That portion of the kingdom of Siam which formerly belonged to the kingdom of Camboja lies on the west of the river 3Iaekhaun, and is called Bangtang. It consists for the most part of extensive level flats, which stretch from the river many miles westward to the moun tains of Camboja, but the population is said to be small.
The tributary states of Laos, and those on the Malay peninsula, are noticed under LAOS and Illatav PENINSULA.
Martufactural.—The Siamese do not distinguish themselves in auy of the useful arts, and are much behind the Hiudoos and Chinese. Even their vessels and trinkets of gold and silver are imported from China; but certain gold and silver vases of handsome form and neat workmanship are fabricated in the palace of the king, and presented to the chiefs as insignia of title and office. The manufacture of silk and cotton stuffs is wholly in the hands of women ; the fabrics are of a very coarse and homely texture, and greatly inferior to those made in Java and Celebes. A common description of coarse pottery is made iu the country, but all the ordinary and better descriptions are imported from China, and in large quantities. The Chinese, who settled in Siam the last century, have introduced sense branches of industry. Besides the fabrication of sugar, which they have greatly extended, and the working of the neglected iniues of iron, they carry on the trades of blacksmith, tinsmith, and currier on a large scale. Considerable quantities of wrought-iron are produced by them, and at Bang-kok there are several extensive manufactures of cast-iron wholly conducted by Chinese. The manufacture of tin vessels is very considerable. The preparation of leather is carried on to a great extent, not for the purpose of making shoes, which are scarcely used, but for covering matrasscs and pillows, and for exporta tion to China. Tigers' and leopards' skins, &e., are preserved with the fur on, and exported to China.
Commerce.—Siam, in a commercial point of view, is considered the most importaut of the three empires which divide among them the countries between the Gulf of Bengal and China. As all the pro vinces of the empire produce some articles which are in demand in foreign countries, and nearly all the foreign commerce is at present concentrated in the town of Bang-kok, the inland and coasting trade is very considerable. The most important branch of inland commerce is that with the provinces of Siam Proper and with Laos, and a vast number of boats come down the Menam laden with grain, cotton, sapan-wood, oil, timber, stick-lac, bcnzoin, some raw silk, ivory, bees'-wax, horns, and hides. The goods carried hack are salt, salt fish, and Chinese, Indian, and European manufactures, and also those of Bang-kok. The produce of the proviuca of Bang-tang, and also of Lan fang, or Southern Laos, reaches Bang-kok by the river Bang-pa-kung. By this route are brought down gamboge, cardamums,
stick-lac, varnish, raw hides, horns, and ivory. From the countries west of Bank-kok, especially those on the banks of the rivers 3Iekh long and Tachin, great quantities of sugar, cotton, and sapan-wood are brought to Baug-kok. From the other ports goods are in general exported directly to China.
The most important branch of the foreign trade of Siam is that with China. It is partly carried on by Chinese vessels, but mostly in vessels built in Siam and navigated by Chinese. The principal com modities imported from China are coarse earthenware and porcelain, spelter, quicksilver, tea, vermicelli, dried fruits, raw silk, crapes, satins and other silk fabrics, nankeens, shoes, fans, umbrellas, writing paper, sacrificial paper, incense rods, and many minor articles. A considerable number of passengers come annually to settle in Siam. The commodities exported to China have been already noticed. Besides the trade with China, which is carried ou by sea, there is an overland trade between Laos and the province of Yun-nau ; but as the roads traverse high mountain ranges the commerce is not very active. The imports consist of coarse Chinese woollens, some English broadcloth's, pins, needles, and other descriptions of hardware, with some gold, copper, and lead. The returns are principally ivory, stick-lac, rhinoceros horns, and some minor articles. The commerce with Cochin-China is also considerable; but there appears to be scarcely any commercial intercourse existing between Siam and the Birman empire. Some trade is carried on between Molmcin, in Tenasscrim, and the northern districts of Siam. The British colony is supplied with live stock, and the trade seems gradually extending to many other articles. But the most important trade, next to that with China, is with the European establishments on the Malay Penin sula and the Sunda Islands, especially with the British colonies of Singapore, Malacca, and Pule Penang, and with the Dutch establish ments of Batavia, Cheribon, and Samaraug in Java, Pontiauac in Borneo, and Rho in Bing-tang. The staple exports of Siam to these colonies are sugar, salt, oil, and rice, to which may be added the minor articles of stick-lac, iron-paus, coarse earthenware, and hog's lard. The returns are British and Indian piece-goods, some British woollens, opium, and glass, with the products of the adjacent countries which are suited for the Chinese market, such as pepper, tin, dragon's blood, rattans, tripang, edible birds'-neas, and camphor. The crews of the Siamese junks engaged in this trade are almost exclusively Chinese, but the vessels are built at Bang-kok.