It is not known whether any of the upper tributaries of the Menem are navigable; but the two rivers which fall into it from the west near its mouth are both navigable. The most western, the itlekltiong, which has also given its name to the western embouchure of the Menem, runs through a country in which hills and plains of some extent alternate, and is navigable by boats up to the fortress of Lumtshhang, a place of some commerce 200 miles from the mouth of the river. The eastern river which reaches the sea by the central embouchure of the Menem, to which it gives its name, Tachie, is also navigable for a considerable distance. The plains along its banks are inhabited by many Chinese, who cultivate the sugar-cane.
About 30 miles east from the eastern mouth of the Mennen is that of the river Bang-pa-kung, which originates iu the mountains of Camboja, between 15° and 16° N. lat. It runs west-south-west; is said to be not much inferior in size to the Menem itself; and has au equal depth of water on its bar. It drains a country highly pro ductive in rice and not inferior in fertility to the alluvial tract that surrounds Bangkok and Ayuthia.
A large lake called the Lachado is said to exist in the parallel of, but a considerable distance west from, Ayuthia; a river called Talau carries off ite waters to the Menem.
Climate.—At Bangkok, the only place of which wo have any detailed information, the year is divided between the dry and the wet seasons, as in other tropical countries. The dry season lasts from October to April, and during this time the weather is temperate, but in April and the beginning of May, before the rains set in, the thermometer is daily from 95° to 96° in the shade. The periodical rains commence early in May, and go on increasing, so that in June nud July they are extremely heavy. In August the rains are usually light, and they cease in September. The river has then risen so as to inundate the country, and it continues to rise to the end of November. The greatest rise of the river at Baug-kok is 18 feet. During the rains hard gales from the south and eoutb-wcst are frequent, and with the rain they moderate the beat. The prevailing winds are connected with the monsoons; and during the year blow regularly from all points of the compass.
Prodeetions.—Siam is rich in natural productions. Rice is most extensively cultivated and largely exported, chiefly to China. On the alluvial coil of the Menem it generally yields forty-fold ; and when only thirty-fold, it is considered an indifferent crop. With the exception of Bengal, Siam unquestionably exports more rice than any country in Asia. Maize is also extensively cultivated, particularly in the mountain districts, but it is not much exported. Wheat and other
cereals are little if at all grown. Of leguminous plants, the Phano/us radiates, the Phateolus seazimus, and the Arachis hypogrea are most commonly cultivated, and the first is exported to China and the Malay Islands. The roots cultivated in other tropical countries are common, especially the sweet potato. The cocoa and areca palms are cultivated extensively in the lower tracts, and the oil obtained from the first is an important article of export. Siam is noted for a great variety and abundance of fruit-trees, and their produce surpasses that of all other parts of India in flavour. The neighbourhood of Bang kok is one forest of fruit-trees. The most exquisite fruits are the mango, the mangustan, the orange, the durian, the lichl, and the pine apple, with many others of inferior value.
Several other plants are cultivated as articles of foreign trade. The most important is the sugarcane, which is extensively exported to China, the western parts of Hindustan, Persia, Arabia, and Europe. The cultivators of the cane are always Siamese, but the manufacturers of sugar are invariably Chinese. Black pepper of a superior quality is cultivated to an enormous extent in the country east of the Gulf of Siam ; nearly the whole of it is exported to China. Tobacco, which formerly was imported, is now grown so generally, that considerable quantities are exported to Cochin-China and to several of the Malay countries ; the best is grown in the countries east of the Gulf of Siam. Cotton does not succeed in tho low countries, but a cotton of good quality is grown in the more elevated tracts on the Malay penin sula, and in those which divide the alluvial region of the Menem from the mountains of Siam.
The forests, which cover nearly all the mountain ranges of Siam, yield several articles of trade. Cardamums are collected in the forests on the mountains of Camboja, and go to China, where they fetch a verl high price. In the mountainous and woody district, of Laos a gum is collected which nearly resembles benzoin, with which it was long confounded. Gamboge is collected in the mountains of Camboja, whence its name. Aquila-wood is procured in the countries east of the Gulf of Siam, as far north as M' SO' N. lat, and considerable quantities of it go to China, where it is used as a perfume in the temples. Sapan-wood is got from the forests, with which the moun tains of Siam are clothed, between 10' and l5 N. lat In point of quantity, if not of value, it is the moat considerable of all the exports of Siam. It is principally sent to China, but a very considerable quantity is also exported to Bengal and Europe.