SIAM, a kingdom of Asia, situated beyond the Ganges, and bounded on the west by the Birtnan Empire, on the south by the Gull of Siam, on the east by Cambodia and Cochin China, and on the north by portions of China and Tartary. This kingdom con sists properly of the wide valley of the Menam, (a large river which flows from Thibet,) lying between two ranges of mountains; hut it comprehends also an extensive territory, including almost the w hole peninsula of Malacca, and comprehending- the follow ing states, beginning from the North at Bankok:"` The province of Tenasserim. lying to the east of the three first or the above states, has been wrested from the Siamese. As this territory has been already described under the article Malacca, we shall at present consider Siam in reference only to the val ley of the Menam, and the province of Chantibond, which recently was joined to Siam. A great part of this kingdom consists of mountains, at the base of which are extensive and unproductive swamps and jungles. The agriculture of Siam is limited to the production of rice and sugar, which are raised on the grounds bordering on the river Menton; and as these are inundated during part of they car, the crops are abundant; though what is raised on dry soil is preferred.
The sugar cane has been introduced into Siam with in the last twenly years. The culture of it is managed solely by the Chinese, and it is supposed that it may be carried to an almost unlimited extent. The annual produce in 1821, was about 30,000 peculs, or nearly 1788 tons. The other productions of Siam are pep per, the annual produce of which, in Chantibond, is 20,000 peculs, 133 lbs. each, bcnzoin, tea, ivory, aguila wood, rhinoceros' horns, hides of cows, buffa los, and deer, gamboge, cardamoms, &c. Most of these articles are obtained most abundantly from Chantibond, where precious stones and gold, Sec. are also found.
The principal fruits are the durio, the mangostcen, pine apple, tamarind, banana, areka, betel, cocoa nut, from the last of which they obtain milk, oil, and pitch which makes good torches.
Among the animals of Siam, the elephant holds the principal place. The hunting of them is a royal mono poly. The finest are kept for the king's use, and the rest exported. A white elephant is reckoned beyond all value; and in the time of the French embassy, there was one which was served by 100 attendants.
It was lodged in a gilded stable, and drank out of a trough of massy gold. In 1822, there were five of these in the king's possession. These animals are, in short, albinos, and their eye was natural and sound, though the iris was pure white. In one or two of them, the colour was strictly white; and in all of them the iris was of that colour, and the margin of the eye lids; but in the rest, the colour had a cast of pink in it. In none did the colour and texture of the skin appear entirely healthy. They were small, but in ex cellent condition; and one of them, which V? as hand some, was treated with great attention. Fresh cut grass was placed in abundance before them, and they were fed with sliced sugar cane, and branches of plantains. They stood on a small boarded plat form kept clean; and a white cloth was spread before them. Mr. Finlayson describes another elephant covered with black spots the size of a pea, on a white base. The discoverer of a white elephant is reward ed with a crown of silver, and with a grant of land equal in extent to the space of country over which the elephant's cry may be heard. Ile and his family arc freed front all sorts of servitude. and their land from taxation, to the third generation. The other animals are tigers, rhinoceroses, leopards, w bite mon keys, tortoises, hedge-hogs. Domestic animals arc kw, and little esteemed, excepting the hogs, the flesh of which is superior to that of Europe.
Commerce is in a very singular state in Siam. The king and his ministers are the sole merchants, hold ing the monopoly of all articles of importance. Great encouragement is given to the Chinese traders, who have sown the seeds of commercial enterprise in Siam. All the Siamese are totally ignorant of maritime science; the king employs native Christians, Arabs, and other Mahommedans, to navigate his vessels. Ile, nevertheless, sends every year to China ten or twelve junks, of moderate size, laden with sugar, pepper, japan. and iron wood. Ile is, however, anxious to establish commercial relations with Europe; but the regulations are so illiberal, as to disgust the fair tra der. The introduction of opium has been long, and is still strictly prohibited.