BANGKOK, the capital city of Siam, situated on both banks of the Menam, about 20 miles from its mouth, and in 14° N. lat., and 20' E. long. The 27—Vol. I—Cyc population is about 550,000, nearly halt of whom are Chinese•, the others includ ing Burmese, Annamese, Cambodians, Malays, Eurasians, and Europeans. The foreign trade of Siam centers in Bang kok, and is mainly in the hands of the Europeans and Chinese. The approach to Bangkok by the Menam, which can be navigated by ships of 350 tons bur den (large sea-going ships anchor at Paknam, below the bar at the mouth of the river), is exceedingly beautiful. Stone buildings are used only for the royal palaces, some noblemen's houses, monasteries, and the dwellings of Euro peans. A large number of the houses float on rafts, fastened by ropes to poles; most of the trade of the city is carried on upon the river. Much of the internal traffic of Bangkok is carried on by means of canals, but in recent years numerous streets and roads have been built; there are now also electric street railways, electric lights, and four railway stations. The native houses on land—of bamboo or other wood, like the floating houses—are raised upon piles, six or eight feet from the ground, and are reached by ladders.
The circumference of the walls of Bang kok, which are 15 to 30 feet high, and 12 broad, is about 6 miles. Bangkok is the constant residence of the King and the seat of foreign legations and con sulates. The palace is surrounded by high walls, and is nearly a mile in cir cumference. It includes temples, public offices, accommodation for officials and for some thousands of soldiers, with their necessary equipments, a theater, apartments for a crowd of female attend ants, and several Buddhist temples, or chapels. Throughout the interior are d;s tributed the most costly articles in gold, silver, and precious stones. The temples of Bangkok are innumerable and deco rated in the most gorgeous style, the Siamese taking a pride in lavishing their wealth on them. In the neighborhood of Bangkok are iron mines and forests of teak-wood. The chief exports are rice, sugar, pepper, cardamoms, sesame, hides, fine woods, ivory, feathers, and edible birds' nests. There is regular steam ship service with Singapore, Saigon, and Hong Kong. See SIAM.