For administrative purposes the country is divided, as from April 1, 1926, into 14 montons (or divisions), 13 of which are under a Lord-Lieutenant who derives his authority direct from the King, and exercises control over a number of subordinate governors in different parts of the monton; the Bangkok division. (which includes the capital) is under the control of a Lord Pre fect. The montons are subdivided into 79 provinces (Changwats) which are again subdivided into 413 districts (Ampurs) and 5,109 communes (Tambons). The policing of the montons is provided for by a gendarmerie of over 8,000 men and officers, a well-equipped and well-disciplined force. That of the suburban provinces is effected by branches of the Bangkok civil police.
The revenue of Siam for 1908 was 58 million ticals or L4,300,000. In 1926-27 the revenue was L7,827,618 and the expenditure L7,808,362. The principal sources of revenue were Up to March 31, 1925, the amount spent on works of develop ment was: construction of railways, L14,054,821 irrigation, L1,804,921; Bangkok waterworks, £394,344.
The unit of Siamese currency is the tical, a silver coin of fixed value of is.8d or 12 ticals to the L. Currency in use is mainly in the form of notes of which the first issue was made in 1902. In 1925 there was L10,735,305 worth of currency notes in circulation.
Weights and Measures.—The coinage furnishes the standard weight. I tical= 15 grams; 4 ticals= i Tamlung; 20 Tamlungs= I Chang; I Picul or Hap =6o.48 kilograms= ioo Catties of
lb., which is the catty usually employed in commerce.
The unit of length is the Wah. 1 Niew=.83 in.; 12 Niu= Keub (io in.) ; 2 Keup =1 Sawk (20 in.) ; 4 Sawk =I Wah (8o in.) ; 20 Wah= 1 Sen (133 feet) ; 400 Sen=t Yote (io miles roughly). For square measure the unit is the Rai, .39 acre, and for capacity, the Kanahan=a- litre.
In 1924 a law was passed for the introduction of the metric system which is to be compulsory in 193o.
All able . bodied men are liable by the Military Service Act of 1917, to two years' service with the colours and for varying periods in the reserves. The army is divided into ten divisions. The effective strength of the army is about 25,00o. Aviation schools are in existence and a flying corps has been formed which is chiefly employed in development of civil aviation. The navy is small but has doubled in strength during recent years. The number of trained men available for naval service is more than 5,000.
Since the institution of the Ministry of Justice in 1892 very great improvements have been effected. The old tri bunals, where customary law was administered by ignorant satel lites of the great, amid corruption, have all been replaced by organised courts with qualified judges appointed from the Bang kok law school and under the direct control of the ministry, except in the most outlying parts. A provincial judicial scheme
now in force provides a Court at the headquarters of each province (Changwat) and a Central Court at the chief town of each Circle (Monton) and a Supreme Court at Bangkok. Extra-territorial power was secured by treaty for all subjects of a foreign power. A commission for the codification of laws is in existence which is to cover Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Commercial Code, Law of Judicial Organisation. When the codification has been completed the recognition of Siamese laws by all the powers may be expected and an end of extra-territoriality.
Buddhism is the prevailing religion of the Siamese and Laos but the Malays of the Peninsula are Mohammedans. Buddhism in Siam is tinged by Burmese and Sinhalese influences and in the remote country districts by spirit-worship character istic of the Ka and hill peoples of Indo-China. In Bangkok Brahmanical influence is still noticeable and Brahman priests assist at all acts of public importance. The Siamese, as Southern Buddhists, pride themselves on their orthodoxy and since Burma and Ceylon have ceased to be independent, the King of Siam is regarded as the sole surviving defender of the faith. A close connection exists between the laity and priesthood for the Buddhist rule prescribing that every man should enter the priest hood for at least two months is almost universally observed. The accounts given as to the profligacy and immorality in the monas teries are exaggerated. Many of the temples are under the direct supervision of the King and in these a stricter rule of life is observed. Some of the priests are learned in the Buddhist scrip tures and most of the Pali scholarship in Siam is to be found in the monasteries. There is little public worship. On the day set apart for worship (IV an Phra, or "Day of the Lord") the attendance at the temple is small and consists mostly of women. Religious and semi-religious ceremonies play a large part in Siamese life. Few weeks pass without some function or proces sion. The cremations of great people, often lasting several days, are the occasion of public festivities and are celebrated with processions, theatrical shows, illuminations and fireworks. The English, French and American missionaries in Siam have done much to help on the general work of civilisation while the progress of education has been largely due to their efforts.