The Boy Travellers in the Far East, Part Second Adventures of Two Youths in a Journey to Siam and Java; With Descriptions of Cochin-China, Cambodia, Sumatra and the — Background and Themes

DEPARTURE FROM HONG-KONG. 13

VOYAGE TO SAIGON.--ARRIVAL IN COCHIN CHINA. 23

HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.--FIRST SIGHTS AND SCENES IN ANAM. 34

A WONDERFUL TEMPLE.--RUINS OF NAGKON WAT AND ANGKOR. 47

CAMBODIA.--ITS CAPITAL AND KING. 61

DEPARTURE FROM SAIGON.--VISITING A CHINESE JUNK. 73

THE WONDERFUL STORY OF MARCO POLO. 86

ARRIVAL IN SIAM.--FIRST DAY IN BANGKOK. 106

TEMPLES AT BANGKOK.--THE FOUNDER OF BUDDHISM. 119

ASCENDING THE MENAM, FROM BANGKOK TO AYUTHIA. 131

VISITING THE PRINCE OF THE ELEPHANTS.--AYUTHIA.--SOMETHING ABOUT CROCODILES. 143

STORIES OF ELEPHANT-HUNTING.--SCENES OF THE CHASE. 161

BANG-PA-IN TO BANGKOK.--STUDIES IN NATURAL HISTORY AND BOTANY. 177

THE KING IN HIS STATE BARGE.--BETEL AND TOBACCO. 190

WOMEN, HAIR-CUTTING, AND SLAVERY. 202

CREMATION IN SIAM.--TRADE, TAXES, AND BIRDS. 215

PRESENTATION TO THE KING.--DINNER AT THE PALACE. 228

THE WHITE ELEPHANT.--VISIT TO THE SECOND KING OF SIAM. 237

LEAVING SIAM.--LIFE UNDER THE OCEAN WAVE. 249

LIGHT UNDER WATER.--PEARL-FISHING AND TURTLE-HUNTING. 262

INCIDENTS OF A SEA-VOYAGE.--SINGAPORE. 280

SIGHTS AND SCENES IN SINGAPORE. 294

CROSSING THE EQUATOR.--ADVENTURE WITH MALAY PIRATES. 311

SUMATRA AND ITS PECULIARITIES.--SNAKES AND ORANG-OUTANGS. 326

ARRIVAL IN JAVA.--SIGHTS AND SCENES IN BATAVIA. 343

BATAVIA TO BUITENZORG.--TROPICAL SCENES.--BIRDS OF PARADISE. 358

A CHAPTER ON POLITICAL ECONOMY.--THE DUTCH CULTURE SYSTEM IN JAVA. 374

RICE CULTURE IN JAVA.--MILITARY AND SOCIAL MATTERS. 387

A POST RIDE IN JAVA.--FROM BUITENZORG TO BANDONG. 400

VISITING A TEA PLANTATION.--PREPARATION OF TEA. 411

EASTERN JAVA, LOMBOCK, TIMOR, AND THE ARU ISLANDS. 422

WANDERINGS IN THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO.--GOOD-BYE. 435

Scene on the Headwaters of the Menam River _Frontispiece_ Map _To face page_ 13 PAGE Hong kong, from Kellet's Island 13 Mary and Effie reading Frank's Letter 15 Arrival of the French Mail Steamer 18 Private Parlor of the "Yuen Fat Hong" 20 A Chinese Boatwoman 21 Frank's Dream 22 Hurricane during the Change of the Monsoon 23 A favoring Monsoon 24 Running before the Trade-wind 25 Rice-fields on the Mekong 28 A Native Woman 30 Street in the Chinese Quarter 31 Plants in the Botanical Garden 32 A New Acquaintance 33 A Mosquito of Saigon 33 Native Gentleman at Saigon 35 View of the French Quarter of Saigon 37 Native Soldiers at Saigon 39 The King of the Beggars 41 View of Cholon 43 A Chinese Family at Cholon 44 A Cab for Two 45 Cambodian Female Head-dress. Ancient Sculpture 47 Plan of the Temple at Nagkon 49 Unfinished Pillars 50 Columns in the Temple 51 Sculptures on the Walls of Nagkon Wat 52 View from the Central Tower of the Temple 54 Gallery of Sculptures 56 Ancient Tower overgrown with Poh-trees 58 Huts of the Priests 59 Stone with Ancient Sculptures 60 A Cambodian Idol 61 Fishing-village on Lake Thalysap 62 Panompin, the Capital of Cambodia 64 Specimen of Cambodian Gold-work 66 The King of Cambodia 67 Queen of Cambodia and Royal Children 69 The Harbor of Oodong, Cambodia 70 A Girl of Oodong 71 House in the Suburbs 72 A Chinese Junk 74 Outline of Modern Ship, showing Compartments 76 A Junk Sailor at Breakfast 77 Chinese River Boat 78 Ship of the Fourteenth Century 79 "The Great Harry" 80 The "Tennessee" 81 The Public Highway of the Future 82 The Bomb Ferry 83 Moonlight at Sea in the Tropics 84 A Story of the Sea 85 Marco Polo 87 The Great Khan delivering a Tablet to the Elder Polo Brothers. From a Miniature of the Fourteenth Century 88 Arms of the Polo Family 88 Nicolo Polo. Father of Marco 89 Portrait of Kublai-Khan. From a Chinese Engraving 91 Marco Polo's Galley in Battle 93 Alan shuts up the Caliph of Baudas in his Treasure-tower 96 Dog-headed Men of Angamanain 97 Mediæval Tartar Huts and Wagons 99 The Roc, from a Persian Drawing 100 Roc's Egg, now in the British Museum. 100 Chinese Bank-note of the Ming Dynasty 101 Chinese Conjuring Extraordinary 103 Captain Clanchy at Work 104 Come to Dinner! 105 A Natural Shower-bath 106 Flying-fish 107 View near Paknam 108 Native Hut on the Menam River 110 A Village Pathway in Siam 111 Chinese Field-laborers 112 General View of Bangkok 114 House in the Foreign Part of Bangkok 115 A Siamese Priest 118 Bird's-eye View of Bangkok 120 Temple of Wat Chang 121 Temple of the Sleeping Idol 123 Brass Idol in a Temple 124 Priests Playing Chess 126 Gate-way of a Temple at Bangkok 128 Temple of the Emerald Idol 129 Private Garden near Bangkok 133 A Siamese Forest Scene 135 Parasite and Palm 138 The Bamboo-tree 139 The Boat they narrowly Missed 140 Scene at Bang-pa-in 141 A River Scene 142 The Young Prince 144 Portrait of "Chang" 145 Macedonian Coin, with Ancient Goad 146 Modern Goad 146 A War Elephant 147 Near the Palace 149 In the Ruined City 150 Crocodiles at Home 152 Taking a Bite 153 The Doctor's Crack Shot 154 The Trochilus 155 Alligator and Crane 155 Trochilus and Crocodile 156 The Alligator and the Bear 158 Just Hatched 159 Coming out to Sun himself 160 An Elephant Fence 161 Form of a Corral 161 Beginning the Drive 162 Driving into the Corral 163 Securing the Captives 165 Siribeddi's Prize 166 The Prisoners tied up 168 A little Head Work 169 In a Heap of Trouble 170 Refusing to Move on 171 Sliding down hill 173 Elephant-hunting on Foot 174 The Hunter Hunted 175 Taking a Nap 176 Cocoa-nuts Full Grown and just Forming 178 The Bread-fruit 179 Pineapple 180 Star-apple 180 A New Kind of Fruit 181 Tailor-bird and Nest 182 A Climbing-fish 183 The Snake and the Squirrel 185 Monkeys at Home 187 Monkeys 188 Eagle capturing a Monkey 189 State Barge of the King of Siam 191 A Body of the Royal Guards 192 The King visiting a Temple 194 The Front of the Temple 195 The Tobacco-plant 197 Sir Walter Raleigh and his Pipe 197 Pipes of all Nations 199 Young America 200 The East 201 The West 201 Siamese Gentleman and Lady 203 A Young Prince of the Royal House, with his Attendant 205 Female Head-dress and Costume 206 Minister of Foreign Affairs 207 Lakon Girls 209 A Native Band of Music 210 A Siamese Theatrical Performance 211 Scene on a Small Canal near Bangkok 216 Burial-mounds 217 Urn containing Ashes 217 Jessamine Flowers 218 Buddhist Priest 219 Characters in the Procession 220 Haunts of Sea-birds on the Coast 223 Edible Swallows' Nests 224 Siamese Water Birds 225 Pheasant and Young 227 Court-yard of the Royal Palace at Bangkok 229 Chulalonkorn I., Supreme King of Siam 231 Prime-minister of Siam 233 The King of Siam in his State Robes 234 A Younger Brother of the King 235 The Hour-glass 236 A White Elephant worshipping the Sun and Moon. From a Chinese Drawing 237 White Monkey in Elephant Stables 240 How an Elephant Feeds 241 Elephants' Trunks 242 Elephants Drinking 243 Fred's Tormentor 244 The Second King of Siam, in State Robes 247 The Doctor getting Ready 249 Coast of Siam, near the Mouth of the River 251 Water-fowl of Siam 252 A Wreck among the Breakers 253 Pearl Fisher attacked by a Shark 253 Nests of the Water-spider 254 Divers in their Armor 255 Divers at Work 256 Diving over the Side of a Steamer 257 Coral-fishing in the Mediterranean 259 The Coral-worm 260 Cup-coral and Brain-coral 260 An Atoll in the Pacific Ocean 261 Submarine Observations 263 The Bellows-fish, or Angler 264 A Curious Home 265 Crabs in a Quarrel 266 Sea-anemones 267 The Sponge at Home 268 How Sponges are Speared 269 Cleopatra dissolving the Pearl 270 Pearl-bearing Shells 271 Sizes of Pearls 272 Pearl-fishery at Bahrein 273 Persian Gulf Diver 274 M. Jaquin's Experiment 275 The Bleak 276 The Doctor's Discovery 276 The Turtle at Home 278 Turtle-hunting 279 On a Frail Raft 282 The Rescue 283 Gulf-weed 284 Haunts of the Sea-birds 285 In the Harbor 286 Boatmen at Singapore 287 A Chinese Contractor 289 Chinese Tailors at Singapore 290 A Group of Jacoons 291 Garri with a Load of Sailors 292 Full Dress at the Straits 293 Chinese Garden at Singapore 296 Maternal Care 297 Rural Scene in Singapore 298 Fruit-sellers at Singapore 299 A Bungalow 300 Chinese Gentleman's Garden 301 The God of Gamblers 302 Malay Boy in the Bird-market 303 Head of Black Cockatoo 304 Ejecting an Intruder 306 A New Type of Mankind 308 Klings and Chinese 312 Native Nurses and Children 313 Coaling at the Dock 314 Carrying Coal on Board 315 Servants on Duty 316 Scene on the Sumatra Coast 317 Crossing the Line on a Man-of-war 319 Chief's House in a Pirate Village 322 Harbor of Pirates 323 The Pirates' Victim 324 Sinews of War 325 A Trading-station on the Coast 327 A Bayou on the Palembang River 328 Arab Houses at Palembang 329 Lounging under a Mango-tree 330 Alligators taking Sun and Air 331 View in a Sumatran Village 332 Chased by a Tiger 333 Treed by a Bear 334 Shooting a Boa-constrictor 335 A Snaky Creek 336 Monkey Examining a Tortoise 337 Female Orang-outang. From a Photograph 338 Natives of Borneo Fighting with an Orang-outang 339 A Flying-frog 341 A Sumatran Butterfly 342 Arrival in Port 344 The Carriage at the Custom-house 345 The National Taste 346 Their Servant 347 The Mango 348 A Trifle too Peppery 349 After Breakfast 349 An Early Call 350 Native House on the River that Feeds the Canal 352 Family Party in Batavia 354 Fan-palm in the Botanical Garden 355 Chinese Porters 356 Goddess of Sailors and her Assistants 357 Some of the Third-class Passengers 359 View in a Private Garden 360 Native Village near the Railway 361 Tropical Growths along the Line 362 "Mangosteens!" 363 Veranda of the Hotel Bellevue 365 View from the Veranda at Buitenzorg 366 A Bad Road 367 The Vanda Lowii 368 A Tree Growing in Mid-air 369 Group of Birds in the Malay Archipelago 371 Magnificent Bird of Paradise 372 Superb Bird of Paradise 372 Six-shafted Bird of Paradise 373 Long-tailed Bird of Paradise 373 The Yankee Elephant 375 The Chinese Elephant 375 The Operatic Elephant 375 The Elephant in Love 376 Ancient Bas-relief--Java 376 A Monster Volcano 377 Peasant Farm-houses 379 Home of a Prosperous Contractor 380 Coffee-plantation in the Mountains 381 "Old Government Java" 382 A Javanese Chief 383 An Improved Sugar Estate 384 Retainers of a Javanese Regent 385 "Good-night" 386 The House at the Spring 388 Pounding Coffee 389 Dutch Overseers 390 Foot-bridge over a Mountain Stream 392 Rewards for Good Conduct 394 Pirate Prisoners on a Colonial Gun-boat 395 Passport Office 396 Ordered Out of the Country 398 No Admittance 399 Starling on the Journey. 401 By the Roadside 402 Lodgings of the Stable-men 403 Just Imported 404 The Waiter at Sindinglaya 406 Sleeping-room in the Sanitarium 407 A Mountain Cascade 409 Javanese Boys 410 Train of Coffee-carts 412 Seed-pods of the Tea-plant 413 Gathering Tea-leaves 415 Drying Tea in the Sun 416 Drying over Charcoal 416 Roasting Tea 417 Handy with his Feet 418 Roasting Green Tea 419 Tea Regions of the United States 420 Roasting-basket 421 Volcano in Eastern Java 423 Ruins near Sourabaya 424 An Island Port 425 Wild Fig-tree 425 A Village in Lombock 426 View near Mataram 427 Where the Great Spirit and the Rajah met 428 Gun-boring in Lombock 430 Natives of Timor 431 Delli, Portuguese Timor 432 Natives of Aru Shooting the Great Bird of Paradise 433 A Native Anchor 434 Great Street of Dobbo in the Trading-season 436 Wearing the Cangue 437 A Native of Aru 438 Sea-cucumber 439 A Papuan Pipe 439 A Bird of Amboyna 440 Sago Club 440 Preparing Sago 441 Sago Oven 442 Sugar-palm of Macassar 442 Climbing the Mountain 443 Coming Down the Mountain 445 "Good-bye!" 446

DEPARTURE FROM HONG-KONG.

"There she comes!" shouted Frank Bassett, as he pointed away to the eastward.

Doctor Bronson and his nephew Fred were standing close beside Frank, and their eyes eagerly followed the direction of his hand.

"Yes, there she is!" Fred responded; "what a splendid sight!"

They were on the lookout platform on Victoria Peak, 1800 feet above the harbor of Hong-kong. The city, the island, the surrounding waters, and the neighboring coast of China all lay before them like a map. They had been studying the scene, and the Doctor had explained to the boys its remarkable resemblance to the view from the summit of the Rock of Gibraltar.

Their geographical observations were interrupted by the announcement of the sergeant in charge of the signal-station that the Pacific Mail steamer _City of Peking_ was just outside the harbor, and would shortly enter through the Ly-ee-moon Pass. Hong-kong harbor has two entrances; the one to the eastward is known as the Ly-ee-moon, while that to the west is called the Lama Passage. Both are easy of navigation, and admit ships of the largest class to one of the finest harbors in the world.

The great steamer ploughed steadily forward; and as she passed Kellet's Island, which is a fortified rock near the Ly-ee-moon, she turned gracefully, and headed straight for her anchorage. Our friends watched her till she came to her resting-place, and her engines had ceased working; then they said good-bye to the signal-station, and proceeded to the sedan-chairs which were waiting for them. The chair-coolies had also seen the steamer, and, as they were anxious to reach the city before the passengers could come ashore, they made the best possible time on their way down the mountain. They ran rather than walked, and two or three times the boys narrowly escaped a fall in the sudden bends of the zigzag road.

The adventures of Doctor Bronson, Frank Bassett, and Fred Bronson, and their reasons for being in Hong-kong, have been narrated in a previous volume.[1]

[1] "The Boy Travellers in the Far East. Adventures of Two Youths in a Journey to Japan and China." By Thomas W. Knox. Published by Harper & Brothers, New York, 1880.

They expected the _City of Peking_ to bring letters that would determine their future movements. Is it any wonder they were in a hurry to have her mails landed, and the precious letters delivered?

Their letters were addressed in care of the banking-house on which their credits were drawn, and very naturally the boys were eager to go at once to that establishment. The Doctor suggested that it would be quite time enough to go there after lunch; and, as the appetites of the trio had been sharpened by the excursion up the mountain, the proposal met no opposition whatever.

The meal was served in the dining-room of the hotel, and as soon as it was ended the party walked leisurely to the banking-house. In a little while their letters were handed to them, and greatly rejoiced were the boys at the arrival of these precious missives from home. The return to the hotel was a rapid one on the part of the youths, who left the good Doctor far behind, in their eagerness to be once more in their rooms, where they could be safe from interruption while they read the messages from their friends.

The letters were full of good news.

The parents of both the boys expressed their delight at the good use which Frank and Fred had made of their time, and the interesting accounts they had given of their experiences in Japan and China, and their voyage over the Pacific Ocean. Mary and Miss Effie had received the presents which Frank bought for them in Japan, and Mary confessed in her letter that since the arrival of the precious box they had thought and talked of nothing else. They had dressed themselves in Japanese garments, and Miss Effie was sure that, if their eyes were properly sloped at the corners, they could readily pass for residents of Tokio or Kioto.

The Doctor reached the hotel while they were in the midst of their reading. His package of letters was quite as large as that of either of the boys, and among them there was a very portly letter, which had required a liberal amount of stamps to pay for its transportation. This he opened first, and, after perusing it carefully, he smiled, and laid it aside. Evidently the contents were pleasing.

Frank and Fred were through with their letters about the same time, and as soon as they were at liberty they began comparing notes. Both were a good deal disappointed, as they had received no indication of their future course. Would they go directly back across the Pacific Ocean, or would they proceed on a journey around the world? Perhaps the Doctor could tell them; but just then he was occupied, and they did not wish to disturb him.

There was a rap at the door, followed by the entrance of a servant bringing a letter, which had been overlooked at the banker's. It was for Mr. Frank Bassett; and that young gentleman was not long in breaking the seal and possessing himself of its contents.

His air of melancholy changed to one of delight. He threw his arms around Fred, and made a start in the direction of the Doctor, as if intending to favor him with an embrace, but speedily checked himself, and confined his demonstrations to a quiet leap over a chair that stood in the middle of the room; then he held out the letter for Fred to read.

Fred's delight at the intelligence conveyed in the document was quite equal to Frank's. The question was settled; they were to continue on their journey around the world. The necessary letters of credit would be sent in care of Doctor Bronson, and should be in the mail brought by the _City of Peking_.

Frank saw the large letter on the table in front of the Doctor, and at once divined that it was the important missive containing papers similar to the one with which he was provided before he left home. There was yet a goodly amount remaining on his letter of credit, but not enough to carry him to America by way of Europe. Fred was in a similar predicament, and therefore a permission to go forward would be of no great use if unaccompanied by the necessary cash or its equivalent.

Doctor Bronson relieved their doubt by handing them the letters of credit which had come in the bulky parcel in question. They were considered too valuable to be intrusted to the ordinary mail, and therefore they had been "registered." And from their experience with the Post-office in China and other Eastern countries, our three friends were unanimously of the opinion that all valuable letters going there should be sent by registered post. The Japanese postal service was the most perfect one they found in their travels, and the Doctor declared that some of our officials at home might learn what would be to their advantage if they would visit the post-office at Yokohama and see how admirably it was conducted.

"Well, boys," said Dr. Bronson, "it's all settled."

The boys had a moment of standing on tiptoe in their exuberant delight, and then Frank asked,

"Where are we to go, Doctor, and when are we to start?"

"That is what we must determine now," was the reply. "We have several routes open to us, and each has its advantages."

"I think," answered Frank, "that we could not do better than leave the selection of the route to Doctor Bronson. He has proved such an excellent guide and friend thus far, that we have the most implicit confidence in his judgment, and are quite willing to adopt his suggestions without question."

This was said as if Frank had been addressing himself to his cousin rather than the Doctor. Fred instantly accepted the proposal, and it was promptly agreed that the whole matter should be left in Doctor Bronson's hands to arrange. The latter thanked the youths for the expression of their confidence in him, and then proceeded to designate on the map the routes leading westward from Hong-kong.

"The regular mail steamers," said he, "go from here to Singapore, which you see is down close to the equator, and at the entrance of the Straits of Malacca. The English steamers go directly there without stopping; but the French ones touch at Saigon, in Cochin China, which is a colony of the French Government."

"I have thought out a plan," he continued, "while we have been waiting, and what I propose is this:

"We will go from here to Saigon by one of the French ships, and then make a stay in Cochin China long enough to see what we wish of the country. Then we can find a trading-ship of some kind to take us to Siam, and once there, we shall have no trouble in getting to Singapore, as there is a regular line between that city and Bangkok, the capital of Siam. There is much to be seen in Siam, as well as in Cochin China; and I think this route will be far preferable to the direct one by the mail steamers, though it will not be so comfortable. We must be prepared to "rough it" a little both on shore and at sea, but our privations will be more than compensated by the abundance of interesting sights on the way."

The boys agreed at once to the proposal, and the conversation came to an end. The Doctor went to arrange for the proposed journey, and the youths brought out their writing materials, and devoted the rest of the afternoon to the preparation of letters in answer to those they had just received.

The French steamer arrived from Shanghai in the evening, and her great hull loomed majestically in the light of the full-moon as she came to anchor. It is a condition of the contracts for the transportation of the mails, that a steamer is not to lie more than twenty-four hours at any of the stopping-places along the route unless detained by unforeseen accidents. Consequently, when one of these ships arrives, it is pretty certain that her departure will occur within the time above specified; and it was shortly announced that the ship in question would leave at noon the next day. The mail service between Europe and the Far East is performed almost as regularly as that across the Atlantic, and the arrivals at the various points can be guessed with tolerable accuracy. The English and French steamers perform each a fortnightly service both ways, and, as they run alternately, the residents of China and Japan have weekly mail-days for sending and receiving their letters.

Doctor Bronson engaged passage for the party by the French steamer as far as Saigon, and then went to the office of the "Yuen Fat Hong" to ascertain if there was a vessel for Bangkok by way of Cochin China.