There is probably no nation of the earth, among whom education, at least to a certain point, is so widely and generally diffused, as among the Siamese. This is mainly owing to the following facts:

First, the means of living are both cheap and abundant, so that a man may ordinarily play three-fourths of his time, and still be able to earn a comfortable support. Of course, some means of recreation must be sought for the employment of this large leisure; and with their love for sedentary pursuits, and the characteristic indolence of the East Indian, it comes to pass, naturally enough, that books are eagerly sought for, highly prized, and abundantly enjoyed. They are, in the fullest sense of the term, a reading people, and you can scarcely pick up in the streets, even a homeless little vagrant, of eight years, who cannot read intelligently in his own language.

A second reason is to be found in the unbounded curiosity which forms one of the chief constituents of Siamese character, and which must be gratified at all hazards. Books tending to appease this longing for anything new, wonderful, or mysterious, will soon find favour in their eyes; and the last new one is always the greatest favourite.

Whilst residing among them, I was often called on to translate, for the entertainment of the priests and nobles, column after column from the English and American newspapers. So wearying was this

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employ, that various pretexts were resorted to, in order to evade the requisition. After reading to them all the items of general interest, I would beg to be excused from farther translations on the ground of weariness; and when they continued still to importune, I would seek to tire them by giving, verbatim, paragraph after paragraph of mercantile advertisements, bank notices, and other equally entertaining matter; but instead of being disgusted as I hoped, they would, greatly to my annoyance, listen on, declare themselves "highly amused," and still, to my utter horror, cry "more, more, more."

But probably after all, the great reason why all classes are generally taught to read, is that it costs nothing, and this to a Siamese is the summum bonum, the very ne plus ultra, of human excellence. They will gladly accept anything in the world that can be procured "without money and without price," whether they want it or not, simply because it costs nothing. One man, a priest, used to come to me frequently for religious tracts, and after I had given him copies of all that we had, he still continued to importune for more. After a long talk on the subject, he at last confessed that he had no use for them, but thought it was a pity not to get them as long as he could without buying.

On the same principle, I have repeatedly seen them swallow the most nauseous

medicines, when they had no ailment, simply because they were distributed gratis. I remember one instance that amused all our party very much at the time, and was a standing joke for a long while afterwards. It was the case of a man evidently in the enjoyment of vigorous health, who used to come, day after day, to the dispensary, begging for “Yah Fràng," (Foreign medicine,) with an importunity that would admit of no denial. Simple prescriptions, too mild in their effects to injure materially even a well man, had been repeatedly given him, in the hope that his curiosity being gratified, his visits would after a while be discontinued. But we had evidently mistaken his case; where we had supposed curiosity was the ailment, the disease was found to be one much more deeply seated and difficult of cure, i. e., a firm resolve to get all he could for nothing; and so day after day, when the doors were thrown open at noon, he was still the first man to press forward for the coveted potion, and ever the most eager in swallowing the dose, however nauseous.— Wearied out with his pertinacity, and really fearing the deleterious effects of this continued dosing, the physician in attendance determined to frighten him off. He, therefore, spread two small plasters of Spanish flies, and placed them on the temples of his quondam patient, and then, after administering a narcotic of sufficient potency to induce a pretty heavy sleep, he directed the man to go home and remain all day quietly in bed. The patient made his exit with a well satisfied air, and the doctor doubted not that he had at last rid himself of his persistent visitor. The lapse, however, of only a few hours proved his mistake, and convinced the doctor of the truth of the old Scotch proverb, a bad penny always returns." About 9 o'clock in the evening, of the same day, as the physician sat in his private study poring over his musty volumes, the door suddenly opened and his tormentor entered, holding both hands to his head, and exclaiming fiercely "Doctor, you've killed me, my head is nearly burnt off-make haste and get me some more Yah F'ráng to bring me to

life. Medicines so powerful to kill, can certainly cure. I have more confidence than ever in your foreign drugs!" especi ally, he might have added, as they are not quid pro quo, but quid pro nihil.

But begging our reader's pardon for this digression, we return to the subject with which we started, i. e., education.

This is generally received at the public schools, which, are always located at the Budhist Temples, and taught by the priests, without charges of any sort for either books or tuition. The city of Bangkok, for the accommodation of its five hundred thousand inhabitants, has a hundred magnificent temples; to each of which pertains one or more zayats, devoted exclusively to educational purposes, and many of them large enough to accommodate several hundred pupils each. In this royal city, there is a resident clergy, of not less than twenty thousand, who are levied on for the supply of as many teachers as may be needed for the instruction of all the pupils in attendance.

The only branches professedly taught, are reading, writing, and composition in their own language-the history, Ancient and Modern, of their own and a few of the surrounding nations, arithmetic, and astronomy.

Of the last, a brief description will, I doubt not, be interesting to most readers, partly as a matter of curiosity, from its very absurdity, and still more from its intimate connection with Budhism, the established religion of the country. Indeed, so interwoven with each other are these absurdities, that they must stand or fall together; and if you can succeed in convincing a Budhist that his theory of astronomy is erroneous, he at once renounces his religion with it, and ceases from that moment to place any sort of reliance on the creed or sacred books of the system in which he has been educated.

The sacred Bali writings (indisputable authority in the opinion of a Budhist) assert that the Universe consists of an infinite number of systems, which meet at their circumference, whilst the spaces between these circular planes, are filled up with intensely cold water. Of these

systems, some are continually springing into existence, and others becoming chaotic, to reproduce themselves again in due course. This process of dissolution and reproduction has been going on from all eternity, and can never cease. The system to which our earth belongs, is composed of a great central mountain, called Pra-su-má-ru-ràt, four continents and sixteen hundred islands. The great central mountain is made up of seven distinct regions, placed one above another, and each occupied by an order of beings rising successively higher in the scale of existence, till the top is reached, and a degree of happiness attained, beyond which nothing remains to be hoped for, till "Nigban" is gained. The northern side of this great mountain is of gold, the eastern silver, the southern ruby, and the western glass. It is calculated to be more than a million of miles in height, with a base of equal depth, and is girt about by seven chains of mountains and seven impassable seas. On each of the four sides of the mountain is a vast continent or island, surrounded by four hundred smaller ones, which exactly resemble it in form, whilst the shape of each large island designates the contour of face possessed by the inhabitants thereof. That on the North is circular in form, on the East triangular, on the South oblong, and on the West square. Our earth is the southern one, with oval-faced inhabitants. The colour of each cluster of islands is derived from that of the side of the mountain which happens to be next to it; and the people inhabiting the continent and islands, have their colour regulated by the same unerring standard.

Ours being the ruby side, the roseate complexions of Western nations are readily accounted for; but for the clear yellow tinge of most Orientals, one would suppose they would naturally have selected the golden side of the mount, as that nearest approaching their own precise hue. How this inconsistency is to be accounted for, I cannot inform my readers, being invariably answered, whenever I ventured the question to any of the

learned priesthood, "the Bali says it." That the Bali so proclaims it, is by all Budhists regarded as indisputable evidence of the correctness of any statement, however absurd, and so my readers will have in this instance at least to regard it. And here they will permit me en passant to remind them, that in the somewhat improbable stories with which this sketch is concluded, I follow strictly the sacred Bali text, and that of course we must in courtesy regard as veritably true, whether it accords with common

sense or not.

But to return, the inhabitants that people the northern islands, are represented as being thirteen cubits* high, the eastern nine cubits, the western seven, while our own diminutive race are reduced to the modest measurement of from five to six feet.

Those who live in each group may pass from the large to the various small islands that compose that particular cluster; but cannot, by any possibility, pass from one group to another, any more than we can travel from planet to planet.

Our earth, the large southern island, is said to be a convex plane of about one hundred and twenty-five thousand miles in diameter-below the crust of earth on which we live, is an immense depth of water, then a still deeper stratum of air, and then-nothing at all! So says the Bali.

The other three groups of islands around Pra-su-má-ru-ràt, are all occupied by beings somewhat similar to our race in intelligence, position, and capacity for happiness, except in two particulars. The first is, that the longevity of the inhabitants of the other three never varies, while that of man is constantly vascillating from ten years to a number called in the sacred books à-song-kai, and designated by a unit and one hundred and forty ciphers. Such a number we have no means of numerating, nor terms by which to designate one-fourth of the number, even with the aid of the Latin. I have no resource, therefore, but to transfer the Bali, à-song-kai. After the duration

of man's life has reached this point, it gradually dwindles down to ten years, and then is again slowly increased till it reaches an à-song-kai, and so on for myriads of ages. The other point in which our race differs from the inhabitants of the other three continents and their dependencies, is that in each successive transmigration, to which all are alike subject, they are always born on the same island where they first came into being, whilst our race enjoys the great privilege of rising, by means of superior merit, higher and higher in the social scale, till nigban itself is reached.

The several strata of Pra-su-má-ru-ràt, constitute the seven heavens of the Budhists, each occupied by beings of a different order, and rising higher and higher in the social scale, as their dwellingplace approaches the summit of the mount. Still beyond is "nigban," the highest possible point of happiness of which any intelligence is capable—a state in which one "still exists, but is susceptible of neither pain nor pleasure." A "dreamless sleep" indeed!

The hells their books describe, are located within the base of the great mountain. Of these there are eight principal ones, and sixteen of inferior grade, where the wicked are tormented by furious dogs, ravenous vultures, deadly serpents, gnawing worms, and above all by insupportable heat and cold.

More will be said in another article, under the head of Budhism, concerning these rewards and punishments; these being merely mentioned here to give the location of the heavens and hells as parts of the great mountain that forms the centre of our system. We will pass now, to the subject of Eclipses, as having more immediate connection with astronomy. Of their peculiar ideas on this subject, the following tale, translated from one of the sacred books, furnishes the best illustration.

The writer begins in the usual style of eastern authors, with a form of worship as follows:

"I beg leave to worship and bow down, before the sacred Budh and all his images, before the thousand millions of his priests and all their consecrated dwellings, before the sacred Bali volumes and the shrines that contain them, before the sacred yellow robe and all its adornments. May all evil spirits flee far from me, and may every species of malice, anger, and ill-will be putaway, lest I should pollute the sacred* Bali in which I write.

"I will relate a story concerning what happened when the Budh was perfecting himself in the Chetuwán temple in the city of Sawatthi, in South Béhar. In those days, whilst the lord Gándáma was on earth, as a priest, he went out one day to ask alms for his support, according to the customs of the priesthood. Whilst walking on his regular course, holding the priestly fan before his face, and looking neither to the right nor the left, he came suddenly upon the encampments of three brothers, who had pitched their tents on the suburbs of the great city, at some little distance from each other.

"As the lord Gándáma approached, they being wholly unmindful of his august presence, were preparing to take their noon-day meal, each in a style corresponding with his rank. Had they known that the embryo deity was so near them, they would rather have feasted their eyes on his glorious brightness, than have luxuriated in the most delicious repast, and they would have thought only of finding some suitable gift to lay at his feet, but Fate had not yet opened their eyes.

"The eldest brother, whose name was Chán Watio, was of noble mein, comely features, and flashing black eyes, which sent forth lightning glances of terror, or melted into the tenderest love, according

to the mood of the moment. He was of exalted rank, and immense wealth, and Fortune had ever delighted to crown him with her choicest favours.

"At this time, he was reposing on sumptuous cushions of purple velvet, richly embroidered in threads of gold, and studded with diamonds, pearls, and rubies, forming clusters of fruits so lifelike in their luxurious lusciousness that even the spirits of the air might have tarried in their rapid flight to regale themselves therewith, and garlands of flowers that could have bloomed only in some celestial clime. Over his head was a lofty canopy of burnished gold, from which were suspended curtains of the richest satin, edged with gold, and looped with bands of emerald. The floor of the tent was magnificently inlaid in mosaics of silver, ebony, and ivory; chandeliers of massive gold hung from the ceiling by chains of the same precious metal; and mirrors and pictures, innumerable and costly, adorned the walls of the spacious apartment. Tempting fauteuils and luxurious divans of gorgeous make, occupied every niche, and invited to indolent repose. The other furniture was of richlycarved ebony, inlaid with sandal wood and silver, whilst on antique stands, scattered here and there throughout the room, rested costly vases, filled with the rarest and most beautiful flowers, delighting the eye, and rendering the whole atmosphere redolent with the celestial perfume.

"Crouched in various attitudes around lord Watio, were scores of young and beauteous maidens, some engaged in fanning him, others bathing his hands and sprinkling his garments with attar of roses. Some wreathed garlands of choice flowers around the cushions against which he reclined, and not a few were occupied in preparing and presenting the various viands and drinks with which he regaled himself.

"In more distant parts of the room, were bands of singing and dancing girls,

who were putting forth all their skill and grace to attract the notice, and elicit some word of praise from their beloved lord. Now soft strains of amorous music rise from some swelling bosom, and the pliant form of a beauteous damsel threads the mazes of the voluptuous dance,again the thrill of martial music, from many instruments, comes in from the open door and fills the apartment with its stirring notes-whilst ever and anon the excited voice of a tall and spirited maiden recounts the wondrous exploits of some god or hero of romance. Yet lord Watio failed to be amused-he alone, of all that company, looked listless and weary.

"Even the rich viands served in vessels of massive gold, and presented by the fair hands of beauteous and loving damsels, were sparingly tasted or pushed petulantly aside, whilst the overflowing goblet of luscious pomegranite juice, held temptingly to his lips by the hands of a gentle houri, was recklessly overturned at his feet.

"Pleasures so plenteously tasted, had ceased to charm this petted favourite of Fortune, and the presentiment of impending calamity cast an unusual gloom over his handsome countenance.

"Whispered expressions of sorrowful sympathy among his faithful attendants, were interrupted by the entrance of the priest Gandámá. His noble figure was completely enveloped in the ample folds of his sacred yellow robe, and his princely bearing at once attracted all eyes toward him. Lord Watio hastily snatching a golden cup from one of his ladies, prostrated himself three times before the priest, and having worshipped, entreated that his condition in the next state of existence, might correspond with the splendour of the offering he was about to make. So saying he laid the cup at the priest's feet, and awaited his reply.

"The embryo deity eagerly accepted the costly offering, gave the required promise, and not being permitted, by his priestly*