Travels in India (Tavernier) 144: BOOK III

144

the extremity which answers to the tail, and where the snake ends, does not open the mouth and has no movement.
There is also in Siam a very venomous animal which is not more than a foot long. Its tail is forked and has two points, and its form is somewhat like what we picture the salamander.
The rivers of this Kingdom are very beautiful, and the one at Siam is of nearly uniform size throughout. The water in it is very wholesome, but it is full of crocodiles of enormous size, which often devour men who are not on their guard. The rivers are in flood during the time that the sun traverses the northern signs; this contributes much to the fertility of the land where the waters spread themselves, and where, by a wonderful provision of nature, the ear of rice ascends to the surface as the waters rise.
Siam, the capital town of the Kingdom, and the ordinary residence of the King, is surrounded by walls, and is more than 3 of our leagues in circuit. It is on an island, the river surrounding it on all sides ; canals might easily be made through all the streets if the King were willing to expend on that work a part of the vast amount of gold which he lavishes on the temples of his idols.
The Siamese have thirty-three letters in their alphabet they write as we do, from left to right, or contrary to the people of Japan, China, Cochin-China, and Tonquin, who write from the right hand to the left, and from the top of the page to the bottom.
All the common people of this Kingdom are in slavery either to the King or to the nobles. The women cut their hair like the men, and their garments are not very copious. Among the civilities which the Siamese observe towards one another, one of the principal is never to pass any one to whom respect is due, without previously asking permission ; this is done by elevating both hands. The richest have many wives, as is the case in the Kingdom of Assam.
The money of the country is of silver and nearly of the shape of a musket bullet. The lowest denomination consists of small shells, which are brought from the Manillas. There are good tin mines in Siam.