Directory_and_Chronicle_1933 — Page 1375

SIAM--BANGKOK.

1237

invitation was sent to the King asking him to rule as a constitutional monarch. The invitation was accepted and a Siam Temporary Constitution Act was promulgated on June 27th. Under this constitution the King is the head of the state, and there is a People's Senate of 70 members and Committee of the People's Party of 15 (chosen from the Senate). For the moment the members have been appointed by the military dictators of the Capital, but it is provided that in due course they shall be elected by the people.

BANGKOK

The city of Bangkok is situated on both sides of the Menam about 25 miles from where this magnificent stream empties itself into the Gulf. On the left bank of the river is the city proper, enclosed partly by a wall. The Royal palaces and Govern- ment Offices are within the wall, the foreign hongs, the Consulates, and the principal rice mills being on the principal or main street of the city. The right bank is prin- cipally occupied by Siamese, Chinese and Mahommedan residents. The bulk of the business is transacted on the left. Here a road, called New Road-in Siamese, Charurn Krung-extends from the Palace walls to Bangkolem, and the electric tramway runs along it for a distance of about six miles. Another electric tramway to Samsen has a length of four miles. Other lines opened in 1906, traverse the city and its environs in various directions, the total length being about 12 miles. All the tramway services are in the hands of the Siam Electric Corporation, Ltd. Various new streets and roads have been made recently, and Bangkok has now over 200 miles of carriage roads. A telegraph line connects the Lighthouse at the Bar beyond the mouth of the river with the business portion of the city, and a wireless telegraph station was completed in 1913 that is also in communication with the bar. The principal trade of Bangkok, and the foundation on which not only its prosperity but its actual existence mainly rests, is rice.

This article is drawn in immense quantities, not only from the in- numerable fields which line the fertile valley of the Menam, but froin the adjacent rivers which flow into the Gulf from the enormous watershed of the mountain crescent which fringes the northern extremity of the kingdom. The output of this grain in favourable years is scarcely to be calculated. It not only furnishes support to the native population of Siam and the Malay Peninsula, but largely contributes to the supply of China, Manila, the Straits, Java, and Sumatra; a large amount is also sent to Europe and even to South America. There is also a large trade in teak-wood and ivory, with very many other minor articles of native produce which are exported to China and the Straits. Butterfield & Swire steamers give a regular weekly connection with Hongkong and Swatow; and the Straits Steamship Co. has a weekly service with Singapore.

The British India S. N. Co. also maintains a frequent service between Singapore and Bangkok. The Osaka Shosen Kaisha maintains a connection with Singapore and Netherlands-India. There are always a number of Norwegian and Japanese steamers chartered by Bangkok firms. The Siam Steam Navigation Co. provides regular connection with the coast ports, and the Siamese Steainship Co., Ltd., has its head office in Bangkok.

The public buildings and institutions include the Royal Museum, which is situated in the Wang Nah, Bangkok, and consists of two buildings-that on the left of the approach contains the natural history collections and ethnological exhibits from Japan, China, Java, etc.; that on the right (fromerly a royal building) contains the Siamese ethnological collection. There are two Protestant Churches-Christ Church and St. Mary's Mission; four Roman Catholic Churches; nine Hospitals (two being maintained by and for the accommodation of Europeans, with a staff of Eurorean nurses). Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, maintained by the Siamese Red Cross Society, is one of the finest and best equipped hospitals in the East. The Society has also under its charge the Pasteur Institute, first opehed in 1905. St. Louis' Hospital a spacious building, was opened in 1899, the Sisters of Charity being in charge. The French Roman Catholic Mission maintains two schools for boys and two for girls. The