Volume 2

The natural history of man : being an account of the manners and customs of the uncivilized races of men / by J.G. Wood.

Date:
1868-1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The natural history of man : being an account of the manners and customs of the uncivilized races of men / by J.G. Wood. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

    866/880 (page 854)
    DUPLEX GOVKRNMENT PERSONAL CHABACTKR OP THE KING THE LATE FIRST KING AND HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS APPEARANCE OF THE SIAMESE THE MODE OF ARRANGING THE HAIR DRESS OF BOTH SEXES CEREMONIES IN SIAM AUDIENCE OP A NOBLE ACTORS AND THEIR COSTUMES AN ACTRESS IN ROYAL ROBES—THE ARISTOCRATIC ELBOW PRECAUTIONS AGAINST CRIME SYSTEM OF PUNISHMENT RELIGION OF SIAM THE WHITE ELEPHANT, AND REASON OF THE HONOURS THAT ARE PAID TO IT HAIRS OF THE TAIL ARCHITECTURE OF SIAM—THE FUNERAL PILE. In the empire of Siam, and its dependent kingdoms, Laos and Cambodia, we find the principle of the duplex rule which we have already seen existing in Japan, though in these cases the distinction between the two kings is merely one of dignity, and has nothing to do with the secular and sj^iritual element, as in Japan. In Siam, the two kings are mostly near relations, and often brothers ; and sometimes, though by no means as a rule, the Second King becomes First King on the death of his superior. Practically, the whole of the royal power is vested in the First King, the secondary ruler being, although enjoying royal rank, nothing more than the first subject in the land. In China and Japan, the personal character of the king seems to exercise but little influence over the people. This is not the case with Siam, in which country the influence of the king pervades the whole of the realm, and is of infinite importance for good or evil. The Siamese have been ver} fortunate in the king who lately held the First Tlirone. As is the custom with the Siamese kings, he spent a series of years in a Buddhist monastery, secluding himself from all society, even from that of his own children. During twenty- seven years he devoted himself to the studies which he thought would fit hira for his future ofiice; and when he mounted the throne in 1851, being then about forty-seven years of age, he astonished every one by his learning. He had made himself master of the history and geography of his own country ; he was good enough astronomer to cal- culate eclipses, and determine the latitude and longitude of a place. He could sj^eak and write English so well, that he was a valued contributor to the scientific journals of Hong Kong, and, on account of his writings, was elected a member of the Asiatic Society. He was a fair Latin and French scholar, was thoroughly acquainted with all the various dialects of Siam and Indo-China, and was also learned in Sanskrit, a language of which he was very fond. He was always desirous of attracting to him any English people who could give him instruction, and showed his preference for Great Britain by invariably wearing a Glengary