Thread: A Remarkable Book About Thailand.

Narrative of a residence at the capital of the Kingdom of Siam, with a description of the manners, customs, and laws of the modern Siamese (1852)

download free, for kindle, tablet, phone or as a plain text file to read on your pc.

https://archive.org/details/narrativeofresid00nealuoft

an account of a british traveller cum diplomats journey and stay in the kingdom of thailand in the 1850's.

written using the wonderfully politically incorrect gung ho intellectually superior style of language of the mid nineteenth century british colonialist, this book describes eloquently the sights, sounds and atmosphere of 1850's bangkok and the character, nature and behaviour of its inhabitants. he pulls no punches. his descriptions and vignettes will have you thinking you are right there with him.

you will certainly recognise many aspects of thailand and thainess that have changed little in the past 160 years.

an absolutely unputdownable read. i cant recommend it highly enough.

How much was the bar fine back then?

read it necron, its a classic!!

you wont be disappointed.

I'll put in on the list.
Just started a 4000 page history of the CIA

I have read it, its a wonderful book, highly entertaining.

Downloading with a boner.

Originally Posted by Necron99

I'll put in on the list.
Just started a 4000 page history of the CIA

What's the CIA book called?

Originally Posted by rebbu

Originally Posted by Necron99

I'll put in on the list.
Just started a 4000 page history of the CIA

What's the CIA book called?

Legacy of Ashes by Tim Weiner
It's not very flattering to the Super Spies.

Originally Posted by rebbu

Originally Posted by Necron99

I'll put in on the list.
Just started a 4000 page history of the CIA

What's the CIA book called?

Is it "Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA"

I read this on White Lotus Books several years ago. Lent it to a friend and never saw it again. A good book and if you can read it for free even better.

http://www.whitelotuspress.com/bookdetail.php?id=E20918




Lots of other similar books available from White Lotus Press.

Even better if you can get it is :

Siamese White. ............ about a British con merchant at the court of King Narai

Originally Posted by Necron99

Originally Posted by rebbu

Originally Posted by Necron99

I'll put in on the list.
Just started a 4000 page history of the CIA

What's the CIA book called?

Legacy of Ashes by Tim Weiner
It's not very flattering to the Super Spies.

Thanks. I downloaded it on TPB.

Originally Posted by Necron99

I'll put in on the list.
Just started a 4000 page history of the CIA

do let us have a summary when you finish it

Originally Posted by leemo

Originally Posted by Necron99

I'll put in on the list.
Just started a 4000 page history of the CIA

do let us have a summary when you finish it

I'll put it in the "what I have been reading thread" in a day or two.

here are the chapter headings and subjects covered.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Departure from Singapore.
Squally weather.
Dangerous situation of the
ship.
Experience of a Typhoon near Pulo Obi.
Description of it.
Progress to Siam.
Slaughter of the ducks.
Arrival at the Bar of Siam .



CHAPTER II.

Paknam.
Arrival of ship reported, and permission requested to enter and
proceed up the river.
Consequences of not complying with this rule.
Proceed up the river Menam.
Description of Paknam.
Its fortress.
Siamese King's permission to all the world to dine.
Paknam villagers.
Incident with the natives.
Punishment of priests, &c., for an attack on the
English.
Paknam houses.
The Government-house.
Siamese ladies.
Description of the Menam.
Scenery.
Birds.
Native canals.
Paklat Boon.
Dockyards.
First sight of Bangkok.
American missionaries.
Appearance of Bangkok in the morning.
Junks.
Description of houses.
Accident to one.
Population of Bangkok.
Fall into the river.
Mr.
Hunter.
Order from Prince Chou-Faa to cast a cannon Tombs.
Prisons.
Markets.
Annoyance from Crows.
Siamese aversion to walking.
Mode
of passing the day among the residents of Siam.
Account of the French
Missions ... 12



CHAPTER III.

Royal dockyards in Bangkok.
Siamese navy.
Quarrels with Cochin Chinese.
Names of Siamese ships of war, all British.
How given.
Composition of the crews.
Labourers in the dockyard.
House of the Portuguese consul.
Anecdote about bricks.
Story of vacancy among floating houses.
Rebellion of Peer-si-pifoor.
How it was arrested.
Awful punishment of
the rebel.
Mr. Neale's audience with the king.
Wonderful Siamese map.
Tombs of the three kings.



CHAPTER IV.

Marriage ceremonies
Description of a Siamese beauty and her accomplish-
ments.
Siamese courtship.
Negotiation with the parents.
The Bridegroom's new canoe.
Funeral rites of the Siamese.
Burning of Bodies



CHAPTER V.

Geographical description of Siam.
Account of the inhabitants.
Chinese part of the population.
Articles of commerce. Native wealth of Siam.
Vegetable and mineral.
Reasons why it is not developed.
Gamboge.
Pet rats.
The Tokay.
Adventures with Birds Fruits.
Climate of Bangkok.
Food of the Siamese.
Intoxicating drinks.
Samshoe.
General temperance of the people.
Prevalent diseases.
Digression on the effect of change and custom on our ideas of beauty.
Description of the Monsoons.
Ravages of Cholera.
Precautions against.
Kitchen vegetables.
The tea-plant



CHAPTER VI.

The Prince Chou-Faa.
His friendship for the English.
His desire for knowledge.
Drill of his artillery soldiers.
Terrible effect of a man-of-war's salute.
The Prince's skill in making and repairing watches.
His melancholy and its causes.
His wives and children.
Account of a carouse
at his palace on Christmas day, 1840.
Siamese game of battledoor and shuttlecock.
Chinese theatrical performance.
Sketch of the drama.
The Christmas dinner.
Visits to the temples of the White Elephants.
De-
scription of the watts.
The two elephants.



CHAPTER VII.

Chanti Boon.
Its situation and buildings.
Account of the attempt of a Chinese Captain to run away with a richly laden Siamese Government
trader.
Mode of conducting business at Chanti Boon.
Adventure with the Siamese officer of Customs.
Monkeys and snakes.
Description of the country.
Siamese cookery.
The White Ant and the Cobra di Capello.
Use of the ant-hills by the latter.
Feeding of the Cobra by the natives.
Tringano.
Passage across Siamese Gulf.
Encounter with a whirlwind.
Bardia.
Champon.
Effect of a salute of twenty-one guns.
Collection of tribute from the Rajah.
Return voyage



CHAPTER VIII.

Festival of the Peace Offering.
Legend which has given rise to the festival
Procession of the inhabitants to celebrate it.
Description of the ceremonies.
Peculiar mode of catching fish.
Description of a supper supplied
by a Chinese.
Visit to the ruined city of Yuthia.
Return to Bangkok.



CHAPTER IX.

General character of the Siamese.
General inoffensiveness of their disposition.
Their dress.
Their passion for gambling.
Smoking opium.
Description of its effects.
Their skill as swimmers.
Adventure of an American who could not swim.
Want of beauty in ladies of Siam.
Use of betel-nut.
Ceremonies at birth of a child.
Amusements of ladies in the higher
ranks.
Siamese women excellent housewives.
Education of children.
Selling of daughters.
General summary of Siamese character.



CHAPTER X.

Dispute between " Governments of Siam and Cochin China. Confiscation of
Siamese vessels in Cochin China ports. Reprisals. Fury of the King of
Siam. His councils always held at night. Army sent to frontiers. Ship of
war " the Caledonia " ordered for sea. Author put in command of 250
marines. Character and discipline of the Ship's crew. Cruel instructions
given to the Officers. Encounter a severe storm. Ship nearly lost.
Curious adventures of a cargo of Sugar on board. Return of Vessel . . 161



CHAPTER XI.

Trade of Siam.
Imports from China.
Excellent quality of Tea.
Sugar Candy, Silks, Cloths, Ivory Carvings, Writing Paper, Toys, &c. Mode in which
business is transacted with Chinese Junks.
All the crew owners and
traders.
Harmony with which they manage their affairs.
Imports from India.
Meagreness of Imports from Britain.
Exports.
System on which
business is conducted.
Treatment of Bankrupts.
Reasons for supposing
that trade between Britain and Siam could be greatly extended.


CHAPTER XII.



Shooting Excursion.
" The Friends' " Cutter.
Fishing for Pomphlets.
Landing
at Pigeon Island.
Description of the Island.
Shooting Pigeons.
Government Despatch Boxes.
Amusing Adventure with one.
Fire at Bangkok.
Attack on Mr. Hunter's house.
Breaking out of the Cholera.
Author returns home.



CHAPTER XIII.

A Brief Sketch of the History of Siam 206



Recent Embassies to Siam 221

Siamese Songs 229

Siamese Music 234

Siamese Language 238

Loubere's Account of the Siamese 242

Maxims of the Priests of Siam . 251

Thanks very much Tax.

Siamese aversion to walking.

Hahaha. Ace.

Siamese women excellent housewives.
Education of children.
Selling of daughters.
Adventure with the Siamese officer of Customs.

thought it was stickman for a minute.

Want of beauty in ladies of Siam. ??

Originally Posted by taxexile

read it necron, its a classic!!

you wont be disappointed.

Nice find, Mate..
I'm familiar with this edition.

Noted: there are quite a number of similar tomes of this nature [and era] written largely by Western foreigners.

Keep browsing that internet archive - you'll find a treasure trove.

Another site of related interest: Southeast Asia Visions Collection | Cornell University Library