese and one Japanese, +unwisely made a frontal attack. He advanced, but the enemy had formed +up in two parties to cut off his retreat. Maddened by their drugs, +they fell upon his little band like hungry tigers upon their prey and +Faulcon seeing that he was in danger of being overwhelmed by numbers, +beat a hurried retreat after losing half of his men. + +It was evident that the attack must be made more warily and that it +was useless to imagine that mere force of numbers would be sufficient +to crush them. Faulcon rallied his whole army and fell upon the foe +who fought with the courage born of despair. At length the Macassars, +overwhelmed by numbers, retired, some to their huts and others behind +hedges of bamboos. Twenty two of their number took refuge in a temple +and resolved to bury themselves in its ruins. The huts were fired, but +the Macassars did not emerge from them until, they were nearly burnt. +Then to cut short the agony, they rushed forward sword in hand on the +pikes of their foes and fought till they died pierced through and +through, The Macassar Prince, wounded by a ball in the shoulder, +perceived Faulcon, the man whom he considered to be his most dangerous +enemy. The thirst of revenge lent him strength, and mad with rage, he +advanced on his hated rival, but as he was in the act of striking with +his javelin; he was shot by a French soldier. + +Those who had taken refuge in the temple, surrendered without striking +a blow. Thirty three more who had been severely wounded were taken +prisoners. One of the sons of the Prince, a boy of 12 years of age, +implored the mercy of the conqueror. He was shown his father's corpse. +"Alas," he exclaimed "he was the cause of our country's miseries, but +I feel his loss none the less keenly." + +A few remarks on these curious people might be made here. It is quite +a novelty to find in an enervating climate, such an example of +ferocity. The Macassars have no knowledge of fire-arms and they regard +them as detrimental to personal prowess, because they render modes of +attack by bodily strength of no avail. Besides this type of weapon +hinders the user from tasting the fruits of vengeance and leaves him +ignorant of the number of the slain. On the other hand, this dislike +for fire arms may be due to the fact that they do not know how to use +them, as they would have to surrender their superiority in the art of +hurling lances and assegais. They show the greatest skill in the use +of the sword and dagger, and they employ long blow pipes from which +they shoot arrows tipped with a poisoned fish-bone. Whoever is struck +by one of these deadly missiles has not more than three hours to live. + +Forbin cites an example of their intrepidity. One of these fanatics +was making a rush at him and he stopped him by a spear thrust in the +abdomen, but the Macassar, although mortally wounded was still anxious +to have his revenge. He continued to press forward on the spear, so as +to reach Forbin, who, stepping backwards, still holding him off by the +spear with which he had impaled him; gave time for others to come to +his assistance, and slay the Macassar. Especially when they were +subjected to tortures they evinced the greatest firmness of demeanour. + +Amongst the prisoners were found four soldiers who had deserted, and +these men were selected to serve as an example of severity. At first +they were tortured. Splinters were thrust under their nails, after +which their fingers were crushed. They were then burnt in the arm and +their heads were compressed between two boards. They suffered all +these torments without a murmur. A missionary thought that, exhausted +by torture, they would be easy subjects for conversion and approached +to lead them to Jesus Christ, but the victims deaf to their entreaties +gave no sign save those of pride in the fact they knew how to die. +After having been tortured in every possible way, they were tied up to +a post with their hands and feet bound in order to be devoured by a +hungry tiger that merely sniffed at them. The executioners goaded on +the tiger until it at last devoured its prey. One of the prisoners +watched it eat his own foot without making any effort to withdraw it. +Another hearing the crunching of his own bones, uttered no sound. A +third, while the animal stood licking the blood which was running down +his face did not even care to glance round. The King of Siam spared +the lives of the two sons of the Macassar Prince. They were sent to +Louvo under the charge of a Christian, from Constantinople, who had +entered the Siamese service, and, later, they went to France where +they served in the navy. Faulcon had the bodies of all the rebels +found armed decapitated and exposed the heads in the then deserted +encampment. The English and French who had shared the dangers and who +had been instrumental in his success were loaded with honours and +presents. + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + THE REVOLUTION THAT BROUGHT ABOUT THE + DOWNFALL OF FAULCON AND THE FRENCH. + + +Whilst Faulcon was doing his best to ensure the prosperity of the +state, the nobles, jealous of his power and influence were humiliated +by having to be subservient to a foreigner. The priests discredited, +and without the enjoyment of Court favour, saw to their sorrow a +minister, who despised their religion and set an example to the nation +of forsaking their gods and superstitions. The common people, blind to +common sense, and ready to follow any leader as foolish as themselves, +espoused the cause of the priests who, to promote the cause of Heaven, +sowed dissensions broadcast. Kings ought to have learnt by experience +that when a people is discontented, an ambitious man is all that is +required to make it rebellious. A single man suffices to instil into +dull minds the fact that union is strength, and to cause them to pass +from the ignominy of slavery to the desire for freedom. + +The Siamese people, who were murmuring in secret, only awaited a +leader to break out in revolt. Men of all conditions yearned for a +deliverer and any ambitious personage had a chance of assuming this +imposing title. + +An official by name Pitracha, took advantage of the popular discontent +as a basis on which to rear the fabric of his fortune. At first he +sheltered his aims under the cloak of religion; and a hypocritical +zealot in religious matters, he gained the confidence of the priests +and people, who regarded him as the protector of their temples and of +their ancestral form of worship. This imposter in disguise took the +surest means to stir up the fires of rebellion, as the mob invariably +supports those who take up arms on behalf of their religion. + +Some say that Pitracha was born to be galley-slave rather than to +succeed to a throne, but I can affirm that, from reliable information +received, that he was of the blood royal and even first cousin to the +reigning King. His mother who had been nurse to the King had two +children, Pitracha who has been mentioned, and a daughter. Both these +children had been brought up in the Palace and had been the playmates +of the King in his youth. First impressions are the most durable, and +the King had always a kindly feeling for the playfellow of his youth, +whom he afterwards advanced to the highest official position in the +Kingdom. The daughter who was comely and pleasing withal, was admitted +to the harem and became the favourite wife. Unfortunately she +conceived a guilty passion for the King's brother and as there were +too many spies about for the liaison to be kept secret for long, the +faithless wife was condemned to be devoured by tigers. + +Pitracha dissembled his resentment so as not to lose favour; and the +King, charmed with the apathy he exhibited, ordered him to chastise +the offending prince with a rattan. + +Pitracha carried out his instructions with such effect that the Prince +dragged out a wretched existence; as the punishment had caused severe +injuries. + +The other brother of the King had been implicated in the Macassar +plot, and this fact added to his natural vicious habits debarred him +from any possibility of obtaining the throne. + +The fact of the King being in poor health, and of his having no heirs +was favourable to ambitious designs. + +Pitracha though small in stature was high spirited. His physiognomy +was interesting; his glittering eyes seemed to pierce the inmost +depths of one's thoughts and although 56 years of age, he still had +the strength of youth. His natural eloquence won the hearts of all. +Popular amongst his subordinates, and haughty towards his rivals, he +adopted even with the King, the tone of a censor animated by the +public welfare. His frankness was a clever artifice by which he might +reproach the King with his faults or those of his ministers, whom he +rendered odious, by acting the part of the zealous citizen. Although +he managed to conceal his criminal designs, his more indiscreet +followers embittered the people by the announcement that the minister +(Faulcon) in calling in the French soldiery was scheming to place the +sceptre in their hands, and to raise Christianity on the ruins of the +faith of their forefathers. + +The alarm or the nation was strengthened by the fact that Bangkok and +Mergui had been handed over to the French and the same fact gave +colour to their statements. + +Pitracha, calm in the midst of the general turmoil, pretended to +deplore the evils for which in reality he was responsible. He had a +rival for the King's favour, and he considered it wise to help his +rival's claims so that he might the more readily be able to compass +his downfall. + +There was a favourite at Court named Monpit aged twenty-two years whom +the King had loaded with honours. The licence that both he and his +relatives enjoyed, gave credit to the rumour that he was the offspring +of a secret amour between the King and a concubine; and that he had +been chosen as heir to the throne. The eyes of all were fixed on this +rising star which was confidently expected to preside one day over the +destinies of the nation. + +His inexperience rendered him an easy prey; and the favour he enjoyed +rendered him unsuspicious. + +Pitracha, accustomed to Court life, where a kiss is the usual prelude +to treachery, found in him a suitable tool for the accomplishment of +his designs. He pointed out to him, that as he had been adopted by the +King as his son, he had only one step to take to become his successor; +but that he ought to act with boldness so as not to render the +promises of fortune worthless. + +Monpit dazzled by visions of power, surrendered his will entirely to +the counsels of an enemy in the guise of a patron. He begged Pitracha +to act as his father and promised to share the throne with him. + +The Court was ruled by three men, all of whom were actuated by +different motives. + +The moribund King had but a shadow of that power of which the +favourites possessed the reality. The hearts of all the nation beat +for Pitracha, who artfully appeared to despise the power which in +secret he coveted. His devotion to the priests had enlisted them in +his cause, and there are no more zealous partisans than those who +imagine they perceive in an ambitious hypocrite, a defender of their +temples and rites. + +His designs could not escape the notice of Faulcon who was +sufficiently clear sighted to see their aim, but was too weak to +circumvent them. Full of confidence in the French, he considered that +he could oppose them as a rampart against the assaults of enemies. + +He had been informed that Pitracha had counterfeited the seals of +state so as to be able to issue orders favourable to his schemes. His +emissaries, spread throughout the provinces, were raising forces under +pretext of guarding against imaginary dangers. Pitracha, despairing of +ingratiating himself with Faulcon, sought means to undo him by +pandering to his self esteem, by means of the encomiums that the +office holder invariably imagines are his due. "It is unfortunate for +you and for the State," he said, "that being a foreigner, you are not +eligible for the throne, as otherwise you would rule as King, an +Empire that you administer to-day in your official capacity." + +"The King, who is well aware of the incapacity of his brothers would +always have a scruple against giving us such masters. If by some +unlucky chance, they came into power, they would use it against the +favourites and officials whom they hate as the authors of the +punishments they have had to bear. Believe me, let us anticipate their +revenge and as soon as the King is dead, let us take possession of the +palace. I would see that you were conducted to Bangkok by my friends +and there you could bid defiance to any who might wish to supplant +you, Monpit is working in your interests and in mine. Our safety is +dependant on our union, but for my own part I have resolved to bury +myself in solitude and to consecrate the rest of my life to the +worship of our gods whom it is quite impossible to serve amid the +stress of state affairs." Faulcon did not believe a single word of +this, and was convinced that ambitious men have no disinterested +friends. He replied that he intended to remain faithful to the service +of his master, and that he considered it treasonable to form any +league; and assured those who looked for his co-operation that he +would only act on behalf of the King's interests. + +He resisted the temptation of revealing the matter to the King and +besides the fear of aggravating the illness of the Royal patient +caused him to dissemble. He had no convincing proofs to bring against +the guilty parties and he might have exposed himself to the risk of +punishment inflicted for slander. The King would have with difficulty +given credence to his recital, and his deluded heart would have +justified his favourites. Had Pitracha been exposed, the plots would +only have come to a head, and as no precautionary measures had been +taken, it was necessary to dissemble. + +It is politic to ignore crime that cannot be punished. Faulcon, in +order to retain his prestige in sight of the people, let it be +understood that it was he who had been the cause of Pitracha's +advancement; and in favouring his cause so as to the more easily bring +about his downfall determined that the dying King should hand over the +regency of the Kingdom to him. Pitracha made great protestations of +gratitude in order to be afterwards ungrateful for his success. He +played his part so well that the Greek, who considered himself a +past-master in the art of plumbing the depths of a man's character, +believed that he had no more zealous partisan, especially since his +advice was always followed in the councils of state. As the keeper of +the King's conscience, he was exposed to the danger of causing the +happiness of the few and of arousing the hostility of the many. Every +case heard before his tribunal increased the number of his enemies, +because those who gained the day were never grateful to justice, while +the losers imputed their defeat to the corruption of the judges. + +The new regent had no more eloquent panegyrist than the man whom he +wished to destroy, and the King delighted in listening to the praises +which the minister showered on his secret enemy. The King charged them +to continue to work harmoniously together as the public welfare +depended on their concord. He made them embrace each other as a pledge +of eternal affection, but the favours of courtiers are but as snares +for the credulous, who are influenced by externals only. + +Faulcon's friends who were more clear sighted warned him of the +approaching storm, but he was blinded by his uninterrupted successes; +and prosperity unmixed with reverses had made him forget that Fortune +is apt to desert her favourites. Accustomed to being in authority he +never considered for one moment that his credit might fail; and a +fortunate office-holder invariably believes himself to be a necessity +to his employers. + +M. de Métellopolis, with more foresight, pointed out the gulf yawning +under him, but Faulcon treated him with the scorn which is the reward +of dreamers who offer visions for realities. A Jesuit was hounded with +ignominy from his presence for having had the boldness to give him +some advice, and he was indiscreet or ill-natured enough to reveal to +the other officials the sources from which he had obtained his +information. + +At last his eyes were opened to the dangers, but it was too late to +find a remedy. The King suffering from dropsy, was sinking rapidly. As +he could now no longer hide the approach of Death; he nominated Monpit +as his successor. + +His friends and relations filled all the important offices, and troops +had been raised to support his candidature. Faulcon, ever devoted to +the interests of his master, acted on his behalf, but Pitracha +condemned his action in no measured terms. He proclaimed that it was +his determination to place the crown on the head of the King's brother +whom he would set up as an imposing phantom so as in reality to secure +the power for himself. Pitracha was the wire-puller of this +macheviellian policy and to attract the Princes to the court, +pretended that the King their brother wished to nominate one of them +as his successor. + +They hesitated for a long time before yielding to his pressing +solicitations. The youngest, braver or perhaps more ambitious than the +rest, presented himself at the court with the Princess whom he had +just married. They were given a magnificent reception. All the nobles +hastened to render homage, but Monpit and Faulcon alone held aloof. +The eldest of the Princes on his arrival shortly afterwards, refused +to receive either Monpit or Faulcon when they asked for an audience. + +As soon as the regent had all those who might cross his path in his +power, he resolved to wait patiently for the death of the King and +then to be proclaimed as his successor. + +But having been informed by his spies that an armed force, was +advancing to support the claims of Monpit, he resolved to hasten the +consummation of his crimes. Monpit, who for several days had been +watching by the bedside of the dying King; was called out of the room +and stabbed to death by the emissaries of Pitracha, regardless of the +outcries of the King who implored them to spare his son. At last, +Faulcon who had been lulled to a sense of false security, realised the +condition of affairs. He could only cure the evil, by striking at the +root, namely by arresting Pitracha, and thus secure the loyalty of the +disaffected; but he was powerless, as he himself was surrounded by +enemies in a court where Royal favour and the fact of his being a +foreigner had drawn upon him the hatred of all. There was only one +resource left, and that was the assistance of the French soldiery. He +instructed them to assemble under arms at Louvo and told them that +their presence was necessary to the mutual interests of the allied +monarchs. The rapidity with which Des Farges took action showed that +he was ready to do everything for the benefactor of his nation. + +He set out with 100 picked men of his garrison and this little band +was sufficient to overawe thousands of the Siamese. The general passed +through the capital before proceeding to Louvo, but at this point +timidity prevented his further advance. The report that the King was +dead had been disseminated by the rebels, who wished to sound the +popular feeling, and everything pointed to a generally disturbed state +of affairs. Des Farges went to the Seminary and thought it would be +wise to hold a consultation with those who lived there. + +The protection that the missionaries had enjoyed caused him to regard +their abode as an inviolable sanctuary, and the confidence he reposed +in them, invited him to follow the wisdom of their experience. + +The Missionaries, deceived by the popular rumours, told him that he +would be running useless risks, that the roads were lined with +ambuscades ready to annihilate all the French. + +The general, unmoved by these tales dictated without doubt by the +desire they had for his safety, appeared to wish to persevere in his +design of going to the rescue of the King and his minister. + +He was all the more anxious to do so as he foresaw that the downfall +of Faulcon would mean his own ruin, and, that shut up without hope of +succour in a town ill-fortified and badly provisioned, he would be +obliged to submit to any humiliating condition they might impose upon +him. + +Not however wishing to precipitate matters, he sent one of his +officers to Louvo to find out how matters really stood. Whilst he +lingered at the capital, a secret rumour aroused the inhabitants +against him. It was reported that the object of the French forces in +going to Louvo was the pillage of the public treasury, and that they +intended to dispose of the throne as they pleased. In order to +reassure the inhabitants the general thought it more prudent to +withdraw his little army whose presence had caused such alarm. He +retired a distance of two leagues from the town, and was met by his +envoy who gave him an account of the events at Court. Whether this +officer had been misled by his own fears or that he was convinced that +there was imminent danger, his recital so alarmed Des Farges that he +believed the reports he had heard on his arrival in the capital. So, +instead of marching to glory, his only idea was that of retreat; he +was no longer a warrior ready to encounter danger that his friend +might be saved. + +Des Farges, followed the advice of his timorous companions and +returned to Bangkok; but, before his departure, wrote to Faulcon to +justify his retreat. He informed him that, as it was reported that the +King had died, he thought it would be rash to withdraw his troops from +a position on which their safety depended, and that he might be +punished if he were to endanger the lives of the soldiers under his +command without sufficient reason, and that finally he offered him and +his family shelter in a place that the French had resolved to defend +to the last. + +The friends of the fallen minister slandered the Bishop of +Métellopolis and the missionaries. They blamed them for the disgrace +of the French retreat. The chief authors of this calumny were those +who were obliged to refute it. Jealous of the esteem in which this +prelate was held and because he was not ambitious, they strove to +decry the missionaries, so as to gain all the consideration they +enjoyed, and to raise themselves on their ruin. But the defence of the +prelate was an easy matter. Ought he to have concealed a danger which +was imminent? Had the troops been cut to pieces, with what horror +would not Europe have learnt that a French Bishop, misled by +overconfidence, had kept silence about what ought to have been +revealed. Would he not have been rightly considered the author of a +massacre of his fellow-citizens? Duty obliged him to reveal the +reasons of his fear. It was for the commander to reject or to follow +his advice. But it is certain that had he marched to Louvo he would +have failed in the first of his duties, namely to remain on guard at +his post. + +Faulcon left to the mercy of his enemies, complained bitterly that the +French had deserted him, and on hearing the news, exclaimed. "Alas +they do not consider that they themselves will be involved in my +downfall," and turning to his retinue, asked them to follow him to the +church saying "I was wrong to trust to human aid, I wait for God only. +There is His House, He alone can suffice to protect and defend me." + +He positively refused to accept the commander's offer of shelter, as +it would have justified the slanderous reports that he had handed over +the place to foreigners so as to arrange for a place of safety in time +of danger. + +Instead of flight, he preferred to reveal part of the danger which +threatened the State to the King. The remedy lay in the choice of a +successor who could subdue the disaffected. The Prince proclaimed his +daughter as Queen and allowed her to select whichever of her uncles +she might prefer as her husband. + +So feeble a measure was not sufficient to remove the cause of the +disaffection rife everywhere. Factions increased, and the ringleaders +were only waiting a favourable opportunity to break out in open +revolution. The policy pursued by the conspirators towards Faulcon, +lulled him to a sense of false security. He still perceived the +danger, but he thought it had been relegated to the future. He sought +the King and said "Sire, the time for repining and speech is over. We +must act, and that silently." + +"Decisive measures must be taken against the impending evils, and a +half hearted policy will only favour the progress of their designs. If +Pitracha be arrested, the conspiracy will come to naught. Remember +that the greatest secrecy is absolutely necessary to the success of +this enterprise, and, to be successful, we must dissemble our +feelings." The King understood the importance of this advice, but +weakened by illness was unable to keep the matter secret, and he could +not resist the temptation of breaking out into threats and reproaches. +Pitracha's suspicions were aroused mid he anticipated matters. He +assembled his retainers and pointed out the serious nature of the +situation. Without delay they marched on the Palace and possessed +themselves of the King. Faulcon, alarmed at this sudden turn of +events, would not follow the advice of his friends who desired him to +remain at home to await the upshot of affairs. His impolitic +attachment to the King was the cause of his downfall, and believing +that inaction would be detrimental to the favours he enjoyed, followed +the promptings of courage and duty. + +He went to the Palace accompanied by Beauchamp, Fretteville, +Vaudrille, Laise and the Chevalier des Farges, all of whom were French +officers. He was followed by two Portuguese and sixteen Englishmen who +were in his pay as guards. He took his departure and said to his wife +"Farewell for ever, madame. The King is a prisoner, and I am going to +die at his feet." + +His zeal and courage buoyed him up in the hope that with this little +band, he could force his way to the room of his master, but no sooner +had he entered the outer courtyard of the palace, than Pitracha at the +head of a Siamese force arrested him on the charge of high treason. + +His first thought was to defend himself but on seeing that his guards +had basely deserted him, saw that resistance was useless. The French +officers however justified the confidence he had in their courage, and +alone, they thought they could scatter the armed mob, but Faulcon +exhorted them to give up their swords and they were led off to the +common prison under pretext of rescuing them from the fury of the +crowd. + +Pitracha, now absolute master of the King's fate left him the empty +title of King with the shadow of power, and to render the fact of his +usurpation less objectionable, merely took the title of chief minister +of State. + +All submitted to him. The priests whom he had deceived by his +hypocrisy, belauded him as the defender of their faith. The officials +regarded him as the liberator of their country from the oppression of +the foreigner. The populace, were foolish enough to imagine that a +change of masters, would be the prelude to a happier condition of +existance. + +The usurper, now assured of the support of the whole nation, saw that +the French were the sole obstacles in his path. To him they seemed +invincible, as they possessed the two strongest positions in the +Kingdom. He sent for M. de Métellopolis, who fearing punishment for +having advised Des Farges, excused his attendance on the ground of +ill-health. + +M. de Lionne, Bishop of Rosalie, however acted as his substitute. +Pitracha insolently addressed him in these words. + +"It is with the greatest disgust that I learn that the French troops +who come to Siam to serve the King, refuse to obey his commands. I +order you to write to their commander to enforce their obedience. +Should he persist in his contumacious behavior you shall suffer for +it, I will give your Seminary and Church over to pillage, all the +French shall be blown from the cannon's mouth, and every Christian +shall be put to death." + +M. de Rosalie replied that although he had no authority over the +French commander, he would endeavour to arrange matters that Des +Farges should come to Louvo in person. This offer was accepted, and +the prelate accompanied by two officials who had been members of the +embassy to France, set out for Bangkok. + +Des Farges, on learning the nature of the mission at first was +uncertain as to how he should act. At last he decided to set out and +to follow M. de Rosalie and the two officials with one of his sons, +the other being detained as a prisoner in Bangkok. + +Pitracha haughtily reproached him with his refusal to bring up the +troops that the King impatiently demanded. He threatened to employ +force if his demands were not complied with and informed him that ten +positions as strong as Bangkok would be but feeble ramparts against +the vengeance he premeditated. + +Des Farges replied with the greatest moderation to these threats and +having waited till Pitracha had exhausted the exuberence of his +verbosity, said "The King my master sent me here in command of troops +at the bidding of the King of Siam his ally only, but since these +troops cause trouble, kindly order that ships may be furnished us or +grant us permission to equip the same. The speed with which we shall +hasten our departure, shall leave no doubt of the good will of the +King my master." This proposal was rejected and Pitracha sharply +ordered him to write to his lieutenant to bring up the troops. + +The commander replied that as he was not at his post, he no longer had +the authority, and that the only way to ensure the obedience of the +garrison would be to allow him to return to Bangkok. He promised to do +his utmost to persuade them to obey his wishes, and in addition, +offered to give his children as hostages for his word. Pitracha gave +his consent. But on the return of Des Farges to the fort, the officers +and soldiers swore they would leave it only to return to their native +land. Pitracha, hearing of their determination advanced with an army. +The French evacuated the fort they had occupied opposite to Bangkok, +and the Siamese taking possession of it commenced hostilities. De +Bruant and Beauregard, who were in command at Mergni, fearing that +they would shortly be attacked made ready tor a vigorous defence. They +were not about to fight for mere glory, a more powerful incentive +fired their hearts. It was a case of life and death itself. The +Siamese ordered them to capitulate, but were repulsed with severe +loss, and, the conquerors having seized one of their vessels as well +as an English ship then in harbour, embarked and set sail for +Pondicherry where they landed without further mishap. + +The French, shut up in Bangkok were a source of annoyance to the +usurper who was sure that M. de Métellopolis would have had more +influence over them than M. de Rosalie. He ordered the former to be +conducted to Bangkok by an escort of "Tattoed Arms" who are the +bailiffs arid minions of the law. The servants of the prelate were the +victims of innumerable insults from these officials who are as +cowardly as they are insolent. They were pilloried, bound, and half +strangled and exposed almost naked to the burning rays of the sun, to +the importunities of insects, and to the extremes of hunger and +thirst. The Bishop and M. Basset a missionary were equally targets for +their witticisms. The bulk of their clothes were taken away and even +their hats. This was but the commencement of the cruelties practised +then in the fort opposite to Bangkok. The officer in charge exposed +them on a bastion in range of the French artillery which did not cease +fire until the victims had been recognised. + +The stubborn resistance of the French modified the hostile disposition +of the Siamese. Pitracha who on the death of the King had succeeded to +the throne, thought he ought to get rid of guests too warlike not to +be a subject of dread. He resolved that they should take ship for +Pondicherry on condition that the Bishop and the Missionaries would +engage on peril of their lives that the ships and sailors with which +they would be furnished, should be returned. While the new King was +negociating with the French, his heart, a prey to the anxieties and +suspicions which are the first punishments that crime brings in its +train, thirsted for the blood of his enemies. + +Faulcon who formerly been an object of fear to him was singled out for +his first act of vengeance. As soon as the tyrant had him in is power, +he caused him to be led in triumph on the walls of the palace. + +This favourite of fortune, now fallen into the deepest disgrace, was +cast into a filthy dungeon to which admission was refused to everyone. +Some say that the head of Monpit was fastened to his neck as a +punishment for his complicity. In addition the soles of his feet were +burnt, and his head was placed in a vice in order to make him +acknowledge crimes he had never committed. This man, formerly the +centre of an admiring throng was now guarded in a narrow prison by +barbarous gaolers who kept at a distance those who might have procured +some respite for him. + +His wife however discovered the place of his confinement and she +obtained permission to supply him with a few necessaries. + +The usurper, who still retained a trace of humanity had restored to +her son whom the soldiers had carried off; but this was only a passing +favour, the natural ferocity of the tyrant softened but for a moment. + +She was suspected of having concealed immense wealth, and that was +quite sufficient cause for her to be treated as a criminal. Her +weapons, documents and even her clothes were taken away; a guard was +posted in front of her house and a sentry at the door of her room. The +brutal soldiers who watched all her actions caused her to complain +bitterly. "Well" she remarked "What have I done to be thus treated +like a felon." But ashamed of her weakness she rose superior to fear +and misfortune. She had need of all her fortitude and contempt for +earthly possessions. Two days afterwards an armed force seized the +furniture, money and jewels which the palace contained. Unmindful of +the loss of so much property she cried out. "At last God alone remains +for us and no one can take Him from us." + +The insatiable spoilers suspected that she had hidden the bulk of her +wealth and their pitiless leader threatened her with death. He ordered +two executioners to come forward and at a signal, they struck her on +the arms without regard for the weakness of her sex. Her grandfather +and son witnessed her sufferings and showed their sympathy by cries +and tears. All the servants who had chosen to share their sorrows were +punished for showing their sympathetic attitude. + +The wretched family knelt at the feet of the official, who, enraged at +not being able to find a new victim, ordered the executioners to +redouble their blows. "Alas" cried the wretched woman covered with +blood, "have mercy on me or at least take me away that my relations +see not my sufferings." + +These words coming from a woman aged twenty-two years who was both +beautiful and of a noble disposition made not the slightest impression +on the official. He ordered her to be taken away together with her son +and her slaves and only set her grandfather free on account of his age +and infirmities. + +For a long time no one knew where she had been imprisoned. A +missionary, passing by the palace stables saw her aunt who had been +confined with her. With difficulty he obtained permission to see her +for a moment. He found her in a dismal dungeon, stretched on a mat +with her unhappy and innocent son by her side whose lamentations +seemed to reproach her for having brought him into the world to +suffer. + +This woman, brought up in luxury and splendour, bore her hard fate as +if she had been born to it. She displayed that serenity of mind which +is a sure indication of a calm and pure soul and she appeared more at +peace in her gloomy prison than she had been amid the gaieties of the +palace. + +For some time they respected the life of Faulcon since he was under +the protection of the King of France and they feared to incur the +vengeance of the French troops. But the usurper on seeing how little +interest the French took in their old protector, considered that now +was a chance to get rid with impunity of an enemy who though even in +irons appeared formidable. Sentence of death was pronounced against +him on the charge of high treason, a crime on which those in authority +are wont to arraign fallen ministers. He was punished for having +introduced foreigners, whom he wished to use as a means of self +aggrandisement and for the furtherance of his ambitious designs in the +kingdom. At dusk he was taken from his prison and went by elephant to +a forest near Louvo to receive the fatal stroke. It seems that his +barbarous enemy had chosen the silent forest for the execution ground +as if he wished to bury the horror of his unjust revenge in eternal +silence. + +Faulcon's countenence was pale, but this was caused rather by the +sufferings he had undergone in prison than the fear of the death which +was about to end them. His glance was fixed and he uttered no groan or +complaint; he seemed lost in communion with the God he was so shortly +to meet. + +Having arrived at the spot where he was to meet his doom, he saw the +son of the tyrant who was in charge of the execution. He turned +towards him, not to implore mercy but to ask for time to make his +peace with the Judge before Whom he was so soon to appear. + +The soldiers seemed distressed to see one before whom the people and +the nobility but so recently had bowed down, now brought to so +pitiable a condition. Having finished his prayer, he protested that he +was innocent, but that in dying guiltless, he had at least the +consolation of being able to expiate, by a painful death, the +weaknesses and follies of a life devoted to the pursuit of fruitless +ambition. + +He added that during the whole course of his tenure of office, the +only motives by which his policy had been directed, were the glory of +the true God, the service of his King, and the interests of the State. + +After this protest he spoke a second time to the young official in +these words, rendered more pathetic by their eloquent grief rather +than by any devices of art. + +"I am about to die. Remember that even if I am guilty, I leave a wife +and child who are innocent. For them I ask neither rank nor wealth, +but at least let them enjoy freedom and life." + +Having said these words he remained silent and at a signal, the +executioner cut him down with a blow of his sword. + +He fell with a sigh, the last he ever uttered. + +So died at the age of forty one years, a man who had risen from the +petty details of a counting house to the most prominent position in a +great Empire. + +His skill in politics justified his master's choice and he would have +been numbered among the greatest public men of his day had his end +been as brilliant as his beginning. + +If his sagacity had been led astray it is not certain whether that he +feared that, being a stranger, his most disinterested actions would +have been objects of suspicion. Cautious and circumspect as he was he +did not fully grasp the situation of present affairs, as his mind +dwelt more upon eventualities. His virtues were marred by several +faults; passionate and easily moved to anger, he would lose in one +day, the fruits of the work of several years. A man of great ambition, +he showed all the pettiness of vain-glory. + +The magnificence in which he lived was a almost an insult to the +poverty-stricken nation whom it was thought he had plundered. The +produce of every province appeared at his table and four hundred +slaves hastened to serve him, to obey the wishes of his guests and to +make parade of his opulence. Generous to a fault, he spent upwards of +100,000 crowns on gifts during the space of 3 years. His policy +betrayed by the wishes of the moment, blinded him to the fact that +bounties of this kind are more apt to give rise to suspicion than to +cause happiness. After his conversion to the Roman faith he submitted +to all its dogmas and practiced all its precepts and although a public +man, he believed he could not dispense with the obligations binding on +private individuals. + +His wife, still languishing in prison, forgot her own sufferings in +lamenting the demise of her husband. "Well" she exclaimed "Why is he +dead? What was his crime that he should have been treated like a +felon." An official, a relative of Pitracha's who was standing near +her whispered that his crimes had been the favour he had enjoyed, and +his natural abilities. + +Shortly after this, she and her son were condemned to the humiliation +of slavery and she was set free that she might perform her duties. + +The death of the King and his brothers had happened prior to the +execution of Faulcon. + +It was rumoured by some that the King had been poisoned, while others +averred that the weariness of captivity was the cause of his death. + +Pitracha, who held the fate of his master in his hands, and seeing +that the King was on the point of death, thought it politic to compass +the destruction of the King's brothers who might have put difficulties +in the way of his succession. + +He caused them to be put into velvet bags and handed them over to the +executioners who beat them to death with clubs of sandalwood. + +This method of death which had no disgrace attached to it, was +reserved for Princes of the blood-royal. + +The King shortly followed his brothers to the grave. This Prince, who +had been so ardent a partisan of the French, has been depicted by them +in glowing colours. + +Though naturally of a warlike disposition, but a true friend of his +people, he preferred to adopt a policy of pacification rather than to +follow his inclinations which would have caused public misfortunes. + +Though keeping his high spirit under control, he was none the less +formidable to his neighbours who preferred to have him for an ally +rather than for an enemy. As a monarch who took deep interest in all +affairs of State, he allowed himself but little leisure; and his sole +relaxation was the chase, the usual pastime of active persons and +sometimes also of those weighed down by anxieties. + +He showed an appreciation of science and art, several foreigners had +been called in to be his instructors and had the soil been good, the +harvest would have been fruitful. + +He left a daughter aged twenty eight years who had been proclaimed +Queen during her father's lifetime, she had her own territories and +officers and soldiers who were subject to her only. + +Every day she gave audience to the wives of the officials, and seated +on a throne she received the homage of these women who crouching on +the ground with bent heads adopted the same posture as did their +husbands when in presence of the King. + +She was severe, almost ferocious and seemed made rather to rule wild +beasts than to govern men. + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + THE BREACH BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND THE USURPER. + + +The revolution was managed so adroitly, that there were no perceptible +changes in public affairs. The palace was the scene of some +disturbance, but outside, everything was peaceful. Pitracha who had +succeeded quietly to the throne went to the capital where he was +proclaimed King amid the shouts of the multitude. The chief offices of +state were held by men of his faction and scorning the baseness of +revenge, as soon as there appeared nothing more to fear from their +actions, he promoted all those of whom he had previously cause to +complain. The people were relieved and his alms to the needy won the +hearts of all. He married the daughter of the late King. At first this +Princess was averse to the union, but fired by ambition, she preferred +life rather than the death which would have been her portion in event +of a refusal. + +The negociations with the French had been brought to a successful +termination and it was agreed that ships and sailors should be +provided to convey them to Pondicherry, and, as a guarantee of good +faith the King sent his two sons who had been at court up to that time +to the French commander. All the officers who had been arrested at +Louvo, were released and from them the details were forthcoming of the +humiliations that they and the Christians of different nationalities +had suffered. The Seminary had been give over to pillage; the +Christian virgins became the prey of the licentious soldiery, the most +favoured of them however being reserved for the harems. The missionary +priests were put in the pillory whence they gave an example to their +flock of how to suffer in silence. + +While preparations were being made for the departure of the French; +their open-hearted generosity very nearly caused an awkward +complication of affairs. Madame Faulcon too weak to endure the +hardships of slavery, asked the Bishop of Métellopolis to gain the +interest of the French commander on her behalf, and to make +arrangements that she might take her departure on board one of their +ships. The Bishop spoke greatly in her favour, but Des Farges, with +more diplomacy than gratitude replied that he was obliged to wait +until the Siamese had supplied him with everything needful for the +voyage and that when all was ready, he would consider her request. +She, however, had grave reasons for hastening her departure and every +moment of delay was vital. + +The son of the King, worn out by debauchery, had conceived a violent +passion for her. She would have considered herself guilty of the death +of her husband had she shared the couch of his murderer. To gain her +consent, in vain did he point out that by this act alone she could +regain her position and rescue her son from the vengeance of his +enemies. The brave woman replied. "Are you unaware who I was and how I +have lived. My religion forbids so sinful a marriage. I loved my +husband with all my soul, and, faithful to his memory, my heart is +closed against any new passion. My son is dear to me and I ought to +live for his sake, but I refuse to buy life at such a price as you +offer." + +The young Prince, whose passions knew no restraint thought he would be +able to conquer her proud spirit by the most tempting promises. But he +met with so stubborn a resistance, that he showed his affection in a +tyrannical fashion. She was carried off to the palace where she had no +defence other than her tears and outcries. + +The Prince, fearing that this abduction would reveal the secret of his +debauched life to his father, already annoyed at his disorderly +conduct, determined to send her back, saying, that as she still +persisted in her resistance, there was nothing left for her but to die +with her son. She took no notice of these threats, she preferred to +die in innocence than to live in guilt. Her grandfather aged 88 who +was a descendant of the famous martyrs of Japan, upheld her +resolution. + +A slighted affection, often becomes cruel. The Prince in order to +frighten her, caused her to be arraigned on a charge of embezzlement. +She was summoned before a tribunal and the judge although convinced of +her innocence ordered her to receive 100 strokes with the rod. She was +delivered to her merciless executioners who seeing her faint under the +punishment; only administered one half of what had been ordered. Her +relations were also punished, she had to endure the agonising +spectacle of beholding two of her uncles, two aunts and her eldest +brother undergoing tortures before her eyes. Her grandfather would +have suffered likewise, had not mercy been shown to him on account of +his infirmities. + +While this courageous woman seemed to have nothing but sorrow as her +portion for the future, Sainte Marie, a young French officer offered +to escort her in safety to Bangkok. She was too unhappy to listen to +prudent advice. She embarked with her son in secret on a vessel +belonging to this officer, determined to risk all if she could but +escape from her persecutors. + +Her arrival at the fort was a signal for general rejoicing but the +commander alone showed his disapproval, and had the pusillanimity to +wish that she should be sacrificed, rather than that a drop of French +blood should be spilt in her defence. "Alas" she exclaimed, "is +Faulcon's widow, the sole person who will have failed to find +sanctuary under the flag of France." + +The King, on hearing of her escape, was convinced that she had carried +off a quantity of valuables with her. He at once sent two officials to +bring her back, and, in case of a refusal, to recommence hostilities. + +As soon as the report of her arrival had spread, the French were +seized with a burning desire to fight to the death for her sake. The +tears of the unfortunate widow, the youth of her son, and the memory +of her husband who had been the protector of the French interests were +telling points in her favour. The officers and soldiers were +unanimous, and all declared that they would rather face death than the +shame of having betrayed the cause of a a distressed woman who had +thrown herself on their protection. + +Des Farges, unshakable in his resolution to send her back to Siam, +made arrangements with M. de Métellopolis whose outspokeness and +skill well fitted him for the negociation of such delicate business. +The Bishop had need of all his urbanity to break such distressing news +to her. He found that she was firmly resolved not to return to Siam on +any account short of actual force. She waited for several days, her +mind wavering between hope and fear until one day a French officer +came to inform her that she must make her preparations for her +departure. + +There was nothing for it but to obey, and she solemnly protested +against the violence which snatched her from the protection of the +French flag. The official who had been sent to bring her back came to +conduct her to the river side where a vessel was lying in readiness. +She was accompanied by her son, by one woman and a missionary whose +zeal sustained her drooping courage. Her distress became the more +acute the further she went from the spot from whence she had been +thrust forth, abandoned by the French whom she still could only regard +as friends. The sight of Siam rendered her grief more poignant; for +there lay the scene of the punishment of her husband and there that +she expected to undergo new tortures and to be parted for ever from +her son, the sole prop of her existance. + +Her lot was happier than she had hoped. The son of the King, rebuffed +by her scorn, no longer desired her, or what is more likely was too +much afraid of his father to give rise to fresh scenes of violence and +scandal. She was appointed to the Royal Kitchens. In the opinion of +the Siamese, this is an honourable post and by no means a humiliation. +She had two thousand women under her orders, as palace servants. She +was entrusted with the care of the gold and silver plate, of the +King's wardrobe and of all the fruits served at table. Her lack of +self interest made her despise the valuable perquisites of her office +and, very different to her predecessors, handed over a considerable +sum every year to the royal treasury. The King of Siam, surrounded by +corrupt and rapacious officials was astonished to see such honesty, +and often said that only Christians could carry the scorn of wealth to +such a pitch. + +Although she was not so unhappy as she had anticipated, she suffered +considerably from the fact that her son had been taken away from her. +For a long time she feared that his education had been entrusted to +the idolatrous priests, but she was much relieved to hear that he was +being brought up at the Seminary in charge of the Bishop and the +French missionaries. + +Her son afterwards obtained a captaincy in the Siamese navy, on the +Coromandel coast. In 1749, he was entrusted with a mission to M. +Dupleix who at that time was Governor-General of the French +possessions in the East Indies. + +The governor, a man of sound abilities though not brilliant, +remembered that he had to deal with the son of one who had been a +friend to his nation. He considered that it was his duty to give him +substantial proofs of the gratitude the French owed him, by granting +him exemption from all taxes levied on foreigners. + +He sent him back, satisfied with the success of his mission and gave +him many valuable gifts. The name of Dupleix will ever be graven on +our annals devoted to citizens who have benefited their country. + +Faulcon, on his return to Siam was favourably received. Having +inherited his father's abilities he might have risen to a high +position. But lavish as his father had been, he desired wealth merely +for the purpose of making presents to Princes and Kings. His bounties, +which ensured his favour at Court, exhausted his resources. He died in +poverty in 1754, leaving his wife a son and several daughters in +absolute want. One of his daughters married a Dutch shipmaster, who +was ruined by the loss of his vessel few years afterwards. + +She soon lost her husband and when the Siamese were led in captivity +to Pegu, she was married again to a Portuguese half-caste by name +Jeanchi, a captain of Burmese regiment, He will be spoken of later. + +The other daughters did not long survive their father. There remains +only a son named John Faulcon, married to a Portuguese in Siam. The +Burmese took him prisoner, but evading the vigilence of his guards, +escaped to Siam with his wife where they lived in obscurity. + +Such were the posterity of the celebrated Constantine Faulcon who, of +humble origin, raised himself to the steps of the throne. + +The obstacle, to the conclusion of the negociations with the French +which had been caused by the flight of Madame Faulcon, was removed by +her return. Both parties were equally anxious to come to an agreement. +The French were desirous of leaving a land where they would only +encounter fruitless and inglorious perils. The Siamese could not but +be uneasy while they still retained guests, of whose heroic valour +they had had such an experience. I cannot refrain from citing two +examples of the intrepid courage of these brave men. + +Saint Cri, a French captain was sailing downstream in a boat, the +Indian crew of which were all drunk and incapable, and he had only two +Europeans with him who were ready for any emergency. + +The Siamese, seeing his defenceless condition made preparations to +board his vessel. + +One of the two Europeans became terrified and swam off to parley with +them, but he was taken prisoner and loaded with chains. Saint Cri, too +weak to offer any resistance, feared lest he should fall into the +hands of these savages. Death appeared to be a preferable alternative +to slavery and brave to desperation as he had but one soldier with +him, put his powder and handgrenades on the bridge. He calmly waited +till a large number of Siamese had boarded his ship, and then, fired +his powder and blew his enemies into the air. + +The ship, damaged by the explosion, ran aground. + +The Siamese, thinking that all the powder had been used up, imagined +that it would be an easy matter to seize the vessel. But Saint Cri +gave them cause to repent their rashness. He fired some bags of powder +that he had kept in reserve and although he himself was among the +slain, this explosion was more deadly than the first. His companion, +sword in hand gained the shore. The savages fell upon him, and, +overwhelmed by numbers, he perished, but not before he had slain five +of his assailants. + +Another case bore witness to the inflexible purpose of the French +commander, whose two sons had been retained as hostages in the +capital. The King made them write to their father saying, that if the +garrison were not brought to Louvo, they would be put to death. The +commander, although devoted to his children, remembered his duties to +the state. He replied "My children I Feel as much for your sad +condition as you do yourselves, I would willingly lay down my life in +order to save yours. I cannot but urge you to follow my example and to +be faithful to duty. If you perish remember that you are dying for +your God, your King, and your country and be sure that your deaths +will not be unpunished." + +Such heroic conduct had made the name of Frenchmen to be feared, and +caused the Siamese to hasten their departure. They were supplied with +three frigates, and to ensure that the ships should be returned, the +Bishop of Métellopolis, the chief of the French trading company, and +the two sons of the commander were given over as hostages. The troops +marched out of the fortress on the first of November 1688, taking with +them two officials as sureties for the King's word. During the night +they sailed down to the mouth of the river. + +The French commander invited the officials who had come with the +French hostages to a great feast. After the meal the Siamese hostages +were asked for, but Des Farges said that he would not return them +until the four vessels bearing the baggage, three officers and +fourteen soldiers, hove in sight. The officials, learning of this +refusal hastened to inform the Barcalon. + +This official was highly incensed at the breach of faith on the part +of the French. He summoned M. de Métellopolis and said "These +careless officials will be severely punished for having released the +French hostages before receiving our own. You and I will both be +involved in the trouble. You will be considered as the accomplice of +the French treachery and I shall be punished for having confided the +matter to untrustworthy persons. Let us find some way of escape from +the danger common to us both." + +The bishop, who had not been informed of the plans of Des Farges, +neither dared to lay the blame on him, nor to find excuses. + +They agreed that if one of the hostages were given up, the Siamese +would deliver over a third part of what they were retaining and that +the remainder would set out for the mouth of the river whenever the +last of the officials should have set sail. + +Des Farges released one official on the spot, but as he had given the +first example of bad faith, the Siamese considered that they were at +liberty to break their word also, and, instead of sending down the +ships, demanded with threats, that the other two hostages should be +restored. + +M. de Métellopolis wrote a pathetic letter to the commander, pointing +out how his line of action would cause the ruin of the French and of +the growing Church. The inflexible resolution of Des Farges could not +be shaken and after having waited five days for the fulfilment of the +Barcalon's promises, he set sail for Malacca en route for Pondicherry +taking with him the hostages who were of no possible use to him. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + THE PERSECUTION OF THE CHRISTIANS AFTER + THE DEPARTURE OF DES FARGES. + + +After the departure of the French, the Christians were left without +defenders. The Siamese highly enraged at the loss of their hostages, +stirred up a sanguinary persecution, and the Bishop of Métellopolis +was the first to suffer. He was taken off his ship and dragged in the +mire with every possible insult, exposed for a long time to the heat +of the sun and to the torments of insects. Some pulled him by the +beard, others spat in his face, and those who could not get near +enough to strike, threw mud at him. + +The Barcalon, witness of all these outrages from which he could have +protected him, seemed to have no pity. + +M. du Har, a French officer, shared the same fate. Both were loaded +with fetters, put on board a boat and taken across the river. On the +bank they found the bodies of their unhappy companions hacked to +pieces. The poor bishop, old and infirm and exhausted by what he had +undergone could not bear to look at this painful spectacle. + +He fainted and fell half dying into the mud, from which he was with +difficulty extricated. He passed all the day and night in his wet and +muddy clothes. + +A spark of the respect which could not be denied to his virtues, +softened the hearts of his persecutors. The Siamese took him to +Bangkok and shut him up in a hut next door to the house of a Christian +woman by whose kindly ministrations he was restored to consciousness. +As soon as he was able to stand the fatigues of the journey he was +taken to the capital. He was placed under a guard of cruel and +rapacious men, who in order to extort money from him, exceeded even +the severe orders of their master. + +The other Frenchmen were cast into the common jail, a place reeking +with disease and filth, where with the idea of death constantly before +their minds, they ceased to dread its approach. + +The brutal soldiery made a raid on the college and carried off the +priests, the students and the servants. They respected neither the +innocence of youth nor the infirmities of age. All were marched off to +prison and handed over to a harsh gaoler who regarded it as an act of +merit to make them suffer hunger and to expose them to the inclemency +of the weather. Seven of the French died under this treatment. The +Missionaries, more accustomed to a hard life, held out longer, but +nine of them died a few days after they had been set at liberty. + +Painful sights were to be seen in every street of the capital. French +priests and officers, almost nude, pale and haggard, dragged +themselves along begging scraps of food which were cast at them with +scorn, and in spite of their weakness they were forced to carry +baskets of filth on their shoulders amid the jeers and coarse jests of +a villainous mob. + +The Mahomedans seemed to lay aside their natural antipathy to +Christians. They took pity on their hard fate. They even took such an +interest in the matter that they drew up a petition saying that it was +against the laws of nations to treat prisoners of war with such +harshness but it was in vain. Their leader, who was an official of the +highest rank, feared that this petition, if presented, would cause him +to lose favour at court. He treated two missionaries who had been +handed over to him, with the greatest severity. They were condemned to +the most painful and degrading tasks. Some English officers, seeing +these aged priests staggering under the weight of their baskets boldly +announced, that if this harsh treatment were not put a stop to, they +would show no mercy to any officials they might meet. They did not +content themselves by the mere utterance of empty threats. They lent a +considerable sum to these unfortunate men. + +The missionaries consider it is their duty to say that wherever they +have met Englishmen, they have experienced their natural generosity. +The wretched plight of the prisoners, touched the hearts of their +oppressors, and their fate was made less hard. + +They were allowed to beg for one hour daily. Sympathisers bestowed +alms on them which were appropriated by the felons chained with them. +Those who had had the good fortune to have escaped persecution by +flight, wandered from hut to hut. + +A Tonquinese Christian gave shelter to several of them in his house in +spite of the edicts to the contrary. + +The Portuguese Jesuits who had avoided persecution by secret means; +made use of their freedom to help their unfortunate co-religionists M. +Pomard a missionary who had cured the King of a dangerous disease, had +not been involved in the general trouble, and it was he who especially +attended to the needs of his brethren. The mere mention of the word +foreigner or the slightest sign of pity was sufficient to arouse the +hatred and fury of the populace. An Armenian who had carried food to +the prisoners was put in chains and was afterwards murdered by the +fanatical priests who imagined that their god would be pleased with +assassination. Two Portuguese, after having suffered cruel tortures +were condemned to cut grass for the elephants. Their wives and +mothers-in law were reduced to slavery. + +A nun, who had come from Manilla was dragged ignominously along the +street with a crucifix fastened under her feet so that she could be +reproached with having trampled her God under foot. + +Several slaves cared naught for the tortures, and remained steadfast +in their faith. The Tonkinese and Cochin-Chinese, in the camp of St. +Joseph were secure against pillage; but some were condemned to the +galleys and others to work in the stables of the elephants. Their +wives and children were employed on the public works, and no mercy was +shown to the Siamese Christians. + +There is no need to enter into further details of this persecution, as +it would be a mere repetition of scenes of horror and barbarity. The +Portuguese, calm amid the storm, were highly delighted at the fate of +the French. Their jealousy blinded their eyes to pity, and they were +so indiscreet as to openly show their feelings. They thought now that +as their rivals were out of the field, they would be able to gain the +commercial advantages previously held by the French. + +The King of Cochin China looked upon this persecution as a crime +against humanity. It had been reported to him, that the French were +turbulent disturbers of the public peace, who having caused endless +confusion in Siam were about to make trouble in his State. The clear +sighted ruler perceived that this was a tissue of lies and even sent +ambassadors to Siam to protest against the persecution. But as their +object had been previously found out, they were sent back without an +audience. The Prince of Cochin China, a proud and warlike individual +would have revenged this outrage had his plans not been anticipated by +death. + +The hatred against the Christians was on the wane, but when news was +brought that Des Farges with 5 vessels had landed at Jonsalam, it was +considered that he was merely waiting for reinforcements to take +vengeance for the insults offered to his nation. Popular imagination +pictured him as an angry conqueror, who was about to visit their towns +and possessions with fire and sword. + +The prisoners were put under more rigorous surveillance and their lot +became more pitiable. + +But the fears were allayed next day by a letter from the French +commander, who declared that his intentions were peaceable. Having +explained the reasons for not giving up the hostages, he declared that +he preferred to surrender his rights, rather than to break the +alliance between two powerful Kings and so he sent back the hostages +with a promise to return the ships which had been supplied to him in +good condition. He announced at the same time, the approaching arrival +of the head of the French trading station to settle the accounts and +to repay loans advanced in cases where the value of the merchandise +which had been taken from the warehouse was not enough to pay the +out-standing debts. + +The Bishop was released from his fetters on the same day as the +letters were received, and was taken to Court. He was made to walk +through the town barefooted, hatless and in rags. The missionaries +also appeared loaded with fetters. + +The presiding official proudly announced that if the French Commander +made the slightest sign of hostilities, all the Christians would be +blown from the cannon's mouth in revenge for his breach of good faith. +M. de Métellopolis was commanded to write to the commander. He obeyed +promptly and although the King and his ministers appeared satisfied +with the missive, they substituted another for it and sealed it +without allowing him to read it. The prisoners were sent back to their +work, pending the receipt of a reply; they were confined in more +spacious quarters, and experienced less discomfort. + +Des Farges, anxious to set sail, sent back the last of the hostages +who was very pleased at the kindly treatment he had received. It was +thought that by this means, the prisoners would be able to gain their +liberty, but only the Bishop was released. The others suffering from +the hardships of so lengthy a confinement petitioned for death or +liberty. This announcement produced its expected result. They were +relieved of their bonds and the harsh treatment was somewhat relaxed. +The court proclaimed that it was unlawful to jeer or to make lampoons +on foreigners, and those who interfered with their religion were to be +punished severely. + +This first exhibition of clemency aroused hopes of a speedy release, +but the Dutch fearing to see the French restored to favour, spread a +report that France was sending out a punitive expedition against the +Kingdom. The trick was successful; the prisoners were again put in +chains and had no other consolation than to sing hymns. M. Paumard, a +Missionary who was trusted at Court said that the reports spread by +jealous enemies were nothing but absolute falsehoods and the court, +which respected his outspokeness, believed him. + +The prisoners were transferred to a neighbouring island whose climate +was as fatal as had been the putrid stench of the prison. + +Many died in consequence, and the survivors passed days of continual +suffering. + +While they were suffering without hope of relief Father Tachard landed +at Mergui at the end of 1690 and before entering further into the +country informed the Barcalon that he was the bearer of a letter from +Louis XIV and that he had been entrusted with negociations for the +renewal of the alliance between the two crowns; and that he could not, +without compromising his position, ask for an audience without +previous assurance of the nature of his reception. Two Siamese +officials who had come from France went in advance to the Court where +they made a great display of the magnificence of the French King and +of the honours that had been conferred on them even after it was known +that his forces had been obliged to evacuate the fortified posts of +Mergui and Bangkok. + +The vanity of the Siamese was immensely tickled by the fact that a +King, whose power had humbled the pride of Holland, the only country +dreaded in the Indies, had sought alliance with them. + +The first result of this embassy was the restitution of the Seminary, +which by the energy of the Bishop of Métellopolis was soon restored. + +An Armenian lent him a large sum which M. Deslandes, the head of the +French trading station at Surat had the generosity to repay. + +The zeal of the missionaries had become more active under the stress +of persecution and they did their utmost to minister to the needs of +the sufferers. The prelate, frightened by the despair which had caused +them to beg for death, offered to stand surety for them to the King. +The respect inspired by his virtues granted his wish and on the faith +of his promise, the others obtained their freedom. + +The Seminary was over-crowded with 113 people, who were destitute of +both food and clothing. The prelate deprived himself of the +necessaries of life so as to relieve their more pressing wants. No one +knew how he managed to do what he did, but generosity is never +exhausted by gifts. The King himself was astonished at his +never-failing charity and wishing to help, contributed 500 crowns. + +It was by the bishop's exertions that many Christians condemned to +slavery regained their liberty. Others held by officials as debt +slaves could not satisfy the greed of their masters, and languished in +chains until 1695. + +The persecution which had crowned so many martyrs had also been +productive of many apostates. The Siamese cruel in the invention of +tortures, are too cowardly and too weak to bear them; and their +example is another proof that cruelty is a vice that accompanies a +pusillanimous character. History records events only that we may +profit by them and on reading the account of this revolution, it is +important to disentangle causes. + +Faulcon, whose position was always uncertain and unstable in a country +where his condition of foreigner exposed him to envy and hatred, +thought he could have kept his position by calling in the help of the +Europeans against the Siamese, who although indebted to him were none +the less his enemies. He had no ambition to mount the throne as his +foes have reported. Contented with the second place, it would have +been madness on his part to have formed the idea of taking the first. +The French eagerly seized the chance of extending their power and +commerce, and, dazzled by the magnitude of his promises, they were +foolish enough to believe that they were to be the leading power in +the Indies. + +Faulcon made religion serve his ambitious policy. Those who were +really interested in the triumph of the Faith, were led astray by the +hope of converting the King to Christianity. But the French officers +less zealous and more far-sighted, were well aware that the project +was but a snare set by the minister to appeal to their credulous +simplicity. + +Forbin, when questioned by Louis XIV replied that the King of Siam had +not the slightest idea of forsaking the faith of his fore fathers and +added that in the first audience given to the ambassadors, Chaumont +made a long speech on the beauties of Christianity and that Faulcon +who acted as interpreter never said one word about it to his master; +and that in private audiences the ambassador had always laid great +stress on religion, but that the interpreter had invariably proved +faithless. The Bishop of Métellopolis who had been present and who +understood the Siamese language could have divulged the matter, but he +feared the wrath of a minister who knew how to punish as well as how +to reward. + +Father Tachard was one of the ringleaders of this expensive +expedition. Doubtless, his zeal misled him in his blind trust of the +cunning minister whose secretary he was, and Forbin states definitely +that he has seen several documents signed by the King and lower down, +"Tachard." So while this Father was lording it in the councils of +State, the bishops and priests were preaching among humble dwellings +where they were more sure of finding converts than they were in the +royal palace. This revolution could easily have been foreseen. The +predilection of the King for the French was a passing caprice rather +than a decided liking. Their position could only have been secure +during the life of the King, who, in leaving his throne to his +successor rarely transmits his likes and dislikes. The appearance of +the French on the scene was brilliant but the favour in which they +were held was unstable, even as they were. + +It is a fate which they experience every where, Fortune smiles on them +at first, they seem made for the conquest of all hearts; and they end +by being disliked. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE REVOLUTION OF 1760. + + +At the end of the last century, the Kingdom of Siam was in a +flourishing condition as far as internal affairs were concerned, and +was respected by outside nations. + +The help that Louis XIV had condescended to render, had assured its +prosperity, and might have sufficed to correct its constitutional +vices; but what ought to have given it a new brilliancy was the cause +of its misfortune and its overthrow. The Siamese were ignorant of the +value of a benefit which would have ensured their safety. + +The pusillanimous prince feared to accept the services of 500 men who +had been sent to defend him. They were regarded as ambitious persons +who although under the title of friends had only come to be their +tyrants. The Buddhist priests stirred up sedition against their noble +defenders, and placed an ambitious man on the throne who had dazzled +them by an affectation of zeal for their rites. + +Pitracha, seated on a throne defiled with the blood of the royal +family combined in himself all the talents of great men with all the +vices of the vilest scoundrels. As soon as he had compelled the French +to leave the Kingdom, he found nothing else at which to take offence. +Whilst surrounded by his satellites, and enjoying the fruit of his +crimes, a Peguan priest, who gave himself out to be the elder of the +two brothers of the late King fomented a new rebellion. He had been a +prisoner in Ayuthia for a long time, and during his incarceration had +been informed of the state of the court. This imposter painted his +story in glowing colours and ten thousand Siamese rallied to his +standard. + +It was easier for him to delude individuals than to cater for an army, +but the fanaticism he inspired caused his followers to close their +eyes to the magnitude of the peril and all appeared ready to fight or +to die for their leader. + +The son of the King having determined to take a pleasure trip to a +spot at some distance from the capital, proceeded thither with a +magnificent retinue. The Peguan priest determined to lay an ambuscade +in a forest through which the royal party would be obliged to pass. + +His plan was to massacre him and all his suite, to march on the +unsuspecting city, and to make away with the King and all the Royal +family. + +The plot which had been kept a profound secret would have been quite +successful had not the innate suspicions of the children of the tyrant +enlightened the prince as to the danger which threatened him. + +He saw the armed mob and at once perceived that he was about to be +attacked and so instead of defending himself, he fled promptly, +leaving a rich booty, the collection of which prevented pursuit by the +conspirators. When they had satisfied their cupidity they marched on +the capital which they had hoped to find defenceless. Pitracha however +having heard of the danger into which his son had nearly fallen, at +once sent out a force of 12,000 men to disperse the rabble. + +The rebel priest at first was of good cheer but he led forces without +courage or discipline as everything was to be feared and nothing could +be hoped for. His little army panic-stricken melted away without +striking a blow. Only 300 prisoners were taken and not more than 300 +perished by the sword. + +The Priest pretender wandered in the woods for several days with a +young man who had remained faithful. He was found sleeping under a +tree and was taken to Ayuthia where, chained to a post, he was exposed +for several days to the contumely of the mob, and afterwards he was +disembowelled and while still breathing saw his own entrails being +devoured by dogs. + +It seems that Pitracha did not enjoy the the throne for long, as his +son succeeded in 1700. The first year of his reign was marked by a +scandalous marriage with his father's widow who gave her hand but not +her heart. + +This Princess had an extraordinary career she was successively the +wife of the father, the son and the grandson. + +This victim of passion never reciprocated the love which she inspired +in others and to separate herself from a husband whom she detested, +retired to a convent where she died in 1715. + +The new King, a prey to superstition and debauchery, surrendered +himself entirely to the idolatrous priests, who, by their austerities, +engaged to expiate his faults. Following his example, everyone built +temples. Trade and manufactures languished and the populace given up +to fantastic ceremonies no longer gave thought to the question of the +defences of the State. The false gods had many worshippers and the +State had no soldiers available for defence. Fortune favoured the +kingdom as the neighbouring Kings were all engaged in war against each +other and having too much on their hands at home, had no time to think +of foreign aggression. + +It was in this reign that the kingdom was visited by the scourge of +famine. A long period of drought had converted the fertile soil into a +barren dust. The rice, which is the staple food stuff, was soon +exhausted; fish became scarce and poisonous. The water of the River +naturally clear and limpid, suddenly became green and turbid. + +A sort of green scum covered the surface of the great river and the +fish were either dead or dying. The King feared that the polluted +water would only increase the sickness in the land and forbade its use +for drinking or washing purposes. + +This prohibition caused discontent among the populace, for whom water +is a most necessary article. + +The revolt was ready to break out, when the court appealed to popular +superstitions to avert the calamity. The priests said that a god known +as Pra In had appeared near one of the city gates and had declared +that the change of the water was one of his blessings and had become a +panacea for the ills they suffered. At this news, the whole populace, +passed from despair to hope, every one ran to the river to wash and to +anoint themselves with scum that had appeared so deadly a moment +before. At last after 15 days the phenomenon passed away. Abundant +rains caused the water to overflow the country and to fertilise the +ground. + +The reign of this Prince, like that of his successors, offers nothing +worthy of record. + +His son, who succeeded him, is only known by the defeats he sustained. + +His army 50,000 strong and his fleet carrying 20,000 fighting men, +invaded Cambodia, at that time torn with internal dissensions. + +This army would have been victorious if its leader had been more +skilful. But the King of Siam, enervated by harem life, had entrusted +the command to his first minister, a man of peace, and without skill +in warfare. + +The Minister who well knew the direction in which his talents lay, had +no wish to take the command, but the King who thought he could make no +mistake in the choice of his agents, was certain that one who knew how +to govern an Empire would also know how to conquer. + +The King of Cambodia, too weak to offer resistance to the invading +hosts, ordered all his subjects who lived on the frontiers to retire +with their belongings to the capital and to burn everything that they +could not carry away. The fields were laid waste, fifty leagues of +territory were changed into sterile deserts that could hardly sustain +animal life. + +The King declared himself a vassal of the King of Cochin China in +order to obtain a force of 15,000 men for land defence and 3000 for +service on the galleys for the defence of the coast. The Siamese army, +full of confidence in the superiority of numbers, and still more proud +to find that no foe dare dispute their passage, rashly penetrated into +the country but the further they advanced, the nearer they approached +to their fate. Famine, more cruel than the sword ravaged their camp. +The devastated fields, gave neither fruits for man nor forage for +beast. + +They were obliged to slaughter their baggage animals in order to +provide themselves with meat. + +The soldiers, unaccustomed to a flesh diet, were attacked by fever and +dysentery and more than half of their number died. + +The leader who had forseen the catastrophe, but had been unable to +prevent it, retired with the remainder of his army and was harassed in +the rear by his enemies without respite. + +The Siamese fleet four times larger than that of the enemies met with +no better fate. Their small vessels fired the town of Pontemas 200 +tons of ivory were destroyed by the flames. The Cochin Chinese +profited by the absence of these vessels to attack the transports +anchored four miles from the town. The Siamese vessels aground in the +river, which was extremely low could render no assistance, and fearing +that famine would be as detrimental to the fleet as it had been to the +army, set sail for their own country. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + THE REVOLUTION OF 1760. + + +Before narrating the events of the revolution which, in 1760, threw +the Kingdom of Siam into confusion, we ought to give a summary of the +succession to the throne. + +The heir of Pitracha had several sons and as he was displeased with +the eldest, he nominated the second as heir to the throne. This man +showed that he was really worthy of the crown by his refusal to accept +the succession to the detriment of his elder brother. He only made one +condition and that was in case the elder were to predecease him, the +succession should devolve on himself. This condition was accepted. The +elder received the heritage of his father and the younger was declared +Crown Prince, that is to say heir-presumptive to the throne. + +The new King had several children and misled by parental affection, +showed none of that generous nature of which his brother had given so +noble an example. + +Faithless to his promises he nominated his eldest son who had entered +the priesthood, as his successor. The young Prince a respecter of +promises made, had no wish to be a party to the perjury committed by +his father. He preferred the simplicity of the monastery to the +splendour of the Court, which he could only enjoy by desecrating the +memory of his father. + +The King seeing him persist in his refusal appointed in 1733 his +second son to be his successor and died shortly afterwards of a cancer +in the throat. + +The brother of the dead King was known as the Crown Prince, and the +Siamese were accustomed to look upon him as their future ruler. Five +thousand soldiers whom he kept in his palace, were ready to devote +their lives in support of his rights. + +His nephew relying on his father's will, had collected a force of +40,000 men in the Royal palace so as to overawe his rival. He had been +careful to win the four chief officials of the State over to his side +and having charge of the Treasury, it was a simple matter to purchase +adherents. All the common people were in the power of the officials +who all hoped to extend their authority over a young and inexperienced +ruler, who would be obliged to put the burden of state affairs on +their shoulders. + +The union of the nobility under the flag of the young Prince, seemed +to indicate that his cause would be successful, but in reality it was +the cause of his downfall, owing to internal jealousies as to who +should be leader. The higher officials thought that the Barcalon, +misusing his almost unlimited power, wished to use them as tools for +his personal aggrandisement. + +They appeared to fear that after having been sufficiently powerful to +hold the Crown Prince in subjection, he would yield to the temptation +of taking the crown for himself. + +It seemed more fit that they should obey their old masters rather than +to see themselves reduced to ask favours of an equal, and thus all +plotted secretly to destroy their work. + +War broke out between the two rival Princes. The disturbance was +aggravated by the party feeling of the mob. Shots were exchanged +between the two palaces. The frightened inhabitants awaited death in +their houses and the whole town would have been reduced to a heap of +ruins had the gunners been good marksmen. + +The Barcalon, full of confidence, resolved to risk a decisive +engagement, having the lesser palace as its objective. + +A hand to hand conflict occurred, and the Crown Prince's forces were +routed and pursued to his own palace wall. The conquerors took counsel +as to practicability of carrying the palace by storm. The Barcalon and +his friends voted for the proposition, but one of the chief leaders +said that as it was nearly dark, it would be better to defer the +attack till the next day alleging that by so doing fewer lives would +be endangered than if a night attack were to be attempted. + +His advice was taken and the assault was deferred. The Crown Prince, +being informed by spies of all that passed in the camp of the enemy, +took advantage of the sense of security inspired by an initial success +and convinced that the advantage lies with the attacking force, made a +sortie against the forces near the foot of the palace walls. The +darkness increased the fear inspired by this attack. + +The besieged, taken by surprise and being defenceless, allowed +themselves to be slaughtered like brute beasts. Others took flight, +and casting away their weapons, were pursued to the walls of the grand +palace. The King sent reinforcements to act as a barrier against the +host ready to devour him. The lawless and rebellious soldiery +renounced their allegiance and instead of obeying his orders deserted +to his uncle. + +Seeing that he was betrayed and deserted by his adherents, he put all +his trust in the Malays whom he employed, and having encouraged them +with magnificent gifts and by hopes of great rewards, they left the +palace with proud and haughty expressions which seemed to bear witness +to their zeal and to be an earnest of victory. But hardly had these +mercenaries left the palace behind when they gave an example of the +greatest infidelity, or of meanness of character. + +These strangers, loaded with gifts, deserted the flag of their +benefactor. Some retired to their own country to enjoy the fruits of +their treason, and, others baser still, enrolled themselves under the +banner of those against whom they had promised to fight. + +The Barcalon and the Chakkri, standing on the high walls of the +palace, were the sad witnesses of the desertion. Fearing for their +safety they disappeared on the pretext of going to issue some orders. +The other officers, not seeing them return, scattered to find some +refuge where they would be secure against the anger of the conqueror. + +The King remained alone with his two brothers awaiting his end. The +elder brother retired into his monastery, where he deplored the +disturbed state of affairs of which he was neither the author, nor an +accessary. The other two, forsaken by their mercenary followers, +escaped with some servants in a boat and managed to carry off a large +sum of money as well. + +As soon as the Crown Prince had been informed that the Royal palace +had been abandoned, he ordered his men to take possession. Several +princes of the Royal family had shut themselves up in the palace as in +some sanctuary. They were loaded with chains and were made to suffer +all manner of tortures invented by the cunning of revenge and after +all their property had been confiscated, they had no hope left but +death. + +This civil war caused considerable bloodshed, but more perished by the +sword of the executioner than on the battlefield. + +The new King, on his accession to the throne, gave an example of the +greatest clemency which dulled the remembrance that the slaughter of +his subjects had been the cause of his success. + +He offered the crown to the eldest of his nephews, but in vain. + +This latter, a religious prince, resolved to die in the priesthood, as +he ultimately did. The King was sure that his position was insecure as +long as the two fugitive princes were not in his power. The old +officials wandered about the kingdom and stirred up civil strife. + +The Chakkri and the Barcalon had the temerity to appear in the +capital, dressed as priests. They thought to escape punishment by +appearing in a dress that was respected. + +The King, in order not to commit any outrage against the priesthood, +arranged that they should be arrested by the Chief priest. They +appeared before a tribunal where they were subjected to a searching +cross-examination. Their cunning replies were unanswerable. + +They pleaded that they had been carrying out the King's orders and +that they had been pledged to serve him absolutely. + +By this excuse they were enabled to escape, the terrible punishment +which had been prepared for them. + +It had been determined that they should be hung up with hooks by the +chin until they expired. The idea was that their punishment should +resemble the fate of fishes, as being keen anglers they had caused the +death of many fish, a heinous offence to the Siamese who have scruples +against fishing. + +As the judges found no evidence on which to convict them, the King +sought other methods by which he might undo them. He took counsel with +the ministers and the legal luminaries of the kingdom, who, after +examining the charges on which they had been arraigned, replied, that +far from being culpable they were worthy of the highest rewards. The +verdict was remarkable, coming from the mouth of judges who trembled +under the sceptre of a despot, a single word from whom could degrade +or destroy them. + +The despot himself announced that "A citizen is not guilty in carrying +out the orders of his superiors." + +He ordered that the accused should be instantly released, and as if +wishing to honour their fidelity, he appointed them to the control of +the two chief temples in the city where they hoped to lead a peaceful +existence in the obscurity which is the only protection of a citizen +against the violence of arbitrary power. + +But hardly were they installed in their retreat, when, towards +midnight, five or six Malays came to demand them in the King's name. +They guessed that sentence of death had just been passed on them. The +Barcalon, indifferent to his fate, showed that life no longer appealed +to him and far from being terrified, reproached the Chakkri for his +weakness and cowardice. + +He told him that he must bow to the inevitable. When they were outside +the temple, they were stripped of their priestly robes and were given +a loin-cloth. The Barcalon beheld the instruments of death without +betraying the slightest emotion and presented his breast to the dagger +of the executioner and died, pierced by a single stroke. The Chakkri, +on the contrary, tried to defend himself, and received many wounds +before he was finally disposed of. Their bodies were taken away and +impaled and exhibited to the public eye as an example of the vengeance +of the King. + +The two princes who had escaped, were a continual source of trouble. +For a long time they managed to evade their pursuers; and means were +taken to prevent them from escaping to some neighbouring country where +they might have been able to stir up a rebellion. They remained hidden +in a rice field, and were soon deserted by all their servants except +one who remained faithful. + +This faithful attendant used to go to forage for them. They passed a +month in this way exposed to the weather; a prey to their needs and to +fear. + +At last the servant was recognised in a public place where he was wont +to make purchases for his unhappy masters. Several persons identified +him as having escaped with them, and that as he had been their +companion in flight, he ought to know their hiding place. The secret +was wrested from him by torture. + +The Princes were captured and confined in the palace dungeons. From +that moment knew that death would soon be their portion and that their +uncle would never pardon them as they were the sons of his enemy. They +were put to the question, and in their answers they showed more +firmness than would have been expected from their youth. Sentence had +preceded trial and hence they were unanimously condemned to death. + +The younger had designed some dresses for a theatrical performance +which he had desired to be performed. He asked that, before his death, +he might be allowed to see them. This showed that he was childish, or, +rather frivolous. The Queen, in vain begged that their request might +be granted. The King replied that they had been born with desires that +would one day be fatal to the State. These Princes whose fate should +have excited compassion were not regretted in the least. It was +generally known that their tastes were depraved. It was not by their +death that the Crown Prince really became King. He gave his whole +heart to his nephew, who had refused the crown that the Siamese had +wished to offer him. + +The King's predilection excited the jealousy of his eldest son who +made a plot to assassinate their cousin, and a day was arranged for +the execution of this wicked design. + +The Prince had gone to pay his respects to the King and was attended +by his cousins who by certain gestures gave him an inkling of the plot +against his life. He became frightened and fell at the King's feet who +being informed of the plot, made enquiries into the truth of it. The +second and third of his sons were convicted of being the authors of +the barbarous idea. This father, horror stricken, summoned them fore +him and pronounced such dreadful punishments against them that, in +order to clear themselves, they protested that their elder brother had +led them into crime. The father was deeply grieved on learning that +his dearest son had been the most guilty. He summoned him to his +presence and made him lie on the ground to receive his punishment. The +Priest-prince, witness of the terrible scene, of which he was the +innocent author, thought of what the consequence might be, of a +punishment inflicted on one who might one day be his master. He +prostrated himself on the body of the guilty and cried out. "Father, +order that I receive the beating rather than your son". The King was a +father and was soon turned from his purpose by his feelings. His wrath +merely found vent in threats against his guilty son, who, to become +reconciled with the priest-prince, entered the same monastery; but in +the shadows of his retreat he enjoyed all the sweets of power. The +chief officers of state and the people continued to regard him as the +heir-presumptive to the crown. As it happened, he left the priesthood +in 1740 and his father declared him his successor. Henceforth he lived +in the palace which was appointed for Crown princes, but was quite +unworthy of his father's choice. His vices drew upon him the hatred of +his father in 1756. He was accused by his bastard brother of having +defiled his father's bed, and was summarily sentenced to imprisonment +for life. There remained but two legitimate sons to the King whom he +had had by the late Queen. + +The elder had sunk into the lowest depths of debauchery, which was +sufficient reason against his succession to the throne, so much the +more so as he was afflicted with a loathsome disease. The younger was +preferred to him, he was called Chaoual Padou, that is to say, Lord of +the Temple. This prince, brought up from his earliest years among the +priests was permeated with the poison of error. A zealous champion of +the foolish religion of his country, he was beloved by the nation who +saw their superstitions ennobled by so illustrious an example. A +stickler for justice, he punished fraud and theft with severity. His +good qualities were universally recognised by all from the Crown +Prince downwards. His marriage which occurred shortly after his +accession, was regarded as a token of the prosperity of the State. His +father bent by age died in 1748 aged 80 years. Chaoual Padou was soon +recognised by all the officials of the State. Some of his bastard +brothers attempted to stir up civil strife, but they did not escape +punishment. They were cast into prison where they died of neglect. +Peace reigned in the Kingdom after their death, and the people gave +him no cause for anxiety. + +But his brother whom he rashly had recalled to court favour, was a +cause of scandal. He bitterly criticised the government and behaved as +a ruler, rather than as a subject and to lighten the disgrace of his +degradation, he managed to place himself at the right hand of the King +too modest and too weak to punish him. + +At last the King being no longer able to tolerate his imperious +behaviour, resolved to abdicate a crown the burden of which had become +insupportable, and to retire to the seclusion of monastic life. For a +second time he donned the robes of a priest and shut himself up with +about a thousand idolatrous priests whom he endeavoured to surpass in +pseudo-science and in the art of fortelling the future. He sought a +secret means by which to render himself invisible and immortal by the +use of mercury of which he took so large a dose that all his teeth +fell out. Devoting his whole time to futile researches, he became +quite indifferent to affairs of State and had no other relaxation than +to pore over lying records and to extract therefrom stories fit merely +for the credulity of fools. + +While he was living in seclusion in his country, the enemy carried +fear and destruction to the gates of the capital. + +The King, who knew nothing of statecraft or of war, was powerless to +avert the storm. The Princes and nobles went in a body to the temple +of Chaoual Padou and begged him to take up the reins of the stricken +Empire. He acceded to their wishes and his brother, laying aside his +pride as there was no time for concealing his weakness and incapacity, +handed over the sceptre that he could wield no longer and invited him +to re-ascend the throne. He yielded to the pressure brought to bear on +him from so many quarters and sacrificed his own inclinations for a +quiet life. + +But before entering into the details of the revolution we ought to +give some account of the strength and situation of the people who were +to be their adversaries. + +In 1754 the Burmese, the inhabitants of the kingdom of Ava had been in +subjection to the Peguans for five years. They had seen the death of +their King, their Queen and the majority of the Royal family. The +memory of their past misfortunes and the present reality of their +servitude, and degradation caused them to yearn for a deliverer. They +did not seek one among those enervated by the luxury of court life or +those who in the pride of their usurped titles measured their +capabilities by their ambition. + +Their eyes were turned to one of their fellow-countrymen Manlong by +name, a gardener by profession who though physically compelled to +labour of a humble description, had the bravery and heart of a hero. +With one voice all united in begging him to accept the crown so as to +free them from the yoke of their tyrants. "Yes" replied this +extraordinary man! "I agree to become your King, but first of all I +wish to find out whether you are worthy of having such a leader as I! +I command you to go and cut off the heads of all those petty +oppressors whom the Peguans have set over you." + +All answered, "If that is all you want us to do, you shall be obeyed +speedily," and forthwith they departed to slay all the military and +judicial officers whom their tyrants had placed in authority over +them. Soon they returned to their hero, their hands streaming with the +gore of their oppressors and proclaimed him King without a dissentient +voice. + +The new King distributed arms to his subjects. He taught them to ride +and to shoot as he himself was a good horseman and a dead shot. His +musketeers were ordered to fire on any one who had the cowardice to +retreat either in siege operations or in actual battle. This new +discipline was rigorously observed. The Burmese became invincible and +dominated Pegu. A Peguan commander who had retreated with his army +into a forest, on learning that the Burmese army had returned to Ava, +took advantage of their absence to recapture Siriam, a seaport town of +Pegu. He captured a ship which he at once fitted out and departed +early in 1759 for Pondicherry on the Coromandel coast. + +At the same time he wrote to the governor of the French stations in +the East Indies to whom he sent valuable gifts in the hope of +obtaining guns and military stores. + +The ship was unable to reach the Coromandel coast; contrary winds +rendered it necessary to anchor at Mergui a seaport of Siam. The +Burmese army returned to Siriam three days after the departure of the +ship. The King, who was in command wished to give an example of +severity to the people. The town was utterly sacked and at the mere +sound of their approach the Peguans and their leader fled to the +forests. + +The Governor of Tavoy, a Peguan city close at hand had established +himself as an independent ruler. The Burmese King advanced to +Martaban, a town close to Tavoy, and demanded the governor to +surrender. The governor was too weak to offer any resistance and +therefore complied. But his submission availed him nothing, for as +soon as the King arrived, his head was cut off. It was here, that the +King hearing about the richness of Siam conceived the idea of +attempting its conquest, but wishing to have a valid excuse for his +greed, he demanded that they should restore the ship that had been +seized at Siriam from whence it had been brought to Mergui. The +Siamese court having been informed that the ship was bound for +Pondicherry ordered that the ship should continue the voyage in order +to maintain the friendly relations existing between the Siamese court +and the French stations. + +This refusal was the cause of a war in which many lives were lost. + +The Burmese King, having seized all the shipping and wealth of the +country, made Tavoy his headquarters. He sent out an expedition of 30 +vessels to reduce and burn the town of Mergui and to take similar +action against Tenasserim, the chief town of a province of the same +name. + +At the approach of the fleet, the inhabitants of Mergui fled and the +town, previously so full of inhabitants, was left deserted. + +M. M. Andrien and Lefebvre, French missionaries, seeing before them a +prospect of danger and useless suffering, embarked with their converts +in two ships of which one was a French vessel and the other was the +very ship to which the King of Ava laid claim. The fugitive +inhabitants, after aimless wanderings sought refuge in the forests and +in desert islands. + +The King of Ava, surprised at the fear inspired by his name and +forces, was quite sure that the conquest of Siam would be an easy +matter. The fact of a whole province having been subdued by his little +fleet, gave him to hope that there would be no obstacle to the success +of his united forces. He visited Tavoy in person, being the place at +which the different sections of his army had been ordered to assemble. +As soon as the Siamese court had been informed that the Burmese had +invaded the country, the Barcalon sent to the Bishop of Tabraca +ordering that Christians should be called upon for military service. +The Bishop replied that he would willingly send all those whom he +believed were physically able to defend their King and country. He +summoned his converts at once pointed out the danger by which the +country was threatened, and exhorted them by the sacred ties of King +and fatherland. The flock, obedient to the voice of the shepherd, +remembered that the God of Peace whom they served was likewise the God +of Battles. More than one hundred took up arms for the common defence. +This levy, though so small in numbers was sufficient to give examples +of courage to the others. + +The Priest King who had just come to the throne was without resources +to carry on a successful struggle against so warlike a foe. He knew +the weakness of his subjects only too well not to put his trust in +them. + +His arsenals were well furnished with arms and ammunition, but he +lacked men to make good use of them. He commanded a timid and +undisciplined mob, equally incapable of attack or defence, who had +been pressed into service to meet the urgency of the situation, and +who trembled at the sound of firearms. A fair-sized army of this +character had been collected but was of no use against an enemy. + +These miserable cowards threw down their arms on the approach of the +Burmese, and, conquered without striking a blow, fled to the capital +which was thus overcrowded with useless mouths. The Christians acted +in quite a different manner and behaved heroically to a man. The King +seeing their bravery, entrusted to them the guardianship of the palace +and the city walls, but they were too few to present an unbroken front +to the swarms of the enemy who were overrunning the country. They had +left their homes defenceless, and, placing duty before the safety of +their own possessions, they had left them to the greed of an enemy to +whom plunder was the main object. + +The hour of the downfall of Siam was not yet come. The Burmese King +was but three days march from the capital when he was attacked by a +fatal illness. Thinking less of his sickness than of the obstacle that +had checked his victorious progress, he summoned certain Europeans +serving in his army to his bedside. He asked them in what time they +could gain possession of the city. They replied that it could be done +in three days, "Go quickly" answered the King, "and make this rich +conquest and if fortune does not bear out your valour come back to me +at once." + +The army started. All the outlying villages were burnt, and even the +suburbs of the capital were included in the devastated area. The +Christian quarter alone was respected, as the Burmese warned of their +valour, had not the courage to attack men so freed from earthly ties +that they feared not death. Some of the Christians, who had not +followed the example of flight set by the others, shot two of the +enemy from the seminary, and this brave defence was the salvation of +all The terrified Burmese had no longer any desire to attack them. The +Dutch quarter was reduced to ashes and only the warehouse known to +contain valuable merchandise was spared. + +While the town was threatened, the outlying districts were ravaged +with fire and sword, and the inhabitants, loaded with fetters, were +led into captivity. The children too weak to share their sufferings +were the unhappy witnesses of tortures inflicted on their parents. +Several children were put to the torture to make them reveal the +hiding places of their parents' wealth. On information extorted by +violence these pitiless creatures massacred unfortunate individuals +without mercy who could only reproach themselves with not being rich +enough to satisfy the greed of their executioners. The chief priests +who were suspected of having concealed vast wealth, were repeatedly +roasted on gridirons until they had confessed where their treasures +were hidden. + +Women were bound above the ankles so tightly that the cords cut into +the flesh. Their inexorable tormentors made them answer questions by +striking them with the flat of a sword, and even the cries and +lamentations of the children whom they compelled to witness their +cruelties could awake no compassion in their stony hearts. + +The men received still harsher treatment. Their ankles were bound in +the same way as those of the women, and, to add to their miseries +their arms were tied behind their backs so that the elbows touched. It +seemed in their wretched plight that their bowels were about to gush +out. So severe were the agonies caused in the joints, that the victims +swooned in many cases. + +While these sad scenes were being enacted in the Provinces, the +capital of Siam was attacked with vigour. But the enemy, after several +futile assaults, were obliged to give up their task; and, taking +advantage of the darkness to conceal the shame of their retreat, made +the same signals as before; in order that the Siamese might still +believe they remained near the walls. The news of the death of Burmese +monarch caused them to renounce the hopes of conquest. The youngest of +his sons was proclaimed King. He needed the army to strengthen his +authority and to put down malcontents. The troops were ordered to +evacuate Siam and never was a retreat more hurriedly beaten. + +The Siamese, free from the yoke of foreign oppression, reoccupied +their former possessions. Having suffered by experience, they ought to +have taken steps to prevent a fresh invasion. The Dutch, established +in the kingdom, could have provided them with artillerymen as there +were many stationed at Batavia in the island of Java. But the Siamese +unmindful of danger, and arrogant though cowardly, considered that it +would be derogatory to their dignity to implore the help of a foreign +nation to teach them lessons. + +The high opinion which this nation held of itself, gave rise to the +idea that the native Christians would form an impregnable barrier +against foreign invasion. + +The examples of bravery they had shown, caused them to be regarded as +so many heroes to whom the common defence might be entrusted. + +The French church was called the Church of Victory, and in gratitude +for services rendered, presents were given of suitable garments to the +Bishop, the priests and the converts. All the Christians who had +assisted in the defence of their country received a gift of money and +eight of them who had shown the greatest bravery in face of the +dangers undergone, were promoted to the highest positions in the army. + +The Siamese had no less confidence in their wisdom than they had had +in their bravery. They were consulted as to what measures should be +taken for national defence. These men full of zeal, showed that if +they knew how to fight for their country, still more did they know how +to advance the cause of their God. + +They pointed out that, as during the war the temples had afforded +shelter to the Burmese, they were of opinion it would be advantageous +to destroy all the temples round the town, so much the more so, that +in case of a new invasion it would be impossible to preserve them. + +The elder brother of the King agreed with this proposition but the +other Princes and all the priests regarded it as an act of sacrilege. + +The King joined the latter party as his inclinations were all in the +direction of his former station in life and even in the brilliancy of +court functions, sighed in secret for the solitude of the temples. + +A zealot for the religion of his country he showed that he was jealous +of the praises showered upon the Bishop of Tabraca, who, was regarded +as a heavenly messenger sent to reform their morals. The respect given +to the worshipper and minister of a foreign God appeared to the +Monarch to be a slight on the national religion. + +He commanded that European titles only should be used as honorable +appellations in his his case, and to suppress all Siamese words by +which respect and greatness were indicated. + +The order was by no means universally obeyed. The nobility and the +people never ceased showing forth their regard for the Bishop and +continued to load him with titles which he preferred to deserve rather +than to receive. + +This enmity engendered by jealousy would not have been productive of +evil results as the Prince was weak rather than evil-minded. It seemed +that peace would continue, but soon the State was plunged into a new +commotion. The King pronounced sentence of death against a favourite +of his brother's who was suspected of having carried on treasonable +correspondence with the enemy. This decree was regarded as an abuse of +his authority. The people demanded that account should be rendered of +the blood shed on slight grounds of suspicion. A general discontent +made the King re-enter the priesthood, and he appeared to abdicate the +throne with more pleasure than he had ascended it. His elder brother +became King, and the position which he thus occupied, showed up his +vices and follies to the full light of day. + +In May 1762 the Prince resigned the crown in favour of the priesthood. +A great number of Siamese followed his example. The State was burdened +with an excess of useless citizens who kept aloof from those they +ought to have served. Sorcery and magic were the principal topics of +conversation, everyone had formulae for the compounding of love +philters for immoral purposes, and the secret of rendering the person +invisible for the purpose of robbery and assassination without fear of +punishment, was the universal object of research. + +The priests who had become more haughty since the King had entered +their order, demanded that they should receive divine honours. The +ignorant populace wasted their substance in their support, and kept +them in idleness. These holy ministers, naturally poor, found abundant +means of livelihood in the folly of the vulgar, an inexhaustible ever +ready source of supplies for the use of impostors. Not even was their +moral character an object of respect. They frequently gave rise to +many scandalous scenes and, immune from punishment, they would not +even cast a veil over the filthy pleasures to which they were +addicted. By greed and cunning they obtained possession of everything +that could not be appropriated by force. + +The reigning King gave precedent for these irregularities by his +example. + +Unbridled in his lusts, and shameless in his actions he had no other +rule of conduct than his own sweet will; and in the intoxication of +his brutal passions, had the folly to marry his father's sister +openly. The nobility too feeble and too cowardly to attempt to reform +the abuses, preferred to follow the example of the tyrant rather than +to fall as victims. + +The officials, brutalised by the debauchery into which they had sunk +to please their master, knew neither how to foresee nor to fear coming +troubles. + +Their security was founded on the report that the Burmese King, a +warlike and restless Prince, had been dethroned on his return to Ava, +and that his elder brother was content to govern his own people and +had no ambition for foreign aggression. + +A peaceful règime seemed necessary to him to ensure his rule over a +turbulent race, and his efforts were directed towards the maintenance +of peace and to the civilization of his people. He was highly +indignant with those who had advised his father to attempt the +invasion of Siam, that had cost the nation so many valuable lives, +more precious than all the spoil they had carried off. + +Such peaceable tendencies promised a spell of unbroken peace to the +neighbouring Kingdoms, but the appointed hour struck for the +punishment of a people sunk in slumber and debauchery. The +peace-loving King died suddenly, and his successor a man of great +ambition and, feeling too cramped in his own territories, was the rod +by which God struck the Siamese. + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + THE REVOLUTION OF 1767. + + +The new Burmese monarch desired nothing better than warfare and +conquests. Too proud to conceal his feelings, he boasted that he had +promised his dying father to crush the the cowardly nation that merely +waited for a conqueror to reduce it to bondage. Several high officials +supported his ambitious projects. + +His first victories were gained over his intractable and rebellious +subjects. As soon as they had been subjugated, he sent one of his +generals in command of five thousand picked troops to effect the +capture of Tavoy, whose governor, although a Burman, had made himself +independent in 1761. + +This rebel, not feeling that he alone would be able to maintain his +position with his own troops, sought an alliance with the English who +supplied him with all manner of arms and ammunition. At same time a +vessel from the Coromandel coast, and laden with rich presents for +Pegu, was obliged to drop anchor at Tavoy. The idea of a rich booty +won over the governor who resolved to appropriate so valuable a cargo +in order to purchase an alliance with Siam, who, alone could have +supported him in his encroachments. + +Having taken possession of these valuable spoils unjustly, he sent +them to the King of Siam and besought his assistance. The ministers +took counsel together as to whether the reception of this embassy +would be compromising to the dignity of the King, and for some time +were uncertain whether good or evil would result if the conditions +were accepted. + +They thought the wisest course to pursue was to ask the opinion of the +Bishop of Tabraca and the Missionaries, who having no personal +interest in the matter ought to be able to give good advice. They +replied that to protect a rebel was contrary to all equity and policy. +They added that Tavoy had always been a Burmese dependency and that in +assisting an ambitious man who had usurped the power, they would +become accessories in the rebellion and would expose the Kingdom to +the vengeance of a powerful neighbour, who had nothing to lose by +defeat and everything to gain by victory. The ministers were satisfied +with this answer and asked that it should be given in writing feeling +sure that the authority of the Bishop and the missionaries backed up +by their wisdom and character would have great weight with the King. + +The document was drawn up, and the ministers presented it to the +step-brother of the King, who was hankering after the rich presents of +the rebellious governor. He made a great show of indignation against +those who by their scruples would have deprived him of the objects of +his greed. He tore up the document which indicated the line of action +on which depended the peace and prosperity of the State. + +The intrigues of the favourites were successful and the ambassadors +were honourably received and listened to graciously. Urgent commands +were sent to the governor of Tenasserim to fit out an expedition for +the relief of Tavoy, but nothing came of the project. The governor of +this town became the object of public execration; the bloodshed of the +leading citizens was the means by which he had wished to consolidate +his growing power, and his new subjects became his enemies. Attempts +were made on his life in 1762, and as punishments were multiplied, the +more unpopular he became. + +The Burmese general had arrived at Martaban with his army. From this +town he wrote to the governor ordering him to offer no resistance. He +uttered dire threats against the inhabitants who refused to help him. + +The people of Tavoy seeing an army ready to beseige their town, +declared that they had determined to render homage to their legitimate +ruler. The usurper surrounded by both foreign and domestic enemies, +weak in his defences and threatened by invasion, had no other resource +left but flight. + +He equipped a vessel for his escape, but the people by whom he was +hated, suspected his plan and fired his ship either from motives of +revenge, or to prevent him from carrying off his wealth. + +He was so unwise as to show himself in public and found out that +despots cease to be respected when their power is gone. + +His subjects, who before had been trembling slaves, planned to slay +him at the city gate. The women, always more excited by popular frenzy +vied with each other for the honour of striking the first blow. They +were highly delighted to see as a suppliant before them, one who +formerly had exacted unquestioning obedience. + +The rebel, after many adventures sought sanctuary at Mergui, to which +place he was followed by his relatives and a few supporters who had +either the nobility of character to wish to share his misfortunes, or +perhaps so guilty that they feared the harshness of an angry judge. + +His fleet of sixty galleys by no means reassured the inhabitants who +were not anxious to shelter an outlaw pursued by a victorious army. +Panic was general, some fled to the forests, and others to desert +islands fearing death by starvation less than to have to appear before +a wrathful conqueror. + +The governor feared that those who had given him shelter would not +respect the rights of hospitality for long. He only begged a small +force with which to go and retake the town that he had evacuated on +the strength of a false report. He considered that the letter from the +Burmese General had been sent by an advanced body of troops whom he +would keep up even in time of peace. He then began to doubt whether +the document had been genuine and suspected that it had been the work +of some disaffected persons who had concocted it to give him a false +alarm, and to make him take his departure. He was so convinced that +his idea was correct that he persuaded himself that his subjects were +his only enemies. Thus a victim of his blind faith he went to give +himself up to a ruler whom he had offended. + +This rumour was taken as credible by so many that the captains of the +ships at Mergui, who had been alarmed by the first news of the Burmese +advance, believed they were in perfect safety. Trade that had been +interrupted for some time was renewed. The fugitives returned to their +houses, and the town that had been deserted for eight days, resumed +its normal aspect. The Christians had been very anxious to embark for +the Coromandel coast and only one availed himself of the offer of a +Portuguese captain who sailed on January 8th, 1765, but the rest very +soon saw that they had been misled by a false sense of security. + +On the 10th of January, a confused noise as of a shouting multitude +was heard in the evening by the river side. The sounds gave rise to +the idea that the enemy were approaching and that the first alarms had +been only too well founded. In fact the enemy were only three or four +leagues from the city and a pilot had seen ten of their ships. A short +period of calm succeeded this alarm. The pilot on being questioned +replied that he had seen nothing whereupon everybody returned home +quietly. + +The missionaries were in a calmer frame of mind, because they had seen +that quiet reigned on board the ships anchored in midstream, and were +sure that the noise that had been reported was only a product of panic +stricken imagination. But at four o'clock in the morning fifty gun +shots were heard which left no longer room for doubt that the Burmese +had arrived. + +The startled inhabitants perceived that death or speedy captivity +would be their portion. The captains of the trading ships cut their +cables at once, and fearing to fall into the power of a savage foe, +allowed their ships to drift with the stream without heeding the +danger of shipwreck to which the inequalities of the river bed +rendered then liable. + +The Christians who remembered the horrors of the late war shuddered +with dread at the thoughts of these savage creatures steeped in the +gore of old men and of children butchered on the still smoking bodies +of their mothers. All fled to their boats and endeavoured to escape +from certain death. + +The Burmese made their attack and found no resistance. The love of +life had driven away all thoughts of defence. + +The pillars of fire that were rising on all sides made the inhabitants +judge that their country was but a wood-pile being devoured by the +flames. M. M. Andrien and Alari both came down to the church and were +soon followed by a crowd of Christians. These two missionaries +exhorted them to make a generous sacrifice of their lives and promised +to set them an example of how to meet death. The fire which was +devouring the neighbouring houses was about to attack the church. M. +Alari thought of running away and begged the others to look to their +safety. He took some money for his needs and buried the rest at the +foot of a tree, in the hope of finding it again after the fire had +burnt out. He saw that the enemies had gained possession of the gates. +Then to save himself from the impending danger, he told a young +servant who could speak Burmese to inform the soldiers at the gates +that neither he nor his companions would offer any resistance. The +Burman was satisfied with this message and with some money which was +given to him he put down his spear, but he asked for and was given a +shabby hat which had aroused his cupidity. + +But the soldiers who came up shortly afterwards were not so moderate +in their demands, for they pulled off all his clothes. + +In vain they were informed that nakedness was shameful. He spoke to +the Burmese but they would not listen to him. The same soldiers greedy +for more valuable booty entered the house to seize what they could. +They broke open the chest containing the sacred vessels which they +defiled with their impious hands. The missionaries, robbed and almost +naked were dragged to the harbour and put on board a ship. As the +water was rough they were made to cross long stretch of ground covered +with mud and they would have been buried in the mire if they had not +been helped by two native servants who had still remained faithful. + +Hardly had they embarked when they received the order to return. As +soon as they had arrived at the general's tent they were placed on the +ground, and were beaten with rods to make them put down their legs. +This they had not done, as they were unaware of the etiquette of the +Burmese towards their superiors. The general surrounded by his savage +myrmidons commanded them in threatening tones to go with the other +Christians to seize those ships which had not cut their cables. M. +Alari who was also ordered to convey a letter to the captains, replied +that his sacred office forbade him to take up arms and above all to +shed human blood. Many of the bystanders testified to the truth of his +statements and his excuse was accepted; but although they had escaped +this danger they were reserved for more terrible misfortunes. + +Attendants armed with lances conducted them to the bank of the river +where they were obliged to witness the greatest scandals and the +filthiest abominations. They were exposed in the middle of the public +market, with their feet in the mud from daybreak till noon. Their hats +which alone could have protected them from the burning rays of the sun +had been stolen. They expected death any moment but awaited its +approach fearlessly. A lively faith upheld them and they only noticed +the misfortunes of other Christians who like themselves had fallen +into captivity. + +The general encamped by the shore, made careful enquiries in order to +discover the place or any information as to where they had buried +their wealth and the secret was discovered by torture. + +M. Andrien was denounced as a wealthy man, and acting on the +information received, the general went to the church with Gaspard, the +honest servant of the virtuous missionary. Both prayers and threats +were employed to make him reveal the spot where his master had hidden +his wealth. The young man naively answered, "that as his master was a +priest to whom earthly possessions were valueless, he had never +possessed anything besides what the Burmese had carried off." + +The greedy Burman unsatisfied with this answer, condemned him to the +torture. His feet were thrust into a brazier of glowing charcoal in +hopes that the torment of fire would make him reveal a secret that the +insolence of authority had failed to do. + +Gaspard, who had withstood their promises, showed that he cared naught +for tortures. The barbarian was highly annoyed at such contumacious +behaviour, whereas he ought to have admired the heroism displayed. He +drew his sword and was about to cut off his head. The young man 17 +years old was quite impervious to fear, he had not the slightest +intention of begging for his life, he merely asked for a few moments +in which to commend his soul to God "Let me say a prayer" he said, +"and after which you may do as you please with me." His request was +granted and after a short interval spent in prayer, he cried out +"strike." + +The general, amazed to see such heroic conduct in the case of one so +young, was seized with a sudden admiration. He thought that a man who +had given so striking a proof of fidelity to his masters, ought to +join his retinue, and he was treated more as a favourite than as a +slave. If we draw a comparison between the atrocities perpetrated by +this nation in the war of 1760 and their conduct in this latter +conflict, we can perceive that they had lost something of their former +savagery. In the former struggle, children had participated in the +tortures of their parents, but on this occasion they were merely +mournful spectators. But even this blessed change which commenced to +become apparent in the manners and customs of the Burmese was still +too weak to disguise their pristine characteristics, especially in +cases in which they had given themselves up to the lust of avarice. +The following notices will assure the reader on these points. + +When the Burmese King undertakes a war, he retains only the parents of +the conquered as slaves, and he generously hands over the children to +the generals and other subordinate officers. It follows from this +method of sharing the spoils, that children are often separated for +ever from their parents. Here is a touching example of the unhappiness +of such innocent victims. + +A child six years of age, having been left in a boat, cried +ceaselessly for his parents from whom he had just been separated. His +streaming eyes were fixed in the direction of the spot where they had +last been seen. After two days he saw on the bank one of his aunts to +whom he was much attached. This woman, grieved at the loss of her +nephew, followed the boat to console herself with a sight which could +only make her grief more intense. The child, for whom the sight of his +aunt was only a new torture, cried and stretched out his arms and +called to her to help him, and at last flung himself in the river to +go and rejoin her. The Burmese, untouched by this victory of nature, +saved the child only to make him feel the loss of his liberty more +keenly. A tender heart had restored him to his relatives, but the +brutal captain thrust him into the hold of the vessel so as to run no +further risk of losing him. + +The Burmese are desirous of great wealth, and, although by nature a +warlike race, it is rather the lust of pillage than the mere idea of +glory that incites them to risk their persons. War is but a trade, +according to their way of thinking, and he who returns with the +richest spoils receives the greatest honour from his country. Those +who fall into their power have every thing to fear if they are unable +to satisfy their greed, and it is quite certain that avarice is the +mainspring of their cruelty. A poor Christian, who was believed to be +possessed of great wealth, was put to the torture to make him reveal +the hiding place of his non-existent riches; but no amount of +suffering could extort a word from him. The angry Burman in the +presence of his wife and dying mother drew his sword to cut off his +head. Frightened at the near approach of death, he begged for a +respite, in the vain hope of discovering some means whereby the greed +of his savage master might be satisfied. He was unable to fulfil his +promises, and, to punish his failure, he was bound hand and foot and +cast into the river. + +His mother at the point of death, summoned up all her strength and +looked at the surface of the water fated to be the tomb of her son, +and, just as he was sinking, she grabbed him by the hair and saved his +life. + +A shipmaster by name Rolland was highly respected at Mergui where he +carried on a considerable amount of trade. For a long time he was +uncertain as to which party he should favour. + +When he saw that the Burmese had gained possession of the town, he +thought it expedient to set sail, but as his vessel was out of repair, +it appeared that this course would be too dangerous. He retired with +some of the members of his family to the hut of some Christians who +had showed hospitality towards him, but he was shortly afterwards +discovered and robbed of all his possessions. Unfortunately for him, +he was found with arms in his possession. On being questioned as to +their use, he replied, that, at the first rumour of the Burmese +arrival at Mergui he had thought that a force of Malays a people well +known in the Indies for their piratical tendencies, was about to make +an attack, and that having at once resolved upon flight, he had taken +up weapons with which to defend himself against tigers which were +numerous in the forests. The shipmaster and his companions had no +longer any fear for their life or their liberty. + +The enemy were graciously pleased to give them back some garments and +a fair supply of provender, more than they had expected from +conquerors already pressed by famine. + +To the Burmese, any attempt at self-defence is a heinous offence, and +whoever has lifted his hand against them need not hope for any mercy. +Thus instead of respecting the bravery of a foeman, they show pity +only on the poltroon who grovels before them. + +A Moorish ship, in setting sail had fired several guns at their +vessels. Four sailors who had not had time to embark were ruthlessly +slaughtered in revenge for the deed of their companions. Their cruel +fate caused much anxiety among the Christians. Several had been +convicted of bearing arms, and there was no doubt that sentence of +death would be shortly pronounced against them. The executioner was +awaiting the signal to give the fatal blow. In this moment of +suspense, a venerable old man advanced crawling on hands and knees and +prostrating himself before the general, informed him that the +condemned missionaries were well known for their bounty and their zeal +for the relief of those in trouble, and that far from having taken up +arms with hostile intent, their religion forbade their use even for +purposes of self-defence. All those present appeared moved, and took +their part with the general, who at last relented. The sentence of +death was revoked. The Christians and Mahomedans who would have been +slaughtered together, were sentenced to transportation to Pegu to +swell the ranks of the royal slaves. + +An unforseen occurrence was the cause of great rejoicings on the part +of the Christians. At this period these unhappy people, expecting no +human aid, had given themselves up to God alone. They saw a young +Portuguese half-caste who had just arrived from Pegu, come on board +their vessel. He offered to be their liberator on condition that they +would follow him to Pegu to minister to the Christians who had no +pastors in that country. This young man Jeanchi by name, was a native +of Macao in China. He had been carried off as a slave from Mergui by +the Burmese in 1760, and had been taken to Pegu where by his industry +he had found a means of gaining his freedom. His abilities were well +known and well rewarded. + +He afterwards married the granddaughter of Constantine Faulcon and was +besides a zealous Christian. The missionaries welcomed their deliverer +as a messenger from heaven. He claimed them as ministers of his +religion and the general released them on those grounds without +further delay. Owing to the fact that his duties frequently called him +to distant ports, he sent them back in charge of a Burmese captain of +milder disposition than the rest. The captain who had his own affairs +to attend to, forgot to supply them with food. In the evening, Jeanchi +sent them a little rice which they shared with the other destitute +Christians. He endeavoured to muster all the scattered Christians +together and lodged them in houses that had been spared by the fire. +Sometimes he found young children whom he restored to their sorrowing +parents. Sometimes he gave back a wife to her husband, and when he +could not succeed by artifice he cast himself down before the leaders +to beg for their release with great eloquence. "Kill me," he would say +to them "and let me no longer be the witness of their misfortunes +which I myself feel so deeply." His prayers were heard as he was +regarded as a national hero. His skill had directed the operations of +the war and his courage had contributed to their success. But in spite +of his importunities, and the esteem in which he was held, he was +unable to obtain the Christian virgins whom the barbarians wished to +retain for the gratification of their brutal lust. It was pitiable to +hear the groans of these pure unsullied doves, who sighed for the +deliverance that none could afford them. The married women were more +fortunate, as they were protected by the scruples which these savages +hold regarding the sanctity of the marriage-tie. These scruples acted +as a check on their unbridled lust, and it was quite sufficient for a +man to claim a woman as his wife to prevent an attack on her modesty. + +Several virgins declared they were married women and by this harmless +fib they were enabled to avoid the brutish embraces of the men whom +they considered as executioners rather than as lovers. + +The ships that had been obliged to beat a hurried retreat had +abandoned part of their cargoes on the bank. The missionaries and the +other Christians were obliged to put these goods on board other +vessels; all were forced to this work without exception. The master +found himself working beside his slave. Several old and respectable +ladies walked along, staggering under heavy burdens that taxed their +strength, and frequently whips were used to stimulate their exertions. + +The Burmese were too eager for plunder to be satisfied with the +conquest of Mergui. One of their generals set out with the greater +part of the army against Tenasserim, the capital of a province of the +same name. + +This town although strongly fortified did not appear to a sufficient +defence against the Burmese rabble, who reached the foot of the walls +without meeting any resistance. The gates were wide open and the +terrified inhabitants had fled to the forests to avoid a danger that +they were unwilling to face. Fear had exaggerated the number of the +foemen, and the governor had been the first to desert his post. They +were conquered by terror rather than by the arms and the valour of +their enemies. The Burmese filled their ships with loot and having +seized everything of value, fired the town and returned in triumph to +Mergui. Jeanchi, who was anxious for the safety of the missionaries +made them embark with their converts. The voyage was only of six days' +duration and although they were well-cared for, they had to suffer in +various other ways. They were continually threatened with death if the +least thing were to be missing from the plunder on their arrival. +Twenty soldiers armed with spears and daggers watched all their +actions and they were forbidden to get ahead of the war-vessels that +were acting as their escort to the harbour. + +They were welcomed on their arrival by two Peguan Christians who +showed great pleasure at meeting them. They were escorted by a ship +belonging to a rich and powerful Mahomedan who did his utmost to +protect those in trouble. + +He informed them that their master had given him permission to take +them on board his own ship where they would be in safety. After this +comforting information, they set out to meet the generous Mahomedan, +by name Mamasadech, who evinced the greatest sympathy for their sorry +plight, and promised to rescue the Christian girls from the arms of +their ravishers. As a result, next day an edict was issued forbidding +the Burmese of all classes to insult any Christian. + +The liberal Mahomedan spared no expense on behalf of the Christians. +He gave them much good advice and showed the greatest sympathy towards +those in misfortune. The missionaries assured of his good faith, +breathed again. But at the moment of their new-found security they +were summoned before the commander, who showing them the vases and +sacred vessels that had been seized, told them to point out which were +their property. Having been satisfied on this point, he enquired how +much money had been taken from them. This cunning question caused M. +Andrien much embarrassment, who feared to injure his despoilers and +those whose vengeance he had to fear. He answered, that as his +knowledge of the language of the country was scanty, he was unable to +explain. + +This reply aroused the suspicion that he had some money concealed. The +general ordered that the torture should be applied. There was a +cauldron of molten lead close at hand into which the hands of those +from whom they desired to extort confessions were plunged. He was led +up to the glowing metal and a soldier seized his hand, which he held +out over the cauldron awaiting a signal to plunge it in. M. Andrien +turned towards his judge with a calm expression and protested that he +had concealed nothing, and, at the same instant, Mamasadech hearing of +what was happening, ran up to save him from the impending danger. His +companion underwent the same examination, but his fate was very +different. He was unaware that to conceal money was a heinous offence +among the Burmese. He had given some to Captain Jeanchi for the +redemption of Christians from death and slavery and had reserved a +moderate sum for the relief of his brethren. These facts caused his +embarrassment when subjected to the examination that he feared. + +He had been brought up in a school where mental reservation and +equivocal replies were regarded as being contrary to the simple truth. +He warned Jeanchi that he would be expected to answer, and that he did +not intend to disgrace himself by uttering falsehoods. + +Jeanchi was well aware of the consequences of an avowal that would be +equally fatal to them both, and in order to forestall them, gave back +the property together with the agreement that all his expenses would +be paid, and, a few days after, stirred up a persecution caused by +weakness rather than by hatred against his friends. He had been +accused of having taken money from a Christian virgin who had laid +information before the Viceroy. He feared that the evidence of M. +Alari would only make his case worse and so thought he could best +clear himself by declaring to the Viceroy that he had just restored +the money to the missionary by whom it had been entrusted to him. + +The Burman was wrath, and summoned the missionaries before him. They +appeared destitute of all human succour. They had no knowledge of the +language necessary for the proof of their innocence and had no +interpreter other than their betrayer, who fearing to appear in league +with them, was able to twist their replies to his own advantage. Their +fears were justified by the result. Their defence was badly put, and +the Viceroy, in an access of rage, as he had not understood the case, +condemned them to death. + +Their arms were bound with cords and they were dragged a short +distance and prostrated before the seat of the Viceroy. Their fetters +were taken off and they thought that they were about to be set at +liberty. But suddenly they were surrounded by armed men, who, spear in +hand, awaited the signal for their death. Their calmness seemed to bid +defiance to their executioners. + +A savage soldier thrust his lance several times near the breast of M. +Alari and said, "Say where your money is hidden or I will stab you." + +The saintly man quietly replied that he had none. His companion, when +questioned made the same answer. The Viceroy fearing lest the secret +of their treasure should be buried with them in the tomb, attempted to +wring it from them by torture. At the word of command, a soldier +seized a cudgel about seven or eight feet long and thick in +proportion. + +The missionaries lying face downwards on the ground were expecting +death any moment. A stalwart ruffian approached and laid on several +blows with the cudgel with his utmost strength. + +Their bodies were streaming with blood and they were left for several +hours on the spot exposed to the burning rays of the sun which +rendered their wounds more painful. The irritation caused by insects +eating their flesh and sucking their blood caused new torments, and +they were surrounded by armed executioners ready to put an end to +their existence. + +The Viceroy was astonished at their fortitude, and was convinced that +men who held earthly possessions of so little value could not be +attracted by the desire of wealth. He made a sign to the interpreter +who had treated them so badly and had them raised from the ground. +They partook of some food that the other Christians had prepared for +them, and, for a long time endured the most acute sufferings. + +Jeanchi overcome with shame was unable to conceal the state of his +feelings. + +The missionaries were convinced that he was repenting of what he had +done, and exhorted the Christians not to reproach him. He continued to +reside with the flock whose shepherds he had wished to destroy. The +Missionaries were transferred to a filthy hovel exposed to the +inclemency of the weather. The night-dews and the bad food hindered +the recovery of their strength. + +Mamasadech, always kind-hearted, and a philanthropist before +everything, offered them the use of his ship that was anchored a few +leagues distant. Here their health was restored and they had the +pleasure of seeing the arrival of the Christians who found a haven on +the waters, free from the unpleasant conditions they had fled from on +land. A few days after they set sail for Rangoon, the seaport of the +Kingdom of Ava. + +The Burmese army engaged in pillage, rather than in conquest, made +away with the property of the conquered. When they had taken all that +was to be had, they sought a new prey. The leader in the flush of his +initial successes was sure of easy victories. He marched against +Ayuthia, as he considered that if the capital fell, the other towns +would submit without much difficulty. + +The route lay across vast forests and over steep mountains. All these +obstacles had been foreseen and provided for. The provinces situated +to the north west of the capital were laid waste and the inhabitants +through fear of death or slavery fled to the forests, where they had +to contend against wild beasts for their existence. The burning towns +and villages threw the capital into a state of panic. The Siamese +threatened with utter ruin, massed their forces and marched in fear +against an enemy of whose courage they had had experience so many +times. They ventured on a battle, and fought with greater courage than +they were wont to exhibit. A crushing defeat was inflicted on them +which left the whole country at the mercy of the invader. + +The country side, ravaged by fire, had nothing to show better than +barren cinders, and the impending famine was a prospect as terrible as +the sword of the barbarians. + +While the victorious army spread desolation on every side, a fresh +horde of barbarians overran the country. The Burmese, meeting with no +resistance, occupied the province as conquerors and everywhere left +traces of their ravages. They built a town at the junction of two +rivers and named it Michong. This position was intended to act as a +base of operations in case of defeat. + +During these troublous times, the King of Siam, shut up in his harem, +made light of his people's woes. The news that the enemy had evacuated +Tennasserim and Mergui had given rise to the belief that the danger +had passed, and that the State would require no defenders. At last the +Burmese appeared before the city gates, and there was hardly a ghost +of an army to oppose them. At the tumult caused by the entrance of +bands of peasants seeking refuge in the royal city, the King was +awakened from his state of lethargy. The refugees were obliged to +assist in the repair of the fortifications of the town. Mounds forty +feet high were built for artillery of position. The Christians refused +to assist in this work, as they were certain that these mounds would +crumble by their own weight. + +The Bishop of Tabraca who had foreseen the danger and who could have +escaped it, considered that the town was a post to which he had been +assigned, and which he could not desert without betraying his trust. +But although fearless of personal danger, he considered that it was +his duty to take steps for the safety of the young people confided to +his care. Thirty young pupils were sent to M. M. Kcherve and Artaud +who took this little band into the eastern part of Siam, whence it was +easy to retreat further in case of necessity. It was lucky for them +that they had been able to effect a speedy departure, for, a few days +later, orders were issued forbidding any one from leaving the city. + +The enemy, before commencing the assault on the city, laid waste the +surrounding country. They were certain of finding means of subsistance +on the land they had recently seized, and, their policy of destruction +was in order to compel the submission of the Siamese through famine. +One of their parties extended its ravages up to the city gates. +Bangkok, a fortress which had been defended, was destroyed, and the +gardens laid waste. A college established by the Missionaries in the +vicinity was razed to the ground, and, after this attack, they +retreated hurriedly to join the main part of the army and their +departure caused a momentary suspension of hostilities. + +At this juncture, two English ships arrived. The captain presented the +King with an Arab horse, a lion, and some valuable merchandise. The +captain whose name was Pauni, had on several occasions proved himself +a brave man. The King who had more confidence in his courage and his +ability than in his cowardly and effeminate followers begged him to +take charge of the defence of the city. + +But the Englishman, convinced that a craven race would prove but poor +seconds, declined the honour of the post and the example of the Dutch, +who had retired, strengthened his decision not to accept it. + +The Dutch would not have abandoned their compound in which they had +stored much valuable property, had they believed that the Siamese were +capable of assisting in the common defence. + +The captain was uncertain how to act, when suddenly he found himself +the object of an attack by the Burmese, who having captured Bangkok +were preparing to bombard him. + +The brave Englishman, too weak to offer a defence and too high +spirited to surrender, wisely decided to tow his ships to the spot +which the Burmese were attempting to fortify. His artillery fire +destroyed their position and scattered death broadcast in their ranks. +The Englishmen protected by their guns were able to bid defiance to +the Burmese attack. Their pride was wounded by remaining quiet on +ship-board, and, eager to punish their assailants, they made several +sorties, and their well planned attacks on the undisciplined foe, +caused wholesale slaughter. + +Pauni, compelled by necessity, agreed to take charge of the defence of +the capital on condition that the requisite arms and ammunition for +attack and defence were forthcoming. This was agreed to, and the +Siamese, as a pledge of his good faith, stipulated that he should +deposit his cargo in the public arsenal. This condition was galling to +him, but he was obliged to agree to it. He delivered thirty eight +bales of valuable merchandize and placed the rest on different ships. +Having made arrangements with the officials, he returned to his ship +where he made preparations that justified the trust reposed in him. He +devised attacks, all of which were deadly to the foe. Their +fortifications were scarcely completed, when they were demolished, and +every day saw the defeat or repulse of the enemy. In order to follow +up his advantages, he wrote to the Siamese authorities demanding arms +and ammunition as his supply was running short, but he was refused. + +The Siamese feared lest he should become too powerful; or that they +might be ruled by a foreigner. The ministers replied that the enemy +were about to make an assault on the other side of the town and that +they needed all their available artillery to repel it. + +The Englishman, annoyed by this act of faithlessness, determined to +have no further dealings with a nation that neither knew how to fight +nor to furnish one who was then friend with the wherewithal to protect +them. But before setting sail he issued a manifesto against the King +of Siam giving his reasons for deserting his post. He seized six +Chinese ships of which one belonged to the King. The five other +vessels coming to trade with Siam, were stopped in the gulf, and were +considerably surprised to find themselves despoiled of their goods. +The Englishman, in return for what he had taken, gave the captains +bills of exchange drawn on the King of Siam to the value of the thirty +eight bales of goods that he had deposited. Having thus taken his +security and passed proudly before his foes who instead of being +downcast at his retirement, were highly delighted to behold the +departure of a rival who alone could hinder their success. + +The Burmese, on his departure, again took the offensive and as they +had merely feeble adversaries to consider, destroyed everything they +could find. The temples were burnt and the lead found there was made +into bullets. The enemy, for a considerable time master of the +countryside, had issued strict orders that no cultivation was to be +carried on. But the fertility of the soil caused an abundant crop that +was not due to agricultural labours. The grains of rice fallen from +the hands of the reapers of the previous year grew and came to +maturity. This unexpected blessing was a great consolation for the +people threatened with famine. But this, which should have been to +their advantage, was considerably the reverse. The inhabitants went +out to gather the rice, but were surprised by the Burmese, who led +them captive to their camp. + +While the Burmese, scattered over all the provinces, were carrying on +a war against men and nature, the King and his superstitious ministers +put all their trust in their magicians. The officers and soldiers +followed their example and consulted them as to how they might render +themselves invisible in order to attack the enemy unawares, and the +hope of learning a secret so favourable to their cowardly nature, +prevented them from going out to fight before it had been revealed to +them. + +The delusion was so powerful that even experience was unable to +convince them of the futility of such schemes. + +The leaders, on a par with the subordinates as regards valour, +appeared to have taken up arms against their fellow citizens only. +They robbed them of their money and food with the excuse that they +were required for use of the military to whom they distributed the +least valuable part of their spoil, but this bounty was merely to +cloak their own extortions. Whilst the more wealthy citizens were +being ruined, the vigilance of the missionaries foresaw the +destitution of the Christians, but their liberality, extended without +exception to all creeds, exhausted their supplies. The Burmese +intercepted all their convoys and they themselves were in danger of +famine owing to the excess of their ravages. The forces sent against +them were invariably dispersed and frequently returned without +striking a blow. + +A Siamese Prince who had been exiled to Ceylon, was deeply moved at +the misfortunes of his country. He forget the fact that he was an +offender. He was powerful enough to raise an army whose services he +offered to those who had driven him forth. + +The Siamese court, too proud to accept assistance from an exile, +rejected his offer with scorn, and instead of considering him as a +defender of their country, they sent expeditions against him with +varying success. + +This course was highly unwise as it caused dissension in the army just +at the time when the Burmese ranks were being augmented by numerous +Siamese deserters. + +In the month of March the Burmese army had advanced to within two +leagues of the town. The progress of the army was arrested by the +death of the commander from quinsy. It was considered expedient to +conceal the fact of his death from the soldiery, but the news leaked +out owing to dissensions among the chiefs who all were ambitious of +command. + +But soon reunited by the prospect of loot, they advanced to plunder +the richest and most celebrated temple near the city. + +They were in hopes of finding the base of the image which was of solid +gold, but the King of Siam had taken the precaution of having this +object of popular worship removed to the palace. + +The Burmese, incensed on finding that their booty had been carried +off, revenged themselves by pulling down the temple and constructing a +building devoted to profane uses on the site. The other pagodas in the +vicinity of the town were not spared. They were built of brick and +surrounded by ditches which seemed to protect them against the +assaults of the enemy. The Christian churches were constructed merely +of planks and stakes which acted as fuel to the flames. But in spite +of their defenceless condition, they were held by the vigilance and +courage of their defenders, and the enemy were unable to set foot in +them until after the Chinese and Siamese had experienced several +defeats. + +On September 7th, 1766, the enemy seized a strong position about a +quarter of a league distant from the town, and from this point a park +of artillery commanded the shore and thus rendered them masters of the +river. + +The danger became more imminent and the Christians whose heroic valour +had been proved in the former revolution became the last resource. + +The defence of the bastions was entrusted to them and they were +supplied with thirty pieces of artillery and ammunition for the same. +Six thousand Chinese were appointed to defend the Dutch compound and +large temple in the immediate neighbourhood, and, as a special favour +they were presented with the sum of ten thousand livres. + +Among the Christians were eighty soldiers available for the defence of +various posts exposed to the assaults of the enemy. + +This brave array had had no military training whatever, and, gun and +sword in hand, they would have been objects of laughter to a European +soldier. + +But in spite of their awkwardness, they formed the flower of the +Siamese army. The first few days were occupied in skirmishes, shortly +afterwards but the enemy united their forces and seized five large +temples which became so many fortresses from whence they bombarded the +outposts and especially the Church of St. Joseph, the roof of which +was riddled without causing any casualties. + +On the 8th of December it was reported that the Burmese were preparing +for a fresh assault. The Christians made sorties from the church and +at the sound of drums and trumpets engaged the enemy to the +discomfiture of the latter as they were conquered by fear rather than +by arms. This initial victory inspired them to take the offensive. +They made an attack on some Burmese entrenched in a pagoda and +returned with an elephant as a trophy of their victory. + +The Portuguese, at a distance of about two leagues from the dwelling +of the Bishop of Tabraca, gave also signal proof of their courage. +They sabred a crowd of Burmese who had attempted to storm their +college. The Burmese, driven back in confusion, retired full of +admiration for the handful of Christians whom they feared considerably +more than the 50,000 Siamese who had neither the daring to make an +attack nor the courage to follow up their retreat. + +Although the Christians showed greater personal valour than the rest, +their lack of military training caused the loss of the French quarter. +The pickets were sound asleep when the Burmese fired the upper part of +the building where the Bishop lived. The Christians crowded into the +church for shelter and the shrieks of the women and children gave +indications of danger more terrible in the darkness. + +A Christian who had become separated from his friends was massacred on +the spot. The others made a stubborn defence, and although they had +been taken by surprise, they appeared to be invincible. The enemy, +repulsed on all sides, made an attack on the Dutch quarter. The +reputation of the bravery exhibited by the Dutch had attracted many +Siamese and Chinese to their quarter, thinking that they would be safe +there. All assisted in the common defence. They built walls of the +remains of the destroyed pyramids. The Chinese found a quantity of +money there but the Christians received only some pieces of lead as +their share. + +The Siamese authorities had abused their power by the confiscation of +quantities of rice which had been seized to ensure themselves against +the threatened famine, and, owing to their thought for the evils of +the future, were a prey to the evils of the present. Food was +unobtainable at any price, and the poor people awaited death to put an +end to their sufferings. An epidemic more deadly still caused fresh +ravages. The streets and public places were strewn with corpses, which +were devoured by ravenous pariahs, as the fear of contagion had +prevented their burial. This scourge came only to an end with the ruin +of the country. The sentinels let themselves down from the walls by +ropes and preferred to risk falling into the hands of the enemy than +to await a lingering death in the midst of suffering. + +The Burmese turned their arms against the Dutch compound, which was +defended by the Portuguese and Chinese. The attack was fierce and the +defence, stubborn. But finally the compound was taken and reduced to +ashes after an eight days' siege marked by many casualties. The church +was respected for two or three days and the missionaries were able to +collect together their property. + +This show of moderation was merely a trick to force the surrender of +the Bishop and his flock. The Burmese leader was unwilling to shed +blood to no purpose. He assured him that if he would surrender, all +his property would be respected and that only the weapons would be +taken. + +Negociations were started, and the Bishop went in person to the +Burmese leader's hut. He was received with every mark of honour and +the general was lavish in promises which however were not confirmed by +any documents. He added that it was his intention that night to fire +the Christian quarter as a warning to them to seek refuge elsewhere. +He assigned a temple to the Bishop for a dwelling place and guards +were given for his safe keeping. Nothing could be done but to submit +to these conditions as it was impossible to obtain any better terms. + +It was lucky that these conditions were accepted. The general carried +out his threat and the whole of the Christian quarter was reduced to +ashes together with the church. + +The soldiers entered the seminary, and violating their oaths, +plundered everything that they had promised to respect. + +The missionaries and their converts were carried off to the hostile +camp. A Prince of the old family of the King of Ava was the commander +of the camp to which they were assigned, and he had the generosity to +supply them with victuals. A large number of female Christians were +stationed near them so as to escape the insults of the soldiery. +Advantage was taken of the absence of their importunate guardians to +marry the girls to the young Christians as it was necessary to save +these virgins from the lust of the brutal soldiery who, as I have said +previously, respected the marriage tie. The Bishop suspected of +possessing great wealth, as he had distributed alms with no niggard +hand, was sent to the lofty tower occupied by the general where under +the pretext of rendering him honour they thought they would be able to +discover the place where he had concealed his treasures. The other +Christians were tortured and robbed of their money and the more money +a man had, the more he was suspected of having concealed. The state of +poverty to which they were thus reduced rendered their faith all the +more lively, and, despoiled of their earthly possessions their only +hope lay in a heavenly reward. + +The town, ready to fall into the hands of the Burmese, would have been +buried under its ruins had not a parley been arranged in order to +treat with the besiegers, already with torches in their hands. The +Burmese proud of their superiority replied that they demanded +unconditional surrender and that they were determined to take +advantage of the rights of the conquerors. + +These harsh terms were rejected and hostilities recommenced. + +On the 28th April 1767 the town was captured by assault. The treasures +of the palace and the temples were nothing but heaps of ruins and +ashes. The images of the gods were melted down and rage deprived the +barbarian conquerors of the spoils that had aroused their greed. To +avenge this loss, the Burmese visited their heavy displeasure upon the +towns folk. They burnt the soles of their feet in order to make them +reveal where they had concealed their wealth, and raped their weeping +daughters before their very eyes. + +The priests suspected of having concealed much wealth were pierced +through and through with arrows and spears and several were beaten to +death with heavy clubs. + +The country side as well as the temples were strewn with corpses, and +the river was choked with the bodies of the dead, the stench of which +attracted swarms of flies causing much annoyance to the retreating +army. The chief officers of state and the royal favourites were loaded +with chains and condemned to slavery in the galleys. The King, witness +of the unhappy fate of his court endeavoured to escape, but he was +recognised and slain at the gates of the palace. + +The Priest King, torn from the silence of his retreat, was taken +prisoner together with all the Royal family, and, all, through fear of +torture confessed that they had much wealth concealed. When the greed +of the invaders was satisfied and the country was full of dead and +dying, the the victorious army set out for Pegu. The King of Siam was +taken with them. The Bishop of Tabraca was included in the national +disaster and was transported on shipboard. The detachment in charge of +him was commanded by a man who was by no means a barbarian. + +His valour gained for him the governorship of Tavoy, a position of +trust which justified the discernment of his master. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + THE MISFORTUNES OF THE EUROPEANS AFTER THE REVOLUTION. + + +Perceiving that the country was laid waste, the houses pulled down, +the Royal family led into captivity, and the people scattered abroad, +husbands separated from their wives and parents from the children; the +Europeans, accustomed to regard their rulers as protectors, were +plunged into a state of fear. + +But the Siamese, who from time immemorial have crouched under the rod +of tyranny and have toiled on behalf of merciless extortioners, were +pleased in that by a change of masters they might meet a deliverer. + +They had no regrets at leaving a land where bonds had been their +portion and as they had never tasted the sweets of liberty, were less +sensitive to the humiliation of slavery. + +Unpatriotic citizens as they were, the sight of their erstwhile +insolent tyrant, now condemned to slavery quite made up for their own +degradation. + +The Christians on the other hand are accustomed to live in countries +under the protection of the law. The scourge of war makes no +alteration in their fate, and the harshest of conquerors can only keep +his self respect while respecting the rights of nations. He can never +deprive individuals of their freedom and if a conqueror appropriate +their private possessions he is to be considered merely as a bandit. + +The Bishop who had been well treated on shipboard, had been able to +maintain by his virtuous example, the ascendency that moral worth +invariably exercises over the most corrupt natures. He beheld sixty +three Christians pass before him whom the Burmese had pressed into +their service. Many of them perished from the toils of the voyage and +the survivors were marshalled under the banner of the conqueror. The +remainder of the converts were entrusted to the care of M. Core a +French priest. They were obliged to set out on April 25th without +having been able to collect the necessary articles for a long voyage. +The party consisted of three hundred, excluding children. Women were +ruthlessly torn from their husbands whose troubles they had shared. + +They were given an inadequate supply of rice, and their inhuman +captors preferred to destroy food for which they had no use rather +than to overload their slave galleys. + +A Chinese priest frightened at the dangers to which the newly wedded +brides were exposed, separated himself from M. Core's party in the +hope of finding a Chinese vessel. But hardly had he started out when +he was attacked by a gang of Burmese bandits and those who tried to +defend themselves were slain promptly. He endeavoured to take shelter +in the depths of the forests with four of his disciples but they were +pursued and robbed. They were obliged to wander without a guide in the +trackless jungle that offered no sustenance, and were forced to eat +grass like the beasts of the field. Afterwards they were found by a +Christian who offered his services as a guide. + +The Burmese captain, who was in charge of the French, sent an +interpreter with an armed force to compel them to rejoin, and above +all, to bring back the newly married women. They were carried off with +violence. This deputy was by no means so gentle as his superior, and +in executing the order he had received, he exceeded his powers. + +Hardly had they marched a league, when a gang of Siamese dacoits +appeared on the bank of the river and captured his spoils. + +When the leader of the gang recognised his daughter, he wept and +embraced her, and asked by what turn of fortune she had appeared in so +sorry a plight. The daughter explained that she had become a Christian +and gave the reasons for her marriage. The recital of their woes +spurred on the dacoits and falling upon the Burmese, they cut off +their heads. + +They wished to retain the women, but all refused the assistance that +would have delivered them from slavery and preferred to share the +horrible fate of their husbands, rather than to break the sacred +marriage bond. The father, unable to dissuade his daughter from her +purpose, gave her a supply of food for herself and her friends, and +all went to join M. Core at a spot lower down the river. + +After the meeting the zealous missionary, fearing to see them exposed +to such dangers, conducted them towards the sea which was only a few +days' march further on. For the space of a month this colony lived +upon shell-fish, leaves and roots, and waited in the hope that a ship +might appear to take them to Kancao on the Cochin Chinese coast. + +A Chinese junk appeared in the offing but the niggardly captain, +hearing that they had no money, refused to give them a passage. At +last on June 7th, they saw a small Chinese derelict floating down the +river. The ebb of the tide was drawing the boat out to sea, but at +last it ran aground on the bank just at the spot where the Christians +were assembled. + +This unlooked-for assistance was of no use to them. They had neither +sails nor tackle, nor provisions. But they were able to turn the greed +of the Chinaman, who had refused to give them a passage, to their +advantage. Seeing the vessel which they had just obtained, he +suggested that they should hand it over to him and that he on his part +would conduct them to their destination. Fifty three accepted this +condition but the rest decided to remain and hardly had their friends +set sail, when a dissension broke out among them and the party broke +up. It was known that afterwards they all perished of hunger and +privation. + +After a perilous voyage, the ship reached Kancao on the the 28th of +June, whence sometime later the Christians journeyed to Cambodia, +where they were cordially received by the Cochin-Chinese. + +The Bishop, who still remained on his ship was impatient for the +moment of departure to meet his flock of whose fate he was ignorant. +The Portuguese, who up to that time had remained with him, were +ordered to go on ahead and to march with the van of the army. They had +much to suffer from the insolent behaviour of the Burmese, and, +rendered desperate by insults resolved to turn against their +oppressors. They seized some weapons, and, under cover of the +darkness, slew every Burman they could lay hands on. After this +massacre they captured an elephant and some horses wherewith they +hoped to rejoin their friends, but a deep river lay between. Several +were able to gain the opposite bank, some were drowned but the +majority waited for the fate they expected to overtake them. + +Several Burmese, who had escaped from the Portuguese, brought the news +of the massacre to the camp. + +The commander, justly enraged, ordered that all the Portuguese should +be arrested, as he considered that all the Christians had had a share +in the plot. Suspicion would have been followed by revenge, had not +the pilot Jeanchi taken steps to restore calm. He explained to the +commander that the massacre had been due to the insolence of the +soldiery towards the women who had been instrumental in furnishing the +Portuguese with arms that the other Christians all considered him as +their protector, and that the French especially were desirous of +opening up trading stations under his jurisdiction. The commander was +mollified by these explanations, and to show there was no ill feeling, +sent the Bishop a supply of provisions and even gave him ten baskets +of rice in excess of the usual dole which served as the sustenance for +several Portuguese women who were too weak to follow with the army. + +The 6th of June, was fixed for the departure of the rest of the +forces. The Burmese before embarking destroyed the town of Michong +that they had previously built. + +They arrived in port on the 16th of June, and continued their journey +by land, and, as they were obliged to wait for the artillery, they +constructed huts of the materials of their now useless vessels. After +a halt of eight days the march was begun. + +The Bishop, although in bad health, had to follow on horse-back. The +journey, through a country destitute of houses or inhabitants, was +extremely arduous. The route lay across forest clad mountains, and +through miry valleys interspersed with ponds and streams, which +latter, on account of their sinuous course, had to be crossed several +times by fords where shallow, but in places where the waters were +deep, they were obliged to cross on bridges made of a couple of +bamboos. + +The beasts of burden died on the way and the progress of the army was +thus considerably delayed, owing to the lack of transport available +for the commissariat and baggage. + +At last Tavoy was reached where famine caused them new suffering. A +basket of rice, the usual monthly rations for one man was sold for 25 +or 30 piastres. The aborigines were seen to devour corpses. The bishop +gave his pastoral ring to an Armenian who had generously provided for +the Christians. + +Everything seemed hopeless and all waited for certain death, when an +English ship laden with rice appeared in the Tavoy river followed a +few days later by two others of larger size and laden with a similar +cargo. + +The bishop went on board the ship and was received by the English +captain with all the characteristic open-heartedness of his nation. +The Captain, Rivers by name invited him to remain on his ship and the +bishop consented only on condition that all who had accompanied him +should be included in the invitation. + +While the ship remained in harbour they had no further anxieties, and +the generous Englishman provided for all their requirements until +October 26th when he set sail. + +The French bishop was weary of captivity so much the more so as he met +with no results of his zeal. He made use of a Malabar convert who +stood highly in the governor's favour and by his good offices obtained +permission to embark for the Coromandel Coast with three pupils and a +Chinese servant on a French ship named the 'Hector.' Owing to the +calms, the voyage was slow, but on his arrival at Pondicherry he +learned that a Malay potentate had become a vassal of the King of +Burma, hoping to obtain the necessary assistance to keep certain +territories spared by fire and war. + +The bishop decided to return to France to seek a remedy for such ills. +M. Lau and all the members of the council who took a keen interest in +the progress of the faith in the Indies gave him a passage on a ship +which arrived at l'Orient on October 30th 1769. + +Since his return he has retired into the seminary for Foreign Missions +where busied with the losses sustained by the faith, he implores +assistance to reassemble his scattered flock. His demands are +supported by Religion and Policy and we think that the success of his +enterprise will be assured under more favourable auspices. + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + AFTER THE REVOLUTION OF 1767. + + +After the departure of the Burmese army from the kingdom they had just +conquered, the Siamese who had been scattered and had been wandering +in the forests returned to their capital. + +Stirred by thoughts of revenge for what they had suffered, they made +ravages every where. Every Burman that they could discover was slain. +But the blood of their oppressors was of no avail as a remedy against +the famine with which the country was smitten. + +The price of rice had risen to such an extent that it had ceased to +become a marketable commodity. Wild roots and bamboo shoots were the +staple articles of diet, and many were attacked by a peculiar disease. +The sufferers lost their memory and power of speech, and became mad +with lucid intervals, which augmented the horror of their condition. +Necessity that knows no law obliged them to violate all conventions. + +They took up arms against their gods whom they accused of having +betrayed them. The pagodas were plundered and the images destroyed in +order to get at the silver inside them. These acts of sacrilege gave +them command of that was useless wealth as they could not purchase +anything with it. Five earthenware jars full of gold and silver were +taken from one temple alone. The roof of one of the most temples +supplied gold, sufficient to fill three boats. + +The superstitious Siamese made loud outcries at the scandal of the +theft which brought into circulation all the gold and silver that the +Burmese their conquerors had taken away. It is not astonishing that so +much wealth was forthcoming; since devout persons, in consequence of +their belief in transmigration, had buried their treasures in the +images of their gods, trusting to discover it in a future state of +existence. + +The Siamese, although united by desire of revenge, were split into +factions for the leadership. + +The eyes of the nation were fixed upon Phya Tak, a Siamese officer, +born of a Chinese mother. A politician and a warrior, he paved his way +to power by affecting its disdain. He was elected to the leadership by +the unanimous voice of the whole nation. At first he took the +unpretentious title of "Defender of the Nation," and, disguising his +ambitions under the cloak of moderation, he wished to appear merely as +a citizen in order to be King in reality. + +Having attained to the supreme power, it was his policy to contract +alliances, as he was sure that the hearts of the nation were apt to +pass rapidly from love to hatred. He had learned by experience that +the priests, in the abuse of their power over the unlettered mob, were +wont to foment sedition and to influence popular feeling. He conceived +a violent dislike to them which he took no pains to conceal, and +considered that the respect they enjoyed was a slight on his +authority. He therefore wished for the extermination of these +individuals who, poor by profession, enjoyed the fruits of the labour +of others without doing anything in return. + +A high-priest who was greatly revered, was accused of incontinence. +Phya Tak summoned him before his tribunal and condemned him to trial +by fire. The soles of his feet were burned by the glowing charcoal, +and that was sufficient proof of his guilt. He would have been +sentenced to death had not powerful friends obtained his pardon on the +grounds that his death would cause a scandal, and that if their +servants were done away with the gods would lose their prestige. + +Phya Tak raised all those who had been his partisans to the highest +positions in the State. + +A foe to the Burmese, he inflicted severe punishment on those who +favoured them and who stirred up rebellions in the kingdom. + +In 1769 he showed his generous spirit towards his countrymen. The +drought had caused a great famine, one of the usual events a war +brings in its train. Work was suspended and the farmers could do but +little. + +Destructive rodents had devoured the rice as soon as it had reached +maturity, seeds had been destroyed in the earth. They were unable to +procure the "ignam" a species of truffle or potatoe of such size that +a single one is sufficient for one man. Swarms of insects, attracted +by the corpses, darkened the air and waged a ceaseless war against the +living. + +Under these unhappy conditions Phya Tak showed his generous spirit. +The needy were destitute no longer. The public treasury was opened for +the relief. In return for cash, foreigners supplied them with the +products that the soil of the country had refused. The Usurper +justified his claims by his benevolence. Abuses were reformed, the +safety of property and persons was restored, but the greatest severity +was shown to malefactors. Legal enactments at which no one complained +were substituted for the arbitrary power that sooner or later is the +cause of rebellions. By the assurance of public peace he was able to +consolidate his position and no one who shared in the general +prosperity could lay claim to the throne. + +At the end of 1768 a bastard Prince who had been exiled to Ceylon, +reassembled his supporters and set up his authority in various parts +of the country. Phya Tak led an expedition against him and gained a +brilliant victory. The Prince fell into the hands of the conqueror who +ordered his execution as, a punishment for having proved the weaker +party. + +In the same year he led an army against Porcelon and Ligor, two towns +which had not fallen under the Burmese rule. The governors of these +towns, taking advantage of the troubled state of the country, had set +themselves up as independent rulers. Thus it was that the Empire, +delivered from a foreign yoke was harassed by domestic tyrants who +attempted to destroy all that the enemy had spared; in fact the whole +kingdom was in a state of turmoil. + +It is not known whether the expedition was successful. It was reported +but not confirmed that the two towns were captured. + +At the first news of the Siamese revolt the King of Burma sent orders +to the governor of Tavoy to overrun the country again, and to press +the inhabitants of the town into his army to effect the entire ruin of +the country. + +These people, outwardly subservient, had disguised their hatred +against their recent oppressors. The general took only a few Burmese +with him as he had put his trust in the Siamese whom he imagined were +reliable. He soon found out his mistake, for, on sending them against +the town of Beancham which they captured, they closed the gates +against him and swore they had taken up arms only to use them against +their oppressors. They opened fire upon those who had regarded them as +comrades in arms. + +The general, betrayed by his untrustworthy allies, if it is possible +to apply this appellation to the avengers of their country's wrongs, +found himself surrounded by enemies. + +The very countryside turned against him and refused to supply his +wants as the Burmese had destroyed all the fruit trees. The beasts of +burden, finding no fodder in the plains, had strayed to find pasturage +elsewhere. + +At length the army was reduced to rations sufficient for three days +only. It would have been folly rather than heroism to advance further. +The general considered that his duty lay in the preservation of the +lives of those committed to his care. A retreat was made, which was by +no means a disgrace, as it was caused by dire necessity. + +On his arrival at Tavoy he informed his master that his expedition had +been a failure owing to the defection of his troops. + +The King of Ava, smarting under the humiliation of defeat in a land +that had been the scene of his triumphs, determined on taking +vengeance with the utmost severity. But while preparations were being +made for another expedition that he had intended to lead in person, +his plans were altered owing to complications with China which had +arisen as follows. + +After the Burmese had laid waste the kingdoms of Pegu, Siam and +Aracan, they had invaded Laos and Cassaye, (the latter being part of +Bengal), rather as dacoits than as conquerors. They changed these +happy and populous lands into arid deserts and gloried in the +spoliation of what might have been preserved. The ease with which +their early conquests had been effected had caused them to turn their +arms against China, which offered a richer prey to their greed. They +had no grounds for hostilities whatever, but those whose creed is +'Might makes Right,' are always ready to transgress all laws to obtain +their desires. The Burmese declared war on the Chinese on the pretext +of taking vengeance on a small nation whom they called barbarians and +who were less powerful than they. This obscure race was perfectly +contented to live as best it might in the forests that lay between Ava +and China. This savage tribe whose sole asset was its independence, +seemed never, owing to the fact of its poverty, to have been a prize +for the ambition of a conqueror. + +The Kings of Ava had always stood as its protectors and in return +exacted a small tribute. But the Cassians, poor and proud, seeing all +the neighbouring kingdoms agitated by home and foreign wars, wished to +dispense with having to pay a tribute which was more humiliating than +burdensome as it was an indication of their dependent position. In +1749 they had declared that they no longer needed protection, that +their forest, were their ramparts and that their courage had taught +them daring to fear nothing. For some time they enjoyed their +independence, but when the Kingdom of Ava regained its pristine +glories, they found that the Burmese harassed them without +intermission, and their lands, that hardly gave them a bare means of +livelihood, were laid waste by repeated frays. To escape the +domination of Burma, they besought help from their neighbour, the +Emperor of China, who alone could protect them, and to whom their +defence was a matter of importance as they formed the only barrier +between his territories and the barbarians. + +While the hosts of the Burmese were overrunning the Kingdom of Siam, +another swarm of these savages was let loose in the Chinese provinces. +They captured several important positions without meeting any serious +opposition and the inhabitants were put to the sword. It is not a +matter for surprise that their conquests were so readily accomplished. +The Chinese are wont to conquer their neighbours by diplomacy rather +than by the force of arms. They make use of their superior skill to +subdue them by artful promises. The art of war is yet in its infancy +among the Chinese who are cunning diplomats, but cowardly soldiers. +They are skilful in the art of smelting metals and have plenty of +artillery, but they are hopelessly ignorant of its proper use in +warfare. Their chief weapons are but swords, lances and arrows, and +their knowledge of military tactics is lamentably weak. + +The Burmese captured a vast booty. They disposed of the wealth of a +country whose inhabitants are renowned for their ability in +agriculture and commerce. + +Their manufactures and products have attracted the trade of all +nations. The natural fertility of the soil of the country has been +greatly increased by the toil of the cultivators. + +The mountains, which in most countries of the world appear to be +barren, produce abundant harvests in this favoured land. The Burmese +invasion was a cause of other troubles to the country. Many of the +Chinese adopted the customs of the barbarians and became brigands. The +roads were infested with thieves and murderers both of home and +foreign origin who fearlessly plundered unwary travellers. + +At the reports of these disasters, the governor of Canton raised a +force for the deliverance of the country from so terrible a scourge. +But on receipt of the news of his march, the Burmese returned home to +dispose of their plunder and to seek for reinforcements. + +Shortly after this, the Chinese gained a slight success near the +river, but the victory was followed by a crushing defeat, their land +force was cut to pieces and 100,000 men were taken prisoners to Ava +whence they were apportioned to hard labour in the various provinces. +The Chinese force must have been very considerable, as the bulk of the +men fled. It is surprising that the Viceroy of a single province could +have raised so large a host, but it is no longer a matter of wonder +when we remember that the country has a higher birthrate than any +other, and that perhaps the Chinese are the only nation where a system +of absolute government is not an obstacle to the increase of the +population. + +The defeat of the Chinese was easy to repair; the Emperor assembled an +army of 500,000 men who were to overrun the country of their foes. The +King of Ava, too weak to oppose any resistance, mustered all the +available troops from every province to the capital. + +The inhabitants of the lands bordering on Chinese territory abandoned +their possessions and the country became a desert, laid waste by its +inhabitants who wished to deprive the enemy of all means of +sustenance. In the beginning of 1769 we had no reliable information of +the movements of the enemy who were unable to march on Ava owing to +fatigue and scarcity, and we have only had news up to October of this +year 1771. + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + ADVANTAGES THAT MIGHT ACCRUE FROM COMMERCIAL RELATIONS + WITH SIAM AND THE NEIGHBOURING KINGDOMS. + + +There is no doubt that owing to the ill-luck experienced by the French +in Siam at the end of the last century, no new trading stations have +been formed in that country. The ministers have invariably turned deaf +ears to the suggestions of the missionaries, and consider that their +business consists more in the saving of souls than in dabbling with +commerce and politics. + +But if we bear in mind the advantages that Europeans of other +nationalities have obtained, we must acknowledge that the French +allowed themselves to be rebuffed by the initial obstacles, and that +they took no notice of sources of wealth which did not present +themselves on the spot. + +The King of Siam had granted permission to the French to open a +trading station; the French merchants were held in high estimation and +were more favoured than those of other nations. Two cities had been +ceded without reservation to Louis XIV. in return for the military +help sent for the defence of the kingdom. The revolution that occurred +during Faulcon's tenure of office obliged the French to leave a +country to which they had been summoned as its defenders, and from +that time onwards, but few French vessels entered the ports of Siam. + +Formerly the Council of Pondicherry had sent several ships to Siam in +the course of each year and one vessel had always been bound for the +port of Mergui alone. They were exempt from ordinary taxation and the +French missionaries, who were respected for their rectitude, were the +only foreign judges who were able to give a decision in cases between +Europeans and Siamese. + +The English had been for more than a century in Siam without any +trading station or representative. Some of them carried on certain +profitable amount of trade. + +The Dutch had gained the commercial supremacy. Their factory was the +finest and most beautiful building in the kingdom and they enjoyed +many privileges of great value. + +The King of Siam, by a policy detrimental to his interests, but as a +boon to his subjects, reserves the monopoly of foreign trade. Thus +trade is not in a flourishing condition as the interested despot fixes +the price of merchandise at his own sweet will. + +Since the last revolution the system of government has been entirely +changed, and today it would be an easy matter for the French to regain +their commercial supremacy by the establishment of a trading station +at Mergui as in former times, or at some spot near the capital. The +station could be protected by a fortress as was formerly the case at +Bangkok the foundations and ruins of which remain to this day. + +A wide and deep river forms a defence to the approaches and it would +only be a matter of 12 leagues from the sea. The French could rebuild +this fortress for the following reasons, (1) Compensation is due for +the losses suffered in 1680. (2) The site had been granted to them +without reservation. (3) The Siamese Government is still in debt to +the India Company, and lastly owing to the fact that a weak minded +nation, who tremble at the sight of an armed Frenchman, could easily +be imposed upon. + +Since the retreat of the Burmese, the kingdom of Siam has been +governed by several petty chieftains who are at perpetual strife with +each other. Bangkok and Mergui have their rulers. The French minister +might make arrangements with one of these usurpers, who might feel +flattered to be under French protection, and, in return might well +grant a piece of land on which to build a fortress for the protection +of commerce. + +Such a fortified trading station would be handy as a port of call for +Pondicherry in connection with commerce with China. + +The country produces all sorts of building materials, brick-clay, +cement, and shell-lime. + +All the neighbouring nations would crowd to the new mart, many +wandering Christian families, homeless since the Burmese invasion, +would take refuge there, and the Chinese who equip vessels at a cheap +rate, would send at least forty ships per annum. They would hasten to +bring their merchandise in the hope of a brisk trade. The India +Company would be spared the expenses that are incurred in having to +seek trade-openings further afield, and that absorb so much of its +profits. + +The Mahomedan descendants of the Arabs, Moguls, and Persians have had +commercial relations with the capital for a considerable time, and to +renew them, they are only waiting for a establishment of a depôt by +which trade may be expedited. The foundations would be easy to lay and +by the re-establishment of the college that the French missionaries +had formerly in the kingdom and which enjoyed the highest respect, the +success of the former project could be ensured. The old King when he +was informed that Christianity inculcates obedience to rulers, had +always extended a cordial welcome to the missionaries. + +These men had not left their country to seek their fortunes. Their +disinterestedness was favourable to the Company who trusted them, but +not as paid agents for their share of the profits, nor for whatever +they could appropriate. It would be of great advantage that a well +ordered society should be established in this foreign country so as to +become familiarised with the manners, customs, vices and virtues of +those with whom they dwell. The knowledge of the principal Eastern +languages is also an important matter so that the French merchants +need not be at the mercy of untrustworthy interpreters. The natural +history of this country tells us of the productions that are of +commercial value, and even if such productions as agate, diamonds, +pearls, perfumes dye-stuffs and scented woods, which are known to be +found in the country, could not be discovered in paying quantities; +great advantages could be gained by the trade with the neighbouring +nations for which this kingdom is, geographically speaking, the +meeting place. + +A short sketch should be given of the peoples of the Indo-Chinese +peninsula in order to lead to the better understanding of the +advantages that would accrue from the establishment of trading +stations as above mentioned. The northern part of the peninsula +includes nine kingdoms, viz., Asem, Tipra, Aracan, Pegu, Ava, Laos, +Siam, Cambodia, and Cochin-China. + +The Kingdom of Asem is almost unknown owing to its situation lying +beyond the usual routes favoured by travellers and to reach it, a +considerable détour is necessary. + +It is one of the richest countries of Asia and has no need of any of +the produce of its neighbours to whom it supplies a large quantity of +metals. In this country are mines of gold silver, lead and iron. + +As the inhabitants are free from taxation, the King holds the monopoly +of the mineral products, and, mindful of the well-being of his +subjects, employs slave-labour only in the mines. This is the only +country in Asia, where humanity is not crushed by the weight of +despotic power. + +A creature differing somewhat from our ordinary silkworm produces silk +from which a glossy fabric of inferior quality is produced. Gum-lac is +the most valuable product of the country and is of the finest quality +produced in the East. There are two varieties. The red is used as a +dye-stuff, as a varnish for articles of furniture and for wax. Silver +is the currency of the country. + +The inhabitants are of sturdy build, but the women and are somewhat +snub-nosed. Both sexes are practically naked, and cover their private +parts only. They wear blue caps trimmed with pig's teeth. Their +bracelets, which display a certain amount of taste, are made of coral, +yellow amber, and sometimes of tortoise shell or sea shells. Poverty, +tyranny and oppression are unknown. Every man is master of his own +property and has several wives, each of whom has her appointed +household duties. Although four-footed animals are plentiful, dog's +flesh is the favourite dish. They grow many varieties of vines and the +grape is used for the preparation of brandy only. They extract salt +from the green scum of stagnant pools and they obtain it also from the +leaves of a tree known as Adam's fig tree. The leaves are burnt and an +intensely saline residue is obtained from the ashes. They have a +secret process of extraction by boiling and straining the mother +liquor through a linen fabric. They manufacture gun-powder of the +finest quality and Eastern peoples ascribe the glory of the invention +of this agent of destruction to them, but what is more extraordinary +this country has been engaged in no war for 500 years. The secret has +passed to the Peguans, who in turn handed on to the Chinese, who pose +as the inventors, as doubtless they were the first nation to employ it +in warfare. + +The kingdom of Tipra produces nothing that excites the curiosity of +the traveller or the greed of the merchant. A gold mine is situated in +the country, but the metal is of rather poor quality, and is exchanged +for silver in China. There is also plenty of silk, but of very coarse +quality and is used for common purposes only. The inhabitants are +addicted to intoxicating liquors. Instead of figures, they calculate +with pebbles that have the appearance of small agates. They rarely +journey from their own country and have no commercial relations with +other nations who know them by name only. The kingdom of Aracan has so +extended a coast line that it seems to invite all commercial nations +to trade. The climate is good, plague and other infectious diseases +are unknown. The rich and fertile plains produce all the necessaries +of life. Many tribes live in the pleasant valleys which afford +pasturage to all sorts of wild and domestic animals. Horses are rarely +seen. Horned buffaloes are employed for agricultural operations. Their +anger is aroused at the sight of red. They let those whom they wish to +attack pass quietly by and then gore them from behind with their +murderous horns. These animals, intractable, by nature are obedient +only to the native in charge of them, and gather around him at the +sound of the horn by which he calls them. + +The winter, so to speak, as it is the rainy and stormy season, begins +in April and finishes in October. There is no other season but summer +during which abundant crops of beans, grain and fruits are produced; +but neither wheat nor rye can be grown. The capital gives a good idea +of this kingdom. It is several leagues in extent, its population is +equal to that of the largest towns in Europe, and it contains 600 +temples. The magnificence of the King's palace shows that gold is +plentiful. The Hall of Gold is thus named as it is covered with the +precious metal from roof to floor. A hundred ingots of gold each +weighing 40 pounds are fixed to the throne, which itself is of massy +gold. There are in addition seven golden images of the size of an +ordinary man. They are hollow inside, but the metal is two inches +thick. They are of immense value owing to the emeralds, rubies, +sapphires and diamonds which are set in the forehead, arms and girdles +of these vain images. In this hall there may be seen a square stand +made entirely of gold upon which is a golden cabinet inlaid with +precious stones. The King owns two rubies, each as long as the little +finger, and at one end of the size of a hen's egg. These rubies have +been the cause of desperate conflicts between the neighbouring Kings +owing to the superstition attached to these stones that the possessor +will be arbiter of the fate of the others. The King wears them on the +day of his coronation only. The people, contented with the products of +their land, cannot understand why men risk their lives in the pursuit +of wealth. They take up arms for war only, and never for trade, which +is carried on solely by foreigners from all parts of the world. + +The Mahommedans, especially, carry on a great trade in elephants which +they export to the Coromandel Coast, to Golconda and to Persia from +whence they import fabrics, silks and spices. + +The most plentiful articles of commerce of the country are timber, +lead, tin and ivory. It is worth while to make a few remarks on the +manners and customs of a nation with which commercial relations could +well be established. The Aracanese have broad and flat foreheads which +results from a peculiarity of taste rather than from a freak of +nature, as the work of nature is marred by the application of a leaden +plate to the infant's forehead. + +Their nostrils are large and open and the lobes of their ears are so +long that they nearly reach down to their shoulders. Their dress +consists of a cotton shirt that covers the arms, chest and abdomen. +They wear, in addition, a long trailing garment, and so many other +articles of attire that when they are fully dressed they look more +like rolls of wadding than men. Their hair is piled on the back of +their heads in the fashion of the Dutchwomen. The women have no other +head gear than their coiffure which is kept in place by clasps, and +this style of hairdressing is very effective. Their dishes are not +appetising to European ideas. They eat rats, mice, snakes and all +sorts of humble creatures. They are also fond of fish,--the staler, +the better. Their principal beverage is pure water or a liquor +extracted from the trunk of a certain species of palm tree. Female +chastity commands no respect whatever. Husbands prefer to risk +becoming the fathers of other peoples children rather than to take a +virgin to wife. As a rule the Dutch sailors are paid well for their +services in this matter. + +The King, shut up in his palace, passes a lazy life with the Queen and +his concubines. + +Every year each of the twelve provincial governors selects a dozen +girls of the same age in his district, and exposes them to the ardent +rays of the sun in order to induce perspiration. + +They are then wiped dry with pieces of fine linen which are sent to +the Court so that the odour may indicate those who are most worthy to +enter the harem. Those who are refused admittance become concubines of +the courtiers who receive them as a pledge of royal favour. It is said +that the King's body guard consists of concubines who receive a +certain amount of military training. + +The King takes the following pompous title. + +"Emperor of Aracan, possessor of the White Elephant and of the Two +Rubies, Lawful heir of Pegu and Burma, Lord of Twelve provinces of +Bengal, Disposer of Kings who place their heads beneath the soles of +his feet." + +The liberal arts are utterly ignored if one can judge by the scanty +progress therein made. Medicine, especially, is only a fraud founded +on superstition. The priests known as "Raulins" are summoned to the +bedsides of the sick. They breathe over them and mutter mysterious +incantations. A sacrifice of fowls, pigs or fat beasts is offered to +the god of the four winds. This sacrifice must be repeated four times +to prevent the death of the patient. The Raulins, however, devour the +sacrifices offered to their gods. + +In severe illness their fertile knavery prescribes a strange remedy by +which the Raulins gain no small advantage. The wife, children or the +relations of the patient bedeck an altar on which is placed an image, +and place it in a well furnished room wherein are assembled the +priests and relatives as for a grand banquet. The Master of the +Ceremonies dances and hops about until he is exhausted. A rope is then +fastened to the ceiling and the performer supports himself by it and +jumps higher and higher until he falls down in a swoon which is +considered to be a divine trance Everyone pretends to be envious of +his good luck, as they are sure he is enjoying a tête á tête with +his god. The priests, who solemnly preside at this fantastic ceremony, +anoint the sick man with oil and perfumes, and, if he happens to die +they never blame themselves. They say that his death is a blessing +from the gods who have taken him from this vale of tears to the +mansions of the blest. + +Their gross superstitions are seen to best advantage in their funeral +rites. Whilst the priests are chanting prayers and burning incense, +the friends and relatives of the deceased thump copper vessels in +order to scare away black cats, for if by ill luck one of these +animals were to touch the corpse, the soul of the deceased would be +exiled from the heavenly abode where it would have its fill of +pleasures of all sorts and would be reincarnated in mortal shape. + +There is a certain sect of priests who believe that they share in the +power of the gods. They are summoned to a grand banquet by the +relatives of the deceased, and if they refuse the invitation, it is a +sign that the soul of the dead man has been cast into the nethermost +hell. Hired mourners are engaged to make a loud outcry. The dead whose +relatives have not been able to honour with a funeral pyre, are +exposed at the water's edge, and are carried away by the stream. +Sometimes the corpses are devoured by birds of prey, which latter +having always plenty of available foodstuff increase and multiply and +even attack buffaloes and oxen. + +Sometimes they hasten the death of their friends and relations when +they are seem to be suffering from the pains of old age or from some +incurable malady. This action, which is a crime among civilized +nations, is regarded by them as an act of piety, as they say that it +is cruel to let those for whom happiness is waiting in Heaven, suffer +here on earth. These peoples are sunk in the lowest depths of +idolatry. Their temples are built in pyramidical shape and contain a +large assortment of idols. They have gods of the house whose images +they brand on their arms and shoulders with a hot iron. The barking of +dogs, the bellowings of bulls, the howls of wild beasts, the songs of +birds are considered as omens of coming events which the priests +interpret to their own advantage. They celebrate a feast of the dead +at which their fanaticism is pushed to its cruellest limits. One of +their idols is dragged on a heavy car and is accompanied by Priests +dressed in white. The fanatical devotees cast themselves under the +wheels, and their blood is held to be a most pleasing offering to the +god. Others are fastened by iron hooks to the car and, covered with +blood, they are placed in a temple where they become objects of public +worship. It is a matter of congratulation to all those on whose +garments a drop of their blood falls. These holy madmen are worshipped +as martyrs. There are three grades of priests. The head priest, who +lives in the island of Munay, has control of public worship. His +commands are very rarely infringed. The respect he inspires almost +approaches to adoration. The King, absolute as he is, never disputes +the precedence of the head-priest on ceremonial occasions and never +covers himself before him. All the priests are vowed to perpetual +celibacy, and should one of them break his vows of chastity, he is at +once disgraced and expelled from the priesthood. Although they all +obey the same head priest, they do not conform to a universal rule of +life. Some live in their own houses at their own expense and are not a +burden on society. Remote from the stresses of the world and despising +mundane joys, they are unnoticed by the public and make their dwelling +among the rocks or in deep forests or in deserts. When they are +obliged to appear in public, they are of humble mien and with eyes +downcast, but this show of modesty is but a clever method of +attracting attention. Other, more happy and sociable, live in fine +palaces in the idle enjoyment of the multifarious gifts that the King +and the Princes proffer to them in profusion in order to gain the +favour of Heaven. + +The education of the young is entrusted to these idolatrous priests, +as if men whose sole functions seem to be prayer and ascetism, could +have the necessary abilities for the upbringing of magistrates, +warriors, artists or statesmen. + +There are hermits as well, a variety of wild men whose sanctity is in +proportion to their eccentricities. They, like the priests are divided +into classes, and all renounce the pleasures of life. + +Although Europeans have had considerable intercourse with the Kingdom +of Ava, it is really a country about which very little is known. The +majority of those who have given descriptions of this land have been +either soldiers or traders, whose aims have been the acquisition of +wealth rather than the desire to make accurate observations. All +travellers agree that the fertile soil produces an abundance of rice +and fruits, and that mines of lead, copper and silver exist, but that +the natives have not sufficient skill to work them. In Ava, the +capital of the kingdom, there is a considerable trade in musk, and in +rubies and sapphires of the finest quality. The natives are quite +successful in working these mines. Trade would flourish if public +peace so necessary to industrial occupations, were not so frequently +disturbed by various revolutions. + +The form of Government is despotic. The King who should be merely the +administrator of the law has usurped the rights of making, and +breaking the law at his own pleasure. + +Each province has its deputy at the Court under whose protection it +resides. This delegate has the right of representing the needs of his +fellow citizens and as the King is always well posted in state +affairs, oppressors are speedily brought to justice and punished. The +following are the titles assumed by the King. + +"King of Kings who should be obeyed by everyone. Friend and Relation +of the gods of Heaven and Earth, who from their regard for him +preserve the animals and govern the seasons. Brother of the Sun, +Cousin of the Moon and of the Stars. Absolute Master of the ebb and +flow of the Tides. King of the White Elephant and of the Twenty Four +Umbrellas." The arrogance of the Monarch is such that on rising from +table, he orders that a trumpet be sounded to announce the fact to the +other Kings of the earth that they have his permission to take their +repast. Foreign ambassadors as well as his own subjects must prostrate +themselves before him and even the elephants are trained to crouch +down when he passes. + +The military forces do not draw their pay from the public treasury. +Each provincial governor has certain lands in his province, the +produce of which is devoted to the support of the soldiery in time of +peace, and in war time he supplies them with arms, food, and clothing. +Officers are distinguished from the rank and file by the magnificence +of their pipes which have certain joints to indicate the rank. + +The Kingdom of Jangoma is situated on the north of Siam. It is not +easy to define its boundaries accurately as they have changed owing to +revolutions and political events. The country is governed by the +priests whose power should be limited by law since the inhabitants +style themselves "free-men," a title which servile and degraded races +ought not to assume. Few details are known of the country and its +inhabitants and we can only draw our conclusions from certain Chinese +accounts and Siamese traditions. The following is all that is at +present known to us on this matter. + +The inhabitants are a well-built and vigorous race. Owing to the heat +of the sun they wear scanty raiment consisting of a thin loin cloth. +They go bareheaded and have never used shoes. The women are as +voluptuous as the Peguans, but are much more handsome and are greatly +in demand for the harems of pleasure loving Kings. Although the soil +produces every necessary and even some luxuries of life, corn cannot +be cultivated. But instead of bread, rice cakes form the staple +article of diet. Besides necessaries of life the country produces +musk, pepper, silk, gold, silver, copper and gums. It is true that +certain travellers say that the bulk of these products come from +China. But it would be less costly for a company established in Siam +to procure them from Jangoma, rather than from the remotest East, and +more so as this nation having had no commercial relations is unaware +of the advantages of its geographical position. + +We have very little information about the customs of the country, but +it is known that the devil plays an important part in the beliefs of +the inhabitants. The sick promise him sacrificial offerings and if he +condescends to restore them to health they celebrate their recovery by +a great feast to which all their friends and relations bring gifts of +fruits to propitiate the evil spirit whom they look upon as the author +of all diseases. + +They are quite sure that the devil has no ear for music, as it is by +instrumental efforts that they endeavour to drive him out of the +house. The same motive, doubtless prompts them to summon priests to +chant round the bedside of the sick man, who encouraged by their +dismal voices expects a speedy relief from his pains. Death, which is +a cause of mourning to men of other races of the earth, is for this +nation a festal and delightful event. There seems to be a total lack +of regret for the departed or at least they skilfully disguise their +feelings in the matter. The corpse is borne on a reed litter by +sixteen men to the place of cremation. The friends and relations, +preceded by a band, follow in the procession. Quantities of presents +are offered to the idolatrous priests who like birds of prey, live on +the spoils of the dead. When the corpse has been cremated the funeral +party returns to the house and the next two days are spent in feasting +and dancing. After this, the widow bedecked with the trappings of woe +proceeds to the cremation ground. All groan loudly and weep as they +pick up the bones left by the flames. As a sign of mourning they +merely get their hair cut. + +Laos, which signifies thousands of elephants, derives its name from +the numbers of these animals living in the forests of that country. + +The climate is so mild and the air so pure that we are told that men +of a hundred and even a hundred and twenty years still retain the full +powers of their manhood. The bounties of nature are manifest in the +plains and valleys and even the hilly districts. The watercourses +which receive the mountain torrents, distribute the water evenly over +the land and there are neither marshes nor stagnant ponds. The eastern +bank of the river is the more fertile, the animals on this side are +larger and finer, and the trees are more lofty. Here is grown the best +rice of the East. The ground on which it has been sown, becomes +covered with a sort of foam after the harvest and the heat of the sun +converts it into solid salt. + +Benzoin and lacquer of the best quality are found in the country, and +from the latter Spanish wax is made. + +Although ivory of superior quality is abundant, they consider +rhinoceros horn to be of more value, as it is supposed to have the +property of rendering the possessors lucky. The people of the upper +classes as they happen to become more prosperous, discard the horn +they possess so as to buy another which is reputed to be more +efficacious and none of their valuables is guarded with greater care. + +The flowers that stud the plains nourish swarms of bees which supply +honey and wax. Tin, lead and iron mines are an important asset to the +country. Gold and silver are found in the rivers whence it is +extracted by means of iron nets. + +Musk, which is one of the chief articles of commerce, is not a product +of this country, but a composition of ambergris and the secretion of a +species of cat, which gives off an agreeable perfume is used instead. +In the forests are plenty of wild animals, but cultivation is carried +on by the help of buffaloes and oxen. The rivers teem with fish, some +so large that two men can hardly carry one. The poor live on salt fish +and rice. Although there is no salt water in the country, they find +splendid rubies. Doubtless the foam that covers the fields after the +rice harvest supplies the lack of salt for the formation of this +precious stone in the bosom of the earth. + +The Chinese carried on a considerable trade with Laos before the +Tartar invasion. They brought velvets, silks, stuffs, carpets, +horse-hair, cottons, gold, silver and porcelain which they bartered +for ivory, opium and drugs. + +In the province of Laos from whence the kingdom takes its name, there +is a deep mine whence rubies and emeralds are extracted. The King +possesses an emerald of the size of an ordinary orange. + +Commercial relations, if established in this country, would be +assuredly fruitful for the reason that the Laosians are the most +upright and honest people in the Indo-Chinese peninsula. Not that they +desire to possess every curious article of foreign origin they may +see, but they prefer to be importunate in their demands for it rather +than to attempt to gain possession of it by violence. The greatest +praise that can be bestowed upon them is to remark on their fidelity +to their pledged word. Robbery and murder are rarely heard of on the +main routes, as the townships and villages are held responsible for +any insults offered to travellers in the vicinity. + +Their virtues are not unmixed with vices. By nature incorrigible +idlers, they work only when absolutely obliged to. Arduous toil +disgusts them, and destitute of perseverence, they cannot fix their +attention for long on a single object and never examine anything more +than superficially. Unbridled in their desires for the opposite sex, +they seem to live merely for reproduction. + +Sorcery and magic are the sources of many crimes and superstitions, +but it is a weakness of the oriental mind never to undertake any +important matter before having consulted and paid highly for the +services of their duly qualified humbugs. The purity of the air tends +to make the people long lived, and although the country is not very +large, an army of 500,000 fighting men could easily be raised and it +would not be difficult to raise a large force of centenarians, all +healthy and vigorous. The inhabitants are less temperate than in other +Eastern countries. They take four meals a day. Rice, fish and buffalo +meat form their staple articles of diet. They rarely eat veal, beef or +poultry. Birds are roasted with their feathers which impart a +disagreeable taste to the flesh. + +As a rule the magistrates and the higher officials do not take more +than one wife, but this moderation is due to motives of economy. They +wish to give the impression that they are so busy with state affairs +that they have no time to give to their own pleasures. + +However they keep large numbers of concubines which make up for the +fact of their only keeping one wife. Marriage is a life-institution, +but divorce is so common that marriage appears to be but a passing +fancy. When a woman is convicted of adultery the husband can inflict +whatever punishment he thinks fit. + +Funerals are occasions of festivity rather than of mourning. The +priests are well paid and are magnificently entertained. They +contribute tears and funeral dirges and point out the road to the +heavenly mansions to the spirit of the deceased. In the grave are +placed offerings of money. It is to be presumed that the priests, as +owners of the graves put the wealth buried by ignorance into +circulation again. It should be noticed that the trade of this country +has suffered from the various revolutions. In former times its +products were taken to Siam, but since the Burmese invasion, they have +been diverted to Pegu. The hatred inspired by the continuous state of +hostility between these two nations has driven trade to Cambodia where +the Laosians find a ready market for their gums, lacquer and other +articles. + +This ignorant nation boasts that it taught the Siamese the art of +writing on palm leaves; the language and the characters are similar, +but the Laosians cannot pronounce the letters R. and L. It is said +that in the olden time, their mode of worship was unmixed with +superstitious beliefs. They had no temples but worshipped a Creator +god who ruled the world, and who could only be pleased by the practice +of virtue and not by sacrifice and ceremony. They believe that after +the lapse of a certain number of centuries, the universe will be +renewed. This idea of a Periodical Great Year has been adopted by +nearly all the nations of old time. + +Commercial intercourse with the Chinese has altered these simple +beliefs. + +They had priests who became legislators and who, in order to avoid the +risk of having their arguments refuted, produced books written in +foreign characters. As their teachings were not understood, they +appeared to be highly mysterious and were greatly respected, and it +was no difficult matter for these cunning impostors to attribute a +divine origin to their doctrinal hypotheses. Their learned men are +divided into three classes. Some teach how the universe and the gods +have been created, but they base their arguments on fables and not on +facts. Others who are styled 'the enlightened' reconcile all +embarrassing questions and contradictory statements. + +The new doctrine proclaims the eternity of Heaven and sixteen worlds, +and that, in the highest of them, the lucky inhabitants taste of +perpetual felicity unmixed with sorrow. These worlds are liable to +destruction and renewal and they reckon 18,000 years since the renewal +of the actual earth. They grant the existence of a hell, but the +priests never mention the torments prepared for the wicked, lest they +should intimidate the feeble minded. Polygamy is the reward hoped for +in the next world by the righteous, but as this doctrine is somewhat +distasteful to the women, they are told that those who lead a godly +life will be changed into men. The same reward is promised to all +those who bestow their wealth on religious objects, by the assurance +that the donor will have as many women as could be purchased by the +treasure they have laid up in heaven. + +The priests, sworn to celibacy, console themselves with the belief +that after death they will have the power to create a number of women +with whom they may do as they please. They practise chastity during +their lifetime with the sole idea of satiating their vicious desires +in the next world, and that which is regarded as a virtue in Heaven is +considered to be a vice on earth. Their monasteries are schools of +debauchery or are filled with men of the lowest class. Puffed up with +the dignity of their office they compel such a respect that the chief +of the nation himself can refuse to grant it at his peril only. + +Their cells are separate and that of the abbot is magnificently +appointed. Gold and silk and articles of luxury are everywhere +apparent. Seated on a dazzling throne the abbot receives the worship +of his underlings and of the devout public. + +I shall not enter into details of their mode of life as I should then +be obliged to repeat what I have already remarked about the priests, +but I ought to mention certain customs which seem to justify the +opinion of those who maintain that Christianity in its early forms was +established among these people. + +On the fourteenth day of every month they are obliged to assemble to +make a public confession of their sins. A humble avowal is sufficient +to gain absolution, and as the penances are not painful, backsliders +are frequent. They frequently employ holy water of which they always +keep a supply handy. They consider that it is a highly efficacious +remedy against the severest diseases. + +The priests, in fact, consider it as an article of of trade; and +barter it for valuable liquors. The altars are adorned with flowers, +and illuminated by torches. They also make use of rosaries, the beads +of which are often of diamonds or rubies to assist the ignorance of +those who are unable to read their prayers and hymns. They observe an +Easter and a Jubilee. During those solemn occasions, all work is +forbidden, and in consequence this time of rest in given up to +debauchery. The preachers mount on pulpits whence they announce rules +of conduct of a fairly pure and stringent nature, which however are +broken by most people. The rich purchase indulgences, but the greedy +priests only grant them for a limited period, and on expiration of the +term, a new permit to transgress the laws must be purchased. Only the +very poor need despair of the attainment of eternal felicity. The +wealthy expend vast sums on these impostors who in return agree to +expiate their peccadilloes. + +The hermit priests live in dark caverns, in the midst of the forests, +where in solitary retirement a large colony grows up around them in +proof of their libidinous habits. It must not however be inferred that +there are not some melancholy individuals who disgusted with life, +bury themselves in these subterranean abodes and give themselves up to +prayer and contemplation. A life of asceticism is by no means +wearisome in tropical climates, where laziness is regarded as a +variety of annihilation. Their occult researches have undoubtedly +resulted in the discovery of certain tricks by which they impose on +popular credulity. All of their mystic rites seem to have been +modelled on or derived from the doctrines of Pythagoras or of the +Priests of Egypt. Magic was the foundation, of these doctrines, and +traces of such practice are visible in the writings of Apulius, +Iamblichus and Porphery. + +The Kingdom of Cambodia is known to few travellers, who having made a +short visit there have given us very vague accounts. It is to be hoped +that the Missionaries who have planted colonies there will give us +information as to the possible advantages to be thence derived. Their +scrupulous accuracy pays greater attention to that which is useful to +us rather than to embellishments. + +It is known that this country, protected by a mountain range, is +watered by the great river that traverses the country. Its equatorial +situation must of necessity give it a torrid climate, and in order to +avoid the burning heat only the banks of rivers or lakes are +inhabited. Travellers have much to suffer from the attacks of insects. + +This country, one of the most fertile of the Indies produces corn, +rich harvests of rice, vegetables of fine quality, and oil which +commands a high price. Seafarers of all nationalities have landed to +take in supplies. Besides these important products, sugar and indigo +of good quality are produced, which form leading native industries. +The country is well wooded and fruit trees are plentiful. Sapan, +sandal and other rare woods occur in the forests. All sorts of drugs, +opium and camphor are abundantly produced. An extremely transparent +variety of crystal is found in the rocks. This happy land produces +amethysts, rubies, topazes, chrysolites, agates, bloodstones and other +precious stones. Raw silk and ivory are very cheap. An ox weighing 500 +lbs costs only a crown, and 150 lbs of rice can be bought for eight +sols. Everyone is allowed to hunt elephants, and tigers and lions are +found in the forests as well as most of the wild beasts which appear +to flourish only in the African deserts. + +The coast line 140 leagues in extent has only five or six safe +anchorages for vessels. The most noteworthy port is opposite to the +Siamese coast and has a great trade in lac, gums and ivory. The +harbour of Pontameas would attract a great number of foreign ships but +its trade has greatly fallen off since it was demolished in 1717 by +the Siamese. The other harbours are but little known. The sea lying +between this kingdom and that of Siam is dotted by numerous islets +which render navigation dangerous. The two largest, although fertile, +have been laid waste because the pirates who infest these seas have +seized the results of the work and industry of the inhabitants. It +would be an easy matter to set up an advantageous trading-station in +Quadrol island where there are many natural sandy harbours. There is +as well a group of eight islands having a good anchorage; Pulocondor +is the only inhabited member of the group. This island is called the +island of Orleans by the French and is about three leagues long and +one and a half wide. + +The harbour is commodious and the anchorage easy. The sea abounds with +many species of fish, and turtles, the shells and oil of the latter +being valuable articles of trade. It is a land of monkeys and lizards +some of which are ugly and covered with scales. Their bite is fatal. +Others have claws and their tails, seven or eight feet long, are +triangular in shape. They are good to eat. Flying squirrels and rats +having ears shaped like those of human beings are to be seen. Most of +the trees are balsamic, one species yielding gum has the bark and +leaves like that of a chestnut tree. Oil is extracted by making an +incision in the trunk and applying heat. There are many wild fruit +trees bearing appetising looking fruits, but of insiped taste and +frequently poisonous. A botanist could make a fine collection of +plants and flowers unknown in other climates. + +There is only one village inhabited by about 400 persons; frequently +it is deserted as the inhabitants take up their abode in spots where +they can satisfy their needs. The Cochin Chinese send the Christians +to this island. It was captured by the English who set up a trading +post in 1702. The governor had hired Macassar mercenaries and had +promised to terminate their engagement after three years. He did not +keep to his agreement and he kept them to strengthen the growing +colony. This breach of trust ought to have made him wary, but he +forgot that his example might cause his betrayal. As a result these +savages, who although being rigid observers of treaties, thought they +had a right to exact vengeance, and all the English were massacred the +same night. + +The Kingdom of Cambodia is inhabited by Portuguese, Japanese, +Cochin-Chinese and Malays of whom some are passing traders, but others +have become residents. The Portuguese have no priests and their +religion is a mixture of idolatry and Christianity. They are in +receipt of a small subsidy from the King, which together with the +spoils of the chase forms their means of livelihood. The men are well +built, and the women are distinctly handsome, but their lack of +modesty counterbalances all the advantages they might otherwise derive +from their personal appearance. These people never risk the perils of +the sea in order to gain wealth, but they see the ships of all nations +coming to their harbours for the purchase of the natural products of +the land which are plentiful. They dig a fair quantity of gold and +manufacture fabrics of as good quality as those of Holland. Their +skill in embroidery is well known. The Dutch used to have a trading +station and they had estimated that by the export of black lacquer, +deer-skins, oxen and buffaloes to Japan, a profit of from 40 per cent +to 70 per cent could be gained. But they met with opposition from the +Portuguese who were jealous of their prosperity, and, on account of +the various revolutions which have disturbed the peace of the kingdom, +they have been obliged to forego all the advantages that they had +hoped to gain. For these reasons, the different European nations have +had no desire to form trading stations in these parts. + +The religion is somewhat similar to that of Siam. They grant the +existence of several heavenly abodes for the souls of the departed. In +some of these heavens they are regaled with the finest liquors and the +most delicious viands, and the senses are stimulated by all manner of +delights. Women always young and beautiful, reciprocate the passion +they inspire. + +There is another heaven specially reserved for the solitary priests +who have lived apart from the world. Their felicity consists in the +utter absence of sensation, a sort of annihilation which is considered +the height of bliss by lazy folks. The gods abide in the highest +heaven and the privileged persons who imitate their virtues partake of +their happiness. They also grant the existence of thirteen hells to +which evil-doers are consigned according to the heinousness of their +offences. + +The priesthood contains many members and is divided into several +classes, of which the first takes precedence even of the King himself. +The second class consider themselves as his equals, and as the general +belief is that they share the perfection of the deity, a profound +respect is paid to them although the majority of them are of the +lowliest origin. Their chief is known as the King of the priests and +in certain districts he has supreme authority. + +There are two ranks of nobility. The governors of towns and provinces, +the ministers and judges are drawn from the first rank and are +distinguished by a golden betelnut box. The nobles of the second rank +have silver boxes. + +The King is absolute. He can dispose of the goods of his subjects or +rather slaves as he pleases. Children have no right of inheritance and +whatever the King condescends to leave them is regarded as a personal +favour. Although this Kingdom is of large extent it can scarcely put +an army of 30,000 men in the field. This petty king is as proud and +luxurious as the greatest rulers of Asia and it is this idea of +imaginary greatness that frequently renders him insolent towards +foreigners. + +The country of Champa has a short coast-line with many commodious bays +and harbours. Travellers have never penetrated the interior. No other +town is known but Feneri, which used to be the royal residence before +the country fell under the rule of the Cochin-Chinese, who, flying +from Tartar tyranny were welcomed by the people whose rulers they have +become. Their weapons are muskets, pikes and sabres in the use of +which they show great skill. They are gentle and affable especially to +foreigners. They show great respect for law from the King down to the +lowest of his subjects. Their code is severe and the slightest faults +do not fail to be punished. The people are not allowed to possess +silver, and anyone convicted of its possession is severely punished. +Gold is an article of trade and copper coin is the only currency. All +callings are sold at a price and the consideration they enjoy is +proportionate to the price. Whoever has sunk his fortune in the +purchase of an office soon recovers his losses by means of exactions +which are not punished, so as not to intimidate those who may wish to +become office-holders. Liberty of worship is enjoined by the laws but +most of the people are either Mahommedans or followers of Confucius; +there are also idolators, some of whom worship reptiles and the lowest +animals, while others regard the sun and moon as the creative powers. + +The Mahomedans of this country do not observe the Koran strictly. They +eat pork and are so hospitable that they have no shame in prostituting +their wives to their guests. They however make an exception in the +case of the principal wife whom they cannot repudiate unless she has +been convicted of adultery. + +The Chinese come annually to trade in tea, porcelain, silk and various +commodities which they barter for scented woods and for gold which is +of finer quality than the gold found in China. + +No country has had greater commercial intercourse with Siam than +Cochin-China, a name signifying Western China given to it by the +Portuguese in contradistinction to China proper. The country is easy +of access, the harbours are numerous and commodious and a depth of 80 +fathoms is common in the bays. The country is densely populated and +there are many towns and cities. Its fertility is due to the +periodical inundations which leave a fine alluvial deposit on their +retreat, and the heat of the sun brings the vegetable products to +maturity early and imparts a fine flavour. There is a certain species +of tree grown here known as the 'indestructible' as the timber never +rots either in water or in the earth. It is used for ship's anchors. +The mountains where this tree flourishes also produces various kinds +of scented woods and all manner of flowers and perfumes. In this +country are quarries of marble of various kinds and numerous gold +mines. The inhabitants have learnt the art of smelting metals from the +Chinese but they have not divulged the secret to them of casting iron +into cannon and mortars. On the mountains are many rhinoceros of a +larger size than any others in the Indies. Trade with the interior is +considerable, merchants resort to the fairs at which all kinds of +merchandize is offered for sale. The silk produced in this land is not +of the first quality, but it is so plentiful that it is used for +making ropes and sails. The land tortoises furnish oil. A considerable +trade is carried on in pepper, sugar, honey and wax. The Chinese and +the Japanese have the commercial supremacy. These foreigners are not +subject to the laws of the country, they are magistrates who +adjudicate all commercial disputes that arise between the traders of +their nations. The impressions of the Cochin-Chinese given to us by +travellers are partly unfavourable, and partly favourable. The Dutch +who have suffered ill usage at their hands accuse them of +faithlessness to their promises, of arrogance in their demeanour, and +of treachery. Others who have been well received by them praise their +kindliness towards foreigners, their commercial rectitude and above +all their respect for the duties of hospitality. In spite of these +conflicting opinions, all modern travellers concur in the view that +their manners are as simple as their customs. Their gentleness of +character saves them from acts of violence that in an instant ruin the +impressions derived from years of exemplary conduct. + +Their diet is simple, the sole articles being rice, fish and +vegetables. Their usual beverage is a kind of tea that differs from +the Chinese variety. They mingle sugar derived from a certain tree +with their drinking water which thus acquires a pleasant taste and +odour. They have a few wines, but prefer strong liquors to wine which +they nevertheless use in moderation at marriages and other solemn +festivals, which are the only occasions of excess. Although dependent +on neighbouring nations, they allow their hair to grow long as a sign +of their freedom. Their grandees keep up splendid establishments and +wear robes embroidered with pearls which they prefer to diamonds. The +women are veiled, but uncover their faces in salutation. Their medical +men are dressed in black and wear a mitre shaped headdress. They trim +neither their beard nor their nails as a sign that they are less +desirous to please than to instruct. They know that respectability is +well assured by the adaptation of strange habits. + +Their houses have no other ornamentations than paintings and gilded +sculptures. Marriage ceremonies, funeral rites and festivals are +similar to those of the Chinese from whom they are descended, but in +this, their new country, they have extinguished the torch of the +liberal arts which illumined the land of their origin. It is not that +they are without seats of learning, but such as they have are schools +of error in which under the pretext of studying astronomy, they devote +themselves to all the lies of astrology in order to seek for +revelations of the future. They predict eclipses without being able to +calculate their exact time, extent and duration and, regarding them as +omens of serious evil, employ thousands of weird methods to counteract +their supposed malign influence. + +The King and all the chief officers of state as well as the learned, +follow the doctrines of Confucius, which they have received from their +ancestors. They have neither temples nor priests, but all pay deep +respect to the great god Tien. The common people, plunged in the +depths of the darkest idolatry, give themselves up to the most vulgar +superstitions. They have bonzes who are divided into several classes. +Some of them live on the produce of the land and waters assigned to +them; others, subservient to a chief, live on the alms of the people; +a more certain source than the hard won produce of the ground. If we +can judge by the filthy state of their temples, most of which are in +ruins, it seems that the priests and their devotees are the only +persons who are attached to their religion. The foreign missionaries +have made great conquests for the faith in these parts and it merely +needs a greater number of workers to gather in an abundant harvest. + +Those who believe in metempsychosis are loth to kill either the most +dangerous animals, or the vilest insects, but by a strange +contradiction as is usual in erroneous doctrines, they sacrifice swine +to their gods and to the spirits of the departed. They believe that +souls which do not pass into other corporeal forms are changed into +demons, fairies or goblins. Thus it is that the fear inspired by these +malign creatures gives credence to thousands of fables. + +The law is no respecter of persons. The King a severe and upright +judge passes sentence on the guilty, but his representatives in the +provinces are more lenient, as they are amenable to bribery. A woman +convicted of adultery is trampled to death by an elephant. A first act +of theft is punished by the loss of a finger, the second by the loss +of an ear, and the third by death. This graduated system of punishment +should be a lesson to those nations generally whose laws inflict the +same penalty on one, who by a passing weakness has committed some +crime, or on another who is a hardened criminal. False witness is +punished according to the nature of the charge brought. When the King +pronounces sentence he is mounted on a fine elephant and petitioners +may only approach within eighty paces of the royal presence. + +This Prince is wealthy for the reason that many of his neighbours pay +a high price for his protection. He derives a considerable revenue +from the elephants, wax, and ivory produced in his country; the +tribute paid in scented woods and gold dust by his vassals forms +another source of income. Besides the tribute exacted from the vassal +states, there is a general poll-tax, and every man from the age of 18 +to 60 has to pay about fifteen livres. This tax is less derogatory +than the forced labour of eight months to which every slave or subject +is liable. The grandees are obliged to offer valuable gifts on certain +days of the year to the King, and these would exhaust their resources +if it were not for the gifts which they in return extort from their +inferiors to replace the losses caused by these forced benevolences. + +At the death of each land-owner, the King takes possession of the +landed property and leaves only the money and personal effects of the +deceased to the heirs. The tariff dues on foreign merchandise are +still another source of revenue. + +The Government of the Kingdom of Cochin-China is purely military. The +weapons of the country are muskets, bows and daggers. Drill is +performed in silence. The leader directs all the evolutions by motions +of his baton, and if he makes a mistake he is reduced to the ranks. +The Court is an example of Asiatic pomp. The first dignities of the +state are conferred on eunuchs, as it is supposed that as they are +unable to beget children, they will be all the less avaricious. + +This policy has not succeeded in Europe, where experience has shown +that celibate ministers have accumulated vast wealth. The +heir-presumptive to the throne has command of the navy, and of his +private body guard of 5,000 men. The younger son is commander-in-chief +of the army. He has also a body guard of 2,000 men. A standing army is +maintained as a protection against rebellions. + +Crimes against the King's person are cruelly punished. The guilty +party is tied up to a post and each soldier cuts off a piece of his +flesh until nothing but the skeleton remains. The severity of the code +in force proves that the nation is prone to crime. The law endeavours +to deter crime by the threats of severe punishment. The soldiers are +clad in satin and the uniforms of the officers are of velvet and +silver. + +There are military schools in which children are trained at the public +expense. The spirit of emulation is fostered by rewards which pander +to the growing mind. They receive silk dresses and other accoutrements +that flatter their vanity. Those who take no advantage from their +lessons are dressed in linen. + +Christianity has made great progress in this land, but has had much to +fight against. The ignorance of the idolatrous priests, and the +foolish nature of their doctrines, have been favourable to the +progress of Missionary enterprise. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + TONKIN. + + +The intercourse between Siam and Tonkin requires special notice. The +exact extent of Tonkin is not known accurately, but all travellers +agree that it is a more densely populated country than France, and +some imagine that it is of equal extent. + +Although situated in the tropics, it enjoys a climate of perpetual +spring, and the air which by rights should be burning hot is cooled by +the South and North winds which blow alternately for 6 months each in +the year. The rainy season begins in April and lasts until August. At +this season the leafy trees have their branches weighed down by masses +of fruit, the countryside luxuriates in vegetation and promises a rich +harvest of rice. There is neither corn nor grapes, but nature supplies +their lack by other products. It is true that at times the land is +stricken with sterility. The floods destroy the young crops and the +drought changes the fertile earth into arid dust. + +A range of inaccessible mountains seems to act as a line of defence +against foreign invasion. These mountains are clothed with forests +containing many fruit trees and inhabited by tigers, deer, and +elephants. The interior of the country is occupied by rising ground. +The plains are watered by numerous rivers and canals form cheap and +facile means of communication. Although the country has so many +products of commercial value, the inhabitants give all their attention +to fishing. + +Kankao is the chief town, and many travellers have compared it +favourably with the most populous cities of Asia. There are no +imposing edifices with the exception of the royal palace and the +arsenal, in other respects it is a confused collection of wooden huts. +The foreign trading establishments are the only brick buildings. The +ruins of an ancient palace, destroyed during the civil wars, are still +visible and the relics point to the pristine glories of the city. The +arsenal is a building that would command admiration in Europe. It is +furnished with artillery, ammunition and all kinds of warlike stores. + +Here the physicist would be struck by the phenomenon of the tides, as +the sea ebbs and flows only once in the 24 hours and is only +appreciable at the first and last quarters of the moon. + +The products are similar to those of other countries of the Indies, +but the fruits are finer and more delicious than those of any other +Asiatic country. The oranges are large and luscious, but the use of +the citron is unsafe as it supplies the mordant used in the dyeing of +cotton. + +Cultivated fruits include sweet potatoes yams, bananas, mangos, limes, +cocoanuts and pineapples. The elephants are the largest and most +active of those found in Asia. Temperance is a national virtue and +their staple articles of diet are merely rice, vegetables, roots, and +salt fish. They observe festivals at which game of all sorts is eaten +and especially at weddings and funerals they indulge in all manner of +good cheer. They devour horseflesh buffalo and goat meat, dogs, +rabbits, rats, frogs, shell fish and all kinds of fish. For dessert +they have the most excellent fruits, the odour and colour and taste of +which are pleasing to all the senses. Cleanliness is noticeable in all +their dishes. The tables and crockery as well as they themselves are +perfumed. In formal feasts the guests keep profound silence, and +speech before the conclusion of the repast would be considered +impolite. This restraint during their meals might be attributed to +their voracious appetites. Their usual beverage is a kind of tea with +which on festal occasions they mingle arrack. They manufacture strong +drink from rice and other vegetables. + +The Tonkinese have flat oval faces. Their teeth, naturally white, are +blackened so as to avoid the reproach that they resemble those of dogs +or elephants. Though of a swarthy complexion they are fairer than the +other inhabitants of the Indies. They have long thick black hair. They +are active and cunning and seem adapted by nature to be an +accomplished race; but idleness, the vice of the climate is a check to +industry and renders them poverty stricken. Their insensate passion +for gambling reduces the wealthiest to beggary. Having lost all their +money, jewels and other possessions, they will wager their wives and +children and even their horses to which they are greatly attached. + +The dress of the Tonkinese consists of a long robe reaching to the +heels. The grandees are dressed in silk or English cloth. The populace +and soldiery wear robes of cotton stuff reaching to the knees. +Fishermen and workmen, who are obliged to spend their time out of +doors, wear hats made of straw or leaves. The King is the only person +permitted by law to wear shoes. The common people go bare-foot but +this is no discomfort in a land where the soil is sandy. This custom +is in vogue in Abyssinior and in all warm countries and only +foreigners find that it is distasteful. They however wear sandals as +do the officials and the learned men affect the same fashion. The +latter allow their nails to grow long as a sign of their rank. Men and +women used to be obliged to wear their hair bound up, as a mark of +their vassalage, during the time when this kingdom was a dependent +state of China, but at the present time they wear it loose over their +shoulders. The nation has borrowed its arts, science and etiquette +from the Chinese. Their language which is monosyllabic, greatly +resembles Chinese, and inflexions of the voice determine the +signification of the syllables. The Tonkinese have many guttural and +dental consonants which are very difficult to be pronounced by +foreigners. Their writing is in vertical columns, they make use of +similar writing implements to those of China and they use silk or the +bark of trees instead of paper. They have no taste whatever for art +and science. It is true they have poets and musicians who are fairly +successful in imaginative works. They have also made a certain amount +of progress in morality for which they have adapted the maxims in the +books of Confucius. They have teachers for all branches of +accomplishments but no school for scientific knowledge, and they have +only a very slight acquaintance with mathematics. + +The healing art is very imperfectly understood in Tonkin, experience +is their only guide, and the doctors combine their profession with +those of surgeon and apothecary. Their medical books on the +preparation of drugs are most vague in their principles. Cupping +glasses and caustics are used in obstinate cases only. The usual +medicaments are made from gums, roots and herbs. They cure fever, +eruptions, jaundice and small-pox by dieting and infusions. Certain +diseases are attributed to fogs and exhalations. Astrology bars the +way to medical progress, certain days are supposed to be unlucky, and +on these days the patient is allowed to suffer rather than that +medicines should be administered. Their skill in the arts is shown by +their articles of lacquer ware, porcelain, and in the smelting of +metals. + +The rivers and canals by which the country is intersected are +favourable to internal trade. Each town has its fairs and markets to +which many foreigners are attracted. But there is very little maritime +commerce, for the reason that their ships are too small to brave the +dangers of the stormy seas. Foreign imports are saltpetre, sulphur, +cloth, all sorts of woollen goods, spices, lead and guns. Foreign +currency only is used and no race is more skilful in the art of money +changing, as they are able to appreciate or depreciate the exchange +values at their pleasure. + +Trade would be in a flourishing condition if the Tonkinese were as +active as they are industrious, but, sunk into the slough of idleness, +they divide their time between sleeping and eating. When they are not +actually eating, they smoke, dance or sing. By a cowardly policy, the +government puts obstacles in the way of industry, the vassal States of +the Empire are excluded from any participation in sources of wealth. +The rapacity of the tax-gathers is an effectual check to competition, +as people are not anxious to spend their energies on work, the fruit +of which is reaped by others. The Tonkinese by nature a suspicious and +distrustful race are somewhat chary of the overtures of foreigners and +being too fearful of danger are unable to gain any advantage. The +legislative code of Tonkin has been borrowed from China, and the +administration of the law is in the hands of corrupt persons who +sacrifice the innocent poor to the guilty rich. Each provincial +governor is judge in his own province. Polygamy is the rule all over +Tonkin and no woman can boast of the title "wife." The bonds of these +unions or rather of this concubinage, are easily broken. The man gives +the woman a writing of divorcement which restores the woman to all her +rights. The woman cannot obtain divorce no matter whether she have +just grounds or no, and if she is convicted of adultery she is +condemned to be trampled to death by elephants. Her paramour dies by +another form of torture. The eldest son, after his father's death, +receives the whole of the estate and the paternal authority on +condition that he provides for his brothers until they are married. +The daughters have no share in the heritage. Other laws are similar to +those in force in other countries of the Indo-Chinese peninsula. Their +love of display is noticeable in their marriage feasts. Actors of both +sexes perform dances to the accompaniment of a big drum, and the +performance is followed by a concert given by hired musicians. Few +ceremonies take place without a show of cock-fighting on which +considerable wagers are laid. Girls are married at the age of sixteen +and seventeen years, and parental consent is required to make the +union legitimate. The brides see their husbands on their wedding day +for the first time and priests are excluded from the ceremony and the +festivities. + +Their funeral rites are the works of superstition, astrologers are +appointed to indicate the place of burial and the corpse is kept for +several months until some favourable omen indicates a suitable spot. +During this delay the relatives of the deceased offer the usual food +to the corpse as if it were still alive. It is kept in a room +illuminated by torches. Incense and gilt paper on which are painted +figures of various animals are burnt in its honour and the relatives +pay it a daily visit and prostrate themselves with every appearance of +woe. + +Those who accompany the funeral procession are dressed in coarse +garments and walk barefoot. They support themselves with sticks and +their slow tottering step is a sign of their grief. + +The nearest relative throws himself on the ground at intervals and the +corpse-bearers tread him under foot. The corpse is dressed in rich +attire and, as a safeguard against poverty in the next world, a piece +of gold and some pearls are placed in its mouth. On certain days in +the year offerings of food and incense are made at the tomb that the +dead may not lack support. + +Although many festivals are celebrated, it seems that they are all due +to religious influences. The most noteworthy is the feast of tombs, +which is celebrated on the anniversary of the death of the persons in +question and bountiful feasts are offered to them. The King and the +nobility celebrate their birthdays with great pomp, and their marriage +days with dances, concerts, and theatrical performances. At a certain +festival, the King followed by all his court, blesses the produce of +the soil. He drives the plough and makes several furrows as a tribute +to agriculture. There is another ceremony at which exorcisms are made +to rid the land of evil spirits. New year's day is an occasion of +great rejoicings. Booths are set up where men and women perform +dramatic pieces and sing to the accompaniment of the orchestra. +Everybody appears to be mad with joy and no business is transacted. +All work is at a standstill, the halls of justice are closed and the +seal of state is put away in its case. Criminals have no fear of +punishment during the feast. The license which reigns supreme during +this season exposes the women to outrage and they never appear unless +with an ample guard. + +The Monarch has but a semblance of real power, the commander-in-chief +is the real ruler and it is the latter whom the Europeans regard as +King. He has a large body-guard and is attended by a corps of 300 +elephants, whereas the actual king, buried in the obscurity of his +palace with his wife and children, is served by faithless menials who +act as spies on his movements. It is surprising that the +commander-in-chief allows the existence of this phantom ruler, but the +Tonkinese have such veneration for the master that it would be a +dangerous matter to attempt to supersede him. + +The commander-in-chief has usually a force of 150,000 infantry and +from 10,000 to 20,000 cavalry under his orders. Recruits are eager to +join the colours, but at the sight of the enemy their courage +evaporates and, as bravery is not one of their characteristics, they +are more ready to dig entrenchments than to make sorties therefrom. +The commander has no great confidence in his men, at least if we can +form an opinion from a letter written to the commander of the Dutch +forces in the Indies. + +"I have," he remarks, "300,000 infantry 10,000 cavalry, 2,000 +elephants, 30,000 musketeers and 1,000 pieces of artillery at my +disposal, I beg you to send 200 men and 3 ships to assist me." After +such a pompous display of the numbers under his command, one cannot +fail to draw the logical conclusion. + +The majority of the military positions of trust are confided to +eunuchs, enervated by the luxury of court life. Ability is not the +road to success, although the posts are not obtainable by bribery, all +of them are put up for sale to the highest bidder, because in a +kingdom of vast extent in which the eye of the ruler is unable to +penetrate the remotest parts, the grandees are always the sharers of +intrigue and never of the worth that hides itself in the shade. + +The whole strength of their united navy would be unable to hold its +own against one of our warships. + +Their men-of-war are flat vessels about 70 feet long, and 10 amidships +and can be used for coast defence only. The soldiers who are the +rowers are directed in their movements by the sound of a drum. + +The soldiery, scattered over the kingdom, is supposed to protect the +roads, but often by attacks on travellers, abuses the trust of the +governors to whom it is subordinated. In time of peace the soldiers +are armed with clubs which are formidable weapons in their hands and +they break the legs or thighs of those who resist or try to run away. + +All civil disputes are summarily disposed of by the magistrates. The +offender is obliged to offer meat and drink to the other party in the +suit so that their differences may be forgotten over the feast. The +creditor is absolute master of his insolvent debtors whom he can treat +with every indignity. Criminals are punished in proportion to their +crimes. Theft is not punished by death, but by the loss of a limb or +of some part of the body. Murderers are condemned to death by +decapitation. They are led to the scene of the crime or to their house +as a place of execution. If there are several criminals, there are +several executioners who on a given signal decapitate their victims +simultaneously. The Tonkinese are the least cruel people of the Indies +in the punishment of guilty persons. By law life may be bought at a +price, and only the poor actually suffer the extreme penalty. + +Although the eunuchs are objects of popular scorn, they have +considerable power, and as their misfortune smooths the path to +honours, it is often the case that self mutilation is practised by +ambitious men of advanced age without fearing the pain and _sequelae_ +of the operation. Their surgeons perform the operation skilfully, and +they have a method by which many accidents are avoided. The patient is +thrown into a deep sleep which lessens the shock of the operation, and +experience has shown that the torpid state induced, is a protection +against fever and inflammation which so often occurs after such +operations. + +At the age of 18 years every man is subject to a poll-tax in +proportion to his wealth. The magistrates, soldiers, and learned men +however are exempt and it is the poor man that bears the brunt of the +taxation as is usual in most countries. The taxes are collected after +the harvest and the inhabitants of the remotest parts of the kingdom +are forced to bring a certain quantity of fodder for the King's +elephants and horses to the store houses in the capital. Every man is +in addition obliged to work for six months on public works for which +he receives food but no salary. So great is the degradation of human +nature in these climates that the inhabitants, less privileged than +animals, seem only to exist on the earth for the purpose of watering +it with the sweat of their brows. + +The grandees and the learned follow the doctrines of Confucius, but +its precepts are too simple to be adopted by the common people who can +only behold the workings of a deity in the marvellous. The principal +belief is that of Fo which is divided into various sects, the most +widespread of which was founded by a China man named Lauro who is +revered as one of the greatest wonder-workers of the East. His +followers give out that his mother carried him in her womb for 70 +years without having lost her virginity. He boasted of his intimacy +with spirits who revealed the secrets of the future to him. The +priests, brought up in ignorance and superstition, attract the minds +of the populace by their fables and wonders. They live in extreme +poverty as they have none of the grandees for their disciples, and the +bounty of the common people is their only source of revenue. A certain +number of priests boast they can cure the most stubborn forms of +disease by means of charms. When summoned to the patient they make +their appearance in a most extraordinary manner in order to render the +performance more imposing. They make their exorcisms to the +accompaniment of drums, and trumpets. They jump about in the sick room +until the fate of the patient is decided either for death or life and +whenever the result proves the useless nature of their performance, +they have plenty of excuses ready for their non-success. + +In Tonkin the gospel-harvest has been more fruitful than in any other +of the lands of the Indies. The scorn of the great for the idolatrous +priests has contributed to the success of the Missionaries, who have +more than 200,000 converts in this kingdom of whom more than 15,000 +are under the charge of a French Missionary recently elevated to the +rank of Bishop of Agathopolis and who is assisted in his duties by +three French priests and four Chinese converts. + +I must here recapitulate the causes that ought to be favourable to the +success of this undertaking. The aim of the Seminaries of the Foreign +Missions is the establishment of a clerical order in all countries of +the world. Sacred history tells us that the Apostles and their +successors ordained priests among all nations that they converted. +People are always more ready to give credence to their fellow citizens +who are well known to them rather than to foreigners whose motives are +often to them questionable. The native priests know the language +better, are better preachers, make themselves better understood and +are more readily listened to in the explanation of the mysteries of +religion. Knowing the manners and customs of the country they are +acquainted with the best methods of combating the natural inclinations +of the people and know how to gain their confidence. All the local +superstitions are well known to them, and it is easy for them to point +out their absurdity and falsity. With all these advantages they can +fight against error and triumph over ungodliness. The hierarchical +order established by the seminary, can alone inculcate a perfect type +of Christianity that will have no further need for foreign +intervention on its behalf. + +Besides these general reasons there are particular reasons for the +Indies. The toils and dangers incurred in penetrating those distant +lands, the study of the Indian languages so difficult to learn and to +pronounce, the climate often deadly and always unpleasant to +foreigners, and the expenses of travelling, render the Indies +inaccessible to most of the priests and members of religious societies +who are zealous of making conquests for Jesus Christ. The incessant +wars that lay waste all the countries of the Indies do not allow the +missionaries to go from one country to another when needed to do so by +the church. Princes and people cannot understand their dogmas and +worship. The idolatrous priests cannot behold their gods trampled +underfoot without becoming enraged against men whom they consider +impious and sacrilegious. It is in these times of stress that the +flock has the greatest need of its pastor. Besides this in this Indies +the foreign priests can render no services to those who groan under +the sword of persecution. As soon as they appear, their complexions +and facial characteristics betray them and as soon as they are +recognised, they are haled off to durance vile. + +These eastern lands are of such wide extent and so densely peopled +that all the priests and members of the religious societies of Europe +would hardly be sufficient to instruct such vast multitudes. + +For these reasons the sovereign Pontiff has decided to appoint +Vicars-apostolic in order to form a national clergy for which the +interests of Religion and Politics demand the lasting prosperity. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of History of the Kingdom of Siam, by +Francois Henri Turpin + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44564 *** |