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ENCOUNTER WITH THE CROCODILE. 
 
 Page 110. 
 
THE 
 
 WASPS OF THE OCEAN : 
 
 OR, 
 
 LITTLE WAIF 
 
 AND 
 
 THE PIRATE OF THE EASTERN SEAS. 
 
 A ROMANCE OF 
 
 TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE IN CHINA AND SIAM. 
 
 BY WILLIAM MLTON, 
 
 Author of "The Wolf -Boy of China," "The Tiger Prince," "Will Adams, the- 
 First Englishman in Japan," " Phaulcon, the Adventurer," " Lost in 
 Ceylon," "The White Elephant," "The Nest Hunters," &c. 
 
 WITH ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 E. M AELB 0 R 0 UG-H & CO., AYE MARIA LANE. 
 
 The right of Translation reserved. 
 
LONDON: 
 Henry C. Beery & Co, Gloucester Street, 
 Regent's Park, N.W. 
 
CAPTAIN THOMAS DAL TON, 
 
 LATE OF 
 
 BANGKOK, SI AM. 
 
 3 My dear Tom, 
 
 g To you, who have thrice circumnavigated the globe, I 
 
 3 
 
 inscribe this book, — and for four reasons. 
 
 First 9 because having been so many years resident 
 beneath the climes in which the scenes of the story are laid, 
 such an inscription seems to me appropriate. 
 
 Secondly, because to you, and your great experience of 
 the far East I am indebted for the o'er true incident which 
 forms its back-bone. 
 
 Thirdly, as a souvenir of those boyhood days, when you 
 dreamt not of passing a lifetime amid the wilds, or on the 
 waters of far distant lands. 
 
 Lastly, to keep fresh in your memory, that although we 
 still remain parted by so many thousands of miles of ocean, 
 \ you are ever present in the mind of your only Brother, the 
 Author. 
 
 WILLIAM DALTOK 
 
 4 
 
 London, December, 1864. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Motives for my Voyage — I meet with Two Remarkable 
 
 Characters ...... 1 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Dick Orme : a Mystery . . . . .20 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Dick Orme relates his History . . . .38 
 
 CHAPTER IY. 
 
 Little Waif's History and Adventures . . .64 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 We change our Course — Dick recognizes an old Acquaintance 77 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 We journey into the Interior, and meet with some odd 
 
 Adventures . . • . . .88 
 
VI 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. page. 
 We catch a Sacred Monkey, which proves a Friend-in-need . 102 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 The Strange Junk — Dick's Suspicions and Daring Resolve . 120 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 We accept an Invitation, and are played a Terrible Trick . 135 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Our Voyage up the Meinam — We are made Prisoners on our 
 
 Arrival at the Capital . . . . .150 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 We are Arrested on Suspicion of a Criminal Offence, and 
 
 Placed in Prison ...... 175 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 We are set at Liberty, and receive an Invitation from the 
 
 Minister ....... 185 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Travellers meet with Strange Bedfellows — We go on a Visit 
 
 to a Great Man's House ..... 201 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 The Lady with the Crocodiles .... 218 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 vii 
 
 CHAPTER XV. page. 
 We hear some Good News, but nothing of Waif . ,235 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 We again find Waif, but in Strange Company . . 252 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 We are taken before the King, who examines Crafty and 
 
 Waif ..... . 265 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 We meet an old Friend, and hear Important News . . 285 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 A Story with a Moral — The Poor Scholar and the Ginger 
 
 Merchant. . . . . . .294 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Dick's Enemy escapes, and Waif runs away . . . 310 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 A hot Pursuit into the Interior — The King's Procession . 320 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 We obtain a Clue to the Rogue Mi . . . . 339 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 Set a Thief to catch a Thief . . . . .359 
 
Vlii CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. page. 
 A Discovery— A Strange Tale . . . .371 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 Waifs further Adventures . . . . .394 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 Nemesis — My Wooing ..... 398 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 From Macao to California ..... 406 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 MOTIVES TOR MY VOYAGE — I MEET WITH TWO REMARKABLE 
 CHARACTERS. 
 
 both nations ; and as the first half of my life was 
 spent under the tutelage of Chinese scholars, and 
 the latter under that of an English missionary, I 
 may fairly lay claim to be considered worthy of both, 
 or at least no disgrace to either. But as I am not 
 about to write my biography, indeed nothing but a 
 narrative of twelvemonths' adventure in the land 
 
 B 
 
2 
 
 MOTIVES FOR MY VOYAGE. 
 
 and on the waters of Siam, and in which I shall 
 not prove to be by any means the most important 
 personage, I will at once relate the causes which led 
 me to make the voyage. 
 
 My father, Herbert Richardson, had settled in 
 the old and dilapidated, half Portuguese, half 
 Chinese city of Macao, as a merchant, in partner- 
 ship with the worthy and amiable Chinese, Ching; 
 and in that city I believe he would have ended his 
 days in peace and prosperity, but for a sad and 
 double-edged stroke of misfortune, which, within 
 the same week, took from him both his friend and 
 partner Ching, and my mother, to whom he was 
 most tenderly attached. 
 
 O ! most sad was this misfortune, and heavily 
 did we feel it ; my poor father for a time walked 
 the earth like one demented, while I, by the loss of 
 my dear mother, felt as if one of the walls which 
 supported my existence had been stricken down, 
 leaving me a weak, tottering ruin. Time, however, 
 the soother of all sorrows, brought me relief, and 
 my father, who could no longer endure Macao, 
 resolved to settle his affairs in the East, and re- 
 turn to his native country; a project which gave 
 me much delight ; for having received a sound 
 English education from a learned and good mis- 
 sionary clergyman, besides having read most of 
 the best modern books, which my father had pro- 
 cured from England, I longed to visit the dear land 
 of my paternal ancestors. 
 
MY FATHERS ALAUM. 
 
 3 
 
 The day, however, before we could take our de- 
 parture, must necessarily be distant, for many and 
 complicated were the transactions to be brought 
 to a close; but chief of these were the arrange- 
 ments to be made with our correspondents at San 
 Francisco, California, and at Bangkok, the capital 
 of Siam ; with the latter especially, for as through 
 our agent, or rather agents in that city, my father 
 and his partner had transacted large business mat- 
 ters with the two kings of Siam, a very consider- 
 able portion of our fortune was in their hands. 
 
 Now, although we were prepared to wait even 
 months for the settlement with the house at San 
 Francisco, by reason of its being a good run of 
 some six thousand miles or more across the North 
 Pacific Ocean, we expected that a few weeks 
 would have brought our arrangements to a close 
 with the house at Bangkok, the latter being in a 
 neighbouring kingdom. As, however, month after 
 month passed away without bringing the expected 
 advices from Siam, my father became terribly 
 alarmed, nay, proposed to proceed there at once. 
 
 To such a project, however, I would not listen; 
 for, in the first place, his health would not per- 
 mit; in the second, it would be for the more ad- 
 vantageous closing of other home transactions that 
 he should remain at head- quarters ; and lastly, as 
 although but little more than twenty years of age, 
 I had travelled much — nay, had even made the 
 voyage to Bangkok; and besides, when in that 
 
 b 2 
 
4 
 
 MOTIVES FOR MY VOYAGE. 
 
 capital, had made such good use of my Chinese 
 education, that I could speak the Siamese tongue 
 with fluency, my father agreed that I was the most 
 fitted to undertake the journey. 
 
 " But my dear boy/' said my father, " it may be 
 months before a trader, bound for Bangkok, will 
 put into this port/' 
 
 " It is possible ; but even so, I need not wait ; 
 for at this moment, there is, in the inner harbour 
 awaiting for employment, the junk "The Five Social 
 Relations/ 99 
 
 u Aye— true, lad, I had forgotten her ; she will 
 do ; so let us at once go down to the harbour, 
 and see old Li-Poo, who we shall find on board — 
 that is, if he be not in an opium shop." 
 
 And to the inner harbour we at once went, and 
 there found the good junk, u The Five Social 
 Relations/' moored some few hundred yards from 
 the shore ; and, moreover, with the signal flying, 
 which showed she was waiting to be hired — either 
 for passengers or freight — so hailing one of the 
 Tankea boat-girls, we made for the vessel. 
 
 These Tankea boats, so called because they re- 
 semble the half of an egg, are worked by girls — 
 thousands of whom ply upon the river, and thus 
 earn their living, and literally reside the whole of 
 their lives upon the waters of China ; indeed, they 
 are said to be of a race distinct both from the 
 Chinese or Tartars. 
 
 Getting on board the junk, we were again for- 
 
THE PORTUGUESE WAR-STEAMER. 
 
 5 
 
 tunate, for the finances of our friend Li-Poo being 
 at a very low ebb, he had for the nonce eschewed 
 the opium shop, to look after his own vessel, in 
 order to save expenses till his junk should be 
 employed. Our arrangements being made with this 
 personage, of course including the usual proviso, 
 that although the vessel was to be at my command 
 during the outward and homeward voyage, the crew 
 were to have the privilege of trading upon their own 
 accounts ; he promised to have the junk c< all taut," 
 and manned ready for sea by that day week. 
 
 Having thus arranged matters with the worthy 
 Li-Poo, we re-entered our Tankea boat, and told the 
 girls to pull ashore ; but as then, for the first 
 time, my father observed a little Portuguese war- 
 ship steaming into the' harbour, towing at her 
 stern a suspicious-looking piratical junk, he told 
 the girls to pull alongside, for such a terror at that 
 time (as indeed they are now), were the pirate 
 junks which infest the neighbouring islands of 
 Lemma and Lin-Tin, that the capture of one of 
 them was hailed by the people of Macao as joy- 
 fully as the destruction of a man-eater by the in- 
 habitants of an Indian village. 
 
 Now, as directly she entered the harbour, the 
 steamer stopped her engines, we pulled alongside, 
 and my father being upon terms of intimacy with 
 her commander, we were speedily admitted on 
 board; but what a sight presented itself— there, 
 huddled together like a cargo on a quay await- 
 
6 
 
 MOTIVES FOR MY VOYAGE. 
 
 ing stowage, were some twenty half-naked, swarthy 
 savages, corded hands and feet, with eyes gleaming 
 and flashing hatred and revenge, through the most 
 pitiful despair. They were the crew of the cap- 
 tured junk,; — Pirates, or as the Chinese call them, 
 "Wasps or Rats of the Ocean." The sight of 
 these wretches did not surprise us, for pirates we 
 had expected to find, and pirates they were, with- 
 out doubt; but among, though evidently not of 
 them, for his features were of European mould, was 
 a tall, slim young man, the very picture of abject 
 misery, his hair long, shaggy, and matted ; his 
 beard hanging in clumps upon his breast, while 
 the colour of his skin declared that it must have 
 been long since it had come in contact with soap 
 and water ; moreover, his calico jacket, and loose 
 wide trows ers, were both filthy and in tatters. 
 
 "Who can he be," I pondered — "a European 
 doubtlessly ; but nevertheless a pirate, or would he 
 be there, and like the rest, bound hand and foot." 
 My curiosity being thus excited, I asked the com- 
 mander. 
 
 The reply was — " This fellow, likewise a boy, 
 now below sick in his hammock, we found consort- 
 ing with the pirates, arms in hand, and thus have 
 treated them as sea-thieves. I believe they are both 
 Englishmen ; it is, however, only a guess, for un- 
 fortunately, neither myself, nor any of my crew, 
 understand or speak that language." 
 
 " But Senor/ said I, " it is scarcely possible 
 
MY FIRST INTRODUCTION TO DICK ORME. 
 
 Page 7. 
 
PIRATES OR THEIR VICTIMS — WHICH? 7 
 
 that this poor fellow and his boy can be pirates ; 
 is it not more likely they are the victims of these 
 wretches V 
 
 " It is possible ; nay, even very probable, 
 young Senor," replied the Portuguese captain, 
 " but/' he added, " from the information I received 
 before starting upon our cruize after these villains, 
 I firmly believe, incredible as it may seem, that a 
 European, was among the villains, and if so, why 
 may not this be the man ?" 
 
 " Truly it may be ; but if it be as I believe, 
 you will have committed a sad outrage upon an 
 innocent man," I replied. With an instinct that 
 my surmises were correct, I turned to one of the 
 pirates, and in his own tongue, demanded — cc Who 
 and what was the European there among them V 9 
 but as the sullen brute would make no reply, I went 
 close to the prisoner, who had been watching and 
 listening to me while I had been speaking Portu- 
 guese and Chinese, and scarcely were the words, 
 €t Who art thou, my friend V* out of my mouth, 
 than starting as if a bullet had whizzed by his ear, 
 he exclaimed — 
 
 " God be thanked ! I have found one person who 
 can speak English ; for the love of heaven, my 
 good friend, loosen these cords V 9 
 
 " But who are you ? How comes it that you 
 are among these wretches V 9 I said. 
 
 " Zounds ! man, do you take me for a pirate ? 
 Is it possible a Christian Englishman could be 
 
8 
 
 MOTIVES FOR MY VOYAGE. 
 
 found among such scum, otherwise than as their 
 prisoner V y he replied, adding/ " Yet appearances 
 are against me — so look you ! my friend ! my story 
 is this : The lad below and I were passengers on 
 board the ' Anne/ from San Francisco to Canton ; 
 but when we were, as near as w r e could make out, 
 about a three days' run from Canton, we were 
 boarded in the night by a pirate fleet ; the rest of 
 the crew and passengers were beheaded and pitched 
 into the sea. The ship was manned by the chief of 
 these wretches, who, turning us out of our ship, 
 gave us over to these fellows, who were taking 
 us — where to — or for what purpose, I have not, 
 as yet, been able to make out, at the time we 
 were captured by this captain, small thanks to 
 him for mistaking a born Englishman and a bred 
 American for a yellow-skinned, pig-tailed, China 
 water-rat. v 
 
 "Ask him, then/' said the Portuguese, shaking 
 his head incredulously, when I had interpreted the 
 foregoing, "how it chanced that we found him 
 sword and pistol in hand/' which being rendered 
 into English, the prisoner replied — 
 
 " Tell the skipper that if half-a-score of savages 
 had their knives at his throat, and offered no 
 choice between handling a sword in their behalf, 
 and having his head sent flying from his shoulders, 
 and that is how it happened, it's my belief, he 
 wouldn't have been long making the same choice 
 as myself and companion." 
 
DICK ORME. 
 
 9 
 
 At this reply, the good-natured Portuguese 
 laughed outright, and instantly with his own 
 sword cut the cords ; and having, through my in- 
 terpretation, apologized for the mistake he now 
 believed he had committed, ordered his steward to 
 take the poor fellow below, and rig him out in one 
 of his own shore-going suits. As, however, the 
 late prisoner was following the steward down the 
 hatchway, he caught me by the hand, saying — 
 
 " Look you, mister — " 
 
 " Richardson," said I. 
 
 " Well, look you, Mister Richardson, it's my 
 opinion you are the real material ; but just now 
 there are so many more thanks in my heart than 
 I can manage to get through my lips, and so — " 
 
 " Come, come, my friend," said I, interrupting 
 him, cc no thanks ; you would have done the same 
 for me." 
 
 " Aye, certainly I would, and that's a fact, or my 
 name is not Dick Orme.'' 
 
 But again stopping him, I said — 
 
 " Falling in with these pirates cannot have im- 
 proved either the state of your clothes- chest or 
 purse, so you will not be offended, I hope, by my 
 offering you a lodging at my father's house till you 
 can communicate with your friends." 
 
 " Prom my soul, I thank you/' he replied ; " but 
 for the present I must have a care for the sick 
 lad below. But after sundown I will try and 
 make out your anchorage, and accept your offer, 
 
10 
 
 MOTIVES FOR MY VOYAGE. 
 
 till then, good-bye so saying, lie descended the 
 hatchway. 
 
 Now, rough and ready as was my Anglo-Ame- 
 rican acquaintance, both in speech and manner, 
 I had already become so much interested in the 
 man and his fortunes, that I almost counted the 
 hours till sundown. But I was disappointed, for 
 he came not that evening ; nay, nor the next day, 
 and as I was curious to discover the reason, I 
 again went off to the steamer, whose captain told 
 me that both Orme and the lad, his companion, 
 had left the ship a few hours after we had first seen 
 him • moreover, that the boy being sick with fever, 
 he had taken him to the hospital. This information 
 was sufficient, I would at once go to that building. 
 As, however, I repassed our house, which was on the 
 Praya Grande, and on the way to the hospital, 
 through the open window, I saw a stranger in con- 
 versation with my father. I could hear him speak- 
 ing — the voice was familiar. " Surely," I thought, 
 " it must be Orme himself," and at once I passed 
 into the room by the open window, when guess my 
 surprise ! to see the wretched outcast of a day 
 or two before, transformed into a tall, robust young 
 man, whose bronzed features, tastefully cut beard 
 and moustache, shirt of dazzling whiteness, grass- 
 cloth neck-tie, white loose coat, paj&mmas and large 
 bamboo hat, covered with white silk, might have be- 
 spoken one of the most wealthy of the European set- 
 tlers in the East ; not alone, however, in appearance. 
 
MY FATHER AND DICK OKME. 
 
 11 
 
 but in gait and bearing was he changed; for now 
 he was seated upon an ottoman, with one leg over 
 the other, and his elbow upon his knee, leisurely 
 puffing a Manilla cheroot, and apparently chatting 
 as confidentially and friendly with my father as if 
 they had been old acquaintances ; but as I entered 
 he arose, and throwing the end of his cigar out of 
 the window, clasped my hand — saying laughingly — 
 
 " I take it, my friend, you are a leetle surprised 
 to find me so much at home in these handsome 
 'diggings' of yours. But then, you see, IVe seen 
 pretty considerable of the world, and that's the real 
 thing to make a fellow tumble into domesticity — 
 wherever he may be thrown." 
 
 " Nay, scarcely surprised, but really pleased, for 
 I longed, as well as expected, the visit," I replied, 
 shaking his hand. 
 
 " Oh, yes ! my friend, you were surprised, and 
 that not a little, to find what a good-looking bird a 
 few fine feathers have made out of a scarecrow. 
 However, Dick Orme is Dick Orme, at all times all 
 the world over, and so he has just come to — " 
 
 €€ No thanks," I said, interrupting him. 
 
 " Nay, I did not altogether come to repeat my 
 thanks, for there are some services mere words 
 can't acknowledge. But well, I've come, as I have 
 been telling the captain here, just to accept your 
 offer of free quarters for a time, till I can either 
 send to and get a return letter from Bangkok, or 
 get a passage out there." 
 
12 
 
 MOTIVES FOR MY VOYAGE. 
 
 " Then you have business in Siam ?" 
 
 " Aye, aye, friend, and pretty important business 
 it is, too, and may our old friend of the brimstone 
 country just have it out with those villainous 
 pirates ; but for whom I might even now have been 
 on the Meinam." 
 
 " It is a curious coincidence, Herbert," said my 
 father. 
 
 " A fortunate one for our friend here," I replied, 
 adding, " as it seems of so much importance that 
 you, Mr. Orme, should go to Bangkok, I am glad 
 I can offer you a free passage, and shall, I need not 
 tell you, if you know the China seas, be delighted to 
 have you for a companion. Why, what in heaven's 
 name can be the matter with the fellow," I thought, 
 when in answer to me, he placed his hands upon his 
 knees, and stared at me without speaking. 
 
 " Is that &fact ?" he asked. 
 
 I repeated the offer. " Truly it is ; moreover, I 
 shall sail the morning after to-morrow, if the junk 
 be ready for sea," I said ; and with a look of great 
 delight he replied — 
 
 " Well then, all I can say, my friend, is, that 
 although it's a little against my grain to be piling 
 up obligations upon my shoulders, I'll accept your 
 offer, and trust to fate to enable me, some day or 
 other, to repay you.'' 
 
 " Nay, nay, the comfort of a civilized companion 
 among such a surrounding as a Chinese crew, is 
 payment sufficient in all conscience." 
 
I MAKE DICK ORME AN OFFER. 
 
 18 
 
 " All smoke, my friend, your good nature won't 
 do away with the fact, there is obligation; and, 
 in the long run, I object to obligation, for like debt, 
 when you pile it up too high, it licks the man- 
 hood out of you." 
 
 " Come, come, Mr. Orme," said I, wishing to put 
 a stop to the argument. " I offer, and you accept, 
 so there is an end of the matter." 
 
 " Well, well, so be it, my friend ; but look you, 
 as we are to be shipmates, just you, for the future, 
 call me ' Dick/ ' plain Dick/ c careless Dick/ if 
 you choose/' 
 
 " Agreed, Dick," said I, at once to place him at 
 his ease ; " but let's be upon equal terms ; I am 
 for the future, Herbert, plain Herbert ; though 
 mind you, not ' careless ' Herbert." 
 
 " No, no, you don't look ' careless Herbert/ 
 would that I could say as much for myself ; 
 but, after all, I am what God made me, and 
 that is careless Dick, as you will not doubt, 
 my friend, if ever you hear my history," he re- 
 plied. 
 
 And as at that moment the servant brought in 
 the refreshment tray, I said — 
 
 " Here is the tiffin, come there is no time like 
 the present, so let us hear that history, for I am 
 sure it must be one of great interest." 
 
 " Nay, nay, not now, it will serve to while away 
 the dull hours in a calm," he replied, and I pressed 
 him no further. 
 
14 
 
 MOTIVES FOR MY VOYAGE. 
 
 After the refreshment, we went out together, 
 partly to examine the city, in which Dick appeared 
 to take a great interest, but chiefly to attend the 
 examination of the pirates, who that afternoon were 
 to be given over to the Chinese Mandarin, for 
 although the capture had been made by the Portu- 
 guese, the Chinese governor insisted that the sub- 
 jects of his master, the Emperor, should be judged 
 and punished by himself alone. 
 
 The City of Macao, which is built upon a pro- 
 montory of the island of Sheang-shin, to which it is 
 joined by a narrow isthmus, was the first; city in 
 China in which Europeans were permitted to settle. 
 It was given to the Portuguese in the sixteenth 
 century by the Emperor as a reward for their 
 having aided him in destroying a celebrated pirate, 
 of whom his Majesty had long stood in dread. 
 But although the Portuguese have so long held 
 possession of the city, and have greatly enriched it 
 by making it the great depot for their trade in 
 the far East, the authority of their governor has 
 never been more than nominal, the real power 
 being in the hands of the head Chinese Mandarin, 
 who has ever ruled over both Chinese and Portu- 
 guese, with a rod — well, not of iron, but of petty 
 annoyance. Hence the reason the pirates were 
 given over to the Celestial Magnate ; and wretches 
 as they were, I yet pitied them, for previous to 
 their being brought into the presence of the Man- 
 darin, they had been so severely bruised with 
 
EXAMINATION OF THE PIRATES. 15 
 
 bamboos by his order that not one among them 
 could stand without upholding. 
 
 Not so much pity did Dick feel for the abject 
 wretches ; for when, with an obstinacy that might 
 have passed for courage, they refused to divulge 
 the name of their leader, or give the least clue to 
 his haunts, that personage, giving way to a violent 
 fit of rage, caught hold of the man who seemed 
 to be the chief of the party, and having shaken 
 him till he was breathless, turned to the interpreter, 
 saying — 
 
 " Tell the villain that his real chief is not a 
 Chinese, but a European ; and that although he 
 was in a large war-junk when he attacked the 
 ' Anne/ and disguised like a Chinese, I believe I 
 recognised the rascal." 
 
 u What words are these that have escaped the 
 lips of this clamorous barbarian ? " asked the 
 Mandarin, feeling his dignity injured by Dick's 
 course of proceeding; and having been informed 
 by the interpreter, he turned savagely towards the 
 hapless pirate, saying, " Miserable rat, is it under 
 heaven, even villain as thou art, that thou could'st 
 throw such dirt upon the tombs of thy ancestors, as 
 to serve even in thieving under a dog of a bar- 
 barian V* 
 
 " Such alas ! was the fate of the most miserable 
 and smallest of the great Lord's slaves/' was the 
 reply. 
 
 " Aye, aye, by heaven, I knew it was so ; I could 
 
16 
 
 MOTIVES FOR MY VOYAGE. 
 
 not be mistaken/' exclaimed Dick, who had awaited 
 the man's answer with suspended breath. 
 
 Now, as the great man's hatred of the best of 
 Europeans, was far more intense than his love of 
 justice, or his hatred of the vilest of the murderous 
 crew before him, he was greatly pleased at this 
 answer, and for the additional reason, that to in- 
 criminate a European would raise him far higher in 
 the estimation of the Court of Pekin, than the 
 capture of half the pirates on the coast, so address- 
 ing the miserable man, he said — 
 
 " Great have been the crimes of the miserable 
 rat, yet shall they be as if written in water, if by his 
 means the head of this barbarian sea-rat be brought 
 before us, let him, therefore, open his lips/' 
 
 We were all breathless with suspense, to hear the 
 name of, or some clue to the haunt of this European 
 leader of Chinese pirates, for such a crime was un- 
 heard of, and shook us with rage and indignation. 
 Well, at length the trembling wretch did open his 
 lips ; but it was only to answer, that he knew no 
 more than that the European was the friend or 
 companion of the Chinese leader, and that, although 
 upon the occasion of the capture of the "Anne," 
 he was in the chief junk, such an occurrence was 
 rare, for he came and he went in so mysterious a 
 manner that none but the Chinese chief knew. 
 
 At this answer Dick gnashed his teeth with rage 
 and disappointment; but the Mandarin repeated 
 to the fellow the offer of his life if he would give 
 
EXAMINATION OF THE PIRATES. 
 
 17 
 
 him the clue to the haunt of his chief. To this, 
 however, he could or would not make answer ; in 
 all probability he could not, for the same induce- 
 ment being held out to the others individually and 
 collectively, they gave the same reply, and I do not 
 think that among a nest of such diabolical rogues 
 more than one could have been found who would 
 have preferred death to divulgiug the hiding-place 
 of their chief ; and the Mandarin being thus foiled, 
 endeavoured to appease his indignation by ordering 
 them all to be decapitated the next day in the 
 public square — a sentence which was duly car- 
 ried out. 
 
 " Is it possible that a European can have been 
 among such a set of rogues, aiding and abetting 
 in the plundering of the ' Anne/ and the massacre 
 of her crew ? " said I, as we left the Hall of 
 Justice. 
 
 " Possible !" exclaimed Dick, vehemently, " not 
 only possible, but certain, and that's a, fact; for 
 though it was the dead of night when we were 
 boarded, the glare of a lantern exhibited to me 
 features that will haunt me to my grave. Aye, aye," 
 he added, " had I all the wealth in Macao, I would 
 give every cent to be left half-an-hour alone with 
 the man who owns them." 
 
 " Then you know the man ?" 
 
 " Nay, said I so/' he replied quickly, as if he 
 had admitted more than he intended. "Well, 
 well, if I did it is a long story, and will keep till 
 
 c 
 
18 
 
 MOTIVES FOR MY VOYAGE. 
 
 we have but a plank or two between us and the 
 ocean; but for the present pardon me ; I must now 
 to my patient." 
 
 So saying, and without waiting for a reply, this 
 strange creature left and hastened in the direc- 
 tion of the hospital, leaving me pondering whether 
 I had been altogether prudent in offering to make 
 him the companion of my voyage ; for to say the 
 least, there was much about the man that was 
 mysterious, and mystery and mischief run too 
 frequently in couples for me- to like it. As, 
 however, upon reaching home, I found the Chinese 
 skipper in consultation with my father, Dick 
 Orme and his affairs soon passed from my 
 mind. 
 
 " Li-Poo has come to report the junk ready for 
 sea/' said my father. 
 
 " Then I am prepared to go on board to-mor- 
 row." 
 
 "So far so good, Herbert, for the recent 
 punishment of the pirates, and the knowledge 
 that the Portuguese was-steamer is just now on 
 the alert, may keep the passage to the Gulf of 
 Siam clear for a time," replied my father, adding, 
 "but your ' compagnon de voyage/ will he be 
 ready V* 
 
 <c Whether or no, father, wind permitting, I will 
 sail to-morrow ; but I believe he will be here by 
 sundown," I replied. 
 
 Then having dismissed Li-Poo, we sat down — I 
 
MY DOUBTS ABOUT DICK. 
 
 19 
 
 to receive, my father to give, final instructions re- 
 specting my mission. This and other matters 
 occupied us till nearly midnight, so that not until 
 we began to think of seeking our bed-chambers, 
 did it occur to either that Dick had not made his 
 appearance. 
 
20 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 DICK ORME: A MYSTERY. 
 
 " What vexes you, sir V- said I the next morning 
 to my father, whom I found in what I believed to 
 be a very irritable mood. 
 
 "The possibility that your voyage may be un- 
 necessarily delayed by the want of punctuality in this 
 young man," he replied, adding, rather to himself 
 than to me, " Truly, it is remarkable he should have 
 failed to keep his appointment with us last night." 
 
 " At least, there is much that is contemptible in 
 a man's breaking his voluntary promise." 
 
 u True, Herbert, true ; never break a promise, 
 however trivial, it is a meanness akin to lying." 
 
 u Never fear, sir ; but as for this Orme, wind per- 
 mitting, I sail with or without him, as may be." 
 
 " Still, Herbert, we must not be too hasty in the 
 matter ; you have promised to give him a passage, 
 and it is just possible that that boy, in whom he 
 seems to take so much interest, may have something 
 to do with his absence." 
 
 i€ It is possible, but that I can soon discover by 
 
MR. OLIVAREZ AND MY FATHER. 
 
 21 
 
 going down to the hospital/' and suiting the action 
 to the word, I snatched up my Panama hat and went 
 to that establishment, but there another surprise 
 met me. The boy had been so ill during the night, 
 that Orme had remained by his bed-side ; his sick- 
 ness, however, proving to be but sudden and tem- 
 porary, they had both left the hospital a little after 
 sunrise that morning ; why they had left so sud- 
 denly, or whither however they had gone, no one 
 knew. 
 
 This was very mysterious ; still, with an indefinite 
 notion of finding them, I walked about the town and 
 its suburbs, but more particularly the portion mostly 
 populated by the Chinese, for I thought it not im- 
 probable that Orme might have been decoyed by 
 the friends of the convicted sea- thieves, who it was 
 well known had many confederates lurking in Macao. 
 By the way, I may tell you, that piracy in China 
 being regarded as no greater crime than is smug- 
 gling, I am told, upon the coast of England, every 
 maritime town and village in the Celestial Kingdom 
 abounds with sleeping-partners, or inactive mem- 
 bers or proprietors in the villanous junks which 
 infest the China seas. 
 
 This ramble was fruitless, I could hear nothing of 
 Dick or the boy • and so, after about three hours 
 searching, I returned home, when I found my father 
 in earnest converse with a weather-beaten, sun- 
 burned man of middle age ; but regardless of polite- 
 ness, for my mind was full of the mysterious dis- 
 
22 DICK ORME : A MYSTERY. 
 
 appearance of Dick and the "boy, I said, "The 
 mystery is greater than " 
 
 But, with a glance of deep meaning, my father 
 said, "Truly, Herbert, this is neither the polite- 
 ness of a Celestial nor of an Englishman. This 
 gentleman is Mr. Olivarez, of the firm of Costa and 
 Olivarez, our San Francisco agents." 
 
 For an instant I bit my lip with vexation at 
 being prevented relieving my mind of a mystery; 
 however, it was only for an instant, for I knew my 
 good father too well not to be fully aware that he 
 did nothing without a motive, and so, shaking hands 
 with Mr. Olivarez, I congratulated him upon his safe 
 
MR. OLIVAREZ AND MY FATHER. 
 
 23 
 
 voyage, and expressed my delight at seeing him * 
 indeed the latter was unfeigned, for I had little 
 doubt that he had come in person to settle the 
 large claims my father had upon his house ; but 
 how bitterly was I disappointed when he replied — 
 
 " Many thanks, young gentleman, although I ques- 
 tion whether your greeting would have been so warm 
 had you known that I may be the cause of delaying 
 indefinitely that voyage to Europe, for which your 
 father tells me you so greatly long." 
 
 " Stay, have you intelligence that will affect my 
 father's fortune ?" I asked with alarm. 
 
 ' Aye, even so, though I trust but temporarily," 
 he^ replied, adding, " the truth is that upon the 
 very eve of our transmitting the sum total of your 
 father's claim, and that too in hard dollars, as he had 
 requested, we were plundered to an extent that would 
 have ruined us entirely, but for the aid of friends in 
 San Francisco who enabled us to keep our most 
 pressing engagements." 
 
 "Then," said I, perhaps rather casually, for the 
 truth is I believed his story to be some subterfuge 
 to evade paying my father, such things not being 
 uncommon, " may I ask what brings Mr. Olivarez so 
 many thousands of miles, for surely he cannot ex- 
 pect to find the robbers in Macao?" 
 
 " You are young to suspect so quickly," he re- 
 plied sternly, adding, "Well, the thief, who was 
 no other than a confidential clerk, succeeded in 
 leaving San Francisco, that we do know, although 
 
24 
 
 DICK ORME : A MYSTERY. 
 
 how he disposed of the dollars is to us as great a 
 mystery as how he could carry them away from the 
 store undetected ; for to do this he must have had 
 a waggon and accomplices ; moreover, we knew he 
 sailed for Canton, to which city I followed him by 
 the next ship, but upon reaching Canton, I found 
 that the vessel in which he had sailed had left on 
 her passage to Siam ; so far this news was good, for 
 having agents in Bangkok, I had little doubt of 
 seeing him in that city, hence I chartered a Lorcha 
 to follow, but in these roads falling in with a ship 
 bound from Siam to Canton, we hailed her, and 
 asked if she had spoken with the c Anne, ' of San 
 Francisco." 
 
 " The 6 Anne/ 99 I repeated. 
 
 " Aye, and you can scarcely be more astonished 
 than I was disappointed, to hear that she had been 
 captured and plundered, and all her passengers 
 murdered at sea, and thus ended all my hopes." 
 
 " Then you heard nothing of your clerk, the 
 thief ?" I asked breathlessly. 
 
 " Nay, what could I hear, for the poor fellow, 
 whatever his previous sins, had been murdered by 
 the pirates." 
 
 " But one question, Mr. Olivarez, What was this 
 clerk like, young, old, tall, short ?" I asked. 
 
 " Tall, red hair, close shaven, and about twenty- 
 five years of age. But why do you ask ?" 
 
 "Well, a certain suspicion arose in my mind, 
 however, I may not say more till it is confirmed," 
 
i susrECT nrcic. 
 
 25 
 
 I replied, adding, " but is it not probable he may- 
 still be in Canton V 9 
 
 "Not so. Jasper Brown is too smart a young 
 man to remain long in a port frequented by Ame- 
 rican captains, and consequently where every arrival 
 would place him in fear of being recognised." 
 
 "Is this Brown then an American?" I asked, 
 emphasizing the name with delight, that after all 
 it was not my new acquaintance. 
 
 " Well — yes — no — or rather half-and-half an 
 Anglo-American, born in England and bred in the 
 States, and so smart a fellow that even after coming 
 so long a distance, I must confess I am only 
 grieved that he has met with such a terrible 
 fate." 
 
 " Then you once thought well of him ?" 
 
 " So well that I would have staked my life upon 
 his integrity ; nay, even now I believe he was but 
 the cat's-paw of a more designing rogue." 
 
 Header, I had but little doubt that Dick Orme 
 and Jasper Brown were one and the same person, 
 but Mr. Olivarez's reply softened down my indig- 
 nation at the crime with which he was charged. The 
 conclusion of Olivarez's story was, that he had made 
 the voyage to Canton and Macao to so arrange 
 matters with his correspondents in those cities that, 
 in a little time, he should be enabled to recover from 
 the great loss his house had sustained. 
 
 " Well — what think you of this robbery ?" asked 
 my father, when Olivarez had left us. 
 
2G 
 
 DICK ORME : A MYSTERY. 
 
 " That it is at least possible Dick Orme and the 
 man Brown are one and the same person." 
 
 " My opinion also, and doubtlessly he has changed 
 his name, and allowed his beard to grow/' replied 
 my father. 
 
 "And I, father, am confirmed in this belief by 
 Dick's disappearance from the hospital, which 
 was doubtless to avoid meeting Olivarez," 
 said I. 
 
 "Yet that can hardly be, for how could Orme 
 have known of Olivarez' s presence in Macao V* 
 
 " 'Tis a mystery ; yet not enough to change my 
 conviction of Orme's being the thief." 
 
 "At all events, Herbert, you are fortunate in 
 having escaped such a precious c compagnon de 
 voyage,' " replied my father, adding meditatively, 
 " yet even if he be a rogue, who shall say what may 
 not have been his temptation, for even Olivarez ad- 
 mits that this young man once possessed his highest 
 confidence." 
 
 " Yet, sir, did we know his hiding-place, should 
 we not be in honour bound to disclose it to Mr. 
 Olivarez ?" said I. 
 
 " Perhaps so. Perhaps so ; yet, Herbert, we are 
 not thief- catchers, and I cannot but rejoice that he 
 and Olivarez have not met, for however guilty he 
 may have been, the sufferings of the poor fellow on 
 board the pirate-ship have been sufficient punish- 
 ment. And so," added my father, quite regardless 
 of the fact that he himself might suffer a con- 
 
DICK NOT TO BE MY COMPANION. 
 
 27- 
 
 siderable loss by Dick's delinquencies, "Let us 
 forget the matter at once/' and thus I rejoiced that 
 I had got rid of one who, to say the least, was a 
 very questionable character." 
 
 That same day my father accompanied me on 
 board the junk, and having satisfied himself that 
 she was in due order, and every possible care had 
 been taken for my comfort upon the voyage, bade 
 me farewell. But comfort in a Chinese junk — 
 such a notion is the wildest of chimeras. 
 
 Chinese trading-vessels have generally a captain 
 who might more properly be styled a super-cargo. 
 Whether the owner or not, he has charge of the 
 whole of the cargo, buys and sells as circumstances 
 require ; but has no command whatever over the 
 sailing of the ship. This is the business of the 
 ho-chang, or pilot. During the whole voyage, to 
 observe the shores and promontories are the prin- 
 cipal objects which occupy his attention day and 
 night. He sits steadily on the side of the ship, and 
 sleeps when standing just as it suits his conve- 
 nience. Though he has nominally the command 
 over the sailors, yet they obey him only when they 
 find it agreeable to their own wishes, and they 
 scold and brave him just as if he belonged to their 
 own company. Next to the pilot (or mate) is the 
 to-kung (helmsman), who manages the sailing of 
 the ship ; there are a few men under his immediate 
 command. 
 
 There are, besides, two clerks- — one to keep the 
 
28 
 
 DICK orme: a mystery. 
 
 accounts and the other to superintend the cargo 
 that is put on board. Also a comprador to pur- 
 chase provisions, and a heang-kung (or priest), 
 attends to the idols, and burns every morning a 
 certain quantity of incense, and of gold and silver 
 paper. The sailors are divided into two classes : 
 a few called tow-muh (or head-men) have the 
 charge of the anchor, sails, &c, and the rest called 
 ho-ke (or comrades), perform the menial work, 
 such as pulling ropes, and heaving the anchor. A 
 cook and some barbers make up the remainder of 
 the crew. 
 
 All these personages, except the second class of 
 sailors, have cabins ; long, narrow holes, in which 
 one may stretch himself, but cannot stand erect. 
 If any person wishes to go as a passenger, he must 
 apply to the tow-muh in order to hire one of their 
 cabins, which they let on such conditions as they 
 please. In fact the sailors exercise full control 
 over the vessel, and oppose every measure which 
 they think may prove injurious to their own interest, 
 so that even the captain and pilot are frequently 
 obliged, when wearied out with their insolent be- 
 haviour, to crave their kind assistance, and to re- 
 quest them to show a better temper. 
 
 The several individuals of the crew form one 
 whole, whose principal object in going to sea is 
 trade, the working of the junk being only a se- 
 condary object. Everyone is a shareholder, having 
 the liberty of putting a certain quantity of goods 
 
C HINESE JUNKS AND SAILORS. 
 
 29 
 
 on board, with which he trades wheresoever the 
 vessel may touch, caring very little about how soon 
 she may arrive at the port of destination. 
 
 The common sailors receive from the captain 
 nothing but dry rice, and have to provide for 
 themselves their other fare, which is very slender. 
 These sailors are not usually men who have been 
 trained to their occupation, but wretches who 
 are obliged to flee from their homes; and they 
 frequently engage for a voyage before they have 
 ever been on board a junk. All of them, however 
 stupid, are commanders, and if anything of im- 
 portance is to be done, they bawl out their com- 
 mands to each other, till all is utter confusion. 
 There is no subordination, no cleanliness, no mutual 
 regard or interest. 
 
 The navigation of junks is performed without 
 the aid of charts, or any other helps, except the 
 compass ; it is mere coasting, and the whole art of 
 the pilot consists in directing the course according 
 to* the promonitories in sight. In time of danger 
 the men immediately lose all courage, and their in- 
 decision frequently proves the destruction of their 
 vessel. Although they consider the English mode 
 of sailing as somewhat better than their own, still 
 they cannot but allow the palm of superiority to 
 the ancient craft of the u Celestial Empire." 
 
 When any alteration for improvement is proposed, 
 they will readily answer, — If we adopt this measure 
 we shall justly fall under the suspicion of barbarism. 
 
30 
 
 DICK ORME : A MYSTERY. 
 
 The most disgusting thing on board a junk is 
 idolatry, the rites of which are performed with the 
 greatest punctuality. The goddess of the sea is 
 Ma-tseo-po, called also Teen-how, e queen of 
 heaven.' She is said to have been a virgin, who 
 lived some centuries ago in Fulkeen, near the dis- 
 trict of Fuhchow. On account of having, with 
 great fortitude and by a kind of miracle, saved her 
 brother, who was on the point of drowning, she 
 was deified and loaded with titles not dissimilar 
 to those bestowed on the Virgin Mary. 
 
 Every vessel is furnished with an image of this 
 goddess, before which a lamp is kept burning. 
 Some satellites in hideous shapes stand round the 
 queen, who is always represented in a sitting posture. 
 Cups of tea are placed before her,, and some tinsel 
 adorns her shrine. 
 
 When a vessel is about to proceed on a voyage, 
 she is taken in procession to a temple, where many 
 offerings are displayed before her. The priest 
 recites some prayers, the mate makes several pro- 
 strations, and the captain usually honours her by 
 appearing in full dress before her image. Then an 
 entertainment is given, and the food presented to 
 the idol is greedily devoured. Afterwards the good 
 mother, who does not partake of the gross earthly 
 substance, is carried in front of a stage to behold 
 the minstrels, and to admire the dexterity of the 
 actors, thence she is brought back, with music, to 
 the junk, where the merry peals of the gong re- 
 
CHINESE GODDESS. 
 
 31 
 
 ceive the venerable inmate, and the jolly sailors 
 anxiously strive to seize whatever may happen to 
 remain of her banquet. 
 
 The care of the goddess is intrusted to the priest, 
 who never dares to appear before her with his face 
 unwashed. Every morning he puts sticks of burn- 
 ing incense into the censer, and repeats his cere- 
 monies in every part of the ship, not excepting 
 even the cook's room. 
 
 When the junk reaches any promontory, or when 
 contrary winds prevail, the priest makes an offering 
 to the spirits of the mountains, or of the air. On 
 such occasions (and only on such) pigs and fowls 
 are killed. 
 
 When the offering is duly arranged, the priest 
 adds to it some spirits and fruits, burns gilt paper, 
 makes several prostrations, and then cries out to 
 the sailors — " Follow the spirits V* who suddenly 
 rise and devour most of the sacrifice. When sailing 
 cut of a river, offerings of paper are constantly 
 thrown out near the rudder. But to no part of the 
 junk are so many offerings made as to the compass. 
 Some red cloth, which is also tied to the rudder and 
 cable, is put over it ; incense- sticks in great quan- 
 tities are kindled, and gilt paper made into the 
 shape of a junk is burnt before it. Near the com- 
 pass some tobacco, a pipe, and a burning lamp are 
 placed, the joint property of all ; and hither they 
 all crowd to enjoy themselves. 
 
 When there is a calm, the sailors generally con- 
 
32 
 
 DICK ORME : A MYSTERY. 
 
 tribute a certain quantity of gilt paper, which, 
 pasted in the form of a junk, is set adrift. If no 
 wind follows, the goddess is thought to be out of 
 humour, and recourse is had to the demons of the 
 air. When all endeavours are unsuccessful, the offer- 
 ings cease, and the sailors wait with indifference. 
 
 After the foregoing description, the reader will 
 scarcely desire to make a voyage in a Chinese 
 trading junk. To me, however, who from child- 
 hood had been inured to strange scenes, stranger 
 people, and a life of adventure, the companionship 
 of these semi-barbarians, semi-trading, but wholly 
 (by inclination at least) piratical sailors, gave a 
 piquancy to what would have otherwise promised 
 to be but a very monotonous voyage ; therefore no 
 sooner had my father bade me farewell, than I be- 
 came impatient for the breeze which was to waft 
 us round the coasts of China and. Cambodia into 
 the Gulf of Siam ; but when the hour came for 
 hanging out the night-lantern, without wind suffi- 
 cient to flutter a sea-weed, I determined to bury my 
 impatience in sleep, and so entering the cabin, a 
 little state-room which had been erected upon the 
 upper deck for my use, I threw myself upon the 
 couch, and speedily became lost to all conscious- 
 ness, except that belonging to dream-land. 
 
 Suddenly, however, a sharp pinch upon my arm 
 awakened and brought me to a sitting position ; 
 when, imagine my astonishment at perceiving by 
 the glimmer from the lantern suspended in the 
 
A SURPRISE. 
 
 33 
 
 middle of the room, Dick Orme, not as I had last 
 seen him in shore-going costume, but with a large 
 slouched hat, and wrapped in a rough watch-jacket 
 of pilot-cloth. 
 
 " You here !" I exclaimed. 
 
 " Come, come, my friend, why so scared ? you 
 invited, and I have accepted the invitation; al- 
 though if I had been a pirate, matters would have 
 gone queer with you, for when the boat came along- 
 side, there was not a man on deck, and thus it was 
 I came on board without leave, and am here to 
 announce my arrival." 
 
 " Zounds ! this is dangerous neglect but my 
 surprise was by no means equal to the astonish- 
 ment of Li-Poo, who entering the cabin at that 
 moment to tell me a smart breeze had sprung up, 
 and perceiving Dick, stood speechless for nearly a 
 minute, and then exclaimed — 
 
 " Hi-yaw ! hi-yaw ! I not know him. How this 
 man come here ?" 
 
 " Where were your eyes, your ears, or were they 
 both dulled by sleep, you rogue ?" I replied. 
 
 " Hi-yaw ! hi-yaw ! I not know," again ex- 
 claimed the old man, expressing, in a species of 
 Anglo-Chinese tongue, called pigeon-English, his 
 astonishment, but to my question he replied with 
 another " hi-yaw," adding — 
 
 "Fader's son got eyes, got ears, but 'spose eyes 
 not see, ears not hear, Li-Poo know noting." 
 
 "Now, look you, my friend, if you will just 
 
 D 
 
34 
 
 DICK ORME : A MYSTERY. 
 
 imagine much sleep and more sam-shoo in the 
 noddle of this old 'coon and his men, and a pair 
 of muffled oars to my boat, you'll just about get 
 clear of this fog/' said Orme. 
 
 "Really, you are both cool and candid/' said I, 
 " but may I ask why you came on board at night, 
 and especially why with muffled oars/' much nettled 
 at the man's impudence, and half-inclined to send 
 him ashore under charge of half-a-dozen of the 
 crew. 
 
 "You are complimentary. Mister Herbert, but 
 you are right, I am both cool and candid. As for 
 your question, that I will answer in good time/' 
 he replied • then addressing Li-Poo, he said, — 
 "Now, old gentleman, just you go and get the 
 anchor lifted, for, with the wind which has set in the 
 sooner we leave this harbour the better." 
 
 But at this cool impertinence I became so 
 angered that I broke forth — 
 
 " What am I to understand by this conduct, sir ? 
 Have a care, have a care, if you have any regard 
 for one ' Jasper Brown.' " 
 
 " Aye ! what ! he replied, his face pale with rage 
 or fear, but becoming calmer, he added — 
 
 " Hold there, before you say that which I may 
 not pardon even in this strait — and remember I 
 came here upon your own invitation " 
 
 " Stay, — I invited one Richard Orme." 
 
 " And Dick Orme it is who is before you." 
 
 " It is false — but in a few words, Mr. Orme — 
 
A SCENE. 
 
 35 
 
 Jasper Brown — or whoever you may be, if yon do 
 not of yonr own accord quit this jnnk as quietly, if 
 not as mysteriously as you came, I will have you 
 sent ashore in irons/' I said, and for a moment his 
 breast heaved, his eyes flashed, but subduing his 
 rising passion, he replied — 
 
 " Send this Chinese from the cabin, and if you 
 are not afraid to be left alone with me, I will at 
 least satisfy you that your suspicions are unjust." 
 
 ie Hi-yaw ! Avhat good fightee when can talkee," 
 exclaimed Li-Poo, who from the fierceness of our 
 gestures evidently thought we were coming to 
 blows. 
 
 " Afraid," I repeated scornfully, adding, however, 
 when at a wave of my hand Li-Poo had left the 
 cabin, u Answer me, are you or are you not Jasper 
 Brown, the run-away clerk of Costa and Olivarez V 9 
 
 " In a word — yes." 
 
 " Then Mr. Brown the sooner we part company 
 the better, for though in consideration of what 
 you have already suffered, I would not willingly act 
 the part of a thief- catcher, I yet know too much of 
 your antecedents to feel desirous of your com- 
 panionship." 
 
 For a full minute neither of us spoke, the silence 
 however, was broken by a thin silvery voice, full of 
 emotion, saying — 
 
 " Do please listen, Dick is not bad. No, no, he 
 is good, very good." 
 
 As he spoke, the speaker came from behind 
 
 D 2 
 
36 
 
 DICK ORME : A MYSTERY. 
 
 a screen, and fell at my feet, looking up implor- 
 ingly. It was a slim boy in a tattered dress, with 
 a large slouch hat, which shaded very regular fea- 
 tures ; but so plaintive was the voice, so beseeching 
 the attitude, that notwithstanding my surprise and 
 anger, I could but say — 
 
 " Who are you ? How came you here, my boy V 
 
 Dick, however, who seemed annoyed at the boy's 
 having come forward, said — 
 
 " Little Waif, little Waif, you are my good 
 angel j but for thee, I should have forgotten my- 
 self," and my curiosity now getting the better of my 
 indignation, I said, " Is this the lad who was the 
 companion of your imprisonment among the 
 pirates ?" but at that moment the boy fell back- 
 wards, apparently in a fainting fit, and Dick, kneel- 
 ing and holding him in his arms, replied — 
 
 " It is — it is ; but I told you I had a story : this 
 lad is part of that story; but for heaven's sake help 
 me with water." 
 
 I did as he bid me, and in a few minutes the lad 
 revived ; when Dick said — 
 
 " My poor little Waif — my poor little Waif, the 
 exertion has been too much for you." Then turn- 
 ing to me, he said — 
 
 c< Master Herbert, betray me if you will ; but for 
 the sake of mercy, give this lad a cabin for the 
 night, and when he is at rest, if I do not convince 
 you in a few words, how unjust is all that you have 
 heard of me, I will willingly seek Olivarez myself 
 
LITTLE WAIF. 
 
 87 
 
 in the morning/' and as whatever my feelings were 
 against Dick, I could not but pity the poor boy ; I 
 myself went and bargained with one of the sailors 
 for his little dog-hole of a sleeping-place, and Dick 
 laid the lad down; then together we returned 
 to my state cabin, and he related his history. 
 
38 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 DICK ORME RELATES HIS HISTORY. 
 
 To begin at the beginning, my father was what 
 people call a respectable man, that is, he was 
 secretary to a charitable society, with a sufficient 
 income for his small wants ; and, although not 
 large, it was sufficient, for he never was in debt 
 or without a small balance at his bankers, and 
 that I take it, is being respectable anyhow. Still, 
 however, in common with my mother, he possessed 
 one very 'grave fault, that of being too indulgent 
 to me, his only son ; but that fault brought its own 
 punishment upon the poor souls, for it caused me 
 to make their lives a living purgatory. 
 
 As a child, I was ever getting into trouble 
 through my own — well — not wilfulness, but which 
 by the way is as bad — carelessness. 
 
 As a boy, I could not remain under one master 
 for a longer period than six months; the reason 
 of that, however, was, that at my first school I 
 formed a friendship with one wild " ne'er do well," 
 who being expelled, induced me to follow him to 
 
DICK GOES TO SEA. 
 
 39 
 
 another and another school. When I reached the 
 age of fourteen, my father gave me notice that the 
 following year I mnst enter his office as his assis- 
 tant, so that upon his becoming superannuated, I 
 could take his position, a boon the directors of 
 the charity, out of their great respect for their old 
 and valued servant, had promised him ; condition- 
 ally, that my conduct should warrant such promo- 
 tion, and great was my father's delight thereat, 
 for he believed me provided for life; and looked 
 forward to a green old age, with grand- children 
 at his knee, and myself honourably fulfilling the 
 psition he had marked out. But, heaven forgive 
 ne ! for destroying his pleasing dreams. 
 
 The young scamp whom I had followed from 
 Sihool to school, ran away to sea, not before, how- 
 ever, he had talked to me so much of ships, that I 
 hnged to plough the wild waste of waters, which 
 lave such enchantment for the young, but which 
 a*e so bleak and barren to the old. The long and 
 sort of it was I would go to sea; yes, that was 
 By expression ; but, oh ! how little I understood 
 is full meaning. So, cost him what it might in 
 roney or feeling, my good father, not only let me 
 hve my will, but expended the greater part of 
 lis little savings in fitting me out, and apprenticing 
 le to a shipowner. 
 
 Now, under other circumstances, I might have 
 tken kindly to the sea; but it happened, as 
 ideed, it very often happens, that the skipper 
 
40 
 
 DICK ORME RELATES HIS HISTORY. 
 
 proved a tartar, so upon our arrival at Calcutta, I 
 unshipped myself, and having hidden until the ship 
 had sailed, endeavoured to obtain employment in a 
 merchant's house. 
 
 Fortunately, I succeeded; and notwithstanding 
 my salary was but a few rupees a week, I liked my 
 new occupation ; unfortunately, however, the kind- 
 liness with which my employer treated me, aroused 
 the jealousy of a senior clerk, who, by affecting i 
 sincere friendship, by degrees, artfully wormed ou 
 of me, not only the story of my young life, but thai 
 it was not my intention to remain in India fo' 
 any length of time; all of which, but I suppose 
 with additions, he conveyed to our employer, wh) 
 thereupon gave me a quarter's salary and nr 
 dismissal, telling me, at the same time, that h> 
 would rather part with me then, than after hs 
 had taken the trouble to make me useful. 
 
 Now, this was a sad blow, for notwithstandin ' 
 my foolish boast of it being my intention to re 
 turn to England, I was in fact very sorry to leav 
 my situation ; the more so that I had writte: 
 home to my parents, giving them an account of m 
 good fortune in having at length obtained a settle 
 position, and one that would soon enable me, b 
 hard work, to repay some of the money I ha 
 been the cause of their squandering. 
 
 Hostilely, however, as the Calcutta merchan 
 had treated me, he gave me a recommendatio: 
 to the captain of a ship bound to the United States 
 
ON THE ROAD TO FORTUNE. 
 
 41 
 
 who, on condition of my acting as a kind of clerk 
 to him, and making myself generally useful, gave 
 me a free passage to New York ; in which great 
 city I soon found myself, and in a much better 
 position than I had any right to expect. For 
 that good fortune, however, I was indebted to the 
 captain, who, the very day after our arrival, pro- 
 cured me a situation, and a fair salary in a shipping 
 house, in which he himself had some interest. 
 
 So far all seemed " couleur de rose" and I be- 
 lieved myself to be on the road to fortune, and to 
 that effect I wrote to my parents ; but, alas ! the 
 reply came from my mother, who told me that 
 my father had been dead six months. My good, 
 kind father ! Oh ! how bitter was my sorrow ! 
 how poignant my regret, for my ingratitude towards 
 him ! 
 
 I had, however, one source of consolation, by 
 industry and good fortune, for my employers were 
 very liberal in their dealings towards me, I had 
 saved two thousand dollars. That, at least, I 
 would send to my remaining parent, whom my 
 father, partly in consequence of the money he had 
 spent upon me, but chiefly in consequence of the 
 failure of a company in which he had invested 
 his savings, had left in straightened circumstances. 
 
 " A right noble resolution too," I could not help 
 observing, being even now more than half convinced 
 that somehow Dick would turn out innocent of the 
 crime laid at his door by Olivarez. 
 
42 
 
 DICK ORME RELATES HIS HISTORY. 
 
 " Nay, Master Herbert, it merited small praise, for 
 it was but purchasing quiet for my own conscience, 
 and that too with, money for which I had, perhaps, but 
 too little regard," he replied, and then continuing — 
 "Now, it so happened, that in a conversation 
 with Captain Crafty, he who had brought me from 
 India, and had so well befriended me upon my 
 arrival in New York, I mentioned my intention of 
 sending this money by means of a bill of exchange 
 upon a London merchant — whereupon the captain, 
 shaking me warmly by the hand, praised me for 
 my intention, and, as I then believed, very kindly 
 offered to put me in the way of almost doubling 
 the amount, and his plan Avas very feasible. It 
 was to lay out the money in goods, similar to a 
 cargo of which he was about himself taking to 
 London, by which means, and charging me neither 
 commission for his trouble, nor freight, a very 
 handsome additional sum would be secured; and 
 having complete faith in him, I gratefully accepted 
 the offer, and handed over the dollars." 
 
 " Surely that man was not hard-hearted enough 
 to rob you," I interposed, for that was my anticipa- 
 tion. 
 
 u Nay, nay," he said, u not that, nor do I even 
 now know that he did, although I have some mis- 
 givings as to whether my mother ever received one 
 cent — however, be that as it may, the captain 
 sailed, and when sufficient time had elapsed for the 
 passage to and fro of the mails, I became on tenter- 
 
CRAFTY. 
 
 43 
 
 liooks of anxiety and expectation for news from my 
 mother, but nearly six months passed before I re- 
 ceived a letter — and then from Crafty — telling me 
 she had recently died." 
 
 " That must, indeed, have been a great grief ; 
 but tell me," I added, "what became of those 
 goods ? Was the profit realized ? Did your mother 
 receive the proceeds ? " 
 
 " Of that I noiv have my doubts ; but at the 
 time, so great was my grief, that I thought but 
 little of the money — nay, rested quite satisfied with 
 Crafty's account, which was that, in consequence of 
 a glut in the London market, he had sold the whole 
 of his cargo at a great loss, about one half what it 
 had cost ; but that he had paid over to my mother, 
 her, or rather, my share of the proceeds, and that 
 being in very straightened circumstances, the sum, 
 small as it was, had at least driven the sting of 
 poverty from her deathbed." 
 
 u That man was a great rogue, believe me," 
 said I. 
 
 "He was — he is, and that's a fact ; but I did 
 not think so then, for his account to me tallied 
 exactly with another he rendered to my employers, 
 who had a considerable share in the same venture." 
 
 " But this Crafty, did he not return to New 
 York ?" I asked. 
 
 " No ; for upon his arrival in London he quitted 
 the sea, as a profession, and resolved to settle 
 down in England; ivhen, however, and where I 
 
44 DICK OKME RELATES HIS HISTORY. 
 
 again met with him will soon follow. The loss of 
 my mother, my only relation, or friend in the world, 
 for a long time preyed on my mind; the more 
 so, as I profanely believed that, but for my past con- 
 duct, her days would have been c longer in the 
 land/ There is, however, a potent medicine for 
 grief, hard work, complete occupation, and to that I 
 applied myself so well that a few years saw me 
 a partner with my former employer. I worked 
 much, and spent little, the sure recipe for making 
 a fortune ; but a year of panic came, it killed my 
 partner and ruined me. There is seldom, however, 
 a misfortune to be found that has not hidden in its 
 folds some luck. Thus, in settling the affairs of 
 our late firm, one house was so pleased with my 
 exactness, and the fair state of the accounts which 
 had been kept by me, that they offered me a confi- 
 dential post, and again I saw before me an oppor- 
 tunity of making a fortune, for the house was that 
 of Costa and Olivarez, at San Francisco. It was 
 the year following the discovery of gold at Sacra- 
 mento. 
 
 u In my new employment, I toiled as of old, and 
 as of old was rewarded by the full confidence of my 
 employers. Nay, so high did I stand in the favour 
 of the senior that but a few months since I was 
 upon the point of marriage with his daughter Jose- 
 phine." 
 
 " Is this, indeed, possible ?" I exclaimed, as 
 Olivarez's story passed through my mind. 
 
twelvemonths' probation. 
 
 45 
 
 "It is — but listen," he replied, adding, "Now, 
 hard as I had toiled, and high as stood my cha- 
 racter with my new employers, I possessed one 
 fault, which, as you will see, indirectly ruined both 
 my character and prospects. It was a propensity 
 for gambling — a vice at that period so prevalent in 
 California as to be considered almost venial. In- 
 deed, so common had it become even before the 
 gold discovery inundated the land with a polyglot 
 population, made up of the refuse of all nations, 
 that the Public Council had passed stringent resolu- 
 tions for its suppression. But to return to my 
 marriage. 
 
 "Well, upon the solemnization of the ceremony, 
 it was arranged that I was to become a junior 
 partner, the only consideration being that I should 
 place the whole of my savings (and they were con- 
 siderable) to the general capital of the firm. Now, 
 listen ! One night, but three weeks before the day 
 appointed for the wedding, the whole of these sav- 
 ings were lost at the gaming-table. For a time I 
 was distracted, however, speedily resolving upon 
 my course of action, I at once sought my intended 
 father-in-law, confessed my folly, and told him that 
 it was my intention to leave that country. To my 
 surprise, however, the generous old man not only 
 condoled with me upon my loss, but begged of 
 me to remain in the house, and promised that if 
 for twelvemonths I worked in the interest of the 
 firm as I had hitherto, and during the whole time 
 
46 DICK ORME RELATES HIS HISTORY. 
 
 refrained from the gaming-table, that with or with- 
 out money of my own, I should at the end of that 
 period become both son-in-law and partner. And 
 all this astonished me the more, because he had 
 been the member of the Public Council who had 
 proposed and carried the resolutions for the sup- 
 pression of gaming. 
 
 "Thus was I once more placed in a fair way 
 of redeeming my fortune, and doubtlessly should 
 have succeeded but for an incident which I will 
 now relate. 
 
 " At that time the gold-fever was at its height. 
 Our house carried on a large trade in the purchase 
 of the ore and dust from the diggers, which we 
 shipped to the States, getting in return goods and 
 dollars. Then again we bought cargoes from 
 the merchants of Canton, Shanghai, and Bangkok. 
 From a merchant of the latter city Messrs. Costa 
 and Co. had received a cargo of dye-woods, fea- 
 thers, cardamoms, sugar, oils, and tobacco, but as 
 the transaction had taken place with the super- 
 cargo of the vessel, who, in fact, was a partner in 
 the house at Bangkok, when the cargo had been 
 unshipped, and the vessel nearly reladen with bar- 
 gold, which Messrs. Costa had given in exchange — 
 the balance by the way, being in our favour a con- 
 siderable sum in hard dollars, it became my business, 
 in the absence of the two partners, to receive him. 
 I did, and from the moment my eyes rested upon 
 him, I believed I had seen him before. That I did 
 
MEETS AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE. 
 
 47 
 
 not at once recognise him, you must not be sur- 
 prised, for it was, and had been for a long time my 
 daily habit to meet with people of all nations, in 
 every variety of attire, and speaking all languages, 
 moreover, he was some sixteen years older and 
 instead of a plain-shaven face, he was now bewhis- 
 kered, moustached, bearded, and long-haired. Be- 
 fore, however, I had been very long in his company, 
 I could not help saying — 
 
 " Surely, I am not mistaken, it must be Captain 
 Crafty to whom I am speaking." 
 
 He stared full in my face for a minute, then 
 catching hold of both hands, he replied — 
 
 " Yes, yes. I am he. But is it possible that I 
 see my young friend, Dick Orme ?" 
 
 " Indeed, it is," was my reply, but still thinking 
 of my mother, although so long a time had passed, 
 I said, " But of my poor mother, tell me of her last 
 moments \ " 
 
 " Nay, nay, lad, not now ; this place is scarcely 
 fitting," he replied, glancing at several Chinese 
 dealers, and some gold-diggers, who were then in 
 the store. " But," he added, " come you to my 
 lodging at FimVs hotel, in Montgomery Street, and 
 dine with me, and we will have the whole yarn 
 over," and seeing the reason of his objection to 
 talk upon private matters just then, I promised to 
 visit him after closing the store. 
 
 Now, when he had left, I felt much vexed that I 
 had so hastily promised, for thai morning Mr. Oli- 
 
48 DICK ORME RELATES HIS HISTORY. 
 
 varez had gone for a short stay to Sacramento City, 
 then building, and Mr. Costa was away at his house 
 about ten miles from San Francisco, while I, and an 
 old Chinese coolie, were the only persons left in 
 charge of all the valuables in the store : no slight 
 charge or anxiety just then, for we had in the place 
 the sum of ten thousand dollars in hard cash, the 
 only time perhaps so large a sum in cash had ever 
 been in the stores, and then only by accident; how- 
 ever, a moment's thought, and I resolved to send a 
 note to the hotel postponing my visit till another 
 day, when one or other of the partners should be 
 in the city, a caution you will believe very neces- 
 sary, when I tell you that San Francisco was at that 
 time so crowded with the choicest rogues and rarest 
 rascals from Europe, Asia, and Australia, that rob- 
 bery and murder was, not of daily, but hourly oc- 
 currence. 
 
 "Well, upon this resolve I acted, but when 
 night came, I received a note from Crafty, by the 
 hands of a Chinese sailor, belonging to a large 
 junk, then lying in the bay, a circumstance 
 which, in itself, might have aroused my suspicions, 
 to the effect, that if I desired to see him it 
 must be that night, for having concluded his busi- 
 ness ashore he intended to sail the following 
 morning. 
 
 a Now, as I fancied that our meeting in such a 
 part of the world was providential, and I knew the 
 improbability of its again happening, to resist his 
 
ckafty's adventures. 
 
 49 
 
 invitation, seemed to be sundering the only link 
 which connected me with my dead mother. 
 
 " I deliberated — and that deliberation caused my 
 ruin. Not an instant should I have swerved from 
 my duty, and even as I examined the locks of the 
 room in which the dollar chests were, and secured 
 the key about my person, I felt a presentiment that 
 something would go wrong; but then I reasoned, 
 the store never had been robbed, and if it should 
 happen that night, my luck would indeed be extra- 
 ordinary. 
 
 So leaving the old Chinese coolie strict orders 
 not to leave the store for an instant till my return, 
 I proceeded to Montgomery Street, and there found 
 Crafty anxiously awaiting my coming, and so ab- 
 sorbing was his story, first of my mother's death, 
 her blessing sent to me, then of his own history — 
 how that he had settled in London, but having 
 failed, had again gone to sea before the mast, had 
 wandered about the world, coming to an anchor 
 sometimes in South America, sometimes in India, 
 China, and lastly, in Bangkok in Siam, between 
 which capital and California he was then trading on 
 his own account, and on that of a partner there 
 settled. 
 
 "Having related his adventures since he had left 
 me in New York, and that too in such a blunt sea- 
 man-like fashion, that I did not doubt one word, 
 he pretended to have the affection of a father for 
 me, even so far as begging I would quit Messrs. 
 
 E 
 
50 DICK ORME RELATES HIS HISTORY. 
 
 Costa and Olivarez and share his fortunes, and but 
 for my engagement with Josephine, I believe I 
 should have accepted his offer. But telling him of 
 that betrothal, he congratulated me warmly upon 
 the meritorious conduct that had raised me to such 
 good fortune, and begged that I would relate the 
 whole of my adventures to him. 
 
 " Well, thrown off my guard, I did ; but in my 
 great belief in his interest in my welfare, I told him 
 more than was prudent respecting the affairs of my 
 employers. However, touching upon the business 
 of the firm, brought me back to a sense of my res- 
 ponsibility, and I told him that I must there and 
 then return to the stores, whereupon he commended 
 my anxiety, and in a careless, off hand manner, 
 offered to accompany me. 
 
 "J. accepted his offer; indeed, I could not refuse. 
 But when I had examined the premises, and seen 
 that all was as it should be, he begged that I would 
 sup with him at his lodgings. Had I been prudent, 
 I should have refused, if I did not, however, it was 
 only because I believed that he would sail early the 
 next morning, 
 
 " Upon reaching his lodgings, I found prepared 
 a supper, sumptuous even for that riotous city of 
 spendthrifts. But now comes the most serious por- 
 tion of my story. Having supped, and as I believed 
 very temperately, for keeping my responsibility 
 present to my mind, I drank but one glass of wine ; 
 now that that wine was drugged I cannot positively 
 
DICK A PRISONER. 
 
 51 
 
 assert, but if not, it was remarkable that before I 
 bad proceeded one hundred yards from the hotel, in 
 the direction of my store, I became seized with an 
 overpowering giddiness, and suppose must have 
 fallen ; but be that as it may, when consciousness 
 returned, all was dark around me, literally I could 
 not see my uplifted hand. A moment's thought, 
 and the events of the previous night rushed into 
 my mind, and then I knew that I must have been 
 brought there for some sinister purpose. As this 
 terrible conviction came over me, I placed my hand 
 in my pocket to feel for the key of the dollar-closet 
 — it was there, and that comforted me, there had 
 then been no design upon the store ; but then 
 again robbery of my person could not have been 
 the object, for my watch, my purse, containing 
 several dollars, were safe. What, then, could be the 
 meaning of all this ? I was bewildered. Where was 
 I ? I felt my way about the room, as I have said 
 it was pitch dark, without one glimmer of light ; 
 still I measured the extent of my prison, it was 
 about six feet square, but I could feel no opening 
 by which I might escape; so I again sat down 
 to think out, if I could, the causes of this outrage. 
 That I had not a single enemy in the country I 
 knew, therefore, it soon became clear to my mind, 
 that if to get me out of the way had been the object 
 of my unknown enemies, it must have been for 
 the purpose of plundering the store. 
 
 " But the key was still in my possession ; that, 
 
 E 2 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 
52 
 
 DICK OKME RELATES HIS HISTORY. 
 
 however, was but a poor consolation, for there was 
 one organized band of thieves, known as the 
 ' Hounds/ at that time in San Francisco, who set 
 locks, bolts, and bars at defiance. But then again, 
 I knew that that villainous crew would rather have 
 quieted me by a revolver, or a bowie-knife, than be 
 troubled by my detention, and so I could come to 
 no conclusion. Well, in the midst of my reverie, 
 I was disturbed by the creaking of hinges, and a 
 stream of light. A door opened, a man with a 
 lantern in one hand, but masked, and a revolver 
 in the other, entered, followed by a companion — 
 
 te e Scoundrel !' I cried, c what means this outrage?' 
 However, he took no other notice than to bring 
 the shining barrel to a level with my head, and 
 when his companion had put down a basket of cold 
 meat, bread, and a bottle of beer, they both left as 
 they had entered, in silence, leaving me with the 
 reflection that whatever their designs, they did 
 not extend to the taking of my life. Thus I re- 
 mained that day and the next, without receiving 
 another visit; but about the middle of the third 
 night, at least I guessed it to be night, the door 
 was again opened, and the same men made their 
 appearance. But this time it seemed as if my 
 hour had come, for one of them passed a strong 
 cord round my arms. The other, however, who 
 held the lantern, told me not to be alarmed, that 
 they intended me no mischief, on the contrary, if 
 I would submit to be gagged and blindfolded, they 
 
RELEASED. 
 
 53 
 
 would soon set me free. Well, I accepted the 
 offer, and they having first performed the pleas- 
 ing operations which temporally deprived me of 
 sight and speech, led me along what I took to be a 
 long passage, up a flight of steep steps into the 
 open air. I was hoisted upon the back of a horse, 
 which, with a man behind, and another before 
 me, was set < galloping. Where to, of course, I 
 then knew not, but in less than half-an-hour we 
 came to a full stop. It was at the sea-side, for 
 having made me dismount, one of the fellows fas- 
 tened his horse to a tree, and having helped me into 
 a boat, he took sculls in hand, bade me sit in one 
 position, and pulled hastily till the keel grated 
 upon shingle; then having assisted me to land, 
 coolly asked which I would prefer, being shot 
 through the head, and as he spoke he clicked the 
 lock of his pistol and laid its cold barrel against 
 my face, or to be set at liberty. Now, notwith- 
 standing my position, I laughed at the question. 
 My agreeable friend, however, did not seem to 
 regard it as a laughing matter, for in a rough, but 
 evidently disguised voice, he said — 
 
 " 6 Now, jist look here, my shaver, this choice 
 ain't the thing to be laughed at; but what I 
 mean is this : If so be as you'll promise not to 
 pull this bandage off them eyes o' yourn for 
 half-an-hour, I'll set your hands free, and then 
 you'll do as you like ; but if you don't promise, 
 and now I think of it, my pop here carries a mes- 
 
54 DICK ORME RELATES HIS HISTORY. 
 
 sage a pretty long distance, it doesn't much, matter 
 whether you do or not. Fll jist put a bullet 
 through as'll make you considerable blinder than 
 you are now, d' ye see ? So jist tell me which 
 you mean, though in the long I take it, it won't 
 make much difference, as seeing if you aint shot, 
 it's about hanged you'll be.' 
 
 " I complied, and the fellow at once cut the 
 cord which bound my arms, then having cau- 
 tioned me again that till he had put his foot 
 upon the opposite shore, and mounted his horse, 
 he would have his eye upon me, he jumped into 
 the boat ; but as he pushed her out, he threw a 
 paper towards me saying — 
 
 " e And look, you stranger, if you just clap 
 your eyes inside that, you'll see it won't be the 
 onwisest thing you can do to get clear of these dig- 
 gins in about the click of a six-shooter.' 
 
 " I waited at least half-an-hour before I unfas- 
 tened the bandage, and then, as I had anticipated, 
 saw that I had been brought about two miles across 
 San Francisco Bay, to the little, and then very 
 sparely inhabited, island of Yerba Buena ; nay, the 
 part to which I had been carried was desolation 
 itself, not even a shanty being at hand. The 
 fellow's parting words caused me to snatch up the 
 paper. I opened and found it to be a copy of the 
 ' California Star/ the first newspaper published in 
 that territory, and then but a few months old. 
 My eye ran quickly down the columns of the first 
 
ACCUSED OF ROBBERY. 
 
 55 
 
 page, but there was nothing that interested me ; 
 but at the head of the second was every proof of 
 the ruffian's declaration, that I had but small choice 
 between shooting and hanging, for thus ran the 
 heading — 
 
 " Great Bobbery by a Confidential Cleek. 
 One Thousand Dollars Eeward ! 
 
 "Yes, that which I had so much feared had 
 come to pass ; the stores had been robbed of the 
 whole ten thousand dollars, a weight in silver that 
 must have required a waggon for its carriage ; but 
 worse, I was suspected, nay, the accused thief, and 
 that too upon the evidence of the Chinese coolie 
 and my absence; and for me that reward was 
 offered. But that I burned with a desire to clear 
 myself in the eyes of my employers and my be- 
 trothed wife, I should have been wicked enough 
 to have killed myself upon the spot y but clear 
 myself against such evidence ! How ? for the pith of 
 it was as follows : — 
 
 "There were several locks to the specie closet — 
 they were passed by one key — my key — it was 
 possible ; but it was scarcely probable that there 
 was another key in California that would open 
 them, for the locks had been specially made for 
 the house by the most scientific lock-maker in the 
 United States — yet the door had been opened 
 without violence, and by means of a key. That 
 was one strong piece of evidence to my employers, 
 but it was a mystery to me, for the key, as I have 
 
56 
 
 DICK ORME RELATES HIS HISTORY. 
 
 told you, was in my possession, and that had been 
 my comfort in the dark room. 
 
 " Then the coolie affirmed that during the day I 
 had been visited by a Chinese sailor, whom he 
 knew belonged to a junk which had been lying in 
 the bay for some time, and had long been sus- 
 pected to be a piratical craft. That I had quitted 
 the stores in the earlier part of the evening, leav- 
 ing strict injunctions that he (the coolie) should 
 not open the door to any person but myself, let 
 the business be what it might. That I had returned 
 at a much later hour than was my custom, to go to 
 bed, but that I was accompanied by a stranger, with 
 whom I again went away. That some time after he 
 (the coolie) was summoned to the door, and believ- 
 ing it to be me, opened it, but instead he recog- 
 nized the Chinese sailor who had visited me 
 during the day, but that from the moment of open- 
 ing the door he remembered nothing till the fol- 
 lowing morning, when to his astonishment I was 
 not at my post. My absence alarmed him, for he 
 thought I had been murdered in the streets by some 
 of the rioters ; so when that day grew towards its 
 close he dispatched a man to Mr. Costa's house. 
 When the latter gentleman, not knowing how to 
 account for my absence, ill as he was, came to the 
 store and discovered the robbery. The Chinese 
 porter then calling to mind (it was strange he did 
 not think of this before) his having opened the door, 
 and becoming insensible directly after seeing his 
 
DICK ENTERS A SHANTY. 
 
 57 
 
 sailor countryman, related the story to Mr. Costa. 
 But as regards that Chinese sailor it was too late, 
 for they found that the junk had sailed during the 
 night — a fact, by the way, that would not under 
 other circumstances have been noticeable, for the 
 Chinaman had been ready for sea some days, and 
 had only been waiting for such a wind as had 
 sprung up during the night. But associated with 
 the suspicion attached to the junk, the visit I had 
 received from one of its crew, that man's stupefying 
 the porter, and my absence, it was at once believed 
 that I and the dollars were on board.. As for 
 the stranger in whose company I had quitted the 
 store, he came forward of his own accord, and 
 proved, by help of the proprietor of the hotel, that 
 I had supped at his lodgings, but had left him 
 at a certain hour, which he named. 
 
 " Then," said I, interrupting Dick, " the man 
 Crafty was not the thief." 
 
 " Hold there, my friend, I said not that, nor did 
 I say the contrary, for at the time I knew not what 
 to think ; but whoever was the thief, you see the 
 evidence against me was so strong that had I ven- 
 tured into San Francisco I should, in all proba- 
 bility, have been hanged first and tried afterwards, 
 for Lynch-law had then been some time in vogue. 
 
 " Having perused this account of my doings, I 
 threw myself upon the ground in despair ; for what 
 could I do to exculpate myself ? who would be- 
 lieve in my innocence ? My first impulse was to 
 
58 DICK ORME RELATES HIS HISTORY. 
 
 seek tlie nearest shanty and tell my whole story. 
 A little reflection, however, told me the danger of 
 such a course, and so I determined to wander by 
 the waterside, with the hope of finding some 
 timber by means of which I could form a raft that 
 would carry me across the bay to the San Francisco 
 shore. That day, however, and the next, and the 
 next, my wanderings proved fruitless. So, exhausted 
 by weakness — for my only food had been wild fruit, 
 and my bed no other than the rough earth, with 
 heaven's canopy alone for my covering — I despe- 
 rately resolved to encounter the worst, be it what it 
 might, and so entered the shanty of one of the few 
 settlers then upon the island; and although not 
 recognized, nor even suspected — : for the owner had 
 had no communication with the mainland for 
 several weeks — I nevertheless, with a firm belief 
 that truth must ultimately prevail, related my story; 
 and having listened attentively to the recital, when 
 I had concluded, my listener, shrugging his shoul- 
 ders, said — 
 
 "'Now, jist look you, mister, I don't mean to 
 say that I do suck in all this tale o' yourn ; but 
 mind yer, at the same time I don't mean to say I 
 don't, because before I make up my mind I must 
 have a clincher for one side or t'other.' 
 
 " ' You want proof that my story is true, and 
 you shall have it,' I replied, adding, ' Mr. Costa's 
 house is some eight miles along the shore, upon the 
 other side of the bay. Well, get me a boat, and 
 
DICK AND MR. COSTA. 
 
 59 
 
 together we will seek the presence of that gentle- 
 man, who, sufferer as he is by the robbery, I have 
 little doubt will believe in my innocence/ 
 
 "'Zooks, man, do you mean that you'll just 
 run right into the wolfs jaws ?' said he with aston- 
 ishment. 
 
 " ' I mean what I say/ 
 
 u f Then skin me if that ain't just the clincher I 
 wanted, and it's on your side too. So, stranger, 
 we will just pull across, but not till after sundown, 
 for then we shan't be so likely to run across a few 
 people as it's mighty likely you'd object to meet, 
 while this reward is out for your apprehension.' 
 
 " Well, to shorten my story, about two hours 
 after sundown, we reached the house of Mr. Costa, 
 with whom my island friend first sought an inter- 
 view, to inform the old gentleman that I was 
 without. But those few minutes, while I waited 
 near the house, how wretched were they ! for al- 
 though conscious of my innocence, it was terrible 
 that others, for whom I had so great a regard, 
 should suspect me ; and surely, I thought Mr. 
 Costa must have felt convinced of my guilt, or he 
 would not have suffered that reward to be put forth 
 for my apprehension, and feeling this, I dreaded 
 the meeting, but resolved to save him the reproach 
 hereafter of having dismissed me from his presence 
 unheard. I said, the instant I entered the room 
 where the good man was sitting alone — 
 
 " ' Not a word, sir, till you have heard the cause 
 
60 
 
 DICK ORME RELATES HIS HISTORY. 
 
 of my absence, till you know how foully I have 
 been treated/ and probably comprehending my 
 motive, he remained silent until I had recounted 
 my adventures from the time of my first meeting 
 with Crafty till that hour ; then, when concluding, 
 I begged of him to say whether he still thought 
 me guilty. He replied — 
 
 " ' Richard Orme, I believe you guilty of nought 
 but neglect of duty ; that, however, is crime suffi- 
 cient, as but for that this terrible trouble would 
 not have happened.' 
 
 " 'It is something, sir, that you do me even so 
 much justice ; but the great mischief is done — 
 you have believed me guilty, and moreover, pub- 
 lished that belief far and wide as witnesseth this," 
 I added bitterly, and holding towards him the news- 
 paper. 
 
 " ' Not so, Richard Orme, the putting forth that 
 advertisement was the work of my partner, who, 
 in common with the rest of San Francisco, believe 
 you to be the robber/ 
 
 " c Great heaven, sir, how then am I to prove 
 my innocence V I exclaimed despairingly. 
 
 " ' By bringing to light the real culprit. Listen 
 Richard, you have been made the tool of designing 
 villains/ he replied, adding, ' But this Crafty, what 
 has been the nature of your connection with him V 
 
 " When I had repeated my history, he said — 
 
 u ' That man is the robber.' 
 
 " ' Is this, sir, a new thought ? if not, why not 
 
dick's betrothal. 
 
 61 
 
 liave accused him before this advertisement could 
 have been put forth? 
 
 " ' For the simple reason that there was not 
 the slightest ground upon which I could bring 
 such an accusation, while your guilt appeared trans- 
 parent — nay, so convinced of it is Olivarez, that 
 even my belief to the contrary, unsupported by 
 proof, will not save you, for few, if any, but those 
 concerned w.ill give credence to the tale you have 
 told/ 
 
 " ' Stay, sir, I will at once seek out this man 
 Crafty, and charge him with the robbery/ 
 
 u ' If possible, such a course would be foolish ; 
 but it is not, for the man has sailed from San Fran- 
 cisco/ 
 
 " c Great heaven ! What can I do ? how may I 
 prove my innocence, and the guilt of the real 
 robber V I exclaimed franticly. 
 
 " Listen, Richard, you must remain hidden in 
 this house till the " Mary Anne" is ready for sea ; 
 she is chartered by us with a cargo for Canton and 
 Bangkok, and commanded by a friend whom I 
 will see ; and having explained to him my thorough 
 conviction of your innocence, and my suspicion of 
 the real robber, he will be prepared to receive you 
 on board the night before he sails, in the meantime 
 I will prepare a letter of introduction for you to 
 the native merchant of Bangkok, with whom this 
 Crafty is in connection ; and once in Bangkok, you 
 must make your own opportunities for observing 
 
62 
 
 DICK ORME RELATES HIS HISTORY. 
 
 the thief ; but that it is this man Crafty, I have 
 other reasons for believing, although what these 
 reasons are, I may not at present explain. Suffi- 
 cient that while you are seeking to unearth him 
 in Siam, I shall be hunting him in other quarters.' 
 
 " 6 What mean you, sir, is the fellow ubiqui- 
 tous ?' said I. 
 
 " c Aye, aye, perhaps so — perhaps so, but rest 
 you contented, for more I may not now say/ 
 
 " Well, when my friend the islander had heard 
 sufficient to convince him of the truth of my story, 
 he shook me heartily by the hand, and bade me 
 farewell, and Mr. Costa himself led me to a small 
 room at the top of his house, where I was to re- 
 main till the " Anne" was ready for sea. But 
 Josephine, my betrothed, what of her, you will ask/ 
 " Well, she loved me too well not to believe in 
 my innocence. Proud, however, as her father, she 
 declared that until the guilt of Crafty — if Crafty it 
 were, had been proved clear as sun at noonday, 
 and the world could not by any possibility cast a 
 slur upon my reputation, she should refuse to be- 
 come my wife — aye, and consider herself as unbe- 
 trothed. Now, need I tell you that from that hour 
 I have determined to know no rest until I have 
 again met this man Crafty. 
 
 " 6 But/ I said, ' even supposing you meet with 
 this man, you cannot be sure of proving his guilt.' 
 
 " Persevere, persevere, in following the slightest 
 clue, and providence will bring one to a desirable 
 
dick's betrothal. 
 
 63 
 
 end/ lie replied, adding "but now, my friend, are 
 we to sail together ? or are you determined to 
 give me up to this Olivarez, who I doubt not has 
 come to Macao to seek me/ 
 
 "'My friend/ said I, ' from my soul I believe 
 you guiltless, nay more, will do my best to aid 
 you in discovering this Crafty, who I more than 
 suspect must be known to the Siamese merchant 
 at Bangkok, to whom I am accredited by my 
 father/ 
 
 " ' His name/ said Dick, impatiently. 
 " c Mi/ I answered. 
 
 u ' It is — it is the same, and so far I am for- 
 tunate/ he replied, adding e that is supposing when 
 we' see this c Mi/ of Bangkok, we have not to cry 
 ' Arcades ambo/ 
 
 " ' But of your companion, the boy — your voyage 
 and your being attacked by the Chinese pirate/ 
 said I. 
 
 " 6 Ah, you have reminded me of my forgetfulness 
 of poor little Waif — poor little Waif, I must look to 
 him/ and so saying, Dick left the cabin for a few 
 minutes ; but upon his return, I proposed that we 
 should sleep and defer the conclusion of his story 
 till the next morning, a proposition which he re- 
 ceived by throwing himself upon some pea-jackets 
 upon the floor of the cabin. 
 
64 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 LITTLE WAIF'S HISTOEY AND ADVENTURES. 
 
 Dick was asleep in a few minutes, but so absorbed 
 had my thoughts become with his story that I 
 could not close my eyes, at least effectually, and as 
 I lay awake, I heard, or thought I heard the voice 
 of old Li-Poo just outside my door. I listened — 
 it was — and in some fear or astonishment, for he 
 continued exclaiming, "Hi-yaw! Hi-yaw!" 
 
 I jumped from the couch, opened the door, when 
 my astonishment became as great as that of the 
 old Chinese, who, the only one of the crew on deck, 
 was upon his hands and knees crawling backwards, 
 but with eyes staring in fear of a figure that was 
 moving towards him from the direction of the 
 hatchway. 
 
 A figure, yes ; but of what ? Well, if judged 
 by the leathern trousers, loose pea-jacket, a boy ; 
 but if by the pale smooth face, glossy chestnut hair, 
 which had escaped from its confinement at the top 
 of the head, and fell in wild luxuriance over the 
 shoulders of a girl — handsome rather than pretty, 
 
waif's mysterious appearance. 
 
 Page 65. 
 
dick's explanation. 
 
 and of some twenty years of age. Well, ghost- 
 like she glided along the deck, beneath the pale 
 silvery light of the moon — aye, and with open eyes, 
 to the great terror of the superstitious Li-Poo, who 
 believed her to be the sea-godd^gs. 
 
 For myself, although at first startled, I soon saw 
 that she was a somnambulist. 
 
 That was sufficient for me to watch her narrowly 
 for fear of her coming to harm. To my surprise, 
 however, she stopped suddenly, and absolutely fall- 
 ing at my feet, in plaintive tones earnestly im- 
 plored of me to save her poor friend Dick from his 
 enemies ; humouring her I gave the promise she 
 desired, when, with a shudder, she arose and re- 
 turned as she had come, slowly down the hatch- 
 way into her cabin, not a little to my relief, for I 
 had no doubt that she had been rehearsing in her 
 sleep some terrible scene through which she had 
 passed on board the pirate junk, the real story of 
 which I should, in all probability, soon hear from 
 Dick ; however, having first comforted Li-Poo, by 
 explaining the cause of the girl's mysterious ap- 
 pearance upon deck, I returned to my cabin, threw 
 myself upon the couch, and must have slept long 
 and soundly, for when I awakened I found that, 
 taking advantage of a good wind, Li-Poo had set 
 sail, and Dick and his companion, the boy, sitting 
 upon some goods, enjoying the beautiful coast 
 scenery. Of the girl, however, there was now but 
 little appearance, except indeed, the shortness of 
 
 F 
 
66 
 
 LITTLE WAIF'S ADVENTUKES. 
 
 stature,, and rather feminine appearance, for the pea- 
 jacket was buttoned, and the chesnut locks gathered 
 up beneath a large Panama hat. 
 
 €i Waif, little Waif, here is our kind friend, 
 Master Herbert, make your obeisance to him/' said 
 Dick, starting as from a deep reverie. 
 
 I held out my hand, and the boy took it, half 
 averting his head, as he did so, and thanked me for 
 giving him a passage with his friend Dick ; but, 
 although vexed, I could not help laughing, aye, 
 or saying either — 
 
 " Come, Master Dick, you have been deceiving 
 me. I know not your reason, but this is not fair 
 sailing. I have seen Master Waif before, but then 
 I mistook him for a fair girl with chesnut locks, 
 which reached her waist," and I related the scene 
 of the previous night. 
 
 Dick gave a whistle and a whew ! but the red 
 blood mantled in the girl's face as she said, as if 
 anxious to screen her companion — 
 
 " Indeed, sir, you wrong my dear friend, it is 
 not with him you should be angered, but me, for he 
 promised not to disclose my secret without my per- 
 mission." Then taking her by the hand I led her 
 into my cabin, and Dick having followed, said — 
 
 " If you had heard the conclusion of my story 
 last night, you would not have accused me of false 
 sailing." 
 
 " Well, well," said I, seeing a man coming with 
 
THE TWO LADIES. 
 
 67 
 
 hot tea and edibles, "we will have the conclu- 
 sion now, and accordingly Dick commenced — 
 
 u As I have already told you, I remained hidden 
 in Mr. Costa's house till the night previous to the 
 sailing of the 'Mary Anne.' Th<jn I went aboard 
 under the name of Jasper Brown, and, to my de- 
 light, learned from the captain, who knew my real 
 name and misfortune, that Mr. Costa had managed 
 that there should be no other passengers on board 
 but a lady and her niece, indeed, in a commercial 
 point of view, there was little necessity, for the 
 ship was heavily laden, besides carrying a large 
 amount of gold. 
 
 " Now, our run across the Pacific to the Sand- 
 wich Islands, and from thence into the China seas, 
 was as pleasant as we could have wished, for the 
 captain, poor fellow, was very companionable, more- 
 over, as there were no chief cabin people, we found 
 the society of our steerage passengers, Mrs. Banks 
 and her niece, the two females I have mentioned, 
 help to pass away the time. About these ladies 
 there was one oddity, that is, they were both attired 
 more after the fashion of men than women. For 
 they wore Panama hats, skin jackets, Hessian boots, 
 and withal a leathern belt round the waist. The 
 cause of this, however, you will hereafter hear. 
 
 " * Let it be said now, Dick, or our kind friend 
 here will have but a poor opinion of little Waif/ 
 interrupted the girl blushingly, adding, " My aunt 
 and I had adopted the costume for the safer 
 
 F 2 
 
68 
 
 LITTLE WAIF'S ADVENTURES. 
 
 travelling among the Indians in California, and 
 having heard much of the danger of the Chinese 
 pirates, we believed we should be safer in such a 
 costume, at least so thought my poor aunt/ 
 
 "'Well/ continued Dick, 'between San Fran- 
 cisco and Canton, we had pretty smooth sailing, it 
 was not till after leaving the Chinese port that our 
 troubles began. About the fifth day we fell in 
 with a typhoon, which for many hours made us 
 hopeless of life. The ship soon became a mere 
 wreck ; about the deck, in all directions, were 
 strewn cables, chains, and broken masts; nearly 
 all our live stock had been killed, and the men 
 were exhausted by incessant labour. We put the 
 ship about to return to Canton ; but a dead calm 
 succeeded the typhoon and she lay motionless, as if 
 in mockery at the anxious beating hearts of those 
 she carried. However, there was no help for it, 
 and so in pity for the men's exhaustion, the captain 
 sent all but barely sufficient to take charge of the 
 watch to their berths. 
 
 " As I have said, when we went below, the ship 
 lay in a dead calm, nay, a silence almost terrible 
 in its effect upon the senses after so much turmoil 
 reigned around, therefore imagine my consternation 
 about midnight to be awakened by an uproar of 
 trampling feet, discordant voices, and to see my 
 cabin illumined by a glaring red light. On the 
 instant I could think of but one cause. The ship 
 must be on fire, so jumping out of my birth, I ran 
 
A TERRIBLE SCENE. 
 
 on deck ; but the scene was demoniac, showers 
 of fire-balls came pelting among us ; every sense 
 seemed attacked — smell, by a fearful stench ; hear- 
 ing, by the yells of savages, and the crashing noise 
 of stones and iron as they broke through the sky- 
 lights, or fell heavily upon the deck ; indeed, it was 
 a scene to be understood only by those who have 
 witnessed the boarding of Chinese pirates. The 
 men in charge of the watch had been the first 
 victims, the crew had been fastened down beneath 
 the hatches. The hatchway leading to the cabins 
 of the captain, the ladies and myself, was the only 
 one not on fire, and up that, almost simultaneously 
 had Mrs. Banks, her neice, and the captain, rushed. 
 The latter had, with his revolver, slain one of the 
 savages — to him however, poor fellow, it was a costly 
 shot, for the next instant he fell dead at my feet. 
 
 u How I escaped even now seems to me a 
 miracle, for stooping to pick up the pistol, one 
 barrel of which only had been discharged; I fell 
 forwards, and in an instant a foot was upon my 
 breast, and the next my head would have been 
 severed from my body, but for little Waif, who her- 
 self having snatched up the revolver, like a heroine 
 shot the pirate dead. 
 
 u ' Heaven forgive me if it was wicked,' inter- 
 posed the girl ; 6 but it was the deed of one bereft 
 of her senses. My good aunt had been slain in- 
 deed, I knew not what I did, it was not courage, 
 rather I think an excess of terror.' 
 
70 
 
 LITTLE WAIF'S ADVENTURES. 
 
 " ' Baa, baa, white sheep,' said Dick, laughing, 
 * if you want me to believe it wasn't courage you 
 won't succeed, and that's a fact. Still timely as it 
 was, that shot would only have saved me from 
 another death • but for one man (and mark me that 
 man was no Chinese, albeit he was attired in a 
 similar guise) who, speaking a few words to the 
 chief, the latter commanded his men to surround 
 Waif and me, and bind our limbs. No sooner said 
 than done, and we were thrown into a corner like a 
 couple of useless bundles. The scene that followed 
 I cannot describe, although, as you know, it is no 
 uncommon one in these seas. The crew, I believe, 
 without one exception, were murdered and thrown 
 overboard. After this our turn would have come, 
 but again for the interposition of the one man who 
 had saved my life in the first instance.' 
 
 " ' But that man/ I asked, noticing that his 
 eyes flashed, and his lips quivered with rage as he 
 spoke. 
 
 " < Was Crafty.' 
 
 - c ' Impossible ! the European is not to be found ; 
 who could associate with such wretches ?' 
 
 " * I tell you it was Crafty, and that's a fact, for 
 by the glaring fire-balls and the light from lanterns, 
 I recognized the features, aye, and though he spoke 
 in the tongue of the pirates, I remembered the 
 tone of his voice. There before me stood the rogue 
 I was seeking, and my impulse was to call out to 
 him, but prudence whispered that to do so would 
 
AN AWKWARD POSITION. 
 
 71 
 
 be to remind the rascal of the maxim of his craft, 
 ' that dead men tell no tales/ and I appeared not to 
 recognise him/ 
 
 " i Then, villain as he is, he saved your life/ said L 
 
 " 6 Aye, so it was ; but even a villain may have 
 one single touch of humanity in his nature ; but," 
 continued Dick, 'when the pirates had finished 
 their fiendish work, and rejoiced their eyes and 
 their finger ends by touching the valuable freight, 
 the captain and principal part of the crew, ex- 
 changed from their junk to the ' Mary Anne/ the 
 remainder took possession of the former vessel, 
 upon board of which we were then taken, though 
 for what purpose, since they did not slay us, I can't 
 even now guess/ 
 
 € - c They would have taken you to one of their 
 haunts upon the coast, there to remain until you 
 had been well ransomed/ I replied. 
 
 " c Aye, aye, perhaps so ; however, we had parted 
 company with the 'Anne' but two days, when 
 we were chased by the Portuguese war-steamer, 
 and the rogues knowing escape to be impossible, 
 determined to show fight. So having mustered 
 upon the flush deck, they placed Waif and me in 
 their midst, and offering us weapons, with more 
 energy than politeness, gave us to understand that 
 if we did not do our best against the Portuguese, 
 they would decapitate us and toss our bodies into 
 the sea ; so you see, having no alternative, we made 
 a show of fighting ; and thus it was we came to be 
 
72 
 
 LITTLE WAIF'S ADVENTURES 
 
 rated by the crew of tlie war-steamer with those 
 among whom we were found with arms in our 
 hands. Who rescued us you already know, and 
 now I have no more to say, except that it was a 
 fortunate chance that led Waif to adopt the mascu- 
 line attire, otherwise — but I dare not think what 
 might have been her fate/ 
 
 " e But being thus attired/ said Waif, C I felt 
 ashamed that my real sex should be known to you, 
 or the kind gentleman, your father, at least till you 
 could be told the reason for its adoption. Those 
 reasons I will now tell you ; but first you must 
 know something of my history.' 
 
 " Then she added — c Who I am, or at least what 
 is my real name, I never knew, nor have I ever 
 known a blood relation. As for the poor dear lady 
 who was slain by the pirates, she was no relative 
 of mine, although by her wish I called her aunt, 
 and in my heart felt towards her as a daughter, for 
 to her I have been indebted from my childhood for 
 motherly affection and some education. I was left 
 a little child, supposed to be about two years of age, 
 at the door of a workhouse, in which place I re- 
 mained until I reached my ninth year, when Mrs. 
 Banks, who was in business as a milliner and dress- 
 maker in London, applied to the master jfor a ser- 
 vant girl. I was given over to her, the good lady 
 was alone in the world, for her only relative, a 
 brother, was abroad. Well, pitying the forlornness 
 of her 6 Little Waif/ as she named me, and by which 
 
IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 73 
 
 nap have ever since been called, she sent me 
 to Is' school. Afterwards she began to teach 
 n ? business, and seeing that I was very 
 i ious and willing, she promised ultimately 
 
 e me into partnership with her. One day, 
 3r, she received a letter from her brother, 
 a nformed her he was at Sacramento in California, 
 anu making a fortune, and further begged of his i 
 sister to go out to him and be his housekeeper. 
 Then I cried heartily,' for I feared I should have to 
 leave my dear kind friend ; but no, such was not her 
 intention, at least if I would accompany her. Of 
 course I could not refuse, for her presence, wherever 
 that might be, was my world. Well, we sailed and 
 arrived at San Francisco, and from thence proceeded 
 to Sacramento, where we found her brother as he 
 had written. Well to do, and in his home we 
 took up our abode, and were for a time very happy. 
 But alas ! in less than twelve months after our 
 arrival he was shot dead in a street brawl. That 
 sad event, unfortunately no very uncommon one in 
 California, caused my aunt to hate Sacramento, and 
 she resolved to return to England. As, however, the 
 property of her late brother, chiefly consisted of goods 
 which just at that time were likely to realize a large 
 profit, she determined to accompany a party of people 
 who were about to travel to the same territory. 
 
 66 Now, as the journey before us was of great 
 length, and to be made across steep mountains, 
 through wild woods, half-built cities or settlements. 
 
74 
 
 LITTLE WAIF'S ADVENTURES. 
 
 and for the greater part would be beset by wild 
 animals, savage aborigines, and perhaps, by far 
 more savage men from England, Ireland, the United 
 States, China, and Australia, she resolved that we 
 should assume an attire which, if masculine, was at 
 least frequently adopted by the wives and daughters 
 of emigrants upon similar expeditions, as being 
 less cumbersome than the female costume. 
 
 a 1 Well, quitting the pestilential air of Sacra- 
 mento, then so deadly even to the thousands of 
 gold-diggers who passed through the city, that 
 none ever remained one hour longer than necessary 
 to transact their business, we took the coach for 
 Marysville, at which place, after eight hours 
 hard jotting, we arrived, at the Indian settle- 
 ment of Fort Sutter ; and although we remained 
 but one night in that place, it was long enough 
 for us to witness some terrible scenes of murder 
 and riot, for in disorder that town was no way 
 behind, but rather in advance of San Francisco 
 and Sacremento ; indeed, throughout the journey * 
 we scarcely met one of our civilized brethren 
 of the old world or the United States without 
 being reminded how great a curse is the love of 
 gold, and how it has the power to turn God's chil- 
 dren into fiends. 
 
 u Well, leaving Marysville we proceeded to Sparta 
 City, a wooden town near the Sierra Nevada, where 
 we hired mules, by means of which sure-footed 
 animals we traversed a wild mountainous country 
 
A DANGEROUS JOURNEY. 
 
 75 
 
 infested with large tawny bears, till we reached the 
 hill-girdled city of Weaverville, where, for a short 
 time, we remained to recruit our health, for the air 
 there is healthful and bracing, especially to those 
 just arrived from Southern California. 
 
 u Then leaving Weaverville, we proceeded still 
 farther north, crossing mountains, the paths of which 
 can be trodden alone by mules, by the side of 
 chasms and depths that made it unsafe for us to 
 look downwards, till we reached Eureka, and at that 
 city, as we had been advised before starting, my 
 aunt fully repaid herself for the dangers she had 
 encountered, for she realized a large profit. 
 
 " The object of our going being fulfilled, we re- 
 turned to Sacramento City, and from thence by 
 steamer to. San Francisco, at which place, finding 
 the c Mary Anne' about to sail for Canton, my aunt 
 took our passage, preferring rather to return to 
 England, via China, than to await a more direct 
 passage ; but reaching Canton, and finding no ship 
 likely to leave for England, we proceeded in the 
 * Mary Anne' to Macao. What, however, happened 
 before that ill-fated ship reached the Portuguese 
 city, you already know. 
 
 c< c Truly, no heroine of romance could have gone 
 through greater dangers or surmounted more diffi- 
 culties/ said I, adding, a but your aunt's property, 
 surely she transmitted it to Europe before leaving 
 California V 9 
 
 " ' She did, and with it a will, under which, in 
 
76 
 
 LITTLE WAIF'S ADVENTURES. 
 
 the event of her death on the passage, I was to 
 claim the whole ; but such a document would be 
 useless, for there is none to identify me as the 
 person, and Waif Banks would have her journey 
 for nothing." 
 
 " c Nay, nay, my little Waif, this is not so, Dick 
 Orme can recognize you. Mr. Costa can identify 
 you, at least, when the main object of his going to 
 Bangkok has been realized ; he will leave no stone 
 unturned until you have been put in possession of 
 the good lady's property/ said Dick. Then ad- 
 dressing me, he said — 
 
 " 'Now, Master Herbert, you have heard both 
 our stories ; but I have still to tell you that for two 
 very forcible reasons, this girl and I are as insepa- 
 rable as a loving brother and sister should be, while 
 trouble or danger threatens either, moreover, we 
 part not under Providence until I have placed her 
 in safe harbour/ 
 
 " c By heaven/ I exclaimed, taking a hand of each, 
 " you are a noble pair, I know not which to ad- 
 mire most, however this day all doubts cease, hence- 
 forth let us be, at least until we have each per- 
 formed our missions, not only fellow travellers, but 
 a united family of brothers and a sister.' 
 
 " c For which proposition I am at least grateful/ 
 But placing my finger on her pretty mouth, I said, 
 € Nay, no more, it is not a word between brothers 
 and sisters, and so concluded our strange, but satis- 
 factory conference.' " 
 
77 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 WE CHANGE OUR COURSE ; DICK RECOGNIZES AN OLD 
 ACQUAINTANCE. 
 
 For a month we had been running mid the rocks 
 and channels of those dangerous seas, nay, we had 
 even entered the Gulf of Siam without encounter- 
 ing either of those great terrors of the Chinese and 
 Cambodian coasts — pirates or typhoons. 
 
 As, however, we entered the gulf, we ran short 
 of water, and so to replenish the casks, put into 
 the harbour of Pulo Obi, a small island overrun 
 with pigs, ducks, and fowls, and inhabited only by 
 some two hundred Cochin Chinese, who live in 
 very primitive huts, and are, for the greater part, 
 exiles who have been transported from their own 
 country for crimes or offences against its govern- 
 ment. 
 
 It was, however, a vexatious necessity which 
 compelled us to put into Pulo Obi, for no sooner 
 had we made the harbour, than the crew demanded 
 permission to land and barter tea with the natives 
 for yams and other produce of the island. As, 
 
78 
 
 LITTLE WAIF'S ADVENTURES. 
 
 however, refusal would have been useless, perhaps 
 dangerous, I complied, and we patiently awaited 
 their return with the water casks and their pur- 
 chases. But to our surprise, they all came on 
 board in exceeding high spirits, but the liveliest of 
 all was old Li-Poo, who, as soon as he put foot on 
 deck, desired to speak with me alone, in my state- 
 room, a request with which I at once, but wonder- 
 ing as to what was to follow, complied — 
 
 " Well, Herbert, what does the pig-tailed old 
 sea-weed want us to do now ? " said Dick, laughing 
 as I returned from the conference. 
 
 " Faith it is no laughing matter, for the old 
 fellow, as the mouthpiece of the crew, declares 
 they are one and all determined to run round the 
 coast to Chantaburi/' 
 
 " Chantaburi ? Tut, we won't then, and tliaVs 
 a fact, for if I am not out in my reckoning, it will 
 keep us at least twenty days from Bangkok/' re- 
 plied Dick, adding, " But why to Chantiburi, Her- 
 bert, what is the rascal's object V* 
 
 " Very plain, Dick, to make money. Tou see 
 this Chantaburi divides Cambodia from Siam, 
 whose first king is also the first merchant in his 
 realm, has made it the great depot for his trade 
 with the Cochin Chinese, and in this town they 
 store all their purchases of gamboge, ivory, spices, 
 and other goods till their ships can carry them to 
 Bangkok. Well, just now the royal stores are 
 overflowing with valuables, which is desired should 
 
LI-POO'S REASONING. 
 
 79 
 
 be removed to Bangkok before the monsoon sets 
 in, and as their majesties, the two kings of Siam, 
 have not sufficient vessels of their own fit for the 
 service, they have made it known through their 
 mandarins that they are prepared to charter at a 
 high rate any ships or junks they can get, and such 
 an offer our friends think too important to lose. 
 
 " But suppose we won't comply ; and I won't, 
 that's a fact." 
 
 u Then/' I replied, laughing at Dick's anger, 
 " the rogues will put us ashore in this island, or 
 send us adrift in a boat ; and as that's another fact, 
 you will admit that it is better to comply 
 
 "But what says Li-Poo ? " 
 
 " That 'spose got no ship, and no can swim, how 
 can go ? " 
 
 "Are those the old rogue's words ? " 
 
 " They are ; and after all 1 believe the fellow is 
 right, for he argues, "Spose stop at Chantaburi 
 and take cargo, Li-Poo and his men get muchee 
 dollar, and only lose little time, and little time 
 often get ; but muchee dollar not come often to poor 
 sailor man of China.'" 
 
 a Whew," whistled Dick, adding, cc then there is 
 no help for us ; these Chinese vagabonds must have 
 their will." 
 
 a My own opinion," I replied ; and from that 
 moment Dick's opposition was silenced, for although 
 impulsive and impatient, he was too prudent to 
 venture an opposition against such odds. For my 
 
80 
 
 LITTLE WAIF'S ADVENTURES. 
 
 own part, I think we might have fared much worse ; 
 for as the coast from Cambodia up to Bangkok 
 forms an archipelago of beautiful islands, in many 
 of which are to be found that most valuable of all 
 commodities to Chinese sailors, the Hieundo escu- 
 lenta, or edible birds' -nests ; and moreover, it being 
 the proper season of the year for obtaining them, 
 it was to me, knowing these men as I did, a won- 
 der that they did not insist upon coming to an 
 anchor off one of these islands. 
 
 These birds'-nests, you perhaps already are aware, 
 are esteemed by the wealthy inhabitants of Eastern 
 Asia, more especially the Chinese, and form the most 
 important ingredient in their most luxurious soups 
 and broths. 
 
 They are the nests of the swallow, called Salanga. 
 As for their composition, some say the substance is 
 formed of the froth of the sea, or of the spawn, 
 which is strongly aromatic, while others say that it 
 is a kind of gum collected by the birds on the tree 
 called Calambine. Others assert that it is a vicious 
 humour which the birds discharge through the bill 
 at the season of reproduction. 
 
 The best of these nests — and being the son of a 
 merchant who has traded in them largely, I can 
 speak of my own knowledge — are those procured in 
 deep damp caves, and such as are taken before the 
 birds have laid their eggs. The coarsest are those 
 obtained after the young have been fledged. The 
 finest nests are the whitest — -that is, those taken 
 
BIRDS NESTING. 
 
 SI 
 
 before the nest has been rendered impure by the 
 birds themselves. 
 
 The best are white, and the inferior dark coloured, 
 streaked with blood or intermixed with feathers. 
 These nests are gathered twice a year, and if regu- 
 larly collected, and if no unusual injury be offered 
 to the caverns, will produce very equally ; the quan- 
 tity, strange to say, being very little, if at all, im- 
 proved by the caves being left altogether unmo- 
 lested for a year or two. Some of the caves are 
 extremely difficult of access, and the nests can only 
 be collected by persons accustomed to the employ- 
 ment from their youth. What will not the rich 
 pay for the pampering of the senses ? What will 
 not the poor Asiatic encounter, what perils will he 
 not undertake, to hear the chink of ever so few 
 silver coins in his girdle ? 
 
 In the caves of the islands of the Gulf of Siam the 
 danger of collecting these nests is great, yet little 
 to that encountered in the island of Java, from 
 whence a great proportion of them are procured. 
 
 In this latter island * the caves are only to be ap- 
 proached by a perpendicular descent of many hun- 
 dred feet, by ladders of bamboo and rattan, over a 
 sea rolling violently against the rocks. When the 
 mouth of the cavern is attained, the perilous busi- 
 ness of taking the nests must often be performed 
 with torch-light by penetrating into the recesses of 
 
 * For a fall account of the gathering of these edible nests, see 
 " The Nest Hunters." By William Dalton, 
 
 G 
 
82 LITTLE WAIF'S ADVENTURES. 
 
 the rock, when the slightest trip would be fatal to the 
 hunters who see nothing below them but the turbu- 
 lent surf making its way into the chasms of the rock. 
 
 To fit these nests for the market, the only prepa- 
 ration they undergo is that of simple drying with- 
 out a direct exposure to the sun, after which they 
 are packed in small boxes, holding a picul, i.e., a 
 measure of about one hundred and thirty-five 
 pounds weight, and in the Canton market the best 
 fetch about £5 18s. per pound. 
 
 Now this price which the luxurious Chinamen 
 pay is enormous, for the cost of carriage is very 
 trifling ; the profits have therefore always been very 
 large, and the caves where these nests are to be 
 found are of such great value to the sovereigns 
 of the many petty states wherein they are found, 
 that districts producing them have been the fre- 
 quent cause of wars between the chiefs. 
 
 Thus you see, vexed as we might be at any 
 delay, we were by far better off in going to Chan- 
 taburi, there to take in a cargo already stored, than 
 if, as these sailors will often do, we had been kept 
 cruizing from island to island until a cargo of birds' 
 nests could have been collected. At least, so 
 thought I at the time ; but then I little dreamt of 
 the adventures in store for us — but to continue my 
 narrative. 
 
 From the time of leaving Pulo Obi, we had 
 been fortunate in keeping a pretty stiff land-breeze 
 with us ; and so we kept along hugging close as 
 
GLORIOUS SCENERY. 
 
 83 
 
 possible under the shore till we were within about 
 twenty miles of the island of Semsing at the mouth 
 of the Chantaburi river, when the wind failed us, 
 and we lay in a dead calm, the atmosphere being 
 almost suffocating, and the myriads of flies and 
 stinging gnats that flew and buzzed about us in 
 clouds, became almost unbearable. This lasted till 
 sunset ; about that time, however, our hearts were 
 rejoiced by a welcome sea-breeze, which sent us 
 merrily through the water. But night came, and 
 as it would be impracticable to land before morn- 
 ing, we sought our cabins. 
 
 Spanking scenery, and quiet enough to get up 
 a set of reflections upon the past, present, and 
 future of a fellow's life," said Dick, as I went on 
 deck in the morning. 
 
 " Beautiful, indeed," I replied, not a little vexed 
 at his coarseness^ for a sensation of delight thrilled 
 through my whole being as I inhaled the invigora- 
 ting perfumed morning air, and listened to the 
 gentle murmuring of the waves as they rippled over 
 the pebble-strewn beach, drank in the silence that 
 was broken alone by occasional scream of the sea- 
 hawk, or the splash of the king-fisher into the 
 water in search of their morning meal, and gazed 
 at the grandeur of the surrounding scenery, the 
 rocks at the entrance of the mouth of the Chanta- 
 buri river, which, in the distance, have the appear- 
 ance of a colossal lion couchant, to whose head, 
 mane, throat, eyes, ears, nothing seems wanting, 
 
 Gr 2 
 
84 
 
 LITTLE WAIF'S ADVENTURES. 
 
 till a nearer approach dissipates the illusion, and 
 the lion changes into masses of rudely-shaped 
 stones, and the background filled in with the dis- 
 tant peaked mountains, numbering three hundred, 
 which divide the Siamese territory from Cambodia, 
 and seem to lose themselves in the cloudless azure 
 sky. 
 
 Such was the scenery that, for a few minutes, 
 absorbed my attention. As for Dick and Li-Poo, 
 far different were their thoughts, for they both 
 
LI-POO'S INDIGNATION. 
 
 85 
 
 seemed to be closely examining a Chinese junk of 
 the largest size, apparently freshly painted, with the 
 customary square rigging and two large red eyes in 
 the prow, but flying the royal ensign of Siam, a 
 white elephant upon a scarlet ground, surrounded 
 by a white edging ; moreover, manned by a crew of 
 brawny dark-skinned Fo-Keen men, whose eyes 
 seemed stretched towards the river, up which I 
 could now see slowly approaching several heavily- 
 laden boats. 
 
 " May I never take another whiff if I haven't 
 seen that Chinaman before/' said Dick, as he tossed 
 the end of a cheroot into the water. 
 
 " She is chartered by the Kings of Siam for 
 all that, Dick," I replied, pointing to the royal 
 ensign. 
 
 " May be, may be, Herbert ; still I have met 
 her in another latitude, and that's a fact," he re- 
 plied, then, as if fully to recall to his mind the 
 where and the when, he commenced another exami- 
 nation. As for Li-Poo, who as yet had not spoken, 
 when he saw those well-laden boats run alongside 
 the junk, and the crew of the latter begin to haul 
 on board bales and packages, he muttered sullenly 
 in his own tongue, 1 May the rats never see the 
 tombs of their fathers j but they have come before 
 us,' whereupon touching his shoulder, I said — 
 
 6i Remember the words of the sage — 6 a mouse 
 can drink no more than its fill from a river,' so 
 neither can you, 0 Li-Poo, take more goods on 
 
86 
 
 LITTLE WAIF'S ADVENTURES. 
 
 board your junk than it will contain, for doubtless, 
 thou avaricious old man, there will be a cargo left 
 for you." 
 
 " My younger brother's words are good ; but 
 the same sage tells us that we should * c dig a well 
 before we are thirsty/' and so old Li- Poo will throw 
 himself at the feet of the Governor, and beg for the 
 next cargo before it is promised to another pig 
 and so saying, he quitted me, and ordering two of 
 his men to let down a boat, got into it, and was 
 soon pulling towards the shore. 
 
 "What said the old fellow about yon junk," 
 asked Dick. 
 
 ce He means that yon junk may obtain from the 
 governor, the next and the next freight to Bangkok, 
 and thus he and his men be defrauded of those 
 profits in search of which he brought us here, and 
 for which, in all probability, his men forewent trad- 
 ing for swallows' nests among the islands ; but to 
 prevent such a loss, he has gone ashore to endea- 
 vour to secure the next cargo before he may be 
 forestalled by this or some other skipper on the 
 look out for employment." 
 
 "Now, look you, Herbert, I take it that is all 
 very well, but for his impudence in bringing us 
 here, I shan't cry if it fails, and that's a fact,' said 
 Dick, but he added, c enough of that old rogue, yet 
 touching yonder junk, you may laugh at the notion ; 
 
 # " Provide against a rainy day" would be the English equiva- 
 lent for this Chinese proverb. 
 
A TBOPICAL BREAKFAST. 
 
 *7 
 
 but between ourselves, I wouldn't mind swearing 
 that it is the very same which shipped Costa's ten 
 thousand dollars." 
 
 ic Pooh, pooh, Dick, but even so, how can the 
 knowledge avail you without proof, except it be 
 indeed, to get that luckless body of yours into diffi- 
 culties once more." 
 
 a May be, may be, Herbert, but nevertheless, 
 mark my words, before we leave these latitudes, 
 I'll get alongside her skipper, and though I can't 
 say I remember his features, for the faces of all 
 these Chinese fellows seem to have been struck out 
 with the same die, the same bald pates, pig- tales, 
 and skewed eyes, if it be so, it is queer if I don't 
 screw something out of him that may tell here- 
 after/' 
 
 a ' Well, well, my friend, as you will, you have 
 the notion in your head, and it is useless for me to 
 gainsay you ; but proceed how you may, for heaven's 
 sake have a care, you will be playing with double- 
 edged weapons, for you know not these fellows as I 
 do ;' and to this Dick made no reply, for little Waif 
 came to summon us to a tropical breakfast, the pre- 
 paration of which she had been industriously super- 
 intending." 
 
88 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 WE JOUENEY INTO THE INTEEIOE, AND MEET WITH 
 SOME ODD ADYENTUEES. 
 
 " Why, what misfortune hath befallen thee, 0 
 Li-Poo ? Has the Governor had thee beaten on 
 the soles of the feet, or thy face slapped * for thy 
 importunities, that thou lookest so chap-fallen ? y * 
 said I, as the old Chinese entered the cabin. 
 
 66 Is it not a maxim that when the profits shorten, 
 the face lengthens ? " replied he, adding ; ' The 
 Governor — may the tombs of his ancestors never be 
 swept clean — is not at his place of duty, which 
 should be upon the coast, inspecting the em- 
 barkation of the king's cargo on board the junk 
 of this Chinese water-rat, but in his house at the 
 city of Chantaburi." 
 
 "He don't want you, he don't want you, and 
 that's a fact/' said Dick. 
 
 " The rat, the rat, he will get all the cargo, but 
 c when the pool is dry the fish will be seen,' and 
 
 # Chinese punishments for minor offences. 
 
TWO OF A TRADE CAN'T AGREE. 
 
 89 
 
 when the cargo is landed at Bangkok, the King 
 of Siam may count his profits ; not before/' re- 
 plied Li-Poo. 
 
 " Mercantile jealousy, the old story, c two of a 
 trade can't agree/" replied Dick, adding — " but 
 now, my friend, you find you have brought your 
 pigs to a bad market ; take my advice, just clear 
 out of here, and run across the gulf to Bangkok 
 without further delay." 
 
 " Me no savey that pigeon. Is old Li-Poo a pig's 
 son, that he should listen to such words ? No ; a 
 bird can roost but upon one branch ; a mouse can 
 drink no more than its fill from a river, so neither 
 can this Fokeen rat take more than his junk (may it 
 sink) will hold ; so Li-Poo will wait till the miserable 
 dog has laden and departed, when the governor will 
 learn the real worth of old Li-Poo's junk." 
 
 (C Then it's a fact you intend to keep us kicking 
 our heels in these waters till you get a cargo, 
 whether the Governor will or not — that's pleasant 
 anyhow," said Dick, half inclined to quarrel — and 
 the Chinese replied — 
 
 " Is thy younger brother a mouse, that he should 
 have less profit than the Fokeen rat ? " 
 
 6e Thou art envious, 0 Li-Poo, but remember the 
 words of the sage : 'The torment of envy is like a 
 grain of sand in the eye.' " 
 
 " Would, oh my younger brother ! that the sands 
 of a whole desert had been in the eyes of yon 
 Fokeen pig and his crew, before he had forestalled 
 
90 
 
 WE JOURNEY INTO THE INTERIOR. 
 
 thy servant," replied tlie old man, sulkily walk- 
 ing out of the cabin. 
 
 " That was answering the old fellow after his 
 own fashion ; but look you, Herbert, you'll about 
 as easily find a pig that would be pulled by his tail 
 across the Pacific without squeaking, as to argue 
 or persuade that old fellow to listen to reason." 
 
 " You are right Dick, for to use one of their own 
 proverbs, " It would be as fruitless to pour water 
 on a duck's back, as to persuade a Chinese against 
 his will." 
 
 "But do you really mean to let him keep us 
 here during his pleasure ? " 
 
 " Why, what else can we do ? Would' st kick 
 against a mountain to the injury of thine own 
 feet?" 
 
 "Aye, that would I, if the mountain were an 
 obstinate Chinaman, and so long as I made him 
 feel, think I had the best of the bargain. . But, " 
 he added, "instead of stopping here, suppose we 
 go ashore and look up old Li-Poo's cantankerous 
 governor, and persuade his worship to give us a 
 passage in yon junk to Bangkok." 
 
 "Good — Dick. The attempt is at least .worth 
 the trouble ; so if the old man will lend us a boat 
 we will try it — but — Waif. 
 
 "Will not be left here among these savages," 
 interposed Waif, shuddering at the remembrance 
 of her former experience of a Chinese crew. 
 
 " Then you, Dick, remain on board, while I, who 
 
A PROPOSAL TO LT-POO. 
 
 91 
 
 have been accustomed to woods and wilds, and 
 savage beasts, will go in search of this Governor." 
 
 " That way of fixing it won't do anyhow, Her- 
 bert, for I have made up my mind you shan't go 
 alone, and that's a fact. As for little Waif here, 
 I take it she is about as well posted up in these 
 uncivilized parts, as you or I," and as I was about 
 making another objection, Waif said — 
 
 " Now no opposition, Mr. Herbert, for as Dick 
 has said, so say I." 
 
 " Well, well, so be it," I replied, and then left 
 the cabin to go in search of Li-Poo, but finding 
 the old man in the midst of a knot of sailors, 
 grieving over his disappointment, I touched his 
 shoulder, saying, " Come, Li-Poo, do you forget 
 that a discontented man is like a snake who would 
 swallow an elephant? Cheer up, cheer up, man, 
 for I bring you good news." 
 
 " How is this thing possible ? What news can 
 my younger brother have, since he hath not left 
 the junk ?" he replied, surlily. 
 
 " We are going up to Chantaburi city to see the 
 governor, if you will lend us a boat." 
 
 " Hi-yaw ! Hi-yaw ! for what good does my 
 younger brother want to go there ? " 
 
 " Does Li-Poo forget that I am a scholar, and 
 that I may find words to persuade the Governor, 
 to give you, 0 Li-Poo, the cargo for which you are 
 pining? 33 
 
 "Does my younger brother mean that he will 
 
92 WE JOURNEY INTO THE INTERIOR. 
 
 walk into the very jaws of this lion governor, who 
 may kill him, only to do much talkee for the good 
 of his mean servant ?" 
 
 u Has Li-Poo ever heard any but straight words 
 from the lips of his younger brother ? " I replied ; 
 and the selfish old fellow, thinking of his own inte- 
 rests alone, was so far from guessing my main 
 object in undertaking the journey, that he almost 
 capered with delight, and at once ordered the boat 
 to be lowered : when, for fear a little reflection 
 might arouse his suspicions, Dick, Waif, and I no 
 sooner saw the sails set, than we loaded the revol- 
 vers, which, by the way, we had always kept about 
 our persons, and taking a supply of additional am- 
 munition, got into the boat. 
 
 " I have said that our junk was anchored off the 
 island of S em sing, which is at the mouth of the 
 river. Well, there are two channels round the 
 island, and as the tide was running with great 
 rapidity, we had little time to talk or make obser- 
 vations, our greatest attention being required to 
 keep the boat from stranding ; but when we had 
 passed fairly round Semsing, we were swept into 
 the middle of the river, and thenceforth floated at 
 our ease. 
 
 " The entrance to the river presented a desolate 
 scene ; the ground was low and marshy, teeming 
 with pestiferous weeds, and alive with millions of 
 large, croaking frogs ; but, with the exception of 
 a crane, which, alarmed at the appearance of our 
 
A HUT UPON STILTS. 
 
 9a 
 
 boat, would every now and then thrust its head 
 through the grass, and having satisfied its curiosity, 
 fly across the river, nothing living was to be seen 
 till we rounded a point covered with lofty cocoa 
 trees, and then we came in sight of a small wooden 
 hut, which was supported some twenty feet out of 
 the river by four cocoa trees. The door of this 
 quaint little residence was reached by a ladder, 
 the bottom rounds being immersed in the water, 
 and to one of which at that time was secured a 
 canoe. 
 
 " I take it yon hut upon stilts is the country 
 house of a retired monkey, who has chosen the 
 position for the benefit of his health," said 
 Dick. 
 
 "If so, there is the animal himself," said Waif, 
 pointing to a small dark object, which, with its back 
 towards us, and its crouching position, had more 
 the resemblance of a monkey than a man. 
 
 " Yes, there he is, and that's a fact ; let us hail 
 the beast," said Dick ; but catching, I suppose, the 
 sound of our voices, the object turned towards us, 
 and disclosed the features of a man, and one, too, 
 so much excited either with astonishment or rage, 
 that, unable to speak, he grinned, chattered, and 
 shook his fists at us. 
 
 " It does not seem to be giving us a civil wel- 
 come, whatever it is," said Dick, laughing. 
 
 a He is motioning to us to go back," said I. 
 
 "Yes, there can't be any doubt about it; but 
 
94 WE JOURNEY INTO THE INTERIOR. 
 
 he'll be considerably disappointed/' replied Dick, 
 adding, as the man disappeared within the hut, 
 " Ha ! the small party means mischief." 
 
 " He has run in for his gun, Dick. Let us back 
 the boat out of reach of its fire," said I ; but al- 
 most immediately the little object appeared at 
 the door of his hut, carrying a couple of muskets, 
 one of which he stood against the doorpost, and 
 with the other he began to take a deliberate aim at 
 our boat. 
 
 "Lie down," said I. Waif complied instantly, 
 but Dick replied — 
 
 " Pigs and Filibusters ! No ; the innocent is 
 more likely to knock himself over with the recoil 
 than to injure us." 
 
 6t But," said I, falling in the bottom of the boat, 
 " he is taking deliberate aim at us." 
 
 "That's just why the critter won't hit us ; " but 
 as Dick spoke a bullet passed within an inch of his 
 head, when, altering his opinion, he exclaimed, 
 " Hilloa ! it's in earnest you are, is it ? Very well, 
 my little Filibuster, you shan't have it all your 
 own way ;" but jumping to my feet, and catching 
 hold of the revolver which he had cocked, I said, 
 " Stay, Dick, we are in the wrong ; the fellow is, 
 perhaps, a Government official, who is perched up 
 there to watch the river." Then I called to the 
 little fire-eater in Siamese that we were friends. 
 This seemed to appease him, for shouting in reply 
 to us to remain where we were, the next minute, 
 
THE CUSTOMS* OFFICER. 
 
 95 
 
 after the fashion of the 
 animal for which we had 
 first mistaken him, 
 he slid down the ladder, 
 tumbled almost head over 
 heels into his canoe, and 
 paddled alongside, when, 
 in fierce tones, with fierce 
 looks, and many bel- 
 licose gesticulations, he cried out, 'It is Klang, 
 Customs' officer and Reporter-General of the river, 
 who speaks ; but what rats are these, who dare set 
 at defiance his authority, by passing up the river 
 without his permission V 
 
 u 6 Then, 0 Klang/ said I, unable to help smiling 
 at the airs of the ferocious little ' paper tiger/ c no- 
 
96 WE JOURNEY INTO THE INTERIOR. 
 
 tiling could be more fortunate than this meeting, 
 for we are traders from China, on a mission of im- 
 portance to the Governor of Chantaburi, whom it is 
 doubtless impossible we can hope to find without 
 the aid of the excellent officer Klang.' 
 
 Now, whether the sight of the many-barrelled 
 pistol which I held in one hand while speaking, or 
 the two bright dollars which I exhibited to his as- 
 tonished eyes, influenced him, I am unable to 
 vouch, but certainly his tone suddenly changed, for, 
 adopting the manner of speech of his countrymen 
 towards their social superiors, he smilingly re- 
 plied — 
 
 " There can be no doubt that as the master 
 benefactor has affairs with the Lord- Govern or, he 
 may have permission to go up the river ; neither 
 can there be a doubt than since the master has so 
 generously lent Klang two pieces of silver (and, 
 Buddha be praised, it is a large sum) that it is 
 Klang' s business to go with the master to the Lord 
 Governor. I receive the master's orders."* 
 
 "Then let the worthy Klang come into our boat, 
 his own canoe he can fasten behind," said I, and 
 without further ado the old man complied, and we 
 proceeded on our journey up the river; and a very 
 monotonous journey it would have been but for old 
 Klang, who kept chatting in his own tongue, till 
 Dick, who could not comprehend one word, and 
 
 * With the phrase " I receive your orders/' every Siamese con- 
 cludes his address to his superiors. 
 
OUR ARRIVAL AT CHANTABURI. 97 
 
 had exhausted his patience and raised his curiosity 
 to a feverish height, said — 
 
 " It's a funny old magpie, but what has it been 
 chattering about all this time ? " 
 
 " About the story of his life, Dick, and an odd 
 one it has been. He has been stationed in that 
 hut for twenty years, with an income from Govern- 
 ment of about two shillings a month ; but had we 
 passed up this river, and presented ourselves to 
 the Governor, without the old fellow having first 
 announced us, he would have been dismissed from 
 his house and office." 
 
 " Thank heaven, then, we have not succeeded in 
 perpetrating so much mischief upon the poor 
 fellow," said "Waif. 
 
 " To that I cry, Amen, Waif ; for he has nei- 
 ther kith nor kin, with a prospect of a future 
 as solitary as his past, which has indeed been 
 dreary, for during the whole time of his residence 
 in that hut, he has had no friendly relations with 
 humanity. His means of existence have only 
 been his small salary and the donations of occa- 
 sional passers by, but still he counts his life a 
 happy one, for he is learned in herbs, and at 
 home in the paths of the forest, in which he knows 
 where to find roots and yams, upon which he chiefly 
 exists, except when he happens to have enough 
 ammunition with him, and the luck to fall in with 
 a bear, a wild pig, partridge, or jungle fowl." 
 " A real right down squatter's life, too, though 
 
 H 
 
98 WE JOURNEY INTO THE INTERIOR. 
 
 with a little too much of turnpike keeping, and 
 not enough of sporting about it, for my liking/' 
 said Dick; but then as through an opening, in 
 the dense foliage of the trees, the tall and beauti- 
 ful spire of a watt, or temple, burst suddenly 
 upon our view and proclaimed the vicinity of the 
 town of Chantaburi, we ran ashore, and securing 
 our little craft beneath the shade of some lofty 
 tamarind trees, we sent Klang in his little canoe 
 to announce our arrival to the head man and 
 Governor of the town. 
 
 Chantaburi is situated at the foot of one of 
 the long range of mountains which separates the 
 kingdom of Siam from Cambodia, and it is to 
 the barrier thus formed by nature, the Siamese 
 are indebted for their safety from the inroads 
 of the predatory and more than half-savage Anna- 
 mites, or Cochin Chinese. 
 
 This province of Chantaburi is remarkable not 
 less for the number of its savage beasts than 
 its natural curiosities. In the north is a mountain 
 called "The Mountain of the Stars/' from the 
 top of which the natives assert that every star 
 may be seen of the size of the sun, and in the 
 bowels of which are to be found vast quantities 
 of precious stones. In the eastern portion there 
 is a thirty-mile range of mountains, at the top 
 of which are prosperous plantations of coffee. Not 
 far from where we had moored our boat, and 
 upon a high hill, were the fortifications and the 
 
dick's doubts of LI-POO. 
 
 99 
 
 governor's house, which is built upon a soil so 
 impregnated with metallic oxides, that it is of 
 a deep purple colour, and is frequently used for 
 paint. Again, at a short distance, is the hill 
 celebrated by the Siamese as the "precious stone 
 mountain/' and in which are found the topaz, 
 the ruby, the garnet, the sapphire, and other 
 gems. 
 
 After an absence of about two hours, the old 
 man returned, very greatly to the delight of my 
 companions, but of Dick in particular, who, after 
 having very patiently, but very uselessly, listened 
 to Klang as he unfolded his budget of intelligence, 
 said — 
 
 "Come, Herbert, just interpret all this." 
 
 " Bad news, Dick, very ; the Governor, who 
 should be personally inspecting every boat-load 
 of the cargo now being taken on board the junk 
 owned by Li-Poo's rival, has neglected his duty, 
 and gone into the interior upon a rhinoceros 
 shooting expedition." 
 
 "Whew," whistled Dick; "it's my luck, and 
 that's a fact; but," he added, "among these re- 
 spectable savages ashore, can't we find one who 
 would give us a lodging for the night ; if so, in 
 the morning we could follow in the trail of this 
 Governor, which, to my thinking, would be better 
 than returning to old Li-Poo's junk." 
 
 " Your plan is good, Dick ; but Waif, — what is to 
 become of her in the mean time ?" 
 
100 WE JOURNEY INTO THE INTERIOR. 
 
 u 0h, never fear, my friend, Waif isn't butter 
 that will melt under the sun, nor sugar to be dis- 
 solved by a rain-storm and — as for danger, why, 
 I take it, she has had about as much experience of 
 that as either of us." 
 
 "Dick is right, Herbert," said Waif, " where 
 you go, I go ; but he should have told you his 
 real motive for not caring to go back to the 
 junk." 
 
 u Well, the fact is, Herbert, I have grave doubts 
 as to the good intentions towards ourselves of 
 that amiable old semi-savage, Li-Poo, though being 
 a gratis passenger, I did not quite like to give 
 expression to them before," said Dick bluntly. 
 
 " Pooh, pooh, the Chinese is an honest meaning 
 old fellow, altho' he may be a little crotchetty," 
 said I. 
 
 "Well, Herbert, it may be' pooh, pooh, and 
 the old fellow may be square enough, but as 
 for his crew — why, Dick Orme would rather not 
 trust himself among them again till we can take 
 them the Governor's warrant to ship a cargo, for 
 without that, it is my opinion, that it will be 
 many a long day before they will run across to 
 Bangkok." 
 
 Now I knew it would be useless to question Dick's 
 opinion. Moreover, being somewhat inclined to 
 think with him, and having no objection to a 
 day's ramble in the interior, I asked Klang if he 
 could take us to the house of some native, who for 
 
A SIAMESE MEAL. 
 
 101 
 
 a dollar would give us a night's lodging ; and, as 
 lie not only replied in the affirmative, but offered to 
 lead us to the residence of a Government official, 
 we at once left the boat and followed him to a large 
 wooden building, raised from the ground by several 
 pillars, the space underneath being occupied by 
 pigs and poultry. It was some short distance from 
 the town, and in a small plantation of mangroves, 
 plantain, cocoa-nut, and tamarind trees. The owner, 
 a very hospitable fellow, was one Ma, a kind of 
 secretary to the Governor, and who, hearing that 
 we had business with his master, and believing it 
 to be of a very different nature, and of far greater 
 importance than it really was, placed three small 
 cupboard-like rooms at our service, and moreover 
 set before us an excellent repast. 
 
 Whether, however, my reader would like to par- 
 take of the hospitality of a Siamese of tolerable re- 
 spectability, he may judge when I tell him that 
 these people take their meals seated upon a mat or 
 carpet (guests are seated upon the floor in front of 
 the door, which is esteemed the place of honour), 
 the dishes are on great brazen vases, with a cover, 
 over which a red cloth is placed. The meat is cut 
 in small pieces, and the rice is kept apart in a large, 
 deep porringer on one side of the floor, while a great 
 basin of water is on the other, having in it a drink- 
 ing cup. The guests have neither knives nor forks, 
 but use a mother-of-pearl spoon to dip into the 
 various dishes of which the repast is composed. 
 
102 WE JOURNEY INTO THE INTERIOR. 
 
 After Laving eaten a sufficiency, they drink pure 
 water or tea. To help themselves one after another 
 from the same plate, to drink one after another from 
 the same cup, is the custom. 
 
 Well, having made our short and silent meal — 
 (for be it observed, that in Siam social repasts 
 never last longer than a quarter of an hour, during 
 which a dead silence is preserved) — and the wife 
 of our host, who had presided, having left the room, 
 we were entertained with tea and tobacco for about 
 an hour, and then conducted to our respective 
 rooms. 
 
103 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 WE CATCH A SACRED MONKEY, WHICH PEOVES A 
 EEIEND IN NEED. 
 
 At sunrise we were aroused by our host, who set 
 before us a capital breakfast of tea, fruits, rice, and 
 some delicious cakes, which I believe are peculiar to 
 this country, and are made as follows : — 
 
 The rice is dressed without water or steam ; it is 
 then sprinkled with condiments, consisting of ginger 
 and other spices, after which it is divided into small 
 parcels, which are wrapped up in plantain leaves, 
 and in four-and- twenty hours a sweet vinous liquor 
 exudes, when the cake is fit for eating ; but if kept 
 longer they become intoxicating, and if distilled, 
 produce arrack, which, subject to a redistillation, 
 gives a strong and fragrant drink. 
 
 As during this meal we learned that the Gover- 
 nor was not twenty miles in the interior, I expressed 
 to our host a desire to go immediately in search of 
 his Excellency, and the worthy man very readily 
 offered us the use of one of his master's elephants, 
 
104 
 
 WE CATCH A SACRED MONKEY. 
 
 and a mahout, or driver; moreover, heat once arose 
 to have the animal got ready for our service, but at 
 the same time pointing to Waif, whom from her 
 dress he mistook for a boy, he politely signified 
 that should Master* Rat be afraid to go with us he 
 might remain behind at his house till our return. 
 This offer, however, " Miss Rat/' as the Siamese 
 would have called her had he known she was a girl, 
 of course declined. Our host, however, not only 
 took the refusal in good part, but invited us to go 
 and see the howdah made ready for our reception. 
 
 " The fellow's a wizard ; it is just what I was 
 about to propose, Herbert ; for, look you, I have 
 never seen an elephant except at a show, and so 
 should like to see this one and examine its fixings 
 before I venture my carcass so far above terra firma,"- 
 said Dick, and then the host led us through a small 
 plantation at the back of the house towards the 
 animal's stable. Now, as Dick and Waif, who were 
 some few yards in advance, suddenly came up to a 
 mound of earth about four feet high and twelve in 
 diameter, Waif shrieked and started backwards, but 
 Dick, pulling out his revolver, placed it at full cock, 
 and was about to fire at some object on the earth, 
 when, alarmed at his rashness, I called out — 
 
 " Hold, Dick ! In heaven's name what is the 
 matter V y 
 
 # Intended as a respectful prefix ; a youth of the lower order 
 would be called " you rat,' ' of the middle class, " Master Eat," 
 or " Miss Mouse;" of the nobility, " Father," or " Mother." 
 
MR. AND MRS. COBRA. 
 
 105 
 
 u Snakes — regular varmint, and that's certain ! 99 
 
 Still I held his hand, so that he could not pull the 
 trigger, and lucky it was that I prevented his firing, 
 for one of our host's slaves came up with a dish of 
 milk and eggs, which he placed down near the pal- 
 ings, and in an instant a couple of venomous cobras 
 thrust forth their heads and became busily engaged 
 in breaking the eggs and lapping the milk. 
 
 " Dick/' said I, u let us rejoice that you did not 
 kill either of these reptiles, for it would have given 
 mortal offence to our host." 
 
 u Yes, that's right enough ; but just to think of 
 this nigger's bringing two such vermin a breakfast 
 fit for a Christian ; but anyhow these are queer 
 diggins, and that's a fact/' replied Dick, who, by 
 the way, did not change his opinion when I told 
 him what I must repeat to the reader. That be- 
 tween the white ant and the cobra-di-capello, the 
 natives of the wild parts of Siam have a very un- 
 comfortable time, for of all reptiles the cobra is the 
 most destructive to man ; and of all insects the 
 white ant is the most destructive to his houses and 
 goods. 
 
 Of course you are aware that the white ants 
 build very remarkably constructed hills, which are 
 pierced with innumerable galleries and chambers 
 within. Now, for some time after the erection of 
 these mounds, the mould is soft and plastic. While 
 the hill is in this state, it is frequently the case that 
 it will attract the attention of some cobra and his 
 
106 
 
 WE CATCH A SACRED MONKEY. 
 
 wife, who may be on the look out for convenient 
 lodgings. Well, having found the hill or mound in 
 its softened state, the reptiles at once begin to cave 
 out for themselves space of sufficient size, and take 
 possession, to the disgust of the industrious ants, 
 who very speedily decamp. 
 
 As I have said, this is a very common event, so 
 that when a native finds one of these fresh -made 
 ant hills near his dwelling, he watches warily for 
 traces of the cobra being in possession, and having 
 satisfied himself of that, instead of taking means to 
 destroy the reptiles, he and his neighbours set to 
 work to construct a strong fence all round the 
 mound, which they set so thickly with thin bushes 
 that it is impossible for either Mr. or Mrs. Cobra to 
 escape, and thus they would speedily die of starva- 
 tion, but for the superstitious belief of the natives, 
 who being forbidden to kill snakes, for fear that 
 one of their deities might chance to be within them, 
 make it a religious duty to supply the reptiles each 
 morning with milk, eggs, and other dainties, and 
 that too at such a regular hour that, punctual to the 
 minute, the cobras may be seen peeping out of 
 their respective holes in anticipation of their break- 
 fast. And such had been the case with the two 
 reptiles which had alarmed Dick and Waif. 
 
 " And a very queer story it is," said Dick, when 
 I had concluded my explanation ; " but," he added, 
 " The mound is large and the cobra is so small that 
 it could easily hide itself to the great danger of 
 
VALUE OF THE ELEPHANT. 
 
 107 
 
 some unconscious nigger, so by what token do the 
 natives judge whether the reptile has taken posses- 
 sion of the hill V } 
 
 " I know not for certain ; but both Hindoo and 
 Siamese have a firm belief that wherever a snail is 
 to be seen, it is upon the track of a cobra, for whom 
 it acts as a water-carrier/' I replied, adding, as I 
 saw the howdah, a great roofed basket fixed upon 
 the back of the elephant, "But come, our con- 
 veyance is prepared, let us hasten forwards."" 
 
 " Hilloa, is our old acquaintance going to accom- 
 pany us V said Dick, as he saw old Klang come 
 round from the other side of the great beast. 
 
 u It would seem he is to be our guide, Dick," 
 said I, adding to the old man, " Surely the many 
 duties of the worthy Klang will not permit him to 
 assume the mean office of our guide V } 
 
 " My master's words are good ; it is true the 
 office is a mean one for Klang ; but he must per- 
 form it, for it would be at the cost of his worthless 
 life that he permitted Farang* strangers to ap- 
 proach the presence of the Lord- Govern or unan- 
 nounced/' replied he, with an ominous shake of the 
 head. 
 
 Then the cushions being arranged and the driver 
 mounted, Waif, Dick, and I clambered into the 
 howdah, and led by Klang, who, upon a little sure- 
 footed Siamese pony, rode in front, hatchet in hand, 
 
 # Christian. 
 
108 
 
 WE CATCH A SACRED MONKEY. 
 
 ready to clear away obstructing jungle, we set forth, 
 upon our journey. 
 
 Now, although so much has been written about 
 the elephant in books of Eastern travel, and you, 
 reader, have, in all probability, been much bored by 
 such accounts, for your better understanding of our 
 progress upon that short expedition, I must add one 
 paragraph of information upon that most useful of 
 brutes. 
 
 Without the aid of the elephant, it would 
 scarcely be possible to traverse the woods and 
 jungle of Siam. He makes his way as he goes, 
 crushing with his trunk all that resists his pro- 
 gress; over deep morasses or sloughs he drags 
 himself on his knees and belly. When he has to 
 cross a stream he ascertains the depth by his pro- 
 boscis, advances slowly, and when he is out of his 
 depth he swims breathing through his trunk, which 
 is visible when the whole body is immersed. He 
 descends into ravines impassable by man, and by 
 the aid of his trunk ascends steep mountains. His 
 ordinary pace is about four to five miles an hour, 
 and he will journey day and night if properly fed. 
 When weary he strikes the ground with his trunk, 
 making a sound resembling a horn, which an- 
 nounces to his driver that he desires repose. 
 
 In about three hours, when we had travelled 
 some fifteen miles through wood and jungle, we 
 again came in sight of the river, and upon its 
 bank, within a very few yards of the water's edge, 
 
ROBBING A CROCODILE. 
 
 109 
 
 we continued our march, and now that for a time 
 we were clear of the woods, Klang rode a little 
 ahead. 
 
 We had not, however, continued in this order 
 of march more than half an hour, when the old 
 Siamese brought his pony to a stand still, and 
 when the elephant was sufficiently near, he said to 
 me in something a little above a whisper — 
 
 " Klang can get crocodile's eggs — he waits the 
 master's orders." 
 
 u Where ? " I asked, quickly glancing around, 
 for I did not care to come too suddenly upon a 
 nest of those dangerous reptiles. 
 
 " Your servant can see them there/' he replied, 
 pointing to a mound of mud left by the retiring 
 waters, adding patiently, "I await the master's 
 orders." 
 
 " What is the bother now ?" asked Dick ; and 
 when I told him, he replied — 
 
 " Bah ! of what use are the eggs of such vermin 
 to decent white people ?" 
 
 " They are esteemed to be a great luxury in this 
 part of the world, Dick." 
 
 " A luxury ! well, well, it's no matter ; tell the 
 old fellow to go ahead, and I'll help him if it is only 
 to get out of this washing-basket, and exercise my 
 legs a little," he replied. 
 
 " But look you, Dick," said I, " the sport may 
 be good, but remember it will be no child's play if 
 the old reptile catches us." 
 
110 
 
 WE CATCH A SACRED MONKEY. 
 
 " Tush," replied lie contemptuously, " not much 
 of that I guess, when the danger is all on one 
 side." 
 
 "Now, Dick, help me down," said Waif, when 
 he had reached the ground. 
 
 "Help you down," he replied laughingly; "Lord 
 love the girl, not if I know it. No, you are better 
 where you are, for you are out of the way of making 
 a tiffin for a crocodile." 
 
 " You won't r she replied. " Well, then I'll 
 just get down by myself ;" and there and then she 
 would have kept her word had I not very earnestly 
 begged of her to remain where she was. Then, 
 however, she only complied when I told her we 
 would not go out of her sight. 
 
 Klang, however, scarcely cared about our accom- 
 panying him, for when upon dismounting, I told 
 him we intended joining in the sport, he begged 
 that we would keep in the rear, and with our 
 pistols in our hands at full cock. "For," said he, 
 "my masters have no horses, and the crocodile 
 runs fast." 
 
 We obeyed, leisurely following the old custom- 
 house officer, who now seemed to be endowed 
 with all the agility of boyhood, for alighting from 
 his pony, but still holding it by his rope bridle 
 rein, he walked about the mud mound examining 
 every inch of ground with the greatest minuteness, 
 but smoking his cheroot the whole time. Sud- 
 denly, however, he took the cheroot from his 
 
THE CROCODILE KILLED. 
 
 HI 
 
 mouth, placed it in a hole in the lobe of his ear, 
 and falling upon his knees, began to dig at the 
 mud with his hands, all the time however, keep- 
 ing his eyes and ears open for the old mother 
 crocodile. 
 
 "He is an astonishing old 'coon' anyhow, but 
 he's found the eggs," exclaimed Dick, as we 
 saw him untie the scarf from his shoulders, and 
 by knots and twistings, convert it into a pocket 
 for the reception of the eggs, each of which 
 was about twice the size of the egg of a 
 goose. 
 
 When, however, he had secured twelve or thirteen 
 in this manner, he gave a shrill cry of terror, and 
 leaping upon the pony's back, urged it forward — 
 too late however — for the plundered and enraged 
 reptile had caught the poor beast by one of its hind 
 legs, and was fast dragging it backwards towards 
 the water. 
 
 "Now, Herbert, a steady aim, and follow this," 
 and as Dick spoke, he fired, the bullet passing 
 within a few inches of Klang's head, struck the 
 reptile so forcibly above the snout, that it let go 
 its hold. 
 
 It was an exciting moment ; the pony was down 
 upon its side half-dead with extreme terror, and 
 the crocodile, as if aroused to consciousness of its 
 real enemy, was in full chase of the old man. 
 I fired, but missed, and the brute would most 
 assuredly have overtaken Klang, but for one good 
 
112 
 
 WE CATCH A SACRED MONKEY. 
 
 telling shot from Waif, who cleverly sent a bullet 
 between its shoulders. 
 
 "It's but little more custom-house duty you'd 
 have done but for that shot, my friend," said Dick, 
 as the old man came up to us. 
 
 " True, Dick, but we are not safe yet, the brute 
 is still alive," I replied, as I sent another bullet at 
 the reptile, which, not more than half stunned, 
 lay lashing its huge tail ; indeed it took another 
 and another shot before we could kill it. 
 
 " Look you, Herbert, it goes to my heart to see 
 yonder poor beast in such agony," replied Dick, 
 pointing to the pony, which lay upon the bank, 
 writhing and plunging its legs, more, however, I 
 believe from intense fear than from the wound in 
 its leg, and equally did Klang feel for his horse, 
 for turning to me, he begged that I would shoot 
 it, and so finish the poor animal's misery. 
 
 "Nay, that will I not, the' beast may get over 
 this terror." The old man, however, persisting 
 that it could not recover, I lent him my weapon, 
 and with it he closed his friend' s career. 
 
 "A pretty mess we've made of this bout/' 
 said Dick, when we were once again in the howdah. 
 
 " Yes, a dozen eggs, at the cost of a horse and 
 the great risk of at least one life," said L 
 
 " The j horse and Klang are to be pitied; but 
 as for you two — well it was a cruel thing to seek to 
 rob the crocodile of her eggs," said Waif. 
 
 " Aye, whatfs that ? Now look you, Miss Mouse, 
 
THE CROCODILE KILLED. 
 
 113 
 
 or Master Eat, as these saffron-coloured niggers 
 would say, if you stand at all in fear of that big 
 cat, ill-humour, you will suppress such strong 
 opinions/' said Dick. 
 
 " Well/' she replied, laughing, " and if I, who 
 proved the best shot of the party, haven't a right 
 to an opinion, pray who has, Mr. Dick ?" 
 
 ts I say again, beware of the big cat, Miss Mouse, 
 for that taunt is just a deal worse than your 
 opinions about the killing such vermin as these 
 crocodiles," replied Dick, as seriously as if he in- 
 tended what he said. 
 
 " Well, I take it," said Waif, imitating Dick's 
 nasal twang, " it isn't pleasant by a great deal for 
 a couple of young men to be beaten at a shooting 
 match by a chit of a girl;" and thus bantering 
 each other we continued our journey in search of 
 the Governor, who as poor Klang, who had now 
 to walk instead of ride, informed us, would be 
 found in a forest which we were entering as he 
 spoke. 
 
 Keeping as nearly as possible in a straight direc- 
 tion, the elephant who, by the way, well under- 
 stood his business, forcing a path for us through 
 the dense underwood, we at length came to what 
 had once been a small river, but the water of which, 
 now at that dry season, under the influence of the 
 sun, had become little better than thick mud. 
 
 " When we have crossed this ditch, we will come 
 to a halt, and have our tiffin, Herbert," said Dick, 
 
 I 
 
114 WE CATCH A SACRED MONKEY. 
 
 and as I repeated this to Klang, the old man pro- 
 posed to remain on that side and gather some 
 fruits which he would bring to us. 
 
 Accordingly we passed through the mud, not 
 forgetting to keep our eyes open for crocodiles, and 
 when we came to the other side again descended 
 from the howdah, and having sent the elephant to 
 browse amongst some tall grass, we sat down upon 
 a small hillock to partake of the cakes and boiled 
 rice, which before starting, our host had very 
 thoughtfully placed in the howdah ; but we were 
 without water, that had been forgotten, and so we 
 sent the mahout again across the mud to search for 
 some, if it were only a gourd full. 
 
 But scarcely had the man returned to the oppo- 
 site bank and entered among the trees, than we 
 were startled by the report of a pistol or gun-shot. 
 
 6C Old Klang is attacked by a tiger," said I, jump- 
 ing to my feet, and clutching my revolver. 
 
 ic Yes — that's a fact, let us lend him a hand," 
 said Dick, also arising from the ground, and prepar- 
 ing to follow ; but at that moment we saw Klang 
 and the Mahout coming out of the wood, followed 
 by a disorderly regiment of little chattering, scream- 
 ing monkeys. 
 
 u They have attacked the monkeys," said Waif. 
 
 " Have they ? Faith I take it the comical little 
 imps have attacked them," replied Dick, and he 
 was correct, for now as Klang and the Mahout came 
 rushing at full speed through the mud, we could 
 
ATTACKED BY MONKEYS. 
 
 115 
 
 hear the latter exclaiming, " Ling ! ling ! ling !" 
 (monkey, monkey, monkey). 
 
 Well, away came the two Siamese, and at their 
 heels followed literally hundreds of screaming little 
 monkeys. 
 
 Now, awkward as it must have been for the two 
 fugitives, the scene was so comical, men being 
 chased by a herd of little animals, who, as the 
 former with breathless haste stumbled and scram- 
 bled through the muddy river, kept chattering, 
 screaming, shaking their paws, and doubtless mak- 
 ing use of the most diabolical epithets used in the 
 language of monkeydom, that instead of attempting 
 to alarm the animals by a shot or two, we stood 
 holding our sides with laughter. But onwards 
 came the men, and after them followed the animals, 
 whose turn, however, it became to fly as soon as 
 Klang had touched the shore, for in his terror, or 
 perhaps in his anger at the disgrace of being 
 chased by monkeys, a disgrace he must have felt 
 the more from seeing how we were entertained, 
 without asking my leave he snatched the revolver 
 from my hand, and discharged three barrels one 
 after the other among the animals, two shots told, 
 felling a like number of monkeys, that, however, 
 was enough, for, alarmed at the reports and the dis- 
 comfiture of their relations, the rest, like cowards 
 as they were, turned tail and fled back across the 
 river into the woods. 
 
 " Shame ! 0 Klang, to kill the monkeys," I said, 
 
 I 2 
 
116 WE CATCH A SACRED MONKEY. 
 
 attempting to look serious when the old man had 
 fired. 
 
 " Monkeys ! They are devils !" he replied. 
 
 " Pooh, pooh, 0 Klang, they are but monkeys." 
 
 " Monkeys \" he replied, seriously, u what words 
 are these of my master, for surely he knows that 
 monkeys are men, — not very good-looking to be 
 sure, — but still they are our brothers." 
 
 It was a queer reply, but did not excite my sur- 
 prise, for I knew that he had but given utterance to 
 what is a common saying, if not a belief among the 
 Siamese, who have a tradition that if the monkey 
 does not speak, it is from prudence, dreading lest 
 the king should compel him to labour for him with- 
 out pay. Nevertheless, Siamese tradition saith that 
 a monkey once spoke, and was moreover so brave 
 and clever generally, that being sent as generalis- 
 simo of an army to fight a band of giants, he, with 
 one kick, split a mountain in two pieces, and thus 
 (although how I cannot understand) finished the 
 war with honour. 
 
 " See, see," exclaimed Waif, " how one poor 
 creature is suffering — how cruel to fire upon 
 them." 
 
 " Then it will be a mercy to put it out of its 
 misery," said Dick, pointing his pistol at a little 
 animal which was rolling about in the mud, and 
 screaming as if with pain. 
 
 t€ Nay, that you shall not," replied Waif, and off 
 she ran towards the monkey, which, regardless of 
 
THE SACRED MONKEY. 
 
 117 
 
 its attempts to escape, she caught up in her arms 
 and brought to us, and which I no sooner saw than 
 with delight I exclaimed — 
 " This is, indeed, a prize." 
 
 " Then prizes are very plentiful in this latitude, I 
 take it, for the little animal is but one of some 
 thousands out yonder," replied Dick, pointing to 
 the forest. 
 
 " Hiloa, is that respectable old party gone 
 mad ?" cried Dick, pointing to Klang, who had 
 fallen down in an attitude of prayer before the little 
 beast, and kept uttering, "Buddha be praised — 
 Buddha be praised — it is a Pajee." 
 
 u Come get away, old gentleman, do/' cried Waif, 
 who was soothing the monkey as if it had been a 
 a child, and was endeavouring to reset its leg which 
 had been broken by the bullet. But Klang kept 
 gazing with veneration upon the little beast, and 
 muttering the same words, till Waif, getting very 
 impatient, said, u Mr. Herbert, do take this old per- 
 son away, or I shall never set the poor creature's 
 leg." 
 
 " You can't move him against his will, for he is 
 worshipping the beast," said I. 
 
 " Worshipping !" she repeated with disgust. 
 
 u The unnatural old heathen," exclaimed Dick ; 
 " but," he asked, earnestly, " Herbert, are you 
 making fun of us, or is it a fact ?" 
 
 " True, upon my honour, Dick ; did you never hear 
 of a white monkey ? 99 
 
118 
 
 WE CATCH A SACRED MONKEY. 
 
 " Welly I have, and how that some of these Eastern 
 niggers, worship 'em ; but then this creature is not 
 white, but a whitey-brown." 
 
 "Nevertheless it is an Albino, or white monkey, 
 and we must get its leg cured and take care of 
 the animal." 
 
 " Now, look you, my friend, and you have been 
 my friend ; still I can't stand a fellow whose head 
 seems turning to this kind of heathenism, for if so 
 be, you are not going to — pah ! worship this beast 
 yourself; to take care of it is to encourage nig- 
 gers like this old party here ; so look you, if you 
 don't agree to its being shot, or at least turned 
 adrift again, I don't see how we can go along to- 
 gether very comfortably with such a difference of 
 opinion." 
 
 "May difference of opinion never alter friend- 
 ship, Dick," I replied, laughingly. 
 
 " Aye, but it will, if it comes to be in such a 
 matter about a pug-faced monkey." 
 
 "Now, hold there, and just listen Dick, like a 
 reasonable being," said I, adding : " Have we not 
 come out here for the express purpose of meeting 
 the Mandarin Governor of Chantaburi ? " 
 
 " Well, and so we have ; but what has that to do 
 with this little brown pug-face ? " 
 
 " All, I tell you, for from these Asiatics you can 
 get nothing without a present. Now this white 
 monkey is a present for which the Governor will 
 give us everything we ask, even to half his fortune," 
 
WAIF WASHES THE MONKEY. 
 
 119 
 
 said I. Whereupon Dick scratched his whiskers 
 for a few minutes, and replied — 
 
 " Well, that does alter the case, and so there is 
 an end of that transaction \ but/' he added, " sup- 
 pose Waif washes its face a little, it may make it 
 a shade or two whiter." 
 
 "A very good thought, Dick," replied Waif, and 
 away she took the animal, whose leg being now 
 bandaged, was free from pain, to a small pool, and 
 a very comical scene ensued, for while she endea- 
 voured to wash it, the beast made as much noise as 
 a human baby under similarly obnoxious circum- 
 stances. 
 
 As for old Klang, who nothing doubted that it 
 was not for fun, but from a religious feeling, that 
 Waif washed the little monkey's face and hands, 
 danced about very joyfully, and when she gave the 
 little brute into the hands of Dick, who facetiously 
 handled it as tenderly, aye, and as awkwardly, as if 
 it had been a baby (by the way, it was a monkey 
 baby), he pulled off his white linen scarf, and handed 
 it to Dick, who there and then wrapped it about the 
 animal's body and head, so that its face, hands, and 
 feet could alone be seen, and with this comical crea- 
 ture sitting in our midst in the howdah, we pro- 
 ceeded on our way. 
 
120 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE STRANGE JUNK, DICERS SUSPICIONS AND DARING 
 RESOLVE. 
 
 Another hour's travelling, and the intense heat had 
 become almost unbearable. Klang and the mahout 
 looked longingly forward to a shady forest just 
 before us, while Waif, Dick, and I resigned our- 
 selves to our fate, expecting nothing less than sun- 
 stroke ; nay, even the elephant lagged in his pace, 
 when Klang uttered an exclamation of joy. 
 
 " What does that old person mean ? Has he 
 caught sight of this sporting Governor V } said Dick, 
 hanging out of the howdah with the monkey in his 
 arms. 
 
 " He is examining the carcass of a rhinoceros," 
 said I, observing Klang standing pensively gazing 
 upon the body of one of those huge beasts, which 
 was lying across our path, pierced with innumerable 
 sticks or darts of bamboo. 
 
 " Why stops the worthy Klang to gaze at a dead 
 beast V y I asked, annoyed that our journey should 
 be interrupted. 
 
RHINOCEROS HUNTING. 
 
 121 
 
 " Has not the master eyes to see that this animal 
 has been killed by the hunters, and that the Lord- 
 Governor has pitched his tent in the forest till the 
 cool hours V* replied the old man, pointing towards 
 the forest, through which to my joy I believed I 
 could perceive something that resembled a tent. 
 
 " Then onwards with all speed, or we may even 
 yet meet our fate from the sun before we can reach 
 yon cool shade/' said I, and the mahout and Klang 
 goaded the elephant to double the speed he had 
 been travelling for the past hour, and as we went 
 Dick said — 
 
 " Now, look you, Herbert, is it the custom to 
 make bamboo pincushions of the beasts in this 
 country ? for that brute never died by bullet or 
 arrow." 
 
 Nevertheless, Dick, that animal fell by the hands 
 of regular hunters, whose custom it is in the forests 
 of Siam, when they don't use fire-arms or nets, to 
 attack the brute armed with solid bamboos, one end 
 of which is hardened by fire and then sharpened. 
 When a sufficient number of these spears are ready, 
 and they have discovered the haunt of a rhinoceros, 
 they, by loud noises and clapping of hands, invite the 
 animal to come forth. This he usually does, open- 
 ing and shutting his huge mouth when the hunters 
 attack him from the front and in the rear, and having, 
 with a nimbleness you would find it difficult to imi- 
 tate, driven the spears into his throat, the whole 
 party take flight, leaving the poor beast, who in his 
 
122 
 
 THE STRANGE JUNK. 
 
 great agony throws himself upon the ground, ano 
 struggles so violently that he speedily becomes ex- 
 hausted from loss of blood. Then the hunters 
 again come forward, and have no difficulty in de- 
 spatching him. 
 
 " That's how they hunt in these parts, is it ? Well, 
 it requires some pluck to meet the great brute after 
 that fashion ; still it's unnatural and cruel ; if they 
 want to kill the beast, why don't they do it in a 
 Christian-like fashion, with a rifle bullet ?" 
 
 We soon reached the entrance to the forest, and 
 there, about five hundred yards ahead, through a 
 wide avenue of great trees, we could see the tent; 
 but Klang being now assured that his surmise was 
 correct, and that it was the Governor's camp, 
 begged that we should remain where we were until 
 he had first announced our arrival to the great 
 man. 
 
 Now the old man went upon his errand in any- 
 thing but good spirits — nay, trembling with fear — 
 for the reception he might meet. Upon his return, 
 however, which was in less than half-an-hour, he 
 capered about us very gleefully, saying — 
 
 u Let the master rejoice ; his servant has prayed 
 of the Governor to receive the stranger, and the 
 great lord has consented. Will my master come 
 now ? I await his orders." 
 
 u Certainly I will. We will, Klang ; but how is 
 this, surely the Lord-Governor could not be so in- 
 hospitable to three strangers, who have come so far 
 
THE MANDARIN GOVERNOR. 
 
 123 
 
 to wait upon him, as to make any difficulty of so 
 small a matter/' 
 
 <€ Truly, my master, a white ant might have moved 
 a mountain before the Lord-Governor would have 
 permitted the eyeballs of the Farangs (Christians) 
 to rest upon his great person if Buddha had not 
 bestowed upon them the Pajee."" 
 
 u Then it is the white monkey, and not the Go- 
 vernor, we have to thank/' said I. 
 
 " The white monkey ! What about the little 
 beast V 9 interposed Dick, who was just then assi- 
 duously endeavouring to prevent the animal from 
 scratching his face with its claws; but when I told 
 him that it was probable the monkey would prove 
 our best friend, he patted the creature upon the 
 head patronizingly, and told it he wouldn't quarrel 
 with it. 
 
 Well, we descended from the howdah, and leaving 
 the elephant in charge of the mahout, proceeded to 
 pay our respects to the Governor, whom we found 
 sitting upon a large stool, surrounded by some 
 twenty servants, who were all lying upon their 
 stomachs, slavishly and anxiously watching every 
 movement of his lips. But this Governor and his 
 attendants, how shall I describe them ? Well, it 
 will not be exaggerating to tell you that the scene 
 presented the appearance of twenty very superior- 
 looking, well-formed, barely half-attired, tailless 
 monkeys, paying homage on their stomachs to one 
 whom they might just have elected their king. 
 
124 
 
 THE STRANGE JUNK. 
 
 The Governor, a description of whom will do, 
 not only for his crawling slaves, but for the whole 
 of the males of his race, was a young man of 
 dwarfish stature, but apparently herculean strength, 
 with the high cheek bones and flat sprawling nose 
 of the Malays, and the oblique eyes of the China- 
 man, of meek impassible countenance, olive- coloured 
 skin, beardless chin and face, a small roly-poly- 
 shaped head, shaven all but a well oiled and 
 combed coarse brush-like tuft, black teeth, shining 
 through a pair of highly crimsoned lips, and being 
 a man of rank, very long nails at the ends of his 
 fingers. 
 
 This worthy wore a pagne, which is the prin- 
 cipal garment made of embroidered silk, and which 
 encompassed the lower part of the waist, a portion 
 of the thighs, and was tucked in at the back. This 
 garment, a white cloth which hung about his 
 shoulders, and a pair of slipper-like shoes, formed 
 his entire costume. 
 
 The dress of the slaves and attendants may be 
 more easily described, for with the exception of the 
 pagne or white cloth around the waist, they were 
 all " in puris naturalibus." 
 
 The magnate was sitting supporting his body 
 upon his wrist, but with the right arm unnaturally 
 distended, with the elbow forced inwardly ; an 
 attitude which is considered the very acme of 
 gentility by all persons of consequence, who are 
 trained from childhood to place their elbows 
 
THE WHITE MONKEY PROVES INDEED A PRIZE. 
 
 Page 125- 
 
A QUEER CIGAR HOLDER. 
 
 125 
 
 in that very painful, and to Europeans, graceless 
 position. 
 
 As we entered, he took a cheroot which he had 
 been smoking from his mouth, and placed it in 
 his cigar-holder, which, as with Klang and the 
 whole of his race, was a hole bored in the lobe 
 of his ear, and I suppose that action was the signal 
 for the commencement of business, for Klang, 
 throwing himself upon his stomach, crawled to 
 within a foot of the great man's pedestal, and 
 slightly lifting his head, said — 
 
 " The Farangs await to receive my lord's 
 orders." 
 
 " But where, 0 Klang, is this sacred pajee which 
 Buddha has vouchsafed to discover unto these 
 most fortunate Farangs V 3 asked the mandarin, 
 and this being the opportunity for which I had 
 been waiting, I whispered to Dick, "Now, but 
 with due reverence, bring forth the monkey." 
 . ie Reverence ! tarnation, the crittur has bitten 
 my arm through to the bone," replied Dick, 
 and simultaneously the savage little beast, finding 
 the cloth in which for a few minutes he had been 
 wrapped in order to introduce him in proper 
 form, loose, leapt into the middle of the floor, 
 and sitting upon his tail, gnashed his teeth and 
 chattered savagely at the mandarin. The latter, 
 however, not at all discomposed, but with a 
 countenance expressive of intense satisfaction 
 rather than reverence, arose from his stool, and 
 
126 
 
 THE STRANGE JUNK. 
 
 then made a profound obeisance to the little beast, 
 who comically enough, by way of acknowledgment 
 of the courtesy, clutched his Excellency by the 
 tuft on his head, till he cried out with the pain. His 
 Excellency, however, having partly by persuasion, 
 but more by force, removed the unfriendly paw 
 from his head-tuft, beckoned to two of the attend- 
 ants, who immediately arose, and having made 
 their obeisances to the animal, very carefully, and 
 with great show of respect, marched his monkey- 
 ship out of the tent to one of the elephants, and, 
 as I afterwards saw, packed him and a special 
 attendant in the howdah ready for travelling, and 
 this small farce having been performed, the 
 great man addressed me in the politest of tones, 
 saying — 
 
 " How is it possible, 0 noble Farang, thy servant 
 can find a reward sufficiently great for such a 
 present V 
 
 Now, whether he expected that I should make 
 a large claim upon his finances by way of a reward 
 for the discovery of this animal, which he rated 
 so high, I don't know, but I believe so, for when I 
 replied that all we required was a free passage 
 across the Gulf of Siam to Bangkok in the Chinese 
 junk chartered by him for his master the king, and 
 a small share of the government patronage for 
 Li-Poo and his crew, he evidently considered that 
 he had the best of the bargain, for with a joyful 
 countenance he not only complied with my requests, 
 
PET RATS. 
 
 127 
 
 but invited us to return with him, and remain 
 as his guests till the junk had completed her 
 lading, and was ready for sea. This invitation we 
 very readily accepted, for once having grown 
 suspicious of Li-Poo's worthy crew, we did not 
 care to return to their junk, the more especially 
 as should they become aware of our intention 
 of crossing the gulf to Bangkok in the opposition 
 ship, the lawless rogues would, in all probability, 
 have detained us on board against our will. 
 
 Well, as soon as the great heat of the day began 
 to decline, we made the best of our way back to 
 Chantaburi, and proceeding at once to the Gover- 
 nor's house, where we were each provided with 
 a separate room for the night, and, be not sur- 
 prised, reader, a tame rat each, the business of 
 this animal being to remain during the night 
 upon the "qui vive" for lizards, mice, or even any 
 of its own kind, who not having had the benefit of 
 his education, still retained its predatory habits. 
 
 Apropos of these animals. " Set a thief to catch 
 a thief" is an honoured maxim, and in Siam in 
 the houses of the chief people, it is no rare thing 
 to see a large pet rat parading the apartments, 
 and occasionally running up its master's legs to be 
 petted and caressed. 
 
 These pets, as I have said, are kept expressly to 
 free the house of other vermin of their own race, 
 and so well are they trained to this use, that in 
 houses where they are thus domiciliated, the rooms 
 
128 
 
 THE STRANGE JUNK. 
 
 are never, at least for any length of time, pestered 
 by their own near kinsfolk, or even their more 
 distant relatives — mice. 
 
 Early the next morning I was visited by the 
 politest of slaves, who desired that I would follow 
 him to the presence of the Governor, who had 
 important news for my ears. I complied, and was 
 speedily in the Hall of Reception — and in close 
 converse with the great man. We had, however, 
 but just finished our conversation, when Dick very 
 unceremoniously forced a way past the slave at the 
 door into the hall, and seeing me, said — 
 
 u Zounds man, but I missed you from your room, 
 and thinking some scurvy trick had been played 
 you by these saffron-faced gents, I made up my 
 mind to run the gauntlet of every room in the 
 house — but here you are, all safe and sound, so 
 there is an end of that transaction." 
 
 " Very kind, but useless, Dick ; but I have good 
 news. The governor sent for me to say that the 
 king's cargo being shipped, and the junk having 
 been reported ready for sea, he intends making a 
 visit of inspection on board, and desires that we 
 will accompany him. for the purpose of choosing 
 our berths in his presence." 
 
 " To which I cry, 6 Hurrah ! ' but is it a fact that 
 we are to ship ourselves to-day ? 93 
 
 " Nay, we do not sail till to-morrow, and for this 
 reason — his Excellency is so pleased with the Chinese 
 skipper's alacrity in shipping the King's cargo that 
 
DICK STILL SUSPECTS THE JUNK. 
 
 129 
 
 lie and his two subordinates have agreed to take 
 part in a festival of rejoicing which the Chinese will 
 give to-day upon the island of Paknam." 
 
 " The foul fiend take their festival ! If ready for 
 sea why not sail at once ?" said Dick, angrily. 
 
 a Pooh — pooh ! Dick, you are selfish. A little 
 good cheer after their labours will do them good, 
 and us no other harm than delaying us at the most 
 a few hours/' 
 
 "Look you, my friend, this festival may be to 
 your liking ; but it is not to mine, for Waif will not 
 go, and without her I won't, and that's a fact." 
 
 €i But if we offend the Governor by a refusal, we 
 may chance to lose our berths aboard the junk/' 
 said I, and Dick admitting such a possibility, reluc- 
 tantly agreed to go with us, and we at once left his 
 Excellency, promising to be ready to accompany 
 him in a couple of hours. 
 
 When, however, punctual to the moment, we had 
 taken our seats in the barge between the Governor 
 and his two subordinates, the former, be it remem- 
 bered, sitting aft in state, and the two latter in the 
 prow, and we had reached within a few yards of the 
 junk, Dick was seized with his old doubtings about 
 her. 
 
 " I tell you, Herbert, I have seen that craft 
 before." 
 
 " Nonsense, Dick, it must be mere fancy, for all 
 these junks of the same class are as like as peas in 
 a sack." 
 
 K 
 
130 
 
 THE STRANGE JUNK. 
 
 " Not so, for sometimes they are painted after one 
 fashion, and sometimes after another, and I tell you 
 it's just because she's not the same colour as when 
 I saw her before, and because she has been fresh 
 painted, that a something in my head, may be in- 
 stinct, persuades me I know her, and I do know 
 her, and that's a, fact" 
 
 " Well, well, Dick, and supposing you have seen 
 her before, I have seen some thousands of such 
 craft over and over again." 
 
 " Aye, that's likely enough, but look you, if it be 
 the junk I mean, it's just a stroke of luck I didn't 
 expect to find." 
 
 "'Then what do you take her for V 9 I asked. 
 
 " The ," and he whispered the name of the 
 
 junk in which it was supposed the stolen dollars had 
 been taken from San Francisco, adding, " but not a 
 word of this to our saffron- coloured friend yonder. 
 Then as we passed under the bows he stood up to 
 look through one of the great painted eyes, but in 
 an instant he sat down, exclaiming, " it is her, and 
 that's a fact." What it was, however, that had con- 
 vinced him, I could not then ask, for we had to 
 move from our seats to permit the officials to ascend 
 the side, when, however, we reached the deck, he 
 said — 
 
 " It is a fact, Herbert, for through that eye-hole 
 I saw the yellow phiz of the Chinese vagabond 
 who was at San Francisco with her." 
 
 " Not possible, Dick ; yonder is the skipper," 
 
dick's suspicions confirmed. 
 
 131 
 
 said I, incredulously, and pointing to a short fat 
 man, who was then with due forms and ceremonies 
 receiving the Governor. 
 
 " It is my belief that fat fellow is no more the 
 real skipper than you or I," he replied, adding, 
 " and if I don't prove there is a foul wind brewing 
 somewhere before I quit this junk, my name is not 
 Dick Orme." 
 
 u Nonsense, Dick, why all this mystery ; but if 
 you have any real cause to suspect foul play, let me 
 just put the Governor upon his guard," said I. 
 
 " No, Herbert, not yet ; but then our conversa- 
 tion was interrupted by the Governor, who, calling 
 me forward, introduced me to the fat captain, as the 
 chief of the three passengers, it was his Excellency's 
 will, he should convey to Bangkok ; and then, not- 
 withstanding that person of 'full measure,' as a 
 Chinaman would have called him, welcomed me 
 with much oily politeness, it occurred to me that 
 Dick's suspicions were not groundless, for there was 
 a sinister expression about the man's features that 
 bespoke much to me who so well knew the Chinese 
 character. Still, as we could bring no charge, nor 
 indeed suggest any reasonable grounds of suspi- 
 cion, we tacitly determined to await results pa- 
 tiently, and so, without a word, accompanied the 
 Governor over the vessel. 
 
 Now, not only did his Excellency inspect the un- 
 pleasant holes which were to be our berths, but, 
 with the curiosity of his race, he insisted upon 
 
 k 2 
 
132 
 
 THE STRANGE JUNK. 
 
 looking into every corner of the junk. This 
 curiosity was, however, nearly the cause of what I 
 now believe, would have proved a very awkward 
 affair to at least some parties on board, for coming 
 to one particular cabin, the door of which was 
 secured from the inside, the Governor, in very 
 angry tones, desired that it should be thrown open 
 for his inspection, whereupon the skipper prayed of 
 his excellency to desist. This, however, he would 
 not do, and a long wordy battle took place, and the 
 skipper finding he was likely to get the worst of 
 the contest, threw himself upon his stomach after 
 the abject fashion of the Siamese, when making a 
 report to their superiors, and in doleful tones, 
 said — 
 
 " May the smallest of hares — the littlest of little 
 beasts, open his lips and humbly tell the great 
 Lord why the door of this cabin is fastened, and be 
 permitted to live ?" 
 
 "The mouse may speak," was the generous 
 reply ; and one word from the fat rogue, made paler 
 the saffron- coloured visage of the governor, who, 
 without one word of reply, ran up the hatchway, 
 and to the farthest end of the deck. 
 
 " That mysterious word which so frightened his 
 Excellency, was ' cholera,' a disease which most 
 Asiatics believe to be infectious, and from which the 
 skipper said one of his crew was at the time suffer- 
 ing beneath in the cabin, hence the reason of its 
 door being secured." 
 
THE SKIPPER'S ARTIFICE. 
 
 133 
 
 " It's my belief there is something worse than 
 cholera by many chalks locked up in that cabin/' 
 said Dick, when I had explained to him the cause of 
 the Governor's hasty departure. 
 
 €i And so I believe, Dick ; but come, his Ex- 
 cellency has had enough of this junk, and is 
 preparing to get into his barge," said I, but placing 
 his hand upon my shoulder, Dick said deter- 
 minedly — 
 
 " I don't quit this craft till IVe tried to make out 
 a something, and that's a fact. I have my berth, 
 and I will stick to it, so Herbert, just you make some 
 excuse for me to the Governor — aye, and for Waif 
 also, for she won't go without me/' 
 
 " You are an obstinate fellow, Dick," said I, 
 " but as the Governor was by that time over the 
 side, I left him, and taking my seat in the barge, 
 told his Excellency that drinking and making 
 merry being particularly obnoxious to my friends, 
 they prayed of him to permit them to remain on 
 board the junk, and to my surprise, he assented 
 without a murmur ; the true reason, however, for his 
 taking quietly so serious an offence as the refusal of 
 his hospitality was his great anxiety to get away 
 from the junk, so as soon as the Chinese skipper 
 and his two chief officers had joined us, the signal 
 was given, and we were in two boats speedily 
 pulled across to Paknam — a little island which 
 curiously bears the same name as the first town you 
 reach on entering the Meinam. From which cir- 
 
134 
 
 THE STRANGE JUNK. 
 
 cumstance by the way, and the word c onam/ mean- 
 ing water in the Siamese language, it is supposed 
 the name must have some relative signification to 
 the position of the two villages. 
 
135 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 WE ACCEPT AN INVITATION AND AEE PLAYED A 
 TERRIBLE TRICK. 
 
 Now as early that morning the Chinese skipper had 
 sent the junk's cook to the island with a young pig, 
 some ducks, fowls, various sauces, condiments, and 
 a large pan of samshoo (a spirit distilled from rice), 
 upon our arrival we found the feast already pre- 
 pared, and for an Asiatic pic-nic laid out upon the 
 grass in a very stately fashion, but as if the fra- 
 grance of the viands had not been sufficient to ex- 
 cite the appetite of his guests and of his Excel- 
 lency in particular, as soon as we had taken our 
 seats, that is, squatted down upon the ground, the 
 attentive captain handed to each person a small 
 cup of nam-phrick, a sauce used by all classes as 
 a provocative of the appetite, and compounded 
 of bruised pepper, prawns, garlic, onions, brine, 
 citron juice, tamarinds, and gourd seeds, and cer- 
 tainly its effect as a stimulant must be very astonish- 
 ing if I may judge from the subsequent gastrono- 
 mical performances of the assembled party; but 
 it had a two-fold effect, for it also created a 
 
136 WE ACCEPT AN INVITATION. 
 
 simultaneous and general thirst that could only 
 be allayed by samshoo, and by such quantities 
 of that inebriating and poisonous spirit, that 
 their Excellencies not only lost all control over 
 their legs, which, in defiance of all decorum, got 
 unshipped from beneath their bodies, and every 
 now and then would dart about in fitful startings, 
 but they became absolutely unable to sit upon the 
 grass without holding, or at least supporting them- 
 selves with one hand, — and all this I was enabled 
 to observe, as notwithstanding the very urgent 
 pressing of the Chinese captain and his mates, I 
 scarcely wetted my lips with the hateful liquor. 
 
 Then resuming for a few minutes the dignity of 
 his official position, the Governor made a speech, in 
 which he complimented the Chinese skipper upon 
 his alacrity, and the admirable manner in which he 
 had shipped the king's cargo, and promised him 
 very great rewards in the shape of extra pay- 
 ment upon his arrival at Bangkok, but at the 
 close of his speech, he became very merry, and 
 punching the Deputy-Governor who sat nearest to 
 him, insisted upon his singing the song of his 
 lady Chin. 
 
 Now, whether Mrs. Deputy- Governor bore the 
 common name of Chin, I know not ; but the song 
 is a great favourite with the boatmen on the Mei- 
 nam — a translation of which I will now quote from 
 Mr. Neale's excellent book* — 
 
 # "A Narrative of a residence in Siam," 
 
SONG OF THE LADY CHIN. 
 
 I. 
 
 A happy and reckless youth I am, 
 As I ply my boat on the deep Meinam, 
 My song shall end, and my song begin, 
 In praise of thee, my darling Chin. 
 Begin with the head, and end with the toes, 
 My praise shall be strong as the tide that flows. 
 
 II. 
 
 Who that has seen has e'er forgot 
 Thy pretty hair tied in a sweet knot ; 
 And prettier still than the tuft of hair, 
 Thy brow nnwrinkled by grief or care. 
 Begin with the head, and end with the toes, 
 My praise shall be strong as the tide that flows. 
 
 III. 
 
 The eyebrows black, I'm sure that each 
 Is as shiny as any fine healthy leech ; 
 No elephant, white, black, short, or tall, 
 Can boast of such eyes so long and small. 
 Begin with the head, and end with the toes, 
 My praise shall be strong as the tide that flows. 
 
 IV. 
 
 As for thy nose, I'm certain that, 
 None other has one so wide and flat ; 
 And the ebony's bark in its core beneath, i 
 Was never so black as thy shiny teeth. 
 Begin with the head, and end with the toes, 
 My praise shall be strong as the tide that flows. 
 
138 
 
 WE ACCEPT AN INVITATION. 
 
 V. 
 
 Complexion of gold, and a high cheek bone, 
 Such treasures with pride would a Princess own. 
 Right proud am I to woo and win, 
 Such a lovely bride as my darling Chin. 
 Begin with the head, and end with the toes, 
 My praise shall be strong as the tide that flows. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Thy frame is as light as the forest stag, 
 And as strong and firm as a rocky crag ; 
 Thy feet and toes (the more good luck), 
 As pretty and broad as the web-footed duck. 
 Begin with the head, and end with the toes, 
 My praise shall be strong as the tide that flows. 
 
 VII. 
 
 My life I'd give a prize to him 
 Who produces a wife like thee can swim ; 
 Or paddle with skill a heavy canoe, 
 'Gainst the mightiest wind that ever blew. 
 Begin with the head, and end with the toes, 
 My praise shall be strong as the tide that flows. 
 
 The chorus of this song, which so fully gives the 
 Siamese estimate of female beauty, was loudly 
 given by the assembled party; and, when it was 
 finished, the Chinese captain again urged me to 
 drink to Chin's health in a cup of samshoo, and this 
 time unfortunately I could not refuse, for I was also 
 urged by the Governor and the singer, who would 
 have esteemed a refusal an insult. Well, I com- 
 
A FOUL TRICK. 
 
 139 
 
 plied ; but almost instantly my brain grew dizzy, 
 and I fell backwards senseless. I need scarcely 
 say that the spirit in my case had been drugged ; 
 not an uncommon ruse with Chinese thieves ; but 
 how shall I describe the scene around when I re- 
 covered from its poisonous effect. 
 
 Of all those who had been merry making, none 
 were left upon the island save myself and the three 
 officials ; these latter, however, were all still 
 wrapped in profound sleep; but the mandarin's 
 barge, the Chinese captain's boat, his junk — where 
 were they ? non est inventus. No ; between the 
 island and the distant shore of Chantaburi, at least 
 the part visible from Paknam, the sea was clear, and 
 neither boat nor junk thereon. Now were Dick's 
 suspicions verified; that Chinese captain was not 
 what he seemed ; he was a pirate, and a glorious 
 booty he had obtained through the carelessness or 
 credulous simplicity of the Governor and his sub- 
 ordinates, for that neither the fat rogue or his junk 
 would ever be found at Bangkok, or the King of 
 Siam set eyes upon his rich cargo, I felt as cer- 
 tain as that the heavens were above me. But Dick 
 and Waif, where were they ? alas ! either murdered or 
 kidnapped to be sold as slaves. And, in a paroxysm 
 of rage and grief, I threw myself upon the earth 
 and impotently wept. But, as the thought occurred 
 how foolish it was to grieve or enact the madman 
 while action alone could rescue me from that desolate 
 island, I arose, and seeing the stupid inebriated 
 
140 WE ACCEPT AN INVITATION. 
 
 pigs, whose folly had caused all the mischief, I felt 
 marvellously inclined to kick them. But again, I 
 knew their kicks were to come, and I pitied them, 
 for degradation and death by torture would in all 
 probability be the award for the folly which had lost 
 the king so valuable an argosy. 
 
 Nay, their terror upon returning to their senses 
 would be sufficient punishment, and so it proved ; 
 for, awakening with wild and haggard looks, they 
 stared at each other ; but, when the truth of their 
 position dawned upon their soddened brains, the 
 subordinates gave a shriek and gnashed their teeth 
 with chagrin and rage ; the chief, however, recover- 
 ing from his first surprise, with true Asiatic apathy, 
 exclaimed — 
 
 u Thy name be praised, 0 Buddha, whose will it 
 is to punish him who is but a hare, a mouse — the 
 littlest of beasts in thy sight." 
 
 So apostrophising he squatted down upon the 
 grass, and bowed his head upon his breast as re- 
 signedly as if the king's executioner had been be- 
 hind him prepared to perform his office. Then 
 one of the subordinates, who hitherto had not been 
 sufficiently conscious to notice my presence, with 
 the utmost simplicity of manner, addressing me, 
 said — 
 
 "Tell us, 0 Farang, didst thine ears hear, or 
 thine eyeballs see, that which the rogues were doing 
 while that poisoned samshoo had possession of our 
 manhood V 3 
 
THE GOVERNOR'S DESPAIR. 141 
 
 u What words are these — how could thy servant 
 see or hear — after the Lord-Governor had insisted 
 upon his taking from the water-rat the cup of 
 poison ?" I replied. And the Governor, turning to 
 the questioner, said sharply — 
 
 " Hast thou the brains of a pig, 0 Cha, to ask this 
 question; for, like our unworthy selves, was not 
 this Farang in want of his senses V 9 
 
 And at this reproof the other held down his 
 head. 
 
 Then, knowing that action would be better than 
 recrimination or despondency, I took the Governor's 
 hand, saying — 
 
 " It is not wise to forget our manhood even in 
 grief and disappointment. Arise, let us to the 
 water's edge and await till we can hail some passing 
 ship." 
 
 " Alas ! these are the words of one innocent of 
 crime. My brother has betrayed no trust ; he has 
 not merited death. No ; better to die upon this 
 island in unknown misery than by a public death 
 and disgrace to bring shame upon the heads of 
 those we love/' he replied. 
 
 But determined to arouse him, I said — 
 " Truly, these are the words of a mouse, for a 
 man in his prime should fight against despair. Re- 
 member, 0 Governor, that the most fortunate of des- 
 tinies, like the brightest of skies,' are at times 
 clouded, but it is only for a time, so let my brother 
 resolve to live here till his fortunes become clearer 
 
142 WE ACCEPT AN INVITATION. 
 
 if lie will ; but to live, lie must find food, therefore 
 let him cast aside his despair, and help his servant 
 to cut timber that we may find shelter from the sun, 
 and food that we may support ourselves." 
 
 Thus shamed into action, he replied — 
 
 ' c My younger brother has the courage of a lion, 
 and the wisdom of a sage ; his words are good ; in 
 this island, if we would live, we must not despond ; 
 let him lead the way." 
 
 And so saying, he arose and followed his two sub- 
 ordinates and myself towards the sea shore. 
 
 " There we shall find both food and shelter/' said 
 Cha, pointing to a belt of trees some distance 
 ahead. 
 
 u True, 0 Cha," said I, and forward we went ; 
 but when that worthy, who was some yards in ad- 
 vance, had nearly reached the spot indicated, he 
 started backwards with an exclamation of sur- 
 prise. 
 
 The Governor and I ran forwards to see the cause ; 
 when, imagine our astonishment at seeing stretched 
 at full length just under cover of the foliage of 
 some short stumpy trees — Dick asleep ! 
 
 u Buddha is great !" cried the astonished Go- 
 vernor • " but this thing cannot be. He is like my 
 brother's friend ; but it is not possible, for did he 
 not pray to be left in the junk of the water-rats. 
 No ; this thing is not." 
 
 And in spite of his eyes he again shook his head 
 incredulously. As for myself, not in the least doubt- 
 
AN UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY. 
 
 Page 142. 
 
DICK AND WAIF SEPARATED. 
 
 143 
 
 ing the truthfulness of my vision, I seized the 
 sleeper, and shook him till he opened his eyes, when 
 seeing me, he first placed his hand upon his forehead, 
 and stared earnestly for a minute, as if to make sure 
 he was not deceived, then jumping upon his feet, 
 and taking both my hands, exclaimed — 
 
 "Is it possible that the villains spared you — you 
 are not dead \" 
 
 u No, Dick, not dead at all, and that's a fact," I 
 replied, mimicking the emphatic pronunciation of his 
 favourite words ; " but/' I added, " art sure you 
 are not a ghost, my friend, for little did I expect 
 ever to see you again ? " 
 
 " Well — certainly I am not a ghost, for I feel 
 mortal hungry, and that's a proof, I take it ; 
 but," he added, bitterly, " my poor little Waif — 
 dear little Waif — what has become of thee ? Oh ! 
 would the villains had made .me walk the plank 
 that I might have escaped this misery." 
 
 " Nay, Dick, that is selfish, for- while she lives 
 there is hope that we may rescue her." 
 
 a That she does live is my dismay, for better the 
 cruelest death than for her to live a week in such 
 company." 
 
 " Come, come, my friend, it is no time for de- 
 sponding/' I said, hoping to cheer him up, add- 
 ing : " but how chanced this ; how did you escape ? 
 I am impatient to hear." 
 
 ct It is a short story, Herbert," he replied, 
 adding, " Well, you know that my object in de- 
 
144 WE ACCEPT AN INVITATION. 
 
 clining to come with you here was that, during 
 the absence of that sham skipper — for sham I 
 still believe him — I might be enabled to make 
 observations sufficient to bring the whole nest of 
 thieves to justice. So as soon as the two boats 
 which held your festival party had left the side, 
 Waif and I leisurely, and with apparent careless- 
 ness, strolled over every part of the junk, and 
 that, too, without hindrance from any one of the 
 crew, who as their superiors were ashore, and it 
 was the last day at anchor, began to enjoy them- 
 selves after their own fashion. Lynx-eyed, how- 
 ever, as I believed myself, I could discover no- 
 thing more suspicious than the closed cabin ; 
 therefore, wearied with our, or rather my, search 
 (for Waif had walked about with me only be- 
 cause I feared to leave her for an instant among 
 such a nest of savages), we sat down upon some 
 bales and amused ourselves with conjectures as to 
 what part you might just then be taking in the 
 performances on the island. 
 
 The crew were distributed about the deck ; some 
 lying in indolent repose, some gambling, others 
 drinking samshoo,but all more or less amusing them- 
 selves after their own hearts ; but, as the sun began 
 to descend beneath the horizon, the wind wafted 
 sounds to our ears, which told us plainly how up- 
 roarious the joviality of your island had become, but 
 these sounds had an instantaneous effect upon the 
 lazy crew, for they began to whisper to each other, 
 
A FEARFUL SITUATION. 
 
 145 
 
 then they arose and pretended to occupy them- 
 selves with various little matters, but all the time 
 keeping their eyes fixed upon the island. Then 
 three or four of the ruffians, more anxious than 
 their fellows, passed by us as if to get a few- feet 
 nearer the shore, and their faces being turned 
 from us, Waif pressed my hand, and I could feel 
 she shuddered as she said, in a whisper, c My dear 
 friend, these men are awaiting some signal ; we are 
 lost/ * Nay, Waif, fear not ; for, like us, these 
 fellows are but weary of waiting the return of the 
 island party/ I replied. But c Dick/ she said, ' be 
 not deceived : I have no more fear than yourself 
 and I know that you must have recognised in one ol 
 these jnen one of the pirates who boarded the 
 " Anne." ' Well, finding by this that the girl was 
 fully aware of our fearful situation, I said, as I 
 thrust my hand into my breast pocket, and 
 clutched my revolver, c Keep a brave heart, Waif, 
 for we have still our hope in God, who may 
 even now rescue us ; but, stir not an inch from 
 my side.' And the little heroine replied, e Fear 
 not for me, Dick ; there is yet a chance — see, 
 there are people on the Chantaburi shore ; we can 
 both swim, let us make a bold plunge for the 
 land ; for once in the water the pirates will scarcely 
 dare to follow, being in sight of the town/ It was 
 a brave suggestion, a plan after my own heart, and 
 would have succeeded — " 
 
 " It must have suceeded," said I, interrupting 
 
 L 
 
146 
 
 WE ACCEPT AN INVITATION. 
 
 him ; cc for, providing she could swim, once in the 
 water the pirates would not have ventured to fire 
 for fear of exciting the suspicions of the people 
 ashore ; but why oh! why, did you, fail ?" 
 
 <c Why did we fail ; simply because we couldn't 
 help it, and that's a fact/' he replied petulantly, 
 adding, u for, you see, one of the rascals, who 
 was hidden behind some bales not far from us, 
 suspecting what we had been planning, gave a 
 sharp whistle, and almost before I could tighten 
 my grasp of the pistol, my eyes were bandaged, 
 and I was made up into about as pretty and 
 tightly-corded a parcel as ever was turned out of a 
 store, and pretty soon stowed away too, in the 
 hold, where I lay in an agony of anxiety for the 
 fate of Waif, and in momentary expectancy of find- 
 ing myself lowered over the side into the mouth 
 of an alligator, for I have known these villains 
 go 'angling for such brutes with human bait before 
 now." 
 
 " Your sensations must, indeed, have been fright- 
 ful," said I. 
 
 a Well, they were, not altogether comfortable, and 
 that's a fad ; but, apart from my fear for Waif, 
 they were yet more agreeable than when I found 
 myself upon the island in San Francisco Bay with 
 the c California Star ' in my hand, reading the ac- 
 count of the robbery, the description of my per- 
 son, and the reward offered for my apprehension, 
 for it was only my life that was at stake, and that, 
 
dick's critical position. 147 
 
 look you, at least as far as I know at present, hasn't 
 saved itself up into such a very valuable property 
 that its loss should make me whimper like a girl. 
 But/' he added, " about an hour after they had so 
 literally bundled me into the hold, I heard the 
 plashing of oars, by which I knew that some of the 
 social party had returned, although, after what had 
 happened to myself, I did not expect to hear either 
 your voice or the Governor's. As soon as the rogues 
 had fairly got on board, there commenced a great 
 uproar and a continued jabbering of their villain- 
 ous language; but, notwithstanding the din, I 
 could hear that the greater part of the crew were 
 weighing anchor, setting sails ; in fact, preparing 
 to escape as quickly as possible with the king's 
 cargo ; and, as I thought of Waif, — of you, — 
 of myself, and the poor deceived Governor here, I 
 almost cried with rage to think I had not acted 
 upon my early suspicions and told him. But, to 
 continue. When the junk had been put under 
 weigh I was carried, in bundle shape as they had 
 first packed me, up the hatchway, and thrown 
 head foremost upon the deck with such violence 
 that for an instant I was stunned. But coming 
 too, I again heard the jabbering, although 
 this time much more distinctly, for a ring 
 of the pirates stood around debating as to the 
 most prudent disposal of my person. The argu- 
 ments pro. and con. seemed to run very high ; 
 but I believe I recognised two of the voices. 
 
 l 2 
 
148 WE ACCEPT AN INVITATION. 
 
 Nay, I can swear to one — albeit, he spoke in 
 Chinese, or some such tongue, of which I know 
 not a word. It was Crafty's. Oh ! how my blood 
 coursed through my veins at the sound; on the 
 instant I was about to defy the rogue, — to charge 
 him with the robbery of the dollars, and my own 
 ruin ; but then, thought I, if I do, I am a dead 
 man, so I kept silent ; for, do you see, I take it that 
 even at present he hasn't an idea that I suspect him 
 of purloining the money I sent to my poor mother, 
 the robbery of the dollars at San Francisco, or the 
 plunder of the 'Anne/ Oh! no; he thinks that, 
 in my mind, he is still the friend who helped me to 
 a situation." 
 
 " It is well for you, Dick, that it is so," said I. 
 
 "Aye, may be, for had he suspected the truth, I 
 take it I should not have been in this world now. 
 But to finish my story. When the rogues had 
 come to an arrangement as to my disposal, Crafty 
 and some others went below, so that I should not 
 recognise them, and I was unpacked and the ban- 
 dage taken from my eyes ; but for what purpose, 
 cogitated I, as I saw myself hemmed in by the horde 
 of half-naked wretches, now no longer in the 
 guise of peaceable merchant sailors, but armed after 
 the fashion of Chinese pirates, with long, glittering 
 knives ? Certainly I expected instant death ; such, 
 however, was not to be, for two of the stoutest of 
 the fellows throwing a cord around my chest, just 
 under the arms ; lowered me into a boat, and cutting 
 
HOW DICK REACHED THE ISLAND. 149 
 
 the rope by which, the little craft was fastened to 
 the junk, they sent me adrift without oar or sail ; 
 but fortunately, at least, since I have found you, 
 the land wind which helped the pirates to escape 
 with the cargo, sent me on to this island, when fas- 
 tening the boat yonder as you see (it was about a 
 hundred yards farther onwards) I came ashore, in- 
 tending to look out for the house or hut of some 
 decent savage; but sitting down to rest beneath 
 this tree, I fell asleep from sheer fatigue of mind and 
 body. However, it is lucky I drifted here, and more- 
 over that we have the boat, and the sooner we rig 
 her out with paddles, for which some of the smaller 
 branches from these trees will answer very well, 
 the better, for if we ship ourselves at once and get 
 across to the town, we may yet be in time to put 
 the people upon the rogues' track, for I take it 
 there is no manner of doubt they will run down to 
 Singapore with the cargo/' 
 
 And Dick at once set about looking for branches 
 that might serve the purpose of oars, while I pro- 
 ceeded to interpret his story to the Governor. 
 
150 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 OUR VOYAGE UP THE MEINAM ; WE ARE MADE PRI- 
 SONERS ON OUR ARRIVAL AT THE CAPITAL. 
 
 " The water pigs ! — the sea-rats ! But they must 
 have given a large sum to their Talapoins for the 
 choosing of a day fortunate enough to make such a 
 mouse of Luang/' replied the Governor, as I con- 
 cluded the interpretation of Dick's story. But when 
 I made known my friend's proposition, his Excel- 
 lency and his deputies trembled with fear. The 
 former, however, replied — 
 
 " It is true these water thieves have made thy 
 three servants very little beasts, indeed less than 
 hairs in their own eyes, and of so small value that 
 their lives may not be valued at a single tical ; yet 
 they are not so foolish that they would throw their 
 own heads in the dust." 
 
 "The noble Luang's words/' said I ; "are those 
 of a mouse, not a man; his fears are devouring 
 him, for is he not still the Governor, who can send 
 forth armed junks after these thieves ?" but, de- 
 
THE GOVERNOR'S TERROR. 
 
 151 
 
 termined not to be moved from his position, he re- 
 plied — 
 
 "My younger brothers may be tired of their 
 lives, and take them in their hands as offerings to 
 the slaves of Chantaburi, who to appease the great 
 King for his loss will send their heads to the foot of 
 his royal seat ; but Luang and his brothers will re- 
 main on this island till the royal wrath has been 
 softened by the Lord Chaa-Fa, who is his near re- 
 lation/' 
 
 " But," said I, " this island is near the mainland, 
 and the people of Chantaburi cannot fail to come 
 here to look for their governors." 
 
 " My younger brother is wise, yet in this thing 
 his words are not good, for he knows not that this 
 island is but rarely visited by the people of Chanta- 
 buri." 
 
 " But now will they come here to search for their 
 governors ?" said I. 
 
 "It is not so, the people know not that we came 
 here, but believe that we were in the junk of the 
 water-rat. It is, therefore, good that we should 
 remain till the cloud of royal wrath has passed 
 over." 
 
 And so positive was he in his manner that I de- 
 sisted from further persuasion, and went to assist 
 Dick, who was upon his knees busily fashioning two 
 branches into oars. 
 
 " He won't come with us, won't he ? Well, then, 
 take it he must remain where he is," said Dick, 
 
152 
 
 OUR VOYAGE UP THE MEINAM. 
 
 when I repeated to him the result of my conversa- 
 tion. 
 
 "But come, lend a hand, Herbert, for the sooner 
 we get across to yonder town the better," he added, 
 pushing one of the branches towards me. 
 
 te No, Dick, we will not return to Chantaburi, for 
 even if we escaped being seized by the natives, who 
 to appease the king will doubtlessly lay their hands 
 upon us, we should run no small risk from Li-Poo 
 and his crew, who will be in no good humour at the 
 pirate's success." 
 
 " Whew ! there is some reason in that," said he, 
 chagrined at being checked in his hopes of a chase 
 after little Waif ; then he added, " But look you, 
 Herbert, I won't stop on this island while there is 
 a chance of finding our way along the coast, al- 
 though it be only in that cockle-shell of a boat, for 
 to my thinking it's better to run the risk of being 
 drowned like a civilised white man than to live after 
 the fashion of a wild beast, upon roots, fruits, and 
 herbs/' 
 
 "My notion, exactly," I replied; and then, with- 
 out another word, we worked at the oars till they 
 were completed, set up a mast, which, aided by the 
 Siamese, we rigged out with a sail woven from rushes 
 collected near the spot. 
 
 Thus having prepared our vessel, we gathered a 
 store of fruits, for instance, mangos as big as a 
 child's head, and which have the taste of peach ; 
 tamarinds, guanas, which are about the size of 
 
THE GOVERNOR'S REQUEST. 
 
 153 
 
 moderate sized apples, and taste like strong straw- 
 berries ; bananas, which the Siamese call elephants' 
 teeth, and which, after exposure to the sun, taste 
 like dried apples; and a few jacks, a melon-shaped 
 fruit, with a grey skin, and full of pips or kernels 
 the size of pigeons' eggs, which when roasted taste 
 like chesnuts. These fruits, and a few gourds filled 
 with water, which completed our victualling stores, 
 being placed on board, we bade farewell to the 
 Governor and his subordinates. The former, how- 
 ever, with tears in his eyes, prayed that if ever we 
 reached Bangkok, I would seek out the great man- 
 darin Chaa Pa, and pray of him to secretly send a 
 junk to the island for the relief of his unfortunate 
 relation Luang. 
 
 Well, having satisfied the poor Governor that I 
 would seek his relative, we put out to sea with the 
 intention of hugging the shore the whole voyage ; 
 but although for some six hours we made tolerable 
 way, the attempt was mad-headed, for such a cockle 
 shell of a boat could not have lived a minute in 
 one of those violent whirlwind squalls which are 
 so common and set in so suddenly in the gulf of 
 Siam. Fortunately, however, we had not to un- 
 dergo such an ordeal, for before sundown we fell in 
 with one of the junks which trade between Canton 
 and Bangkok, the good-natured master of which, 
 seeing so small a craft struggling to make way 
 against a dead head wind hailed us, and finding we 
 were making for Bangkok, offered to take us on 
 
154 
 
 OUR VOYAGE UP THE ME IN AM. 
 
 hoard, an offer we very gladly accepted, and thus, 
 in a few days, we reached the bar of Siam, where 
 greatly to our vexation, we were compelled to ride 
 at anchor till the captain had been ashore and ob- 
 tained permission of the authorities for the vessel 
 to enter the mouth of the Meinam river, a form 
 which, if not complied with, would have rendered 
 the skipper liable to imprisonment, and his cargo 
 to seizure and confiscation. 
 
 This caused us to be delayed the half of 
 that day, and the whole of the next night. The 
 following morning the skipper returned on board, 
 and with him came an elderly man, short, but very 
 stout, who, from his gait and attire, I imagined to 
 be a merchant of Bangkok, who had met the junk at 
 the very mouth of the river with the hope of mak- 
 ing an advantageous, if not an exclusive bargain 
 with our skipper for his cargo, and such proved to 
 be the case, for directly he came on board, passing 
 Dick and myself, who were sitting upon a cask aft, 
 without a word or apparently a glance, he com- 
 menced haggling with the skipper, who held before 
 him a list and description of the articles on board. 
 
 " What is the old fellow making all that ado 
 about ?" asked Dick. 
 
 " Driving a bargain for the whole cargo." 
 
 " No bad hand at that either, if we may judge 
 by those sharp little eyes of his, one of which, all 
 the time he has been talking to the skipper, has 
 been turned round the corner taking our measure. 
 
A NEW ACQUAINTANCE. 
 
 155 
 
 " Hush. ! Dick, he may understand English/' 
 said I, and my surmise was correct (as I afterwards 
 understood) , for failing to come to an arrangement 
 with the captain, he waddled up to where we were 
 standing, and having made an obeisance, he asked 
 in a very broken dialect of our own tongue, if we 
 were English, and what was the object of our being 
 in that land. To which I^replied that we were 
 English, and that my purpose in coming to Siam 
 was to visit a certain merchant of Bangkok, named 
 Mi. At the latter name I fancied he started, but 
 he replied — 
 
 " It is a long distance. May your servant ask 
 what great affair can have brought his younger 
 brother from England to Siam to visit the mer- 
 chant Mi." 
 
 u You are a trifle out in your reckoning, friend. 
 It is from Macao we have come. At the name of 
 Macao, I again fancied he started a little, at least 
 there was a. curious twitching about his lips." 
 
 " Yes," I said, " my friend speaks the truth, we 
 do hail from Macao, and I am the son of the mer- 
 chant Richardson, whose late partner Chiug being 
 dead, seeks to settle his affairs with the merchant 
 Mi, who is his agent at Bangkok;" but seeing that 
 this information discomposed the worthy Siamese 
 more than ever, and fearing to hear of the death of 
 Mi, or at least that some calamity had happened to 
 him, I added, a but can any evil have befallen the 
 worthy Mi ?" At this question, for some reason or 
 
15G 
 
 OUR VOYAGE UP THE MEINAM. 
 
 other, his countenance became brighter, and he re- 
 plied — 
 
 " It is not so, thy servant can answer for the 
 worthy Mi, who is in health, and will doubtless 
 have his heart full of joy at the sight of the son of 
 his friend, the merchant Richardson," he replied, 
 adding, " It is fortunate for my master and his 
 servant that they have met, for they can journey up 
 the Meinam together to the house of Mi." So far 
 the meeting was satisfactory, and the old gentle- 
 man became very jovial and chatty, asking a thou- 
 sand questions about Macao, and the state of busi- 
 ness there; but at length, looking me full in the 
 face, he asked with more of earnestness than polite- 
 ness in his manner — 
 
 " How is it possible that the son of the great 
 merchant Richardson, whose dollars are countless, 
 is found endeavouring to cross the gulf of Siam in 
 a boat not large enough for a monkey ?" 
 
 This was a home question, and not easy to 
 answer, for I wished to avoid mentioning our ad- 
 ventures at Chantaburi for fear of being arrested 
 by the government officials, either as an accom- 
 plice or a witness, and which would most assuredly 
 happen, did even the small share we had unfortu- 
 nately taken in that transaction transpire. 
 
 u I take it, my friend, you have heard of such a 
 thing as people being cast away at sea before now," 
 interposed Dick. 
 
 " Were my brothers cast away upon the island 
 
NEWS FLIES QUICK. 
 
 157 
 
 of Paknam, near Chantaburi ?" asked the old fox'; 
 and from the very tone of his voice I believed he 
 knew more than we dreamt ; but, still upon my 
 guard, I replied by another question. 
 
 " Did the worthy Sing (the captain of the junk) 
 tell my elder brother where he picked us up V 3 
 Then with an air, and in tones intended to invite 
 confidence, he replied — 
 
 " My younger brother is right ; but is not his 
 servant the friend of his friend Mi, and why should 
 he fear to utter the truth V 3 
 
 f/ But look you, my friend, as you seem to know 
 all about it, what is the necessity for asking ques- 
 tions V 3 said Dick. 
 
 " Thy servant is but a hair, a small beast ; but 
 his ears have been open to the talk in Bangkok of 
 the dogs of mandarins who laughed in their sleeve 
 while the rats of the ocean ran away with the great 
 king's cargo." 
 
 " Has this news reached Bangkok so soon V 3 I 
 asked, with astonishment. 
 
 " Truly it has; brought by the king's own steam- 
 ship of war which put into Chantaburi on its run 
 from Singapore to Bangkok," he replied, adding, 
 " but my brothers were more fortunate than the 
 mandarins/' 
 
 " Wherefore ? — what mean you V 3 I inquired. 
 
 " The mandarins (and the dogs merited greater 
 punishment) were thrown into the sea without their 
 heads." 
 
158 
 
 OUR VOYAGE UP THE MEINAM. 
 
 " Has that been ascertained V 9 I asked, breathing 
 more freely now I heard that the poor fellows were 
 not suspected of being alive, or at least on the 
 island. 
 
 " Can my brother doubt it ? — are the sea-rats 
 mice that they would have spared their worthless 
 lives ?" he replied. 
 
 cc My brother is right ; there can be little doubt 
 that the mandarins have been punished/' I replied, 
 adding : u But, Luang the Governor, has he not 
 powerful relations in Bangkok ?" 
 
 " The mandarin Ohaa Fa is most powerful, and 
 he is brother to the Governor," he replied, but ask- 
 ing eagerly, " Why does the son of the merchant 
 ask this ? Would he have speech with the illus- 
 trious Ohaa Fa ?" 
 
 Fortunately, however, at that moment the sound 
 of a horn startled Dick, who stared very hard at 
 the fort of Paknam, near to which the junk was 
 just then being moored, as if to discover the 
 cause, and the merchant observing his curiosity 
 said — 
 
 " Does not my younger brother know that every 
 day at this hour that horn is blown throughout every 
 town and village in Siam to set forth to the world 
 that the first king has just finished his chief meal 
 (dinner) V 3 
 
 " A queer custom, too. But/' still examining 
 the fort, Dick added) " this nutshell here, do you 
 call it a fortification ? Why, it wouldn't hold out a 
 
A SIAMESE FORTRESS. 
 
 159 
 
 day against a regiment of school boys, and that's a 
 fact." 
 
 But at this observation the old merchant, al- 
 though too polite to make a reply, turned away his 
 head in disgust ; for, to a native of Siam, Paknam 
 is a model, the very pink of fortresses — albeit, to 
 Europeans it must be a miniature in size — a toy in 
 strength. The fort itself, which is circular, is placed 
 in the centre of the entrance to the river, upon a 
 small island between two fortified embankments, 
 and is ornamented by a pagoda which arises from 
 the middle, and is mounted with two tiers of old 
 guns, which, in the event of being used, would 
 prove far more fatal to the men who served them 
 than to the enemy. But what matters, if the unwar- 
 like natives of Siam, who have a legend that it was 
 founded by a god, who even now watches over it, 
 believe it would be an impregnable defence against 
 all the armies of Europe. Let us hope it may 
 never be tried. However, seeing the old man was 
 about going over the side (for we had anchored for 
 the night) I said — 
 
 "The worthy merchant is leaving the junk, he 
 lives at Bangkok, will he not therefore remain on 
 board and proceed with us up the river to- 
 morrow ? " 
 
 But he was now evidently in a sulky humour, for 
 he replied — 
 
 " My younger brother is wise, he locks up his 
 own secrets ; but his servant is no less so." 
 
160 
 
 OUR VOYAGE UP THE ME1NAM. 
 
 And with these words he descended into the 
 little boat, and was paddled ashore by two of the 
 crew. 
 
 " I wouldn't trust that old hunks with a 
 dollar out of my sight/' said Dick, watching the 
 boat. 
 
 " You are hard upon the old gentleman, Dick." 
 
 u Why, look you, Herbert, he is too smart by half ; 
 and because he failed to pump out of you all about 
 the Governor Luang, he is sulky. He wants to 
 know more than would be good for us, and that's a 
 fact." 
 
 I was of the like opinion, but I said not so to 
 Dick, for fear he might make an open display of 
 his dislike, for a certain bluntness of speech and 
 manner, which bordered upon offensiveness, was not 
 the least of Dick's failings; and lucky was my 
 forethought, for as we were getting under weigh 
 the next morning, the old gentleman came on 
 board to become our fellow-passenger to Bangkok. 
 
 Then commenced our voyage up the mighty 
 Meinam (mother of waters), which taking its source 
 in the mountains of the Chinese province of Yunnan, 
 flows for 800 miles, till it rolls its magnificent tide 
 into the Gulf of Siam ; and with the exception of 
 the clouds of musquitoes which pestered us with their 
 buzzing and stinging, and the monotonous noise of 
 the drum-fish, so called* from its habit, while follow- 
 ing in the ship's wake, of keeping up a continuous 
 sound of tom-tom, it was an agreeable relief from 
 
THE CITY OF BANGKOK. 
 
 1(51 
 
 the stormy Gulf, for in place of a dreary expanse 
 of sea, we had banks fringed with bamboo, man- 
 groves, and tall graceful palms; then, as we ran 
 along one side or the other, and the river is so 
 deep that a large vessel may keep quite in shore, 
 beneath the overhanging branches of the trees we 
 could see semi-nude humanity of all ages, men, 
 women, and children, crawling near the water's 
 edge. Then through the green foliage every now 
 and then peeped the sharp-roofed bamboo and palm- 
 leaf huts (erected upon poles, some six feet from 
 the ground, with ladders, the uppermost rounds 
 of which were placed near the door, and the lower 
 in the water, so that they served for moorings 
 for the boats), or the tiled-roofed white- pillared 
 shade or rest house in the garden of some watt 
 (temple). 
 
 That evening we anchored off Paklat-Boon, 
 a fortified town, no very great distance from 
 the capital, and the next day we arrived at 
 Bangkok, the aquatic city of an amphibious 
 people. 
 
 This remarkable town consists of 80,000 floating 
 houses, and a population of 400,000 Chinese, 
 Burmese, Arabs, Indians, Siamese, and a few 
 Europeans. 
 
 There are of course residences on shore, but it is 
 of the floating houses, of the chief public way — 
 in fact the Regent Street of Siam — that I would now 
 speak. 
 
 M 
 
162 
 
 OUR VOYAGE UP THE MEINAM. 
 
 Instead of omnibuses, horses, carriages, this great 
 water thoroughfare is thronged with boats of various 
 forms. Its shops are lines of small houses of wood, 
 with palm-leaf roofs resting on bamboo rafts or floats, 
 all along each bank, rising and falling with the 
 tide. They have each a small platform before them, 
 and the whole front is open, exposing the neatly 
 arranged shelves and counters of goods. Mostly 
 from China — silks, muslins, chests of tea, lacquered 
 ware ; and also the products of Siam — ivory, dee*- 
 horns, skeletons and skins of tigers and leopards, 
 snake and shark skins. 
 
THE GREAT WATER STREET. 
 
 163 
 
 The skeletons and the snake skins are exported 
 to China for medical uses. Some of these houses 
 are tin and leather shops, these being generally 
 combined ; some are eating houses, with strings of 
 peppers, dressed poultry, and slices of fresh pork, 
 suspended invitingly in front. Most of them are 
 the dwellings as well as business places of their 
 proprietors — some are solely dwelling houses; and 
 many wealthy persons, who have their dwellings on 
 the solid ground, have a floating shop in front. 
 Canoes and boats are fastened to the projecting 
 platform ; little children are running about them, or 
 playing on their very edge, and almost at every turn 
 some member of the family may be seen taking a 
 bath, by dipping buckets of water from the river, 
 and pouring it over their persons without any 
 change in their usual attire." 
 
 As we passed along this water- street of the 
 Siamese, Dick and I stood upon deck gazing 
 at the panorama before us. When, however, we 
 came about midway, and near the mouth of one of 
 the canals, which intersect the land city, Dick, 
 pointing to a cluster of boats, manned by girls, and 
 awaiting hire, said — 
 
 " Let us hail one of those lasses and go ashore, 
 Herbert." 
 
 " Nay, we may not, Dick, till the junk comes to 
 an anchor, and the Government officials have been 
 on board to examine the cargo and the junk's 
 papers," said I. 
 
 m 2 
 
164 
 
 OUR VOYAGE UP THE MEINAM. 
 
 " One night will make very little difference ; if 
 my brothers are wise, they - will stay on board 
 to-night, and at sunrise their servant will bring 
 the merchant Mi with him," interposed the 
 Siamese. 
 
 " That is sound advice, Dick, even if. we were 
 allowed to go ashore, for we should never find this 
 man Mi without a guide. " said I. 
 
 " Bother," replied Dick ; adding — as he saw the 
 Siamese hail the rowers of a large gaily painted 
 barge, the middle of which was covered with basket- 
 work of wattled bamboo, painted and water-tight, 
 one end being closed with a wooden screen, and 
 the other with a silk curtain — u But, look you, old 
 saffron-face is going ashore." 
 
 " Perhaps so ; but then he is known only to have 
 gone down the river to meet us, and that is his 
 family carriage doubtlessly; for almost every 
 Siamese, be he rich or poor, keeps his floating 
 carriage." 
 
 Then the old merchant having again begged of 
 us not to quit the junk, till he sent for us in the 
 morning, spoke a few words to the Chinese skipper, 
 and disappeared over the side, and we continued to 
 move down the river, but now at a much slower 
 rate, indeed it seemed wonderful that we could mo/e 
 at all, in the midst of such a scene ; for in addition 
 to the numerous houses which I have described, and 
 which were arranged in double rows like streets, 
 there were many thousands of boats, barges, 
 
JUNKS. 
 
 junks, and vessels of all descriptions, and for all 
 purposes. 
 
 The largest junks were of a thousand tons 
 burthen, and, like that in which we were, square- 
 bottomed, with sides of heavy planks, and the bow 
 left open for the express convenience of the wind, 
 the waves, and the water-gods, and a resting-place 
 for the anchor, which is made of wood as heavy as 
 iron. There is a large opening in the sides for the 
 taking in and out of the cargo, but which when at 
 sea is closed by gates which fall into grooves. The 
 stern is built up into platforms of cabins, and three 
 heavy naked sticks, without yards, form the masts. 
 The most important concomitant of all these junks, 
 is its joss-house, or temple, with an ever-burning 
 lamp before the god. Then to assist its progress it- 
 has too large eyes in front, for, say the Chinese, 
 " 'spose no got eyes, how can see ? " 
 
 Passing these trading junks, which were waiting 
 for the south-west monsoon to carry them out to 
 sea, we were every now and then in fear of capsiz- 
 ing one or other of the crowd of small boats, in 
 each of which, either running with, or struggling 
 against the tide, sat a man, woman, or girl, whose 
 weight brought the edge of the little craft to within 
 an inch of the water ; but our fears were cause- 
 less, as to drown a Siamese would be as difficult 
 as to drown a duck; nay, when one of these 
 boats is upset, instead of helping the man, 
 woman, or child who has become submerged, the 
 
1(36 
 
 OUR VOYAGE UP THE MEINAM. 
 
 people upon the platforms, before the floating 
 houses, or in other boats, enjoy a hearty laugh at 
 their expense. 
 
 Then we would pass the large dwelling boats of 
 respectable people, with their sides open, curtained or 
 with Venetian blinds, the state-barge of some noble, 
 with its thirty or forty crimson jacketted and capped 
 rowers, its many bright coloured silken banners, its 
 bows and stern gilded and wrought into the fashion of 
 a dragon, or some fabulous animal ; and its luxurious 
 owner upon a Persian mat, in the middle, beneath the 
 rowers, who were divided into parties fore and aft, 
 reclining against a triangular pillow, munching the 
 " betel " mixture, which he would every now and then 
 take from the golden box by his side ; and his ears 
 drinking, to him, the delicious sounds of his private 
 band of musicians, who, as the rowers loudly exercised 
 the privilege of a noble's servitors of loudly vociferat- 
 ing, played upon their gongs of China, sweet pipes of 
 Laos, or the wind instruments of Siam. 
 
 This noble having passed, next came an half-egg 
 shaped tankea boat, with a couple of Chinamen, one in 
 the bow the other in the stern, with their loose gar- 
 ments, and broad-brimmed conical-crowned bamboo 
 hats, carrying a cargo of ribbons, needles, and other 
 small wares. Then again, a wandering cook, seatea 
 among his plates and pans, with a complete cooking 
 apparatus on board, and all kinds of viands cooked 
 and ready for cooking. Then a woman vending the 
 betel-nut mixture ; in short, traders, large and small. 
 
NIGHT ON THE MEINAM. 
 
 107 
 
 men, women, and children, industriously and anxiously 
 plying afloat, as many and as varied vocations, as may 
 be seen in the densely-populated trading districts of 
 every large city. But by the time the junk had 
 reached her place of destination, it was dusk, and 
 tired of our lonely watching upon deck, Dick and I 
 went into the cabin to partake of hot tea, rice, and 
 pork ; after which we threw ourselves upon the mats, 
 and fell fast asleep. Awaking, however, in about two 
 hours, we went upon deck to catch the night-breeze. 
 But we had by our sleep missed the intervening period 
 between day and night on the Meinam, and the effect 
 was magical, for the great turmoil had become hushed, 
 the sun had disappeared, not even the buzzing of a 
 musquito was to be heard, and Bangkok sat gently 
 upon the water, beneath a sky illumined with count- 
 less lanterns of every shape, size, form, and colour. 
 Every house, boat, mast, and even the surface 
 of the river, was illumined, for it was the last 
 night of one of the great festivals of the Chinese. 
 But, a Chinese festival, and upon so large a scale in 
 Siam ! How is that possible? perhaps asks the 
 reader. I will tell him. It is a fact but little known, 
 and less noticed, by Europeans, albeit, it is well 
 worthy the attention of even such exalted person- 
 ages as philosophers and statesmen, that the Chinese 
 population is vastly increasing in every land where 
 there is money to be made. They have ever been 
 an industrious race, but of late years they have become 
 intensely migratory. The great wall of China is a myth, 
 
168 
 
 OUR VOYAGE UP THE MELNTAM. 
 
 it neither keeps the nations within, nor their enemies 
 without. As is frequently the case with their own 
 mighty rivers or great canals, the race has outgrown 
 itself, and is for ever bursting its embankments. 
 
 The Chinese have a great history, a past which 
 they love and revere, and notwithstanding the con- 
 tempt in which they are held by more warlike 
 Europeans, they possess all the elements of a great 
 people. Those elements are fast consolidating, settl- 
 ing as it were into a great whole, whose power may 
 some day shake many of the numerous possessions of 
 Europeans in the East. The love of commercial 
 travel has founded the greatness of many nations, 
 and the Chinese are to be found in swarms in every 
 settlement in the East. This over-running of the 
 Chinese, and its possible consequences, must, I think, 
 have occurred to Sir John Bowring (it has long been 
 observed by commercial travellers ; who gives us an 
 admirable and note-worthy picture of the ways and 
 doings of Chinese emigrants. 
 
 " The extraordinary diffusion of the Chinese emi- 
 grants over all the regions, from the most western of 
 the islands of the Indian archipelago in the Strains 
 settlement — in Siam and Cochin China, and now 
 extending over a considerable portion of Western 
 America, particularly in California, and reaching 
 even Australia and Polynesia — is one of the most re- 
 markable of the events of modern history, and is likely 
 to exercise a great influence on the future condition of 
 man ; for the Chinese do not migrate to mingle with 
 
THE CHINESE IN SIAM. 
 
 169 
 
 and be absorbed among other tribes and peoples, 
 they preserve their own language, their own nation- 
 ality, their own costume and religious usuages, their 
 own traditions, habits, and social organization. 
 Though they intermarry with the races among whom 
 they dwell, the Chinese type becomes predominant, 
 and the children are almost invariably educated on the 
 father's model, the influence of the mother seeming 
 almost annihilated. And though the Chinese fre- 
 quently acquire large fortunes, great influence, and 
 sometimes high rank as a consequence of their pros- 
 perity, the ties that bind them to their country seem 
 never to be broken ; and the tides of population flow 
 Chinaward with every south-western monsoon, to be 
 replaced by a stronger stream when the monsoon of 
 the north-east sends the junks on their wonted way 
 towards the south. It is estimated that in the king- 
 dom of Siam there are more than a million and a 
 half of Chinese settlers ; in the city of Bangkok alone 
 there are supposed to be two hundred thousand. In 
 fact all the active business appears to be in their hands. 
 Nine out of ten of the floating bazaars which cover 
 for miles the banks of the Meinam, are occupied 
 by Chinamen; very many of them are married to 
 Siamese women, for a Chinawoman scarcely ever 
 leaves her country; but the children are invariably 
 educated to the Chinese type ; the tail is cultivated if 
 it be a boy, and the father alone seems to model the 
 child's nature and education. Yet that strong 
 parental affection which has been remarked as one of 
 
170 
 
 OUR VOYAGE UP THE MEINAM. 
 
 the characteristic virtues of the Chinese, is almost 
 invariably exhibited. Fathers are constantly playing 
 with and carrying about their children, encouraging 
 their gambols, teaching them to observe, pleased when 
 they are noticed by strangers, and generally deeming 
 their children objects of pride and pleasure. With 
 rare exceptions the Siamese women are well-treated 
 by their Chinese husbands. They seem to be inspired 
 w T ith a greater love of labour, occupy themselves more 
 busily with domestic concerns, and generally appear 
 to improve under the influence of the foreign element. 
 The Chinese not only occupy the busiest and the 
 largest bazaars, but their trading habits descend to 
 the very lowest articles of barter ; and hundreds of 
 Chinese boats are vibrating up and down the river, 
 calling at every house, penetrating every creek, sup- 
 plying all articles of food, raiment, and whatever 
 ministers to the daily wants of life. They penetrate 
 to, and traffic with, the interior, wherever profits are 
 to be realized. As a community they are nearly 
 isolated from the Siamese, though professing, for the 
 most part, the same religion. They have their own 
 temples, and carry on their worship of Buddha, not 
 according to the usuages of the priests of Siam, but 
 following the customs and traditions of China ; and 
 their Buddhism, as in China itself, is held in subservi- 
 ence to their reverence for the teachings and writings 
 of the Chinese sages — Confucius, Mencius Sze-mat-ze, 
 and the ancient teachers of their native land. 
 
 u The signs over their warehouses, shops and 
 
THE CHINESE IN SIAM. 
 
 171 
 
 houses, are all written in Chinese — in the Chinese 
 language they carry on all their correspondence, nor 
 do I remember an example of a Chinaman being able 
 to write, though they almost all speak, the Siamese 
 language. Over their doors are the same inscriptions 
 one is accustomed to see in China, such as, " May the 
 five felicities dwell in this abode." The moral 
 aphorisms — the fragments of poetry which are sus- 
 pended on the walls in China, written on scrolls or 
 tablets, always in pairs, decorate the houses of the 
 Chinese established in Siam." 
 
 To resume my narrative. Dick and I stood look- 
 ing upon the scene till its brilliancy began to fade ; 
 the oil was burning out ; lamp after lamp became ex- 
 tinguished, when I proposed that we should seek our 
 cabin and sleeping mats ; as, however, we were enter- 
 ing the cabin, the plashing of oars fell upon our ears. 
 
 " It is a queer hour for a visit from other than river 
 thieves," said Dick. 
 
 " River thieves they are. Let us arouse the skip- 
 per," I replied ; but the same sounds had also alarmed 
 the Chinese captain, for both he and his officers came 
 forward; and, flourishing their knives above their 
 heads with a great show of gallantry, shouted to the 
 boat's crew — - 
 
 " What dogs are these who would disturb peaceable 
 traders in the small hours ? If ye be thieves, take care 
 for your miserable lives, for we are prepared." 
 
 And, having delivered themselves of these words, they 
 stamped their feet upon the deck valorously, though, 
 
172 OUR VOYAGE UP THE MEINAM. 
 
 from the tremor of their voices, I believe they were 
 quaking with fear. But, at the reply, it was our turn 
 to quake, if not with fear, certainly with indignation ; 
 for, although long and formal, it was to the effect that 
 they were police and soldiers of Bangkok who had been 
 sent by no less a person than the Phra Klang, or foreign 
 minister, to secure the bodies of two Farang rogues 
 who had helped a Chinese pirate to run away from Chan- 
 taburi with a valuable cargo belonging to the king. 
 
 " Hiloa ! Herbert, did you hear that ? the fellow 
 means us, and that's a fact" said Dick. 
 
 " There can be no doubt who they mean ; but we 
 
TAKEN PRISONERS. 
 
 173 
 
 must escape their clutches, if we swim for it/' I re- 
 plied, about to cross the deck and jump into the 
 river from the other side ; but the Chinese, terrified at 
 the sight of the officials, who had now sprung on board, 
 and fearing the consequences to themselves should 
 we escape, surrounded us, and in a minute so tightly 
 corded our arms that we could not move them; 
 but my tongue was at liberty, and I demanded to 
 know the meaning of such an outrage ; but the chief 
 of the party, in reply, ordered me to hold my peace ; 
 and threatened that, if I did not, he would have us 
 gagged and carried into the boat ; and, as we had no 
 alternative, and the man spoke as if he intended what 
 he said, we complied. 
 
 " For this fix we have to thank that saffron-faced 
 old fox," said Dick, as the boat touched the bank. 
 
 " Perhaps so ; indirectly ; but this outrage is an ac- 
 cident, a mistake ; the old fellow has been indiscreetly 
 talking about us in connection with the Chantaburi 
 robbery; it has reached the ears of the officials, and 
 they have arrested us upon suspicion ; but never care, 
 Dick. I will endeavour to send a message to the 
 merchant Mi, who will satisfy the government that 
 we are not the rogues they suspect, and we shall 
 speedily be at liberty again." 
 
 " Well, Herbert, that may be your opinion, but it is 
 not mine ; any how, I object to being boarded and 
 lodged even for an hour with a crew of half-naked, 
 saffron-coloured, brush-headed monkeys like these ; 
 but," added Dick, " mere talking won't set us free, so 
 
174 
 
 OUR VOYAGE UP THE MEINAM, 
 
 we 'had better hold our peace, or these fellows will 
 perhaps take it into their heads that we are conspiring 
 to upset them.-" 
 
 And such, I believe, to have been their thoughts ; 
 for, before permitting us to land, they coupled us to- 
 gether by ropes, the ends of which secured our arms, 
 and in this fashion we were driven like beasts before 
 them to a low wooden den lighted by one small lan- 
 tern ; the glimmering of which was just sufficient to 
 deepen the horrors of the place. I have seen the 
 prisons of China, and heard of the terrible Gokuya 
 of Japan, but the den to which we were taken beg- 
 gars description. As, in that fearfully celebrated hole 
 of Calcutta, the space was barely sufficient to hold 
 the number confined there, the prisoners were all 
 secured to each other by one long iron chain, to which 
 we were also fastened ; there was, however, this dif- 
 ference between it and the Calcutta hole, there was 
 just sufficient room for the inmates to squat down 
 on the humid earth. 
 
 " The heathen rascals ! do they mean to keep two 
 decent white men in this hole ?" said Dick. 
 
 " It is horrible, Dick ; still it can't be helped," said 
 I ; but, addressing the chief of the police, I threat- 
 ened to have him punished for the outrage. At that 
 he smiled grimly, and left the place, securing the door 
 from the outside ; indignant, however, as we were at 
 having been brought to such a place, our misery was 
 but small compared to that of our fellow prisoners ; a 
 description of whom may interest my readers. 
 
175 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 WE ARE ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF A CRIMINAL OF^ 
 FENCE, AND PLACED IN PRISON. 
 
 Of the companions of our imprisonment that night I 
 can give but a general description. Crude, however, 
 as it may be, it will be sufficient to give an idea 
 of the laws and punishments of criminals in Siam. 
 
 Well, one, the youngest and best looking, was a 
 young mandarin, who, having been convicted of a trea- 
 sonous crime, was to suffer death the following day ; 
 being, however, a noble, his privilege was to be put 
 into a sack and be beaten to death by clubs in a public 
 place ; a mode of execution also practised in Ava. 
 
 Another was a Buddhist priest who, having broken 
 the vow of celibacy, had been torn from his wife, and 
 was then awaiting the punishment of his crime ; 
 which was to be stripped of his yellow robes, be fla- 
 gellated till the blood came forth, after which he was 
 condemned to cut grass for the royal elephants for the 
 remainder of his days ; a punishment in Siam esteemed 
 the most infamous, and from which the culprit is 
 never redeemed. 
 
176 
 
 OUR VOYAGE UP TIIE MEINAM. 
 
 Then there was a gang of coiners, who, having 
 been convicted, were sentenced to the following pun- 
 ishments : — He who had worked the bellows, to have 
 his right hand fingers chopped off ; he who had shaped 
 the coin, to lose his right hand; while those who had im- 
 pressed the king's mark were to suffer the loss of their 
 right arms ; and these penalties are commonly practised 
 in Siam, for coining is so common that it is supposed 
 that more than one-tenth of the silver coin in circu- 
 lation is spurious. But, barbarous as are these pun- 
 ishments, we must not forget that, but a few years 
 since, for the same offence in England death was 
 awarded. 
 
 Then there was a man who, having run away with 
 the wife of another, had been caught, and was 
 then writhing beneath the pain caused by his hav- 
 ing that day been branded upon both cheeks with a 
 hot iron. 
 
 Again, there were two poor wretches who, having 
 been convicted of stealing from a temple a golden 
 idol which they had melted down, were awaiting the 
 execution of their terrible sentence, which was to be 
 burnt alive. 
 
 Then there was one man who had been convicted 
 of killing a relation ; his sentence was to be beheaded, 
 and afterwards his body to be impaled and left to be 
 devoured by birds of prey. 
 
 For the rest, they were chiefly debtors, waiting to 
 be redeemed by the payment of their debts ; and 
 petty rogues who, chained up at night, are in the 
 
TREATMENT OF SIAMESE PRISONERS. 
 
 177 
 
 morning laden with irons and chains round their 
 necks, waists, wrists, and legs ; some even have to 
 bear in addition the heavy wooden collar, or cangue 
 of China, and in this state, under an escort of police 
 armed with muskets and bamboo staves, they are 
 led to the public works, where they are made to 
 labour till the hour again comes round for their being 
 chained up. 
 
 After the foregoing description of my compa- 
 nions, I need scarcely tell you that it was not 
 the most agreeable way of spending a night; still, 
 we did sleep even there ; but then, I believe, ex- 
 haustion had more to do w T ith it than either cou- 
 rage or a philosophical resignation to our fate ; but 
 the worst had to come ; for in the morning, when the 
 police came, some to lead the poor debtors about the 
 streets, and others to conduct the petty thieves to the 
 public works ; and, as we thought, to take us before 
 the minister who, we were told, had commanded 
 our arrest, Dick and I were parted; he being 
 taken, as he afterwards told me, to a smaller 
 but more comfortable cell near the place to which they 
 conveyed me, which, by the way, was a strong room, 
 the window of which looked out upon the Meinam, and 
 from which I had the consolation of seeing that there 
 were many prisoners worse off than myself : namely, a 
 number of poor wretches (debtors), each of whom 
 was suspended over the river in a kind of large bird- 
 cage, and in pitiable misery, kept moving about from 
 one side to the other of the cage as if to escape from the 
 
 N 
 
178 WE ARE ARRESTED ON SUSPICION. 
 
 burning sun which scorched them. But for another rea- 
 son was I more fortunate than those poor prisoners ; 
 for, while they were indebted to the small charity of 
 passers-by for every atom of food, my meals, such as 
 they were, were supplied to me regularly by a literally 
 dumb waiter ; for, say what I would — coax, bribe, or 
 threaten — he would do nothing but grin. 
 
 For a whole week was I kept in this vile dur- 
 ance; when being half frantic, more I believe, 
 from want of a companion than the confine- 
 ment itself, I one day watched my opportunity, and 
 squatting upon the floor with my head in my hands, 
 as if in deep contemplation, I awaited till my dumb 
 friend had entered the room, and closed the door 
 after him, then suddenly springing forward, and 
 catching him by the throat, declared I would stran- 
 gle him if he did not tell me by whose orders I was 
 thus incarcerated, and how long I was likely to re- 
 main there. Then, loosening my hold so that he could 
 just speak, he piteously whined — 
 
 " Would the terrible Farang (Christian) sea-rat slay 
 his servant who is but a mouse, a hare, the smallest 
 of the king's slaves ? " 
 
 " Then speak, thou dog, and promise to tell this 
 minister, whoever he may be, that ordered the outrage 
 to be committed upon me and the other Farang, who 
 are no sea-rats, but honest Englishmen and mer- 
 chants, that we demand to be taken before him to 
 answer this stupid charge brought against us by some 
 rogue." 
 
I ASTONISH A NATIVE. 
 
 179 
 
 And the poor fellow, as if astonished at the small- 
 ness of my demand, replied — 
 
 " The worthy Farang shall be obeyed. I receive 
 his orders, for the great Phra Klang has this day re- 
 turned to Bangkok." 
 
 By this reply I discovered that the cause of my 
 
 n 2 
 
180 "WE ARE ARRESTED ON SUSPICION. 
 
 many days' incarceration had been the absence of this 
 Phra Klang from the capital ; but, as it had only 
 been by force that I had obtained this information, 
 by way of enlisting the man's sympathies in my favour, 
 I told him who and what I was, the reason of my 
 visit to Bangkok, and, what was more satisfactory, con- 
 cluded by promising him a handsome present in dol- 
 lars as soon as I had received my liberty and had 
 found the merchant Mi. This evidently removed 
 from his mind his suspicions of my being one of those 
 terrible pirates of whom all honest Asiatics upon 
 the sea-board entertain so great a horror ; for, bend- 
 ing his body forward, he backed out of the room w T ith a 
 smiling countenance, and a promise to exert himself in 
 my behalf. 
 
 The man honestly kept his promise, as we shall 
 see, for early the following morning, as I sat gazing 
 from my window at the sw T arms of shaven-pated, 
 shorn-eye-browed priests, each in his yellow cloak 
 and scarf, with iron pot slung around his neck, and 
 talipat-palm-leaf fan in his hand, so that his attention 
 might not be distracted from his sublime contempla- 
 tions, even while he w r as there with his pot for the 
 express purpose of receiving contributions of food 
 from passing devotees, I was aroused by the entrance 
 into my dungeon of a native, whose garb, but chiefly 
 gait and manner, bespoke him to be of at least some 
 rank. 
 
 At his entrance 1 bent my head forward, a saluta- 
 tion which he acknowledged only by a frown and an 
 
INTERVIEW WITH A MINISTER. 
 
 181 
 
 angry gesture. I suppose he expected the poor 
 prisoner would crawl towards him on his stomach, 
 after the Siamese fashion ; if he did, he must have 
 been sadly disappointed, for with my heart full of 
 indignation at the outrage that had been committed 
 upon two, or at least one British subject, and assum- 
 ing him to be the minister who had been the cause, I 
 demanded to know whether the slave had conveyed 
 to him my message, but with a provoking smile upon 
 his countenance, he replied in English — 
 
 " The Farang is bold ; does he not know that his 
 life is in the hands of the great King of Siam ?" 
 
 " The minister of the king, if he be one, utters 
 foolish words, for he knows that the life of no sub- 
 ject of England can be in his master s power," I said, 
 But he replied — 
 
 " It is the Farang who speaks foolish words, for it 
 is only the honest subjects of England who are be- 
 yond the power of the great king. Sea-rats are 
 vermin, and to destroy them is good," he replied, 
 adding, " but the Farang has said that he is not a 
 sea-rat, but an honest trader ; can he prove his 
 words? for he who charges him with being one of 
 the rogues who stole the king's cargo at Chantaburi, 
 is not a mouse, but a man who is known to the king 
 and his minister, and whose words have been found 
 straight and good." 
 
 " Who is this rogue?" I asked, indignantly. 
 
 " It is not good that he who is charged with a 
 crime should reply to one question by asking 
 
182 WE ARE ARRESTED ON SUSPICION. 
 
 another/' he replied ; and knowing that it would be 
 useless to insist upon an answer, I at once told him 
 my name, my object in visiting Bangkok, and the 
 story of our adventures ; excepting, of course, the 
 fact that the Governors were still alive ; and in con- 
 clusion referred him to the merchant Mi. But at 
 that name he started a little, and asked earnestly — 
 
 " Has the Farang ever seen this Mi ?" 
 
 " We have never met ; but that is of little matter, 
 for the merchant Mi has received letters from my 
 father telling him that I should arrive." 
 
 " Then the Farang has letters with him from the 
 merchant Richardson V 
 
 At this question I was confounded; such proofs of 
 my being my father's son would have been indispu- 
 table, yet all my papers were in a trunk on board Li- 
 Poo's junk. This accident I related to the Siamese, 
 adding that it was probable that even then the old 
 Chinese and his junk might be in the river ; but with 
 an incredulous smile, he replied — 
 
 " A rogue is not to be known by his own tongue. 
 The Farang may be a sea-rat, or he may not ; if he 
 be a sea-rat, may he not have met the real son of the 
 merchant Richardson, killed him, and with his name 
 have come to Bangkok for the purpose of imposing 
 upon the merchant Mi, who is a good man. It is a 
 pity — it is much pity," and that is all I could obtain 
 from him, except that as he quitted the room, he 
 said — 
 
 " Time finds out all things. If the Farang be 
 
TRIALS BY ORDEAL. 
 
 183 
 
 not the son of the merchant Kichardson, he must be a 
 sea-rat ; and if he be a sea-rat, boiling oil shall make 
 him tell where the other sea-thieves have hidden the 
 king's cargo," and thus he quitted, leaving me burn- 
 ing with chagrin and indignation, and lamenting the 
 unfortunate disaster at Ohantaburi, which had 
 caused me all this trouble. As for the threat of the 
 trial by boiling oil, I regarded that but little, for 
 being a British subject, it would be a long time, 
 and only after the most convincing proofs of guilt, 
 that the government would dare proceed to such 
 extremes. 
 
 Apropos, however, of these trials by ordeal, Van 
 Schenten, who lived in Siam eight years in the 
 seventeenth century, alike with Sir John Bowring 
 and other modern travellers, prove that for cen- 
 turies the habits and customs of the Siamese have 
 undergone but little change. 
 
 In criminal cases, when the crime is not fully proved, 
 say both ancient and modern travellers, the Siamese 
 believe they have many w T ays of discovering the 
 truth; sometimes the informer is obliged to plunge 
 into water and remain there ; others are forced to 
 walk over burning coals, to wash their hands in burn- 
 ing oil, or to eat charmed rice. Sometimes two poles 
 are fixed in the water; the two parties plunge in, 
 and the one who remains longest between the two poles 
 gains the law T -suit. When forced to walk over burn- 
 ing coals, a man presses their shoulders, and if they 
 get across without being burned their innocence is 
 
184 WE ARE ARRESTED ON SUSPICION. 
 
 considered proven. As to the charmed rice, it is 
 prepared by the law-doctors, who also give it to the 
 counsel ; if he can swallow it, he is pronounced inno- 
 cent, and his friends bring him back in triumph, his 
 accuser being punished severely. 
 
185 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 WE ARE SET AT LIBERTY, AND RECEIVE AN INVITATION 
 FROM THE MINISTER. 
 
 Notwithstanding the threat with which the 
 Siamese noble quitted me in the morning, a little 
 before sundown, my acquaintance, the quondam 
 dumb gaoler, entered my prison with a smiling face, 
 and presented me with a note superscribed " To the 
 Farang Reekardson." It was from the great Phra 
 Klang, minister for Foreign affairs, couched in eccen- 
 tric English ; but to my satisfaction, clear enough 
 for me to understand that the charge against me 
 being withdrawn, I was at liberty to quit the prison. 
 Moreover, it contained an invitation for me to visit 
 his Excellency at his own palace, to which my friend, 
 the gaoler, was charged to conduct me. 
 
 Delighted at thus unexpectedly obtaining my 
 liberty, and astonished at the great man's condescen- 
 sion, I at once resolved to accept his invitation, having 
 little doubt in my own mind, that I should find in 
 his Excellency and my visitor of the morning, one 
 and the same person. But then I thought of Dick. 
 
186 
 
 WE ARE SET AT LIBERTY. 
 
 Well, his freedom should be my first care ; but 
 " speak of a certain personage and he is sure to ap- 
 pear," so on the instant, Dick himself stood before me, 
 but seeing the slave, he clutched him by the throat, 
 saying to me — 
 
 " Run for it, Herbert, run for it." 
 
 " Pooh, pooh, Dick, you will hurt the poor fellow, 
 unhand him ; why should I run while I am at liberty to 
 walk ? and I put in his hand the Phra Klang's letter, 
 which having read, he removed his hand from the 
 man's throat, and in stupified amazement, ex- 
 claimed — 
 
 66 Well, Herbert, I have made a fool of myself, 
 and that's a fact ; but," he added, " this is how it 
 happened. After chafing up and down a bit of a 
 hole like this for a whole week, sometimes threaten- 
 ing, at others endeavouring to bribe the fellow who 
 had me under lock and key, but all without avail, 
 for he would listen to no proposition for my escape, 
 this morning it occurred to me that the rogue had 
 often regarded, with admiration and wonder my 
 six shooter ; and taking that to be the best bait, I 
 offered to make him a present of it if he would leave 
 the door unlocked for half-an-hour. Well, the 
 rogue grinned and objected for a time, but at length 
 accepted the offer, and, moreover, told me where 
 I should find you ; so away I came, and finding the 
 door open, I began to think I had made a smart bar- 
 gain, when hang the saffron-faced 'coon, I find he has 
 the best of it, for while higgling with me he must 
 
DICK OUTWITTED. 
 
 187 
 
 have had about his person the order for my re- 
 lease." 
 
 " Well, well, Dick," said I, endeavouring to sooth 
 his anger, " you have been outwitted, and that's not 
 agreeable; but you have your liberty, and that's 
 worth all Colt's store of revolvers, and there is an 
 end of it ; but come let us at once to the house of 
 the Phra Klang." 
 
 " Well, Herbert, as I have no mind to go back to 
 that hole just now, I'll postpone settling my account 
 with that fellow ; but as for forgetting or forgiving 
 him, till I get back the weapon, 1 won't, and that's a 
 fact: 1 
 
 To argue with an angry man is but a foolish waste 
 of time ; and so making no reply, I told the slave to 
 guide us to the minister's house, which he gave us 
 to understand was at the other end of the city, 
 and the next minute we stood in the streets of 
 Bangkok. 
 
 Bangkok, the great, royal, angelic city ; the beau- 
 tiful, the uncaptured, as the natives proudly term it, 
 is situated in a semi-circle of the serpentine Meinam, 
 and has two canals running through* it; the one 
 from north to south, the other from east to west, 
 crossing the city at right angles. The houses are for 
 the greater part built of light bamboos, roofed with the 
 leaves of the Atap palm, and for the middle classes 
 — or, of wood ; while it is those only which belong to 
 the king and the nobility that are built of stone. As 
 for streets, at least land passages, they are few and 
 
188 
 
 WE ARE SET AT LIBERTY. 
 
 far between, and these few so narrow that two per- 
 sons can scarcely walk abreast : but the following 
 description will give you a notion of the city 
 through which we had to make our way. 
 
 " The highways of Bangkok are not streets or 
 roads, but rivers and canals. Boats are the universal 
 means of conveyance and communication. Except 
 about the palaces of the two kings, horses or carriages 
 are rarely seen, and the sedan of the Chinese appears 
 unknown in Siam; but a boat is a necessary part 
 of a man's household — to its dexterous manage- 
 ment every child is trained — women and men are 
 equally accustomed to the use of the oar, the paddle 
 and the rudder. From the most miserable skiff, 
 which seems scarcely large enough to hold a dog, 
 up to the magnificently- adorned barges which are 
 honoured with the presence of royalty— from the 
 meanest canoe, hewn out of the small trunk of a 
 tree from the jungle, up to the roofed and curtained, 
 the carved and gilded L boats of the nobles — every 
 rank and condition has its boats plying in endless 
 activity, night and day, on the surface of the Meinam 
 waters. A great proportion of the houses float on 
 large rafters, and are sometimes seen moving up and 
 down the river, conveying all the belongings of a 
 family to some newly selected locality." 
 
 As for the people themselves they are amphibious, 
 and for ever paddling, diving, and swimming, as if the 
 water was their native element. 
 
 There are streets, or rather passages, on the land ; 
 
A SIAMESE CONTRACT. 
 
 189 
 
 as we fought our way through these, as best we could, 
 among grunting pigs and snarling barking dogs, we 
 suddenly came upon a group of poor creatures, men, 
 women, and children, but all laden more or less with 
 chains — followed by an officer. 
 
 u What heathen brutes these Siamese must be, to 
 treat any of God's creatures after this fashion," said 
 Dick. 
 
 " Aye, Dick, and only for being in debt ; but then 
 debt in this country, like poverty in Christian lands, 
 is placed upon an . equality with crime. If a man 
 cannot satisfy his creditor, he becomes a slave, and 
 there is no redemption but paying the money ; more- 
 over the road to ruin is scarcely to be avoided but by 
 the very lucky few, for the legal interest upon borrowed 
 money is thirty per cent. ; yet the vilest part of the 
 law of debtor and creditor is, that a man not able to 
 pay his debts, may sell his wife or children." 
 
 Apropos of this vile law, Pallegoix, the French 
 Bishop of Siam, who has written the most complete 
 History of the country, gives us the following bona 
 fide contract between a debtor and creditor. 
 
 u Wednesday, the 6th month, the 26th day of the 
 moon, of the era 1211; the 1st year of the cock; 
 I, Mi, the husband, and I, Kok, the wife, bring our 
 daughter Ma, to be sold to Si, for eighty ticals, or to 
 be taken into his service in lieu of interest. If our 
 daughter Ma should take flight, let me be seized and 
 be required to restore her. I, Mi, have placed my 
 signature as witness." 
 
190 
 
 WE ARE SET AT LIBERTY. 
 
 This is terribly demoralizing ; however, Sir John 
 Bowring intimates that slavery is not so very 
 bad after all in Siam, and that slaves are better 
 treated than servants in England; for he writes 
 " Masters cannot ill-treat their slaves, for they have 
 always the remedy of paying the money they repre- 
 sent; and he must be a very worthless character 
 who cannot get somebody to advance the sum ;" 
 further he adds, " In small families the slaves are 
 treated like the children of the master ; they are con- 
 sulted in all matters, and each man feels that as his 
 master is prosperous so is he. The slaves, on the 
 other hand, are faithful, and when their master is 
 poor will devote every coin they can beg or steal to his 
 necessities ; and as long as he will keep them, will 
 pass through any amount of hardship. Seldom do 
 you see such attachment between masters and paid 
 servants in England." 
 
 Truly a very specious argument in favour of 
 domestic slavery, but one I hope that may not convert 
 Englishmen into the belief that such an institution is 
 otherwise than hateful. 
 
 The led prisoner, however, to whom, our attention 
 became most drawn, was a young man, who coming 
 after the others, was followed by another officer, 
 and continued at intervals during his walk to 
 call out to the passers by, " Behold! be warned 
 by me — take care — my house caught fire, and thus 
 am I punished." And so curious was I to know 
 the history of this poor fellow, that our guide went 
 
WE SEAECH FOR MI. 
 
 191 
 
 forward amongst the crowd to inquire, and upon his 
 return, said — 
 
 " It is Si, the son of the merchant Mi, whose 
 house has been burned, and as the father has 
 fled, the son is suffering the punishment in his 
 place." 
 
 " Well, such a proxy may be the law of these 
 heathens, but it is queer justice ; yet," added Dick, as 
 if the thought had suddenly occurred to him, " this 
 may concern us, but you especially, for I take it this 
 Mi may be the very man to whom you are consigned." 
 
 66 Truly it is possible ; but look, Dick," I added, 
 pointing to a vast number of bats which darkened 
 the horizon, a the coming of these vermin betokens 
 the approach of night, it is too late for a visit to the 
 minister, let us therefore at once proceed in search of 
 this Mi." But to my question whether he knew the 
 merchant's residence, the slave replied — 
 
 " Thy servant is but a mouse, he knows little of 
 the merchants of Bangkok, although it is true that 
 he has a brother whose house is frequented by 
 many, but especially those given to the use of opium- 
 smoking." 
 
 It was a strange answer, but, still such as it was, 
 might prove useful, and so I desired that he would 
 conduct us to his brother's house ; but shaking his 
 head, he said — 
 
 " Is thy servant a dog, that he should bring 
 upon the son of his mother the wrath of the great 
 king?" 
 
192 
 
 WE AKE SET AT LIBERTY. 
 
 By this reply I knew that his brother was the 
 keeper of an opium-smoking and gambling house, 
 and so, if discovered, liable to a very heavy punish- 
 ment ; but also knowing that the police w T ere very lax, 
 and by reason of their eyes being blinded by dollars, 
 rarely made a discovery, I saw that the man's object 
 was to make me offer a bribe for the favour I required. 
 I offered to double the amount I had already promised 
 him, whereupon he led us down to the water's edge, 
 along which we proceeded a considerable distance, 
 till coming to an open space or esplanade, our guide 
 stood still to gaze for a minute upon a large iron cage 
 suspended some ten feet from the ground, and which 
 was worn and almost falling to pieces w 7 ith rust ; and 
 having gazed for a minute, he fell upon the earth 
 before it, muttering a Buddhist prayer; aroused, 
 however, by our impatience to proceed, he arose, and 
 as we walked onwards related to me the following 
 story, w^hich, as it affords an illustration of the utter 
 barbarism in which the Siamese are steeped, I will 
 translate. 
 
 " This cage is a monument to the terrible vengeance 
 of the Kings of Siam, and I never pass by it without 
 a prayer to the memory of a good master. But this 
 is thy servant's story," he said, adding — 
 
 "lam a Laosian by birth, and our country had 
 been at war with the then King of Siam. Alas ! my 
 master, the Prince of Laos, was defeated, and with 
 all his family and slaves, thy servant among the 
 number, was brought to Bangkok. The news of the 
 
A SAD HISTORY. 
 
 ' 193 
 
 arrival of the prisoners caused great joy to the Phra 
 Klang and the other ministers, who at once began 
 to rack their brains to discover the most cruel mode of 
 torture. But as if to mask their intentions by a show 
 of generosity, they first pardoned the slaves. Would, 
 however, that the fiends had taken thy servant's life, 
 for to this hour he sees before his eyes that terrible 
 vision, which he saw when released ; then in that cage 
 were nine of the sons and grandsons of the king, all of 
 whom, to the innocent little children, had heavy irons 
 around their necks, waists, and legs ; the youngest, 
 with smiling faces, and in ignorance of the fate which 
 awaited them, laughed gaily in the faces of the 
 fiendish crowd that were there to scoff. The elder 
 princes, though with sad countenances, sat with manly 
 resignation, contemplating the ruin of their house, and 
 their approaching doom. 
 
 Then there was the fiendish array in readiness for 
 the torture ; a large iron cauldron, for heating oil, 
 which in a boiling state was to be poured upon the body 
 of the old king, after it had been cut and mangled with 
 knives. On the right of the cage stood a large 
 gallows, from which, upon a hook, the aged king was 
 to be suspended, after having been tortured. In front 
 of the cage was a long row of triangular gibbets, each 
 having a spear, upon which were to be seated the 
 wives, sons, and grandsons of the monarch ; and upon 
 the right of the cage again, there was a large pestle 
 and mortar, in which some of the victims were to be 
 pounded — such was to be the fate of that royal family 
 
 o 
 
194 
 
 WE ARE SET AT LIBERTY. 
 
 — but the gods intervened, for the king died of grief, 
 and his eldest son escaped before the day of execution. 
 Of the others — alas ! that I live to relate it — they all 
 suffered. But this is my brother's house, let the noble 
 Farangs follow;" and as he spoke he ascended the ladder 
 of a large but low wooden house, built upon poles on 
 the muddy banks of the river. We followed ; but upon 
 reaching the top of the ladder we came to a hall, or 
 space, between an inner and an outer door, and there 
 he bade us wait, till he had communicated with his 
 brother. In a few minutes he returned with his 
 relative, who, to my question whether the merchant 
 Mi frequented his house, or whether he could inform 
 us of his whereabouts, replied— 
 
 " How can it be, that while all the city, ashore 
 and afloat, are talking of the great merchant Mi's 
 misfortunes, that the Farangs have not opened their 
 ears?" 
 
 " What misfortune is this of which my brother 
 speaks," I asked in alarm, adding, " is then the rogue 
 who burned down his house, and permitted his son 
 to receive punishment in his place, the same Mi — the 
 agent for the European merchants of Macao ? " 
 
 " Some small bird has poured the truth into the 
 ears of the Farang — it is as he says — the two Mi's 
 are the one Mi. But my brother has not spoken all 
 the truth, for he says Mi burned down his house, 
 when it was known that it was destroyed by the 
 fire-devil, at the instance of the demon of ill- 
 luck, who was envious of the good man's pros- 
 perity." 
 
PANDEMONIUM. 
 
 195 
 
 " Will my brother speak to the purpose ? where is 
 this man Mi ? if he does not open his lips his servant 
 will make it known to the Phra Klang, that he keeps 
 a house which the laws forbid/' I said, threatening 
 that which it was far from my intention of doing. 
 It had the desired effect, for although with a side 
 glance of no very amiable description at his brother, 
 for having brought to his house such troublesome 
 visitors, in the most abject manner he replied — 
 
 " Did thy slave's life hang upon his words, he 
 could but speak the truth. He knows not where the 
 miserable man is now hidden, but if the worthy 
 Farangs will enter their slave's hut, they may hear 
 words from men who know Mi." 
 
 And having interpreted all this to Dick, by way of 
 taking his advice, he said — 
 
 " Look you, Herbert, it is the toss up of a dollar 
 which to do, go in, or remain out." 
 
 u Then it shall be in," said I, and the next minute 
 we had passed the inner door, when Dick, who had 
 never before been in an opium house, exclaimed — 
 
 " I take it, if this isn't Pandemonium, it's nowdiere 
 else, and that's a fact." 
 
 And well might he draw such a comparison, for the 
 room was very long, wide and high, and lighted by 
 paper and horn lanterns, fancifully wrought, and of 
 different colours. Around the wood walls of the 
 room were piled, thick, but luxuriously- soft cushions, 
 against which were reclining semi-nude men of every 
 rank, above the lower classes, and in every varied 
 
 o 2 
 
196 
 
 WE ARE SET AT LIBERTY. 
 
 stage produced by opium smoking. The glistening, 
 the° leaden, the haggard, and the far-sunken eyed; 
 the novices, the initiated, and the man whose intellect 
 and frame had become a wreck from the pernicious 
 habit ; from the beginner, whom two or three whiffs 
 would send into the slave and coward's elysium of 
 delicious sensual repose and forgetfulness of his real 
 manliness, to the old habitue, who required twenty or 
 thirty to bring about the same state, and from whose 
 mouth the pipe was seldom long absent. 
 
 We sat down against one of the cushions, and 
 
OPIUM SMOKERS. 
 
 197 
 
 watched the doings of this pleasant company ; many 
 there were in groups playing cards, but these even, 
 would, after a few yaw r ns, throw themselves backwards 
 upon their cushion, and take from the attendant, who 
 was ever moving from guest to guest the hubble- 
 bubbling cocoa-nut-shell, which was half filled with 
 water, and wdiich he held with one hand, and present- 
 ing the tube with the other to the guest, who taking 
 one or more whiffs, fell backward in a state of torpor, 
 and this pleasure as the miserable beings call it, was 
 continued the whole time ; for as fast as one fell into 
 his extemporized elysium, another would recover and 
 crave a fresh whiff. 
 
 u I tell you what, Herbert," said Dick, when we 
 had been sitting in the room about half an hour, " we 
 had better clear out of these diggins, or mayhap you 
 or I will be taking a whiff ; for if there were not 
 something tempting about the stuff, these poor 
 wretches wouldn't be doling out their lives, inch by 
 inch in this way." 
 
 " Nay," I whispered as I caught the name of 
 Mi, mentioned by a man near me, " we must remain 
 here for a time, we shall discover something yet." 
 
 But Dick heard me not, his attention was directed 
 to a man just then coming through the doorway into 
 the room. The new comer's features came beneath 
 the light of an overhanging lantern. 
 
 " It's old saffron-face himself — now I'll find out 
 why we were locked up for a week, or my name's not 
 Dick Orme," said he. 
 
198 
 
 WE ARE SET AT LIBERTY. 
 
 " Or at least learn something of Mi." said I. 
 
 And we both arose; but no sooner did the old 
 gentleman's eyes light upon us, than he suddenly 
 wheeled about, and in an instant he had dis- 
 appeared. 
 
 " Hiloa ! that don't look honest ; let's follow, Her- 
 bert, quickly, or we shall lose him yet." 
 
 We gave chase, but although we almost flew down 
 the ladder, and kept him in sight, nay, were close at 
 his heels, the nimble old fish no sooner came to the 
 river, than, old as he was, he turned a summersault 
 into the water — and to our chagrin we had lost 
 him. 
 
AN AMPHIBIOUS CHILD. 
 
 199 
 
 " The varmint, he takes to the water like an otter ; 
 it's no good, Herbert, we shan't trap him to-night," 
 exclaimed Dick, as he stood the very picture of vexa- 
 tion and astonishment. 
 
 " Farangs no good at catchee Siam man in 
 water," said our guide, who had by that time come 
 up to us. 
 
 " No, that's a fact. But look you, Herbert, we 
 must sleep somewhere, so suppose we turn in here for 
 the night," said Dick, pointing to a large barge which 
 was moored close at hand. 
 
 " Not so, Dick, if this native can find us a better 
 lodging," said I; and putting the question to the 
 slave, he offered us a room in his own hut, and thither 
 we at once went. 
 
 But previous to seeking our sleeping mats, we con- 
 soled ourselves for our disappointment in losing the 
 old merchant, with a couple of dishes of hot tea. 
 Dick, however, scarcely felt consoled, for after a long 
 and moody pondering, he said — 
 
 u Only to think, Herbert, that an old fellow like that 
 should so easily have outrun two young fellows like us. 
 Bah! I believe these Siamese are all born ducks, 
 otters, or some such water creatures." 
 
 And I can verify the justness of Dick's observa- 
 tion, for on one occasion I witnessed a sight, which in 
 more enlightened countries than Siam, would be consi- 
 dered equally strange. It was that of a young child, 
 sporting in the water as in its native element, with all 
 the buoyancy and playfulness of a fish. Its evolutions 
 
200 
 
 WE ARE SET AT LIBERTY. 
 
 were astonishing, sometimes rolling over with a rapid 
 motion, and apparently no exertion, then turning 
 round like a hoop, by bending its face under as it lay 
 on its back, and throwing its feet over its head. It 
 floated like a cork, with no apparent motion of any of 
 the muscles ; occasionally allowing itself to sink, till 
 only half the head could be seen, then diving, it held 
 its face under water long enough to alarm those who 
 were ignorant of its powers, and yet when it came up, 
 appeared to breathe as easily as though it had suf- 
 fered no suspension of respiration. From its actions 
 and countenance it was evidently delighted with the 
 exercise, nor did it evince either fatigue or the least 
 apprehension, nay, it even cried at being taken out 
 of the river. This child was a singular object 
 both in and out of water. It was three years 
 old, very small, could neither speak nor walk, 
 was very defective in sight, would take nothing 
 but its earliest provision — in fact appeared quite 
 idiotic, and had exhibited the same fondness for the 
 water, and peculiar feats in it, from the first year of 
 its age. 
 
201 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 TRAVELLERS MEET- WITH STRANGE BEDFELLOWS ; WE 
 GO ON A VISIT TO A GREAT MAN'S HOUSE. 
 
 It is a proverb that travellers meet with strange 
 bedfellows. That night it was verified, for about 
 midnight I was aroused by my companion, who, as he 
 lay stretched upon his mat, exclaimed — 
 
 " Hiloa ! my friend, who are you ? " 
 
 " Who's who, Dick?" 
 
 66 Listen, Herbert, there is some fellow in the 
 room." 
 
 " Nonsense, it is fancy ; go to sleep, Dick." 
 
 But hearing the sounds of " Tokey, Tokey, Tokey" 
 I knew what had alarmed him, and so I added, 66 It 
 is only a Tokey." 
 
 But Dick was not so easily appeased, for getting 
 upon his feet he ran to the door, and called loudly 
 for a light. 
 
 " Dick, are you mad ? you will alarm the whole 
 quarter ; " but very angrily he replied — 
 
 66 Look you, my friend, get up, for though I don't 
 know what a Tokey may be, as it crawled across 
 
202 
 
 WE GO ON A VISIT. 
 
 my face just now it seemed to be about the size, and 
 as damp as a young crocodile." 
 
 At this I arose, and directly afterwards the guide 
 entered the room with a light, and although he and I 
 both laughed, Dick caught up his boots and threw 
 them one after the other at a large reptile, which, 
 now terrified by the light and the noise, was running 
 rapidly along the wall screaming " Tokey, TolzeyP 
 
 " Ugh ! the beast !" exclaimed Dick, in disgust at 
 the failure of his aim. But seeing that he was really 
 afraid of the harmless, although disgusting reptile, the 
 native and I chased it from the room, and having 
 then examined every hole and corner to see that there 
 were no more of them, we again lay down to sleep. 
 
 Pooh ! pooh ! Dick, an old traveller like you, 
 and to be afraid of such a thing," said I. 
 
 " All very well for you, my friend, who may have 
 come across the thing before — that makes all the 
 difference ; but what is the beast called ?" 
 
 " As you have seen," said I ; " it is a large species 
 of lizard, and called the tokey from the sound it 
 makes: and repulsive as it is to look at from its 
 having a double tongue, its name is a proverb among 
 the natives, for a double dealer or two-faced person ; 
 it is not disliked, for the Siamese believe that in ad- 
 dition to the service it performs by driving away 
 other vermin, it announces the hour. 
 
 " Well, Herbert, I've seen 'coons, 'possums, bears, 
 wild cats, and snakes, but never such a varmint as 
 that before ; and though it may be as smart as you 
 
A QUEER LEGEND. 
 
 203 
 
 say, and serve the niggers in this country as a clock, 
 it will be a long time before you'll coax me to like it 
 for a bedfellow ; but the queer noise it makes ! why 
 I took it for a human being." 
 
 " Ah ! the Siamese tell a wonderful and by no 
 means agreeable story about that noise. They say 
 that the reptile, feeling his liver grow too big, makes 
 the cry of ' Tolcey ' to call to its help another insect ; 
 which, obeying the call, enters the tokey's mouth, 
 and eats the liver ; and, having thus relieved its friend, 
 returns by the way it entered." 
 
 " It's not a pleasant legend, and that's a fact ; but," 
 he added, with a yawn, " enough of the brute for 
 the present." 
 
 And the next moment Dick, who possessed the 
 valuable faculty of sleeping at will, was fast locked 
 in the arms of Somnus. I followed his example, 
 and w T e both slept till late in the morning, when we 
 were aroused by the native, who entered the room 
 with hot tea and rice cakes, of which, after a plunge 
 in the river, we partook, and then set out under his 
 guidance for the great mandarin's house. 
 
 The journey, like most journies in Siam, having to 
 be made by water, the native had procured a good 
 sized canoe ; and so, once again, we were upon 
 the busy, bustling Meinam among the floating 
 traders, whose various cries rent the air with 
 the noise ; but, even above the din of humanity, 
 was the noisy caw-cawing of the clouds of crows ; 
 birds so audacious in Bangkok that they devas- 
 
204 
 
 WE GO ON A VISIT. 
 
 tate gardens and eat all the ripe fruit ; carry- 
 away chickens, and all eatables exposed to the sun ; 
 they enter houses by door or window; will steal 
 cakes and plantains from the hands of children ; will 
 raise up the covering of pots and pans, and carry off 
 their contents, not only for present use, but to be 
 stored for future supply. They conceal their rob- 
 beries in the roofs of houses or in the hollow trees, 
 and often assemble to make war upon jays, pigeons, 
 and less courageous birds. Of the food that is given 
 to dogs, cats, poultry, the Crows invariably steal the 
 largest portion. No doubt they destroy many nui- 
 sances in the shape of insects and animals more an- 
 noying than themselves. If you fling a stone among 
 them their number only increases, and they salute 
 you with a tenfold clamour ; if you kill one, a thou- 
 sand come to inquire what you are doing ; and, in- 
 stead of getting rid of the plague of their presence, 
 you augment it a hundred-fold. 
 
 Well, we had passed through the din of noises 
 about two miles up the river, and had reached the 
 mouth of a large canal, when our farther progress 
 was arrested by a funeral procession. This consisted 
 of a large barge wherein, upon a platform, was placed 
 the coffin. This barge, followed by an immense num- 
 ber of boats containing the relatives of the deceased, 
 was on its way to the cemetery w r here the burning was 
 to take place. We reverently backed our boats, and 
 rested till the procession had passed ; as, however, it 
 is desirable that my readers should be made acquainted 
 
A SIAMESE FUNERAL. 
 
 205 
 
 with the solemn as well as the amusing customs of 
 this strange people, I will take the opportunity of 
 telling them something about their funeral cere- 
 monies. 
 
 When a person is at the point of death the tala- 
 poins (or priests) are sent for, who sprinkle lustral 
 water upon the sufferer, recite passages which speak 
 of the vanity of earthly things from their sacred 
 books, and cry out, repeating the exclamation in the 
 ears of the dying : — " Arahang ! arahang ! " (a mys- 
 tical word implying the purity of Buddha from 
 human desires). When the dying person has heaved 
 his last breath, the whole family utter piercing cries, 
 
206 
 
 WE GrO ON A VISIT. 
 
 and address their lamentations to the departed : — O 
 father benefactor! why leave us? What have we 
 done to offend you ? Why did you eat the fruit 
 that caused the dysentery ? We foretold it. Why 
 did you not listen to us ? O misery ! O desolation ! 
 O inconstancy of human affairs !" And they fling 
 themselves at the feet of the dead, weep, wail, kiss, 
 utter a thousand tender reproaches till grief has ex- 
 hausted its lamentable expressions. This last sad 
 scene being over, the body is washed, coloured with 
 turmeric, and rubbed with quick lime ; then wrapped 
 in white cloth. The arms are raised as if in adora- 
 tion, and a piece of gold or silver placed in the 
 mouth. Quicksilver and honey are poured down the 
 throat, after which the body is placed upright, a tube 
 from the mouth is passed through the roof of the 
 house to carry off the offensive effluvia above, holes 
 are made in the feet in which bamboos are placed to 
 convey the deposits which descend. The coffin in 
 which the body is placed is covered with gilded paper 
 and decorated with tinsel flowers ; a dais is prepared, 
 ornamented with the same materials as the coffin, 
 but with wreaths of flowers and a number of wax 
 lights. After a day or two the coffin is removed, 
 not through the door, but through an opening spe- 
 cially made in the wall ; the coffin is escorted thrice 
 round the house at full speed, in order that the dead, 
 forgetting the way through which he had passed may 
 not return to molest the living. 
 
 The coffin is then taken to a large barge and placed 
 
FUNERALS. 
 
 207 
 
 on a platform, surmounted by the dais, to the sound 
 of melancholy music. The relations and friends in 
 small boats accompany the barge to the temple where 
 the body is to be burned. Being arrived, the coffin 
 is opened and delivered to the officials charged with 
 the cremation, the corpse having in his mouth a silver 
 tical (2s. 6d.) to defray the expenses. The burner 
 first washes the face of the corpse with cocoa-nut 
 milk ; and, if the deceased have ordered that his 
 body shall be delivered to vultures and crows, the 
 functionary cuts it up and distributes it to the birds of 
 prey which are always assembled in the cemeteries. 
 
 Supposing the body is destroyed by fire, when the 
 burning is over the relatives assemble, collect the 
 principal bones, which they place in an urn,* and 
 convey to the family abode. The garb of mourn- 
 ing is white, and is accompanied by shaving of the 
 head. 
 
 The funerals of the opulent last for two or three 
 days ; there are fireworks, sermons from the tala- 
 poins, nocturnal theatricals, where all sorts of mon- 
 sters are introduced ; tents are erected within the 
 precincts of the temples, and games and gambling 
 accompany the rites. 
 
 But to resume my narrative : the funeral proces- 
 sion having passed, we entered the canal, up which 
 we paddled for about a mile, when, quitting the 
 
 * Frequently these are moulded into a small idol or figure of 
 the deceased, and gilded for future preservation. 
 
208 
 
 WE GO ON A VISIT. 
 
 boat, we landed in what I suppose must have been 
 the leading land street of Bangkok. 
 
 It was a narrow covered passage, some miles in 
 length, and formed by closely-joined shops of the 
 Chinese, but so low that a man of greater than the 
 average height of the Siamese (five feet three inches) 
 could not walk without stooping. When we had 
 passed about midway down this passage, we came 
 upon another and shorter, by which it was intersected ; 
 and, turning down this, in a few minutes we reached 
 an open space, at the furthermost side of which 
 stood the kalapan's palace, and in this place the 
 native left us, while he went to announce to the great 
 man our arrival. 
 
 " Why, hang me, if those old 'coons aint going to 
 play shuttlecock !" exclaimed Dick, looking earnestly 
 and with surprise at some thirty or forty grown men 
 standing in a circle; in the centre of which stood 
 one, and he apparently the senior, with a shuttlecock 
 in his hand. 
 
 " Aye, and why not, Dick ; it is a very good game, 
 too, as they play it," I said, laughing at Dick's asto- 
 nishment. 
 
 " Well, Herbert, I see no reason against it, except 
 that in the parts where I have travelled it is the cus- 
 tom for young men to leave off hoops, peg-tops, and 
 marbles, when they go into coats ; but," he asked : 
 " do they use their hands, for I can't see a battledore 
 among them." 
 
 But, as he spoke, the man in the circle com- 
 
SIAMESE BATTLEDORE AND SHUTTLECOCK. 209 
 
 menced the game by producing his battledore, 
 and the shuttlecock, once in the air, the 
 others produced their battledores, by means of 
 which, to Dick's utter astonishment, they kept 
 the toy flying from one to the other for about 
 twenty minutes without permitting it once to touch 
 the ground. But the Siamese battledore— what is 
 it ? Well ; the sole of the foot ; and they use it with 
 surprising, nay, almost scientific agility. The shuttle- 
 cock once thrown into the air, the next player 
 watches till it nearly reaches the ground, then wheel- 
 ing quickly about, he lifts up his right leg, and so 
 twists it that the sole of the foot strikes it upwards 
 again, and it is received after the same fashion by the 
 nearest player, and thus sometimes for nearly an hour 
 will expert players keep the toy flying from one to 
 the other. 
 
 " Well, Herbert, it's a smart trick and that's a fact ; 
 but I guess not worth a fellow's putting his ankle 
 out of joint," said Dick, who had been attentively 
 watching the game, and lost in his admiration of the 
 smartness had given his own ankle a severe twist 
 by unconsciously making the attempt; but, as at that 
 moment our guide returned, we left the players, 
 and followed him to the Phra Klang's house. 
 
 This house, or palace, was a newly erected stone 
 building, situatedinthemidstof extensive gardens which 
 were surrounded by a wall. Passing through the gate- 
 way we entered upon a large open court-yard, 
 paved with marble, and ornamented with large flower 
 
 p 
 
210 
 
 WE GO ON A VISIT. 
 
 vases, and great stone figures of men and animals. 
 Passing the open front, which was supported by 
 stone pillars, and about which were a great num- 
 ber of attendants and slaves, we reached the hall 
 of audience. This was a large apartment, with 
 several floors or platforms, ascending one above the 
 other. Here, however, I must digress just to explain 
 the reason for this very curious arrangement. 
 
 In no other country in the world are the people in 
 such a state of abject slavery as in Siam ; in no other 
 country is so much deference paid to superiors — in 
 fact, there is scarcely such a thing as equals — for, 
 from the tankea girl to the first king, the grades are 
 infinitesimal. For instance, in a family, if a 
 younger brother presents anything to his elder, he 
 falls upon his knees to deliver it ; if a person 
 meet another, but the shade of a grade higher in 
 position, he must lower his head, so that it be not 
 so high as those of his superior; indeed, if a man 
 of any rank makes his appearance, all his subordi- 
 nates seat themselves upon the ground with their 
 feet hidden from his view ; hence, in the Minister's 
 Audience Chamber, the floors were arranged one 
 above the other, so that no man should be placed 
 upon an equality with his superior. Indeed, so 
 rigorously is this principle carried out, that death 
 would be awarded to the man who should, either 
 in a house or a ship, walk in the room or the 
 deck above the head of a great personage; in 
 this custom, however, as in many others, the 
 
THE AUDIENCE CHAMBER. 
 
 211 
 
 Siamese have either borrowed from or taught the 
 Burmese. But to return to the Audience Hall. 
 
 The Phra Klang, who was attired in a silk jacket, 
 with a yellow sash of the same material, and wide 
 trousers, was sitting upon the uppermost floor or 
 platform, chewing betel, to which he occasionally 
 helped himself from a golden box, while a slave upon 
 his knees held a large fan, by means of which every 
 now and then he would force a current of air into his 
 noble master's face. About the floors in various 
 directions, with their legs tucked beneath so as to 
 hide the feet, and their elbows resting upon the 
 ground, were some twenty retainers, or more proba- 
 bly subordinate officials ; for, as we entered the room, 
 his Excellency appeared to be giying them orders ; 
 but whoever they were, they could have been of no 
 great rank, for the moment the Phra Klang saw us, 
 he beckoned to us to seat ourselves upon a couple of 
 chairs, which were placed upon the platform, next 
 only in descent from the one upon which he was 
 sitting. 
 
 Upon entering the hall I at once recognised in the 
 Phra Klang the noble who had visited my prison, at 
 which, although not greatly surprised, I was much 
 pleased, for I had little doubt that he could help me 
 to find out the merchant Mi, whom I now more than 
 suspected to be a rogue. 
 
 As it was in English that he bade us both wel- 
 come, so in my own tongue I thanked him for having 
 released us from our unjust incarceration ; but, be- 
 
 p 2 
 
212 
 
 AVE GO ON A VISIT. 
 
 fore mentioning the name of Mi, I asked for what 
 purpose his Excellency had condescended to invite 
 me to his presence. 
 
 a My friend/' he replied, " is a stranger in Siam ; 
 bad people to answer their own ends came to me, the 
 Phra Klang, and declared that he was one of the 
 thieves who stole the royal cargo ; thus I ordered 
 him to be seized and imprisoned; but, since dis- 
 covering that my friends were innocent, I released 
 them, and now desire that they shall not return 
 to their own countries without learning how great is 
 my grief for what they have suffered, and that I am 
 endeavouring to find the rogue, their enemy, who, by 
 his false words brought this trouble upon them." 
 
 66 But this rogue, Excellency, who is he, and what 
 motive h#d he thus to persecute two strangers ?" 
 
 u Who, O my friend, shall divine the motives of 
 a rogue ? but for his name, it is Mi — the merchant 
 Mi." 
 
 " Pardon, Excellency, but it is not possible, or at 
 least there may be two Mi's ; the one I seek is an 
 honest man, and the friend of my father," I replied, 
 incredulously. 
 
 " Let my friend open his ears, and he will no 
 longer doubt," he replied, adding, " When the rob- 
 bery of the royal cargo became known in Bangkok, 
 great was the consternation at the impudent crime, 
 and large were the rewards offered for the discovery 
 of the thieves ; but there seemed to be no clue to 
 them, till one morning, as I was about setting out for 
 
THE PHRA KLANG'S EXPLANATION. 213 
 
 Ayuthia upon the king's affairs, a great merchant, 
 esteemed by all of high character, besought of me to 
 give him a private interview before my departure. 
 This request was granted ; when, falling upon his 
 knees he said that, having gone to Paknam, at the 
 mouth of the Meinam, to meet a certain junk then 
 expected to arrive from Canton, he had found on 
 board two men whom the captain had picked up in 
 the gulf, and that he had discovered them to 
 be companions of the thieves who stole the royal 
 cargo." 
 
 " Then it was that saffron-faced old rogue after 
 all, Herbert," said Dick ; but not noticing his re- 
 mark, I said — 
 
 " But, O Excellency, did not this wicked rogue 
 say that we were Farangs and Europeans ? If so, we 
 should not have been seized, for was it not known in 
 Bangkok that the thieves of Chantaburi were 
 Chinese?" 
 
 " The rogue did say that my friends were 
 Farangs ; but that strengthened my suspicions against 
 you, for it is known that the Farangs were with the 
 Governor when he went on board the pirate junk. 
 Thus," continued his Excellency, "when the mer- 
 chant left me he took with him an order to the chief 
 of the police to go on board the junk to seize and 
 carry you to separate places of confinement, where 
 you were to remain till my return from Ayuthia. 
 Need I say — my commands were obeyed." 
 
 " No, and that's a. fact, anyhow," interposed Dick, 
 
214 
 
 WE GO ON A VISIT. 
 
 with a shrug of his shoulders ; the Phra Klang, how- 
 ever, not noticing the interruption, resumed, " Upon 
 my return to Bangkok, I determined at once to see 
 and examine you ; but as I was leaving my house, 
 your gaoler came to me and repeated the history of 
 your adventures ; but although there was much in it 
 that seemed like truth, I know that rogues are artful, 
 and so at once visited you, when having listened to 
 your story, which corresponded with that which you had 
 told the gaoler, and observing your honest manner of 
 speech, I had one half belief in your innocence ; 
 but when you referred me to Mi himself, telling me 
 at the same time that to your knowledge you had not 
 seen him, and that he had received letters from your 
 worthy father, the merchant of Macao, desiring him 
 to be prepared to receive you, and give over to you 
 the monies due, I almost believed in the other half, 
 but still I determined to see your friend here, and 
 listen to what he had to say. I did, and so exactly 
 did he repeat the same story, that I determined upon 
 your release ; but I resolved also to have the man Mi 
 brought before me, for, believing in your innocence, 
 I knew that the fellow Mi must have intended to rob 
 you ; in order to do which, when he had received 
 your father's letter, he laid the scheme to meet you 
 at the mouth of the river, so that before you could 
 reach Bangkok, he might find some means of getting 
 you seized and placed in prison, there to remain till 
 he could settle his affairs, and quit the city before 
 you could demand your money/' 
 
OFFERED FREE LODGINGS. 
 
 215 
 
 u Great Heaven ! is it possible this man can be so 
 great a rogue ?" I exclaimed. 
 
 u It don't require much credulity to believe that ; 
 but did I not take his measure long ago ?" 
 
 " My friend," continued the minister, " there are 
 bad men everywhere ; but this Mi is a great rogue, 
 for he is nowhere to be found ; his goods have been 
 sold, his house burned down, and he himself has 
 escaped." 
 
 u And we have had our journey here for nothing," 
 said Dick. 
 
 " But worse than all, Dick, my father w*ill be half 
 ruined by this man's roguery," said I. 
 
 " Buddha may not have so written ; the king's 
 arms are long and many, they will yet reach this 
 thief, who, wherever he may be, must still be rich," 
 said his Excellency, adding, "But let my friends 
 have patience, this house is large, and will hold them 
 till the rogue is discovered." 
 
 " If your Excellency means that for an invitation, 
 and I take it you do, why I am not the man to say 
 no in this fix," said Dick. 
 
 u Such an offer, O Excellency, is like the gift of 
 water to a man dying of thirst," said I ; and the 
 minister arose to conduct us to the inner apartments ; 
 but when I asked him if he knew of such a mandarin 
 as one Chaa Faa, he laughed, saying — 
 
 u Truly, there is but one Chaa Faa, and he is thy 
 servant." 
 
 " Is it possible that your Excellency can be he ?" 
 
216 
 
 AVE GO ON A VISIT. 
 
 " Thy servant is Chaa Faa ; but for what reason 
 does my friend ask this question ? for truly he can 
 know nothing of Chaa Faa." 
 
 " Then/' I said, in a lower tone, " has your Excel- 
 lency a relation one Luang ? " and at the name he 
 started, as if I had administered to him an electric 
 shock ; but recovering himself, he signified to me to 
 be silent, and follow him ; and not a little astonished 
 at his mysterious behaviour, we complied. 
 
 He led us from the Audience Hall to a long pas- 
 sage at the back portion of the house, upon either 
 side of which was a range of rooms. Into one of 
 these, which was of moderate size, and furnished 
 very gorgeously after a mixed Asiatic and European 
 style, he invited us to follow him, and when the 
 slaves had brought in the tea, in what I took to 
 be, and now believe was, a service of pure gold, 
 and had, by his Excellency's command, left the room, 
 he said— 
 
 "My friend "has named one for whose head a 
 large reward is offered. Does he know aught of 
 
 him r 
 
 " Well, Excellency, I take it, we do a little ; but 
 since we did not come to Siam to earn blood-money, 
 we had better say nothing about him." 
 
 " Luang," and the Klang whispered the name, 
 " is a near relation of thy servant." 
 
 " Then, look you, Mister, it isn't quite natural for 
 you to offer a couple of decent white people a reward 
 for his head ?" said Dick ; who, after his hot-headed 
 
I RELATE PAST ADVENTURES. 
 
 217 
 
 manner, was acting upon a misconception ; but the 
 astonished noble merely said — 
 
 " What words are these ? Is the Farang mad ?" 
 
 " Pardon/' I interposed, " my friend misunder- 
 stands your Excellency; he believes you are the 
 enemy of Luang, whom, like me, he would save ; 
 but," I added, quite confident of what would be the 
 reply. u If the relative of the noble Klang were 
 alive and suffering a dreary imprisonment, would he 
 stretch forth his powerful hand to rescue the unfortu- 
 nate man ?" and I was not deceived, for seriously, 
 almost solemnly, he said, as a tear started in his 
 eye— 
 
 " My friend, you have poured a soothing balm 
 upon a great wound. Luang is my brother, and 
 were I sure that he had not passed to the w r orld of 
 shadows, I would search him out were he even across 
 the farthermost seas ; but is that so ? Does my un- 
 fortunate brother live ? Let my friend open his lips." 
 
 Whereupon, I at once related the Governor's ad- 
 ventures upon the island, aud made known his re- 
 quest that his brother would send a junk to his 
 rescue. And in the exuberance of his joy and 
 gratitude, the noble Siamese not only repeated his 
 request that we should take up our lodgings in his 
 house, but that we should regard it as our own in all 
 things. 
 
218 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE LADY WITH THE CEOCODILES, 
 
 " Well, my friend, we might have fallen into worse 
 diggins than these/' said Dick, as we were shown into 
 the rooms appropriated to our use — a suite of three, 
 handsomely furnished after a mixed European and 
 Siamese fashion, and which opened upon the garden. 
 
 " True, Dick, and to use your own phrase, that's 
 a fact, for we are without money, Mi has decamped, 
 and I moy be a couple of months before I can get a 
 remittance from Macao," said I. But it was full 
 three months before I heard from my father. 
 
 The time, however, was not badly expended, for 
 we obtained an insight into the manners and customs 
 of the Siamese, besides met with incidents which led 
 to very desirable results ; but I am digressing. 
 
 Well, the morning after our taking up our lodg- 
 ings in Klang's house, that noble told us he should 
 be absent from home the whole of that day and the 
 following, partly upon the king's affairs, but chiefly 
 touching the matter of his brother, the ex-Governor, 
 
SHAVING OF THE TUFT." 
 
 219 
 
 and the capture of the rogue Mi; but he very 
 earnestly begged that, until his return, we would 
 upon no account leave the house ; and monotonous 
 as was the prospect, we complied with the request. 
 
 Late in the evening of the third day, as Dick and 
 I were about going to rest, he returned, and then 
 told us that on the following day we might witness 
 one of the most important domestic ceremonies of 
 his nation ; for that the time having arrived for his 
 eldest son to quit home and commence his education 
 under the talapoins of a neighbouring temple, on 
 that day would take place the " shaving of the tuft." 
 
 " Which means planting a shoe-brush on the 
 young 'coon's head," said Dick, when we were alone ; 
 and in this instance he was doubly correct, for in the 
 first place the tuft strongly resembles, at least, a hair- 
 brush ; and secondly, the Siamese boys are termed 
 young 'coons. 
 
 " And a very important ceremony too, Dick/' said 
 I, " for until it has taken place, no boy may be sent 
 to a Pagoda to be taught reading, writing, and 
 religion." 
 
 " No great loss either, my friend, if a fellow may 
 judge from the illiterate appearance of all the idle 
 yellow-robed priests I have seen." 
 
 " No matter, Dick, it is the law of the land — it is 
 an institution that every man born in Siam must 
 serve a portion of his life as a priest ; and although 
 any may quit once, if they ever re-enter, they 
 must remain priests for life." 
 
220 THE LADY WITH THE CROCODILES. 
 
 " And that's the reason, I suppose, that there are 
 so many thousands of begging bonzes to be found 
 in Bangkok." 
 
 In the morning, just after we had left our baths, 
 we received an invitation from our host to take 
 our morning meal with him. This, to our sur- 
 prise, was served as nearly as possible after 
 the European fashion ; indeed this worthy, for 
 a Siamese great man, was far in advance of 
 the majority of the natives of his own rank ; 
 for, not only did he speak fluently two or three 
 European languages, but desired, in all that was 
 compatible with the climate and the superstitions of 
 his countrymen, to follow our customs. 
 
 66 My friends open their eyes. They did not 
 think to see so much of Europe in the house of a 
 Siamese," he said, with a self-satisfied smile, at our 
 surprise. 
 
 We candidly confessed that we did not, and he 
 added — 
 
 " Ah ! Asia very old ; so old, go to sleep ; • but 
 it wake up now and learn from its son Europe ; 
 it's only foolish old people that can't take lessons 
 from their children ; but," he added, a my friends 
 have not seen my garden and cook-house — cook- 
 house got chimney, just same as Europe." 
 
 And, as much to gratify our host's pardonable 
 vanity as to satisfy our curiosity, I expressed a de- 
 sire to walk through the garden, when, as we had 
 concluded our meal, he at once arose and led us 
 
STROLL IN A SIAMESE GARDEN. 
 
 221 
 
 to the entrance of his ornamental grounds; but 
 there he left us to ourselves, promising to rejoin 
 us after he had transacted some business in con- 
 nection with the coming festival of the day. 
 
 " Smart fellow, and that's a fact ; " he'll do some 
 good for his country, he will, if they will only let 
 him, some of these days," apostrophized Dick ; add- 
 ing, however, as he caught sight of a low wooden 
 building, which, but for the solitary exception of a 
 tall chimney, was more like a barn than a house ; 
 " but if yonder's the cook-house and chimney, of 
 which he is so proud, I take it he has much to 
 learn before he licks the Europeans in taste." 
 
 " Now, Dick, you are hypercritical ; it is at any 
 rate the first chimney in Siam, and that must be a 
 great stride." 
 
 " Well, certainly that's a fact — but still it's a long 
 walk to Europe, and he'll have to take a good 
 many great strides like that before he gets there, 
 I guess." 
 
 " But these gardens, the shady groves, the gravel 
 walks, the neatly-trimmed trees, yonder fountain, 
 remind one of Europe." 
 
 u Well, I can't say that it does or it does not ; 
 for do you see, Herbert, I have been away from 
 Europe many years ; and, when I was there, I 
 only saw the gardens of ' Gray's Inn/ the 6 Temple,' 
 and ' St. J ames' Park ;' and I thought them more 
 jolly to play in than to stare at ; but them, you 
 see, I'm not sentimental, and that's a fact/ 9 replied 
 
222 THE LADY WITH THE CROCODILES. 
 
 Dick, and that was all the opinion I could get 
 from him ; and thus we walked and talked for about 
 half an hour, when, passing a grove of trees, we 
 came suddenly upon a large pond or basin. Then, 
 however, we stood still. 
 
 " Let us retrace our steps, Dick ; we are trespass- 
 ing ; this must be the Ladies' Garden," said I, point- 
 ing to the figure of a woman who was reclining upon 
 the very edge of the water. But, as we turned, Dick 
 exclaimed — 
 
 " Your six-shooter, Herbert ; for heaven's sake, 
 quick." 
 
 " Unfortunately I had the weapon with me ; it had 
 never left my pocket. I pulled it forth ; but my ex- 
 citable companion snatched it from my hand and 
 fired it in the midst of half a dozen young crocodiles; 
 one of the animals, which was near to the female, 
 received a ball which sent it over screaming and lash- 
 ing its tail furiously. Dick ran forward and fired 
 another ball with similar effect, crying, with de- 
 light— 
 
 u Hurrah ! for old Kentucky, she's saved P 
 And then, as a heroine of romance, the rescued lady 
 should have fallen fainting in her deliverer's arms ; 
 but no ! she arose, and, with the aspect, and almost 
 the roar, of an enraged tigress, before Dick was pre- 
 pared, rushed upon him, pulled him to the ground, 
 and with flaming eye-balls flourished a knife over 
 him ; astounded, however, as I was at this extraordi- 
 nary return for our services, I ran behind her, and, 
 
A SIAMESE LUNATIC. 
 
 223 
 
 catching hold of her wrists, pulled her arms behind 
 her. This permitted Dick to get upon his feet, when 
 more astonished than alarmed, he said — 
 
 " Hold tight, Herbert, but don't harm her ; the 
 poor creature's a lunatic." 
 
 And that Dick's opinion was right there could be 
 little doubt ; for, applying to us the most opprobrious 
 epithets in the Siamese language, she declared she 
 was the Princess Ma, adding — 
 
 u Know dogs, and sons of dogs, that it is your 
 princess who is before you, and whose dear friends 
 and companions you have slain ; but for these crimes 
 you shall be boiled in oil." 
 
 Nay, so fearful were the punishments that she re- 
 capitulated, that we shuddered with horror at their 
 very description ; but her struggles to get free were 
 so great that my strength was failing. Just at that 
 moment, however, we saw the Phra Klang, and seve- 
 ral of his slaves, coming towards us. He called to 
 her by name, and marvellous was the effect, her rage 
 became instantaneously softened. 
 
 " She is harmless ; my friend may give her her 
 liberty," said Klang. 
 
 I obeyed^ and in an instant she fell at his feet, and 
 with tears coursing down her haggard cheeks, im- 
 plored his pardon if she had offended ; adding, not a 
 little to our surprise — 
 
 " For nought but the murder of the best of her 
 dear friends would have again filled thy servant w T ith 
 the evil spirit." 
 
224 THE LADY WITH THE CROCODILES. 
 
 u The poor woman's madder than ever. I have 
 but this minute rescued her from the jaws of yon 
 reptile/' said Dick. 
 
 " It is an unfortunate day, for my friends have slain 
 this poor creature's chief and dearest companion — 
 the crocodile — but doubtlessly it was by mistake/' 
 replied the Phra Klang ; and at the reply Dick gave 
 a sharp short whistle, and looked very earnestly in the 
 minister's eyes to see if there were not symptoms of 
 madness to be found therein also. 
 
 But the Phra Klang then led the poor creature 
 away, asking us, however, as he did so, to return to 
 our own rooms, where he would soon follow, which he 
 did in a few minutes, when he said — 
 
 " My friends have seen the gardens, do they think 
 them like those of Europe ?" 
 
 u Well, do you see, sir, they are and they ain't ; 
 they are as far as the laying out goes, but then they 
 ain't as far as them reptiles, and they won't be till 
 you get them cleared out of that pond." 
 
 " Have the Europeans no pet animals, of which 
 they make friends, and with which their ladies and 
 children fondle ?" asked the minister. 
 
 " Yes, they have. But then, you see, they ain't 
 given to crocodiles, but more civilized creatures, like 
 canary birds, spaniels, Italian greyhounds, and cats," 
 replied Dick. 
 
 {t And the nobles of Siam make pets of crocodiles, 
 and their women and children feed and fondle with 
 them." 
 
THE PRINCESS MA. 
 
 225 
 
 " Well, sir, I don't object to that ; for every man 
 has a right to ride his own hobby, so long as he don't 
 run over his neighbour ; but as for crocodiles — 
 why — it's a matter of taste, and that's a/ac^." 
 
 " There is more merit in taming a free savage of 
 the forest than a slave in your household," replied 
 the Phra Klang ; " but/' he added, u my friends 
 would like to hear the story of the poor woman, 
 whom by mistake they have nearly killed with 
 grief. Let them listen." 
 
 And he said — 
 
 " Near the close of his life, the late king sus- 
 tained a great loss in the death of his daughter, 
 the Princess Ma. 0 ! sad was the loss, and great 
 the grief of the empire ; but the urn received the 
 ashes of the princess, and the wounds in the mil- 
 lions of hearts began to heal; before, however, 
 they had time to close, the governor of the pro- 
 vince sent the news to Bangkok that a young 
 woman, who had been for two days and a night in a 
 trance, upon recovering declared that she was the 
 Princess Ma, and that the nation had been falsely 
 persuaded that her highness was dead. 
 
 " At first the governor laughed at and pitied the 
 poor creature ; but when, to prove her assertion, 
 she solemnly maintained she could enumerate every 
 article that had belonged to the princess, he became 
 so alarmed at the effect her declaration might 
 have upon the people, that he at once sent the poor 
 creature to court. 
 
 Q 
 
226 THE LADY WITH THE CROCODILES. 
 
 " One of the dead princess's brothers was ap- 
 pointed to examine her ; when, to his highness' 
 astonishment, she not only enumerated and de- 
 scribed the possessions of his late sister, but again 
 solemnly persisted that she herself was that prin- 
 cess : for, although that then she was very fair, 
 previous to her trance she was very dark, and would 
 have still continued so, had she not during the 
 trance been transformed by some mysterious power, 
 her enemy. At all this the king and prince became 
 so much enraged that they ordered her to receive 
 thirty lashes and be put to the torture. 
 
 " But/' said the Phra Klang, " do my friends 
 know what torture means in this land of Siam. Let 
 them listen : — That used for the head consists of two 
 flat pieces of wood ; the head being placed between 
 these pieces, the ends are gradually drawn together 
 so tightly as to force the eye-balls from the socket, 
 and cause an effusion of blood from the ears. 
 Smaller pieces are placed between the fingers and 
 drawn together so as to cause blood to start from 
 the finger nails. Such are some of our minor tor- 
 tures. Well, the torture was applied; and lashes 
 given in the presence of hundreds, but she suffered all 
 like a heroine, without a groan. And two days after 
 this, when asked if she still persisted in her decla- 
 ration, she replied — c I have told you ; I do tell you 
 again I am the princess.' 
 
 u Again and again were the tortures applied, 
 but always with the same result. Knowing she 
 
ADVENTURES OF A LUNATIC. 
 
 227 
 
 was mad, I interceded, pleaded for her before the 
 king, and his majesty would have pardoned her, 
 but a talapoin of the royal household believing her 
 to be superhuman, and that some terrible event 
 was about to happen, told the kiug the sacred 
 books contained a prophecy that, whenever such a 
 person should arise, the kingdom of Siam would 
 pass to another nation ; and this, turning the 
 king's wrath to despair, his majesty called a council 
 to devise fresh punishment. 
 
 " The assembly advised her immediate decapita- 
 tion, with the extermination of her family ; but 
 again I interceded, and she was sentenced to receive 
 ninety lashes, and then to be sent adrift upon an open 
 raft on the sea. But, at the last moment, the talapoin 
 who had told of the prophecy repented, and pleaded 
 for the poor creature, saying to the king — ' For who 
 can tell whether this be the person of whom the 
 books speak/' and this allaying the royal wrath, the 
 poor creature w x as condemned to grind rice in the 
 king's kitchen during the remainder of her ex- 
 istence ; and, for a few years during the lifetime of 
 the king she remained in that state. 
 
 " Upon the accession, however, of his present 
 majesty, the first king, I begged her as a present ; 
 it was granted, and from then till now, she has 
 lived in these gardens in a house inhabited but by 
 herself and two female slaves — her sole occupation 
 being the feeding and playing with my pet croco- 
 diles, It was her bitter sorrow at the death of one 
 
 Q 2 
 
228 
 
 THE LADY WITH THE CROCODILES. 
 
 of her friends that brought back for the first time 
 since she has been here, a relapse of her madness." 
 
 It is indeed a melancholy history, and may the 
 noble Klang be rewarded for his goodness; but 
 as the report of a musket and the sounds of music 
 announced the commencement of the important 
 ceremony of the day, he ran forward without mak- 
 ing answer. 
 
 But the festival of " the shaving of the tuft." 
 
 Well, although Dick and I played no very import- 
 ant part in the ceremonies, the latter, which lasted 
 three days, were sufficiently curious to deserve 
 description. 
 
 The chief and first portion of the ceremony took 
 place in the great room. A species of altarwas erected 
 of bamboos, with seven steps of ascent, which were 
 carpeted with banana leaves \ each of the steps was 
 also ornamented with grotesque figures of angels, 
 and animals in clay, paper, or other material. Upon 
 the lower steps were vessels of gold, silver, and por- 
 celain, filled with choice meats and rare fruits. Upon 
 nhe upper steps were garlands of flowers, and leaves 
 of tinsel, gold and silver, upon which rested a fresh 
 cocoa-nut ; and at the foot of the altar were placed 
 nine chandeliers, holding wax candles. 
 
 The room itself was crowded to excess with the 
 relatives and friends of the gorgeously-dressed and 
 be-jewelled youth, who, while his head was being 
 washed by one of the officiating talapoins, must 
 have suffered in the drums of his ears, from the 
 
SHAVING THE TUFT. 
 
 229 
 
 music of the band around him, which consisted 
 chiefly of relatives, who were performing upon a 
 variety of instruments, ingenious enough in their 
 way, but crudely representing guitars, violins, 
 flutes, drums, large and small, and cymbals ; with- 
 out naming several others, which it would be as 
 useless to describe as it would be impossible to 
 understand, without seeing them. 
 
 Well, when the barber (a profession, by the way, 
 which next to a doctor, takes the highest rank in 
 Siam) had performed his share of the operation upon 
 the head of the young noble, and the talapoin had 
 washed it, we were startled by the sound of three 
 muskets. It was a signal, for on the instant, the 
 noble youth seized one of the lighted candles, and 
 walked three times round the altar; having done 
 this, each of his nearest relatives seized a wax- 
 light, and simultaneously blew them out over 
 his head, so that the smoke enveloped his forehead. 
 Then the cocoa-nut was presented to him, and 
 having partaken of the milk, he was formally pre- 
 sented with a cup of coins of considerable value ; 
 and as thus the ceremony was brought to an end, 
 the band commenced and filled the apartment 
 with sounds that no stretch of courtesy could call 
 music. 
 
 In the evening there was a concert, and dancing ; 
 but the music, unlike that of the noisy band of the 
 morning, was soft and harmonious; but then it 
 came from the sweet pipes of Laos, instruments 
 
230 the lady' with the crocodiles. 
 
 made of bamboo reeds, eight feet in length ; more- 
 over they were played upon by the Laosian wives of 
 the Phra Klang. But of these sweet pipes, strange 
 dances, and interesting Laosian wives and their 
 lords, let us listen to Sir John Bowring, who 
 says : — 
 
 " On visiting the houses of the high nobility, I 
 have been often asked, e Will you see the dances V 
 c Will you hear the singing V ' Will you listen to the 
 music of Laos V And groups of meek-eyed, gentle, 
 prostrate people have been introduced, to exhibit 
 the movements which rather resemble the graceful 
 positions of the ancient minuet, than the friskness 
 of the European 6 light fantastic toe/ Sometimes 
 they hold garlands of flowers, which they present in 
 graceful varieties of attitude. Sometimes torches 
 or candles are moved about in centric or excentric 
 orbits. The songs — they are generally tales of love 
 — are often pathetic and pleasing. They are some- 
 times accompanied by music, at others the songs 
 and the music are heard alone. Bishop Pallegoix, 
 who is well acquainted with the Laos people, speaks 
 of their music as very sweet, harmonious, and senti- 
 mental. Three persons will form a melodious con- 
 cert — one plays the bamboo-organ, another sings 
 romances with the voice of inspiration, and the third 
 strikes in cadence the suspended tongues of sonorous 
 woods. 
 
 u The Laos organ is a collection of sixteen fine 
 and long bamboos, bound by a circle of ebony, 
 
THE WOMEN OF LAOS. 
 
 231 
 
 where there is an opening for the aspiration and 
 inspiration of the breath, which causes the vibration 
 of a number of small silver tongulets, placed near a 
 hole made in each bamboo, over which the fingers 
 run with great dexterity." 
 
 But of these Laos ladies themselves, how sad is 
 the contrast between them and Englishwomen, for 
 the same personage in describing them, says : — 
 
 u I have seen the Laos women of the highest 
 ranks, sent for by their lords, to gratify my curiosity 
 (fie! Sir John, to have permitted .this thing). 
 They have crawled into the presence, and with 
 bowed head waited tremblingly for the com- 
 mands of their husband. Their dress is more 
 graceful than that of the Siamese women, especially 
 their mode of arranging and adorning their hair, 
 which was sometimes ornamented with fragrant 
 white flowers. They wore the ' pagne/ which is 
 the universal costume of Siam — a sort of light scarf 
 passed over the shoulders and covering the breast, 
 and a handsome silk tissue encircled the waist ; no 
 shoe or sandal was on the feet, and the legs were 
 uncovered to the knees ; though there seemed an 
 anxiety to conceal the feet beneath their garments 
 when they crouched down." 
 
 This entertainment, for such it was to us, was but 
 one of many in which we partook. For after alapse of 
 two months we were still partaking the Phra Klang's 
 hospitality, and with the exception of vexation at 
 the non- capture of Mi, and my anxiety to receive 
 
232 THE LADY WITH THE CROCODILES. 
 
 a letter from Macao, the time had passed pleasantly 
 enough. 
 
 There had been plays, concerts, games, and more- 
 over there had fallen in two of the annual festivals, 
 and we were looking forward to another, the 
 greatest of the great — viz., that of the Inundation of 
 the Meinam, when the First King would proceed in 
 state, and, like another Canute, command the surg- 
 ing waters to retire, for his good people had had 
 enough of them. 
 
 But a word or two, reader, about these festivals, 
 of which, in Siam, there are almost as many as in 
 China and Japan. 
 
 The occasion of some of these is curious, and 
 their origin piques one's curiosity. Among them 
 may be named — 
 
 That when the king sends to the talapoins pre- 
 sents of fruits and flowers, but more particularly 
 odoriferous woods for the cleansing of the teeth. 
 
 Another, when the king keeps within doors for 
 three days, and a mock-king is invested by the 
 people, with temporary sovereignty, and whose 
 majesty sends out his ministers to catch what they 
 can in the bazaars or open shops ; and even con- 
 fiscates junks that arrive during his reign. His 
 sham majesty proceeds to a field in the town, and 
 makes some furrows with a golden plough ; leaning 
 against the branch of a tree, he places his right foot 
 on his left knee, and is bound to stand on one leg, 
 as evidence of his legitimacy. Hence this popular 
 
FESTIVALS OF THE SIAMESE. 233 
 
 title of King Hop. A variety of vegetables are 
 scattered in* his presence, and a cow being brought 
 in, whatever she first eats is pronounced likely to be 
 scarce, and the people are advised accordingly. 
 
 " The whole of this farce," speculates Sir John 
 Bowring, i€ is probably intended to throw scorn upon 
 popular influences, and reconcile the subject to the 
 authority of a real king, but I am of opinion that 
 its origin is far deeper, nay, to be dug out of that 
 fountain of many superstitions — Buddhism." 
 
 Upon another of these holidays, the king makes 
 a royal progress, attended by his officers of state, to 
 the great Pagodas, and presents new dresses to 
 the talapoins. 
 
 Again, there is a festival of cc the Angel of the 
 River," whose forgiveness is then asked for every act 
 by which the waters of the Meinam have been made 
 impure. Offerings are made of little rafts of plan- 
 tain leaves, bearing lighted tapers, and ornamented 
 by flags and flowers. . 
 
 Then during another of these festivals, called 
 Phapa, nightly processions take place to the Pagoda, 
 and alms and offerings are left by boys and girls for 
 the bonzes, while they are supposed to sleep ; they 
 are awakened by stones and bricks flung against 
 the doors of their cells, when, as if exasperate^, 
 they turn out to scold the invaders of their repose, 
 but are soothed by the gifts they bring, and the * 
 young people return home with shouts of laughter 
 and singing. 
 
234 THE LADT WITH THE CROCODILES. 
 
 There is another, called the Jingatana, when a 
 cord made of dog-grass is taken to be blessed by 
 the talapoins. This cord being fastened round the 
 walls of the city, at a signal given by the astrologers, 
 successive bursts of artillery are heard, which are 
 supposed to frighten giants and plague-demons, who 
 are known to attack the city on that particular 
 night. 
 
235 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 WE HEAR SOME GOOD NEWS, BUT NOTHING OF WAIF. 
 
 At length, the long expected letter from my father 
 arrived. It was in the month of August, the day 
 before the festival of the Inundation of the Meinam. 
 
 Dick and I were alone, and in no very lively 
 mood, for we had been conversing about little Waif, 
 and speculating as to her probable fate, and the ap- 
 parently small chance of his attaining the object for 
 which he had made the journey to Bangkok. 
 
 Then in proportion as the receipt of that letter 
 raised my spirits, so did it depress Dick's, who, 
 jealously regarding the avidity with which I opened 
 it, said — 
 
 f< Well, Herbert, Pll just take a stroll down to 
 the pet crocodiles ; for, though I am not naturally 
 envious, the sight of those reptiles '11 just prevent 
 my going crazy at the thought that now there is no 
 person in the world that cares enough for Dick 
 Orme to write him a letter." 
 
 " Pooh ! pooh ! Dick, that's selfish, indeed ; sit 
 
236 
 
 WE HEAR SOME GOOD NEWS. 
 
 down, man ; who knows, I may have good news even 
 for you." 
 
 Strange to say, on the instant, I caught sight 
 of his name in my father's letter, and I added — 
 
 " Look you, Dick, I am a wizard ; I have news 
 for you." 
 
 " That's a, fact, is it V } he asked, incredulously. 
 " Aye, that it is ; but rest you quiet, and I will read 
 the whole." 
 
 Then, having first carefully taken out of the 
 envelope, and placed in my pocket a "letter of 
 credit/' or bill, upon a Bangkok merchant, I be- 
 gan, my father (God bless his dear handwriting) 
 says — 
 
 u Tour letter, my dear Herbert, came upon me 
 like a voice from the grave ; it has recalled me to 
 life, or at least any regard for life, for it found me 
 mourning your death." 
 
 ic Pardon me, my friend, that was rather prema- 
 ture, wasn't it V 9 said Dick ; but, not heeding him, 
 I continued to read — 
 
 " For although, when three months had passed 
 without bringing me the intelligence of your safe 
 arrival, I had sad and troublesome visions of 
 typhoons and pirates before my eyes, I still had 
 hope, till the arrival in port of Li-Poo with the in- 
 telligence that you and a young man and woman 
 who, in a very mysterious manner, had made them- 
 selves your fellow passengers (of course, I now 
 from your letter know who and what were these 
 
MY FATHER'S LETTER. 
 
 237 
 
 passengers) against his advice, insisted upon going 
 ashore at Chantaburi." 
 
 " The rascally old varmint — " 
 
 " Tut, Dick, don't interrupt, but listen," and I 
 continued to read — 
 
 u When, having made friends with the Governor, 
 -you had with his Excellency gone on board a junk, 
 which, although chartered for the king of Siam, 
 turned out to be a pirate, and that the captain of 
 the latter, after the custom of his fellows, had de- 
 capitated you all, and then sailed with the king's 
 cargo. Imagine, my dear Herbert, my sufferings 
 upon hearing this corroborated, as it seemed to be, 
 by the captain and crew of another ship; who, 
 although he knew nothing of you, brought the 
 news of the piratical seizure of the king's goods to 
 Macao." 
 
 " Well, that fib wasn't so tall as it seems, for no 
 doubt the old rogue suspected that we had been 
 murdered." 
 
 " Stay, Dick, let me finish/' I said, then began 
 reading again — 
 
 cc As for Li-Poo, when he found what had hap- 
 pened, for fear of being seized by the people on 
 shore as an accomplice, he made the best of his 
 way out of the harbour, and having stayed for a 
 time among the islands, and procured a cargo of 
 birds' nests, he brought them to Macao." 
 
 " Now I take it, that was smart trading, for he did 
 not make the voyage for nothing/' interposed Dick 
 
238 WE HEAR SOME GOOD NEWS. 
 
 cc But, my dear boy, the receipt of your letter 
 repays me for my sufferings. Aye, and makes me 
 think less of the affair of the rogue Mi. But re- 
 specting that man, Herbert, remain in Bangkok 
 while you believe there is any hope of recovering 
 the money which he holds of ours ; for, although 
 its loss will not ruin us, the sum is a very large 
 one." 
 
 " That is all touching me immediately/' said I ; 
 a but now comes your turn, Dick," 
 
 " Then, while you read that, perhaps I had better 
 take a turn with the crocodiles, for I take it there is 
 not much good to be said about me in that quar- 
 ter." 
 
 " Pooh ! man, be quiet, sit down," and I read — 
 
 C( You have done well, my boy, in befriending 
 that young man Richard Orme, for apart from the 
 abstract of his story which you gave me in your 
 letter, I have reasons for believing that, whatever 
 may have been the appearances against him, he is 
 innocent ; moreover, such is also the belief of his 
 late employers." 
 
 " Is that a fact, Herbert ?" he asked, anxiously. 
 
 " Read for yourself, Dick," I replied, giving him 
 the letter, which he read aloud, as follows : — 
 
 66 A few days, Herbert, after you had quitted 
 Macao, Mr. Olivarez again called upon me to make 
 some further arrangements about his debt to us; and, 
 when the conversation turned upon the robbery of 
 the dollars, and the absconding head clerk, to my 
 
GOOD NEWS FOR DICK. 
 
 239 
 
 surprise he declared that, whatever had hitherto 
 been his suspicions as to the guilt of Orme, they 
 were now removed, for his partner, Mr. Costa, had 
 in a recent letter to him (and he showed the letter 
 to me) told him that the old Chinese porter, having 
 been arrested on suspicion of purloining some 
 goods from the stores, had declared that Orme was 
 innocent ; nay more, that he himself had been the 
 means of letting the thieves, with whom he had in- 
 trigued, into the stores. But this is all ; the name 
 of the robber or anything more is not written in 
 Mr. Costa's letter; for, as the Chinese only made 
 this confession upon the very eve of the mail's de- 
 parture, the worthy man knew no more ; this, how- 
 ever, he lost no time in imparting to his partner, 
 Mr. Olivarez, thinking it probable that gentleman 
 might meet with the unfortunate Orme." 
 
 " God of heaven be thanked ! for at least those 
 whose good opinion I crave more than the whole 
 world know me guiltless," exclaimed Dick, adding, 
 a but how deep must have been the scheme of that 
 cunning rascal Crafty." 
 
 a Dick, let me congratulate you, for you are once 
 more happy ; as for Crafty, leave him to heaven and 
 his own conscience, and his punishment will be 
 heavy enough." 
 
 But, returning my grasp, he replied with solemn 
 earnestness — 
 
 " My friend, the heaviest portion of my trouble 
 is removed ; but the loss of my employers will not 
 
240 
 
 WE HEAR SOME GOOD NEWS. 
 
 be lightened until this rogue Crafty is found and 
 made to disgorge a portion of his plunder." 
 
 u The search for him will prove a wild goose 
 chase, indeed, believe me/' said I. 
 
 " Nevertheless, Herbert, I have a conviction 
 in my own mind that I shall light upon him 
 yet." 
 
 " Well, Dick, may it prove so ; but here comes 
 our noble host," said I, as that personage made his 
 appearance through the window from the garden, 
 and observing that his step was lighter, and his 
 countenance brighter and less thoughtful than usual, 
 I said — 
 
 " The illustrious Phra Klang has met with some 
 unexpected good fortune." 
 
 " The words of my friend are good ; but has he 
 not also heard good things, for he has received 
 a letter from the head of his house." 
 
 u May heaven be thanked ! the news is good, for 
 thy servant's parent is in health, and has been res- 
 cued from a great trouble." 
 
 a That is good, Buddha be praised ! but the king 
 has had good fortune by the same ship that brought 
 my friend his letter." 
 
 " May thy servant's ears be permitted to drink 
 in this news which hath delighted the king ; for it 
 must be great as well as good news to give pleasure 
 to so exalted a personage," said I. 
 
 " Buddha could have granted no better fortune, 
 may his name be praised," he replied, adding, "for 
 
WHERE IS WAIF? 
 
 241 
 
 the thieves have been discovered and the royal 
 cargo retaken." 
 
 " Hurrah !" exclaimed Dick, wildly; " the rascals 
 are taken ; but Waif— little Waif— where is she V 9 
 
 And the good-natured, kindly -feeling noble, who 
 had heard of Waifs story and Dick's great sorrow, 
 changed countenance as he said — 
 
 " Will my friend pardon his servant for having 
 raised his hopes so high ? — alas ! in his own joy he 
 forgot the sorrows of others." 
 
 " What mean you, sir ? — did you not say the 
 sea-thieves had been taken ?" interrupted Dick, 
 sadly disappointed ; and the noble replied — 
 
 " Thy servant said not those words ; for alas ! 
 the rogues have escaped." 
 
 And he then told us by what means the cargo 
 had been recovered. It was as follows : — 
 
 " One of his Siamese Majesty's ships of 
 war having put into a Dutch harbour in the 
 Pacific, her commander recognized in a junk lying 
 at anchor the same vessel he had seen lading at 
 Chantaburi. Knowing that she should have been on 
 her voyage to Bangkok, his suspicions became 
 aroused, and he framed an excuse to visit her 
 skipper. Accordingly he went on board, and at 
 once saw sufficient to convince him of the robbery 
 that had been committed ; at the time, however, 
 he appeared to take no particular notice. When 
 midnight came he returned with a strong force, 
 but the rogues had been too sharp for him ; for, 
 
 K 
 
242 WE HEAR SOME GOOD NEWS. 
 
 although, he found the cargo, the skipper and 
 crew had very wisely decamped under cover of the 
 darkness ; an occurrence at which the king's cap- 
 tain was pleased rather than otherwise, for it 
 saved him the trouble of carrying so many pas- 
 sengers to Bangkok." 
 
 a The cowardly dog, was he not punished for 
 permitting the rascal to escape ?" I asked. And 
 Dick said — 
 
 " But that captain, my friend, saw he nought of 
 the girl Waif, or the man Crafty ? nay, he must 
 have seen both." 
 
 " The delight of the king's captain at the oppor- 
 tunity of performing so important a service for his 
 master, blinded him to anything but the cargo ; 
 and, without loss of time, he manned the junk 
 from his own crew, and brought her into the 
 Meinam." 
 
 " True," replied Dick, thoughtfully, " the fellow 
 was thinking only of his own gains and proba- 
 ble advancement, still I must see and question 
 him." 
 
 u It will do little good ; still my friend may 
 shortly see the captain, for the junk will soon be 
 up to Bangkok." 
 
 So saying the Phra Klang left us. 
 
 Poor Dick ! this new grief and disappointment 
 entirely neutralized the pleasure my letter had 
 caused him, and for the whole of that day he re- 
 mained gloomy and thoughtful. 
 
INUNDATION OF THE MEINAM. 243 
 
 The next day was to take place the festival of 
 the Inundation of the Meinam ; and, as a large 
 barge with many rowers was placed at our service 
 by the minister, who himself had to attend the 
 king, we left the palace at an early hour for the 
 river. The distance was not long ; but on the 
 way we had to pass the two watts or temples in 
 which resided, nay, I believe, were worshipped, the 
 sacred white elephants ; and, as these animals were 
 then being prepared for the king's use, we remained 
 to examine them and their trappings. But a word 
 or two about their highnesses, for they form the 
 most sacred of all the institutions of Siam. In Ava 
 they are honoured, and the king's greatest title is 
 « The Lord of the White Elephant but, in Siam, 
 the animal is literally worshipped, and frequent have 
 been the wars between the kings of Pegu and Siam 
 for the possession of these beasts. 
 
 In the annals of Siam, about the year 1547, is 
 considered the most fortunate of epochs, for then the 
 king of Siam was in possession of several white 
 elephants. Now, this superfluity becoming known 
 to his majesty of Pegu, that warlike personage 
 begged a couple of his royal brother ; but, meeting 
 with a refusal, he invaded Siam with 900,000 men, 
 700,000 war elephants, and 15,000 horse, and all 
 for the sake of two white elephants ; however, once 
 in Siam, the Pegu king indemnified himself for his 
 trouble by seizing four. 
 
 The reason this white beast is held sacred is, that 
 
 R 2 
 
244 WE HEAR SOME GOOD NEWS. 
 
 it is supposed to be the incarnation of some future 
 Buddha, hence the reason that the lucky discoverer 
 of one of these animals is in Ava ennobled and 
 pensioned. The beast makes his first entrance into 
 the capital in great state, attended by the chief 
 nobility, and is received by the king in person, who 
 then and there confers upon it a title. The animal 
 again, as in Pegu, has a palace, and a great number 
 of officers and slaves, who give him his food in gold 
 and silver vessels. 
 
 The reverence of the Siamese for these animals 
 is extraordinary. Indeed nothing can equal their 
 veneration for the animal ; the king, at least, must 
 have one as a palladium for his own life and the 
 prosperity of his empire. 
 
 u If the elephant dies the king loses all the 
 merit acquired in nourishing him; he is himself 
 likely to die the same year ; hence the great pains 
 taken for his health. This elephant has the title of 
 Chau p'aja, answering to grandees of the first class 
 among the Spaniards ; they take rank immediately 
 after princes of the blood. 
 
 a One who should call him by his proper name 
 would be severely punished ; he lives in a kind of 
 palace, with a numerous court of officers, guards, 
 valets, &c. ; he wears a kind of diadem on his head, 
 and gold rings on his tusks ; he is served in golden 
 vessels, and fed on sugar cane and delicious 
 fruits. 
 
 " When he goes to bathe, a numerous cortege ac- 
 
SACRED WHITE ELEPHANTS. 
 
 245 
 
 companies him ; one keeps time with music, and 
 another holds over him the red parasol of state, 
 used only by high dignitaries. His officers may 
 not withdraw from his presence without a profound 
 salutation ; when sick, the king's physicians attend 
 him, and talapoins visit him to pray for his cure, 
 and sprinkle him with holy water. In spite of all 
 these attentions the white elephant is often in a bad 
 humour, and many a time would kill its attendants, 
 the talapoins, if they did not keep a respectful dis- 
 tance from the trunk and tusks of his lordship. 
 Sometimes they are so savage that they are obliged 
 to cut off their tusks. Every evening his or their 
 excellencies are entertained with music until they 
 go to sleep. 
 
 a When the white elephant dies, the king and 
 court are in great affliction, and give him funeral t 
 honours according to his rank. It is said that 
 sometimes he has public audiences, when presents 
 are made to him, which, if he accepts, proves that 
 the donor has much merit ; if he refuses them, it is 
 evidence he is not favoured of heaven. Then, the 
 man who captures one of these animals is ever after 
 exempt, with his posterity, from all taxation and 
 vassal service." 
 
 But enough of these sacred white elaphants, 
 which, by the way are, except in very rare instances, 
 of a light mahogany colour, with a few white hairs. 
 Well, quitting the brutes, we were speedily 
 afloat on the Meinam, and in the midst of the great 
 
246 
 
 WE HEAK SOME GOOD NEWS. 
 
 doings, solemn, merry or ridiculous, and a very ex- 
 citing affair it was. 
 
 The opening and leading event of the day, namely, 
 the laying the royal command upon the waters 
 to retire, was performed by one hundred talapoins, 
 who made their appearance in gilded barges. I did 
 not, however, notice that they were more successful 
 than the royal Dane ; but then probably they were 
 no more disappointed than the thousands of merry- 
 makers who look forward through the whole year 
 for the ceremony, for it is one of the most ancient 
 of their institutions, and its observance remains 
 intact as it did when in 1600 the old traveller De 
 Couto saw and thus described it: 
 
 " The king comes out of the city, accompanied 
 by the whole of the nobility, in barges richly gilded 
 and covered with ornaments, with- great display and 
 noise of musical instruments. They proclaim that 
 the king is about to order the waters to disperse, 
 and this is the grand festival of the year. 
 
 " A mast is raised in the middle of the stream, 
 adorned with silken flags, and a prize suspended for 
 the best rower. All the contending boats put them- 
 selves in trim, and at a given signal start, with such 
 cries, and shouting, and tumult, as if the world was 
 being destroyed; the first who arrives carrying off 
 the prize. But in the contest there is terrible con- 
 fusion — boats running against and swamping each 
 other, oars tangled and disentangled in a disorder 
 admirable to look at from around. So that the 
 
FIGHTING FISHES. 
 
 247 
 
 people are not so barbarous, but that they imitate 
 the ancient Trojans (as in the same manner, Eneas, 
 when he arrived in Sicily, had the festival of his 
 gallies, giving precious prizes to the most alert) ; 
 and when these Siamese have won the prize they 
 return to the city with such rejoicings, shoutings, 
 and tumultuous music, that the noise shakes both 
 the waters and the land. Then the king having re- 
 turned to the city, the people say he has driven 
 back the waters, because these heathens give to 
 their kings all the attributes of God, and believe 
 they are the source of all good." 
 
 In addition to the sights named by the old 
 traveller, were fighting fishes, small bellicose 
 creatures, which attack their fellows with great 
 ferocity — bristling their fins and exhibiting the 
 greatest excitement; one of these seeing its 
 reflection in a glass, will violently advance head 
 foremost against its shadow. 
 
 Then again, as in China, there were men with 
 large bowls, containing crickets, which they goaded 
 into fighting each other, by stirring them up with 
 little sticks. Then again, there were old fellows and 
 young fellows flying kites of all shapes and sizes : 
 the fun being to send up your own kite, after the 
 fashion of a falcon, and so bring down your adver- 
 sary's kite. 
 
 The chief of these amusements and games took 
 place upon the river ; numbers, however, of people 
 on shore in the streets were busily engaged in cock- 
 
248 
 
 WE HEAR SOME GOOD NEWS. 
 
 fighting • and for this cruel sport the Siamese have 
 (although it is forbidden by law) almost as great a 
 mania as the natives of the Philippines, who will 
 not unfrequently give a moderate fortune for a 
 favourite bird, and stake their all upon its prowess 
 in a single battle. 
 
 Now amongst the amusements and great doings 
 of such a day as I have described, confirmed indeed 
 must have been the melancholy of a man that 
 could not have found at least a temporary lethe for 
 his sorrows ; so before we had been a couple of 
 hours upon the river Dick had become enlivened, 
 if not so hilarious in spirit as the merrymakers 
 around us ; but as, according to the old adage, one 
 can have too much of a good thing, so towards even- 
 ing we became heartily tired of the day's fun and 
 amusement, and directed our rowers to bend their 
 course homewards, or at least to the spot where 
 we had taken the boat. 
 
 Now, as from our first starting in the morning 
 we had kept, although slowly, a straight course up 
 the river, that we might get a good sight of some- 
 thing of everything that was going on, we had got 
 nearly through the water-city, into the clearer por- 
 tion of the Meinam, which led through a wild 
 country to the ancient capital of Ayuthia, and there- 
 fore the rowers had to make the best of their time 
 in order to reach the landing-place before sun- 
 down. 
 
 In this endeavour, however, they failed ; for so 
 
STROLLING HOUSES, 24*) 
 
 crowded was the river, with boats, barges, junks, 
 and even houses, which, as if taken with the same 
 recklessness as the people, had broken from their 
 fastenings, and in their straying away, would every 
 now and then bump against each other to the up- 
 roarious delight of these fearless and undrownable 
 people, that it was night before we had made half 
 the distance, and dark enough, too, for the junks to 
 have hung out their lanterns. Well, we had steered 
 clear of these dissipated houses, which had gone 
 astray during the recklessness of the day ; we were, 
 however, not so fortunate with the other craft, for 
 when we had reached as near as we could make out, 
 within a mile of our, destination, and were pass- 
 ing a large junk, that had apparently arrived that 
 day from the Gulf, the chief of our rowers called 
 out to us to sit steadily, but the caution came 
 too late, for the next instant a long narrow canoe, 
 which must have been pulling with great velocity 
 across the stream, ran into our bows with such 
 violence that we were suddenly shot round as if we 
 had entered a whirlpool. 
 
 From that concussion we received no more 
 than a fright; it was not so, however, with the 
 canoe, for she was capsized, and her crew thrown 
 into the water. 
 
 " Let us lend the poor fellows a hand," said 
 Dick, snatching an oar from the nearest rower, and 
 holding it in the direction of one of the capsized 
 men ; but to his chagrin the men in the water, as 
 
250 
 
 WE HEAR SOME GOOD NEWS. 
 
 well as our own rowers, only laughed, as while 
 swimming they righted the boat, and in about three 
 or four minutes were manfully pulling towards the 
 junk. 
 
 " They are smart fellows, and that's a fact, for 
 none but born porpoises, ducks, or something of 
 that kind could perform such a trick as that," said 
 Dick. 
 
 And we should have passed onwards without 
 further notice of the incident, but that as the men 
 reseated themselves, and, rare occurrence, helped 
 one of their party into the boat, who gave some 
 hasty directions, I recognised the voice. 
 
 " Stay, rest on your oars," I said to the rowers 5" 
 then to Dick, " Did you not recognise that voice ? " 
 
 " No." 
 
 " But look now, Dick ; see, the light from the 
 lantern is upon their faces." 
 
 And looking, Dick instantly exclaimed — 
 
 " By heavens, you are right, Herbert. It is that 
 old rattlesnake, Mi. Let's after him." 
 
 " Not so, my friend ; it would be useless, and 
 even dangerous." 
 
 " But look you, Herbert, I won't let the old 
 'coon slip this time, and that's a/ac^," he replied 
 determinedly. 
 
 " No, neither will I, if it can be helped ; but to 
 make sure of our game we must be cautious." 
 
 Then addressing the chief of our rowers I told 
 him that the merchant Mi, for whose capture the 
 
AFTER THE ROGUE MI. 
 
 251 
 
 Phra Klang had offered a reward, had gone on 
 board the junk, and bade him, if he would earn the 
 reward, to go ashore, and return as speedily as he 
 might with a posse of the river police, or soldiers. 
 
 " That's neat, too," said Dick, laughing, as with 
 the simple reply of, " I await the master's order," the 
 fellow turned a summersault out of the boat into 
 the water, and swam ashore. 
 
252 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 WE AGAIN FIND WAIF, BUT IN STKANGE COMPANY. 
 
 Anxiously we awaited our messengers return, 
 meanwhile closely watching the junk by the sole 
 light of her own lanterns. 
 
 The difficulty of keeping watch was rendered the 
 more difficult from our pulling nearer in shore, in 
 order that our hanging about might not attract atten- 
 tion on board. 
 
 a Then the old snake has not left Bangkok after 
 all ?" said Dick, musingly. 
 
 " No, nor will he ; for w r here can he so well hide as 
 among this wilderness of boats and houses ?" said I. 
 
 " It's my opinion he is going to leave now, and 
 that if we remain here long enough, we shall see yon 
 junk get under weigh, and slip down the river with 
 the tide." 
 
 u Aye, may be, may be, if we permit her ; but we 
 won't, Dick." 
 
 " There is many a slip between the cup and the 
 
SIAMESE SOLDIERS. 
 
 253 
 
 Hp, Herbert ; if you had taken my advice, you would 
 just have made a bold dash on board the junk." 
 
 u And in the morning our heads would have been 
 floating about like two stray cocoa-nuts." " No, no, 
 better as it is, Dick, for these half-naked fellows 
 are difficult to catch, and when you have caught 
 them—" 
 
 " About as hard to hold as greased snakes," he in- 
 terposed. 
 
 " Not a bad simile for a Yankee, Dick ; but look, 
 yonder come our troops," said I, as some twenty 
 soldiers, led by our messenger, came down to the 
 water's edge, and seated themselves in one of the 
 large official barges. 
 
 " Soldiers, are they? Well, I should have taken 
 them for a score of half-strangled apes, poor fellows," 
 said Dick ; and to a certain extent he was justified in 
 the remark, for nothing can be more absurd than the 
 change which the kings, in their love of Europeaniz- 
 ing their troops, have effected in the dress of a por- 
 tion of the army ; for instead of the free and appro- 
 priate attire for such a climate, and the habits engen- 
 dered thereby, the poor fellows were stiffened in the 
 neck by a collar, their heads weighed down by a 
 shako, their waists brought in by a tightly-buttoned 
 coat, over which were slung cross belts, and legs 
 encased in white trousers. 
 
 Scarcely had these warriors dipped their paddles in 
 the water, than our messenger, to avoid an unneces- 
 sary plashing, crawled rather than plunged into the 
 
254 
 
 WE AGAIN FIND WAIF. 
 
 river and swam back to ns. He told us that the 
 soldiers would follow in our wake, so we at once 
 pulled towards the junk as silently as if the oars had 
 been muffled. 
 
 As the two boats reached the side of the junk, 
 almost simultaneously, there was a slight plash in the 
 water near us. 
 
 " What's that ?" I asked, involuntarily. 
 
 " Well, I gness that old snake's smelt a rat, and 
 has been too much for us ; for he's a smart fellow 
 that," replied Dick. 
 
 u No, no, it is not possible ; see there is not a soul 
 on deck," said I ; and the next minute Dick, I, and 
 the Siamese troops, all stood on board the junk, the 
 crew of which, alarmed by the noise of their muskets 
 as • they rattled upon deck, came forth from all 
 quarters, trembling with fear and indignation, but 
 regardless of their chattering and menaces, the 
 Siamese officer at once placed his men round the 
 deck, telling them to fire at any person who should 
 attempt to quit the junk and swim ashore. 
 
 This movement, which was but the work of an in- 
 stant, was quite sufficient to call forth the worst fears 
 of the Chinese captain, who, by the light of his 
 lantern, seeing that he had been boarded by the 
 king's troops, in the most abject manner and tone, 
 desired to know of what crime he had been guilty, 
 that he should be thus treated. 
 
 " If my brother is not guilty, why does he fear ? 
 — the great king is just — but what words are these ? 
 
SIAMESE SOLDIERS. 
 
 255 
 
 Has he not the rogue Mi, the merchant, hidden in 
 his junk V' replied the officer, mildly. 
 
 " My elder brother's words are unjust, for his 
 servant knew not that the name of the old man who 
 came on board was Mi, or that Mi was a rogue." 
 
 " My brother is wasting his words and throwing 
 dust in the eyes of the great king's officers. Let 
 him lead us to the dog's hiding place," replied the 
 officer, whose rage, however, may be better imagined 
 than described, when the captain replied- — 
 
 u Certainly, it was an unfortunate day when thy 
 servant was born — the old rogue Mi, if that be his 
 name,, no sooner heard the plash of oars, than he left 
 his friend and swam ashore." 
 
 The rage of the Siamese became unbounded ; he 
 caught the Chinese by the tail of his head, and I 
 verily believe would have beaten him to death, had I 
 not interfered and begged of the officer to permit 
 him to answer me a question. 
 
 " If my brother is not guilty of hiding this rogue, 
 how came he on board this junk ?" 
 
 "Truly, the sea goddess, to punish her servant, 
 must have made him take two Farangs on board at 
 Singapore." 
 
 " But these Farangs, they are still on board — lead 
 us to them," said I, for a strange thought passed 
 through my mind at that moment. 
 
 tc Truly, it is good that those who have done the 
 evil should bear the punishment," and with a mali- 
 cious smile upon his countenance he led us to the one 
 
256 
 
 WE AGAIN FIND WAIF. 
 
 large cabin, the door of which he at once opened 
 without ceremony. 
 
 The cabin had originally been built and furnished 
 for some person of consequence, for its interior 
 abounded with relics, though faded, of luxury, if not 
 magnificence. It was large and lofty, the walls and 
 ceiling were painted and decorated with Japan and 
 gold, which was relieved by pictures and tablets, 
 whereon were written choice extracts from the writ- 
 ings of the great Chinese sages, with circular mirrors 
 of highly polished steel, and the windows were fes- 
 tooned with curtains of silk embroidered ; then in 
 niches made for the purpose, were vases of the 
 choicest porcelain, and a gilded image of the god Fo, 
 before which stood an incense lamp, but which, won- 
 derful to relate, was not then burning. The floor 
 was covered with mats and carpets of the long yellow- 
 haired skins of the Yak or Tartar bull, and the 
 furniture, chairs, tables, and ottomans, which were of 
 rosewood, inlaid with coloured pearls, crystals, metals, 
 and porcelain, were covered with rich silk. The 
 general effect of the whole being heightened by the 
 light from half a dozen lanterns of variegated 
 colours. 
 
 This cabin, or rather state-room, seemed to be 
 partitioned at one end by a japanned pannelling hung 
 with silken curtains ; near to which, along the side, 
 was a couch, upon which seemingly, in deep sleep, lay a 
 man, whose dress bespoke him to be a European ; but 
 whose face was covered with a musquito curtain. 
 
DICK MEETS HTS ENEMY. 
 
 257 
 
 " But what right had we thus to intrude on this 
 man's privacy?" I must confess that as the door 
 stood open, and that question came in the minds of 
 both Dick and myself, we stood abashed at our own 
 impudence. 
 
 " These may be nigger manners, but they are not 
 European nor American; we have no right here, 
 and that's a fact," said Dick. 
 
 The Siamese officer was less punctilious, for asking 
 the skipper if the Farang yonder was the friend of 
 the rogue Mi, and being answered in the affirmative, 
 he marched a couple of his men within the cabin, 
 and gave the word to " ground arms," which they did 
 with such " pomp and circumstance," that as the 
 stock of their muskets fell upon the flooring, the 
 vases and other ornaments sprang upwards as if with 
 affright. 
 
 " By heaven, there is a woman beyond that parti- 
 tion," said I, hearing a faint shriek. 
 
 Dick, however, heard me not, for his attention 
 was fixed upon the man who, aroused by the falling 
 of the muskets, had jumped to his feet, and drawn 
 from his vest a revolver, the bright barrel of which 
 glistening in the faces of the Siamese, he fell back- 
 wards several paces. 
 
 " It is he — the villain !" exclaimed Dick, and 
 almost at a single bound the man was dashed back- 
 ward upon the couch, and the pistol was in the hands 
 of Dick, who, as he held him down, and shook him 
 by the throat, said — 
 
 s 
 
258 
 
 WE AGAIN FIND WAIF. 
 
 " Rascal ! villain ! where is the girl ? — where is 
 she ? Answer on the instant, or I will blow your 
 brains out !" but for a moment Crafty (for it could 
 be no other) stared in Dick's face, regardless of his 
 imminent danger, and as if stunned with surprise. 
 
 u Speak, villain — again, I ask, where is the girl ?" 
 said Dick. 
 
 " Stay, madman ! remove your hands, you will 
 throttle me," gasped Crafty, who, when Dick had 
 loosened his hold, added — 
 
 u The girl is safe, but what — " 
 
 " Stay, rascal, this is not enough — where is she ? 
 Is she unharmed — unhurt?" 
 
 " Dear Dick, dear Dick, she is," and then the 
 cause of the shriek was explained, for to our astonish- 
 ment little Waif came forth from her cabin, which 
 was behind the partition I have named. 
 
 I ran forward, and catching hold of her hands, 
 exclaimed — 
 
 " Waif, Waif, dear Waif, is it possible ? But 
 how? — why? — what means this? — how have the 
 villains treated you ?" 
 
 " Aye, Waif, tell us, for upon your answer depends 
 the life of this wretch," said Dick, without leaving 
 Crafty. 
 
 " Dick, I am unhurt, uninjured ; but release your 
 hold of that man, or I will answer no more ques- 
 tions," she replied, pointing to Crafty, adding, "but 
 for him I should have been murdered or worse — un- 
 hand him." 
 
DISCOVERY OF WAIF IN THE CABIN. 
 
 Page 258. 
 
waif's stkange intercession. 
 
 259 
 
 " Villain ! that answer saves your life for the pre- 
 sent ; said Dick, still holding the revolver near his head. 
 
 66 Stay, madman — listen,'' said Crafty. 
 
 " Dick, Dick, for my sake I implore of you — " 
 
 66 Waif, Waif, how is it possible you can plead for 
 this man ? whatever service he may have performed 
 for you, he is nevertheless a villain, but for whom I 
 might now have been a prosperous and happy man," 
 replied Dick, adding, "Now, Herbert, tell those 
 Siamese fellows to take him ashore ;" but Waif, 
 stepping forward, said imploringly — 
 
 " Herbert Richardson, as you would not have me 
 die of grief — of shame, save this man from these 
 Siamese." 
 
 " Nay, did I wish it, the thing would be impos- 
 sible, for these soldiers know that he is in connection 
 with the rogue Mi." 
 
 " A truce to this, Herbert ; tell the Siamese that 
 this is the fellow who plundered the king of his 
 cargo at Chantaburi/' and, shall I say it, in spite of 
 Waifs tears and prayers, I obeyed ; and so delighted 
 was the officer with such an unexpected prize, that 
 in another instant, he and his men were busy bind- 
 ing the arms of their prisoner. Crafty submitted 
 patiently, only saying to Dick — 
 
 " Richard Orme, you. will live to regret this out- 
 rage." 
 
 " Outrage — rascal, is it an outrage to give over to 
 justice the man who purloined the dollars he pro- 
 fessed to convey to a poor widow ; who took advantage 
 
 s 2 
 
260 
 
 WE AGAIN FIND WAIF. 
 
 of my feelings of gratitude to him for a former ser- 
 vice rendered to plunder the stores of dollars, and 
 thus ruin my reputation for life V 
 
 66 Is this all ? Do you charge me with nothing 
 more T } asked the rogue, with provoking coolness. 
 
 " Aye, with instigating, and helping to carry out 
 the plunder of the ( Anne/ and the murder of her 
 crew and passengers, — of the robbery of the king's 
 cargo at Chantaburi, — of being a pirate and a sea- 
 thief/' 
 
 " Richard Orme, your injuries or fancied injuries 
 have made you mad, and you will live to regret, as I 
 shall live to forgive this outrage.'" 
 
 " Bah ! thou art a coward as well as a pirate ; but 
 your career is at an end, and that too, more by the 
 aid of Providence, than any means of mine ; still, if 
 less than the devil I take you to be, now that your 
 ill-gotten wealth cannot avail, you will make restitu- 
 tion of the sum, the purloining of which, through 
 my carelessness, has blasted my prospects in life ;" 
 but with an earnestness that to those who knew not 
 the man who was speaking, might have passed for in- 
 jured innocence, Crafty replied — 
 
 " Again, I say thou art mad, Richard Orme ; as 
 heaven is my witness, I took no part in that dollar 
 robbery ; and, as for wealth, whether well or ill- 
 gotten, I am well-nigh as poor as thyself." 
 
 By this time, however, the patience of the 
 Siamese officer became exhausted, for he regarded 
 his prisoner as the means of securing him a heavy 
 
waif's misery. 
 
 261 
 
 reward, and so giving the word to his men, Crafty 
 was led forth from his- cabin ; but to our surprise, 
 Waif was about to follow. 
 
 " Stay ! whither go you, Waif ?" said I, taking 
 her hand. 
 
 u Whither he goes I go ; it is my duty," she re- 
 plied, mournfully. 
 
 " Great Heaven ! Waif, what possesses you ? 
 What can have happened since we parted? in a word, 
 why and wherefore all this mystery V said Dick, 
 sternly. Then she sat upon an ottoman, and cover- 
 ing her face in her hands, sobbed aloud — 
 
 " Heaven guide me — I know not what to do." 
 
 " Dear, dear Waif," I said, again taking her 
 hand. " I implore of you to explain how it is, 
 you are so strangely changed ? We lost you — 
 wept for you ! We have sought, and found you, 
 and yet you seek to shield the villain who has caused 
 us all so much misery !" But for a minute she 
 sobbed again, and then taking Dick's hand, she 
 said — 
 
 u Dick, we have been friends, dear friends ; you 
 have protected and loved me as a brother." But he 
 spoke not, his head was bowed down with grief — nay, 
 he threw aside her hand, when, wild with conflicting 
 emotions, she said to me — 
 
 " And you, Herbert Richardson — " 
 
 " But for this, could have loved you more than as 
 a brother," I replied — grief, jealousy, call it what you 
 will, surprised me into an avowal that otherwise 
 
262 
 
 WE AGAIN FIND WAIF. 
 
 would never have been made. The confession startled 
 her. 
 
 " Is this indeed so ? Then am I trebly wretched ?" 
 And as the tears coursed down her cheeks, she took 
 a hand of each, saying — 
 
 " But, my friends, my dear, dear friends, have 
 patience — hope, trust in me;" but again dashing her 
 hand aside, Dick said — 
 
 " Stay — girl — -tell us the cause of this grief, what 
 means this mystery, and why — O why, your great 
 interest in this villain, this man, who has been the 
 bane of my existence, and but to effect whose capture, 
 as you well know, I had never seen this wretched 
 country ?" But again she took his hand, saying — 
 
 "Ask me not, for I dare not, will not tell you ; 
 sufficient that, bad man as he is, he saved my life — 
 he protected me from all." 
 
 " But himself — strange infatuation," I interposed, 
 bitterly ; but not noticing the interruption, she con- 
 tinued, " Moreover, I am bound to protect him, for 
 he is — but I will say no more." 
 
 a Nay," said I, " say it out — your husband, Waif ! 
 this villain, this pirate, O God ! is it possible." But 
 Dick, subdued by her excitement, her agony, took 
 her hands in his, saying — 
 
 a Is it, indeed, as Herbert has said, my poor dear 
 Waif?" but she shrank from us both, as she said — 
 
 u Ask me no more. I have already said too much." 
 Then' gazing at us earnestly, with an hysterical sob, 
 she added, "but these looks> these doubtings, they 
 
RETURN WITH WAIF. 
 
 2(53 
 
 are cruel— they will kill me; but, let me implore 
 of you to stay me not— let me follow those men, for 
 where they take him, will I go." 
 
 " Fortunately, it is too late, they have quitted the 
 junk," said Dick, as we heard the plashing of oars, 
 and she wrung her hands in bitter misery. 
 
 « Waif, dear Waif, you know not your friends, 
 the sad scenes, the misery you have endured, since 
 we parted have made you — " 
 
 " No, not mad, Dick, God forgive me ; but I wish 
 I was," and tears flowed down her cheeks ; and 
 Did now quite softened, placed his arm round her 
 wais,, and kissing her cheek, said — 
 
 "These tears, dear sister, will relieve you; but 
 come, come, let us quit this junk, we have a home in 
 the lmd-town." 
 
 Bit to end the narration of the very painful ad- 
 ventires of that night on board the ju^/we led 
 Wail on deck, and finding the bffig© at hand, and 
 the lowers ready, we took Our seats, were pulled 
 ashor* a.nd in a very zliott time, were beneath the roof 
 of tie Phi*! Klang's house. 
 
 Tie minister, upon his return from the long and 
 tediois state business of the day, had been informed 
 of tte affairs which had detained us ; nay, he had 
 himsdf ordered the guard to visit the junk, and had 
 anxioisly awaited to hear of the capture of so cele- 
 brate! a rogue as the chief robber of the king's 
 cargo; for into such a personage had our messenger 
 magrified Crafty ; but seeing we were accompanied 
 
264 
 
 WE AGAIN FIND WAIF. 
 
 by a young and pretty woman, his Excellency's 
 curiosity knew no bounds. Greatly, however, to his 
 disappointment, we merely told him that Waif was 
 our lost friend, whom we had rescued from a pirate, 
 and for whom we begged his hospitality. 
 
 That . nowever, was enough, for with a delicicy 
 wort hy of a European gentleman, he suppressed his 
 curiosity, and sending for one of his Laos wives, re- 
 commended Waif to her charge, while she remained 
 beneath his roof. 
 
265 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 WE AEE TAKEN BEFORE THE KING, WHO EXAMINES 
 CRAFTY AND WAIF. 
 
 After the Phra Klang left us that night Dick and 
 I exchanged scarcely a dozen words. No ; for, 
 although our minds were similarly occupied in en- 
 deavouring to fathom the extraordinary conduct of 
 Waif, and each longed to listen to the other's opin- 
 ion, both dreaded to broach the subject, for fear, I 
 believe, of having his own worst surmises con- 
 firmed. 
 
 Such being the state of our minds, it was little to 
 be wondered at that the next morning we arose from 
 our beds feverish and unrefreshed. But why should 
 I, Herbert Richardson, take such an interest in the 
 fortunes of this stray sheaf of humanity ; this or- 
 phan girl ; this Waif thrown up on the waters of 
 life ? Why, indeed ? — but then who can detect the 
 earliest germs of love ? — is not the heart proverbially 
 wayward and beyond the management of the head ? 
 does it not become frequently filled with the tender 
 passion ere the head is cognizant of the fact — 
 
266 
 
 WE AGAIN FIND WAIF. 
 
 indeed, only reaches to that knowledge by coming 
 in contact with some such spark as jealousy, or 
 even anger ? Nay, do not the latter passions some- 
 times surprise us with the knowledge that we are 
 really in love ? But be that as it may, I was scarcely 
 aware of my real feelings towards Waif till her ab- 
 duction at Chantaburi ; nor then as, when meeting 
 her in the junk, I learned, or rather firmly believed, 
 she belonged to another, and was irreparably lost 
 to me ; for wide apart as were their ages, and anti- 
 podean as were their natures, I could not doubt 
 that the lawless villain Crafty had forced her to be- 
 come his wife. Such were my thoughts as we sat 
 the next morning awaiting Waif to join us at the 
 morning meal. To drown them I said — 
 
 " I fear me, Dick, we have altogether lost that 
 cunning rogue, Mi." 
 
 " Aye, pardon, Herbert ; I am a selfish brute, for 
 in my exultation at the capture of that scoundrel 
 Crafty, I had forgotten your deep interest in the 
 taking of the lesser rogue." 
 
 " It is the toss up of a dollar which is the greater, 
 and which rogue the lesser, of the two." 
 
 " Well, Herbert, perhaps you are right ; for, 
 though there may be a distinction, I take it there 
 is very little difference between them; but," he 
 added, as we heard the sound of footsteps, " here 
 comes Waif, who, reticent as she is about herself, 
 may at least give us some information about this 
 • fellow." 
 
A NOTE FKO.M WAIF. 
 
 267 
 
 I started up from my seat to receive her ; for 
 now I hoped that we should hear from her own 
 lips some solution* of her own mystery ; but in- 
 stead of Waif, it was a slave from the women's 
 apartments. 
 
 u It is from Waif — she is ill/' said Dick, hasten- 
 ing forward, and taking a note from the slave, he 
 opened it. There^ were but a few lines in pencil, 
 but they were sufficient to cause me much anguish, 
 and greatly anger Dick, who, throwing it upon the 
 table, said — 
 
 " This infatuation — madness ; that scoundrel 
 seems to hold possession of her very soul. She 
 cannot — she dare nob — meet me till the fellow is re- 
 leased." 
 
 We had, however, no time to comment upon this 
 very singular missive ; for after delivering the paper, 
 the slave quitted, and the Phra Klang entered 
 the room. 
 
 " Let my friends rejoice," said he, " for they have 
 captured a great rogue, and great will be their re- 
 ward, for the king is generous." 
 
 i€ This is but poor consolation in our present 
 trouble. Excellency, for we have lost one for whose 
 loss the generosity even of a king cannot compen- 
 sate us," said L 
 
 " My friend must not despond ; for, though the 
 empire is large, and has many hiding holes, the 
 king's soldiers and spies are countless ; and, have 
 the eyes of the lynx, the subtlety of the snake, and 
 
268 WE AGAIN FIND WAIF. 
 
 the legs of the ostrich ; so that even the cunning 
 rogue Mi cannot long remain hidden/' 
 
 " Look yon, my friend, all that is true enough, as 
 regards the man Mi, but the pirate has robbed us 
 of that which all the soldiers in the king's army 
 can never recover/' said Dick. 
 
 " Buddha be praised ! then must the loss of my 
 friend be very great/ 3 exclaimed the minister open- 
 ing his eyes wide with astonishment. 
 
 u It is the affection of one who was as a sister to 
 us/' said I ; and the good man, comprehending our 
 meaning, replied — 
 
 66 Miss Mouse, the Farang girl ; do my friends 
 grieve for her ? Has, then, this pirate made her 
 his wife ; but, if so, what matter, my friends need 
 not grieve, the rogue will soon be killed, and they 
 can have her back again/' 
 
 But, unwilling to enter into argument or fur- 
 ther explanation with our worthy host upon such 
 a subject, we shook our heads ; again mistaking the 
 meaning of the action, he said consolingly— 
 
 (c Well, suppose my friends not like that, they 
 can buy a Laos sister, or wife each, for one hundred 
 ticals." 
 
 " Well, that's a cool way of putting it, too ; but 
 it is not the custom in our countries/' said Dick ; 
 adding, I believe, for the express purpose of chang- 
 ing the subject — " Has your Excellency reported to 
 the king our capture of this great thief T* 
 
 " The king, the divine Buddha, who dwells at 
 
A NOTE FROM WAIF. 269 
 
 I the liead, has heard with his ears, and the good 
 news has delighted his heart, and pleased him with 
 the two noble Farangs, whom his majesty commands 
 to the golden presence this morning, that he may 
 himself first examine in private the charge against 
 the great thief ; for, although the king himself is 
 the plundered person, so just is he that he would 
 not punish even a devil unjustly." 
 
 " Then, Excellency, we had better prepare our- 
 selves for this audience," said I ; and the minister, 
 bowing his acquiescence, he left the room to give 
 orders for one of his great barges to be made ready 
 for our reception and passage to the palace. 
 
 Having arranged our toilets to the best of our abi- . 
 lities, we left the Phra Klang's house and went 
 on board the barge, and were speedily on our 
 way to the royal palace, which we reached with- 
 out meeting with any incident worthy of note. 
 Yes, there was one. When midway between the 
 house of the Phra Klang and the palace, we passed 
 a spot of the otherwise crowded Meinam that was 
 boatless and houseless ; the water looked lone and 
 solitary; nay, so strange, that I asked the minister 
 " Why that spot should be avoided V but he re- 
 plied not ; a shudder seemed to run through his 
 frame. 
 
 Afterwards, however, I discovered the following 
 tragic history, which, as it will serve for another 
 illustration of the terrible power wielded by these 
 Asiatic despots, I will relate — 
 
270 
 
 WE ARE TAKEN BEFORE THE KING. 
 
 " Some years before, •ne of the greatest nobles 
 headed a rebellion against the reigning monarch, 
 even going so far as to cause himself to be pro- 
 claimed king, and assuming the insignia of royalty. 
 Chiefly, however, by the aid of Mr. Hunter, an 
 English official, then resident in Siam, and who 
 brought into play the guns from an English ship- 
 of-war, upon the rebels, the latter were defeated, 
 and their chief taken prisoner. 
 
 " The punishment, however, of the rebel leader 
 Peer- si-pi-poor, was to come. The wretched 
 criminal was condemned to have his eyes put out 
 by the application of searing irons, and then placed 
 in an iron cage, which was suspended just so high 
 above the waters of the river that the unfortunate 
 captive, by stretching his arms through the close 
 iron bars, could barely manage to touch the ripple 
 of the waters with the extreme tips of his 
 fingers. 
 
 " Here, without food or raiment, with no pro- 
 tection from the fierce sultry heat of the noontide 
 sun, with his brain racking and burning, and suffer- 
 ing from the acutest agonies that thirst can impart, 
 did that unhappy culprit listen to the cool rippling 
 sound of these waters, for one drop of which, like 
 Dives of old, he prayed to wet his parched and 
 withered tongue. How earnestly did that man pray 
 for death ; and that dark angel, at all times too 
 ready to come unbidden, kept aloof, and mocked his 
 misery for three long days and nights. 
 
THE ROYAL PALACE. 
 
 271 
 
 u Mr. Hunter — how bitterly must the good man 
 have regretted his interference in behalf of such a 
 savage — at length undertook to petition the king 
 that, at least, the man might at once be put out of 
 his misery, but the brutal monarch gave a stern re- 
 fusal, and the miserable rebel lingered in his agonies 
 till at first raving madness, and then death, came to 
 his relief/' 
 
 It should, however, be chronicled in favour of 
 the people, that, abject slaves as they are, they exe- 
 crated the king for his wanton, hellish cruelty. But 
 to resume my narrative — 
 
 About a mile beyond the scene of this terrible 
 execution we landed near to three remarkable monu- 
 ments to the memory of a leash of Siamese soldier 
 kings. These monuments are of great height and 
 size, and stand upon pedestals of black granite, 
 which are so marvellously carved, gilded, and in- 
 laid, that they form one of the chief sights in 
 Bangkok. 
 
 Not far beyond these monuments was the 
 palace royal, a large stone building, surrounded 
 by a lofty wall of more than a mile in circumfer- 
 ence. 
 
 This royal abode, however, more resembles a 
 town, for it is made up of many various build- 
 ings, magnificent temples, government offices, 
 stables for the royal elephants, an arsenal for the 
 manufacture of fire-arms, apartments for the ladies, 
 of whom it is said there are three thousand, a 
 
272 WE ARE TAKER BEFORE THE KING, 
 
 theatre, to which the people are sometimes in- 
 vited, and other buildings too numerous to name, 
 but the entrances to most of which are guarded 
 by huge monsters carved out of solid granite. 
 
 Now, when we had passed the gates, we found 
 ourselves in the midst of a great multitude of sol- 
 diers, slaves, and officers of various grades ; but 
 through these the rank of our conductor effected 
 an easy passage ; for, as he approached, they fell 
 aside and upon their stomach, forming a lane. But 
 an interview with an Asiatic despot should be 
 heralded by a nourish of trumpets ; such a flourish 
 indeed as met the English ambassador Crawford, 
 upon a similar occasion. 
 
 The reception,, says the latter, took place in the 
 Great Hall of Audience, a magnificent apartment, 
 richly painted in vermilion, decorated and gilded, 
 the walls and ceiling of which were bespangled with 
 sparkling stars. The throne and its appendages occu- 
 pied the whole of the upper end of the hall. The 
 first was gilded all over, and about fifteen feet high ; 
 it had much the shape and look of a handsome 
 pulpit. A pair of curtains of gold tissue upon a 
 yellow ground concealed the whole of the upper 
 part of the room except the throne, and they 
 were intended to be drawn over this also, except 
 when used. In front of the throne, and rising 
 from the floor, were to be seen a number of 
 gilded umbrellas of various sizes. These consisted 
 of a series of canopies decreasing in size upwards, 
 
ROYAL STATE. 
 
 273 
 
 and sometimes amounting to as many as seven- 
 teen tiers. The king, as he appeared seated on 
 the throne, had more the appearance of a statue 
 in a niche than of a living being. He wore a 
 loose gown of gold tissue, and by his side lay a 
 golden baton or sceptre. 
 
 The general appearance of the hall, the pro- 
 strate attitude of the courtiers, the situation of 
 the king, and the silence which prevailed, presented 
 a very imposing spectacle, and reminded us much 
 more of a temple, crowded with votaries engaged 
 in the performance of some solemn rite of religion, 
 than the audience chamber of a temporal monarch. 
 
 Imposing as all this must have been, Mr. Craw- 
 ford has omitted the thrilling sensation caused by 
 the 6 coup de theatre } generally performed on the 
 occasion of giving audience, and which so impressed 
 a more recent traveller in Siam, that he says — 6 On 
 our first entry I could perceive nothing but a very 
 magnificent curtain, worked entirely of gold and 
 silver tissue, which stretched across the room ; pre- 
 sently the soft notes of a remarkably sweet-toned 
 organ reached our ears ; and, as the symphony 
 gradually swelled into the beautiful cadence of one 
 of Mozart's masterpieces, the curtain drew aside 
 by degrees, and revealed to our expectant eyes the 
 corpulent and half-naked body of the mighty and 
 despotic King of Siam.' 
 
 How different our reception. No grand hall ; 
 no splendid throne ; no music, and to all appear- 
 
 T 
 
274 WE ARE TAKEN BEFORE THE KING. 
 
 ance, no mighty Asiatic despot — without, indeed, it 
 can be that mild-looking, very stout personage in 
 an uncomfortably light hybrid uniform, part Asiatic 
 part European, who is sitting near a table of Eng- 
 lish make in a library furnished in European style, 
 and who smiles rather than frowns, as upon enter- 
 ing his presence we bend our bodies forward in- 
 stead of following the example of the Phra Klang, 
 who, great as he was in his own palace, now crawls 
 in the dust at the feet of his master. 
 
 Yes, this personage was the clever, accom- 
 plished second king, whose praises it has been the 
 fashion of all recent visitors to his court to sing, as 
 a prince who, measured by his countrymen, is 
 a hundred years in advance of his time, and of 
 whom an American missionary said, as far back as 
 1837:— 
 
 " Chow Fa Noi is the probable successor to the 
 throne ; and, in fact, is now entitled to it, rather 
 than the present monarch, who is an illegitimate son. 
 Should he assume the government, Siam must ad- 
 vance from her present lowliness and semi-civiliza- 
 tion. No man in the kingdom is so qualified to 
 govern well. His naturally fine mind is enlarged 
 and improved by intercourse with foreigners, by the 
 perusal of English works, by studying Euclid and 
 Newton, by freeing himself from a bigoted attach- 
 ment to Buddism, by candidly recognising our supe- 
 riority, and a readiness to adopt our arts." 
 
 Well, on this occasion, desiring to be something 
 
INTERVIEW WITH THE KING. 
 
 275 
 
 more than a mere puppet of state, moreover per- 
 haps feeling a great curiosity to see and examine 
 for himself this robber, who had so impudently run 
 away with his merchandize, the king had chosen to 
 take into his own hands, at least in the first instance, 
 the office of judge or magistrate, and that, too, in 
 his Europeanized library; but, although his majesty 
 had for the nonce cast aside his regal dignity, his 
 minister, the Phra Klang, was no less the slave in 
 form and fact, for the royal lips had no sooner 
 signified that he might speak, than he said — 
 
 " The Phra ong (Divine personage), the mighty 
 and august king, commanded the attendance of the 
 two Farangs. They are present, and await his 
 orders." 
 
 " It is well," replied the king • " but this Farang 
 thief — where is the dog ?" 
 
 "I, a dust-grain of your sacred feet, have 
 obeyed ; the dog is without, and awaits the sen- 
 tence of the sovereign of the earth," replied the 
 minister, crawling backwards out of the room to 
 fetch the accused, who was speedily introduced 
 between two officers, who made him kneel at the 
 feet of his majesty. 
 
 u But the Phra Klang told us of a girl, the 
 sister of these Farang merchants, his friends. Let 
 her be brought hither," said the king. 
 
 " The slave of the high and mighty has heard 
 the royal word ; he has put it on his brain, on the 
 
 t 2 
 
276 WE ARE TAKEN BEFORE THE KING. 
 
 tuft of his head/ replied the minister, again crawl- 
 ing backwards from the room." 
 
 But now, reader, as I have only put these big- 
 sounding, grandiloquent phrases into the mouth of 
 the minister, to give you a notion of the almost 
 blasphemous form of speech, in which the king is 
 addressed by his officers, I will relate the remainder 
 of the interview in plain unvarnished English, 
 leaving it to your own imagination to supply the 
 tedious verbiage in which it was clothed, and of 
 which I have given a very fair specimen — 
 
 But the prisoner. Well, his countenance and 
 bearing was marvellous for one who stood charged 
 with a crime which, by the law of every nation, 
 must consign him to the gibbet ; not a feature was 
 ruffled ; not a muscle seemed to move, and to the 
 glances of hatred and vengeance shot at him by 
 Dick, he seemed to return a look rather of pity 
 than indignation or fear ; indeed, when the Phra 
 Klang returned and commanded Dick to repeat his 
 charges against him, he but smiled, confidently, as if 
 he were about listening to some pleasing story. 
 
 Dick obeyed, and related the story of his ad- 
 ventures, particularizing those in which he knew, 
 or believed Crafty had figured ; charging him with 
 purloining the money he had sent to his mother ; 
 the robbery of the dollars in San Francisco ; being 
 engaged in the attack upon and plunder of the 
 € Anne and, lastly, and most important to the 
 Siamese ruler, being one of the real leaders of the 
 
EXAMINATION OF CRAFTY. 
 
 277 
 
 pirates who had stolen the royal cargo at Chanta- 
 buri. To all of which the king, having listened 
 very attentively, made reply — 
 
 "•Buddha be praised! the world will be hap- 
 pier when it is rid of so great a rogue/' adding, 
 sternly to the prisoner : u But what answer hath the 
 dog to make to these charges ?" 
 
 a That the young man is bereft of reason, O 
 king ; for none but a madman would bring such 
 charges without proofs, and without proofs the 
 meanest magistrate would not condemn the hum- 
 blest of slaves/' was the firm reply. 
 
 " How ! — does the rogue deny his guiltiness of 
 these crimes V 9 said the king. 
 
 " Of each and all. Moreover, great king, the ac- 
 cusation has fallen upon me as a thunder-bolt from 
 heaven. My heart is crushed by a mountain of 
 ingratitude, for to this young man have I behaved 
 as a parent." 
 
 For a moment Dick was astonished at the 
 reply, but he answered — 
 
 " Hypocrite as well as thief. Did you not 
 purloin the money with which I entrusted you for 
 my mother ?" 
 
 u It is a foul charge ; what proof have you V 
 
 "Truly, there should be proof of all these 
 charges," said the king ; but alas ! my intemperate 
 friend possessed no proof — at least of charge the 
 first : and, with a sigh, he replied — 
 
 " True, thou cunning rascal, I have no proof of 
 
278 WE ARE TAKEN BEFORE THE KING. 
 
 that ; but the robbery of the dollars, the sacking of 
 the ' Anne/ and the murder of the crew." 
 
 " Alas ! your majesty, it is as I have said, this 
 young man has suffered a great injury, and it has 
 made him mad/' interposed Crafty- ; but, regarding 
 neither the words nor the look of malice which had 
 accompanied them, Dick then related the details of 
 the charges ; but the king shook his head ; there 
 was no proof positive, for Dick could only affirm 
 that he had recognized Crafty' s voice, and believed 
 that he had seen him in Chinese costume during the 
 attack of the 6 Anne/ Then his majesty ^turning an- 
 grily to the Phra Klang, said — 
 
 " How is this ? that our time should be wasted ; 
 didst thou not say that many were the proofs of this 
 man's crimes ; yet, now he is brought before us, they 
 vanish as water through a sieve." 
 
 " The dust at thy feet, 0 divine monarch ! knew 
 nothing of what happened out of thine empire, 
 it was of the cargo robbery thy slave spoke," re- 
 plied the minister ; and the faces of both the king 
 and Dick became brighter, for here was a charge 
 of which he was unquestionably guilty, and the 
 king, addressing the prisoner, said — 
 
 " Our minister's words are good. What hast 
 thou to say, thou dog, to prove thine innocence of 
 that sacrilegious and blasphemous robbery ?" 
 
 But still unabashed, Crafty replied — 
 
 " Shall it be recorded of a great prince, whose 
 boast and endeavour it is to follow the wise institu- 
 
crafty's cunning. 
 
 279 
 
 tions of Europe that, in a moment of even justifiable 
 anger at a great loss, he commanded an accused 
 and friendless man himself to prove his guilt of a 
 charge which he denies V 9 
 
 The rogue had touched a sore point, and the be- 
 Europeanized despot replied — 
 
 " The rogue speaks well ; it is not for him to 
 prove his innocence, but for the accuser to make 
 clear his guilt. " 
 
 " This time the cunning rascal shall not escape," 
 said Dick; and then seriatim he related every 
 circumstance that occurred on board the China 
 junk after I had left him till the moment of his being 
 cast away in the boat; but again Crafty, with a 
 glance of pity towards him, said — 
 
 u Alas ! great king, it is as I have said ; the 
 great injuries this young man has received have 
 afflicted him, for although he has spoken, and 
 doubtlessly with truth, of his treatment by the vile 
 sea-rats, he has not proved that thy servant was 
 among them." 
 
 " Scoundrel ! have I not said that I heard your 
 voice?" interrupted Dick ; but his. majesty was of 
 a different opinion, for, with a doubting shake of 
 his head, he replied — 
 
 "That this man is a rogue there can be little 
 doubt ; nevertheless, the young Farang has not 
 proved it sufficiently, for he saw him not. The 
 eyes may be trusted, but not the ears, in such a 
 case as this, for as well might he distinguish one 
 
280 WE ARE TAKEN BEFORE THE KING. 
 
 particular fish, in the ocean, or one white ant in a 
 million." 
 
 " But our sister, the young girl of whom thou 
 hast heard, 0 king ! She whom this fellow has 
 kept with him from the day of the great theft 
 — surely she can speak to his identity," said 
 Dick. 
 
 " That is good, the girl must know ; let her be 
 brought forward," replied the king. 
 
 "May the dust beneath thy feet speak and 
 live V 9 — but his majesty, with an impatient gesture, 
 signified to the Phra Klang to be silent and obey ; 
 and, without another word, the snubbed minister 
 crawled backwards from the presence ; but, after an 
 absence of a minute or two, he returned, accompanied 
 by Waif ; and Dick exultingly exclaimed — 
 
 "Now, rascal, in the presence of this poor 
 injured girl, what have you to say but to our 
 utter confusion, Crafty, addressing the king, 
 replied — 
 
 " My life, 0 king, depends upon the words of 
 this girl — let her speak." 
 
 Then kindly, but sternly, the king said — 
 
 " Let the Farang girl open her lips, and speak 
 without fear of any in this presence." 
 
 For an instant Waif fixed her eyes upon Dick 
 and I, as if in agony, but catching the eye of the 
 prisoner, she, I thought timidly, but at length 
 firmly, said — 
 
 " I have heard, 0 king, that the people of Siam 
 
WAIF BEFORE THE KING. 
 
 281 
 
 are admirers of gratitude. May it prove so now. 
 This man saved my life, and I am called upon to 
 utter words that would destroy his ; this may not 
 be ; those words shall never be spoken." 
 
 "Miserable girl, what strange infatuation is 
 this ?" exclaimed Dick ; but the king, interrupting 
 him, said kindly — 
 
 "Thou art a heroine; still nought that thou 
 couldst have said would have injured this man ; for 
 by the laws of Siam no woman can give evidence 
 in important affairs." 
 
 " Then for what purpose was I brought into your 
 Majesty's presence ?" she asked. 
 
 " That from thy words some clue might be 
 gained to some of the other thieves/' replied the 
 king; adding, "there can be little doubt, 
 although there is no proof, of this fellow's guilt 
 and Crafty, who expected to be at once set at 
 liberty, smiled pleasantly; but when the king 
 added, " What knowest thou of the great rogue Mi, 
 who is even now hiding from justice, and with 
 whom it is said thou hast long been in connec- 
 tion ?" his cool courage seemed to fail him, for 
 with a tremulous voice he replied — 
 
 "Is it possible that the great king, whose 
 justice is in the mouths of all, would punish the 
 robbed for the crime of the robber V 9 but his 
 majesty, now fairly perplexed, replied — 
 
 a Who but Buddha alone could distinguish 
 between two rogues so much alike V } 
 
282 WE ARE TAKEN BEFOKE THE KING. 
 
 " Alas ! 0 king, then must thy servant leave it 
 to Heaven and time to establish his innocence ; yet 
 know that this merchant Mi is the cause of all my 
 present misery ; for he held in his possession many 
 thousands of dollars, the produce of China goods, 
 that I had entrusted to his honesty, but with which, 
 in common with the monies of other traders, he has 
 decamped." 
 
 " Hold, rogue," said Dick ; " the old rascal was 
 on board the junk but a few minutes before we so 
 fortunately lighted upon' you." 
 
 u That is true ; how can'st answer this ? for 
 what purpose did he visit you t" asked the king ; 
 but Crafty, who had now recovered his self- 
 possession, and knew the vantage ground upon 
 which he stood, replied — 
 
 " Again, 0 king, am I the victim of mere 
 suspicion. I saw naught of Mi ; indeed, it is not 
 possible that he could have been on board the 
 junk, for is it reasonable that the thief would visit 
 his victim, that victim, too, who had travelled from 
 California to claim his own, and from whom, at that 
 time, it was the rogue's object to escape V 3 
 
 " There is truth in these words ; but if the man 
 Mi was on board, surely the girl must know ; let 
 her make answer," said the king, addressing 
 Waif. 
 
 With breathless interest we awaited her reply, 
 and firmly she said — 
 
 " I saw him not — I have never seen him ; and 
 
CRAFTY SENT BACK TO PRISON. 
 
 283 
 
 this I declare on the faith of a Christian;" and 
 astonished and disappointed as we were, we conld 
 not doubt the truth of her reply, for now there 
 was no evasion; and again the king, but more 
 perplexed than ever, said — 
 
 €t Truly there is much suspicion, but no proof of 
 this man's guilt ; nay, it is even possible that he 
 may be the victim :" and I believe the king would 
 immediately have ordered his liberation, but for 
 Phra Klang, who said — 
 
 " Great rogues have great cunning, but the most 
 cunningly woven web of crime may be unravelled 
 by time ; therefore, 0 divine monarch, the dust of 
 thy feet would pray that this fellow be kept in 
 prison some time longer; for I have received in- 
 formation that your majesty's officers have obtained 
 a clue to the hiding-places of some of the pirate 
 crew who committed the robbery at Chantaburi, 
 and they may prove much, either for the guilt or 
 innocence of this man/' And this seeming an easy 
 solution, at least for the present, of the difficulty, 
 the king commanded Crafty to be taken back to 
 his prison, there to remain until further orders. 
 
 Thus ended this extraordinary examination, and 
 we returned to the house of the Phra Klang. 
 Most bitter, however, was Dick's indignation at the 
 conduct of Waif ; but for whom, he asserted, the 
 rogue would have been convicted. In that, 
 however, he was wrong; for, as the reader has 
 seen, no evidence that she could have offered would 
 
2S4 WE ARE TAKEN BEFORE THE KING. 
 
 have been available, for she was among those 
 whose testimony is excluded by the laws of Siam. 
 
 By the way, the list of the excluded is extra- 
 ordinary. Among them are blind and deaf people, 
 goldsmiths, braziers, vagabonds, shoemakers, beg- 
 gars, drunkards, gamblers, potters, women who 
 have been married three times, clerks, orphans, 
 players, and many others too numerous to 
 mention. 
 
285 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 WE MEET AN OLD FRIEND AND HEAE IMPORTANT NEWS. 
 
 A week had elapsed since the examination before 
 the king ; still no satisfactory intelligence had 
 been received from the chief of the party sent in 
 search of the pirate crew. This suspense was 
 mortifying in the extreme to Dick ; for his failure 
 in proving Crafty guilty of the crimes alleged 
 against him had but increased his hatred and desire 
 for vengeance. 
 
 As for Waif, she would not see us. To all our 
 entreaties, sent by one of the slaves, that she would 
 join us, she returned a point-blank refusal. No. 
 She had determined to remain in the women's 
 apartments until the fate of Crafty had been 
 decided ; a determination the more vexatious and 
 tantalizing inasmuch as it deprived us of all chance 
 of discovering her real connection with the pirate. 
 
 Then, as regarded my own special interests, the 
 rogue Mi, notwithstanding the prosecution of a 
 rigorous search, was still at large, hiding, it was 
 
286 WE MEET AN OLD FRIEND. 
 
 supposed, among the lowest haunts of the floating 
 city. Again, the absence from Bangkok, nearly 
 the whole of the week, of the Phra Klang, upon 
 some urgent business, had left us to ourselves, the 
 most unpleasant of companionships, for each had a 
 separate grievance, which, although springing from 
 a like source, diverged into two such opposite sets 
 of opinions, that we had some difficulty in bearing 
 each other s society. My thoughts were bent upon 
 Waif, and her mysterious unhappiness ; Dick 
 could think of naught but Crafty and vengeance ; 
 as for Waif, he regarded her as lost and worthless : 
 thus we mutually avoided all mention of the very 
 subject upon which our minds and thoughts were 
 most intent. 
 
 It was a dreary week, as monotonous as a calm 
 in the tropics ; however, even that was brought to 
 a close by the return of our host, who, about the 
 eighth day after his departure, entering our apart- 
 ment with a light step and a cheerful countenance, 
 bade us prepare for some merry-making that was to 
 take place during the afternoon, in consequence of a 
 fortunate event that had happened in his family ; 
 and so pleased were we at any event that would 
 serve to arouse us from our monotony, that we did 
 not even ask what the fortunate occurrence was 
 that had given him so much joy. 
 
 Towards the hour appointed for the feast, for 
 feast and concert it was to be, the guests began to 
 
A DOMESTIC FESTIVAL. 
 
 287 
 
 arrive. Dick and I were among the last who 
 entered the reception room. 
 
 This apartment was not the same in which we 
 had witnessed the ceremony of the u shaving of the 
 tuft/' but smaller and more compact, yet, as in all 
 Siamese rooms, having one portion raised higher 
 than the rest, from which it was divided by a high 
 balustrade, or lattice-work. Behind and through 
 the interstices of the latter we could just catch a 
 glimpse of the ladies and children of the house- 
 hold, most of whom, attired in their yellow 
 silk scarfs, and heavily laden with golden chains, 
 bracelets, armlets, anklets, and rings, were seated 
 just behind the lattice-work, through which they 
 seemed to be intently peering. 
 
 As for the entertainment, it was novel, if not 
 quite suitable to ears rendered fastidious by the 
 sounds of European music. The band was 
 numerous, men and boys, and the sounds they sent 
 forth loud and noisy. During the music, slaves 
 handed round to the guests eatables and drinkables. 
 The former consisted chiefly of fresh fruits, 
 preserves, and confectionary ; the latter of such 
 mild and temperate beverages as the milk of the 
 cocoa-nut and tea, which were served in cups of 
 rare and costly porcelain. But of the entertain- 
 ment itself — enough. The cause of its being given 
 was left to our imagination until at least an hour 
 after the commencement of the music. 
 
 Dick and I were nervously watching the lattice- 
 
288 
 
 WE MEET AN OLD FRIEND. 
 
 work, more narrowly perhaps than politeness 
 would have warranted; nay, forgetting that my 
 companion had affected to have neither thought 
 nor care for Waif, I said — ■ 
 
 " She is with the ladies of the family ; she 
 must be behind that lattice, Dick." 
 
 " She may, or she may not ; but it don't signify, 
 and that's a fact" he replied coolly; but at the 
 same moment the Phra Klang arose from his 
 seat, said a few words to the band, who at once 
 struck up a joyous merry air, while simultaneously 
 a new guest entered the room ; but regarding 
 neither those to his right or his left, he fell upon 
 his hands and knees, and crawled straightway 
 up to the minister, whose affection being stronger 
 than his love of ceremonial, inherent as it is in 
 the very nature of the Siamese, took him by the 
 hands, and leading him to a seat one step lower 
 than his own, said to the astonished guests (who, 
 by the way, were what Europeans would have 
 called a select circle of friends and relatives) — 
 
 u Buddha be praised ! Let all my friends and 
 relatives rejoice, for my brother is restored." 
 
 It was our old acquaintance, the ex-Governor 
 of Chantaburi ; and, doubtless, with Dick and I, 
 the guests were glad to see him restored ; but even 
 powerful as was the host, they dared express no 
 such feeling, for he, whom they regarded as little 
 less than a divinity, the king, had placed the 
 governor under ban, nay, had even offered a reward 
 
AN OLD FRIEND. 
 
 289 
 
 for his head; until the minister, seeing their 
 consternation, added — 
 
 "Pardoned by the Phra Ong (king), who, in 
 consideration of his misfortunes and misery, has 
 restored him to his government." 
 
 This being the cue for which the born and bred 
 toadies had awaited, they crawled to the feet of 
 the brothers, and in terms which no European 
 would have offered to any person upon this earth, 
 congratulated them both. 
 
 This ceremony being over, the Phra Klang com- 
 manded the musicians to rest upon their instru- 
 ments, when the Governor approaching Dick and me, 
 thanked us, after his fashion, for having been the 
 means of his deliverance. The Phra Klang then 
 said — 
 
 a Let my brother tell these noble Farangs how, 
 that next to Buddha and the divine king, it is to 
 them he owes his life." 
 
 The Governor obeyed, but in his own tongue, 
 which I interpreted almost sentence by sentence 
 to Dick. His narrative, however, contained no 
 incident of interest that is not already known to 
 the reader, except that although by the intercession 
 of his brother the king had pardoned him, he 
 would not restore him to his governorship. But 
 his Excellency no sooner found himself on board 
 the steamer which the Phra Klang had sent to the 
 island, than remembering the white monkey with 
 which we had presented him, he directed her 
 
 u 
 
290 
 
 WE MEET AN OLD FRIEND. 
 
 course to Chantaburi, where, fortunately, lie found 
 the beast still under the care of a faithful servant, 
 who had hidden it till an opportunity should 
 offer of his taking it to the Phra Klang. Well, 
 overjoyed at this unexpected piece of luck, the 
 Governor* sailed for Bangkok, and, by his brother's 
 influence, having obtained an interview with the 
 king, found, as he had anticipated, the little beast 
 an immediate passport to royal favour ; for so de- 
 lighted was that small divinity at the gift, that he at 
 once re-appointed Luang to his old government. 
 
 Now, that the king was so pleased with the 
 sacred animal was not to be wondered at, for 
 although on the royal establishment there were two 
 white elephants and one white cock, there was no 
 white monkey. Moreover the chief of the talapoins 
 had said, " Long shall be the life, and prosperous 
 the reign of the king upon whom Buddha shall 
 vouchsafe to bestow a white monkey for there can 
 be no doubt that such an animal is the incarna- 
 tion of some Buddha, past or future. 
 
 Luang having concluded, — again and again I 
 congratulated him upon his fortunes, and he sat 
 down abashed, as if their weight was too much for 
 his modesty. But his brother, the minister, then 
 said — 
 
 (f It is true, my brother has been most fortunate ; 
 but however clear the stream, the spring from 
 which it flows must not be forgotten ; my friends 
 were that spring, so he brings them good news." 
 
THE TWO PIRATES. 
 
 291 
 
 u Has lie discovered any of the rascal crew who 
 can prove the guilt of the cunning thief Crafty V 
 asked Dick. 
 
 u That is so, it is true/' replied the minister ; 
 adding, "My brother, on his return from 
 Chantaburi to the mouth of the Meinam, 
 touched at an island in the gulf, upon which 
 were found starving, and upon the point of dying, 
 two men, whom, in the name of humanity, he 
 took on board the steamer and fed. But when 
 these fellows saw before them the injured and 
 unfortunate Governor of Chantaburi, they threw 
 themselves at his feet, and confessed that they had 
 been of the pirate crew. Then they further 
 confessed that when they were discovered by 
 the captain of the Siamese war-ship they fled in 
 the night into the interior, where the whole crew 
 remained together for a few days, but ultimately, 
 for their safety, parted, and went in different 
 directions. 
 
 " These two, however, managing to get service on 
 board a small junk which was bound for Pechaburi, 
 a town upon the opposite side of the Gulf of Siam, 
 were wrecked upon the island where they were 
 ultimately picked up by my brother." 
 
 a But these rascals, what know they of the thief 
 Crafty V 9 asked Dick. 
 
 a Of him, they have as yet said but little, yet 
 enough for my brother; for they declare that a 
 European was among them, who was connected 
 
 u 2 
 
292 
 
 WE MEET AN OLD FKIEND. 
 
 with a merchant in Bangkok, and that he was with 
 them at the boarding of the f Anne/ and at the 
 time of the robbery of the king's cargo at Chan- 
 taburi." 
 
 " My good friend/* exclaimed Dick, with savage 
 pleasure, as he caught both hands of the minister, 
 u this is enough in all conscience. I shall yet live 
 to see the scoundrel hanged." 
 
 As, however, at that moment a talapoin stalked 
 into the room, and squatted down upon the plat- 
 form, just beneath that upon which the brothers 
 were seated, the Phra Klang, who evidently did 
 not relish Dick's grasp, politely shook him off, 
 saying — 
 
 u That is true — yes ; but my friend forgets this is 
 the hour of joy ; moreover, although the rogues are 
 taken, it is in the power of Buddha alone to prove 
 their guilt, and award their punishment ; and that 
 he is allwise and just, my friend will hear if he will 
 listen to this holy man, who will tell him that the 
 artifices of a wicked man having brought a poor 
 scholar into a dreadful series of misfortunes, by 
 which he was about to be executed for a murder, 
 God, in His own good time, brought the real rogue 
 to light." 
 
 i( What gibberish is this ?" asked Dick, with 
 disgust. 
 
 " Be seated, Dick, for yonder old priest has been 
 sent for to tell us a story," said I. 
 
 si Does it bear upon the rogue Crafty, or the 
 
WE PREPARE TO HEAR A STORY. 
 
 293 
 
 fellow Mi ? If not, I can't see how it will interest 
 us, and that's a, fact." 
 
 u Perhaps it may, but be quiet," said I ; where- 
 upon Dick became seated and patient, in the entire 
 belief that the old man's story had reference to our 
 special affairs ; and the old talapoin, in a very clear 
 voice, told the following story. 
 
294 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 A STOEY WITH A MOEAL — THE POOE SCHOLAE AND 
 THE GINGEE-MEECHANT. 
 
 In the city of Yung Kien in China, there once lived 
 a scholar of the name of Wang, whose whole 
 family consisted of his wife Lew, and one daughter. 
 Though not rich, Wang possessed a competence, 
 and being desirous of taking a degree, gave up the 
 greater part of his time to study and contem- 
 plation. 
 
 Sometimes, however, by way of relief, he would 
 stroll in the fields, accompanied by a few friends. 
 Upon one occasion he had been taking this diver- 
 sion, which lasted till the evening ; but upon tak- 
 ing leave of his friends before going home, he 
 partook with them of more bumpers of wine than 
 was his usual custom. Alas ! that he did so, for 
 upon reaching his house, and finding at the door 
 two of his servants in a great passion with a ginger 
 merchant named Lin, who demanded more money 
 han they had paid him for his ginger, Wang, in 
 angry tones, addressed the dealer, saying — 
 
THE INTEMPERATE SCHOLAR. 2V)5 
 
 « Go thy ways, thou dog, for thou hast been 
 already too well paid/' ^ me 
 
 " Nay, tins is not so ; tnese 
 of my fa r payment, and it is ill done for you a 
 01 my . v 3 , t trt i. ftVe a great and generous 
 scholar, who ought to have a g & 
 soul to he so hard with a poor man, replied tne 
 de^e who was known to he an honest man But 
 Wang, heated with wine, exclaimed m a great pas- 
 
 ^Thou rascal, how dare you talk to me thus!" 
 And so saying, the intemperate man gave mm a 
 £ Lt U the ginger me^^ ^ 
 without sense or motion; but P 6 ^ 1 ^ 
 
 and by the help of 
 bTslaves, he carried the poor man into Ins hall, 
 ^ after a time, and by the aid of hot tea, winch 
 thev poured down his throat, he recovered 
 
 Ion "he ginger merchant recovering has senses 
 Wai was so'plfased at his escape from what might 
 I^oved a great evil, that he 
 wine and presented him with a piece of silk , after 
 XcCas it was now getting dark the old merchan 
 took up his basket and departed for fear that he 
 should not be able to cross the river before dark, 
 22 so delighted was Wang, that he ran into he 
 tZ apartments, and having told his wife the 
 whole affair, that amiable 'lady begged of her hus- 
 band to sit down, while she mixed ham a bumper of 
 
29 G A STORY WITH A MORAL. 
 
 hot wine that should soothe his mind and recover 
 him from the effects of his fright. 
 
 Alas ! when man thinks he is most blessed, then 
 his real miseries happen ; so when by the help 
 of the hot wine and the happy smiles of the amiable 
 Lew, Wang had been raised into a state of beati- 
 tude, there suddenly came a loud thumping at his 
 door. 
 
 Then his heart bumped against his breast, like a 
 battering-ram against the walls of a fortress ; but 
 seizing a lamp, he ran to the door — he opened it — 
 when lo ! there stood, upon the step, Tche, the 
 master of the ferry-boat, holding in his hand, not 
 only the ginger merchant's basket, but the piece of 
 silk, which Wang had presented to that person 
 upon his departure. 
 
 For a moment Wang stood astonished, not know- 
 ing what to believe ; but how like a clap of thunder 
 sounded Tche's voice, when, with a wild and hag- 
 gard look, he said — 
 
 " What a dreadful affair, 0 Wang ! have you 
 fallen into. You are absolutely lost ! What ! a 
 scholar like you to kill a poor trader !" 
 
 " What is that you say V jerked out the tremb- 
 ling scholar ; but the terrible Tche replied — 
 
 " You dont know what I mean, don't you V 9 
 
 " Well, then, do you know this silk and basket ?" 
 
 By this time the scholar had recovered a little 
 from his fright, and he said — 
 
 " Know them ? To be sure I do ; they belonged 
 
wang's visitor. 
 
 297 
 
 to one Lin, a ginger merchant ; but how did they 
 come into your hands ?" 
 
 " Oh, that is easy to explain ; but listen, thou bad 
 man," replied Tche, adding, "It was dark when 
 a man of Han, named Lin, wanted a passage in 
 my boat ; he had hardly got in before he com- 
 plained of a violent pain in his chest, which re- 
 duced him to the last extremity ; then telling me it 
 was tie effect of blows which you gave him, he 
 put the basket and silk into my hands, saying— 
 " These will be a proof when you prosecute the 
 affair, which I conjure you to do." When these 
 words were uttered he expired ; his body is still in 
 the boat, which I have brought into your port at 
 the entrance to the river." 
 
 At this poor Wang was at first overwhelmed with 
 fear; but, recovering, he said boldly — 
 
 " How ? this thing you relate is not possi- 
 ble !" 
 
 " Is it not, thou bad man ? well, then, send one 
 of thy slaves to look within my boat," replied 
 Tche. 
 
 Wang did so ; and the slave returning, declared 
 that the body was in the boat ; and then Wang, in 
 a state of distraction, ran into his study, and bring- 
 ing with him a purse holding twenty taels, 
 said — 
 
 « Master, I hope you will keep the secret, and I 
 will tell you the whole affair. I must own that I 
 had a hand in this unfortunate affair, but more 
 
298 
 
 A STORY WITH A MORAL. 
 
 through imprudence than malice ; we are both 
 natives of the same province, and therefore, I flat- 
 ter myself, you will treat me like a fellow-citizen. 
 Would you ruin me for love of a stranger ? Is 
 it not better to hush up this affair ? If you will, 
 I will pay you well. Take, then, the body, and 
 throw it in some by-place ; it is a dark night, and no 
 person will see you." 
 
 " What words are these ? I know of no 
 place ; neither do I wish to be an accomplice in 
 the murder," replied Tche. 
 
 But the agonized Wang said — 
 
 "You know very well, 0 Tche ! the sepulchre 
 of my father — it is very near — and is a place not 
 at all frequented ; besides, the night is very dark, 
 and there is no fear of meeting one soul by the 
 way ; be, then, so kind as to fetch the carcass from 
 your boat/' 
 
 u It is a likely plan/' returned Tche, to the de- 
 light of Wang, who there and then placed the 
 purse in the hands of the waterman ; but the latter, 
 feeling its lightness, said scornfully — 
 
 " How ! here is murder in the case ; and you 
 think to get out of the scrape for so small a 
 sum ? It was my good fortune that conducted 
 this man into my boat ; heaven has given me an 
 opportunity of changing my condition for a bet- 
 ter. No ; this business is worth at least one hun- 
 dred taels." 
 
 Now, so anxious was Wang to get rid of the 
 
THE BODY DISPOSED OF. 
 
 299 
 
 .affair, lie made no reply, but ran back to get the 
 ! remaining money; he could not, however, raise 
 in all more than sixty, but that satisfied Tche, who 
 
 said — . 
 
 « I will not take advantage of your misfortune j 
 but as you are a scholar, and may some day be a man- 
 darin, I will do it." 
 
 And so saying, Tche, accompanied by one ot 
 Wang's slaves, named How, set off and disposed of 
 the body in the sepulchre, and so the affair ended 
 —at least so thought Wang. As for Tche, he 
 sold his boat, and, with the scholar's money, 
 opened a shop. 
 
 How true are the words of the sage that ^"Mis- 
 fortunes ride post and succeed one another," so in 
 a short time Wang's only and darling little daugh- 
 ter became seized with a malignant disorder, and 
 soon lay in the last extremity. A friend, however, 
 calling to see the mother and father, told them that 
 there lived in the neighbouring city a physician 
 who was celebrated for the cure of such disorders. 
 Whereupon Wang at once dispatched his slave 
 How to the learned doctor ; but he came not m 
 time, for the child died. Indeed, the slave got 
 drunk by the way, and did not return till the next 
 day, when so agonized was Wang at his child's 
 death, as he believed through the negligence of How, 
 that he caused the latter to be beaten nigh unto 
 death. 
 
 It was a sad thing for the poor scholar that How 
 
300 
 
 A STORY WITH A MORAL. 
 
 did not die of his wounds, for a few days after he 
 had recovered from the effects of his beating, the 
 officers of justice entered the house, and seizing 
 Wang, dragged him at once before a mandarin, 
 who asked him what reply he had to make 
 to the charge of murder brought against him by 
 How. 
 
 66 Alas ! sir, you, the representative of heaven, 
 will not listen to my accuser, who is one of my 
 slaves ; who, being beaten for a great fault, 
 has formed this design of ruining me," replied 
 Wang. 
 
 The slave, however, not only persisted in the 
 charge, but declared where the body was buried, 
 and desired that the mandarin would order it to be 
 exhumed. Of course, the judge could not do other- 
 wise than acquiesce, and lo ! the skeleton was 
 brought before him ; when, rising from the judg- 
 ment seat, he said — 
 
 " The crime is plain ; let this miserable scholar 
 be put to the torture, and made to confess his 
 guilt." 
 
 But poor Wang begging for, and obtaining, per- 
 mission to speak, said — 
 
 " By this skeleton it would appear the man must 
 have been killed long since ; then why did my ac- 
 cuser so long delay in bringing this charge ? Is it 
 not reasonable, 0 father and mother of justice ! to 
 believe that this slave has procured these bones to fix 
 the murder upon me ?" 
 
WANG'S CONFESSION. 
 
 301 
 
 " Certainly, these are reasonable words," replied 
 the mandarin ; but then the cunning slave pro- 
 duced Wang's neighbours as witnesses, and they 
 proved that, on a certain day, the scholar had vio- 
 lently beaten the ginger merchant. 
 
 After this evidence, Wang became so pale, and 
 gave such contradictory answers to questions put to 
 him, that the mandarin ordered him to be beaten 
 with bamboos till he confessed ; which, from his 
 ' great agony, he very speedily did; for, so great 
 was his' pain, that he answered " Yes," to every- 
 thing. 
 
 The confession being made, and taken down m 
 writing, the mandarin said — 
 
 " Now, dog, though it is no longer doubtful 
 that you deserve to die, yet, as no relation of 
 the deceased is now present to demand justice, 
 your execution shall be delayed for some time, 
 to see if one of them does not make his appear- 
 
 ance. 
 
 And, after this, the poor scholar was taken to 
 prison. 
 
 Well, for six months Wang remained incarce- 
 rated ; but, at the end of that period, believing him- 
 self about to die, he sent for his wife to condole with 
 him. The amiable Lew attended, and remained with 
 her husband, until night coming on the gaolers 
 insisted upon her leaving the prison. Then she 
 returned to her house, and shutting herself in her 
 apartment, gave way to the most violent grief. But 
 
302 
 
 A STORY WITH A MORAL. 
 
 suddenly hearing a great noise among the slaves 
 below, she descended ; and, as she did so, to her asto- 
 nishment, she met the terrified people running and 
 exclaiming — 
 
 u A ghost ! a ghost ! a ghost !" 
 
 But what was more surprising, he whom they had 
 taken for a spirit was running after them call- 
 ing— 
 
 " Are you all mad ? I come to make your 
 master a visit, and you take me for an appa- 
 rition." 
 
 " Fo be praised !" exclaimed Lew. " What — who 
 art thou ?" 
 
 And the ghost replied — 
 
 " Truly, I am no other than the ginger 
 merchant, who, some time ago, the hospitable 
 Wang entertained, and afterwards sent away 
 with a present of a piece of silk, and in return for 
 which, since I have been fortunate in trade, I have 
 come to offer the master 'Wang a few trifling pre- 
 sents," 
 
 " Then you are no ghost ? * You are the ginger 
 merchant ?" replied the greatly-relieved Lew. 
 
 But here one of the slaves in his fright cried 
 out — 
 
 " Let my beloved mistress beware, for this is the 
 ghost of the ginger merchant, who, having come by 
 the knowledge that thou art endeavouring to get 
 our master out of prison, has assumed this shape to 
 embroil his affairs and complete his destruction." 
 
THE LADY LEW AND THE GHOST. 303 
 
 But the Lady Lew, not regarding the speech of 
 
 her slave, said — 
 
 "•Certainly, as far as I can apprehend from your 
 discourse, there is no reason to helieve you have 
 arisen from the dead." 
 
 And then she related the whole of the misfortunes 
 that had happened to her husband. At which 
 the good man, in the greatest consternation, re- 
 plied — 
 
 « Is it possible there should be so great a rascal 
 under heaven as this waterman Tche? When, on 
 that night I left Wang, I went directly to the ferry ; 
 the waterman, seeing the piece of silk in my hands, 
 demanded from whence 1 had obtained it, and not fear- 
 ing any roguish design, I told him the whole story. 
 Well, after we had crossed the river, I gave him my 
 basket by way of payment, and I sold him the piece 
 of silk, because he offered me a handsome price for 
 
 « Thanks be to Fo, then ; I know my husband is 
 innocent," cried Lew, adding: "but whence ob- 
 tained he the body, which he affirmed to be 
 yours £ 
 
 The ginger merchant, having -considered for a mo- 
 ment, replied— 
 
 " Ah ! madame, now I recollect that, while I was 
 in the boat relating my story to Tche, a body floated 
 by us. But, lady, there is no time to lose ; let us at 
 once proceed to the mandarin." 
 
 Now, the Lady Lew at once ordered a handsome 
 
304 
 
 A STORY WITH A MORAL. 
 
 dinner for the good old man ; and, while he was eat- 
 ing it, she drew up a petition ; for, belonging to a 
 learned family, she could write elegantly; and, 
 when this was prepared, she sent out for a chair, 
 and, attended by the old man and some slaves, pro- 
 ceeded to the Palace of Justice. 
 
 When the mandarin was seated, the lady and the 
 old man cried out — 
 
 " The innocent is oppressed with slander !" 
 
 And at the same time she presented the petition ; 
 which the mandarin having read, he turned to the 
 ginger merchant, saying sternly — 
 
 " How can this be possible ? Has not this woman 
 prevailed upon you by presents to play the part of 
 the murdered man ?" 
 
 Old Lin, however, having prepared himself with 
 many witnesses as to identity, they were called for- 
 ward, and the judge, being satisfied, ordered the offi- 
 cers of the tribunal at once to search out Tche, the 
 waterman, and How, the slave, and bring them before 
 him in the afternoon. 
 
 Now, the mandarin directed that the two rogues 
 should be induced to come to the tribunal of their 
 own accord, and without being told that the ginger 
 merchant had come to life again; and this they 
 succeeded in doing by the following cunning method : 
 Tche, who had now become a seller of stuffs, they 
 told that the mandarin wished to make some good 
 purchases of him. How, the slave, was told that 
 sentence being that day to be passed upon his 
 
SURPRISE OF TWO ROGUES. 
 
 305 
 
 master, his presence was necessary, and the vile 
 slave, transported with joy, immediately followed 
 them. 
 
 But, upon reaching the tribunal, imagine the 
 consternation of the two rogues at the sight of 
 the old ginger merchant, who, seeing Tche, said— 
 
 " Well, Mr. Boatman, how have you done since 
 the day that I sold you the piece of silk and the 
 bamboo basket ? Have you prospered V 
 
 But the rogue hung down his head in confusion 
 and dread, for he knew the justice of heaven was 
 at hand. As for How, when the mandarin said, 
 pointing to Lin — 
 
 « Dost know that man ? But I see you do. 
 Then, thou dog of a slave, what has thy master done 
 that thou and this water-rat should contrive his 
 ruin ?" 
 
 He answered — 
 
 " Nothing is more true than that my master killed a 
 man, for I saw the body, and helped to bury it ; 
 although I should not have disclosed it had not I 
 conceived a mortal hatred against him for beating 
 
 me. 
 
 And the slave spoke truthfully as far as he knew, 
 for he believed all he said. 
 
 " How, thou vile dog, dost still persist I" exclaimed 
 the mandarin ; and he would have put the slave at 
 once to the torture but for Tche, who, thinking to get 
 his own punishment mitigated, fell at the feet of the 
 mandarin ; and, having repeated the whole story of his 
 
306 
 
 A STORY WITH A MORAL. 
 
 practising upon the too great credulity and fears of 
 Wang, ended by crying — 
 
 " Take pity, O father and mother of justice, upon 
 a poor wretch who had no other design than to get a 
 little money." 
 
 " How ! thou wretch, is it possible thou canst ex- 
 pect mercy when thou hast been the means of bring- 
 ing an honest man to the brink of destruction. No ; 
 it is my duty to free the city of so dangerous a 
 plague." 
 
 And he concluded by sentencing Tche to be beaten 
 till he expired ; and the slave to forty blows, from 
 which he also expired, for heaven would not allow so 
 vile a fellow to live ; and thus ended the troubles of 
 Wang ; " and I may add the real story, for that which 
 the talapoin afterwards recited very didactically was 
 the running summary or commentary with which 
 Chinese story-tellers interlard or append to their 
 tales. It ran as follows : — 
 
 u From that time Wang learned to moderate the 
 heat of his temper ; if a poor man came to him, he 
 received him with affability, and showed his readi- 
 ness to assist him ; in short, he came to a resolution 
 to labour in good earnest to attain his degrees, and 
 was ultimately received to the degree of a doctor. 
 
 u As for magistrates, there is a great deal of reason 
 to say they should not be too precipitate ; for instance, 
 in the case of Wang, the main point was to examine 
 into the artifices of the waterman ; if the dealer in 
 ginger had not happily arrived, and if, through too 
 
THE TALAPOIN'S ADVICE. 
 
 307 
 
 much haste they had not postponed the punishment 
 of Wang, the slave who had accused his master 
 would not have thought he had slandered him ; the 
 wife would not have imagined her husband had been 
 innocent of the murder, and the accused person him- 
 self, not have known he had been unjustly oppressed, 
 much less could the judge have had the least know 
 ledge of the matter." 
 
 Then, addressing himself especially to the Phra 
 Klang and his brother, the talapoin concluded by 
 saying — 
 
 u Let benevolent magistrates, as they ought, have 
 the same compassion for the people as the father has 
 for his children, and they may learn from this story 
 both in what manner they ought to conduct them- 
 selves, and what faults they should avoid." 
 
 When the talapoin, who to his vocation of priest 
 added that of a professional story-teller, had con- 
 cluded, refreshment was again served round, and the 
 music struck up. After which some of the Phra 
 Klang's Laos ladies entered and entertained us with 
 their sweet pipes : this brought the amusement to 
 a close, and we returned to our own apartment, not a 
 little to the satisfaction of Dick, whose mind was 
 dwelling upon Crafty ; but greatly to his joy, before 
 we sought our sleeping mats, the minister sent us a 
 message that we must be prepared to accompany 
 him early in the morning to the palace of the second 
 king. But anent this royal personage, whose title 
 
 x 2 
 
308 
 
 A STORY WITH A MORAL. 
 
 must sound strange in the ears of Englishmen, I 
 must say a few words. 
 
 " Well, then, the rank of Second King of Siam 
 has nothing in it in common with the Tycoon of 
 Japan, who is, in fact, the lieutenant over the real 
 Emperor, the sacred Mikado — the Seljuk Sultans, 
 who ruled nominally as lieutenants, but were in fact the 
 rulers of the helpless Caliphs — or, indeed, of any other 
 of the imperial puppets so plentiful in history. No ; 
 it is an institution peculiar to Siam, and I am of be- 
 lief not a very stable one, notwithstanding the very 
 favourable view presented to us by Sir J ohn Bow- 
 ring, who thus describes the office and the personnel 
 of the present reigning second king : — 
 
 a He is not charged, as in the case of Japan, with 
 the religious, as distinguished from the civil, func- 
 tions of government, but exercises a species of 
 secondary or reflected authority ; the limits of which 
 did not appear to me to be at all clearly defined. His 
 title was formerly Uparat y but it is now Wangna, 
 literally meaning the junior king. He is said to 
 dispose of one-third of the state revenue, and to have 
 at his command an army of about 2,000 men. He is 
 generally a brother or near relation of the king. The 
 present Wangna is a legitimate brother of the first 
 king, a cultivated and intelligent gentleman, writing 
 and speaking English with great accuracy, and living 
 much in the style of a courteous and opulent Euro- 
 pean noble ; fond of books and scientific inquiry, 
 interested in all that marks the course of civilization. 
 
THE SECOND KING OF SIAM. 
 
 309 
 
 His palace is of nearly the same extent as that of the 
 first king. In it is a building which he makes his 
 principal abode, and which has the accommodation 
 and adornings of a handsome European edifice. He 
 is surrounded with the same royal insignia as the 
 first king, though somewhat less ostentatiously dis- 
 played, and the same marks of honour and prostra- 
 tion are paid to his person. He has his ministers 
 corresponding to those of the first king, and is 
 supposed to take a more active part in the wars of 
 the country than does the first king." 
 
 That his second majesty's position is neither stable 
 nor all " couleur de rose/' would seem evident from 
 the fact that, although afterwards restored, the late 
 king abolished the office; and, moreover, the present 
 second king occupies his time not so much with 
 affairs of government as in reading English novels, 
 and in scientific and mechanical pursuits ; of his 
 proficiency in which he is so proud, that over his 
 workshop he has the words — 
 
 "clocks and watches repaired here!" 
 
310 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 dick's enemy escapes, and waif euns away. 
 
 Now that two such important witnesses had been 
 found, there was little doubt that Crafty was a doomed 
 man, and richly he merited his fate. Still it was 
 with pain I observed the almost fiendish, or at least 
 unchristian delight of Dick. Awakening earlier than 
 usual — indeed, I much doubt whether he had slept at 
 all — he jumped up, and, rubbing his hands gleefully, 
 as if he had been going to a merry-making instead 
 of the dooming of a fellow-creature, said — 
 
 u Can there be in this world a luxury greater than 
 gratified revenge ? How light my heart feels at the 
 prospect of this scoundrel's doom." 
 
 " Shame, my friend, shame ! such a speech should 
 not have passed the lips of a Christian man. Mode- 
 rate this unholy delight ; your reputai ion has been 
 cleared, surely that is much. Leave, then, this poor 
 wretch to heaven, his own conscience, and that justice 
 which must overtake him." 
 
 "Now, look you, Herbert," he replied, fiercely; 
 
dick's longing for vengeance. 
 
 311 
 
 «I may be in the wrong, perhaps a little unchristian- 
 like, still I am only what I am, and being no more, 
 feel that I could joyfully give half my future life, be 
 it short or long, for the pleasure of seeing this fellow 
 hanged." 
 
 "Again I cry shame, Dick; but your brain is 
 overwrought ; you have too much heart in you to do 
 anything of the kind." 
 
 " Wrong again, Herbert. But how can you judge 
 of my feelings, especially by your own ; for between 
 us there is little in common. What are you? The 
 only son of a rich father, whose past can have had 
 but few regrets, and whose future, as far as all sublu- 
 nary things may be, is mapped out so enticingly that 
 you can look forward to it with longing and plea- 
 sure. What ami! A waif, a stray, who, finding 
 himself suddenly cast friendless upon the world, 
 toiled and struggled till he had made friends, and 
 stood upon the very brink of fortune, when all was 
 snatched away, and a good name blighted by a 
 cunning rascal. How, then, I repeat, should you 
 know the miserable processes by which my mind has 
 been wrought to its present — " 
 
 " Morbid and unhealthy state," I said. 
 But at that moment the Phra Klang made his 
 appearance in the path near the window of our room, 
 and so portentous seemed his countenance that I 
 exclaimed involuntarily — 
 
 « What, in the name of heaven, can bring our 
 host here at this early hour?" 
 
312 
 
 dick's enemy escapes. 
 
 u There is something wrong, and that's a fact, 
 replied Dick ; but, with instinct quickened by his 
 fears, he added, as the minister entered the room : 
 t6 The villain Crafty has broken his prison — he has 
 escaped — is it not so ?" 
 
 "My friend is right; the Farang rogue has 
 escaped," was the reply. 
 
 Dick, rendered speechless by his great rage and 
 chagrin, sat down and buried his face in his 
 hands. 
 
 " But," said I, " when — how did this happen ? Are 
 the gaolers so easily bribed ? for by no other means 
 could he have escaped." 
 
 u Is it in Siam alone that gold makes traitors and 
 unfaithful servants? No; it happens all over the 
 world," he replied, adding : " But even gold would 
 have been useless without the aid of the Farang girl ; 
 the sister of my friends, who has been bewitched by 
 this rogue." 
 
 " Waif ! little Waif ! she help the rascal to 
 escape !" cried Dick, in an agony of astonish- 
 ment. " No, no ; it is not possible ; there is some 
 jugglery here." 
 
 " Does not my friend know that nothing is impossi- 
 ble to a woman ?" 
 
 But, interrupting the minister, Dick said — 
 
 " The girl was in your custody ; in the custody o 
 the ladies of your house. How, then, could she 
 do this thing without the aid of your own ser- 
 - vants t w 
 
ESCAPE OF CRAFTY AND WAIF. 
 
 313 
 
 The Phra Klang replied with dignified anger— 
 « The girl had coins : with those she purchased the 
 
 aid of a female slave, who happens to be a sister of the 
 
 gaoler, whose honesty could not resist a portion of the 
 
 money— she bribed him." 
 
 "The scoundrel should be hanged for his 
 
 treachery; but-but the girl Waif— where is she V ' 
 
 said Dick. 
 
 "Gone with the slave; they have fled toge- 
 ther." 
 
 " How long since I" 
 
 " Three hours ; not more." 
 
 " Then," said Dick, turning to me^ " why loiter 
 we here ! let us put ourselves upon their track ; they 
 cannot be far away." 
 
 " Dick's impetuosity, however, was stayed by the 
 minister, who, placing his hand upon my friend's 
 shoulder, said kindly — 
 
 « My friend is impatient and angry. Let him rest 
 quiet, for the Farang rogue and girl will soon be 
 retaken by the king's officers, who even are at this 
 time seeking for them among the river houses." 
 
 " As well might they search for a needle in a bundle 
 of hay," muttered Dick. 
 
 " Then, if the chances of the native officers, who 
 know every hole and corner of this city, are so small, 
 what would be ours, Dick ?" 
 
 "Greater, Herbert; for the natives, every man 
 among them, are subject to a complaint that would 
 affect neither you nor me— bribery ; but," he added, 
 
314 
 
 dick's enemy escapes. 
 
 "be it as it may, I will endeavour to discover 
 their hiding place ; you may follow or not, as you 
 will." 
 
 It was a churlish reply ; nevertheless I did accom- 
 pany him ; but, as 1 had anticipated, it proved but 
 a wild goose chase ; for, although one of the best 
 and most cunning of our host's slaves went with 
 us as a guide, we discovered no traces of the 
 fugitives. 
 
 It was late when we returned to the Phra 
 Klang's house. The good-natured minister was 
 awaiting our coming — indeed, he had news for 
 us. 
 
 "My friends have not succeeded. How was it 
 possible, when the officers of justice have failed ? No ; 
 the rogue and the girl were cunning as serpents, and 
 quick as the fleeting deer in their movements, for 
 such good use have they made of their time that 
 already they are on their passage to Singapore." 
 
 "Then, their track is discovered?" exclaimed 
 Dick. 
 
 " My friend is right ; a clue has been found, but 
 it cannot be followed." 
 
 " Certainly it can ; it shall, if it lead half through 
 the world," said Dick. 
 
 " My Farang friend utters child's words ; it would 
 be like following a shadow in the water," replied the 
 minister. " For," he added, " they are on board a 
 steamer which left Bangkok the instant they em- 
 barked." 
 
waif's letter. 
 
 315 
 
 " But how know you all this ?" asked Dick, with 
 an incredulous stare. 
 
 " The girl — the slave girl/' replied the minister, 
 " who assisted my friend's sister to bribe the gaoler has 
 been found ; she saw them go on board ; moreover, 
 she had on her person this writing. See," he added, 
 holding before us a paper folded in the form of a 
 note. 
 
 " It is the handwriting of Waif," said Dick ; " the 
 little traitoress, I could kill her." 
 
 " Nay, Dick," said I, " not that language. But 
 what says she ?" 
 
 He put the note in my hand. There were, but two 
 or three lines ; more than enough, however, for both 
 Dick and me, who, from that moment, regarded 
 the girl as utterly, hopelessly, lost to us. They 
 ran — 
 
 "My dear Feiends, 
 
 u I cannot thus part from you for ever 
 without a prayer that, however my conduct may have 
 pained you, or whatever it may seem, you will at 
 least endeavour not to think badly of poor little 
 Waif." 
 
 As I read this aloud, Dick's eyes were filled with 
 tears, but he spoke not a word. As for myself, the 
 lines once read, I stared at the paper stupidly, con- 
 fusedly, as if it had been impossible for my brain to 
 take in its full meaning. Luckily for both of us 
 
316 dick's enemy escapes. 
 
 there was a little postscript which turned our thoughts 
 in a different direction. Thus it ran — 
 
 u The merchant Mi has gone to the ruined city of 
 Ayuthia, with the intention of ultimately effecting his 
 escape to the Laos country." 
 
 "The Laos country/' I repeated, and the Phra 
 Klang, catching at the words, said — . 
 
 " Yes ; it is reasonable to believe he has fled there ; 
 for it is the refuge of all the rogues and bankrupts 
 of Bangkok, who, when once within that territory^ are 
 safe from the laws of Siam." 
 
 " But," said I, " it is possible we may overtake 
 him at Ayuthia before he can succeed in reaching 
 Laos." 
 
 " My friend is right ; it is more than possible ; it 
 is very likely, for Ayuthia is a good hiding-place, and 
 the journey from thence into the Laos country is 
 attended with too many perils to be encountered, when 
 Ayuthia may answer the same purpose." 
 
 Then Dick, with his usual impetuosity, proposed 
 that we should set out the next day for Ayuthia. 
 But the Phra Klang said — 
 
 " Not so ; it would not be wise. For even were 
 there no other difficulty, two Farangs travelling toge- 
 ther might excite the suspicions of those of his 
 friends they might meet by the way (and this fellow 
 Mi has many) who would certainly caution the rat, 
 that you had discovered a clue, and were upon his 
 track." 
 
 " Well, there is something in that." 
 
I 
 
 THE FOOT OF BUDDHA. 317 
 
 " Let my friend rest quiet ; he is too impatient/' 
 : said the minister, angered at the interruption. " The 
 great king/' he added, " goes shortly in procession to 
 the holy foot of Buddha ; thousands of pilgrims will 
 attend the royal progress. Let my friends accompany 
 ' the pilgrims, where they will pass unnoticed ; for, 
 among the multitude, they will be as drops in the 
 great ocean." 
 
 And, as this advice was very good, at least we could 
 do nothing better, and, moreover, the minister told 
 us that the procession would start from Bangkok in a 
 couple of days, we rested content. 
 
 But this holy foot. Well, it is now, and has been 
 since the commencement of the seventeenth cen- 
 tury, a Siamese institution. 
 
 There are similar foot-prints of Buddha in Ava 
 and in Ceylon; indeed, I believe that it was the 
 jealousy of the Siamese Buddhists that led to the 
 discovery of the foot-print in the latter country ; for, 
 until 1602, they were blessed with no such relic, while 
 their kindred, the Burmese, were in possession, not 
 only of a foot-print of the deity, but of one of his 
 teeth, which, by the way, the people of Ava yet keep 
 enshrined, and it forms the point to which at certain 
 seasons of the year pilgrims from all parts of the 
 empire direct their steps. 
 
 Great was the glory which the possession of two 
 such relics as a foot-print and a tooth of Buddha 
 shed upon the crowned heads of the Emperors of Ava, 
 and proportionately great was the envy and regret of 
 
318 
 
 dick's enemy escapes. 
 
 his rival, the Emperor of Siam, that he, the Lord of 
 many White Elephants, all probable incarnations of 
 Buddha, should be relicless. The god, however, at 
 length took pity upon his royal devotee, for in the 
 year 1602, news was brought to the King of Siam 
 that a print of the god's foot had been discovered at 
 the base of a mountain near Ayuthia. His majesty 
 immediately despatched his savants and chief priests 
 to make an examination, and they having, to his 
 majesty's delight, declared the imprint to be a true 
 relic, he at once erected the magnificent monastery 
 which now stands there. Of this monastery, and the 
 holy relic, both so rarely visited by Europeans, the 
 French Catholic bishop gives us the following inte- 
 resting description : — 
 
 " At four o'clock we reached the magnificent 
 monastery of Phra-bat, built on the declivity, but nearly 
 at the foot, of a tall mountain formed by fantastic 
 rocks of a blueish colour. The monastery has several 
 walls surrounding it ; and, having entered the second 
 enclosure, we found the ' abbe-prince 9 seated on a 
 raised floor, and directing the labours of a body of 
 workmen. His attendants called on us to prostrate 
 ourselves, but we did not obey them. 
 
 " 6 Silence !' he said ; 6 you know not that the 
 Farangs honour their grandees by standing erect.' 
 
 " I requested he would appoint some one to conduct 
 us to see the vestige of Buddha, and he called his 
 principal assistant (the balat), and directed him to 
 accompany us. The balat took us round a great 
 
A SPLENDID EDIFICE. 319 
 
 court surrounded with handsome edifices, showed us 
 two large temples, and we reached a broad marble 
 staircase with balustrades of gilded copper, and made 
 the round of the terrace, which is the base of the 
 monument. All the exterior of this splendid edifice, 
 which takes the form of a dome, terminating in a 
 pyramid, a hundred and twenty feet high, is gilt. The 
 gates and windows, which are double, are exquisitely 
 wrought. The outer gates are inlaid with handsome 
 devices in mother-of-pearl, and the inner gates are 
 adorned with gilt pictures representing the events in 
 the history of Buddha. 
 
 tc The interior, however, is yet more brilliant ; the 
 pavement is covered with silver mats. At the end, 
 on a throne ornamented with precious stones, is a 
 statue of Buddha, in massive silver, of the height of a 
 man ; in the middle is a silver grating which sur- 
 rounds the holy of holies, the foot-print of Buddha. 
 The latter, however, is not very distinctly visible, for 
 it is covered with rings, ear ornaments, bracelets, 
 gold necklaces, and other jewels, which have been 
 placed there as offerings by rich devotees," 
 
320 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 A HOT PURSUIT INTO THE INTERIOR; THE KING'S 
 PROCESSION. 
 
 The reader may wonder at the readiness with which 
 Dick f orebore, even at any risk, his pursuit of Crafty, 
 and agreed to accompany me to Ayuthia in search of 
 Mi. It must, however, be remembered that without 
 money it is as difficult to travel in the East as in 
 Europe. Again, even had he possessed that necessary, 
 it would have been impossible to have overtaken the 
 rogue, for the ships of the King of Siam but rarely run 
 down to Singapore, and the European traders, chiefly 
 Americans, who, making the same voyage, touched at 
 Bangkok, w T ere few and far between. 
 
 Thus, notwithstanding his unconquerable hatred 
 and desire of revenge, he was compelled to leave 
 further pursuit to chance. True, had I been pre- 
 pared to charter a junk for Singapore, he would 
 gladly have accompanied me ; but then I had made 
 the voyage to Bangkok as a matter of business ; and 
 as a man of business I was resolved to carry it out, 
 for I felt assured that, although the man Mi had 
 
AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT. 
 
 321 
 
 caused it to be given out that he had fled to avoid the 
 consequences of bankruptcy, if I could hunt him up, I 
 should find that roguery, and not misfortune, had been 
 at the bottom of his failure — nay, that he was even then 
 richer than ever, if only by the amount, and it was a 
 large one, that he had saved by evading the payment 
 of his liabilities. Then, though last not least, Dick's 
 own good heart would not permit him to let me make 
 what might prove a dangerous journey alone. But 
 to record the incidents of that journey. 
 
 Upon the morning of the festival, the Phra 
 Klang, prior to leaving us to take his usual position 
 by the side of the first king, gave into my hands an 
 official document which empowered me to command 
 the aid of any of the subjects of Siam in the arrest 
 of Mi, or being presented to a mandarin, would 
 enable me to place him in safe custody. Moreover, 
 he commanded one of his officers to procure us 
 two seats in the barge of one of the king's at- 
 tendant nobles ; and, thus provided, we set out from 
 his house. 
 
 The scene upon the river was indescribable; its 
 bosom literally swarmed with boats and barges, all of 
 which were more or less ornamented with gildings, flags 
 and ribbons ; and, to such an extent that, with the 
 exception of the passage cleared especially for the 
 royal procession, scarcely a foot of the water was to 
 be seen. 
 
 Of course in the procession were some of every 
 class ; the monarch himself and his courtiers in mag- 
 
322 A HOT PURSUIT INTO THE INTERIOR. 
 
 nificent attire, the lesser nobles, rich merchants, 
 women, children, and beggars, all attired in their 
 best suits, with bracelets, ear-rings, and other orna- 
 ments of gold, silver, or the inferior metals, as best 
 suited their circumstances. 
 
 The barges and canoes belonging to the royal 
 suite proper, were arranged and classified in rows ; 
 and it was in one of the fifth of the latter that Dick 
 and I were placed. As, however, we w r ere somewhat 
 later than the hour appointed for the front rows to take 
 their seats, and await the coming of the king, and dense 
 crowds of people were still moving towards the river, 
 we feared we should have some difficulty in reaching 
 our boat. But such was not the case, our guide knew 
 his duty too well ; for, flourishing a large bamboo cane 
 to the right and to the left, and calling aloud to the 
 meaner people to give room for the friends of the 
 great and powerful Phra Klang, he speedily whipped 
 a lane through the submissive crowd, along which we 
 passed to the barge of a noble of the fifth rank, and 
 which we found awaiting us by the orders of the 
 minister. 
 
 It was a large boat, handsomely gilded and painted ; 
 the sides for that especial occasion being hung with 
 fresh cut flowers, which were arranged gracefully in 
 festoons. The crew, some twenty, were dressed, or 
 rather semi-dressed, alike, in a kind of livery. The 
 boat itself was luxuriously fitted with cushions of 
 gilded velvet ; upon a pile of which sat the owner, 
 almost a youth, who received us courteously, and 
 
323 
 
 beckoned to us to place ourselves upon either side of 
 him. 
 
 When we had seated ourselves, the rowers, by dint 
 of great exertions, pushed the barge into her proper 
 rank, and there we were kept waiting till his majesty 
 should arrive and take the lead ; but we were grate- 
 ful for the delay, occupying our spare time in making, 
 upon the invitation of the young noble, a tolerable 
 repast ; and this was necessary, for the king having 
 once taken his position at the head, no man dared to 
 eat until his majesty should set the example. 
 
 y 2 
 
324 A HOT PURSUIT INTO THE INTERIOR. 
 
 Scarcely had we concluded our meal, however, 
 when the shrill sound of trumpets announced the 
 approach of royalty. For a few minutes every head 
 upon the river was bent downwards ; but a signal 
 being given from the royal barge, the trumpets 
 screamed, and amidst the noise of Laosian pipes, 
 some other indescribable wind instrument, and the 
 noise of innumerable tom-toms and gongs, the pro r 
 cession of more than sixty thousand boats of 
 various sizes and manifold decorations merrily set 
 forth. 
 
 The tide being against us the whole distance, it 
 was, notwithstanding the energetic and manful pad- 
 dling of the crew, nearly five hours before we came 
 alongside of the ancient city of Ayuthia, at which 
 place Dick and I disembarked. 
 
 As for the royal procession and the pilgrims, they 
 continued on their way to Sha Rua, a place some few^ 
 miles farther in the interior, where they were to 
 disembark and travel by land to the sacred moun- 
 tain. 
 
 I have said that the occasion of these great doings 
 was to make a pilgrimage to the print of Buddha's 
 foot — it was ; but it was more. It was to make votive 
 offerings of gold or other coin, according to the cir- 
 cumstances of the pilgrim, into a certain sacred cave, in 
 commemoration of the day, when, according to tra- 
 dition, gold and silver mines were first discovered to 
 exist in Siam. 
 
 But of Ayuthia, the royal city, once the terrestrial 
 
THE VENICE OF ASIA. 
 
 325 
 
 paradise of the East, and from its numerous canals 
 and magnificent buildings, called by old travellers the 
 " Venice of Asia/' and of which that veracious voyager 
 Mandelsloe writes — 
 
 " The city of Judda is built upon an island in the 
 river Meinam. It is the ordinary residence of the 
 king of Siam, having several very fair streets with 
 spacious channels regularly cut. The suburbs are on 
 both sides of the river, which, as well as the city 
 itself, are adorned w^ith many temples and palaces ; 
 of the first, of which there are above three hundred 
 within the city distinguished by their gilt steeples, or 
 rather pyramids, and afford a glorious prospect at a 
 distance. The houses are, as all over the Indies, but 
 indifferently built, and covered with tiles. The royal 
 palace is equal to a large city. Ferdinando Mendez 
 Pinto makes the number of inhabitants of this city 
 amount to four hundred thousand families. It is 
 looked upon as impregnable by reason of the over- 
 flowing of the river at six months' end." 
 
 Like most of the capitals of Asiatic monarchies, 
 royal Ayuthia has had its glories dimmed by the 
 invader. Its conquest, however, could have been no 
 easy matter ; for, when in the sixteenth century the 
 king of Pegu made war upon his brother of Siam, 
 the Portuguese chronicler tells us — 
 
 u He marched with majesty and greatness exceed- 
 ing that of all the kings in the world ; for at night 
 he and his host never rested except in beautiful 
 houses, gilded and decorated, and prepared anew 
 
326 A HOT FURSUIT INTO THE INTERIOR. 
 
 every day for their reception. They brought with them 
 from Pegu the timber, the furniture, the roofs, the doors, 
 and every needful thing, which were sent forward on 
 elephants, who were accompanied by more than two 
 thousand workmen ; such as blacksmiths, carpenters, 
 locksmiths, painters, gilders and others, who built, 
 furnished, and adorned the habitations. They had 
 forges, too, so that, on the king's arrival, handsome 
 palaces awaited him, w^ith numerous apartments, veran- 
 dahs, boudoirs, cooking establishment, with arrange- 
 ments for his women ; and the palaces were surrounded 
 with strong fortifications, and the king was served in 
 vessels of gold and precious stones, and he had horses 
 and elephants for his special service, and a triumphant 
 car worked in gold— all making an infinite machinery. 
 When he came to a river, a branch of the Meinam, 
 the greatness and the display exceeded that of 
 Xerxes when he crossed the Hellespont to the con- 
 quest of Greece. They were twenty -five days 
 travelling over high mountains in order to find a 
 passage. There were 25,000 Siamese to defend the 
 place where it was determined to cross ; and the Bur- 
 mese, having placed 30,000 men under the command 
 of Soares, a Portuguese, they forced their way across 
 the river, and marched to the attack of the Siamese 
 capital, which was defended by 600,000 men, having 
 two years' provision within the city." 
 
 Again, in 1751, the royal city was attacked by the 
 predatory Burmese and utterly destroyed. All that 
 now remains of its former greatness are the ruins of 
 
MODERN AYUTHIA. 327 
 
 temples and spires, and even these are almost lost in 
 the jungle which has grown up around. 
 
 Modern Ayuthia, which takes rank as the second 
 town in the kingdom, and contains a palace, which 
 is visited once a year by the king, is near the ancient 
 site, and in general appearance is like Bangkok, 
 although much smaller, with a floating population, 
 whose chief employment is agriculture, fishing, and 
 shopkeeping. It is to this place that the principal 
 traders and dealers of the capital escape, in order 
 to pass away a portion of the hottest season of the 
 year. 
 
 Now, as when we arrived at Ayuthia, we found 
 that the greater portion of its inhabitants were out on 
 the water waiting till the king had passed, in order 
 that they might fall in the rear of the procession, our 
 guide hailed a hack boat that was waiting for hire 
 at the mouth of one of the streams which passed 
 through the city, and in this we were paddled with 
 great rapidity towards the place where the guide 
 intended that we should take up our lodgings ; as, 
 however, we approached a shallow near some large 
 paddy fields, one of the boatmen gave a signal to the 
 other, and in an instant the boat swung round and 
 darted across to the other side of the stream, and 
 the men, who had hitherto been using their paddles 
 vigorously, worked at them as for dear life's sake. 
 
 At this our guide, who was a person of some 
 dignity, and of course of much higher rank than 
 the boatmen, addressed them angrily, demanding 
 
328 A HOT PURSUIT INTO THE INTERIOR. 
 
 their reason for pursuing such an eccentric 
 course. 
 
 The answer was simple and satisfactory ; the spot 
 was infested by crocodiles, and the day previously 
 two boatmen had been seized and eaten by the 
 reptiles. 
 
 " But the charmers ! How is this, that the slaves 
 employed by the great king for the protection of his 
 people, have not caught and destroyed the vermin ?" 
 asked the guide ; but the reply silenced him, for one 
 of the boatmen said — 
 
 "How is it that my master knows not that on 
 this day the charmers may not work ?" 
 
 And then in silence, we pursued our way. But 
 the reader would like to know something of these 
 eccentric professionals. Well, in Siam there is a class 
 termed crocodile charmers. These men, it is said, in 
 company with others carrying ropes and spears, go to 
 the spot which the reptile is supposed to frequent, and 
 by the performance of certain ceremonies invite the 
 animal to come forth. 
 
 When it makes its appearance the charmer jumps 
 on its back, and gouges its eyes with his fingers, at 
 the same time his companions get into the water, and 
 taking advantage of the brute's blindness, so encom- 
 pass its throat and legs with ropes, and pull it about 
 that, becoming exhausted, it permits itself to be 
 dragged ashore. 
 
 Now, this is a bold and curious method of taking 
 so vicious a reptile ; but it is vouched for by the best 
 
CROCODILE CHARMERS. 
 
 329 
 
 of authorities on Siam, Bishop Pallegoix who affirms 
 that many of the natives of his own flock are emi- 
 nently clever in this sport, and that he has himself 
 seen as many as fifty crocodiles in a single village 
 so taken, and bonnd to the uprights of the 
 
 houses. .,, 
 The people of Cambodia, however, have a still 
 more curious method of taking these reptiles. Their 
 river boats carry hooks which, by being kejrt in 
 motion, catch hold of the crocodiles; then, during 
 the reptile's struggle to escape, a knot is thrown over 
 its tail, the extremity of its tail is cut off and a sharp 
 bamboo passed through the vertebras of the spine into 
 the brain and the animal expires. 
 
 But to resume my narrative. An hours toiling 
 at the paddles brought us to the great bazaar, which 
 consisted of a long double line of floating shops; 
 which, by the way, were all closed, for I suppose the 
 owners were on their journey to the sacred foot-print. 
 Passing between, we at length came to the water front 
 of a large watt, the lower steps of which were washed 
 
 by the river. , ' 
 
 This watt was a conspicuous, and even a beautitul, 
 building. It stood in some twenty acres of ground, 
 about which, irregularly sprinkled, were salas .or rest- 
 ing places for the priests, and pagodas, lne latter 
 were for the greater part of considerable height, and 
 consisted of three or four steep roofs, each as it rose 
 above the other diminishing in size. The effect of 
 these roofs, as they glittered beneath the sun, was 
 
330 A HOT PURSUIT INTO THE INTERIOR. 
 
 exceedingly pretty and varied ; one, for in- 
 stance, being of gold, with white and green bor- 
 ders, and the next a green field with golden 
 borders. 
 
 Near to the watt stood a large convent, from the 
 front of which down to the river was a flight of 
 steps, upon which was affixed a pole for the fasten- 
 ing of the boats belonging to the inmates. When 
 our boat was running abreast of the steps, the 
 guide stood up in the bow, and, as he threw a cord 
 across the pole, said — 
 
 " Let the noble Farangs rest till their servant has 
 announced their arrival to the chief of the house, for 
 it is here they will find both food and lodging while 
 they remain in the royal city/' 
 
 " But, my friend," said I, " how is it possible 
 we can seek a lodging here, for is it not a 
 temple — a holy place set apart for the uses of the 
 talapoins ?" 
 
 " My master is right ; it is a temple, and may 
 be profaned by few who wear not the garment of 
 Buddha ; still the Phra Klang is a man of power, 
 and he has commanded that the doors of this temple 
 be opened to his friends." 
 
 " But why did the Phra Klang choose a holy house 
 for our lodging while here V 9 I asked. 
 
 " That the Farangs might watch without being 
 watched. That, like a tiger, they may spring out 
 upon the rogue Mi, who may have many friends 
 in Ayuthia." 
 
THE TALA.POINS. 
 
 331 
 
 « Then, it is certain this rogue is hiding in this 
 [city?" 
 
 « Truly," was the sententious reply, there is 
 nothing certain, save death ; but let my master have 
 patience; and, by the aid of Buddha, his slave will 
 unearth this old rat." 
 
 And, so saving, he sprang from the boat, up the 
 steps, and entered the convent. His communications, 
 however, with the inmates must have been short, for 
 almost before I had interpreted our conversation to 
 Dick, he returned, and asked us to follow him to the 
 presence of the chief talapoin. 
 
 The dignitary of Buddha was sitting upon a stool 
 at the furthermost end of a large apartment or 
 hall, surrounded by a bevy of priests of inferior rank, 
 each being attired with the yellow toga, and bear- 
 ing the fan, from which they are never separated ; 
 the latter being made of the talipot palm, caused the 
 Portuguese to give them the name of talapoins. The 
 colour yellow,' which is worn by the priests of 
 Buddha throughout all the kingdoms of the far- 
 thest East, is said to have been adopted from its 
 resemblance to that of gold-the most precious 
 of metals, and, therefore, the most fitting emblem 
 of Buddha. 
 
 As we entered we made a respectful obeisance, 
 after our European fashion, and one of the priests, 
 with an angry frown, begged of us to prostrate our- 
 selves, which we of course declined ; but neither 
 to the surprise nor dissatisfaction of the aged dig- 
 
332 A HOT PURSUIT INTO THE INTERIOR. 
 
 nitary, who commanded his subordinate to hold his 
 
 peace. 
 
 " For/' said he, " thou art ignorant that the 
 Farangs pay homage to their chiefs by remaining 
 upon their feet." 
 
 Then addressing me, he added — 
 
 " The slave of the great Phra Klang has brought 
 a letter from his master, in which he desires that 
 we shall aid the noble Farangs to the best of our 
 power in discovering the hiding place of a great 
 rogue." 
 
 " Such is the mission of thy servants, O holy man," 
 I replied, holding before his eyes the document or 
 warrant given to me by the minister for the appre- 
 hension and safe keeping of Mi, which having exa- 
 mined, he said — 
 
 u It is good — very good ; the Phra Klang, our 
 friend, shall be obeyed ; the Farangs are welcome 
 to the hospitality of this holy house, and they shall 
 have the desired aid ; but this rogue has many friends 
 in Ayuthia, and it will not be good for you to 
 quit this house till his hiding-place has been 
 found." 
 
 I was then about to thank this benevolent -looking 
 old gentleman, after the grandiloquent style of the 
 far East, but he cut short my speech by say- 
 ing— 
 
 " The Farangs have had a long journey and need 
 refreshment. Their thanks are expressed by their 
 eyeballs — words are not necessary." 
 
dick's churlishness. 
 
 333 
 
 Then, addressing one of the attendant priests, he 
 commanded him to lead us to our apartment. 
 
 This room, which we reached after traversing 
 several long narrow passages, was lofty, of oblong 
 shape, and contained several recesses, in which were 
 placed gilded images of Buddha. The floor was 
 comfortably matted, with here and there pieces of 
 thick, and though now faded, once costly, carpets, 
 upon which we seated ourselves and awaited the 
 coming of the promised refreshments. 
 
 " The old fellow is civil enough, to be sure," said 
 Dick, when the viands were placed smoking before 
 us ; " but, as we are strangers, no doubt it is to serve 
 his own interests somehow." 
 
 " Come, come, Dick, that was a churlish observa- 
 tion," said I, adding, as I saw that his gaze was 
 fixed upon the wall of the room, " What now, 
 man ? but true, you have never seen such paintings 
 before." 
 
 " Ugh I" he exclaimed, shrugging his shoulders., 
 " Surely these Siamese niggers are worse by many 
 chalks than the red men. Is this a torture cham- 
 ber r 
 
 " Nay, these are but representations of the tortures 
 reserved for the wicked after death in the Buddhist 
 hells, although it was from such pictures that many 
 of the old travellers gathered their notions, which they 
 afterwards promulgated in Europe, of the cruelty of 
 the Chinese and other Buddhists." 
 
 " Well, Herbert, that's a relief anyhow; still the 
 
334 A HOT PURSUIT INTO THE INTERIOR. 
 
 sight of these things don't increase our appetite," he 
 replied. 
 
 The pictures which had so startled my companion 
 were a series of representations of sinners under- 
 going every description of horrible and prolonged 
 torture that the human mind could conceive, or that 
 priests and artists could devise ; but then a belief in 
 these punishments forms an important element of the 
 Buddhist system. This is exhibited in Siamese 
 literature, and may be seen from the following 
 ode : — 
 
 " Human tortures are not one hundred-thousandth 
 part equal to the tortures of hell. He who is con- 
 demned by the king of hell will be exceedingly tor- 
 mented. 
 
 " His sin has brought to pass that he is con- 
 fined in a dungeon, bound to a beam with chains, 
 on account of his sin in unmercifully binding 
 others with fetters. They stretch him on a 
 heated iron plate, they stab him, his blood gushes 
 forth, he dies, and is born again seven times in a 
 day. 
 
 " Being greedy of rewards, he feared not to lie ; 
 his tongue shall be plucked out, because he judged 
 unjustly. 
 
 " When he was a judge, he threatened in order to 
 extort money ; having received which, he held false 
 evidence to be goc I. Assuredly after his death 
 he shall not escape punishment ; he did not pro- 
 nounce judgment in accordance with the truth, 
 
THE PICTURES ON THE WALL. 
 
 335 
 
 therefore will he be subject to hell for a long 
 period. 
 
 " He was blind to crime ; he despised the insti- 
 tutions of his ancestors ; therefore dogs, as large 
 as elephants, vultures, and ravens, shall devour his 
 flesh." 
 
 Very terrible were the pictures which startled 
 Dick. For instance, there was one whose crime in 
 life had been good cheer. He was represented as 
 a skeleton tormented by devils who were around 
 exhibiting luxurious dishes, which he could not 
 reach. 
 
 There was a drunkard chained to his back to the 
 sands beneath a burning sun, with water at hand 
 which he could not reach. 
 
 There was a liar being punished by three demons, 
 one of whom was lacerating his upper jaw, another 
 the under jaw, and the third pulling out his tongue 
 by the roots. 
 
 Lastly, a miser who had refused to clothe the 
 naked, was being stripped of his skin by a number of 
 demons. 
 
 About sunrise, on the morning after our arrival 
 at the convent, we were awakened by the ringing 
 of bells and the beating of drums. The deafen- 
 ing, discordant sounds startled Dick, who ex- 
 claimed — 
 
 " Hiloa ! What's ado ? Is the house on 
 fire?" 
 
 " It's all right, Dick," said I ; "it is only the 
 
333 A HOT PURSUIT INTO THE INTERIOR. 
 
 priests announcing to the people of the neighbour- 
 hood that they are about setting out with their pots 
 to collect alms." 
 
 And then I further explained to him that each 
 talapoin before setting forth would take his bath, visit 
 the temple, and recite a few passages in the Pali 
 tongue ; and, having thus prepared himself, would go 
 his round, and continue upon the tramp till his pot 
 was filled with rice, fish, vegetables, and cakes ; 
 after which, he would return to the convent, select 
 the best of the food for his own use, and distribute 
 the remainder among their attendants. 
 
 They pass the rest of the time till half past 
 eleven, the hour of their second repast, in smoking, 
 drinking tea, and conversing with each other upon 
 things sublime.'' 
 
 " Or contemplating new tortures for the wicked, 
 I suppose," said Dick, looking at the pictures upon 
 the wall. a But, Herbert," he added, u Dark must 
 be the practices, and darker the minds, of men 
 who can contemplate, much less originate, such 
 horrors." 
 
 "Yet," said I, "self-abnegation, mortification of 
 the flesh, and abstention from vice of every kind, is 
 the vital element of their religion." 
 
 They may kill no living thing : and, so forcibly is 
 this principle enjoined that, as they walk, they will 
 keep their mouths closed for fear of swallowing even 
 animalcule. Good servants have been known to quit 
 their masters rather than destroy vermin, and good 
 
ABSTEMIOUSNESS OF BUDDHISM. 
 
 337 
 
 nobles will frequently purchase live fish that they may- 
 have the merit of throwing them back again into the 
 sea. Nay, a priest is forbidden to wash himself in 
 the dark, for fear he might kill some insect. 
 
 u Then at least, to judge from these pictures/ 5 said 
 Dick, 66 their practice is better than their theory ; but 
 how, if so many virtues are enjoined, is it that they 
 practise that master-vice — laziness ? for truly they are 
 the most indolent race under heaven." 
 
 "Nay, Dick, the principle and canker-worm of 
 Buddhism is in abstention ; it does not so much enjoin 
 to virtue as to abstain from sin ; and so numerous are 
 those sins that their names would fill a moderate-sized 
 dictionary ; for instance, it is a sin for a Buddhist priest 
 to kill, steal, boast of his own sanctity, destroy a tree, 
 drink intoxicating beverages, eat rice after midday, 
 use perfumes, sit in a place higher than his superior, 
 keep gold or silver, speak of anything but religious 
 matters, sing songs, play upon musical instruments, 
 wink in speaking, work for money, buy, sell, walk 
 the streets in a non-contemplative mood, cultivate 
 the ground, breed any kind of bird or animal, plant 
 flowers, speak one thing and mean another, besides 
 some hundreds of other acts which are named in one 
 of their sacred books." 
 
 "Enough in all conscience to break down with 
 terror the hearts and brains of the most determined 
 upon a life of virtue ; but has not Buddhism its 
 bright side?" 
 
 "Aye, Dick ; for, notwithstanding its selfishness, 
 
 z 
 
338 A HOT PUESUIT INTO THE INTERIOR, 
 
 it is the best religion in Asia — at least in one im- 
 portant particular — for it is only in those countries 
 where it largely obtains, as for instance, China, 
 Japan, Ava, and Siam, that women are not mere 
 slaves and toys, but free to mix and associate with the 
 other sex/' 
 
339 
 
 CHAPTEE XXII. 
 
 WE OBTAIN A CLUE TO THE EOGUE MI. 
 
 We had enjoyed the hospitality of the talapoins a 
 full week, during which period, although Dick and I, 
 under the advice of the superior, never once quitted 
 the precincts of the convent, the slave our guide, 
 had regularly each day left us to prowl about the new 
 city and the ruins of the ancient one, in order to 
 hunt up information as to the whereabouts of Mi. 
 
 For a week his endeavours were fruitless; and, 
 sanguine as he had at first been about his success, we 
 could clearly see by his chap-fallen expression that 
 he had begun to despair. Success, however, gene- 
 rally crowns the efforts of the persevering ; and so 
 upon the morning of the seventh day he came 
 into our apartment with a swagger of self-confi- 
 dence. 
 
 " Buddha be praised ! Let my masters rejoice, 
 for their servant hath discovered the hole of the old 
 rat." 
 
 z 2 
 
340 WE OBTAIN A CLUE TO THE ROGUE MI. 
 
 " This is good news ; but where is the old fox 
 hiding ?" I asked. 
 
 " In a house at the other side of the city ; but," 
 he added : " if my masters would secure him, they 
 must follow at once , for the old fellow, or some of 
 his friends, may suspect that his hiding-place is dis- 
 covered." 
 
 " Good advice, my friend ; but how are we to get 
 there ? Will the good fathers of the convent lend us 
 their boats ?" 
 
 " The boat which brought my masters here is still 
 at the water steps, and the boatmen awaits their 
 orders." 
 
 " Good ; I had forgotten ; then lead forward," said 
 I, quite forgetting Dick could not understand one 
 word of what had passed. 
 
 "Hiloa! Herbert," said he. "What is all this 
 about ? Where are you going in such a hurry ? Has 
 the fellow brought good news ?" 
 
 " Yes, at least so far as it goes ; but hasten, Dick, 
 the hiding-place of old Mi is found." 
 
 " I am right glad, and that's a fact," said Dick ; 
 adding, as he prepared to follow, u but the dollars, 
 Herbert, the dollars, have they been found V 9 
 
 u No ; but without doubt we have a clue to them, if 
 the old fellow has not made away with them," I replied; 
 and in a few minutes more we were again upon the 
 river, and fast paddling up the stream ; not, however, 
 without some qualms, as occasionally we passed a 
 crocodile sunning itself upon the sand. 
 
A CLUE TO MI. 
 
 341 
 
 66 How did you manage to ferret out this old fox 7 W 
 I asked, as we were approaching the suburbs of the 
 new city. 
 
 " Caught him in his own trap. Did my master know 
 he had a son V 9 
 
 i€ Yes ; he who was punished for his father s crime 
 of setting his own house on fire." 
 
 " Yes, my master is right. He is the same. Well, 
 although old Mi disappeared, no person knew where, 
 the young man, after his punishment, was known to 
 set out for Ayuthia, so I thought 6 where son go, there 
 we find father.' " 
 
 " Then, are they both here, now V 9 I asked. 
 
 " Yes ; son come first, to wait till father could 
 come, when they both meant to go to Laos together ; 
 but the father was so long coming, and the son left 
 so long by himself, that he smoke opium all day — all 
 night — pipe never out of his mouth. So, when Mi 
 comes, he finds his son like a paddy-bird in the face, 
 all bones and dying ; and he could not go on to Laos, 
 but stop here." 
 
 "But," I asked, "how did you discover the old 
 man?" 
 
 "My master knows that I watched all day 
 all about; so this morning I see an old man 
 come out of a great house, near to a betel- 
 vendor's, and, as I thought I had seen his face 
 in Bangkok, I went to betel-vendor. He told 
 me the old man was going to fetch a talapoin to 
 attend his son, a young man who had been living 
 
342 WE OBTAIN A CLUE TO THE ROGUE MI. 
 
 in that house some time, but was then dying of 
 opium." 
 
 " By heaven/' I said, half vexed that I had dis- 
 covered the man ; u the old rogue has, then, some 
 good in him yet." 
 
 " Old Mi have some good in him !" said Dick. 
 
 " Aye, Dick," and I repeated the story. 
 
 " Well, Herbert, it is not pleasant to arrest the 
 old fellow under such circumstances ; but the dol- 
 lars — the chance of discovering something about 
 Crafty." 
 
 " True, true, Dick ; we may not leave our task un- 
 finished when so near its completion." 
 
 " See that house ? There my masters will find their 
 enemy," suddenly cried out the slave, pointing to 
 what appeared to us to be a large double, but low, 
 wooden building which stood at a short distance, and 
 was partly hidden by some tall jungle and the bend 
 of the river. 
 
 " Is it so ? Then let the men rest upon their 
 paddles," I said, "till we have reconnoitred the 
 place." 
 
 " True, my masters must not approach the house 
 till dark, for fear the old rogue may recognise 
 them." 
 
 "Till dark!" I repeated, somewhat chagrined at 
 the delay, for it was then morning. 
 
 u Yes ; and here, at the betel-vendor's, my masters 
 may rest and take refreshment," replied the slave ; 
 and in a few minutes more we had quitted 
 
HOW THEY TAKE TEA IN SIAM. 
 
 343 
 
 the boat, and were squatting upon the floor of the 
 house of the betel-vendor, who seemed not a little 
 astonished at such an unexpected visit from two 
 Farangs. 
 
 This delay was tantalizing ; however, as for pru- 
 dence sake it was necessary, it was better than risk- 
 ing a coup de soleil by remaining upon the river 
 beneath a burning mid-day sun 3 the only protection 
 against which in these waters is by fastening a cloth 
 around the head, and every now and then saturating 
 it with water. 
 
 The betel-vendor was a jolly little fat man, very 
 talkative and very attentive, for scarcely had we 
 seated ourselves than he placed before us a boulis of 
 hot tea. By the way, would any of my lady readers 
 learn how they take tea in Siam, let them know that 
 the water is boiled in copper pots lined with tin, 
 or of red earth, which, although not japanned, is 
 tasteless. These pots are called boulis. In 
 making the tea they are very precise. The pot is 
 first rinsed with boiling water to heat it. This 
 being done they put in one pinch of tea, and then, 
 not only fill the pot with boiling water, but pour it 
 over the outside, by which means they procure a 
 better infusion. The tea being made, they but half 
 fill the cup, adding boiling water till nearly the 
 whole taste of the tea has vanished ; and, instead 
 of sweetening it with sugar, they place a piece of 
 candy in the mouth and suck it as they drink. 
 Then, again, when they have had sufficient, they 
 
344 WE OBTAIN A CLUE TO THE ROGUE MI. 
 
 turn the cup upside down, and for a very good 
 reason, for it is a mark of ill-breeding to refuse 
 anything offered ; and, if they left the cup upwards, 
 the host would again pour tea into it. Another 
 strange fashion is that, although the host helps the 
 visitor, he but half fills the cup ; for were he to 
 fill it, the latter would regard it as a sure hint that 
 his room was more regarded than his company — 
 literally, that he was not again to place foot in that 
 house. 
 
 During the tea-taking the betel-vendor kept a 
 profound silence, as, by the laws of Siamese polite- 
 ness, he was bound to do. No sooner, however, 
 had we finished than he resumed the conversation 
 with an apology for the absence of his wife, at the 
 same time telling me the cause. 
 
 " What did he say ?" asked Dick. 
 
 "That he is sorry that his wife is absent." 
 
 " Is the poor woman ill V 
 
 " No — yes — that is, he says € she is before the 
 fire.'" 
 
 « Before the fire !" 
 
 Dick might well be surprised, for he knew not 
 till I told him, the singular custom attendant upon 
 the accession to a family of an infant member. As 
 speedily as possible after the occurrence has taken 
 place, the mother is laid before a large fire, where 
 she is compelled to remain for weeks. 
 
 It is a barbarous usage, but " so universal," says 
 Sir John Bowring, who, by the way, finds it 
 
BEFORE THE FIRE. 
 
 345 
 
 difficult to account for the origin, " so strong the 
 prejudice in its favour among high and low, that 
 the king himself has vainly attempted to inter- 
 fere ; and his young and beautiful wife, though 
 in a state of extreme peril and suffering, was sub- 
 jected to the torture, and died while ' before the 
 fire ' — a phrase employed by the Siamese to 
 answer the inquiry made as to the absence of the 
 mother. A medical missionary told me he had 
 lately been called in to prescribe for a lady who 
 was ' before the fire ; but, ere he had reached the 
 house, the patient had died, and both body and 
 funeral pile had been removed. There seems to 
 be some mysterious idea of purification, such as 
 in some shape or other prevails in many parts 
 of the world associated with so cruel a rite.'" 
 
 This Siamese custom is truly barbarous ; it is, 
 however, scarcely more so than that practised upon 
 a similar occasion by the higher civilized and more 
 accomplished people of Japan. 
 
 In that land, some months before the birth, a 
 girdle of red crape is bound round the future 
 mother's body, where it must remain till the event 
 has taken place, when it is removed with much 
 ceremony and parade — as, indeed, it is first placed. 
 But then she is not freed from her sufferings, for she is 
 then put in an upright sitting posture upon the bed, 
 and fixed by bags of rice, which are placed beneath 
 her arms and at her back, In this cruel position 
 she is compelled to continue for nine days and 
 
346 WE OBTAIN A CLUE TO THE ROGUE MI. 
 
 nights, most sparingly fed, and kept awake the 
 whole period, lest by falling asleep she should in 
 some way alter the prescribed position. 
 
 u Faith the customs of both these Pagans are 
 so barbarous, there is little choice between them/' 
 said Dick. 
 
 " Perhaps you are correct, Dick ; yet the Japanese 
 have in their favour the fact that but few of their 
 women die under the ordeal ; moreover, they have 
 at least a pretty legend for its origin, which runs 
 thus — 
 
 " Once upon a time, when the Mikado of Japan, 
 who was then the sole sovereign, was preparing for 
 a great war in the Corea, he died, leaving a widow, 
 who was in weekly expectation of becoming a 
 mother. But such a heroine was the lady that 
 she bound the girdle round her, and prayed to the 
 gods to postpone the event ; after which, attired in 
 armour, she took her husband's place at the head 
 of the army, and led them against the Ooreans, 
 whom she conquered. In reward for which she was 
 not only permitted to reign for the remainder of 
 her life, which lasted one hundred years, but the 
 women of Japan, in remembrance of her, for ever 
 after adopted the girdle." 
 
 "Well, Herbert/' said Dick, "the legend is 
 amusing enough ; but it sounds very much as if it 
 had been made to account for the custom instead of 
 being the cause of it. But, look you, don't you think 
 
WHY FEAR AN ASTROLOGER? 
 
 347 
 
 you could get some information from this man 
 about his neighbour, the old rogue Mi V 3 
 
 a A good thought, Dick, I will try/' 
 
 Then, addressing our host, I said — 
 
 u My worthy friend has ears and eye-balls. Has 
 he used them in the direction of the large house in 
 the jungle at the bend of the river ?" 
 
 But I suppose he must have expected the ques- 
 tion to be accompanied by a silver token, for he 
 replied cautiously — 
 
 " The noble Farang is curious — does he wish to 
 enter that house V 9 
 
 " He does ; to visit an old man who is now living 
 there." 
 
 " Does the noble Farang not fear that old man 
 may be an astrologer ? it is said so by the boat 
 people of this river.-" 
 
 "If he be an astrologer, why should I fear 
 him ?» 
 
 " He has a buffalo grazing among the jungle near 
 his house." 
 
 This reply, making me impatient, I said— 
 
 " Corne, let my friend give all the information he 
 possesses, and he shall be rewarded; as for the 
 buffalo, I fear the beast no more than the man." 
 
 " Does not the noble Farang know that if the old 
 man be his enemy he may receive him well, but he 
 will first reduce the buffalo to the size of a pea, and 
 then cause him to swallow it in tea, when the beast 
 will grow to its full size and kill him ?" 
 
348 WE OBTAIN A CLUE TO THE ROGUE MI. 
 
 " These are the words of a child, not a man ; the 
 people of Siam believe in this foolish superstition, 
 but the Farangs laugh at it/' 
 
 But a dollar, which I at the same time placed in 
 his palm, produced more effect than words. 
 
 The touch of silver rendered him instantaneously 
 communicative, for, with eyes glistening with de- 
 light, he replied — 
 
 " The noble Farang is generous ; he has over- 
 whelmed his servant with kindness. Let him 
 listen. That which he will hear is but little, but 
 it may be much to him if this old man be his 
 enemy. The old house at the bend of the river," 
 he continued, " was once the hunting lodge of a 
 great mandarin, who used to reside there when- 
 ever he accompanied the great king to Ayuthia. 
 That mandarin died, and now for a long time it has 
 been going to ruin, for none of his family would 
 live in it. Well, some moons since, one night, as 
 I was going to my sleeping mat, I was startled by 
 a loud thump at the door. 
 
 " Buddha be praised V 3 cried I, u who would 
 disturb a poor old betel-vendor at this hour of the 
 night ? For know, 0 noble Farang, thy servant 
 did not doubt that it was some robber ; it could not 
 be a tiger, for with the thumping a voice had called 
 out — 
 
 " ' If this be the house of one Sit, the betel- 
 vendor, let him open his door/ 
 
 "'It is the house of Sit, the betel vendor/ said 
 
bit's interview with ma. 
 
 349 
 
 I, in my fear, not waiting for an answer to my first 
 question. 'But who art thou who would disturb 
 Sit at this hour V 
 
 H ' Is it possible the worthy Sit does not remem- 
 ber the voice of his relation, Ma V replied the voice ; 
 whereupon laughing at my own fears, I at once 
 withdrew the bolt, and Ma stood before me. 
 
 u ( The worthy Sit/ said he, 6 is surprised at 
 seeing his relation at this hour ; but, as he has just 
 made a toilsome journey from Bangkok, and at pre- 
 sent has no sleeping place but a boat, it could not 
 be helped/ 
 
 u c My worthy relative is welcome/ c but Sit is 
 curious to know what business has brought him from 
 the great city, and the service of his master.' 
 
 " ' Oh ! that is soon told/ said he. 'My master 
 has bought the deserted house at the bend of the 
 river, and, as the worthy Sit has possession of the 
 key, I am here by the order of my master to beg 
 of him to open the doors for him.' 
 
 " 1 This is, indeed, great news ; but when will the 
 new owner come himself to to take possession V I 
 asked. 
 
 " ' EviBn at the present moment he is waiting in 
 his boat/ he replied; and so indignant did thy 
 servant feel at being called upon at such an hour 
 for such a purpose, that he rudely said — 
 
 " c My relative's master is a pig ; does he take 
 Sit for a mouse, that he is to be ordered about when 
 he should be asleep ?' 
 
350 WE OBTAIN A CLUE TO THE ROGUE MI. 
 
 "But Ma replied, with the dignity of a great 
 noble — 
 
 fi ' It will not be wise for the worthy Sit to 
 refuse, lest he should be bambooed within an inch 
 of his life and, as he spoke, he pulled forth a 
 letter from the great noble to whom the house 
 belonged and placed it in my hands. The charac- 
 ters were few, but they ordered me to give the 
 bearer immediate possession of the house at the 
 bend of the river ; and, as I had no alternative but 
 to obey, I at once followed Ma down the ladder, 
 and, taking my boat, proceeded with them to the 
 house. v 
 
 " Did you see the master V 9 I asked. 
 
 " Yes ; but by the pale light of the moon, and 
 what thy servant saw of him he did not like ; for, 
 although young, indeed not much more than a boy, 
 he was so pale, of such spare measure, and so weak 
 and tottering in his steps, that there could be no 
 doubt that he was a great opium smoker — a vice, 
 Buddha be praised ! which has never been prac- 
 tised by thy servant or any of his family." 
 
 " But, since then, you must have seen this young 
 man frequently," said I. 
 
 " The eye-balls of thy servant have never rested 
 upon his features, for the young man has not once 
 left the house. " 
 
 "At least, you have heard his name, and the 
 reason for his shutting himself up in that lonely 
 house ?" I said. 
 
A GOOD CUSTOMER. 
 
 351 
 
 " Of his name I was long ignorant ; for, although 
 Ma would often come here to purchase betel, and 
 thy servant, being naturally curious, would make 
 many endeavours to find out all he could, he could 
 learn nothing ; for, about all concerning his master, 
 Ma was silent as the grave. Truly, the artful fellow 
 must have had a great secret, and have been well 
 paid to keep it ; but even the fox at times forgets 
 its cunning and gets caught. So it was with Ma, 
 as the noble Farang will hear/' 
 
 "But of the old man; it is of him I would 
 know," I said, getting tired of his prolixity. 
 
 "Let my master listen," he replied. "About 
 one moon since Ma came to purchase betel, but he 
 desired so much more than he had been accus- 
 tomed to buy at one time, that I could not refrain 
 from expressing my gratification at having found so 
 good a customer ; and so giving him a quantity for 
 his own use, I said — 
 
 u ' The worthy Ma must accept this insignificant 
 present, for truly he has brought me such a cus- 
 tomer that fortune never before sent to this 
 shop/ 
 
 " ' My relation is generous, and must be a 
 worthy man, for he is grateful ; but the service I 
 have hitherto rendered him is small compared to 
 what is to come ; for three mouths use more betel 
 than two/ he replied. 
 
 " ' Three V said I, ' then must the old house 
 recently have received another inmate V 
 
352 WE OBTAIN A CLUE TO THE ROGUE MI. 
 
 "When, thrown a little off his guard, he re- 
 plied — 
 
 " ' Truly, my relation has guessed aright ; my 
 master's worthy father has come from Bang- 
 kok.' 
 
 " ' It was a fortunate day that brought another 
 customer to Sit, for he is sadly in want of them ; 
 may their lives be long, and their occupation of that 
 house no shorter/ said I. 
 
 "Then believing Ma was inclined to become a 
 little more communicative, I invited him to my 
 inner apartment, and gave him a cup of spirit and 
 a dish of hot tea, after which he said, as if talking 
 to himself — 
 
 " 6 Truly has the sage said, " that the fortunes of 
 some men grow out of the misfortunes of their 
 fellows.' 
 
 " ' Has any mischance happened to my relation V 
 I asked, and he replied — 
 
 ct c The worthy Sit was just now rejoicing that 
 he had found more customers, and prayed that they 
 might remain at the old house. ' 
 
 " ' Surely there was no harm in such a wish/ I 
 said, fearing that I had given him offence. 
 
 " ' There is no harm in the wish,' he replied, 6 but 
 that the wish may be realized is the good fortune 
 of Sit, and the bad fortune of his relation's 
 masters.' 
 
 u How is that possible, 0 Ma V said I. 
 
 " Having pondered for a few minutes, as if con- 
 
A COMMUNICATION. 
 
 353 
 
 sidering whether lie should tell me anything more, 
 he replied — 
 
 u ' The worthy Sit is not an old woman or a yonng 
 girl, who cannot keep his own council, therefore let 
 him listen.' 
 
 <i < When my young master took possession of 
 the old house, it was with the intention of residing 
 there only until his worthy father, who was travel- 
 ling, could join him, when they were going into — 3 
 
 « < Where V said I. 
 
 66 6 Bah ! I am a mouse/ he replied, adding : 
 6 Further.' 
 
 u 'Further ?' Irepeated, my curiosity being greatly 
 disappointed. 
 
 " ' Truly so,' he added ; i but further than — than 
 — I can't tell. However, upon my old master 
 reaching the house, he found his son so ill that he 
 has determined to remain with us till his recovery. 
 But alas ! that will be a long time, for the young 
 man is dying.' 
 
 a 6 Buddha forbid !' I exclaimed. 
 
 " i Truly my relation is afraid of losing a cus- 
 tomer ; one way or the other he will lose him ; 
 but,' he added : 6 the worthy Sit is curious, and his 
 curiosity has been gratified, will he now in return 
 tell his relation where he may discover a physician 
 who can cure a man dying of opium smoking ? and, 
 having done so, for a good sum, keep his tongue 
 silent V 
 
 " I burned to know the name of this father and 
 
354 A HOT PURSUIT INTO THE INTERIOR. 
 
 son, but hitherto had not the courage to put the 
 question, but suddenly I thought of a plan, and I 
 replied — 
 
 " 6 Certainly there are few such trustworthy phy- 
 sicians in the new city of Ayuthia. One, however, 
 is known to thy servant, who will immediately 
 go in search of him. But what is the name of the 
 patient I am to tell him he is to visit, for surely one 
 cannot offer so great an offence to a wise and learned 
 physician as to ask him to attend a nameless per- 
 son V But he replied — 
 
 " ' My worthy relative is making a sand-heap 
 into a mountain. Let him conduct me to this 
 physician, and I will lead him to his patient, 
 who, at his own pleasure will give or refuse his 
 name/ " 
 
 6€ Then you did not discover the name ?" said I. 
 
 '•'No; at least not at that time, nor did I ask 
 directly again ; but, leaving my shop in the care 
 of my wife, I at once accompanied Ma to the phy- 
 sician, from whom I afterwards endeavoured to find 
 out the name. But, if the old man did know, he 
 must have been paid to keep the secret; for, 
 although he could do no good to the patient, he 
 received as much silver as if he had restored 
 him." 
 
 " That was bribe sufficient, no doubt," I said, for 
 I knew that in Siam the medical system was based 
 upon " No cure, no pay." 
 
 Apropos of medical science in Siam — 
 
A SIAMESE PRESCRIPTION. 
 
 355 
 
 " When a person is ill, the doctor is sent for, and 
 the first inquiry is ' Can you remove my complaint V 
 After deliberation or examination, the reply is gene- 
 rally in the affirmative. Then the negotiation com- 
 mences as to the sum to be paid for the cure, and 
 the amount is settled by written contract, the doctor 
 always demanding two wax candles for an offering to 
 the god of medicine, and six salungs (equal to 3s. 9d.) 
 for the cost of medicines. If the patient's health 
 improve under the doctor's care the visits continue ; 
 if the doctor think the case hopeless, his visits 
 cease, and there is an end of the contract." 
 
 There are said to be two medical schools or sys- 
 tems in Siam contending for the mastery — the 
 Indian and Chinese — and it would be difficult to 
 say which is the most crowded with follies and 
 superstition. Here is a Siamese recipe, which 
 seems to combine the nonsense of both. It is a 
 prescription for what is called " morbific fever." 
 
 " One portion of rhinoceros horn, one of ele- 
 phant's tusk, one of tiger's, and the same of croco- 
 dile's teeth ; one of bear's tooth, one portion 
 composed" of three parts bones of vulture, raven, 
 and goose, one portion of bison, and another of 
 stag's horn, one portion of sandal. These ingre- 
 dients to be mixed together on a stone with pure 
 water ; one half of the mixture to be swallowed, 
 the rest to be rubbed into the body ; after which 
 the morbific fever will depart." 
 
 " But/' said I, " all this took place a moon 
 
 A A 2 
 
356 A HOT PURSUIT INTO THE INTERIOR. 
 
 ago. Have you not heard of these people 
 since ? ; ' 
 
 " To that thy servant is coming, if the noble 
 Farang will have patience." Then he continued — 
 ci Last night, about two hours after sundown, when 
 upon my sleeping mat, dreaming of my profits and 
 losses during the past week, I was aroused by a 
 clattering at the door, and the voice of Ma calling 
 to me for aid. Well, angry at the intrusion, I cried 
 out as I withdrew the bolts — 
 
 « 'What misfortune can have fallen upon my 
 relation, that he should come thumping at the 
 door of an honest man at this hour V 
 
 " Let the worthy Sit arouse himself and come to 
 the help of my master, or his business will suffer 
 a loss of two good customers/' cried Ma, trembling 
 with fear. 
 
 " Ah ! is it so ? then why has their paid servant 
 Ma, run away like a coward ? for truly, while he 
 has been coming, the deed may have been done — it 
 takes but little time to kill a man/' said I. 
 
 " I am not a warrior, I have never been a 
 mountain-splitter, a tiger of war,* like Sit; but 
 hasten, 0 my relative ! or the poor people will be 
 slain." 
 
 " So, although I had no liking either for a broken 
 head, or even for these people, fearing to lose two such 
 good customers, I took up my gun, which I always 
 
 # Chinese synonyms for a soldier. 
 
six's story. 
 
 357 
 
 kept loaded, ready for any prowling tiger, stuck 
 my long knife in my girdle, and followed Ma in my 
 own boat. We. soon reached the house. But Ma 
 had been frightened without cause, for lo ! there 
 upon the platform of the house stood the old man 
 in close conversation with the dreadful robber ; and 
 the sight so angered me, I cried — 
 
 "Thou coward, thou son of a pig, for what 
 purpose do you come to honest people's houses, 
 awakening them at unseemly hours ? " but the 
 foolish fellow seemed beside himself with sur- 
 prise. 
 
 " It is true, 0 Sit !" said he, a that I am in the 
 clouds, for that man, who is now so friendly with 
 my master, but an hour ago thumped at the door, 
 and being admitted, no sooner let his eyeballs fall 
 upon my master than he held up his fist, calling 
 him a rogue, a cheat, and a robber ; and threatened 
 to kill him. But as at that moment the stranger 
 got into his boat and went away, and the old man 
 angrily called upon Ma to come into the house, I 
 turned my own boat, and with the anger of a 
 famished beast in my breast, paddled away, with a 
 determination that, whatever might be my loss, I 
 would have nothing more to do either with my 
 relation or his masters ; for I believe they are all 
 rogues. And now the noble Farang has heard all 
 that his servant has to tell. — Is he satisfied V* 
 
 " It is a strange story — yet enough to convince 
 me that this old man is he whom I seek ; but, my 
 
358 A HOT PURSUIT INTO THE INTERIOR. 
 
 friend, know you whether the stranger is a man of 
 Siam or a Farang ?" said I. 
 
 u Thy servant knows no more than that which he 
 has said/' was the reply. 
 
 I then repeated the story to Dick, who after long 
 pondering, said — 
 
 " Well, Herbert, it is a queer story, and there is 
 little to be made out of it ; save that this mysterious 
 old gentleman can be no other than our friend Mi, 
 and the young opium- drunkard, his son, the youth 
 we saw led about the streets of Bangkok city." 
 
 " Surely, Dick, it is something to be certain that 
 we are on the right track. But who, think you, was 
 the stranger who accused Mi of robbery ?" 
 
 " Well — I take it, he is some saffron- coloured 
 trader, whom the old fellow has cheated of his 
 money and goods." 
 
 "And so do I, Dick;" but I thought more, 
 although I did not think it prudent to teli Dick, at 
 least at that time. 
 
 Then, as there yet remained several hours before 
 we could prudently pay our visit to Mi, we passed 
 the time in playing Siamese chess ; a game, by the 
 way 7 I had learned in China. 
 
359 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 SET A THIEF TO CATCH A THIEF. 
 
 We continued our game till niglit-fall ; when we 
 heard the plash of oars in the water, and the 
 grating of a boat against the house-ladder. 
 
 t€ It is the Phra Klang's slave/' said I ; and the 
 words were scarcely spoken when that worthy, who 
 must have sprung up the ladder with the quick and 
 stealthy footsteps of a cat, entered the room. 
 
 Cc The* sun has gone, the moon has not come, the 
 slave awaits his masters' orders," said he. 
 
 " Good," said I ; "we will follow. Will the 
 worthy Sit accompany us to witness the hunting 
 out of a rogue V 9 but to my surprise, a mountain- 
 splitter" as he had been, he replied — 
 
 u Is thy servant a pig, 0 Farang, that he should 
 always be putting his npse in the affairs of others ? 
 No — Sit will remain in his own house." 
 
 " Then," said I, being determined that he should 
 go with us, " the worthy Sit will call down upon 
 his miserable body the anger of the Phra Klang, 
 
360 SET A THIEF TO CATCH A THIEF. 
 
 who will have him bambooed within an inch of his 
 life." 
 
 This threat, and the production of the minister's 
 document, which commanded any and every person 
 upon whom I might call for aid, to assist in the 
 capture of Mi, had the desired effect, for with a 
 tremor at the sight of the paper, he muttered — 
 
 " The words of the old sage are true, one might 
 as well attempt to kick away a mountain with one's 
 foot as to resist the will of fate. Let the Farangs, 
 who are befriended by the great minister lead, their 
 servant will follow/' And almost before we had 
 seated ourselves in the boat, Sit was in his own 
 little canoe, prepared to paddle after us. 
 
 We were but a short time reaching the house. 
 It was, as I have said, large and low, and there 
 was a platform which stood out and hung over the 
 river. Like most houses in Siam, there was a 
 ladder from the platform to the water, but unlike 
 however, any other I had ever seen, this ladder 
 was drawn up. 
 
 " The old fox has made his house into a fortress ; 
 we cannot reach that platform without capsizing 
 the boat," said Dick. 
 
 " Let us try the land side then," I replied. 
 
 "Hist!" whispered the. slave, producing from 
 the bottom of the boat a rope-ladder, adding, " let 
 my masters help to keep the boat steady." 
 
 This we did by holding by the poles which 
 supported the platform, and in an instant, with one 
 
the rogue's retreat. 361 
 
 end of the rope-ladder in his hand, the slave ran 
 up the pole like a monkey. Once upon the plat- 
 form, he had no difficulty in making fast one end of 
 the ladder, and very speedily Dick, I and the betel- 
 vendor stood upon the platform. But, stealthily 
 and softly as we had clambered up from the boat, 
 we made noise enough to alarm the inmates of the 
 house; for through the openings of the jalousie 
 blinds came the deep tones of a voice — 
 
 " Be not alarmed, my son, it is naught but the 
 wind ; but if otherwise, it matters not, for but one 
 person knows Mi is here, and even his hours are 
 numbered. 3 ' 
 
 ic Nay, my father, it was not the wind, but the 
 footsteps of rogues that fell upon the ear of thy 
 son," was the answer, in enfeebled tones.'"' 
 
 The mind of my son shall be set at rest," re- 
 plied the other. 
 
 At the moment I observed the glimmer of a light 
 through an aperture. I peered within. It was a 
 large, low room, scantily furnished, and lighted by a 
 small lantern, which was suspended from the centre. 
 Upon a couch on the farther side of the room lay 
 the youth we had seen in the streets of Bangkok 
 suffering the punishment for his parent's crime of 
 burning his own house, but singularly altered. 
 Who can picture to the mind of Europeans an 
 Asiatic dying under the baneful opium poison. 
 Nearly nude, his body presented a miserable 
 spectacle, a mere skeleton, emaciated, deprived of 
 
362 
 
 SET A THIEF TO CATCH A THIEF. 
 
 every atom of nervous energy, yet with every 
 fibre in a state of agitation. His ghastly yellow 
 cheeks sunken, the eyes wild, and with the 
 glassy glittering of a semi-madman fixed upon his 
 father. The old man's back was turned towards 
 me ; when, however, he moved, I at once recog- 
 nized the merchant who had boarded the junk at 
 the mouth of the Meinam. But there was no time 
 to lose, for now I saw that he had been loading a 
 pistol, and was coming towards the platform. 
 
 a Beware, Dick, the old fellow is coming to open 
 the door ; he has a pistol in his hand," I whispered. 
 
 " All right, my friend." 
 
 Then the door creaked upon its hinges. We 
 pushed forward quickly ; there came a flash, a report, 
 and a ball whistling over our heads. 
 
 u That was a vicious shot, old gentleman," cried 
 Dick; and in an instant Mi was upon the floor, 
 struggling hard, but ineffectually, to escape from my 
 friend's grasp. 
 
 " Rats — robbers — " he exclaimed fiercely ; but 
 lowering his tones into a whine, he added, " take all, 
 but save the poor boy." 
 
 " It is thou who art the robber, the false agent, the 
 swindling merchant Mi, of Bangkok ;" but inter- 
 rupting me, he exclaimed — 
 
 " Ah ! what dog is this ? What words are 
 these ? Who dares accuse the Mandarin Pau of 
 robbery ?" 
 
 " Stay," said I ; " these falsehoods are useless ; 
 
MI IS OBSTINATE. 
 
 363 
 
 thou art neither Pau nor Mandarin, but Mi, the 
 rogue merchant who fled from Bangkok with the 
 goods and money of his clients, the friend and 
 partner in crime of the Farang Crafty/' 
 
 u The Farang Crafty/' he repeated, thrown off his 
 guard, " has that dog set thee upon my track f 9 
 
 " Crafty ? What says he of that rascal V asked 
 Dick ; but not noticing the question, I said — 
 
 " It is not so ; that rogue knows not that we are 
 here." 
 
 "Then," he replied surlily, "let the Farang 
 Richardson hold his peace, for I will answer no 
 questions, even if he tear me limb from limb. What 
 is done — is done." 
 
 "Mi is obstinate, but the Phra Klang possesses the 
 means of making him speak ;" and I held before him 
 the minister's warrant. 
 
 This had the desired effect; the sight of the 
 document called up all the horrors of his native 
 prisons and punishments ; his tone became humble, 
 nay imploring, and he said — 
 
 " The Farang is young, brave, generous ; he would 
 not torture an old man, or deprive a dying boy of his 
 parent. Restitution shall be made to him ; neither 
 he nor the merchant Richardson shall suffer loss — " 
 but suddenly he exclaimed — 
 
 " Devils — thieves — you have slain him ; he is dead 
 — my son — my only son." 
 
 The wretched youth, who all the time had been 
 silently watching the scene, had made an effort to 
 
364 SET A THIEF TO CATCH A THIEF. 
 
 come to the aid of his parent, but rising from his 
 couch had fallen to the ground. 
 
 Quitting the father, I ran to the son, and lifted 
 him to the couch, and finding that the youth had 
 fainted, I called to the men who had remained 
 without upon the platform to bring water. The 
 slave and Sit obeyed, and in a few minutes the 
 invalid was restored to consciousness. 
 
 " The young Farang is generous ; he has saved 
 the son, he will not destroy the parent, without whose 
 care the boy will die," cried the old man, as the 
 youth opened his eyes and looked around. 
 
 " Heaven," said I, u rewards all according to 
 their merits ; Mi has been a great rogue, why should 
 he not suffer punishment for his crimes V 9 
 
 " My son — my son. What will become of him if 
 his father suffers V 9 again cried the miserable old 
 man, and with anguish so unselfish that I could have 
 forgiven him ; nay, I had already determined upon a 
 compromise, and 1 said — 
 
 " Let Mi make restitution of the sums he has 
 stolen from the merchant Richardson ; let him 
 explain his connection with the great rogue Crafty, 
 and he may yet escape the punishment he so richly 
 merits." 
 
 " Alas ! the first is not possible, for thy miserable 
 servant has been robbed of all — " 
 
 "This subterfuge," said I angrily, interrupting 
 him, " will not avail you. It is known thou art still 
 possessed of wealth." 
 
mi's one virtue. 
 
 365 
 
 " It is not so. — It is not so — for thy servant has 
 been plundered by a greater rogue than himself." 
 
 " Beware ! old man — beware ! Have I not 
 already warned you that falsehood would not avail 
 you?" said I; but so earnestly did he make the 
 declaration, that half believing him, I added — 
 
 "How is this thing possible? Could a man 
 without wealth have purchased this house, and paid 
 large fees to a physician ? moreover, would such an 
 one venture upon so distant a journey as the Laos 
 country?" But if possible more impressively than 
 before, he replied — 
 
 " By the life of that son, whose death would leave 
 thy servant a blank, a thing desirous alone of 
 annihilation, he still declares that his words are 
 straight. How is it possible he would attempt to 
 deceive one who holds over him the power of life or 
 death — nay, even the life of his son, the last of his 
 race ?" 
 
 " Then, if the words of Mi are straight, why does 
 he not at once declare when he was robbed, and by 
 whom ?" 
 
 This question seemed to cause him some dread, for 
 he looked around nervously; and seeing that he 
 feared to speak within hearing of the slave and Sit, 
 who had remained, I ordered them to return to the 
 platform. When they had obeyed, he said in 
 whispering tones — - 
 
 " My master spoke of the Farang Crafty." 
 
 " I did ; was it that rogue ? Is he here ?" I asked 
 
366 
 
 SET A THIEF TO CATCH A THIEF. 
 
 eagerly; and then he related to me a piece of 
 rascality, the substance of which was as follows : — 
 
 Crafty and Mi had been in partnership ; the 
 former making voyages, the latter remaining in 
 Bangkok. The nature of their joint transactions he 
 did not then tell me ; sufficient however for the 
 reader. Crafty in his last voyage had met with some 
 mishap that rendered it necessary for the firm to 
 disappear as quickly as might be from Bangkok ; 
 accordingly he wrote from Singapore advising Mi to 
 realise the whole of their stores. 
 
 As we have seen (but remember that at the time I 
 took the old man's story granted), the old man did this, 
 and that too the more readily that he held in his hand 
 monies and goods of several merchants (my father 
 among the number) for whom he acted as agent. 
 And so far Mi acted to the satisfaction of his partner. 
 When, however, that worthy came to Siam he was 
 somewhat disappointed to find his share of the 
 plunder somewhat difficult to obtain ; for Mi had 
 transferred a large proportion of the goods into 
 dollars, which he forwarded to Laos. The remainder 
 he disposed of for paper bearing the signature of a 
 certain European merchant, or rather fence to a large 
 amount. For some time both remained in Bang- 
 kok. When, however, the mishap of imprisonment 
 overtook Crafty, Mi managed to make his escape 
 with the papers which represented not only the 
 money he had sent on to Laos, but that in the hands 
 of the aforesaid European merchant. But then he 
 
crafty's attack upon mi. 
 
 367 
 
 sought to excuse himself for this breach of faith 
 towards his partner in the belief that that worthy's 
 future career was already provided for by a paternal 
 government, which had him under lock and key. 
 
 Fortune, however, as if resolved on punishing a 
 breach of that honour which the adage tells us exists 
 among thieves, not only threw open his prison doors, 
 but supplied a clue by which Crafty traced the 
 amiable Mi to his house at Ayuthia. The rest of the 
 story must be given in the old man's own words. 
 
 " Oh ! my master," said he, u how like a messenger 
 from the devils below that rogue came upon me last 
 night ; for how was it possible that I, who had so 
 artfully managed all things, could expect such a visit ? 
 but it was a stroke of fate, and I submitted." 
 
 " Truly, my friend," said I, "it seems there was 
 but little else left for you to do. This fellow knew 
 your secret, and, moreover, the value that your body 
 might be to him, could he but send or take it to 
 Bangkok." 
 
 u True," he replied. u The noble Farang is right ; 
 the rogue held my life, more, the life of my son in 
 his hands, and I had no choice ; so regarding his 
 hard words and menaces as if they had been the 
 rustling of the wind, I bade him welcome to my 
 house. But the fellow was unreasonable, all the 
 Farangs are ; he became violent, clutched me by the 
 throat, and threatened to drag me at once with him 
 to Bangkok city, if I did not at once place in his 
 hands the papers which would enable him to claim 
 
368 
 
 SET A THIEF TO CATCH A THIEF. 
 
 the whole of the sum in the hands of the European 
 merchant." 
 
 " You complied?" 
 
 u I did — and so appeased the rogue ; but — but my 
 turn came (here the old man gnashed his teeth), for 
 I invited him to a dish of tea, which he accepted, 
 swallowed — and then, O my master, old Mi no longer 
 mourned that the fellow had plundered him, for his 
 retribution was to come." 
 
 " What mean you, rascal ?" I exclaimed, as a 
 fearful thought crossed my mind. 
 
 u What should thy servant mean but that 
 Buddha would speedily bring down punishment upon 
 the head of him who could plunder the aged and the 
 dying," he replied. " But," he added, " the noble 
 Farang has heard the story, and can no longer 
 doubt the poverty of his servant, who will be 
 without money, at least until he is fortunate 
 enough to reach Laos, from which place he will 
 send, in dollars, the sum which is owing to the 
 merchant Richardson, of Macao ;" but judging, 
 I suppose, from my countenance that I should not 
 be inclined to part with him upon such easy terms, 
 he added — 
 
 " But the Farang doubts his servant ; he would 
 have the money now — he shall." 
 
 " How ? Said you not that one half of your 
 plunder was at Laos, and the other — " 
 
 " It is true," he interrupted quickly, " the other 
 has been stolen by the rogue Crafty. But that man 
 
DOUBTS OF MI. 
 
 369 
 
 is in Ayuthia, and my master and his friend may 
 take the papers from him." 
 
 et You old rascal, do you take me for as great a 
 rogue as yourself?" 
 
 " Thy servant said not so ; but this man is the 
 enemy of my master's friend, and is even now within 
 reach of their hands." 
 
 "But/' I exclaimed, "am I a mouse, that I 
 should believe this rogue would remain about here 
 an hour after he had obtained his object in 
 coming ?" 
 
 " My master is unwise to doubt ; again I tell him 
 the Farang sailor is still in Ayuthia ;" and lowering 
 his voice he added, "even now he is in the great 
 ruined pagoda of the old city." 
 
 This intelligence, if true, was important. How 
 important the reader may divine when I tell him that 
 neither by night nor day was Waif absent from my 
 thoughts. Still, however, having a suspicion that the 
 old man might be planning some scheme to escape 
 from us, I said — 
 
 "Are not the words of Mi as crooked as his 
 actions ; how then can I believe him ?" 
 
 " Mi is now but a slave, for he is in thy power ; 
 the noble Farang was kind to his son, therefore he 
 would serve him. The Farang sailor is the enemy of 
 Mi, and therefore he hates and would destroy him. 
 But it is night, and my masters cannot now go to the 
 pagoda ; Mi's house is their own. Let them sleep 
 till the morning, when they can leave one of their 
 
 B B 
 
370 SET A THIEF TO CATCH A THIEF. 
 
 people to prevent the poor old man from running 
 away, while they go in search of the rogue Crafty." 
 
 66 Well, so be it/' said I ; for I had now no doubt 
 as to his truthfulness ; moreover, I felt sure that 
 with so many of our party in the house, he would not 
 venture upon any trick. 
 
 Then I interpreted to Dick, who had been standing 
 by the old man's side the whole time, the substance 
 of our conversation. A thrill of delight seemed to 
 run through his frame. 
 
 " Grod be thanked !" he cried ; " This rascal will 
 speedily be in our power." 
 
 « But Waif, Dick ? What of her f 
 
 "Name her not, Herbert. Name her not," he 
 replied bitterly ; and upon that subject I did hold my 
 peace, for fear that we might not agree in our 
 opinions. Of course he concurred in my plans for 
 the morning ; he stipulated however, that we should 
 set out upon the expedition with the first streak of 
 daylight. 
 
 " Had we not better tie this old rogue up ?" said 
 he, when I proposed that we should stretch ourselves 
 upon the mats to sleep; but to this I objected; and 
 so it was arranged that the Phra Klang's slave and 
 Sit should take turn and turn about as his gaoler, or 
 rather watcher. The precaution, however, was unne- 
 cessary; for, accompanied by the invalid youth, it would 
 have been nearly impossible to escape, and without 
 the boy he would not have stirred to save his life. 
 
371 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 A discoveey; a stkange tale. 
 
 We had proposed to set forth at daybreak ; so rest- 
 less, however, was our sleep from the excitement of 
 the previous day, that when we awoke we found the 
 sun shining resplendently. 
 
 u Hiloa, Herbert, the rogue will escape us yet," 
 cried Dick, jumping to his feet. 
 
 u True, let us start at once," I replied, following 
 his example, but scalding my mouth in the attempt 
 to swallow a dish of boiling tea which Mi's servant 
 had prepared. 
 
 " The noble Farangs need not fear, the man 
 Crafty will not escape them. They will certainly find 
 him at the great pagoda," said Mi, but with so much 
 malice in his tone and upon his face, that I asked — 
 
 u How can you hnoiv this ? What mean you by 
 these words?" 
 
 "Let the Farang be satisfied; his servant has 
 spoken, it is enough, he will not eat his own words ; " 
 and with that ambiguous reply, sulkily delivered, I 
 
 B B 2 
 
372 
 
 A DISCOVERY. 
 
 was obliged to rest contented, for he would give no 
 other. 
 
 " But this pagoda, how may we distinguish it from 
 the others ?" 
 
 "This man/' he replied, pointing to the Phra 
 Klang's slave, "will lead my master to the very 
 steps." 
 
 u Nay," I replied, u he will remain here, my friend, 
 until we find whether the worthy Mi has been play- 
 ing us false or true ; for as he has done the one or 
 the other, will depend his freedom or the prisons of 
 Bangkok. ? 
 
 " My master still doubts the honesty of his servant ; 
 it is not good, for if he has committed one bad, he is 
 not all bad, as you will see," he replied, adding, " sup- 
 pose the slave not go, the betel-vendor can lead you to 
 the very steps of the pagoda." 
 
 This suggestion was obvious ; so applying to that 
 worthy vendor, and finding him willing to undertake 
 the duty of guide, we at once descended to the boat, 
 and were speedily paddling up the river. 
 
 When we had made about two miles, the betel- 
 vendor, who was some yards in advance in his own 
 canoe, stopped, and, pointing to an enormous spire, 
 which in the distance appeared to reach the very 
 heavens, he declared it to be the building for which 
 we were in search, accordingly we at once pulled 
 into the sand bank. 
 
 " Now, Dick," said I, " let us land." 
 
 We did; but to our surprise the bank seemed 
 
WE REACH THE PAGODA. 
 
 373 
 
 nothing but a narrow ridge of sand which divided the 
 river from an enormous lake. 
 
 " Land, do you call it V 9 said Dick, laughing, " as 
 the Irishman said, the deuce of a bit of land can I 
 see but what's all water." 
 
 And he was correct, for as far as the eye could 
 reach were vast fields of paddy, so deeply covered 
 with water that the pagoda, which stood in the 
 middle, a distance of at least two miles, could be 
 reached alone by boats or elephants. 
 
 There was but one course, which was to haul the 
 boats from the river over the bank into the paddy 
 fields. This we did with little difficulty, and when 
 they were relaunched, made for the pagoda, which we 
 reached in about half an hour. 
 
 It was a large pyramidal building of enormous 
 height, but in a state of decay rather from neglect 
 than age ; attached to this religious pile stood a con- 
 vent or monastery in almost equal decay. 
 
 u See," whispered Dick, pointing to a canoe secured 
 to the door-ladder of the house ; " that is proof the 
 place is tenanted." 
 
 " Hush," I returned, in the same low tones, as we 
 almost noiselessly forced our boat to the ladder, 
 which was mid-deep in water, and the next minute 
 we were both standing in the outer room, a low, large 
 apartment, which had once probably served the pur- 
 pose of common room for the talapoins. There we 
 stayed to listen and look around. We could hear no 
 sounds that betokened the place to be inhabited. A 
 
374 
 
 A DISCOVERY. 
 
 minute's examination of the rooms, and I discovered 
 a door which led to another apartment. At the same 
 time I thought I heard a groan. 1 placed my finger 
 upon my lips, for I was afraid that Dick would 
 speak. 
 
 Creeping nearer the door, we listened with breath- 
 less anxiety. In a minute there came another groan 
 — a shriek. I could bear the suspense no longer. 
 
 " There is some person in deep suffering," said I . 
 
 " Dying," said Dick ; and I was about to try the 
 door, but it opened with its own accord, and there, 
 haggard and pale as death, a woman stood 
 before us. 
 
 " Waif !" we both exclaimed, less in surprise at 
 discovering her to be in that house than in horror at 
 her altered appearance. 
 
 As for the poor girl, for an instant she was literally 
 dumb with astonishment ; recovering her presence 
 of mind, however, she clasped her hands, and in an 
 attitude of prayer exclaimed — 
 
 " God be thanked ! for from Him alone could such 
 help have come in this terrible hour of need." 
 
 " Waif — dear Waif !" exclaimed Dick, taking her 
 in his arms, " for mercy's sake speak — what means 
 this? Tell us, has the villain dared — is that 
 rogue — " 
 
 But, starting from him, she said — 
 
 66 Stay, Dick ; my friend, my brother — name him 
 no more." 
 
 " Still that insane fit!" exclaimed Dick, adding 
 
DEATH OF CRAFTY. 
 
 375 
 
 sternly : " But it is of no use, Waif, now, for we 
 know the rascal is in this house." 
 
 u He is, Dick, for now I have no secrets from you. 
 But he is no longer accountable to man for his sins, 
 whatever they may have been." 
 
 And, as she spoke, she threw open the door of the 
 inner apartment, where, upon a couch motionless, 
 but with features distorted by severe physical suffer- 
 ings, lay Crafty. 
 
 " Great heaven, he is dead !" exclaimed Dick. 
 
 " Murdered — poisoned by that old rogue Mi !" I 
 exclaimed, as the old man's story of the cup of tea 
 rushed through my mind. 
 
 "I thought so; it must have been poison. Oh! 
 his agony through the night has been terrible ; but 
 how know you this, Herbert ?" 
 
 " Come, come, Waif ; dear girl, this is no place 
 for you," said Dick, taking her hand and attempting 
 to lead her to the boat ; but, resisting, she said — 
 
 " And leave his body in this savage place ? Nay, 
 Dick, it is impossible ; but," she added : " the assassin, 
 Herbert, know you ought of him ?" 
 
 " Come, come, dear Waif ; this is no time for 
 questioning. Come with us at once ; we will leave 
 one of the boatmen here in charge of the body until 
 we can send for it," I replied ; and this satisfying her, 
 we left one of the men in the house, and then made 
 the best of our way back, not to the house of Mi, 
 but to the monastery. 
 
 On the way we both forbore to question her ; but 
 
376 
 
 A DISCOVERY. 
 
 upon reaching our old lodging, Dick, who could bear 
 the suspense no longer, said, with somewhat of his old 
 sternness — 
 
 u Waif, for heaven's sake, tell me in what light 
 we are to regard you. What was your interest in 
 that bad man? Were you his wife ? Are you his 
 widow ?" 
 
 With what fearful interest I awaited the reply — 
 
 " Dear Dick and Herbert," she said, taking a hand 
 of each, 66 since he is gone, I am free to tell all I 
 know — listen. 
 
 My story," she continued, "must begin at the 
 time that Dick and I were contemplating our escape 
 from the junk at Chantaburi ; but how can I describe 
 my feelings at finding myself in the hands of pirates 
 — the consciousnesss that I was at their mercy would 
 have made death welcome ; then the fear for your life, 
 for I had but little doubt that they would kill you as 
 a necessity to their own safety — but I cannot, I will 
 not, attempt to describe my feelings at that hour. 
 
 " Well, the wretches led me into the chief 's cabin ; 
 and, having tied my wrists together, there left 
 me under the charge of two savages, who by the 
 way, I suppose, of amusing themselves at my terror, 
 would, every now and then, pass their naked knives 
 across my throat, to signify what would be my 
 fate. These fellows, however^ must have exceeded 
 their orders ; for when, in about Half an hour, their 
 chief entered the cabin, he angrily commanded them 
 to release me. But that chief, Dick — a cold shudder 
 
waif's story. 
 
 377 
 
 ran through my veins as my eyes lighted upon his 
 well-remembered features — " 
 
 "Who was he — the rascal Crafty?" interrupted 
 Dick. 
 
 " Not so ; but the Chinese captain of the pirates 
 who boarded the 'Anne/ and murdered my poor 
 aunt," she replied, and tears rolled down her cheeks 
 at the remembrance. 
 
 a It was, then, as I said at the same time, Herbert ; 
 but," he added : " was not Crafty on board ? for I 
 swear I heard his voice." 
 
 " Patience, my dear Dick, for you will soon know 
 all," she replied, adding : " but, to my astonishment, 
 arch villain as the Chinese was, with a kindly gesture, 
 he motioned to me to be seated ; and, as he left the 
 cabin, although I could not understand one word of 
 his speech, I gathered from his tones and gesticula- 
 tions that if I remained quiet I had nothing to fear 
 for myself, but I feared for you, and should have 
 followed them to the deck and upon my knees 
 begged your life, had I not seen that which caused 
 me to tremble from head to foot. 
 
 " It was a box, Dick, a travelling trunk which had 
 belonged to my poor benefactress. I could not be mis- 
 taken, for on the lid, in large letters, were the words — 
 6 Eliza Banks, London J 
 
 u The sight of this trunk for the moment chased even 
 you from my thoughts, and I stood gazing at it with 
 a terrible and absorbing interest, at length, however, 
 I was aroused by footsteps, and though, in the midst 
 
378 
 
 A DISCOVERY. 
 
 of these terrible pirates, I felt a sensation of relief — 
 the new comer was an Englishman." 
 " Crafty !" exclaimed Dick. 
 
 " Yes ; but I knew him not then ; but to continue 
 my story. My first feelings of surprise fairly passed, 
 the thought rushed through my mind that an English- 
 man at large must surely be one of the crew. I 
 shrank backwards loathingly ; noticing this, he ad- 
 vanced, and, taking my hands in his, said earnestly — 
 
 " 6 Fear not, my pretty maid, you are as safe in 
 this cabin as in the home of your parents. To me y 
 you are indebted for your life.' 
 
 " But more alarmed than before, I exclaimed — 
 
 u ' Unhand me, wretch, for now I know thee.' 
 < For what V he asked, earnestly. 
 
 "'One of the murderers of that poor lady, my 
 friend, my benefactress; for the man Crafty, the 
 thief of San Francisco, the enemy of Richard 
 Orme.' 
 
 " ' Stay, I implore you,' he cried, passionately. i I 
 had no hand in the death of that poor woman. I 
 would have saved her, as I saved you and the young 
 man of whom you speak.' 
 
 66 His manner gave me courage, and I said — 
 
 " How may I believe this, when you have again 
 decoyed us on board your junk, for you are the real 
 chief of these wretches V 
 
 " 6 This is not so ; I am but the creature of cir- 
 cumstances, although I have had, and thank heaven 
 still have, the power to serve you both.' 
 
waif's best friend. 
 
 379 
 
 a c Then, if this be so, put us ashore at once.' 
 
 "'Both, no. The young man, yes,' he replied ; 
 6 but,' he added, * first tell me your relationship to 
 her whom you call your benefactress.' 
 
 " 6 That,' said I, 6 is soon told ; but Richard Orme, 
 is he not now perhaps being tortured by the wretched 
 Chinese.' 
 
 " 6 No ; that I have prevented ; more, he has been 
 sent ashore in a boat by himself.' 
 
 " 6 Great heaven, without me !' I exclaimed ; and, 
 covering my face with my hands I wept ; for then I 
 felt my utter loneliness, the terrible reality of my posi- 
 tion ; but, again taking me tenderly by the hand, he 
 said — 
 
 " Waif, dear Waif, have patience, you have much 
 to hear; fortune has much in store that you but 
 little anticipate.' 
 
 " I had been shocked that, notwithstanding my 
 dress, he had discovered my real sex, but that he also 
 knew my name, startled me. I stared at him aghast, 
 exclaiming — 
 
 " 6 For heaven's sake, man, tell me who you 
 are.' 
 
 " * Your friend, Waif ; perhaps your best friend,' 
 he replied, adding : 6 but your history — relate it 
 briefly, if you like, but truly.' 
 
 "His unceasing earnestness aroused my own 
 curiosity ; moreover, I felt the necessity of conciliat- 
 ing him, so I related the story of my life — at least, 
 the leading incidents — down to that day. He listened 
 
380 
 
 A DISCOVERY. 
 
 with wrapped attention ; only exclaiming at in- 
 tervals — 
 
 " c Poor girl — poor child !' 
 
 "But, when I spoke of you, Dick, he knitted 
 his brows, and he clenched his hands— indeed, 
 he appeared to be undergoing some suffer- 
 ing, from which he could only find relief in say- 
 ing, with a terrible earnestness that alarmed 
 me — 
 
 " 6 Girl, girl, what is your connection with this 
 young man? Are you lovers? Have you engaged 
 to become his wife ?' 
 
 " The question, the dictatorial tone in which it was 
 put angered me, and I answered — 
 
 " 6 What right have you to put this question ?' 
 
 " 6 Answer me, girl, for it vitally concerns us both : 
 how, you shall learn perhaps too soon.' 
 
 " And then my own curiosity made me reply — 
 
 66 * No, we have been friends ; he has been my pro- 
 tector, my brother, nothing more — can be nothing 
 more.' 
 
 " ' Is this so ? do you know your own heart, girl ? 
 Do you know the nearness of kin that such fervent 
 friendship bears to love V 
 
 u ' I do ; but I shall not answer any more questions,' 
 I replied. 
 
 " But one more, girl ; and, as you would be saved 
 from a life of misery, answer truly. Do you love 
 another ?' " 
 
 At this portion of the narrative I, Herbert 
 
DICK FINDS A SISTER. 
 
 381 
 
 Richardson, felt my heart palpitate heavily, and I 
 asked anxiously — 
 
 u What answer made you, Waif V 
 
 "A true one, Herbert. It was, 6 I do !' and she 
 continued, u At the 3'eply, Crafty started, joyfully 
 exclaiming-^ 
 
 " ' Thank heaven for this, girl : you have escaped a 
 great misery." 
 
 " 6 How ! what mean you by these strange words V 
 I asked. 
 
 "But imagine my astonishment at his reply — it 
 was — 
 
 " 6 Richard Orme is your brother F " 
 As Waif repeated this, she seized Dick by the 
 hand, saying — 
 
 "< Dick, dear Dick!" 
 
 At this revelation I stood stupified with amaze- 
 ment. 
 
 "Aye," replied Dick, "no wonder, for it is the 
 tallest lie I have heard this many a day, especially 
 seeing that I am and ever was an only child. But," 
 he added, " what on earth could have been — " 
 
 u It is wonderful," she replied earnestly, " it is a 
 strange story ; but it is true, Dick, indeed it is." 
 
 " Well, well ; " he replied, laughing; "if you can 
 prove this, you will be just about able to square 
 the circle, or make me believe myself to be the son 
 and heir of the King of Timbuctoo, and that's &fact" 
 
 " Nay, Dick, dear, I am serious — very serious — 
 listen to me." 
 
382 
 
 A DISCOVERY. 
 
 And so greatly was Dick's curiosity aroused, that 
 he held his peace, when Waif resumed her story — 
 
 " My surprise/' said she, ie at Crafty's declaration 
 of relationship was no less than your own now ; and, 
 I suppose it was depicted upon my face, for he 
 said — 
 
 " 6 Girl, you are incredulous — you disbelieve — you 
 think I have some purpose to serve by this state- 
 ment ; it is not so — listen to me.' " 
 
 "Aye, aye, of that there is little doubt," inter- 
 rupted Dick. 
 
 "Nay, you are impatient, Dick," replied Waif, 
 adding : " Well, he then related the history of his 
 connection with you up to the time of his leaving 
 New York in charge of the goods which he was to 
 sell in London for your mother's benefit. Coming 
 to that point, he said — 
 
 " And now, girl, as I believe in a world to come, 
 and hope for pardon of my sins, my purpose in ac- 
 cepting that charge was honest. I had no thought of 
 fraud — nay, nor any necessity, for my own share 
 of the cargo with w T hich the ship was freighted was 
 very considerable — enough, indeed, I found, when I 
 had converted it into cash, to have kept me in compe- 
 tence the remainder of my days. But fate willed 
 otherwise ; for ere I had been in London six months, 
 a tempting offer inclined me to become a partner in a 
 shipping house. About the same time that I entered 
 upon my new career, I married the Widow Orme, 
 your mother." 
 
crafty's story. 
 
 383 
 
 Here Dick exhibited his surprise by a low and pro- 
 longed whistle. 
 
 Taking no notice of this, Waif continued — 
 u ' Yes/ he repeated, 6 1 married Eichard Orme's 
 mother ; but alas ! unfortunately, although with the 
 best intentions, I induced the dear excellent woman 
 to invest her little fortune, which, upon our marriage, 
 I had caused to be settled upon herself, in the same 
 house. Bred at sea, and knowing little else but navi- 
 gation and rough trafficking with semi-savage people, 
 I readily left the financial management of the con- 
 cern to my partner. A few months, however, soon 
 showed me that I had become the ready victim of 
 misrepresentation. My partner had long been hope- 
 lessly insolvent — so deeply, indeed, that even my for- 
 tune and my wife's, had it even been used for 
 the purpose of buoying up the sinking house, would 
 have been as two drops in the ocean. But I was not 
 to have even that poor consolation, for the rogue fled 
 the country, leaving me and 'my wife penniless beg- 
 gars. I was arrested and detained in prison many 
 months. From this durance I ultimately escaped 
 by becoming a bankrupt. Who can imagine the 
 real horror of even a debtor's prison to one who, 
 like myself, had been used from childhood to a roving 
 life ? Thus, when the bolts and bars were withdrawn, 
 and I sniffed the free air of heaven, I could not 
 quarrel with fate for having beggared me ; and with 
 a light step and a lighter heart, I hastened to my 
 wife's humble lodging. Oh ! the joy of freedom ; even 
 
384 
 
 A DISCOVERY. 
 
 in the midst of poverty, there was happiness in 
 store, for on reaching home, I was to gaze, for the 
 first time, upon my new-born child — that child was 
 yourself — what a compensation for the past; but 
 still envious fate had not presented to me her bitterest 
 cup ! No ; for at the very threshold of my lodgings 
 I was told that my wife had that day passed away for 
 ever ! For a time I was distracted — mad ! and in 
 my insanity cursed the child ! You, Waif, were the 
 cause of that new and greatest stroke of misfortune/ " 
 
 At this point Waif halted, and sobbing, said — 
 
 u But I will not go on, Dick. Dick, it is too much 
 even for you." 
 
 " My poor dear mother !" exclaimed Dick, as the 
 hot tears rolled down his sun-burnt face. "But, 
 but," he added, " proceed, dear girl." 
 
 u Well," she continued, " I had but one course left 
 open to me, and that was to go again to sea ; it was, 
 indeed, my only chance of an existence. But, heaven 
 forgive me ! in my wicked hate of what I deemed 
 the cause of my great trouble, I resolved to leave it 
 — the child — you, Waif, at the door of the neighbour- 
 ing workhouse, a strange provision for an only child, 
 still the only one I could make. To obtain a ship 
 was for me no great difficulty ; so as first mate of a 
 merchantman I made voyages to South America, 
 India, China, in truth all over the world. In a few 
 years I once more obtained a ship of my own, and 
 then pricked by conscience, and discoveringin my heart 
 a strong yearning towards the deserted little one, in my 
 
A CHOICE : LIFE OR DEATH. 
 
 385 
 
 first visit to England I sought the workhouse ; after 
 some difficulty, I had the unspeakable happiness to find 
 that my girl was alive — nay, that she w r as living with 
 a Mrs. Banks. Obtaining that lady's address, with 
 half-frantic delight I hastened to clasp my child to 
 my arms. But how justifiably was I punished for 
 my crime of desertion ! The cup of pleasure was 
 again dashed from my lips ! I heard that the 
 girl had left London with her mistress, for Cali- 
 fornia. 
 
 Thus desponding, but with a faint hope that we 
 might meet even in that distant region, I went to 
 sea again. This time I was bound for Shanghai, 
 with the hope, and a fair prospect too, of realizing a 
 considerable sum. But ill-fortune again overtook me. 
 When off the Ladrones* we were becalmed, and thus 
 helpless, were surrounded by a flotilla of pirates, 
 or " Wasps of the Ocean," as the celestials call 
 them. 
 
 Unarmed, assailed by stink-pots, gingals, and 
 many hundreds of savages of the Fokien coast, 
 resistance would have been madness; thus I sur- 
 rendered at once, and the pirate chief pleased at 
 the ease with which he had obtained so good a 
 booty, most mercifully, in his own opinion, offered 
 me and my crew the choice between instant death 
 or taking service with him. Life was dear to us all ; 
 and besides, it was at least probable that some 
 
 * Pirate infested islands in the Chinese seas. 
 
 C C 
 
386 
 
 A DISCOVERY. 
 
 chance of escape would present itself, and so we 
 became pirates. Some chance of escape I have said 
 — yes, doubtlessly, the opportunity might have hap- 
 pened had we been permitted to remain on board the 
 same vessel, but the wily Chinese at once cut off that 
 hope by sprinkling us among the fleet. He retained 
 me alone on board his own junk. In this way 
 a career of crime was forced upon me. But with 
 shame let me add that I glided into it too easily, my 
 losses, troubles, and miseries soured my disposition, 
 and set me at war with all more prosperous and 
 honest men. In a few months, encouraged by the 
 profits I obtained, I entered thoroughly, heart and 
 soul into the foul business, and this so pleased the 
 Chinese chief, that he not only gave me a separate 
 command, but introduced me to the Bangkok 
 merchant, who was in fact the real owner of 
 the pirate ships and the employer of the Chinese 
 chief."* 
 
 " This man I need scarcely tell you," said Waif, 
 " was the rogue Mi." 
 
 Resuming her repetition of Crafty' s narrative, she 
 continued — 
 
 66 This Bangkok merchant/' he added, " delighted 
 at getting into his service a European skipper, offered 
 me a partnership on terms that obliterated entirely 
 any compunction left within me at my new career. 
 
 # This system of co -partnership between the Chinese pirates 
 and certain great native merchants in the chief cities of Siam 
 and China, is by no means uncommon. 
 
THE CHINESE COOLIE. 
 
 387 
 
 Thus I not only acted in connection with the Chinese 
 chief, but took the lead in every expedition ; warily, 
 however, changing my vessel from time to time, so 
 that I must have seemed ubiquitous to the merchant 
 mariners who trade along the coast of China, or be- 
 tween the Celestial Empire and California. 
 
 "Like the old European mariners, however, I 
 blended fair trading with piracy, for I went nomi- 
 nally as super-cargo with that freight of dye-woods 
 feathers, &c, which was consigned to Costa and 
 Olivarez at San Francisco. While transacting 
 business with that firm, I learned the large 
 amount of specie they kept in store ; but solemnly 
 I declare that for Richard Orme's sake the 
 dollars should have remained untouched, at least as 
 far as I was concerned. But alas ! unfortunately, 
 most unfortunately for poor Richard, Messrs. Costa 
 and Olivarez's porter w r as a fellow-countryman of my 
 Chinese colleague — nay, one of his agents, one of 
 many he has planted in different firms in various 
 cities at which he touches from time to time. This 
 man imparted to the Chinese chief the information 
 about the dollars ; a council was immediately held, 
 the robbery was planned, and the part I was to play 
 was allotted. For a time I refused to have anything 
 to do with it ; but all objection was useless, the threat 
 of exposure, ruin, instant death, hung over me, and I 
 succumbed — 99 
 
 " The hypocritical villain," exclaimed Dick, pas- 
 sionately. 
 
 c c 2 
 
388 
 
 A DISCOVERY. 
 
 " Nay, nay, Dick," replied Waif, u my poor father 
 could not help himself. It was with tears in his eyes 
 that he said — 6 But although I knew that I was min- 
 istering to Richard Orme's ruin, I still resisted joining 
 in the plot until I had extorted a promise that his life 
 should be spared, and, moreover, by the aid of two of 
 my own men, I afforded him the best opportunity in 
 my power of escaping from San Francisco. But of 
 that affair I have little more to say, except that by 
 the agency of the Chinese coolie the robbery was 
 dexterously done, and the dollars were removed in 
 one large waggon." 
 
 "What," I exclaimed, interrupting Waif, 
 " a waggon load of silver removed from the midst 
 of a city without attracting attention, impos 
 sible !" 
 
 u Not only possible, Herbert," cried Dick, impe- 
 tuously, " but it must have been so, for although San 
 Francisco then consisted of but a few huts, the 
 inhabitants were selfishly bent upon their own in- 
 terests alone ; gambling, murder, and robbery were 
 rife, and from fear, or sheer carelessness, people 
 cared not to interfere in the affairs of others. In 
 a sentence, the place was one long continued scene of 
 greed, drunkenness, and feverish excitement during 
 which any robbery might have been perpetrated 
 in open day, providing the proper custodian were 
 not present. Of those dollars I was custodian, and 
 being absent from my post, the real criminal, and 
 that's a fad." 
 
dick's self-accusation. 
 
 389 
 
 " Come, come, Dick," said I, " this despondency is 
 sheer folly." 
 
 " Cease, cease, these self-accusations, dear Dick," 
 said Waif, " for, as you will find, all will come right 
 in the end. But," she added, a to continue my poor 
 father's narrative. He next said — 
 
 u During our short stay in San Francisco, the 
 Chinese chief and I learning the intended departure 
 of the ship 6 Anne,' and the course she was to take, 
 we marked her for our prey. How we succeeded in 
 capturing her you know but too well. You know 
 not, however, that it was I who saved Richard 
 Orme's life — aye, and yours also, although, at the 
 time, I knew you not for what you were. No ; it 
 was not until after you and he had been transferred 
 to the Chinese junk, and among the ship's luggage I 
 saw the trunk bearing the name of Banks, the 
 lady with whom you had sailed from England 
 for California, that 1 discovered what I had lost 
 — a daughter, the only child, whom I had once 
 deserted, and for whom I had been so long 
 searching. 
 
 a Once more the cup had been snatched from my 
 very lips, and I became frenzied with despair. I was 
 terrified and like a coward, for it seemed that a 
 Nemesis was upon my track. But my disappointment 
 served not to soften my heart. No, the greed 
 of gold was too strong upon me; I continued my 
 piratical career. 
 
 " EeachingBangkok again, the merchant Mi, who had 
 
390 
 
 A DISCOVERY. 
 
 received information of the king of Siam's want of a 
 ship to carry his goods from Chantaburi, suggested that 
 expedition to me and my Chinese colleague. We 
 accepted the mission, and by means of a letter of 
 introduction to the Governor, obtained by Mi, suc- 
 ceeded in getting the cargo into our hands. But joy 
 and vexation, like twin children, crossed my path in 
 the forms of yourself and Richard Orme. I knew 
 that if he saw either the Chinese chief or myself, he 
 would recognise us, and so I should not only lose the 
 cargo, and perhaps my life, but the last chance of 
 securing my daughter. Hence the story of the 
 cholera in the junk, when the Governor came on 
 board, and the reason that one cabin door was locked, 
 for that cabin held myself and the Chinese chief, 
 while the mate, a fat celestial, passed for the nonce as 
 skipper. Hence, also, the plot which resulted in the 
 festival on the island of Paknam — but greater, 
 grandest of all results, in the securing to me my long 
 lost daughter." 
 
 " As he concluded, he embraced me affectionately. 
 Love however, grows not spontaneously. To me he was 
 but afather in name — a pirate inreality — worse, the man 
 who had ruined your good name and prospects, Dick, 
 and with such feelings, I shrank from his caress. 
 
 " Observing this, he thrust me aside passionately, 
 exclaiming — 
 
 " 6 Girl, you hate me ! but you have good cause !' 
 nevertheless, he continued, in a more subdued tone, 
 * It is in your power to reclaim me ! Waif, you are 
 
waif's decision. 
 
 391 
 
 now in my power, but that is naught ! Express but 
 the wish, and you shall go whither you will ! Make 
 your choice ! Go, and leave me to continue this 
 career, or stay, and at the first opportunity I will 
 quit this life, and return to England. Decide, girl, 
 my fate is in your hands !' " 
 
 u Dear, dear Waif, what answer made you 
 asked Dick, anxiously. 
 
 u Father," I said, " and I can no longer doubt that 
 you are my father, Heaven has miraculously thrown 
 us together, and what God has willed I cannot, but 
 obey. But Heaven has also willed me to be the 
 means of your repentance, of your quitting this sad — 
 this wicked life." 
 
 66 My darling child," he replied, with delight. 66 It 
 shall be as you say. I will at once, at least with all 
 speed, quit this odious life ; for I shall now have 
 something to live for. Come, come, girl, look not so 
 sternly at your poor old father, for all will yet be 
 well. In England we will lead a good life — aye, and 
 a pleasant one too, for it will be strange indeed if 
 my daughter does not hold her head as high as any 
 lady in the land, with the fortune I can give 
 her." 
 
 " Father," I replied, u this must not — shall not be 
 — every coin of thine would carry with it a separate 
 curse ! No, make restitution, disgorge thy ill-gotten 
 wealth, and then I will accompany you to our native 
 land, and, if necessary, work my fingers to the very 
 bone to help support you V 3 
 
392 
 
 A DISCOVERY 
 
 " Tut, tut, girl/' lie replied, angrily, " you know 
 not what you ask. You know not the full meaning 
 of the word poverty. Youth, health, strength, and 
 hope cannot — but enough of this now. You shall 
 have your choice ; but it must be on our return to 
 Bangkok that you make it." 
 
 And seeing from the passion he was then in that 
 further remonstrance would be vain, I held my peace 
 on that subject. But suddenly a thought passed 
 through my brain, and I said — 
 
 66 Father, I am in your power, and must go whither 
 you will ; but upon one condition only will I willingly 
 — nay, joyfully accompany you." 
 
 " That condition," he replied, with astonishment 
 depicted upon his face. 
 
 " That," said I, " within the next few hours you 
 will write a full account of the dollar robbery at San 
 Francisco, that my brother Dick's reputation may be 
 cleared at once and for ever." 
 
 " Noble Waif," I could not help exclaiming. 
 
 " You are a darling, and that's a fad]' exclaimed 
 Dick, kissing and embracing her with a bear's hug. 
 " But Waif," he added, in solemn seriousness, " did 
 he do this?" 
 
 " He did Dick, willingly ; and from that moment 
 until now, I have never parted with the document — 
 see here it is." 
 
 And so saying, she took from her bosom a paper 
 which she placed in my friend's hands. To describe 
 the delight with which Dick perused that paper, and 
 
dick's joy. 
 
 393 
 
 afterwards kissed and hugged Waif in the quality of 
 his new-found sister would be no easy task, while to 
 repeat Waifs story of her after adventures here, 
 would be to make an anti-climax. Thus I will leave 
 its relation to another chapter. 
 
394 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 waif's further adventures. 
 
 46 I am all anxiety, dear Waif/' said I, u to hear your 
 adventures after the Chantaburi affair." 
 
 6C And I also," said Dick, as he carefully folded 
 and placed that valuable document so lately attained 
 within the breast pocket of his coat. 
 
 " Well/' she continued, " quitting Chantaburi 
 the pirates bent all sail for Bantam in Batavia, 
 where they hoped to find a good market for the 
 King of Siam's gamboge, ivory, spices, rattans, 
 and other valuables. It was a dreary run, for 
 we fell in with one of those dead calms which you 
 are aware so commonly precede the monsoons — 
 nevertheless, dreary as it was, it brought me some 
 consolation. It gave my father time for reflection — 
 nay, even repentance, for he promised me that at 
 Bantam he would find some opportunity of quitting 
 his piratical companions. But man proposes, God 
 disposes. 
 
 u Two days, however, after we had put into that 
 
PIRATES DESERT THEIR VESSEL. 
 
 395 
 
 port, and while negotiations were going on for the 
 sale of the cargo, a Siamese war ship entered the 
 harbour, flow or why her captain's suspicions were 
 aroused, I know not ; but he came on board the junk 
 and put questions to the pirate chief that aroused 
 their fears — fears, indeed, that were soon verified by 
 my father, who, going ashore, discovered that the 
 captain of the war ship had only deferred the capture 
 of our junk until the next day, that he might the 
 more easily secure her crew and chiefs. 
 
 " To escape would have been impossible, so closely 
 was the junk watched, and to fight equally so. For- 
 tunately, however, there happened to be in the 
 harbour, like ourselves, under the guise of an honest 
 trader, a consort pirate, and to this it was de- 
 termined to escape, indeed, there was no choice be- 
 tween capture and speedy punishment, or liberty 
 with the loss of vessel and cargo. As you may ima- 
 gine, to such wretches, the alternative was galling ; 
 but they accepted it, and so under cover of darkest 
 night we, or at least the chief, myself, and a greater 
 part of the crew, quitted our junk, went on board 
 the consort, and at early day-break drifted out to sea, 
 much, I have no doubt, to the chagrin of the worthy 
 Siamese war captain the next day. We reached 
 Singapore without any mishap, and from that place I 
 believe my father wrote to Mi, the merchant of 
 Bangkok informing him of the failure of the nefa- 
 rious expedition. 
 
 a After a short stay at Singapore, long enough, in- 
 
396 waif's further adventures. 
 
 deed, only to refit and take in water, we sailed for 
 the Gulf of Siam. Arrived there, my father and I 
 quitted the junk, and taking a passage in a river 
 boat, proceeded up the Meinam to Mi's house at 
 Bangkok. That worthy received my father with all 
 courtesy; nor did he exhibit any ill-humour at the 
 loss he had sustained by the failure of the Chanta- 
 buri business, and what was equally astonishing at the 
 time, he sympathized with my father's desire to quit 
 his piratical life, and promised also, within a few 
 weeks, to hand over his share of their partnership. 
 He could not do it sooner he said, because he had, for 
 better security, sent the greater part of his valuables 
 to Ayuthia. In the meantime, we were hidden in a 
 house which belonged to the old gentleman at another 
 part of the city. But lo ! one day Mi's house took 
 fire, and he fled, at least so it was reported, to Laos, 
 the refuge for the destitute, or rather for rogues. 
 However, instead of leaving the city, he came to our 
 house, where he remained until he believed the hue 
 and cry after him, as a fraudulent bankrupt, was over. 
 Then he told us that he had a manned junk on the 
 river ready to take him to Ayuthia, from which city 
 he could easily escape to Laos. He further proposed 
 that we should accompany him, and as my father be- 
 lieved that if he quitted him he should lose his share 
 of the partnership, he agreed. 
 
 " Thus, at night we went on board that junk from 
 which Mi escaped, and wherein you sent me for the 
 first time, after our parting at Ohantaburi. What 
 
woman's wit. 
 
 397 
 
 followed that incident of the junk on the Meinam, I 
 will not recapitulate. The scene before the king 
 is too painful — sufficient, that I believed I was 
 doing my duty." 
 
 " But/' asked Dick, " how did Crafty escape from 
 the king's prison ?* 
 
 "By woman's wit — by a daughter's duty," she 
 replied, adding, " I told my story to the Phra Klang's 
 chief Laos wife — I told her that I desired to save a 
 father's life ; and, woman-like — are women not alike 
 the world over? — she herself bribed the governor of 
 the prison, and by aid of one of her confiden- 
 tial slaves my father and I went on board — a junk 
 then proceeding to Ayuthia — for to this place my 
 father would come, feeling confident that he would 
 here discover old Mi ; and, unfortunately, he did dis- 
 cover him, and so met with his death. But no more 
 of this ! It is too — too painful," — and so, with the 
 tears coursing down her cheeks, she concluded her 
 strange narrative. 
 
398 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 NEMESIS. — MY WOOING. 
 
 When Waif had finished her narrative, we besought 
 her to seek some repose in a chamber that the good 
 talapoins had prepared for her. Fortunately ex- 
 cessive trouble and grief brings with them a com- 
 pensating fatigue, so the dear girl slept well that 
 night ; and the next morning she could hear not only 
 without pain, but gratefully, that during the night, 
 Dick and I, with the aid of the talapoins, had 
 consigned the remains of her father to their last 
 resting-place. 
 
 The previous night I had listened with an all 
 absorbing interest to her wonderful narrative ; I must 
 confess, however, that interest was purely selfish. 
 But my excuse must be that I was brought up a 
 man of business. Now my chief business in Siam 
 was to secure the monies belonging to our house 
 which old Mi had in his possession ; those monies I 
 shrewdly suspected had been transferred to Laos, 
 and, if so, Mi must have had papers representing 
 
IMPORTANT PAPERS. 
 
 399 
 
 tliem. Moreover, the old man had declared that 
 Crafty had robbed him of papers ; if so, where were 
 they ? why had not Waif alluded to them ? Of this 
 I was thinking as we sat at our morning meal, when 
 curiously, at least so it seemed to me at the time, 
 Waif, as if divining my cogitations, exclaimed 
 suddenly — 
 
 "The papers — the papers. In the selfishness of 
 my grief I have forgotten them." 
 
 u What papers f * I replied mechanically. 
 
 "Yesterday morning," she replied, "my poor 
 father sought out Mi. On his return, wan, pale — 
 great Heaven, how pale — he threw himself upon the 
 couch, when calling to me, he said — 6 Waif, dear girl, 
 I have never felt like this before : I am dying, girl. 
 May Heaven pardon my great sins. 9 Then he 
 fainted; but recovering after an interval of several 
 minutes, he said, as he placed a packet of papers in 
 my hands— * When I am gone, hasten to Bangkok, 
 seek out the young merchant Herbert Richardson, 
 and give him these papers, for to him they are of 
 vital consequence' — then, with the words, 6 Waif, 
 my daughter — Richard Orme — Pardon' he — passed 
 away." 
 
 " But those papers," I asked, my mind dwelling 
 upon my own interests rather than upon her grief. 
 
 u Pardon, Herbert," she replied ; " in my trouble 
 I knew not what I was about. I left the papers in 
 the pagoda, beneath his couch." 
 
 And now a weight was lifted from my mind, for I 
 
400 
 
 NEMESIS. — MY WOOING. 
 
 surmised that the papers were safe ; and so, indeed, 
 it proved, for shortly afterwards one of the younger 
 talapoins, who had helped at the interment the 
 previous night, entered the room with them in his 
 hand, saying that he had found them beneath the 
 dead Farang's couch. 
 
 With what delight I received them the reader may 
 imagine, for now my business in the interior of Siam 
 was virtually at an end, an end too that had been 
 brought about almost miraculously. Nor was Dick's 
 delight much less ; grasping the priest's hand, he 
 cried — 
 
 " I am beginning to get a little ' posted' up in you 
 half-nigger gentlemen after all. You are a smart 
 people, and that's a fact : now in my country the 
 smallest boy or the tallest man wouldn't have parted 
 with such documents without a quid pro quo." 
 
 Shortly afterwards we took leave of the good 
 monks, not forgetting, by the way, to promise their 
 house a good contribution when we should reach 
 Bangkok, and made our way back to Mi's residence. 
 But what a scene presented itself. We had quitted 
 it a house of despair ; it had now become the house of 
 death. The son had died the miserable and inevitable 
 death of the opium drunkard ; the father had surren- 
 dered to apoplexy, accelerated by a paroxysm of 
 grief. For, wretched sinner as was the old man, he 
 possessed one virtue, the love of his son. For that 
 son he had trained and cultivated the love of gold 
 into a ruling passion. For that son he had lived : with 
 
BACK TO BANGKOK. 
 
 401 
 
 that son he died — peace to his memory. Better far 
 that it should have been so, than that he should have 
 been handed over to the terribly cruel laws of Siam. 
 
 On our return journey to Bangkok we met with 
 no incident of note; but on reaching the Phra 
 Klang's residence that minister received us with what 
 the French would call distinguished consideration, 
 and placed a large portion of his palace at our 
 disposal while we should remain in the capital. 
 Hearing the story of our success, his joy knew no 
 bounds ; first, for our own sakes, whom he regarded as 
 his own friends ; secondly, because by hunting down 
 (as he called it) the Farang pirate and the old 
 rogue Mi, we had done the two kings and people of 
 Siam good service. Nay, he even went so far as to 
 offer us a fresh introduction at Court, and patents of 
 nobility ; but finding that neither Dick nor 1 fully 
 appreciated his offer, he consoled himself for his dis- 
 appointment by offering, in the name of the two 
 kings, to divide between Dick, Waif, and I the 
 whole of Mi's confiscated property, so soon as it 
 should have been seized by the proper authorities. 
 
 But regarding all the old man's wealth, with the 
 exception of the sums owing to our house at Macao, 
 as so much blood-stained plunder, I stoutly refused 
 to accept of more than my own dues. Waif did 
 likewise ; nay, shuddered with horror at the proposi- 
 tion that she should hereafter live upon any portion 
 of her father's ill-gotten wealth. But Dick — well, I 
 must confess it — was less punctilious. 
 
 D D 
 
402 
 
 NEMESIS — MY WOOING, 
 
 "I take it, Herbert/' said he, "that if you had 
 been battered to and fro till you looked as miser- 
 able as a shuttlecock without feathers, had been 
 once or twice ruined, and lastly driven across the 
 globe at your own expense to look after your re- 
 putation, your nose would not be too fine to scent 
 the real value of good dollars. I guess, too, I 
 have well earned all I shall get and that, as the 
 real owners won't get them, they'll be about as much 
 use to me as they will to their twin majesties 
 the kings of Siam." 
 
 « Very well," said I, u every man is best acquainted 
 with his own conscience ; take the money if you 
 will." And, once for all, I may inform the reader 
 that he did take a sum handsome enough to give him 
 no small importance among the merchants of San 
 Francisco. 
 
 Now it is proverbial that all governments are slow 
 in the transaction of such business as the restitution 
 of property, but in Siam the snail-like pace with 
 which they proceed is tediousness almost to torture. 
 Thus it was nearly three months before we could 
 obtain a settlement of our monetary matters. Truly, 
 during that period we fared most sumptuously, at the 
 Phra Klang's expense, but then we burned with 
 anxiety to get away, so that about the commencement 
 of the fourth month, when they were completed, it 
 was with no little delight we bade the hospitable 
 minister farewell, and embarked for Macao. 
 
 Happily we reached the Chinese city without 
 
MY WOOING. 
 
 403 
 
 meeting with any incident of importance to the 
 reader. — But, stay. — It is to be hoped that what 
 was interesting to Waif, must be no less so to the 
 reader. Well, then, during the run along the China 
 coast — may be for want of something to do — may be 
 from the association of a few months — or, perhaps, 
 and which is most likely, because I felt that I could 
 not occupy my mind with better thoughts. I took a 
 remarkable interest in Waifs future; indeed, as in 
 the cooler part of the day we would sit beneath the 
 deck awning, I could talk of naught else. 
 
 " "My future" she said roguishly to me one evening, 
 u why, doubtlessly it will be passed with my brother 
 Dick, his wife and children, whom I shall teach to love 
 their old maiden aunt as Desdemona did Othello, for 
 the dangers through which I have past." 
 
 " 6 It is of our future that I would speak ; and that, 
 too, in solemn seriousness, dear Waif/ I replied ; and 
 it was the first time I had ventured so near the real 
 subject of my heart, for you must know that having 
 been so busy all my life with other matters, I felt my- 
 self ridiculously nervous in love affairs." 
 
 " Our future," she replied, with a serio-comic air, 
 " why then I must ask you a question, Herbert, 
 what can our future have in common ?" 
 
 " Everything," I said ; l f but seriously, dear girl, 
 why should they not be passed in common V 9 
 
 " Herbert," she replied seriously, and placing her 
 hand upon my shoulder, " it would be foolish, nay, 
 cruel and ungrateful to pretend that I do not under- 
 
 B D 2 
 
404 
 
 NEMESIS — MY WOOING. 
 
 stand you, that I have riot long expected this moment. 
 But, listen, for I am serious, — it cannot be." 
 
 u But," I exclaimed, starting as if I had been shot, 
 " Why not ?" 
 
 u Simply because you are a rich merchant's son." 
 " And you," I said, with more impetuosity than 
 was my wont, 66 would become a rich merchant's wife, 
 which would make us equal." 
 
 " Herbert, think no more of this. Am I not a 
 pirate's daughter?" 
 
 " Are you not glorious Dick Orme's sister ?" 
 " Yes, and she is showing it too, and that's a fad" 
 said Dick, coming from behind a loose sail. 
 
 u Eavesdropping, for shame, Dick/' said Waif. 
 " Yes, that's a fact, too, and I am glad of it, for I 
 can now give the lie to the old proverb, c that listeners 
 hear no good of themselves.' But, look you, my 
 friend, as my sister says, you must think no more of 
 this, and I'll tell you why, in a few words. You see, 
 Waif, as she has just proved, is not the girl to sneak 
 into any family without the consent of its head. To 
 speak even more plainly. Your father is a gentleman, 
 and rich, and I reckon it would be about as easy to 
 persuade oil and water to mix upon comfortable 
 terms as to obtain his consent to the marriage of his 
 only son with one who is at the same time the 
 daughter of a pirate and the sister of a runaway 
 clerk — a clerk, too, whose name has been gibbeted 
 all over California as that of a rogue." 
 
PROMISES. 
 
 405 
 
 "Dick! — Dick !" I cried, "no more of this — it is 
 cruel. Believe me, you know not my good father. 
 His consent will never be wanting." 
 
 " Prove that to me, Herbert, and you shall have 
 mine ; and there's my hand upon it," said Dick. 
 
 u But yoitj dear Waif," I said, taking her hand, 
 what say — what promise you." 
 
 " I promise nothing," she replied, coquettishly, for 
 you have heard by Dick's words that he relies upon 
 my being a dutiful sister. But now, dear Herbert," 
 she added, "no more of this — at least," — and she 
 hesitated. 
 
 " Until we reach Macao," I added. 
 
 Thus, dear reader, did I pop that most momentous 
 question in a man's life. 
 
406 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 FROM MACAO TO CALIFORNIA. 
 
 It would be difficult to describe my fathers joy at 
 once more seeing me in Macao ; for being an expe- 
 rienced traveller through the seas and interior of 
 China and Siam, he fully understood the great perils 
 and risks of the journey I had undertaken; more- 
 over, my last letters having failed to reach him, he 
 had given up all hope of again seeing me. Of course 
 he speedily recognised Richard Orme, and gave him 
 a cordial welcome, nor was he much surprised at 
 seeing him return with me. But his astonishment at 
 seeing with us a pretty, graceful girl — the prettier 
 and the more graceful, since that she was attired in 
 the light, elegant, and costly costume used by Anglo- 
 Chinese ladies, — was almost ludicrous. 
 
 tc But this — this lady !" he stammered out. 
 
 " Oh !" I said, " I beg, your pardon, father ; Miss 
 
 ;" but I also stammered, for I noticed a tremor 
 
 creep over Waif, and Dick knit his brows and com- 
 pressed his lips. 
 
THE HAPPY RESULT. 
 
MY FATHER'S ASTONISHMENT. 
 
 407 
 
 " I beg your pardon, Herbert," said my father, 
 interrogatively, u Miss, whom did you say ? I did not 
 catch the lady's name." 
 
 " My sister, dear sir, my sister," said Dick, coming 
 to the rescue. 
 
 u Your sister," replied my father, almost rudely, 
 but recovering his self-possession, he handed her to 
 a couch, saying, "Welcome, Miss Orme, for your 
 brother's sake." 
 
 " You seem astonished that I have a sister, sir," 
 said Dick. 
 
 "Well, well, yes," stammered out my father, 
 u from what I remember of your history I do, but 
 then my memory is *bad now ; it has been affected by 
 a recent illness." 
 
 u Do you remember, sir, that when I first came to 
 Macao a prisoner, on suspicion of being a pirate, I 
 had a boy with me/' 
 
 " Yes — yes," replied my father, u I remember 
 hearing of that; but, pardon me, Mr. Orme, what 
 has that boy to do with this lady ?" 
 
 " Much, sir." 
 
 But my father looked more astonished than ever; 
 seeing which, Dick added — 
 
 " For the boy is the girl, and the girl is the boy* 
 They are one and the same — and that's &fact" 
 
 66 Indeed, how can that be ?" and, having cogitated 
 for a minute, he said, " by-the-bye, true ; I remember 
 old Li-Poo told me the boy was a young woman, and 
 that you ran away with her at Chantaburi." 
 
408 
 
 FROM MACAO TO CALIFORNIA. 
 
 " Whew," whistled Dick ; " she is my sister, sir ; 
 and we went ashore at Chantaburi to escape from Li- 
 Poo's rascality." 
 
 a Nay, nay," said I, " you must not malign old 
 Li-Poo. How do we know he intended to be a 
 rogue ?" 
 
 Ci Well, well, Herbert, we don't know he didn't, 
 and that's the same thing, or near enough ; but we 
 won't quarrel about the old coon." 
 
 CQ But, Miss Orme," said my father, still confused, 
 " How came she with you ?" 
 
 " Dear sir," cried Waif, arising from the couch, " I 
 can endure this no longer. My brother has told you 
 but half the truth. Know me for whom I am. 
 Richard Orme is my brother — my half-brother ; but 
 I also am the daughter of Crafty, the pirate 
 merchant." 
 
 " God bless me/' exclaimed my father. " Poor 
 girl, poor girl. He is a bad man for a father." 
 
 " He is dead, sir !" interrupted Waif, as tears stood 
 in her eyes. 
 
 u Dear girl," exclaimed my father, now with some- 
 what of his old energy and clearness of brain. (s What 
 a sad thing that so good a daughter should have had 
 so bad a father ! I am sorry — very sorry I have said 
 anything to hurt your feelings . But cheer up — you 
 have a good brother — a brother who has come out of 
 the fire of trouble, misery, temptations, unscathed — 
 I will be a father to you !" 
 
 "Thank you, sir, from my very soul, for those 
 
GOOD NEWS FOR DICK. 
 
 409 
 
 kind words ; would that they in California could sny 
 the same of Richard Orme." 
 
 " They can say the same — they do say the same, 
 and they only long to have the opportunity of right- 
 ing you before the world, and reinstating you in 
 your old position — nay, in a better." 
 
 w You have poured balm into old wounds, sir. I 
 feel them closing — they will heal now," cried Dick, 
 shaking my father warmly by both hands. " But/' 
 he added, slowly, emphatically, 66 do all say this?" 
 
 "Aye, aye," replied my father, "every one — even 
 Josephine Costa. There now, you see I know all." 
 
 "Thank God!" exclaimed Dick, "I am a man 
 again, and that's &fact" 
 
 That night the slumbers of all were lighter and 
 happier than they had been for many a long month 
 previously. The next day, in the presence of Dick 
 and Waif, I recounted to my father, in detail, the 
 whole of our adventures since we had left him. My 
 poor parent listened attentively, but more especially 
 to the part Waif had played, and at the conclusion 
 said — 
 
 66 Poor girl, dear girl, noble girl ! How greatly 
 we are indebted to her. How can we repay her ?" 
 
 " I could propose a means, sir," said I. 
 
 " You— you, Herbert ! How ?' 
 
 u I would not give the dear girl unnecessary pain ; 
 but she has no reason to be proud of her name, 
 sir." 
 
 " No, no ; true, she has not but that is no fault 
 
410 FROM MACAO TO CALIFORNIA. 
 
 of hers, Herbert. Let us forget it — let us forget it, 
 boy." 
 
 " That will be best accomplished by changing it." 
 
 a Changing her name. How Herbert ?" 
 
 " Herbert, I charge you, do not " — began Waif ; 
 but interrupting her, I said — u It is my turn now, 
 Waif, for we are in the city of Macao, not running 
 through the China seas." 
 
 Then turning to my father, I added — 
 
 (i By giving her my name, sir ; in a sentence, dear 
 father, I have asked her to become my wife." 
 
 u Well, Herbert, well," interrupted my father. 
 
 " And she has refused." 
 
 " Refused you, Herbert/' exclaimed my over fond 
 father, who deemed his son worthy of any woman 
 living. u Why, why, has she refused ?" 
 
 " Because your consent was wanting." 
 
 "Good girl, good girl. But I have not been 
 asked." 
 
 " You are asked now, father. I ask it of you." 
 
 u My dear boy, I give it freely. I could wish you 
 no better wife. But what says the dear girl her- 
 self?" 
 
 " My word was pledged, dear sir. I can now no 
 longer refuse," was the frank and characteristic 
 reply. 
 
 " But what says her brother ?" added my father. 
 Dick, who was literally overjoyed, and could not 
 conceal his emotion, replied — 
 
 " Faith, sir, I can scarcely speak, — your kindness 
 
NAMING A DAY. 
 
 411 
 
 has turned my tongue into a fountain : see it's running 
 out of my eyes." 
 
 " Nonsense, Dick/' said Waif, laughingly, "I know 
 you object to Herbert for a brother-in-law." 
 
 u Do I, you chit," replied Dick, in the same vein ; 
 a no, I take in that now the sooner you are Mrs. Her- 
 bert the better ; for then there will be an end of one 
 transaction. But look you, Waif," he added ma- 
 liciously, u no contract is a business transaction with- 
 out being dated. Come, don't blush like an untravelled 
 school-girl — name the day when it's to be." 
 
 66 That will I readily," she replied ; and oh, how 
 anxiously my heart beat ; but it almost ceased beat- 
 ing, as in reply to Dick's " When ?" she replied — 
 
 u On the day that you are united to Josephine 
 Costa, in San Francisco ; not before, dear old brother. 
 No, sir, I will not trust you out of my sight without 
 a wife to take care of you." 
 
 u Waif, dear Waif," I began reproachfully ; but 
 my father, interrupting, said — 
 
 " It is a good and equitable arrangement. I am 
 desirous for many reasons — business ones included — 
 to see Costa and Olivarez in San Francisco ; so Her- 
 bert, when our affairs are wound up here, we will 
 take California en route to England. It will only be 
 an extra run across the Pacific: no great affair, 
 you know, to old travellers like you and me." 
 
 u Whatever I felt I was obliged to acquiesce, for I 
 could see my father had set his heart upon witnessing 
 Dick's marriage with his old friend's daughter. As 
 
412 FROM MACAO TO CALIFORNIA. 
 
 for Dick himself his heart was too full to speak ; and 
 so, to hide his emotions, he merely thrust his hands 
 into his trousers pockets, and whistled. 
 
 Having shown my readers where I found, and how 
 I wooed my wife, I must bring my story to an end. 
 Well, then, my father and I having wound up our 
 affairs in China, we all set sail for San Francisco, in 
 which city Dick was rapturously received by all his 
 own friends, who, by the way, feted him as no man 
 can be feted, except in the gold regions ; and within 
 a month after our arrival, Waif and Josephine 
 changed their surnames in the great church of San 
 Francisco — for what others the reader may easily 
 guess. After a stay of six months in California, 
 my father, Waif, and I came to England — to 
 London — to the very house, in fact, beneath the roof- 
 tree of which I have so many months been penning 
 the story of my travels and adventures in the lands 
 and waters of the Golden Dragon and the White 
 Elephant. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 Henry C. Berry & C o., Printers, Gloucester Street, Regent's Park, N.W. 
 
WILLIAM D ALTON'S WORKS, 
 
 BEING ROMANCES OF TRAVEL, HISTORY, AND ADVENTURE 
 IN CHINA, JAPAN, SLAM, ABYSSINIA, CEYLON, JAVA, 
 AND THE INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 
 
 OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. 
 
 "Mr. William Dalton has adopted an excellent plan for popularising a know- 
 ledge of China." — Athenseum. 
 
 44 Mr. William Dalton is an author who represents a very popular school 
 among young readers, and he carries on the Robinson Crusoe sentiments, which 
 will never lose its hold, especially on the English mind."— Saturday Review. 
 
 44 Mr. William Dalton has opened up a rich and, comparatively, unknown 
 ground in his romances." — Illustrated London News. 
 
 44 We believe that a youthful mind would imbibe more knowledge of Japan 
 China, Siam, Ceylon, Abyssinia, Java, and the Indian Archipelago from Mr. 
 William Dalton's works, than from a whole library of books of a more strictly 
 scholastic or scientific character."— Morning Advertiser. 
 
 44 Mr. William Dalton has the happy talent of combining instruction and 
 amusement in such very adjustive proportions, that a fresh production from his 
 pen is always heartily welcomed." — Morning Herald. 
 
 The Wolf-Boy of China. 
 
 Fcap. 8vo. Price 5s. 
 
 14 This is a sort of story that a boy will revel in — that will be read with the 
 fingers thrust in the ears and the mouth wide open, and will be talked about 
 at those happy convert-aziones which invariably take place among school-boys 
 in bed. And yet the book contains infinitely more instructive matter than 
 may be found in many books which profess to instruct, and nothing else. It 
 gives a perfect picture of Chinese life in all its peculiar phases, and describes in 
 a very lucid manner, the strange semi-civilization of that mighty Empire, 
 whose inhabitants number nearly one-third of the population of tne world." — 
 Atlas. 
 
 4 ' The adventures of the high-spirited boy during this long journey of some 
 ten or twelve months; his unshaken adhesion to Christianity in open defiance 
 of the threats and wiles of his master the bonze; his bravery, and his pre- 
 sence of mind under the pressure of extraordinary difficulties, and in the face 
 of frightful dangers ; his adventures by flood and field, until he reached at 
 length the land of his mother's indomitable race, and finally discovered and 
 escaped with his mother and her adopted parent, his father and his father's 
 partner, the aged and exemplary Tchin— all are duly set forth in a style 
 simple enough to suit the capacity of the young, and to charm the mind of 
 the old, and to render the 'Wof-Boy of China' as instructive as a history, and 
 
2 
 
 WILLIAM DALTON'S WORKS. 
 
 as entertaining as a romance. In fact, to entitle it justly to the highest 
 critical commendation as one of the best books of its kind perhaps yet pub- 
 lished." — Observer. 
 
 "The purpose of the book is to illustrate ths manner?, customs, and super 
 stitions of the Chinese, aa object which is attained with equal force aud felcity.'' 
 — Morning Post. 
 
 " Mr. Dalton has succeeded in a difficult task. He has produced one of the best 
 boys b'oks we have seen for a long lime. 'The Wolf-Boy of China' is a real 
 boy, at all event 4 !, in Mr. Daltoo's conception and treatment. He is a Chinese, 
 it is to be confessed, moving among scenes and incidents only to be found in 
 China, and the story of his life is so cons ructed as to bring before the reaier 
 every possible variety of manners, ranks, usages, religious, political, and 
 domestic phenomena of the cmntry to which the wolf-boy belongs. But he is 
 never a mere puppet, into whose mouth the author puts a certain amount of 
 question and answer for the purpose of pouring out his stores of historical and 
 geographical knowledge. He is a true boy ; thinking, speaking, and acting 
 like a boy. The incidents of his life and training, the turns in his story, ex- 
 cite in us a lively interest, as the story of the life of any human being would 
 do in the hands of a clever and able attist." — Standard. 
 
 " One of the most charming books we have read."— Morning Herald. 
 
 " We warmly recommend the 'Wolf Boy' and his adventures to all parents and 
 friends desirous of giving a real treat to the young folk " — Era. 
 
 " The Adveotures of Lyn Pavo form one of the mo^t readable books we have 
 met with for a long time."— Morning Advertiser 
 
 "Tnis is a very capital bMtk for boys — a book wlrch entitles its author to rank 
 with Captain Mayne Reid, Henry Miyhew, and other equa'ly competent caterers 
 for the amusement of the rising generation. Upon the basis of an interesting 
 story, happily cmceived to att act and enchain the atteution of youth, Mr. 
 Dalton hat built a very use ul treatise upon Chine «e manners and customs ; and, 
 collecting all the information available for his subject, has given children of a 
 larger growth than those he especially addresses reasons to thank him for hints 
 upon many things not general) known, though very generally talked about." — 
 Court Circular. 
 
 "This is, in every sense of 'he tern, a boy's own book."— Bell's Messenger. 
 
 '* Not one of the common good boy and naughty boy stories, but a real telling 
 romance; nor as a romance for children i> irs chief object, but to read trite lectures 
 on every day duty, though it does incidentally give several striking illustrations 
 of truth and honour nobly adhered to under temptation. The author's object, as 
 we gather it from the tale itself, is to give to children and young persons a pic- 
 ture they should not easily forget of Chinese life, manners, habits, and supersti- 
 tions ; to combine in a romantic narrative, a vast number of the peculiarities of 
 that singular, and now specially interesting people. Those who wish to teach 
 their children without trouble something of the people with whom we 
 and Sir John Bowring have now some matters to settle, and those who want a 
 perfectly novel treat for their boys and their girls, will find 'The Wolf- Boy of 
 China " the very book for them." - Sun. 
 
 We know of no higher honour which an author can achieve, than that of 
 writing a thorough boy's book. Many a cu lypated knot of boys huddled to- 
 gether by the fireside on many a weary winter's night will beguile the time 
 with these interesting pages, and feel grateful for the gift he now bestows on 
 them. In some respects it merits the title of a ' Wonder-book' for the episode of 
 the bronzes, the sacrei sea, the mysterious island, with its lanmsary and its 
 queer occupants all smack of the delicious old flavour of ' faerie,' and are de- 
 lightful in their demand upon the imaginath n. At the same time there is 
 nothing to be met with that has not its foundation vouched for in actual 
 fact." — Dispatch. 
 
 " This is a little book we can cordially recommend, not only for young 
 readers, but for those of a larger growth The descriptions of the Celestial 
 Empire are fascinating; the adventures and 'scapes hair-b-eadth are exciting 
 enough to make everybody who reads it, wish to go to China almost as earn- 
 estly as Robinson Crusoe made him long for a desert islmd and a Man 
 Friday. Lyn Pao is of course a model of a boy hero; and he is as fortu- 
 nate as he is brave; but his wonderful goodness does not spoil our interest in 
 
WILLIAM DALTON'S WOKKS. 
 
 3 
 
 him, which is saying a great deal. The novelty of the scenes, the strange 
 manners and customs, and the spirited style in which the adventures are 
 related, make the b ok a choice present for the class of juvenile readers to 
 wiioin it is dedicated."— Athenaeum. 
 
 4 - 1 The Wolf-Boy of China,' is already an established favourite, and deserved'y 
 so. The writer has perfectly succeeded in the very difficult task of combin- 
 ing instruction and amusement. After testing the truthfulness of many of 
 the descriptions by comparing them with the statements of Davis, Gutzlaff, 
 Hue, and Fortune, we have no doobt that the odd customs of the Ce'estial 
 people are represented with rigid truthfulness, whilst the tale cannot fail to 
 rivet the attention of any lad who is so fortunate as to get hold of it."' — 
 Baptist Magazine. 
 
 Will Adams: the First Englishman in Japan. 
 
 Cloth extra, finely illustrated, 10s. 6d. 
 
 "'Will Adams' professes to be the romantic biography of an English 
 sailor, who, rising to favour in the Japanese Court, induced his master to 
 make a treaty of commerce with our King James I. ; but it is, in fact, an 
 historical novel, of which the scene is laid principally in Japan, among the 
 most important events in the history of that country. * * The history of 
 Christianity in Japan is not only the most remaikable part of the national 
 annals, but also one of the most extraordinary episodes in the whole course of 
 Christian proselytism, and therefore deserves our especial attention. * * We 
 have no hesitation in recommending 'Will Adams' to any one who is interested 
 either in Japan or in the 1 istory of the Christian religion " — Saturday Review. 
 
 "' Will Adams is a book that is tolernbly sure of popularity at the present 
 time. * * A book which gives a careful account of the Japanese as they aie 
 now, and as they have been, with little change, for the last two or three 
 bundled years, cannot fail to be welcome to the public. * * The book is 
 uncommonly instructive and amusing. All that concerns Japan is as good as 
 tue best fairy tale."— Spectator. 
 
 One of the best samples of this useful class of work is now before us, in the 
 shape of a fanciful biography of the first Englishman who landed upon the 
 sunny shores of Japan.''— Morning Star. 
 
 •'The main object with the author of this book is to convey to his readers an 
 accurate noiion of the manneis and customs of the Japanese at the close of the 
 16th and commencement of the 17th centuries. He has endeavoured to pour- 
 tray, in the most vivid manner possible, the political events occurring in Japan, 
 which led, first to persecution, then to an annihilation of Christianity, 
 previously flourishing in most of the provinces of the empire. The consequence 
 of that persecution was the inteiruption, for a very long time, of all intercourse 
 between Japan and Europe." — London Review. 
 
 " This pleasing volume will ceitainly attract attention, and a'so reward it, 
 as the most compendious, and, at the same time, most conspicuous accounts of 
 Jaj an at present extant in English literature. Several well designed and 
 capitally executed wood engravings give added value to this delightful publica- 
 tion." — Observer. 
 
 "One of the most entertaining books of travel and adven'ure we have read 
 for a long time. * * A book which car. not fail both to entertain and instruct 
 all who read it."— Illustrated News of the World. 
 
 4t It will at once amuse and instruct " — Illustrated London News. 
 
 "The interest of such a volume is immense, and we are confident it will 
 become one of the most popular works of the present season. It gives an 
 admirable insight into the manners and customs of the Japanese."— bell's 
 Weekly Messenger. 
 
 "Mr. Dalton's books of adventure have made him already a deservedly 
 popular writer, but it has been reserved for 'Will Adams' to establish his fame." 
 —Era. 
 
 " The volume altogether is highly instructive and interesting."— Morning 
 Advertiser. 
 
 " We recommend this volume to our readers as a clever and lively introduc- 
 tion to a thorough kn-.wledge of Japan."— Atlas. 
 
* 
 
 4 WILLIAM DALTON'S WOEKS. 
 
 "It is rather a striking idea to have a historical fiction on the adventures of 
 William Adams, the first English traveller in Japan. * * The book may prove 
 extremely ustful, by directing the attention of the reading public to the early 
 annate of our maritime discovery." — Daily Telegraph. 
 
 "The whole of this narrative is of a character out of which may be gathered 
 much useful knowledge, worthy of missionary study in the present day * * 
 There is much information brought together in this volume from orignal and 
 authorized sources, and this is its true va'ue." — Manchester Examiner and Times. 
 
 "The story of Christianity in Japan, &c. &c are full of quite as much 
 instruction as amusement. * * The extrac's alone are quite sufficient to 
 show the interest and importance of the work." — WeeVly Times. 
 
 "The bo<k contains also an interesting ch pter on the rise and fill of 
 Christianity in Japan, after its introduction by the apostolic Xavier, who is 
 said to have made 150,000 converts there and in the Indies. Of the subse- 
 quent persecutions we have some graphic and touching descriptions in the 
 work before us "—The Friend. 
 
 "The subject is one of thrilling and not unimportant interests; and in com- 
 mendation of the volume before us, we have only to f-ay that in variety, 
 adventure, humour, and romance, it sustains the level of the theme. * * 
 The great interest which has recently been excited in relation to the Japanese 
 empire, the resources of its soi 1 , and the customs of its population, will secure a 
 crowd of readers of this novel-biography of Will A^ams." — Sunday Times. 
 
 "An interesting historical romance, in which personal adventure, authentic 
 history, and descriptions of manners and customs, in part derived from the 
 writings of recent travellers and missionaries, are skilfully interwoven. * * 
 The historical portion of Mr. Dalton s book contains an account of the reigns 
 of the great emperor Tiego-Sama and the usurper (>g< sho. and also the story of 
 the introduction of Christianity into Japan by Francis Xavier and the Jesuits, 
 of the rapid spread of the Gospel by Dominican and Frai ciscan Fiiars, and cf 
 tr<e persecutions which eventually led to the entire extirpation of Christianity 
 from the country." — Weldon's Register. 
 
 Phaulcon the Adventurer; or, Europeans in 
 
 the East. With coloured Illustrations and Portrait of the 
 Author, engraved on Steel. 7s. 6d. 
 
 " Mr. William Dalton is famous as a writer of " romantic biography." In the 
 present case he has chosen an excellent theme. 'Phaulcon" is a thorough 
 romance, although based rpon actual histi ry. It is capital reading, and readers 
 will delight in it."— The Press. 
 
 "Mr. William Daltrn is a benefactor to boys, and deserves their gratitude. 
 He can construct a stirring story, and tell it dashingly; he can enlist the sympa- 
 thies of his young readers, and cairy their attention with him as he traverses 
 unknown lands and distant seas. "Phaulcon" is a book of the kind which 
 boys seriously and zealously affect." — The Panthenon. 
 
 * k Good as are very many of the books before us, one of the b' st is " Phaulcon," 
 by Mr. William Dalton. It is a book to be read and enjoyed by every boy, who 
 will esteem it among his chief treasures, and will, years afterwards, recur to it 
 with pleasure, not only for the amusement, but for the instruction it con'ains. 
 For ourselves we have read every word of it with constantly-increasing pleasure, 
 and we vouch for the fact that any father who buys it for h>s son will read it 
 himself, in preference to nine out of ten of the novtls which he gets from 
 4 Mudie's Library.' " — 'I he Standard. 
 
 "We sincerely thank Mr Dalton, for his vivid and most interesting work, which 
 will stir the blood in many a young and eager heart, and give nerve to trie reader 
 for enterprise and adventure, should his lot be cast where high spirit and good 
 principle are need* d." — Kra. 
 
 "It is quite refreshing to take up a novel like " Phaulcon," after reading 
 some of the productions through which we are occasionally compelled to wade; 
 Mr. Wilham Dalton has given us a story which possesses all the elements of a 
 popular m>vel "—Weekly Time?. 
 
 " A most interesting tale."— Daily News. 
 
WILLIAM DALTON'S WORKS. 
 
 5 
 
 The Tiger Prince ; or Adventures in the 
 
 Wilds of Abyssinia. Crown 8vo. 5s. 
 
 "It is a good story, and we give it cordial recommendation as an amusing 
 and interesting work." — Athenaeum. 
 
 " Mr. William Dalton has endeavoured in this story to interweave fact, 
 history, and legend, so that his readers may have, as it were, at a glance, a 
 tolerably good picture of the Abys^inians. Over and above the Adventures, 
 the page sparkles with the brogue and wit of Peter, the Irish servant."— - 
 Reader. 
 
 "Mr. William Dalton has contributed some score of books of the same class 
 as this 'Tiger Prince,' and they all pass rapidly through new and large 
 editions. In the present tale, as in the former ones, the author has very 
 happily intei woven fact, history, and legend, so as to form a tolerably good 
 picture of the people who inhabit the ancient, but still little known kingdom of 
 Abyssinia." — Observer. 
 
 "The story is narrated by a youthful traveller, who, accompanied by a 
 faithful servant (Peter), experiences many strange adventures during his wan- 
 derings in Abyssinia, whither he has accompanied a celebrated doctor, who is 
 going to prescribe for an invalid prince. During their wanderings the 
 travellers, and in consequence, the readers also, become acquainted with the 
 various habits and usages of the Abyssinian people, taking part in their mar- 
 riage festivities, witnessing the administration of justice, Ac " — Sun. 
 
 '•Here is a book over which boys with any particle of Anglo-Saxon daring in 
 their hearts will gloat with the utmost avidity, although it does not relate 
 every thing that is real, but consists of a mixture of fact and fiction, so put 
 together as to give all the features of a true story. Mr. Dalton has once 
 more hit the very point where interests culminate in juvenile minds."— Bell's 
 Weekly Messenger. 
 
 "That Mr. Dalton has carefully ransacked history for the materials out of 
 which he weaves his historical ncvels, is amply attested by their substantially- 
 ins'ructive character. In the work now be ore us he works up with con- 
 siderable ab:l ty and effect the substarce of a great number and variety of 
 historical and legendary lore relating to the past condition of Abyssinia. The 
 book will well repay perusal." — Morning Advertiser. 
 
 ."We have rtad this book with great interest. The author has made himself 
 a name as a most successful writer of instructive and enlivening stories, suited 
 to youthful readers ehpecialiy, but very acceptable also to children of a larger 
 growth. He seems to have a wide and accurate knowledge 01 foreign lands, and 
 has turned tl>at knowledge to good account in this book, as in several others. 
 The traits of national character and the stirring adventures by flood and field in 
 the book before us. ought to secure its popularity."— Court Circular. 
 
 " Mr. William Dalton has, on this occasion, furpassei hiimelf in his very 
 interesting volume. It is a tale blending in an admirable manner truth with 
 fiction, making a romantic and adventurous story, the channel of conveyang 
 much general and accurate information < n the natural productions, manners 
 and customs of Abyssinia. Mr. Wi liam Dalton unites the das-h and spirit of 
 Captain Mayne Reid, with the accuracy of Bruce and Parker. His present 
 volume will receive from his former friends a genial welcome." — The Press. 
 
 Lost in Ceylon : a Story of a Boy and Girl's 
 
 Adventures in the Woods and Wilds of Candy, Fcap. 8vo. 5s. 
 
 "There is not a single incident introduced that has not fact for its basis. 
 The s'ory so told is absolutely more strange than the adventures of " Robinson 
 Crusoe." — London Review. 
 
 " We can well imagine the enthusiasm which this truly entertaining book 
 will caus^ amongst hundreds of readers." — Bell's Weekly Messenger. 
 
6 
 
 WILLIAM DALTON'S WORKS. 
 
 "This is a sort of Crusoe story; all readers who love tales of adventure 
 and can appreciate the romantic of such natural history as Ceylon affords, 
 will find this an extremely attractive book." — Economist. 
 
 " 1 Lost in Ceylon' is an excellent story. "—Morning Herald. 
 " 44 4 Lost in Ceylon' is an excellent story. There is much in the book to 
 charm the youthful reader, to elevat9 his mind; the language. is spirited 
 throughout, and without degrading into mere common-place phraseology."— 
 Saturday Analyst and Leader. 
 
 The White Elephant ; or, the Hunters of Ava. 
 
 Fcap. 8vo. 5s. 
 
 " This book is very interesting-, and has an authentic air of being profitable 
 S well as pleasant reading." — Athenaeum. 
 U 'A wont of the greatest interest." — Morning Herald. 
 
 " 1 The White Elephant ' is equal to Mr. Dalton's former works. Mr. Dalton 
 has carved out a path in literature for himself." — Morning Fo^t. 
 ** Full of dash, nerve, and spirit." — Literary Gazette. 
 
 " Mr. Dalton is a proficient in writing entertaining and instructive stories. 
 * The White Elephant ' will hold a high rank. It is healthy in tone and in- 
 structive in matter."— Daily Telegraph. 
 
 •* Boys will welcome with delight another book from the able pen of the author 
 of 'The Wolf Boy of China.'"— Era. 
 
 "Mr. Dalton, a prolific and clever writer, is doing some service to the rising 
 generation in wrapp ng up the pill of geography and history in the pleasant form 
 of words. The story of ' The White Elephant ' is interesting. The manners of 
 the people and the scenes are well described, and the adventures striking and 
 amusing."— Oriental Budget. 
 
 The Nest Hunters; or, Adventures in Java 
 
 and the Indian Archipelago. Fcap. 8vo. 5s. 
 
 M In the * Nest Hunters ' Mr. William Dalton takes us to Java, and in the 
 tropical luxury of its scenery, and in the fierce elements of its moral, as well as 
 material life, he finds ample materials for that stirring and sparkling incident 
 with which he wields the Aristotelian conditions of tragedy, those of exciting 
 piiy and terror. There is also a thread of history running through his fiction, 
 and we may find in this volume information in the manners, religion, as well as 
 the natural history of Java, not easily accessible elsewhere." — Saturday Review. 
 
 " In the present volume the descriptions are brief and to the point, and a 
 brisk succession of such incidents as boys delight in, keeps up the interest from 
 first to last." — Athenaeum. 
 
 '* A book exciting without being exaggerated, and amusing without being 
 untrue. It treats of peculiar races of nu n, whose manners are strange, pic- 
 turesque, and animating; whose superstitions are very singular, but not the less 
 real; and whose habits are full of activity, energy, and manliness." — Court 
 Journal. 
 
 44 We can strongly recommend the tale as one which readers will especially 
 delight in ; and Mr. Dalton is sure to find a ready market so long as he can 
 supplv literature of a similar character and quality." — Era. 
 
 "The object has been to describe foreign countries, to picture the manners, 
 customs, and superstitions of races hitherto but little known in popular works, 
 and thus to convey in an easy and popular mode information to the juvenile 
 portion of readers."— Observer. 
 
 u We can most cordially recommend it to paterfamilias or other relatives 
 looking out for some suitable book to give the younger boys who have just come 
 home from school " — John Bull. 
 
 " We are sure this book will not be the least popular of Mr. Dalton's produc- 
 tions."— l'he Morning Herald. 
 
WILLIAM DALTON'S WORKS. 
 
 7 
 
 The War Tiger; a Tale of the Conquest of 
 
 China. Fcap. 8vo. 5s. 
 
 "Reader? may really learn a good deal from 'The War Tiger,' besides being 
 amused by Mr. William Dalton's way of conducting the young Sea Chief of 
 Chow through their marvellous adventures." — Athenaeum. 
 
 "As a Chinese historical romance this book is a new feature in literature— a 
 sort of Chinese Gil Bias." — Literary Gazetre. 
 
 "A spirited and roost exciting story. Those who have read 'The Wolf-Boy 
 of China,' by the same author, will at once appreciate the character and styla 
 of the present volume." — Morning Chronicle. 
 
 "The story is laid in China, by Mr. William Dalton, who has already 
 distinguished himself by the Wolf-Boy of China.' "—Morning Herald. 
 
 "The story is written in a very elegant and spirited style." — Critic. 
 
 *• Mr. William Dalton has added another capital volume to the Boys' 
 Library."— Leader. 
 
 Cortes and Pizarro; or, the Conquests of 
 
 Mexico and Peru. Fcap. 8vo. 5s. Illustrated by Gilbert. 
 
 " Mr. William Dalton's name is very familiar to the public as a most agreeable 
 and informatory narrator. He here appeals to his readers with a handsomely 
 got-up work, entitled 'Cortes and Pizarro; the Stories of the Conquests of 
 Mexico and Peru, with a Mcetch of the Early Adventures of the Spaniards in 
 the New World.' We have the history drawn from the best sources, while its 
 treatment in the present volume is that which Mr. Dalton has successfully 
 employed on so many previous occasions." — Illustrated London News. 
 
 " The story of the 1 Conquests of Mexico and Peru ' have been reconstructed 
 for youth by William Dalton. Mr. Daltonseems to have succeeded in producing 
 a coherent and spirited version of the Spanish conquests, according to the 
 received authority."- Westminster Review. 
 
 " A book wtll calculated to please every boy in whose hands it may be placed. 
 Mr. Dalton has been preceded in his book by very able writers, and he has skil- 
 fully availed himself of their labour."— London Review. 
 
 " This is one of the most useful and yet fascinating books Christmas has pro- 
 duced. We strongly recommend it to our young friends. To the charm of romance 
 it adds all the interest of hi&tory, and will well repay them for their trouble." — 
 Sheffield Daily Telegraph. 
 
 !" " The style is graphic and popular, and the diction simple and intelligible. 
 The work will be the means of making a large circle of readers acquainted with 
 a portion of adventurous history."— Glasgow Citizen. 
 
 The English Boy in Japan ; or, Adventures of 
 
 MARK RAFFLES. Fcap. 8vo. 3s. 6d. 
 
 " A full and popular account of the Japanese Empire, with adventures and 
 romance. Mr. Dalton has an easy way of telling a tale while acting under 
 the wholesome law that instruction should be blended with amusement. A 
 very timely volume." — Athenaeum. 
 
 "A capital book. It is full of adventure, and more exciting than 'Robin- 
 on Crusoe.' " — Illustrated News of the World. 
 
 " Mr. William Dalton must be regarded as one of the most fortunate of 
 authors. The work has, he informs us, been in course of preparation during 
 the greater part of the past year, and the evidence which it displays or dili- 
 gent research and careful composition, abundantly corroborates his assertion, 
 yet 'it makes its appearance at a moment when unforeseen circumstances 
 have lo enly awakened public interest in all that appertains to the singular 
 race whose manners it pourtrays.' Having ourselves ssme acquaintance with 
 the authoiities from wluch his facts are drawn, we can bear willing testimony 
 to the fidelity of the picture which he has sketched of Japanese manners, and 
 his volume will do good service in correcting the somewhat exaggerated 
 ideas with regard to the state of civilization in this strange empire which 
 
& WILLIAM DALTON'S WORKS. 
 
 might be generated by the very flowery narratives of its most recent visitor?. 
 Picturesque in style, and keeping the attention of the reader constantly alive 
 by a well constructed plot, and a constant sue session of dramatic incidents, 
 this work will secure cordial acceptance." — Morning Star, Jan. I, 1859. 
 
 " This is one of the most useful class of tales, admirably adapted for com- 
 bining amusement with instruction, which Mr. Dalton has recently given to 
 the public. It is a companion book to ' The Wolf Boy in China,' and * The 
 War Tiger.' It sets forth the perils and adventures of Mark Raffles among 
 the princes, priests, and people of the singular empire of Japan. The man- 
 ners, customs, and legends of this long-sealed empire, which it is the object 
 
 of the book to illustrate, have been culled from many authorities. 
 
 The book, as may well be imagined from this brief sketch, is full of startling 
 adventure, and it abounds with graphic descriptions of the customs, the habits, 
 and the manners, and the country of the strange people who by the recent 
 treaty of Lord Elgin, will shortly be brought into more intimate commercial 
 relations with the western world." — Morning Chronicle. Dec. 8, 1858. 
 
 "Mr. William Dalton has been lucky in his subject. The recent treaty 
 •with Japan has invested that singular country with new interests, so that the 
 illustrative descriptions we have in this volume— of the manners, customs, aud 
 legends of the people, will be read with more than ordinary avidity." — 
 Scottish Press. 
 
 "Mr. Dalton seems to have acquired a complete monopoly over books of 
 travel and adventure upon Asiatic ground. The adventures are stirring enough, 
 and related in a spirited style; but the manners and customs of the Japanese 
 are very closely painted." — The Critic, Dec. 1858. 
 
 "The author of 4 Wolf-Boy in China' is recognised as an able writer of a 
 class of books which is amongst the most welcome to our young gentlemen 
 who have yet to experience the privilege of ' coat tails.' He has a happy 
 knack of telling a story, and of mixing up with its details information which, 
 will be found useful to old as well as to young heads. Mark Raffles, in com- 
 pany with a young friend and native ot Japan, goes thither determined to 
 rescue, if possible, his father, who has been made a prisoner by the Japanese ; 
 and so we are allowed to accompany the earnest couple throughout their 
 many adventures, and, by that means, gain a knowledge of the manners, 
 customs, and legends of the people, which Mr. Dalton has gathered from the 
 latest as well as the earliest authorities. The little volume will prove a plea- 
 sant introduction to other narratives that may soon be expected from that 
 host of visitors which will undoubtedly rush forth to a country of so much 
 interest, so suddenly thrown open to our enterprise." — Manchester Examiner 
 and Times, Feb. 12, 1859. 
 
 The Wasps of the Ocean ; or Little Waif 
 
 and the Pirate of the Eastern Seas. A Romance of Travel 
 and Adventure in China and Siam. Post 8vo. Price 5s. 
 
 41 1 The Wasps of the Ocean,' by Mr. William Dalton, is a romance of travel 
 and adventure in China and Siam, and is beautifully illustrated. It is the 
 twelfth literary contribution which Mr. Dalton has given to the public. By the 
 way, Mr. William Dalton was, as is well known in literary circles, the first 
 acting editor of the 1 Daily Telegraph ;' indeed, to Mr. Dalton's great and un- 
 tiring exertions at a time when such a scheme as a London penny daily news- 
 paper was regarded by experienced journalists as a mere chimera, that paper 
 was not a little indebted for its first estab.ishment. This in itself is a guarantee 
 for his ability ; but Mr. Dalton is well posted up in Oriental literature, and no 
 one is better capable to take his readers out during the Christmas holidays, and 
 give them an airing in China and Japan."— Lincolnshire Chronicle.; 
 
A LIST OF BOOKS 
 
 PUBLISHED AND SOLD BY 
 
 E. MARLBOROUGH & CO. 
 
 4 7 AVE MARIA LANE, 
 LONDON. 
 
 Second Edition. 
 
 The Molyneux Family ; 
 
 Or, How to be Happy. By JuLiA Addison, 
 Author of " Sister Kate," " Evelyn Lascelles," 
 &c., &c. With 4 illustrations, cloth, gilt edges, 
 2s. 6d. 
 
 " The volume before us is every way beautifully and tastefully 
 got up. It is a book of life, replete with incident and circum- 
 stance, calculated to arrest the attention of young people. Tt is 
 very much some such book as might have been looked for from 
 the practised and dexterous pen of Peter Parley. The book will 
 form an elegant present to young persons of either sex." — Chris- 
 tian Witness. 
 
 " We regret that this beautiful volume did not come to hand in 
 time for last month's notices, as it would have been a charming 
 companion for young people during a sea-side excursion, espe- 
 cially to the Isle of Wight. But the interest of this tale is not 
 confined to any time or place: the authoress is a nice observer of 
 character, and of the influence of young people on domestic and 
 social life The habits in which children are trained in early life 
 cleave to them the stronger as they increase in years, and become 
 daily more difficult to alter. This truth is clearly illustrated in 
 the " Cousins," who join the Molyneux Family in a winter's re- 
 sidence at Ventnor. As a gift-book to educated children of 
 either sex, it is unexceptionable, and we hope it will brighten 
 many a happy home." — British Mother's Journal. 
 
 " While it is certain to amuse, it is equally sure to benefit them 
 by its sound moral and rel g ous teaching." — Public Opinion. 
 
2 BOOKS PUBLISHED BY E. MARLBOROUGH AND CO. 
 
 Morning Dew ; 
 
 Or, Daily Readings for the People of God. Se- 
 lected from the Writings of the choicest Ancient 
 and Modern Divines. By Isabel Charlotte 
 Garbett. With Preface by the Rev. Edward 
 Garbett, Christcliureh, Surbiton. Crown 8vo, 
 cloth, 5s. 
 
 "A treasury containing the ripe thoughts of many of the most 
 gifted minds of the Christian Church. There is a great and 
 increasing demand for works of this kind. We have much plea- 
 sure in recommending the volume before us as one of the best of 
 its class which we have seen." — Record. 
 
 " We greatly prize the volume as the very best thing of the 
 sort in our language. We have at least about a score of them; 
 but whether regard be had to matter or typography, there is 
 nothing superior to this. We commend the book with earnestness 
 to the families of every section of the Church of Christ." — British 
 Standard. 
 
 "We recommend teachers not to neglect this kind of reading." 
 — Sundav Teacher's Treasuru. 
 
 " For Family Heading, 'Morning Dew' is most appropriate." — 
 Public Opinion. 
 
 Whisperings of Truth, for God and 
 His Glory. 
 
 A True Story of Heart Trials. By the Eev. 
 George B. Scott, Author of Morning, Evening, 
 The Beauty of Holiness, &c. . Cloth, 4s. 6d. 
 
 " God was very gracious to her in calling her His child, and in 
 enabling her in all she said and <iid to keep His glory in view. 
 It is supposed that the reader will gather, even from the title, that 
 the loving voice of the Lord Jesus reached her soul more through 
 the beading of the Word of Life than by a Gospel declared. It 
 was in this way that, amidst a variety of hindrances, she heard 
 at length the Whisperings of Divine Truth." 
 
 " For such books as ' Whisperings of Truth for God and His 
 Glory,' there is always a market. Minds quite unable to bear 
 the too glowing light and tropical luxuriance of fiction find 
 themselves comforted and helped b/ a mild and quiet biography. 
 It is the story of a young pilgrim, we presume, connected with 
 Mr. Scott's church. He has told the story with much sweetness^ 
 and interspersed it with many pleasant and cheerful lights and 
 tones of verse — a kind of book to be appreciated in a sick cham- 
 ber — a help and aid for Little-faith. Much-afraid and Despondency. 
 Several of the reflections of Mr. Scott have a very beautifid and 
 instructive freshness." — Eclectic Review. 
 
BOOKS PUBLISHED BY E. MARLBOROUGH AND CO. 3 
 
 The Newbury s ; 
 
 Their Opinions and Fortunes. A Glimpse of 
 Baptists in England Two Centuries Ago. By 
 Edwin Goadby. In neat cloth, price 2s'. 6d. 
 "Mr. Goadby has rendered his tribute of homage where it is 
 most justly due. We thank him for it. His book ought to-be 
 given not only to our children, but to our friends, and diligently 
 studied by ourselves. The Author honours the subject, and the 
 subject honours the Author.''- — Gene? alJJuptiSt Mayuzine. 
 
 Our Country's Story ; 
 
 An English History for Children. By a Lady. 
 Engraved Frontispiece, cloth, 2s. 6d. 
 
 A simple, concise, and interesting relation of events, including 
 biographical notices of the most distinguished men, the maimers, 
 customs, and dress from the earliest period of British History to 
 the reign of Victoria. 
 
 The Second Edition of 
 
 Holly and Ivy ; 
 
 The Story of a Bird's Nest. By Miss Da vies, 
 Author of Gloriously Happij, &c. With engrav- 
 ings, cloth, gilt edges, 2s. 6d. 
 This is a touching and interesting account of the origin and 
 progress of that valuable institution founded in Kingstown, 
 Dublin, by Miss Whately, daughter of the late Archbishop of 
 Dublin, and other ladies, for the destitute and homeless children, 
 and known as " The Bird's Nest." 
 
 " A book which will make little hearts beat, and we trust, set 
 little hands to work. Parents who do not wish to .*>ee their chil- 
 dren grow up selfish had better obtain ' Holly and Ivy.' " — Our 
 own Fireside. 
 
 A Poet's Playmates ; 
 
 Or, Country Pictures. By the Rev. Charles 
 Armstrong Fox. Small 8vo, cloth, 3s. 6d. 
 
 A well selected volume of Poetry, principally pieces that relate 
 to rural life. The seasons, the feathered creation, plants, and 
 trees, and other objects which delight the eye, or amuse the lover 
 of nature, are here celebrated in song. 
 
4 BOOKS PUBLISHED BY E. MARLBOROUGH AND CO. 
 
 Hop Blossoms. 
 
 Translated from the German. A Story of a 
 Poor German Schoolmaster. Engraved title, 
 cloth, gilt edges, 2s. 6d. 
 
 This is an interesting work for the young, inculcating the 
 highest principles of integrity, as exhibited in the successful re- 
 sistance of temptation in a well-trained family, under circum- 
 stances of privation and trial. 
 
 Effie Vernon ; 
 
 Or, Life and its Lessons. By Julia Addison, 
 Anthor of Sister Kate, &c. Tn elegant cloth, 
 price 10s. 6d. 
 
 " There is nothing of commonplace in the tale. Miss Addison's 
 clearness and propriety of language, and power of discrimination, 
 make every character and incident interesting, and the tone of 
 her writing elevates her book far above the region of mere 
 amusement, although amusement is amply provided for." — 
 Globe. 
 
 The Hallowed Spots of Ancient 
 London, 
 
 Historical, Biographical, and Antiquarian 
 Sketches, illustrative of Places and Events 
 made Memorable by the Struggles of our Fore- 
 fathers for Civil and Religious Freedom. By 
 Eliza Mete yard (Silverpen). In elegant bind- 
 ing, price 10s. 6d. Free oy post. 
 
 " One of the handsomest hooks of the season. Miss Meteyard 
 writes in a noble, earnest spirit, rare in these days of religious and 
 political indifference. Her work is conceived and executed in the 
 highest spirit, and deserves a place in every library. An account 
 is given of the founding of the Nonconformist Church in the 
 Borough, with which the early history of America is intimately 
 connected. It was from this Church that the hardy and heroic 
 Christians of the Man F/oiver went forth to seek the civil and 
 religious liberty denied them here."— Illustrated News of the 
 World. 
 
BOOKS IMIBLISUUI) BY E. 31 ARL BOROUGH AND CO. 5 
 
 " A very elegant gift-book, which contains historical, biogra- 
 phical, and antiquarian sketches, illustrative of places and events 
 made memorable by the struggles of our forefathers for civil and 
 religious freedom. The materials of the book have been 
 gathered from many rare sources, and such as are not easily ac- 
 cessible to the general reader; and it will, therefore, be found 
 useful as a work of reference on many points." — Illustrated 
 London News. 
 
 44 As a bpok for the table, or a work for the historical and anti- 
 quarian amateur or student, alike outside and inside. Silverpen's 
 book is worthy of the highest praise we have it in our power to 
 bestow." — Court Jour nal. 
 
 44 A book alike creditable to Author, Publisher, Engraver, and 
 Binder. By their united efforts they have produced as elegant 
 a volume as has been ior a long time placed on our table. Of the 
 Author's work, however, it is our duty to speak. There are 
 altogether thirteen chapters, all of them full of interesting and 
 affecting detail, especially to those who are 4 followers of them 
 who through faith and patience inherit the promises.' All the 
 Author undertook to do she has done well ; the book will be a 
 precious one in many households, and for young persons especially 
 we give it our heartiest recommendation." — Freeman. 
 
 44 Silverpen takes hold of your buttonhole, arrests your willing 
 attention, and to your own astonishment you find that you have 
 been listening for an hour when the time scarce seemed to be five 
 minutes. The subjects treated of in this attractive volume will 
 make it a most delightful companion when confined to the house, 
 or when disposed to stroll over some of the localities commem- 
 orated. Like all w orks of the kind, any carping critic may 
 condemn it for not containing things the Author never contem- 
 plated, or for not making it a complete 4 handbook' of London. 
 But we can assure our readers it is both a pleasant and profitable 
 volume, in which may be found many things new to all but the 
 most learned antiquarian." — Bookse ler. 
 
 " The geniality of spirit, the love of liberty, the earnest desire 
 to honour the true heroes of our country, and the interest thrown 
 around the story, are sufficient to cover a multitude of defects. 
 The book ought to find a place in the drawing-room of every 
 Nonconformist family, a position tor which it is well fitted by the 
 great taste displayed by the publisher in its production. Its 
 valuable information, its sympathy with all sufferers for con- 
 science' sake, its harrowing pictures of oppression, and its stirring 
 tales of the glorious dead, make it a valuable contribution to the 
 literature of the year." — The Northern Monthly Muguztne. 
 
 44 The hallowed spots of the volume are indeed the most hal- 
 lowed spots, the homes and the graves of martyrs- — of the men 
 who dared to stand for freedom, and especially for religious 
 freedom. " — Eclectic Review. 
 
 Presentation Copies, as bound for the International 
 Exhibition, One Guinea. 
 
6 BOOKS PUBLISHED BY E. MARLBOROUGH AND CO. 
 
 Drifting Clouds. 
 
 By E. B. Two vols., post 8vo, 10s. 6d. 
 
 Pictures from English History. 
 
 A Fireside Amusement. Second Edition, En- 
 graved Frontispiece, cloth, 2s. 6d. 
 
 The object of this work is to mpress the memory of the 
 young reader by exciting interesting inquiries as to the names re- 
 ferred to, and circumstances related in conversation, which are 
 left to be guessed at; but in case of failure, the required informa- 
 tion is given at the end of each chapter. 
 
 Aunt Dorothy's Will. 
 
 By Cycla, Author of Passing Clouds, Warfare 
 and Work. 2 vols., post 8vo, cloth, price 21s. 
 
 " It is quite a treat to get hold of so clever and agreeable a 
 book as 'Aunt Dorothy's WiW The writer shows a true per- 
 ception of character — all the people are consistent. It would not 
 be easy to name among the novels of the season a pleasanter 
 book." — Morning Post. 
 
 "The narrative trips^quickly along, and a pleasant hour may 
 be spent in its perusal." — Illustrated News of the World. 
 
 " We doubt not 'Aunt Dorothy's Will' will find its readers and 
 admirers by the seaside at this reading, lounging season of the 
 y ear. '''—Brighton Herald. 
 
 "There are higher qualities which we can praise in Cycla's 
 work, and these are sustained interest, skill in producing diver- 
 sity of character and originality of thought. The author is 
 equally as finished in her writing as she is agreeable and clever." 
 — Court Journal. 
 
 "We have read the two volumes carefully, and find these 
 matters so skilfally worked together, and the interest so well sus- 
 tained up to the final astonishment, that it would be impossible 
 to sketch them briefly." — Illustrated Tunes. 
 
 " This is essentially a novel of domestic life, in which the 
 characters — and they are numerous — are drawn with considerable 
 skill ; the plot is well constructed ; and the mystery which hangs 
 over the story keeps the reader in suspense throughout, the de- 
 nouement being of a kind not readily foreseen. ' Aunt Dorothy's 
 Will,' as we perceive by the title-page, is not a first work, and its 
 contents leads us to hope that it will not be the author's last." 1 — 
 Examiner. 
 
hooks I'unrjsnr,!) uy e. -Marlborough and co. 7 
 
 Blaekwell Prize Essay; 
 
 On the Causes which havo retarded the Progress 
 of the Reformation. By Rev. W. Mackray, A.M., 
 cloth, gilt edges, 23. 6d. 
 
 " This publication is eminently deserving of a wide circulation 
 among all classes in our community. The style is at once elegant 
 and accurate; and the Essay, though it does not exceed one 
 hundred pages, 8vo. r is so comprehensive in its character, that it 
 supplies m brief compass, a very considerable amount of infor- 
 mation on a subject which more than ever forces itself upon the 
 consideration of the public." — Switish Guardian. 
 
 44 A more interesting inquiry cannot suggest itself to the mind 
 of an intelligent Protestant than that which forms the subject of 
 this essay— viz., 4 The Causes that have retarded the Progress of 
 the Reformation.' The author, the Rev. William Mackray, has 
 fulfilled his task in a masterly manner." — Caledonian Mercury. 
 
 Echoes of Eternity ; 
 
 Consisting of Translations from German Hymn- 
 Writers, with Corresponding sentiments of 
 Authors in onr own language, &c. By Henrietta 
 J. Fry, Author of The Pastor's Legacy, Hyi;rns 
 of the Reformation, &c. Large 16mo, price 
 7s. 6d., printed on toned paper, embellished 
 with an Engraved Title, richly bound, gilt 
 edges, forming a choice book for a present at all 
 seasons. 
 
 The Preacher's Portfolio : First Series. 
 
 Containing Two Hundred and Fifty Outlines 
 of Sermons by Seventy eminent European and 
 American Preachers of the 17th, 18th, and 19th 
 Centuries, many of them never before published, 
 several for the first time translated into English, 
 and others obtained from works either scarce 
 or out of circulation. Price 3s. 6d. 
 
8 BOOKS PUBLISHED BY E. MARLBOROUGH AND CO. 
 
 The Preacher's Portfolio. Second Series, 
 
 Containing Two Hundred and Fifty Outlines of 
 Sermons by Seventy eminent European and 
 American Preachers of the 17th, 18th, and 19th 
 Centuries, many of them never before pub- 
 lished, several for the first time translated into 
 English, and others obtained from works either 
 scarce or out of circulation. Price 3s. 6d. 
 
 The Wolf Boy of China. 
 
 A Chinese Story : being the Adventures of 
 Lyu-Payo among Merchants, Mandarins, Sol- 
 diers, Sailors, and People both Wild and 
 Civilized. By William Dalton. Beautifully 
 illustrated and handsomely bound, price 5s. 
 
 " Mr. Dalton has succeeded in imparting such a mass of valu- 
 able information on the manners, customs, legends, geography, 
 and history of the strange people among whom he has laid the 
 scene of his tale, that we feel bound to give his book a word of 
 notice." — The London Journal. 
 
 *\ Upon this very agreeable story Mr. Dalton has contrived to 
 embroider almost as much information respecting the inhabitants 
 of the Celestial Empire as the learned Bekker did by the Greeks 
 and Romans in his 'Charicles* and 'Gallus.' " — The Critic. 
 
 " One of the most charming books we have read. The table of 
 contents is an excellent code of morality in the|proverbial form ; 
 though designed for boys, we can testify that it has charms for 
 old as well as young. Everything connected with the production 
 of the work is admirably in keeping with the subject. The illus- 
 trations by M'Connell are all spirited and well printed. Soon we 
 hope to give a more lengthened notice of this fascinating work, 
 exemplifying our criticisms by some of the thrilling scenes with 
 which it abounds." — Horning herald. 
 
 " This little book we can cordially recommend, not only for 
 young readers, but for those of larger growth. The descriptions 
 of the Celestial Empire are fascinating; the adventures and 
 'scapes hair-breadth, are exciting enough to make everybody who 
 reads it wish to go to China almost as earnestly as Robinson 
 Crusoe made him long for a Desert Island and a man Friday! The 
 novelty of the scenes, the strange manners and customs, and the 
 spirited style in which the adventures are related, make the book 
 a choice present for the class of juvenile readers to whom it is 
 dedicated." — AChenseum. 
 
BOOKS PUBLISHED BY E. MARLBOROUGH AND CO. 
 
 9 
 
 The Wasps of the Ocean : 
 
 A Romance of Travel and Adventure in China 
 and Siam, based upon Fact. By William 
 Dalton, Author of The Wolf Boy of China. 
 With numerous Illustrations. Price 6s. 
 
 The Young Middy; 
 
 Or, the Perilous Adventures of a Boy Officer 
 among the Royalists and Republicans of the 
 first French Revolution. By F. C. Armstrong, 
 Author of The Young Commander, The War 
 Hawk, Bella San&ford, &c. With Illustrations, 
 price 5s. 
 
 " To give any idea of the plot in this brief sketch would be in- 
 judicious; suffice it to say that our young readers will find in it 
 plenty of amusement, plenty of variety, which is enhanced by the 
 introduction of several short tales ; and plenty of dramatic situa- 
 tions ; and we, therefore, recommend it to every father of a 
 family who is in search of a book for a Christmas present."— * 
 Daily Telegraph. 
 
 Grace Hamilton's School-Days. 
 
 By Emma Jane Worboise, Author of Amy 
 Wilton, Helen Bury, &c. Small 8vo, with 
 several Engravings, attractive cloth, price 5s. 
 
 '* Is an attractive book.' 1 — Chvrch of England Mag. 
 
 " It is finely adapted to initiate the youthful mind in the 
 things of God. 1 ' — Christian M imes?. 
 
 44 Is a genuine production, abounding with clear evangelical 
 sentiments . . . The getting up is admirable." — Youth's Stag. 
 
10 BOOKS PUBLISHED BY E. MARLBOROUGH AND CO. 
 
 Marian Falconer ; 
 
 Or, Stars in the Darkness. By E. H. W. Small 
 8vo, attractively bound, and Illustrated with an 
 exquisite Title and Frontispiece by Coleman, 
 price 5s. 
 
 "It is brilliantly written; the characters are drawn by the 
 hands of a master; there are scenes described, bathed at times in 
 a glow of genius that remind me of Dickens's best efforts ; while, 
 amid and above the gloom, and sorrow, and tragedy, and folly, 
 and crime, there shine with a sweet celestial lustre, what cannot 
 be found in the writings of the great modern fictionists, the 
 'Stars' of religious hope, trust* and aspiration. Whoever desires 
 a treat of a high order should read this work." — Youth's Mag. 
 
 The Sunshine of Greystone. 
 
 By E. J. May, Author of Louis' School-Days. 
 Small 8vo., with several Engravings, attractive 
 cloth, price 5s. 
 
 "Elevated thought, and instructive information." — Morning 
 Post. . . ,v.:. £W y ;',.'> 
 
 " Clever and admirable story ."—The Commonwealth. 
 
 "A capital gift-book for girls ; is elegantly got vq^y—Baptiat 
 Magazine. 
 
 Sister Kate; 
 
 Or the Power of Influence. By Jul LA Addison, 
 Author of Evelyn Laseclles," The Curate of 
 Wildmcre, &c, 8vo, beautiful Title and Frontis- 
 piece, attractive cloth, price 5s. 
 
 " ' Marian Falconfr' and 4 Sister Kate.'— These books are so 
 exqui si tively printed and embellished that they attract necessarily. 
 The narrative matter is everywhere subordinated to the promo- 
 tion of personal religion. W e arc always fearful of recommend- 
 ing religious tales, lest errors should lurk under them; but we 
 think we can conscientiously give these our imprimatur." — 
 Clerical Journal. I ■■ ■ .. ■>. .... ; .• . ^ o. I . . . tfmmite'j* 
 
BOOKS PUBLISHED BY 8'. MARLBOROUGTI AND CO. 11 
 
 Bertram Noel : a Story. 
 
 By E. J. May, Author of The Siwshinr of 
 Greystone, Louis' School-Days, &c, &c. With 
 Illustrations, price 5s. 
 
 " ' Bertram Noel' is an excellent story of its class." — 
 A then xuw. 
 
 " We can sincerely recommend this story to children of the 
 4 larger growth 1 — say above fifteen." — Freeman. 
 
 " It is well, however, for those who have the guardianship of 
 the young, to be very careful as to what books they give them for 
 perusal. There are many issued which are better calculated to 
 injure than to profit. We are pleased to say, however, that 
 1 Bertram Noel 1 is not of this class. Its story has a high moral 
 and religious purpose, abounding in character and incident of an 
 interesting nature." — People's Review. 
 
 A Cheap Edition of the preceding Series of five 
 Books may be had in Plain Cloth {uniform), without 
 illustrations, at 3s. 6d. each. 
 
 Kingsdown Lodge ; 
 
 Or, Seed-Time and Harvest : a Sequel to "Grace 
 Hamilton's School-Days." By Emma Jane 
 W'orboise. Price 5s., gilt edges, 5s. 6d. 
 
 Bella Sandford, 
 
 A Tale. By F. C. Armstrong, Author of The 
 
 War Hawk, The Battle of the Bosphorus, The 
 Young Commander, &c, &c. With Illustrations,, 
 price 3s. 6d., boards, 2s. 
 
 " This is a charming little book, beautifully illustrated. Mr. 
 Armstrong reminds us a good deal of Captain Marryat ; but for 
 the moraftone of his book, and the healthy sentiments that per- 
 vade it, we set him far above the Great Naval Story-teller. ' Bella 
 Sandfcrd 1 is a book which grown people will read with pleasure, 
 and over which young folks will linger with inexpressible 
 delight." — Illustrated JSews of the World. 
 
12 BOOKS PUBLISHED BY E. MARLBOROUGH AND CO. 
 
 The United States and Cuba. 
 
 By James M. Phillippo, Author of Jamaica : its 
 Past and Present State, &c. Post 8vo, price 5s. 
 
 ** It is a manual of the United States, Geographical, Historical, 
 Political, Commercial, and Social. Containing, in a compendious 
 form, abundant information on all these points, it will be invalu- 
 able as a book of reference. 
 
 " We cordially thank Mr. Phillippo for his most instructive 
 volume, and hope that the sale will be commensu ate with the 
 immense labour its preparation must have cost him." — BxjHist 
 Magazine. 
 
 The Fountain Sealed : 
 
 A Memoir of Mary M. C. Methuen, Author of 
 The Morning of Life. By her Mother. Small 
 8vo, with Steel engraved Portrait, neat cloth, 
 price 5s. 
 
 ** It is a biographical sketch which deserves to be widely circu- 
 lated for the objects of spiritual usefulness. Seldom do personal 
 and private memorials of this kind convey more direct and prac- 
 tical lessons for imitation and study." — Literary Gazette.. 
 
 " Most cordially do we recommend the volume to the careful 
 and prayerful perusal of our youthful readers." — British Mother's 
 Journal. 
 
 A Memoir of the late Rev. Eustace 
 
 Carey, 
 
 Missionary to India. By Mrs. Carey. Price 4s. 6d. 
 
 " It abounds in interesting facts, eminently calculated to 
 nourish piety, and to feed the fires of the Missionary enterprise." 
 — christian Wunex-. 
 
 ?* We shall hope to hear that the book has met with a wide and 
 generous reception, and confidently expect that it will promote 
 in a good degree the author's pious purpose of 1 reviving' amongst 
 us 'the missionary spirit.' " — rreemav. 
 
 " We thank Mrs. Carey most earnestly for the volume, and 
 trust that in every Sunday School Library, and on every Family 
 Bookshelf, where advice of ours can have any influence, this 
 Memoir will be found." — Juvenile Missi nary Herald. 
 
BOOKS PUBLISHED BY E. MARLBOROUGH AN1 CO. 13 
 
 A Memoir of the Rev. Samuel 
 Nicholson, 
 
 Late of Plymouth. With selections from his 
 Correspondence. Crown 8vo, price 4s. 
 
 11 The book will find many buyers, but none more than it de- 
 serves." — Eclectic Review. 
 
 The Beauty of Flowers in Field and 
 Wood : 
 
 A simplified Handbook of Field Botany. Con- 
 taining the Natural Orders, or Families of 
 British Wild Plants, with their Moral Teachings 
 illustrated. By John Theodore Barker, one of 
 the contributors of Flowers to Wild Flowers 
 and their Teachings. With numerous attractive 
 Coloured Engravings. Beautifully bound in 
 cloth, gilt edges, crown 8vo, coloured, price 5s. 
 
 " Mr. Barker has provided the most pleasing British Floral 
 Compan!on that we have ever had." — Joseph Harbison, Esq., 
 Editor of the Fit r (cultural Cabinet. 
 
 " Barker's Beauty of Flowers in Field and Wood, a Simplified 
 Handbook of Botany, is full of healthy interest and pleasure." — 
 Athenaeum. 
 
 A Survey of the Holy Land : 
 
 Its Geography, History, and Destiny. Designed 
 to elucidate the Imagery and Oriental allusions 
 of Scripture, and demonstrate the Fulfilment of 
 Prophecy. By the Rev. J. T. Bannister, LL.D., 
 Author of Chart of the Holy Land, Incidents of 
 Jewish History, &c. Demy 8vo, with Maps and 
 Plates, cloth, gilt edges, price 12s. 
 
14 BOOKS PUBLISHED BY E. MARL BO HOUGH AND CO. 
 
 Clara Melville : 
 
 A Life both Strange and True. Not a Tale of 
 Fiction, but of Life, real and earnest. Cloth, 
 price 3s. 6d. 
 
 " A well-told tale, inculcating the most salutary lessons." — 
 Commonwealth. 
 
 A Comparison of Prophetic Scripture, 
 
 With, special reference to the Antichrist, the 
 Second Advent of the Lord Jesus, the Rapture 
 of the Saints, and the Millennium. By Henry 
 Kelsall, M.D. Small Svo, cloth, price 2s. 6d. 
 
 The History of Isaac, 
 
 As recorded in the Bible. By the Rev. Barton 
 Bouchier, M.A., Author of Manna in the House, 
 Manna in the Heart, Tlie Ark in the House, Sfc. 
 Small 8vo, cloth, price 5s. 
 
 The Great Excursion Train 
 
 To the International Exhibition. By Ruhamah. 
 With a Preface by Miss Whately. Printed on 
 toned paper. Engraved Frontispiece, price ls.Gd. 
 
 Oliver Cromwell the Protector. 
 
 The Stirring Incidents of his Life and Times, 
 from the best Historians, Biographers, and 
 original MS S. By James Waldyne Willington. 
 Small 8vo, cloth, 2s. 6d. 
 
B9K3& 
 
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