the Kingdom of Colconde who were in the King's service and have carried along with them above twenty thousand Catis each Catis being worth fifty Crowns The King of Siam wrote to the King of Colconde to send him back those Fugitives or oblige them to pay the Sum but the King would not listen to the proposal which has put the King of Siam on proclaiming a War against him and taking a Ship at the time when I was at Siam belonging to him whose lading is valued at an hundred thousand Crowns There are six Frigats commanded by English and French who cruise on those Coast Of late the Emperour of China has given leave to all Strangers to come and Negotiate in his Kingdom this permission is onely for five years but 't is hoped it will be continued seeing 't is of great advantage to his Countrey The King of Siam has a great many Malais in his Kingdom they are Mahometans but good Souldiers yet their Religion differs much from the Moors The Pegorans are as numerous in this Countrey as the originary Siamoises There are also a great many Laoises especially towards the North. Here are also eight or nine Families of Native Portuguises but of those which are called Mesties above a thousand that is to say those who are born of Portuguises and Siamoise women The Dutch have there onely one Factory The English the same The French also The Cochinnoises are about an hundred Families most Christians Amongst the Tonquinoises there are seven or eight Christian Families The Malaises are in great numbers who are most of them slaves and who consequently do not make a body The Macassars and several of the People of the Isle of Java are there establish'd as also the Moors under the Name of these last are comprehended Turks Persians Moguls Colcondoises and those of Bengala The Armenians make a separate body they are fifteen or sixteen Families all Christians the greatest part of them are Horsemen of the King's Guard As to the manners of the Siamoises they are a People very docible which proceeds rather from their nature which desires quiet than any other cause and therefore the Talapoins who make profession of this apparent vertue forbid the killing of all sorts of animals yet when any others kill Pullets or Ducks they eat their flesh without troubling themselves who did the murther or wherefore they were killed The Siamoises are generally chaste having but one Wife but the rich People such as the Mandarins have Concubines who remain shut up all their lives The people are trusty and seldom steal but 't is not the same with some of the Mandarins The Malaises who are very numerous in this Kingdom are a very base People and great Thieves In this great Kingdom there are several Pegovans who have been taken in War they are a more stirring and vigorous sort of People than the Siamoises the Women are given to liberty and their conversation is dangerous The Laoises people the fourth part of the Kingdom of Siam and being one half Chinoises they partake of their manners their craft and inclinations to shirk handsomely their Women are white and not ugly very sociable and consequently perilous In the Kingdom of Laos a man that meets a woman to salute her with the accustomed civility kisses her publickly and did he do otherwise he would grievously offend her The Siamoises as well Officers as Mandarins are generally rich for they spend hardly any thing the King giving them Servants who are obliged to maintain themselves at their own cost being as it were slaves they are under an obligation to serve them for nothing half a year and these Masters having many of them they make use of one part whilst the other rest themselves but those who do not serve them pay them every year a sum of money their Victuals are cheap it being onely Rice Fish and little Flesh and there 's great plenty of this in the Countrey their Cloaths last them long being entire pieces of Stuff which do not so soon were out as our Apparel and cost very little Most of the Siamoises are Bricklayers or Carpenters and there are very good workmen amongst them exactly imitating the curious Works of Europe As to Painting they are in a manner ignorant of the use of it there are Carved works in their Pagodes and their Tombs are well polished and very stately They colour finely with Lime which they soak in water which they draw out of a Tree found in the Forests which makes it so lasting that it dures an hundred or two hundred years although exposed to the injury of the weather Their Religion to speak properly is onely a parcel of Fabulous Tales which serve onely to bring respect and profit to the Talapoins who recommend not so much any Vertue to them as that of giving them Money They have Laws which they strictly observe especially outwardly Their end in all their good works is the hope of a happy Transmigration after their death into the body of a rich Man of a King or great Lord or of a tame animal as Cows or Sheep for these People are so far Pythagoreans they for this reason do much esteem these Animals and dare not as I have noted kill any of them as knowing not but they may kill their Father or Mother or some other of their Relations They believe a Hell where great enormities are severely punished onely for a time as also a Paradise wherein men of vertue are rewarded where having become Angels for some time they afterwards return into the Body of some man or other animal The Talapoins chief business is to read sleep eat sing and beg they go every morning to the Houses or Barges of persons they know and stand there for a while with great reservedness holding their Fan so that they cover half their Faces if they see any one disposed to give them any thing they tarry till they have received it they eat whatsoever is given them whether Pullets or any other flesh but they never drink Wine at least before people they perform no office nor prayers to any Divinity The Siamoiâ—â—â— believe there have been three great â—alapoins who by their most sublime â—erlts in several thousand Transmigrations have become Gods and having been so have moreover acquired such great merits that they have been wholly annihilated which is the term of the greatest merit and the greatest ecompence attainable being no longer fired by their frequent changes of bodies The last of these three Talaeins is the greatest God called Naâ—don because he has been in five thousand bodies in one of these Transâ—igrations of a Talapoin he became 〈◊〉 Cow his Brother would have killed him several times but there needs a great book to describe the miracles which they say Nature and not God wrought for his preservation In short this Brother was thrown into Hell for his great sins where Nacodon caused him to be crucified and for this foolish reason
A RELATIâ—â—â— Of the Laâ—â—â— EMBASSY OF Mons r. De Chaumont Kn t. TO THE COURT OF THE KING of SIAM With an Account of the Government State Manners Religion and Commerce of that Kingdom LONDON Printed for Henry Mortlock at the Phoenix in S. Paul's Church-Yard 1687. A RELATION OF THE EMBASSY OF Mon r. De Chaumont Kn t. TO THE COURT OF THE KING of SIAM With an Account of whatever past that was remarkable in his Voyage I Parted from Brest the third of March 1685. on the King's Ship called the Hawk accompanied by one of His Majesties Frigats named the Maline and that with so favourable a Wind that in seven days we arrived at the Madera Islands we thus happily past on till we came to four or five degrees northward of the Equinoctial line When we were overtaken by a calm and suffered extreme heats but which yet did not much incommode us the wind began again to blow and we past the line three hundred and fifty degrees five minutes of longitude thirty days after our setting out We found the water here to be as fresh and good as if it had sprang from some pleasant fountain which made us neglect to use that in our Jarrs At five degrees southward of the line we found the Winds very inconstant but the heats not troublesom and I left not off my winter garments in all this passage The Winds though variable yet carried us our course so that we arrived at the Cape of Good Hope the 31st of May to take in fresh water and other Provisions although my old store was not exhausted We cast anchor late at night and found in this road four Dutch Vessels that came from Holland and had on Board a Commissioner who was to order affairs in behalf of the East-India Company Monsieur St. Martin Major General a French man who has been in the Dutch service this thirty years was also in one of these Vessels intending for Batavia where his Employment lay The Commissioner General sent to complement me the first day of my arrival and the next morning his Nephew and Secretary came to offer me whatsoever 〈◊〉 might want The Inhabitants of the Countrey brought presents of Fruits and Cattle and the Dutch Vessels saâ—uted our Ships after the accustomed manner The Dutch have here a small Fort and near an hundred Houses about a Musquet shot off it which are well built and in good order The situation of this place is very pleasant although bounded by a great Mountain inhabited by an infinite number of Monkies which oft come down into their Gardens and spoil the Fruit. There are also several Summer-houses two three and four leagues off in the countrey and beyond this vast Mountain there is plain near ten Leagues long where are several Houses well inhabited and which are every day increasing The Climate is mild enough their Spring beginning in October and ending in December their Summer lastâ— January February and March their Autumn is in April May June and their Winter in July August September the heats would be very greatâ— were they not moderated by gentle Gales The Dutch East-India Company have here a most pleasant Gardenâ— whose great Walk is fourteen hundred paces long it is planted every where thick with Citron Trees This Garden is ordered into Apartments in one of them you may see Fruit-trees and the rarest Plants of Asia in the other the most exquisite of Africa in the third such as are choicest in Europe and in the fourth such Fruits and Plantâ— as grow in America This Garden is very well kept and of good use to the Dutch by a great quantity of Herbâ— and Roots which it supplies them with for the Refreshment of their Fleets when they come here to pass to the Indies or returning to their own Countrey I found there a French Gardiner who had heretofore learnt his Trade at the Gardens of Monsieur at St. Cloud The Soil is very good and yields good store of grain A person worthy credit has assured me he saw an hundred and sixty Ears of Corn on one stalk The Inhabitants of the Countrey have fair Countenances but herein deceitfull for they are mere bruits they go naked excepting that part which they cover with a nasty Skin of a beast They till not the Ground yet abound with Cattel such as â—ows Hogs and Sheep They scarce eat any of these their chiefest dyet being Milk and Butter which for cleanliness sake they make in Sheep Skins They have a root which hath the taste of the Kernel of one of our small Nuts which serves them for bread They are indifferently skilled in Simples which they can use in the Cure of Wounds and other Distempers The greatest Lords amongst them are they that have most Cattle which they watch and keep themselves They ofâ— have wars with each other about their pastures Are greatly annoyed with wild Beasts there being more than a few Lions Leopards Tygers Wolves wild Dogs Elephants and other savage Creatures All their Arms are a kind of poisoned Lance to strike these Beasts with They have a kind of Toyls wherewith they enclose their Cattel at night They trouble not themselves much about Religion yet observe some slight Ceremonies to the Full-moon which do not signifie much Their Language seems difficult to be understood They have much game as Pheasants Partridges three or four sorts Peacocks Hares Coneys and Deer in such abundance that sometimes a Man shall see near twenty thousand together in a plain We ate some of these before mentioned and found them admirable good The Sheep are here very large of fourscore pound weight commonly Here are great quantity of Cows and Oxen. The Sea in this Bay is full of Fish which are of good relish some of them having the taste of Salmon This place abounds with Sea-wolves and when in our Shallop we perceived an infinite number came tumbling by us of which we could not kill one Several wild Horses scamper along the plains which if I mistake not are inferiour to none in other parts both in strength and beautifull colours and shapes I brought along with me one of their Skins they are hard to be mastered This being such a good Countrey the Hollanders send continually fresh people to it who make every season considerable discoveries Some say they have found out Gold and Silver Mines of which 't is not to be expected they should say much themselves The water is here very good proceeding from several Springs near Rivers which abound as I already noted with Fish We parted from this Road the seventh of June with so favourable a North Wind and North North West that we soon got into the open Sea and that night steered to Bantam we endured vehement Rains and met with great Seas till we reached the Isles of Madegascar which was on the seventeenth of June On these Seas you perceive great quantity of Birds but find therein no Fish Till July we encountred
Sleeves with Diamonds which lookt like a kind of Collar and Bracelets He had a great many Diamond Rings on his fingers I cannot say what kind of Shoes or Stocking he had on having onely in this Audience seen half his Body He had fourscore Mandarins in his Parlor where 〈◊〉 was all prostrate on the ground and who never left this posture all this while The King is about fifty five years of age well shaped somewhat tanned as all of those Countreys are having a chearfull countenance his inclinations are Royal he is couragious a great Politician governing alone magnificent liberal a Lover of Arts in a word a Prince who by his Wit has freed himself from diverse Customer which he found in his Kingdom borrowing of strange Countreys and especially of Europe whatsoever he thought might most contribute to the Honour and Happiness of his Reign These Mandarins whom I now mentioned had neither Shoes nor Stockins and were apparelled like those I have heretofore spoke of with Caps like the King 's and each of them had a Box wherein he put his Betel Arreck and Tobacco By these Boxes a Man may distinguish their Qualities and Ranks some differing from others Affter the King had discoursed with me an hour he shut his Window and I retired The place of Audience was about twelve or fifteen steps high 't was finely painted within with flowers of Gold from the top to the bottom the Floor was covered with rich Tapestry at the end of this Parlor there were two pair of large Stairs on each hand which led into the Chamber where the King was in the middle of these two pair of Stairs are Windows to which you must go up some steps before which there were three great Umbrella's they were of Cloth of Gold and their Sticks painted with Gold one was in the middle of the Window and the two others on both sides 't is through this Window we saw the King's Throne and through which he gave me Audience Mr. Constans carried me afterwards to view the rest of the Palace where I saw the white Elephant who ate and drank out of Gold I saw also others very fine ones after which I returned to my Lodging in the same Pomp wherein I came which House was well enough and all my retinue were well accommodated in it I was informed that Mr. Constans had given order from the King to all the Mandarins 〈◊〉 foreign Nations that dwell in his Kingdom to come to these Lodgings and being there he told them the King was minded they should see in what distinct manner he treated the Ambassadours of France and those of other Nations This distinction being due to the King of France a most mighty Monarch and who knew to requite the Civilities shewed him These Mandarins were astonished and answered they had never seen an Ambassadour from France and were persuaded that the singular reception which the King gave him was due to the Character of so great a Prince seeing his Victories have long since been known to the remotest parts of the World and therefore they were not surprised at the King's distinction At the same time Mr. Constans ordered them from the King to come and complement me The same day at night Mr. Constansâ—an â—an e again to see me and then we had a longer conversation There were â—n my Lodgings a great number of Mandarins and Siamoises as a guard and to furnish us what things we needed at the King's charge On the ninteenth there came a great many Mandarins to attend me and Mr. Constans with a Present of Fruits and of that Countreys Sweet-meats The same day the Bishop of Metellopolis was sent for by the King to interpret his Majesty's Letter On the twenty second the King sent me several pieces of strip'd Satin morning Gowns of Japon and a set of Gold buttons and to the Gentlemen which accompanied me some stuffs of Gold and Silver Indian work the King's custome being to present at one's arrival Stuffs wherewith to make Cloaths after the fashion of the Countrey But as for my part I made no new Cloaths and there were onely the Gentlemen of my train who did it At night being accompained by the Bishop I went to give a visit to Mr. Constans On the twenty fourth the King seâ—â— me word he would give me Audienâ—â— the next morning On the twenty fifth I came to the Palace with all my Train together with the Bishop the King gave me 〈◊〉 particular Audience wherein he told me many things of which I gave aâ— account to his Majesty I Dined 〈◊〉 the Palace Garden under great Treeâ— and I was served with several Disheâ— of Meat and Fruits the chief Mandarins as the great Treasurer the Captains of the King's Guards and otherâ— attended us this Treat held three oâ— four hours and there was in the Garden a Pond in which there were 〈◊〉 great many rare Fish and amongâ—â— others there was one which represented the countenance of a man On the twenty ninth I went to give a visit to the Barcalon who is the King 's chief Minister who seemed to me to be a man of sense the Bishop accompanied me and was Interpreter to us bothâ— On the thirtieth I went to the Palacâ— to see the Pagod or the King of Siam domestick Temple there was then iâ— the Court of the Palace a Combat or to speak better an Elephant fight for the Elephants were tyed by the two hind feet on each of them rode two men who held in their hands a crook with which they governed them as Horses are managed by a bridle they struck them several times to animate them and the Elephants had fought well no question had they had liberty they onely gave one another blows with their teeth and trunks the King was there present but I did not see him We past through this Court into several others and afterwards came into the Pagod the Portal appeared to be ancient and well wrought the whole building indifferent handsome and of the form of our Churches in Europe we saw several Statues of Brass gilt which seemed to offer sacrifices to a great Idol all of Gold about forty foot high on the side of which Idol there were several other small ones some of which being also of Gold had lighted Lamps fastned into them from the top to the bottom of them At the end of this Pagod there is another great Idol on a stately Tombestone I afterwards went into another Pagod adjoyning to the first and I past under into a Vault like a Cloister where there were Idols on each hand gilded who had each oâ— them a Lamp burning before them which the Talapoins which are the Priests of Siam do light every night In this Pagod was the Tomb of the deceased Queen who died about four or five years since 't is magnificent enough and behind this Tomb was another of this present King 's Predecessor's represented by a great Statue lying
knee to the ground and then immediately a door is opened that he may appear before the King and the same Ceremonies are practised which I have already denoted There is a Golden Platter on the Table wherein lyes the letter translated and open having been received by the Ministers some days before in a Hall appointed for that purpose When the Ambassador is in his place the Minister's Deputy takes the Letter and reads it aloud which done the King asks the Ambassador some questions by his Minister his Minister by the Captain of the Nation and the Captain by the Interpreter as I have already observed Having learnt this manner of receiving Ambassadors which did not seem agreeable to the greatness of the Monarch by whom I was sent I desired two Mandarins who attended me by the King's order to inform him that I entreated him I might have the same reception which Ambassadors are wont to have in France which was granted me in the manner I related Departure from the Road of Siam Having given some account of the Religion Manners Customes and Situation of the Kingdom of Siam â— come now to relate my departure which was on the twenty second of December 1685. We hoisted Sail at three of the morning with a good Northern wind which continued all along the Coasts of Camboge which is a Kingdom adjoyning to that of Siam and Cochinchine The People of these two Kingdoms have the same belief and live after the same manner There past nothing remarkable to the Strait of Banca where I ran on ground on the side of an Isle called Lucapara on a Muddy bank where there were but three fathoms of water and our Vessel required above sixteen this did not much disturb me though it did much the Ships Crew whom I sent to sound about the Vessel I caused a small Anchor to be brought to which there was a Cable and we got off this bank in less than five hours and though I had a good Dutch Pilot yet I caused this Strait to be often souded I continued my course and arrived at Bantam the eleventh of January 1686. As soon as I had cast Anchor there I sent an Officer of my Ship to Complement the Governour and to have fresh provisions He sent me for a Present six Oxen Fruits and Herbs and I remained in this Road but thirty hours We weighed Anchor on the twelfth at night but the calm overtook us which obliged us to cast Anchor On the thirteenth I weighed Anchor and we had all that day calms and contray winds but at night there arose a small wind which made us double the point of Bartam and pass the Strait of Sonda in less than eight hours I was obliged to land at the Isle of Prince which is at the mouth of the Strait in expectation of the Maliâ—â— Frigat which could not follow us but at length joyned us On the fourteenth I held on my course directly for the Cape of Good Hope with a favorable North wind and North North-East The twenty third at break of day having made about an hundred and fifty Leagues we saw the Isles of Holy Cross which surprised us because the evening before I caused the Pilots point to be showed me who told me to be at farthest but fifteen Leagues of Latitude Southward and twenty of Longitude This Island lyes very low and had it been three or four hours in the night we had certainly run on ground but it pleased God to preserve us We attributed this error to the Tides which ran against us we past this Isle quickly the wind blowing hard and continued our course The Sea is full of Fish in these parts and there are a great many Birds the weather was fair and we every day made thirty forty fifty Leagues we were diverted by pleasant game we saw carried on by the Albucorps and Bonnitres and a small Fish called a flying-fish who when he sees himself pursued gets out of the water and flyes as long as his wings â—ie moist which may be as far perhaps as the flight of wild Ducks but there is a Bird which carries a great feather in its Tail longer than the others by half a foot and which has the form and almost the colour of a Straw he is always in the air and when he sees this flying-fish leave the water he lets himself fall down upon it as a bird of prey on his game and some times they go deep into the water after it so that this slying-fish seldom fails being taken On the fifteenth of February we found our selves not far from the Isle of Maurice where we met with a blast of wind that lasted us three days the Sea was extreme rough and gave us a great deal of trouble the waves passing oft over our Ship which made as to ply our Pumps to clear it of water On the ninteenth the Weather grew fair and gave us leasure to set to rights what the Sea had disordered The first night wherein this bad weather happened the Frigat that was with me left us the rendesvouz being at the Cape of Good Hope Keeping on our course we had more hard weather which much incommoded us the waves beating against our Ship in such a manner as threatened great danger On the tenth of March about two hours after noon we perceived a Vessel at first I thought it was that which had left me but coming nearer we saw her carrying English Colours and being willing to hear News and supposing she came from Europe I came up to her and sent out my long Boat with an Officer to know if there were any Wars for when a man has been long at Sea one Knows not whom to trust word was brought me 't was an English Merchant-Man who had parted from London five months since and had touched now here and that he intended streight for Tonquoin that the Captain had told him that there was no War in France and that all Europe was at Peace but yet there had been some troubles in England occasioned by the Duke of Monmouth who had placed himself at the Head of ten or twelve thousand men but that the King's Troops had routed them and taken him Prisoner and that he was beheaded and several of his Followers hanged and so this rebellion was ended He also told us that he had seen Land the day before seven Leagues off which made us judge that we were thirty or thirty five Leagues off of it We held on our course the rest of the day and night and the next morning at ten of the clock we spied Land seven or eight Leagues off us I sounded and we found fourscore fathom and upward we clapt on all our Sail to endeavour to get before night to the Cape of Good Hope the next morning at break of day we saw it and doubled it about ten of the clock we espied a Vessel windward of us and drawing near we found 't was the Frigat which
her and the Bolt-sprit of this Ship laid on cross my Stern I caused about twenty Musquet Shot to be fired among her Men which immediately made her clear her self of us and taking the advantage of the Wind and clapping on all her Sails we knew not what Nation she was of for no body in the Ship spoke one word and we observed but few Men on board her I suppose her to have been some Merchant Ship guided by unskilfull hands they did our Ship some mischief but the damage was repaired next morning On Tuesday being the twenty eighth at night we discovered the entrance of the Strait of Banca and on the twenty ninth in the morning we entred therein Although we had a good Dutch Pilot yet we ran upon a muddy bank of Sand there being many of this kind in this Strait and ti being usual for Vessels to meet with them without much hurt therefore this did not much disturb us for I caused a small Anchor to be cast on the side of Sumatra and in less than two hours we got off clear from this Bank We were three days passing this Strait The Isle of Sumatra is on the left and contains two hundred and fifty Leagues in length and about fifty in breadth The Hollanders have four or five Fortresses here its people are Mahometans and under the Regiment of five or six Kings The Queen of Achem possesses one of the largest Countries and governs with great Authority and Regularity The Hollanders are in a manner Masters of all these Princes they deal with them for whatsoever the Island yields where 't is said there are golden Mines great quantities of Pepper Rice all sorts of Cattle and in some Cantons the people are very barbarous and the Kings are oft at war one with one another Those who receive the Hollanders protection are ever the strongest 'T is the same in the Isle of Java for three hundred Europeans do beat five or six thousand Men of these Nations who know not tho Art of War It lies four degrees Southward of the Equinoctial Line The Dutch have a Fort on the side of the Strait of Banca strengthened with twenty four pieces of Canon the Fort is built upon the River called Palembone which runs so violently into the Sea that three or four months in the year in rainy weather the water of it when in the Sea does yet keep its freshness The Isle of Banca lay on the right hand of us being about fourty Leagues long The Dutch have a Fort there and drive a considerable Trade with the Natives of the Countrey 't is said to be a very good and fruitfull Countrey when I sailed by the River of Palembone the Dutch were there lading two Vessels with Pepper On the third of September we past the Line again by the help of good weather the air being temperate and without excessive Heats so that I still wore my Cloth suit till I past over to the Coasts of Africa We came before the Strait of Malaca which has four or five passages or entrances but the Streams were so great and running sometimes against us that we were forced oft to cast Anthor for when the Calm took us the Streams forcibly carried us a great distance but we left not this Coast by reason of the Winds which always â—low from the land and greatly helped us in our course I believe this Countrey 's Air to be good for we had many sick who were all recovered by â—t On the fifth we discovered the Isle of Polimon which is inhabited by Malaises who are Mahometans This is a plentifull Countrey and obedient to a Prince by whom 't is governed The Queen of Achem has some pretensions to it and for this effect she sends thither every year some Vessels but this Prince being not willing to engage in a War against her his people pay her Tribute There came a small Boat to our Ship side which brought us some Fish and Fruits This Isle is distant from the Continent about six Leagues part of its Coasts was heretofore subject to the King of Siam but it has been since some years in the possession of two or three Kings one of which is the King of Malais This is a very unsociable Nation and will enter into no Commerce From the fifth to the fifteenth we had but small Winds and very variable and Calms which caused us oft to cast Anchor as also by reason of Streams which run along this Coast From the Strait of Banca to Siam the Land is not wont to be left The same day we found our selves before Ligor which is the chief place belonging to the King of Siam The Hollanders have a habitation there and liberty of Trade 'T is hard to express the Joy which the Siamoises whom we brought along with us had to see their own Countrey and it cannot be better compared than to that which we felt at our return when God brought us safe to Brest Here died a young Gentleman having been ill five months with a bloudy Flux whom the King sent to attend me in my Voyage he was a Youth of great hopes and I was much afflicted at the loss of him In short thanks be to God on the twenty fourth we cast Anchor before the River of Siam Our whole Ship 's crew were in good health I sent to the Bishop of Metellopolis Mr. le Vacher a Missionary who came with the Mandarins into France and whom I brought along with them with charge to entreat him to come to me that I might learn what had happened this eighteen months since the King of Siam sent into France On the twenty ninth the Bishop came on board with the Abbat of Lionne who informed me of whatsoever had past telling me that the King of Siam having heard at midnight of my arrival by Mr. Constance one of his Ministers he shewed great joy and ordered him to go and advertise the Bishop of it and to dispatch two Mandarins of the first rank who are in a manner as the chief Gentlemen of the King's Chamber are in France to assure me of the joy he conceived at my arrival They came two days after on board me whom I received in my Cabin the Bishop sitting by me and they and others sitting down on Carpets laid on the floor it being the custome of the Country to sit in that manner there being no person but the King who sits higher They told me the King their Master had commanded them to shew me the Joy he had at my arrival and at the News of our King 's having vanquished all his Enemies and become absolute Master of his Kingdom Having denoted to them how much I thought my self beholden to the King their Master and answered what they offered touching our Prince I told them I was extremely satisfied with the Governor of Bancok for his reception of those I sent him as also with the Presents he had made me They replyed
he had done onely his duty seeing in France the King their Master's Envoys had been so well received and that moreover I merited this good usage by my procurement of an Union between the Kings of Siam and of France Having treated them with the honours and civilities usual in such like occasions in these Countries I presented them with Tea and Comfits These two Mandarins were well shap'd Men of about 25 years of Age and Apparelled after their mode being bare headed without Shoes or Stockings wearing a kind of long Scarf down to their Knees and coming between their Legs was fastned behind This Scarf was of painted linen neatly done and embroidred at the edges from the waste upwards they had nothing but a kind of Muslin wastcoat which they let hang over this Scarf the sleeves being somewhat large but not long They remained about an hour on board our Vessel and I saluted them with nine pieces of Canon at their departure On the ninth of October Mr. Constance the King of Siam's Minister I lately mentioned and who though a stranger has obtained by his merit the chief place in the King's favour sent to Complement me by his Secretary who was an honest man and offered me from himself such a great present of Fruits besides Oxen Hoggs Pullets Ducks and such like things that all the Ships crew were fed with them for four days together These refreshments are gratefull when a man has been seven or eight months at Sea On the eighth the Bishop of Metellopolis who had returned to the chief City of Siam came on board us again with two Mandarin's to enquire as from the King after my Health and to inform me how impatiently he took my delays of seeing him entreating me to hasten on shore I returned their Complement and told them I should soon be there I gave these Mandarins the same Entertainment I gave the first saluting them also at their departure with nine pieces of Canon About two of the Clock the same day I went into my Shalop and those of my Attendance into Boats which the King had â—ent being arrived at night in the River I found five Barges one for my self which was a very magnificent one and the four others for the Gentlemen which accompanied me with several others to carry the rest of my Retinue â—nd Goods Two Mandarins came and Complemented me from the King 〈◊〉 could not reach that night the place â—esigned for my Reception which obliged me to pass out of the Barge â—nto the Maline Frigat which had â—ntred the River two days before on â—oard of which I lay all night The same Evening a person whom 〈◊〉 had sent to Siam to buy such Provisions as we needed came and told me that Mr. Constance had delivered to him from the King eleven Barks full of Oxen Sheep Calves Ducks Pullets and Strong-water made with Rice together with a Request that I would not spare to ask for what we wanted for we should be supplyeâ— all the time we tarryed in the Kingdom at his Majesty's charge On the ninth there came two Mandarins to my Barge from the King who told me they came for my orders and I parted from this place about seven iâ— the morning Having went about fivâ— leagues I came to a house built 〈◊〉 purpose for my entertainment wheâ—â— two Mandarins and the Governourâ— of Bancok and Pipely with several otherâ— were ready to receive me This Housâ— was made with Bamboos and covereâ— with neat Matts All the Furniture 〈◊〉 it was new it contained severaâ— Chambers hung with fine painted lineâ— the Floor of my Room was covereâ— with Tapstry the Chairs were curiouâ—ly wrought and gilt as also the Tableâ— to speak nothing of the neatness 〈◊〉 the Bed I was here served with choicâ— Meats and delicate Fruits I left thiâ— place after Dinner and all the Mandarins followed me I went to Bancok which is the chief place the King 〈◊〉 Siam has on this River distant abouâ— twelve leagues from the Sea I founâ— here an English Vessel which saluted me with his Cannon which were answered by the Forts which defend both sides of the River which Forts are regular enough and well furnished with Guns I lodged in a House well built and furnisht where I was treated after the fashion of the Countrey The next Morning I parted at eight of the clock attended by all the Mandarins and Governours who were come to complement me At my departure I was also saluted by the Cannon and arrived at Noon in a House built on purpose for me and as well furnisht as the former There was near adjoyning two Fortresses which saluted me with all their Guns and two Mandarins more came to receive me I was very well served at Dinner and I parted here at three a clock and the Governour of Bancok took his leave of me to return to his charge Holding on my course I came to two Ships the one English and the other Dutch lying at anchor who also discharged all their Cannon and I arrived at seven at night at a convenient House furnished after the same manner as the preceding ones where I was received and treated by other Mandarins The eleventh in the morning I parted thence and went and dined in another House and at night I lay and was treated as before On the twelfth I lodged two Leagues off of Siam where I was again received by two Mandarins The principal Merchants of the English and Dutch Companies came to complement my arrival in those parts and as to the French they attended me all the way Here I remained till I made my entrance The River of Siam called Menon is very large and commodious being adorned all along the sides of it with pleasant Trees but three or four months in the Year all these places are overflowed with water and therefore all the Houses are built on a kind of sledges and made all of Bamboos This wood serves the Siamoises both for the foundations and tops of their houses and for infinite purposes besides making use of it as we do Flints and Steels for they need onely take a little of this wood on a heap and rub it together and it presently lights All the people of these parts have little Boats to pass from one house to another for what they want Here are seen none but Women to work the Men being for the most part employed in the Kings service whose Slaves they are I had the same honours shewed me as to the King when he is wont to pass on the River I could see no body in the houses all people were in Barges or on the side of the River lying flat on their Bellies and their hands joyned against their foreheads They reverence in such a manner their Prince that they dare not lift up their eyes to look on him I observed that the houses where I lodged were painted with red that I might be treated as his own person there being onely
the Royal Houses of that colour All the Mandarins which came to receive me on the River still accompanied me The Princes also visited me They have all convenient Barges in the middle of which there is a kind of Throne whereon they sit and they usually go but one in a Barge on both sides of them are their Arms as Scimitars Swords and Darts and even Forks They are all cloathed in the manner I already mentioned A Portuguese whom the King had made General of the Troops in Bancok continually accompanied me and gave orders for all things I was attended with near fifty or sixty Barges some of which were fifty sixty seventy and eighty foot long having Oars from twenty to an hundred They row not after our manner they sit two on each bench one on one side and another on the other their Faces turned on that side where they go and have a Scul which they call Pagais being about four foot long with which they take a world of pains being contented with sod Rice and if they have a piece of Fish they believe they Dine sumptuously They eat of a Leaf which they call Betel which is like Ivy and a kind of Corn which they call Arrek putting Lime thereon and this gives it a taste They eat the Tobacco growing in their Countrey which is very strong all which blackens their Teeth which they esteem the handsomest A man may live after this rate for fifteen pence a month for they usually drink nothing but water They have a kind of Aqua vitae which they call Rack made with Rice When I came to a House which was intended for me all the Mandarins that accompanied me made a lane for me to pass through to my Chamber door On the thirteenth I sent word to the King by the Mandarins that were with me that I had been informed of the manner wherewith they were wont to receive Ambassadors and it being very different from that of France I entreated him to send me somebody to instruct me about my entrance On the fourteenth he sent me the Sieur Constance with whom I had a long conversation the Bishop of Metropolis being our Interpreter We had a tedious dispute and I would bate nothing of the mode of receiving Ambassadors in France which at length he granted me On the fifteenth the Tunquinoises came to complement me on my arrival The sixteenth the Cochinchinoises did the same The seventeenth Mr. Constance came to me and brought with him four stately Barges to carry the Presents which his Majesty sent to the King of Siam And on the same day the King gave order to all the Indian Nations that reside at Siam to congratulate my arrival and to pay me all the espect which is due to the character of an Ambassador to so great a King They came to me at six at night each of them habited after their own manner there were of forty different Nations and each of them of Kingdoms independent one of another and that which seemed most remarkable was that among the rest there was the son of a King who was driven out of his Countrey and taking Siam for his refuge entreated assistance toward his re-establishment their dresses were the same as the Siamoises some having Turbants others Armenian Bonnets and others bare-headed like the common Siamoises persons of quality having Bonnets of the same fashion of our Dragoons made of white Muslin which tye under their Chins with a string being all of them barefooted The King made Mr. Constance tell me that he would give me Audience the next morning being the eighteenth I set out at seven of the clock in the morning in the manner which I shall relate having first recited the honour wherewith the King of Siam received the King of France's Letter 'T is true he is wont to receive with respect the Letters delivered him by Ambassadors of foreign Potentates but he would give a distinct honour to that of our great Monarch There came forty of the chiefest Mandarins in the Court two of which were Oyas which is to say Dukes who told me that all the Barges were ready to receive his Majesty's Letter and carry my self to the Palace The Letter was in my Chamber in a golden Cabinet the Mandarins having entred prostrated themselves their hands closed and adjoyning to their foreheads and their faces towards the ground and saluted in this posture the King's Letter for three times together I being seated on a Throne near the Letter received this honour which was never paid to any but his Majesty of France which Ceremony being ended I took the Letter with the golden Cabinet and having carried it seven or eight paces I gave it to the Abbat of Choisy who came from France with me He walkt at my right hand a little behind and carried it to the water side where I found a curious Barge sumptuously gilded in which were two Mandarins of the chief rank I took the Letter from Mr. Choisy and having carried it into the Barge with me I put it into the hands of these Mandarins who laid it on a stately raised Table gilt I entred into another a very magnificent one which followed immediately that wherein was the Letter of his Majesty Two others also as stately as mine in which were Mandarins rowed on either side of that where the Letter was Mine as I now said followed after Mr. Choisy the Abbat was in another Barge next to mine and the Gentlemen which accompanied me and others of my retinue in other Barges Those of the Great Mandarins likewise were very fine and were on head of us There were about twelve gilt Barges and near two hundred others that followed us The King's Letter the two Barges that attended it and mine were in the middle All the Nations at Siam were attending and the whole River although very large was covered with Barges We moved after this rate to the Town whose Cannons were discharged which never was done to any other Ambassadour all the Ships saluted me likewise and at landing I found a great golden Chariot which onely the King rode in 〈…〉 took His Majesty's Letter and laid 〈◊〉 into this Chariot which was drawn by Horses led by Men I afterwards went into a glorious Chair which was carried by ten Men on their Shoulders the Abbat of Choisy was also in another but of less finery the Gentlemen and Mandarins which accompanied me were on Horseback all the several Nations which dwell at Siam walking on foot behind the Procession was in this wise to the Castle where I found the Souldiers who were drawn up on each side of the Street having Head-pieces gilt with Gold red Shirts on and a kind of Scarf of painted cloth which served them for Breeches but having neither Shoes nor Stockings Some of them were armed with Musquets others with Lances others with Bows and Arrows and lastly some with Pikes There wanted not musical instruments as Trumpets Drums Timbrels Pipes
on one side and drest as Kings are wont to be in days of Ceremony this Statue is about twenty five foot long 't was of Brass gilt I went farther into other places where there were a great many of these Statues both of Gold and Silver several had rich Dimond Rings and Rubies on their fingers I never saw so many Images and so much Gold I afterwards went to see the Elephants there is a great number of them and who are of a prodigious size I saw a piece of Cannon cast at Siam of eighteen foot long and that would carry bullets of three hundred pound weight there is a great many Cannons which they make themselves in this Kingdom The thirty first was a day of rejoycing for the King of Portugal's coming to the Crown which was solemnised by the letting off the great Guns and several shews of Fire-works from on board the Portugal Vessels The next morning being the first of November Mr. Constans invited me to a great Feast which was made as a farther continuation of the former Solemnity to which I went and all the Europeans in the Town the Guns ceased not from firing all that day after Dinner there was a Comedy the Chianoises began the Postures there were Siamoises in it but I knew not what they said their gestures seemed to me ridiculous and far unlike those amongst us yet there were two men who ascended to the top of two Perches which were hung very high which had at their end a little Apple and standing upright on the top of them they shewed several strange tricks Afterwards we had a kind of Puppet play which yielded small diversion On the fourth being Sunday Mr. Constans told me that the King was to go to the Pagod where he is wont to go every year and prayed me to see him pass by I went with him and all my Attendance and having remained there a while there appeared a great gilded Barge in which was a Mandarin who came to see whether all things were in order scarcely was he past by but I saw several Barges wherein were the Mandarins of the first rank who were all of them in Suits of red cloath they are wont on these solemn days to be all cloathed with the same colour and 't is the King who nominates it they had white Bonnets on very high crown'd and the Oyas had at the bottom of their Caps a golden Fringe as to their Breeches 't was a kind of Scarf as I already said After them came those of the second rank the Life Guards several Souldiers and then the King in a Barge attended with two others which were very fine ones the Watermen were apparelled like the Souldiers but onely they had a kind of breast and back-plates and each of them an helmet on their heads which is said to be of Gold their Pagais or Sculs were gilt with Gold as all the Barges were which shewed very fine there were an hundred and fourscore and five Rowers in each of these Barges and in those of the Mandarins about an hundred and an hundred and twenty there were Guards that followed and several other Mandarins who made the rear Guard the King was richly Apparelled with several pretious Stones I saluted him in passing by and he returned my complement his Train consisted of an hundred and forty stately Barges which appeared very finely indeed on the water marching all in good order After Dinner I went into my Barge to see the rest of the Ceremony at night the King changed his Barge and proposed a prize to that Barge that should first arrive by force of Oars to the Palace he himself was one of the party and he advanced by much before the others so that his Rowers won the money I know not how great 't was the other Barges past on very swiftly all the River was covered with them who came to see the King that day being designed for his shewing himself to his People I believe there were an hundred thousand to see him At night there were Fire-works for joy of the Coronation of the King of England the whole affair was well carried on and strange Vessels fired from all parts their Cannon On the fifth this Feast continued and the Cannon was fired from all parts of the Town Mr. Constans invited me to Dinner where all the Europeans were where I was made very welcome On the eighth the King parted for Louvo which is a Countrey Seat where he generally remains for eight or nine months in the year it being distant twenty Leagues from Siam On the fifteenth I parted for that place I lay in the way at a House which was built for me 't was in the same form as that where I had been Lodged all along 't was near where the King lyes when he goes to Louvo I remained there all the sixteenth and on the seventeenth set out thither where I arrived the same day on eight at night I found this House of the King 's built after the Moorish fashion and a man may justly praise the Countrey in your entrance to it you must pass through a Garden where there are several Conduits in this Garden you ascend five or six steps and you go to a kind of Summer-house standing very high where you take the Air I found a very fine Chapel and a Lodging for all those who attended me On Munday the ninteenth the King gave me a particular Audience after Dinner I went abroad to take the Air on Elephants whose goings are very uneasie and incommodious I had rather ride ten Leagues on Horse back than one on these animals On the twenty third Mr. Constans told me the King would give me the divertisement of a combat of Elephants and entreated me to bring along with me the Captains who had conducted me to shew them the sport who were the Sieurs de Vaudricourt and Joyeuse we went thither on Elephants and the Fight was carried on after the same manner as that which I above related The King sent for the Captains and told them he was very glad they were the King of France's first Captains who came into his Kingdom and he wisht them as happy a return as their arrival was He gave each of them a Scimitar whose handle and guard was of Gold and the sheaths almost covered with the same metal a golden Chain curiously wrought and very large a Vest of cloth of Gold with Gold buttons as Mr. de Vaudricourt was the chief Captain so his Present was richer and better the King gave him notice to have a care of their Enemies by the way they answered that his Majesty furnisht them with arms to defend themselves and that they would acquit themselves of their duty These Captains spake to him without lighting off their Elephants I saw very well that under pretence of a combat of Elephants he was minded to make these Presents in the sight of several Europeans who were present to give a
Majesty's Interests were as dear to him as his own I thereupon ordered Monsr de la Mare to remain with the King who gave to him a Vest of Stuff of Gold The King told me he would send a little Elephant to the Duke of Burgundy which he shewed me and having a while thought on it he said that if he should give one onely to the Duke of Burgundy he feared lest the Duke of Anjou should take it ill and therefore he would send two and I designing to part the next morning to go on board I presented the Gentlemen to him who were with me to take leave of his Majesty the King wisht them a good Voyage The Bishop would have presented to him Messieurs the Abbat de Lionne and le Vacher Missionaries to take their leave of him but he told the Bishop that as to those two persons they were of his Family and that he respected them as his Children and that they should take their leave of him in his Castle afterwards the King retired and I attended on him to the end of the Wood taking the way of Louvo because the King had a House in the Wood where he usually tarries whilst he is busied in this Game of Elephants On Wednesday the twelfth the King gave me Audience of Leave the Bishop was there he was pleased to say he was very well satisfied with me and my Negotiation he gave me a great golden Vessel which they call a Boss and this is one of the most honourable marks of the King's Favour he told me he would not have the accustomed Ceremonies about it because there might be something which would not please me by reason of the Genuflexions which the greatest of the Kingdom are obliged to make on this occasion There is no Stranger in his Court excepting the King of Camboye's Nephew who has received the like Mark of Honour which signifies that one is an Oyas a Dignity in that Countrey comparable to a Duke in France there are several sorts of Oyas which are distinguished by their Bosses This Monarch had the goodness to tell me several things in such an obliging manner that I dare not relate them and in all my Voyage I received such great Honours that I should scarce be believed were they not sole due to the Character His Majesty has been pleased to honour me with I received also a thousand Civilities from his Ministers and the rest of his Court Messieurs the Abbat of Lionne and le Vacher took at the same time their leaves of the King who having wisht them a good Voyage gave each of them a golden Crucifix the Foot of it being Silver At the end of the Audience Monsr Constans carried me into a Parlor surrounded with Water-spouts which was in the Palace where I found a Table very well spread after the manner of the Kingdom of Siam The King had the goodness to send me two or three Dishes from His Table for he dined at the same time about five of the Clock I went into a gilt Chair carried by ten Men and the Gentlemen who accompanied me rode on Horseback we entred into our Barks and were attended by a great many Mandarins the Streets were lined with Soldiers Elephants and Moorish Cavaliers 'T was the same also in the morning when I had my last Audience all the Mandarins that accompanied me to my Barge went into theirs and came with me there were about an hundred Barges and I arrived the next morning being the thirteenth at Siam about three in the morning The King of Siam's Letter and his Ambassadors for France were with me in a very stately Barge attended by several others The King made me several Presents amongst which was a crucifix the body of which is Gold a Cross of Tambacq which is a metal more esteemed than Gold in that Countrey with several other Curiosities of the Indies and the Custome of these Countries being to gratifie those who bring the Presents I gave to the Steers-men of the King's Barges about eight or nine hundred Pistols As to Monsr Constans I took the Liberty to give him a piece of Houshold-stuff which I had brought along with me from France and to Madam his Wife several Presents to the value of an hundred and fifty Pistols the King also gave Presents to the value of seven or eight hundred Pistols to the Abbat de Choisy in China Cabinets Japon Works and other Indian Curiosities On the fourteenth at five of the Clock at night I parted from Siam accompanied by Mr. Constans several Mandarins and a great many Barges and arrived at Bancoc the next morning the Forts by the way and those of Bancoc saluted me with all their Artillery I remained a day at Bancoc because the King had told me in an Audience that being a Soldier he desired me I would view the Fortifications of it and to tell his Servants what it wanted and to pitch on a place whereon to build a Church I drew a small draught and gave it to Monsr Constans On the sixteenth in the morning I parted thence accompanied by Mandarins the Forts saluted me and at four of the Clock I arrived at the Bar of Siam in the Shalops belonging to the King's Ships on board of which I went about seven of the Clock On the seventeenth the King of Siam's Frigat in which were the Ambassadors came and cast Anchor near my Ship I sent my Shalop which brought two of the Ambassadors and I afterwards sent back the same Shalop which brought the other Ambassador and the King's Letter which was written on a Leaf of Gold rowled up and put into a Gold Box we saluted the Letter with the firing of several pieces of Cannon 't was laid on a Table with a Canopy over it and when the Mandarinsâ—ast â—ast near it they reverenced it after their manner it being their custome to â—oe the greatest Honours they are able to the King's Letter The next morning this Ship left us and went back again up the River and at the same time appeared another Ship of the King of Siam's who came and cast Anchor â—ear us in which was Monsr Constans â—e came on board of me the next morning being the nineteenth where he diâ—ed and afterwards he went to land in â—â—y Shalop I saluted him with twenty pieces of Cannon and we parted with â—o small trouble for we had begun a strict Friendship and treated one another with the greatest confidence he is a Person of great Sense and Merit I was astonisht to hear no News of Monsr de Vacher a Missionary of the French Company and of my Secretary who were to have been on board before me having been informed that they parted from the River of Siam on the sixteenth with seven Gentlemen who were to accompany the King of Siam's Ambassadors and several of their Domesticks this made me think they were lost aâ—â— made me resolve not to tarry for theâ— for the Wind was favourable bâ—
When Affairs have been examined an account thereof is given to the Officers within the Palace who relate the same to the King sitting then on a high Throne all the Mandarins prostrate themselves with their Faces on the Ground and the Barcalon or others of the Chief Oyas acquaint the King with the Affair and their Judgments thereupon which he confirms or alters according to his Will and this extends to the chief businesses but he oft causes matters to be brought into the Palace and sends his pleasure in Writing The King is a most absolute Prince and a Man may say him to be the Siamoises God they dare not call him by his Name He punishes most severely the smallest Crime for his Subjects must be governed in a strict manner he sometimes makes use of Souldiers of his Guard to punish the guilty when their Crime is extraordinary and sufficiently proved Those who are commonly employed in these sort of Executions are an hundred and fifty Souldiers or thereabout who have their Armes painted from the Shoulder to their Wrists the common punishment is thirty forty fifty or more stripes on the Shoulders of the Criminal according to the greatness of the Crime others are peckt into the head with a sharp pointed Iron as to Accomplices in a fault worthy of Death after the Head has been cut off from a real Criminal 't is tied about the Neck of the Confederate and is left exposed to the Sun for three days and three nights which gives a most filthy stink to him that carries it In this Kingdom the Law Talionis is in great use the worst punishment was not long ago to condemn Malefactours to the River which is such another kind of punishment as the Gallies or rather worse but now they are punisht with Death The King minds building more than any of his Predecessours repairing the Walls of Towns raising up Pagodes and adorning his Palace building Houses for Foreigners and Ships after the European Fashion he is very kind to Strangers retaining several of them in his Service and desirous of more The Kings of Siam were not wont to let themselves be seen as this does they lived always alone but this present King lives like others but Monsr Berithe an Apostolick Vicar made use of a certain Brame who being a kind of Boufon had great liberty of speaking to this Monarch by whose means he gave the Prince to understand the Power and Manner of the Government of our great Monarch and also the Customs of all the Kings in Europe so that he being a Man of Sense as I already observed he thought fit to send for Monsieur Berithe and afterwards several others since which time he is become very affable and accessible to Strangers Those who administer Justice are called according to their different Offices Oyas Obrat Oyas Momrat Oyas Campeng Oyas Ricchou Oyas Shaynan Opran Olvan Oeun Omun Heretofore when the Kings would not let themselves be seen the ministers did what they pleased but the present King who wants not Judgment and is a great Politician will be ignorant of nothing he has sixt to him Mr. Constans of whom I have several times spoken He is a Greek by Nation a person of great vivacity of spirit and extraordinary prudence he can and does do all things under the King's authority in the Kingdom but this Minister would never accept of any great office which the King has offered him several times The Barcalon who died about two years since and who by right of his place had the management of all affairs of State was a person of great abilities that acquitted himself well in his employments and was greatly beloved he that succeeded him was a Malais by nation which is a Countrey near to Siam he made great use of Mr. Bacon an English man to bring the King into an ill opinion of Mr. Constans and render him suspected but the King understâ—od the others malice caused him to be cudgeled to death and dispossessed him of his office he that enjoys it at present lives in good intelligence with Mr. Constans As by the Laws introduced by the Priests who are called Talopoins 't is not allowable to kill so Malefactors were heretofore condemned to the chain or led into some Deserts to perish there with hunger whereas this present King causes their heads to be struck off and throws them to Elephants The King has spies to know whether matters of any importance are concealed from him he most severely chastises those who abuse their authority Every strange Nation established in the Kingdom of Siam has particular Officers and the King takes of all these Nations persons which he makes general Officers throughout all his Kingdom There are many Chinoises in his Countrey there were heretofore many Moors but some years past he discovered so many foul treacheries amongst them such frauds and enormities that he has banish'd most of them out of his Countrey The commerce of strange Merchants was heretofore very considerable but since some years the various revolutions which have happened in China Japon and other parts of the Indies have discouraged all Trade Yet 't is hoped seeing all these disturbances are quieted Trade will flourish again and that the King of Siam by means of his Minister will send his Ships to take in the most pretious commodities in all the Eastern Countries and reduce all things to their first state They make War after a different manner from most Nations driving their Enemies out of their places without doing them any farther harm than the making them slaves and if they bear Arms it seems rather they intend to affright them by shooting on the ground or up into the air than to kill them and if they doe 't is rather out of necessity than by their good-wills but this happens seldom because all their Enemies follow the same method There are Companies and Regiments who are detached from the rest during the night who go into the Enemies Villages and lead away all the Inhabitants captives as well Women as Children the King gives them Lands and Buffalo's to cultivate them and when the King has need he makes use of them These late years the King has made War against the revolted Cambogions assisted by the Chinoises and Cochinnoises where he was forced to fight in earnest and there were several Souldiers killed on both sides He has had several Commanders that are Europeans who instruct them to fight after our manner Before this War there was a great commerce between their States and that of Siam drew great advantages by the great quantities of Gold Musk Elephants teeth and other Merchandises which came from Laos in exchange for Linen and other Goods The King of Siam is still at wars with the King of Pegu he has several Slaves of this Nation There are People of several Countries in his Kingdom the Moors were in great abundance as I already said but now several of them are fled into
they abominate the Image of Christ on the Cross saying we adore the image of this Brother of their God who was crucified for his Crimes This Nacodon being annihilated they have no God at present yet his Laâ— remains but onely among the Talapoine who affirm that after some years theâ— will be an Angel who will become 〈◊〉 Talapoin and afterwards an absolutâ— Divinity who by his great merits may come to be annihilated These are the principles of their Creed for 〈◊〉 not to be imagined they adore to Idols which are in their Pagodes 〈◊〉 Divinities but honour them onely 〈◊〉 men of great deserts whose Souls 〈◊〉 at present in some King Cow or Talapoin And herein consists their Religion which to speak properly at knowledges no God Vice say they carries with it its own punishment making the Soul pass into the body of some vile Fellow or Hog or Crow or Tyger or such like animal They admit of Angels which they believe to have been the souls of just men and good Talapoins as to Demons they say they have been the souls of wicked persons The Talapoins are much reverenced by all the people and even by the King himself they cast not themselves on the ground when they speak to him as the greatest in the Kingdom do and the King and persons of highest Quality salute them first When these Talapoins thank any one they put their hand to their forehead and as to the common people they salute them not as all They are Apparelled like other Siamoises excepting that their Sash 〈◊〉 yellow their Legs and Feet naked they wear no Hats they carry over their heads a Fan made of a large Palm leaf to keep them from the Sun which is very hot they make but one meal a day to wit in the morning and they eat at night perhaps some few Figs or other Fruits they may leave when they will their Profession and marry having no other engagement on them but onely to wear a yellow Sash and when they leave it they are at liberty and this makes them so numerous that they are almost one third of the Kingdom That which they sing in the Pagodes are some fabulous stories larded with now and then a fine sentence those which they sing during the Funerals of the dead are We must all die We are all mortal The dead bodies are burnt musical instruments playing all the whileâ— these Funerals are very costly and after the bodies are burnt of those that are dead their ashes are put under great Pyramids all gilded with Gold raised about their Pagodes The Talapoines practise a kind of Confession for the Novices go at Sun rising to prostrate themselves or sit on their Heels mumbling some few words after which the old Talapoin lifts up his hand on the side of his Cheek and gives him a kind of Benediction which done the Novice retires When they preach they exhort the People to be charitable to them and suppose themselves very able Fellows when they can cite some passages out of their ancient Books written in the Baly Language which is like the Latin amongst us for this Language is fine and emphatical having its Conjugations like the Latin When the Siamoises intend to marry the Man's Kindred go first to found the Maid's Kindreds Inclination and when they have agreed on the business the Man's Parents present seven Boxes of Betel and Arect to the Maid's Relations and though they accept of them and they are already esteemed as married yet may be broke off Some days after the Man's Relations present him and he himself offers more boxes than before and then he remains in the House of his Father-in-law and this onely to see the Maid and to accustome themselves to one another which lasts for two Months after this all the Parents meet when they put into a Purse one a Ring and another Bracelets and another Money there are others who lay pieces of Stuff oâ— the Table In fine the most ancient of the Company takes a lighted Tores and carries it seven times round these Presents whilest all the Assemble shouts wishing it a happy Marriage the Spouse a long Life and a perfect Health they afterwards eat and drinâ— together and so the Marriage is finisâ—â— As to the Portion 't is as in France excepting that the young Man's Relations carry his Money to the Maid's Relations but all this turns to the same for the Maid's portion is laid apart and the whole is given to the new married Couple If the Husband puts away his Wife without any form of Justice he lose the Money that has been given him 〈◊〉 he repudiates her by the Judge's Sentence who never refuses it the Woman's Relations give him her portion 〈◊〉 there be any Children the Boy followâ— the Mother and the Girl the Father if there be two Boys and two Girls one Boy and one Girl live with the Father and one of each with the Mother As to strong places in the Kingdom there 's Bancock which is about two Leagues from the Kingdom of Siam where there are two Forts as I already mentioned There is a Capital City called Juthia otherwise Siam which is newly fortified by an enclosure of brick Walls Corsuma a fronteer Town lying near the Kingdom of Camboye is â—â—t a weak place and so is Tanaserin on the side of Malabar and so are indeed most of his Places As to their Souldiers 't was not the Custome to pay them but this present King having understood that the Kings of Europe payed their Men intended to have done the like but being informed by his Treasurers what an immense â—â—min 't would cost him by reason of the multitude of his Souldiers he changed this pay into Rice which he districted to them and they were therewith all well contented for heretofore every Souldier was bound to further himself with Rice at his own cost As to their Boats and Vessels their â—arges of State are the finest in the World being made of one piece of Timber and which are of a prodigious length some of them holding near an hundred and fourscore Rowers the two ends are high raised all is gift with Gold and neatly carved and 〈◊〉 the midst of them there is a kind of Throne built like a Pyramid Heretofore they had onely Vessel built like those of China some of which they use still to go into Japon China and Tunquin but the King has cause several to be built after the Europeaâ— fashion and has bought some of the English There are about fifty Gallies to guard the River and Coasts hâ— Gallies are not like ours there being but one Man to an Oar and they are about forty or fifty at most on each The King makes use of Moors Chinases and Malabars for his Seamen The Commanders of his Ships are either English or French by reason of theâ—â— the Nations unskilfulness He sends every five or six years Vessels to China of which there are 〈◊〉 a thousand
to fifteen hundred Tun laden with Cloth Coral and divers other Commodities from the Coasts of Coromandel and Suratte as Salt-petre Tin and Silver he draws thence raw Silks Satins Tea Musk Rubarb Purcelins Varnisht Works China-wood Gold Rubies They make use of several Roots in Physick which turns much to their advantage The King sends to Japon two or three small Vessels laden with Merchandise there being no need of sending Money such as Hides of all sorts which are good Commodities there for which they sometimes receive Wedges of Gold and Silver Copper and all sorts of Goldsmiths Work as also Tea Cabinets and other things He sends sometimes two or three to Tonquin of three hundred Tun at farthest with Cloth Coral Tin Ivery Pepper Salt-petre and other Commodities of the Indies for which he has Musk raw Silks varnisht Wood wedges of Gold To Macao the King sends a Ship for the most part laden with the same Merchandises as to China One may send there also to good advantage Fans of Gold Silver Silks and Arms for which you receive the same Merchandises as at China but not at the same rate At Laos the usual Trade is carries on as well by land as by water sometime Flat Boats go there in which are sent Cloth and Linen of Suratte and the returns are Rubies Musk Gum Elephants Teeth Rhinoceros Horns Buffalos Skins and here is great profâ—â— in this Trade because there 's no risâ—â— to run To Camboye the King sends small Barks with Cloth Suratte Linen and Kitchin Utensile which come from China for which he has brought him Elephants Teeth Benjamin three fortâ— of Gums Buffalo's Skins Nests oâ— Birds for China of which I shall speak hereafter They sometimes send to Cochinchim but seldom for this People is untractable being most of them unfaithfull which hinders Commerce they can when they go Silver of Japon to great Profit yellow Wax Rice Lead Salt-petre red and blackâ—Cloth white linen Vermilion and Quick-silver For which they have rawâ—Silk Sugar candied Birds Nests which are made like those of Swallows found on Rocks by the Sea-side they are a good Commodity for China and several other places for these Nests being well washed and dried they become as hard as horn and they are put into Broths they are of admirable virtue to the sick and languishing persons and to those who are troubled with pains in their Stomach I have brought some of them into France When there 's no Vessel to be had at Fret they send one to Suratte laden with Copper Tin Salt-petre Elephants Teeth Japon Wood and several other Merchandises which come from other parts of India and the returns are Linen-cloth and other European Commodities when there comes none from Siam You may also trade to the Coasts of Coromandel Malabar and Bengala the Commodities are Elephants Tin Salt-petre Copper Lead and the returns are Linen of all kinds There is seldom any trade to Borneo this is an Isle near that of Java where the returns are Pepper Dragons bloud white Camphire yellow Wax Gold Pearl Diamonds the best in the World The Prince that possesses this Island is not willing to permit a Trade fearing always some surprise and will suffer no European to settle in his Countries There have been some French Merchants there for he trusts them rather than any other Nation There is also a Trade driven to Timor an Isle near the Molucques whence is drawn yellow and white Wax Gold Slaves c. and thither is sent Linen of Suratte Lead Elephants Teeth Powder strong Waters some sort of Arms red and black Cloth and Silver The People here are peaceable and negotiate fairly Here are a great many Portugueses As to the Commodities of Siam there is onely Tin Lead Ivory Skins of wild Beasts and Elephants there will be store of Pepper in time that is to say the next Year L'arrek Iron good quantity of Rice but you may find here Commodities from all the places before mentioned and very cheap Here are brought pieces of English Cloth and Searges Coral and Amber Cloth from the Coasts of Coromandel and Suratte Money in Piastres which are truckt but as I now said most Merchants have left trading here since the King would turn Merchant there being brought few Goods for the Ships that were wont to come here came not the last year so that here 's little to be found all being in the King and his Ministers Hands who sell for what they please The Kingdom of Siam is near three hundred Leagues Long without reckoning the Tributary Kingdoms to wit Camboges Gehor Patavi Queda c. It 's bounded northward by the Kingdom of Pegu and by the Sea of Ganges on the side of the West and from the South by the little Strait of Malaca which was taken from the King of Siam by the Portugueses who have been Masters of it near sixty years the Hollanders have taken it from them and are the present Masters of it on the East it 's bounded by the Sea and by the Mountains which divide it from Camboges and Laos The situation of this Kingdom is advantageous by reason of the great extent of its Coasts lying as it were between two Seas which open the passage to so many vast Regions its Coasts are five hundred Leagues round and are every where accessible from Japon China the Philippin Islands Tonquin Cochinchine Siampa Camboge Java Colconde Bengala and from all the Coasts of Coromandel Persia Suratte Arabia and Europe and therefore the Countrey is capable of a great Commerce would the King permit all people to come and trade there as heretofore The Kingdom is divided into eleven Provinces to wit that of Siam Tanaserin Josalam Reda Pra Jor Paam Parana Ligor and Siama These Provinces had heretofore the Quality of Kingdoms but are all now under the sole power of the King of Siam who sets Governours over them There are some which may retain the Name of Principalities but the Governours depend on the King and pay him Tribute Siam is the principal Province of this Kingdom the Capital City is situated fourteen degrees and an half of latitude northward on the side of a great and stately River and Vessels laden come up to the City which lies above forty Leagues distant from the Sea and reaches above two hundred Leagues up the Countrey and 〈◊〉 this means it leads into part of the Provinces which I have above mentioned This River abounds with Fish and its sides are well peopled although they lie under water one part of the Year The Earth is indifferently fruitfull but ill drest the inundation proceeds from great Rains which fall for three or four Months together which makes their Rice grow apace so that the longer the inundation lasts the more Rice they gather and so far are they from complaining that their greatest fear is of dry weather There are several lands lie untilled for want of Inhabitants which has happened by the preceding
Wars and they being enemies to labour they love onely those things that are easie so that those Plains and Forests which are to be seen on the Mountains serve for a retreat to Elephants Tygers and wild Cows Deer and Rhinocero's and other Animals which are here in great quantities As to Plants and Fruits there are several in the Countrey but which are not of great use and which cannot be easily brought over by reason of the length of the way There are no Birds but what we have in Europe excepting one like a Black-bird which counterfeits the laughing of a Man his singing and whistling the Fruits the most esteemed are Durions they have a very strong scent which does not agree with every body but as to their taste 't is excellent This fruit is very hot and dangerous to ones health if a Man eats much of it There is a great Nut about which is a kind of Cream shut in a rine which my Palate could never approve of Mango is in this Countrey in prodigious quantities and this is the best Fruit in the Indies of an exquisite taste no ways incommoding unless a Man eats too much of them then indeed they may cause a Fever it 's like an Almond but as big as a large Pear The Mangoustan is a Fruit like a green Nut which has within it a white Fruit of a sharp and pleasant taste like that of a Peach or Plum it 's very cold and yet stringent The Jacques is a great Fruit which is very good but hot and causes Fluxes in the Bowels when one eats of it with excess The Nana is like the Durion that is to say in respect of its Skin it has at its end a crown of leaves like the Artichoke its meat is very good tasting like a Peach and Apricock together it 's very hot and strong which makes it commonly eaten soakt in Wine The Figs are a sweet Fruit of a kind nature yet somewhat phlegmatick there are of them all the year long The Ate is a very good sweet Fruit and does no hurt there are who esteem it more than all the Fruits in the Indies There are Oranges of all kinds which are very good The Pataie is a very good Fruit but the Tree which bears it lives onely two years The Penplemouse is a wholesome Fruit which is like the Orange but of a sharper taste There are several other Fruits which are not so good They began some years past to sow Corn in the high Countries near the Mountains which comes up well and is very good As also Vines which have been several times planted but to little purpose being eaten up to the roots by a sort of Ants. There are a great many Sugar Canes which yield abundance as also Tobacco which the Siamoises eat with Arrek and Lime As to the Arrek the Siamoises esteem this Fruit more than any other for this is their common food there is such a great quantity of it that the Markets are full of it and a Siamoise would think himself guilty of a great undecency should he speak to any one without having his mouth full of Arrek Betel or Tobacco There is no City in the East where is seen more different Nations than in the Capital Town of Siam and where so many different Tongues are spoken it is two Leagues round and half a League long well peopled although so much under water that it resembles rather an Island there are none but English French Moors and Chinoises who dwell in the Town all the other Nations being lodged round about it in Camps each Nation by themselves who should they come all of them into one body would take up as much room as the Town does but the reasons I before mentioned hinder most strange Nations to come and bring any thing with them The people are obliged to serve the King four months in the year and longer if he needs them he gives them no pay they being obliged to keep themselves and therefore the Women work to maintain their Husbands As to the Officers from the greatest Lords of the Court to the meanest of the Kingdom the King onely allows them some small gratifications being as much slaves as the rest and this saves a great deal of money As to far distant Provinces whose Inhabitants do not actually serve each singular person pays him a Tribute I arrived at a time when the Countrey was wholly under water the Town seemed the more pleasant for it the Streets are very long large and streight there are on both hands Houses built on Piles and Trees planted round about them which makes a fine sight and you cannot go to them but in a Boat you would think you see at one look a City a Sea and a vast Forest where are several Pagodes which are their Churches most of which are gilded about these Pagodes there are places like Church-Yards planted with Trees which are for the most part Fruit-Trees the Houses of the Talapoins are the biggest and finest and are very numerous This Countrey is wholsomer than any of the Indies the Siamoises are commonly well shap'd although all of them have tanned Countenances they are well sized their Hair black which they wear short by reason of the heat they Bathe often which contributes to the preservation of their health the Europeans who dwell there do the same to avoid sickness They go about all their business in Barges during the Inundations which lasts six or seven months together The King rises in the morning and holds a great Council about ten of the Clock wherein all affairs are treated of which being ended his Physicians assemble to know the state of his health and he afterwards goes to Dinner he makes but one real Meal a day and after Dinner he withdraws into his Apartment where he sleeps two or three hours and 't is not known about what he imploys himself the rest of the time it not being permitted his Officers to enter into his Chamber About ten at night he holds another privy Council where there are seven or eight Mandarins of those which are most in his favour which Council lasts till mid night Afterwards he has Histories or Verses made after their manner read to him to divert him and commonly after this Council Mr. Constans tarries with him alone to whom he opens his whole mind the King being sensible of his vast parts his Conversation pleases him and he seldom can get away till three of the clock in the morning and this is the manner of the King 's living At certain times he takes pleasure in hunting as I already observed he is always well drest He has no other Children but a Daughter who is called the Princess Queen of twenty seven or twenty eight years of age the King greatly loves her I was told she was a handsome woman but she has never been seen by any men she eats in the same place and at the same time her Father does
but at a Table apart and she is served by Women who are always prostrate in her presence This Princess has her Court consisting of Mandarins Ladies who see her every day and she holds a Council with her Women about her own affairs she distributes Justice to those belonging to her and the King having given her Provinces she maintains her Court with the Revenue It has happened that when her Women have been proved guilty of great slanders or reveaâ—ing Secrets of great importance she 〈◊〉 made their mouths be sowed up Before the death of the Queen her Mother she was as 't is said inclinable to grèat severities she goes sometimes a Hunting with the King but 't is in a curious Chair placed on an Elephant and where though she is not seen yet she beholds all that passes There are Horsemen who march before her to clear the way and if there be any one in the road that cannot soon get out he prostrates himself on the ground on his face She is all day shut up with her Women diverting her self with no work her dress is plain and light her Legs bare she has light Pumps on her feet always bare headed and wears her Hair not passing four or five Fingers long She is a great lover of sweet scents anointing her Head with oil for in those Countries their Hair must look shining to be fine she Bathes every day which is the custome of all Indians as well men as women I have learnt all this of Madam Constans who oft makes her Court to her All the Women which are in her Chamber are always prostrate with their faces 〈◊〉 the ground in a rank the ancientest are nearest her and they have the liberty to look on the Princess which 〈◊〉 have not in reference to the King be they of what quality they will for as long as they are in his presence they lye prostrate on the ground even when they speak to him The King has two Brothers The King's Brethren here are next Heirs of the Crown to the Exclusion of his Children When he goes out to Hunt or walk notice is given to all Europeans not to be in the way unless they will lye prostrate on the ground A while before he goes out of his Palace you hear the Trumpets sound and Drums beat who march before the King at this noise the Souldiers who stand in a row prostrate themselves their foreheads to the ground with their Muskets under them they are in this posture as long as the King can see them on his Elephant where he is placed in a close gilt Chair the Horse-Guard which attends him which consists of Moors is about forty all the King's Houshold are on foot some behind and some on one side holding their hands closed and thus follow him There are some of the principal Mandarins who follow him on Elephants ten or twelve Officers who carry Umbrellas about the King and there are onely those who do not prostrate themselves for at the same moment that the King stops all the other fall down on their faces and even those that are on Elephants As to the manner which the King of Siam observes in the reception of Ambassadors as those of Tonquin Cochinchine Colconda Malais Java and other Kingdoms he receives them in a great Hall covered with Tapestry the chief men of the Kingdom being in another Hall which stands lower and the Officers of lesser quality in another lower than the former all of them prostrate on Tapestry in expectation of the King's appearance at a window which is over against them the Hall wherein the Ambassadors must be is raised about ten or twelve feet and distant from this Hall thirty feet 't is known the King is upon appearing by the noise of Trumpets Drums and other Instruments The Ambassadors are behind a wall which encloses this Room in expectation of the King 's coming and the Minister's orders which the King sends by one of the Officers of his Chamber according to the quality of the Ambassadors after the Ministers have the King's command the door of the Hall is opened and then the Ambassadors appear with their Interpreters and the Officer of the King's Chamber who serves for a Master of Ceremonies and precedes them on his Knees his hands closed the Ambassador with his Interpreters follows him in the same posture with great modesty till he is come one half of the way where he is to go and then bows himself three times and so continues going to the nearest corner of the Halls where the Guards are and then he begins to bow again there is a Table between the King and the Ambassador about eight foot distant where lye the Presents which the Ambassador brings the King and between this Table and the Ambassador's there is a Mandarin who receives the King's words in this Hall are the King's Ministers distant from the Ambassadors about three paces and the Captain of the people whence the Ambassador is between him and the Ministers the King begins to speake first and not the Ambassador ordering his Ministers to enquire of the Ambassador when he parted from the Presence of his Master whether the King and all the Royal Family be in health to which the Ambassador answers what 's fitting by his Interpreter the Interpreter tells it the Captain of the Nation as they call it of which the Ambassador is the Captain to the Barcalon and the Barcalon to the King After this the King offers some questions about two or three Points concerning the Ambassador and afterwards the King orders the next Officer to the Table to give Betel to the Ambassador which is the sign to present him a Vest and immediately the King retires with the noise of Drums and Trumpets and other Instruments The Ambassador's first Audience passes between him and the Minister who examines the Letter and the Presents of the Prince who has sent them The Ambassador does not present the Letter to the King but to the Minister after some days of Council held on this subject When they be Ambassadors of Independant Kings as of the Countries of Persia the Great Mogol the Emperour of China or Japon they are received in this following manner The Grandees of the first and second rank go to the foot of the window where the King is to prostrate themselves according to their qualities on Tapestry when those of the third fourth and fifth rank are in a lower Hall and expect the King 's coming who appears at a window which jets out of a wall and is raised ten foot the Ambassadors are in a place out of the Palace expecting the Master of the Ceremonies who comes and receives them and there are the same Ceremonies used which I have already mentioned The Ambassador entring into the Palace puts his hand upon his head marches through two Halls to the Stairs which are over against the window where the King is and when he is there he claps one
24¾ South West 18 South West quarter West 24 West South West 30 The same 39 South South West 24½ West South West 20 Same 42 Same 29â…“ Same 27 866 Leagues South West quarter of West 16 West South West 20 South West quarter West 25 West South West 23 The same 37 The same 25 South West quarter West 24 West South West 43 The same 49 The same 51 The same 51 The same 46 West quarter South West 40 The same 30 West South West 46 The same 60 South West quarter West 56 South West 42 West quater South West 5 West 43 West quarter South West 33 The same 10 West South West 19 West quarter South West 31 The same 33 The same 18 West quarter North West 10 West half quarter South West 20 West quarter South West 16 1796 Leagues To the West quarter South West 32 West South West 43 West 20 West 37 West quarter South West 45 The same 51 West South West 11 North West quarter North 11 North East quarter North 8 South West 28 West North West 20 North North West 20 Considering the Cape of Horn beaks and I made to the Bay of the Cape of Good Hope 33 The total 2158 Leagues On the twenty sixth of March at two in the afternoon I set Sail with a good Wind in leaving the Bay near the Dutch Fort of the Cape of Good Hope I saw three Vessels who made towards the Cape but I could not distinguish of what Nation they were I believe them to have been Dutch because this number was expected from the Isle of Ceilan After we had past forty Leagues from thence we found the Sea very boisterous which gave us much trouble but we continued on our course to pass the Line in the same longitude we did before Our Voyage must needs be pleasant for as I already noted the King of Siam sent with us Ambassadors into France to shew the King how earnestly he desired his Friendship his great Qualities and Renown having reached his Ears and been long since known in the Indies He told me in an Audience that he would give them no Instructions in point of Ceremony those of France being very different from his Kingdom 's because he was persuaded the King would not require any thing of them prejudicial to his Honour and that he would leave me to counsel them what they had to doe when they came to France that he relied upon me for this being sure I would not impose upon them We had then with us three Ambassadors the most considerable Persons in Siam The first is Brother to the late deceased Barcalon who was the King's Chief Minister a Man of sense having been ever concerned with his Brother in all his greatest Affairs this Person accompanied with another came and received me at the mouth of the River of Siam when I arrived and has been ever with me attending me wherever I went The first time I saw him he seemed to me an ingenious Person free from all affectation and reservedness which made me tell Monsieur Constans that he would be a very fit Man to be sent over Ambassador to France The second is aged and wants not wit having been Ambassador in China and acquitted himself to the King his Master's Satisfaction The third is aged about twenty five or thirty years his Father is Ambassador in Portugal these are the best natured People in the World very easie and obliging good humoured and their Friendship is not to be regarded as unprofitable They write down the smallest matters they see and I like that the better seeing they will have Observations enough in France neither do I doubt but they will give a true Account of them to their Master They should have had twelve Mandarins for their Retinue but they have but eight four of them being left behind at Siam because they came not soon enough on board they brought with them twelve young Youths to learn the Tongue and Trades but part of them are also left behind with the Mandarins The Abbat de Lionne was entreated by this King to go to France with his Ambassadors because he speaks their Language The King also told Mr. Vacher that he would be very glad that he would return with his Ambassadors which he has also done he will be to them of great use being an active Person We have also with us Monsr the Abbat de Choisy who went to Siam to reside there in quality of Ambassador in case the King should become a Christian he is a very honest Gentleman and wants no good quality He said his first Mass on board us and gave us several good Sermons Monsr the Abbat du Charter was of our company an able and honest Preacher Mr. Vaudricourt was the Captain of our Vessel he is a Gentleman admirably well qualified for his Place taking care of every thing that concerned him and gave us all content There have remained about twelve or fifteen French men at Saim in the Service of that King or Mr. Constans I Continued my course till I dame near to the Isle of St. Pleten which is inhabited by English such Ships as come from the Indies touch there that is to say when they go not to the Cape of Good Hope I was told it was a very good and fruitfull Island it lyes six Degrees Latitude Southwards I past on in sight of the Isle of Ascension which is eight degrees Southward of the Line This Isle is not inhabited most Vessels make some stay here to take Tortoises there being here great numbers of them and they are no small refreshment to Sea-faring men they live a month or six weeks without eating they can onely be taken a nights for in the day time they keep to the Sea and at night come to Land to lay their Eggs which they hide in the sand To take them you mustâ—ly hid with a great stick in your hand and surprise them when they come out of the water and throw them on their backs and then they cannot stir a man may strike fourscore or an hundred in a night Here Vessels come on purpose to take these animals and salt them and then carry them to the Isles in America being bought by the Inhabitants for their Slaves Having a good wind I tarried not long here not being willing to lose time in passing the Equinoctial Line for sometimes a man is forced to be long about it by reason of calms and rains to be met there The twenty eighth of April I past the Line most happily the heats no wise incommoding us this is the fourth time I past it without leaving my Cloth Suit all our men were in health excepting four or five who were sick of the Gripes which Distemper they brought from Siam this Distemper is seldom cured in that Countrey and I lost about ten or twelve men who died of it We saw but few Fish all along which is unusual for one commonly meets with