ten or fifteen beautiful boys, holding their long-handled, golden fans in abeyance till their royal master should appear. The saloon was lighted by costly chandeliers, and the floor covered with India matting of the finest quality, whilst garlands and vases of rare and beautiful flowers, were scattered around in elegant profusion, and loaded the air with the softest and sweetest perfume.

In the immediate vicinity of the throne, were laid cushions for the foreignersthen others in the rear for the princes and nobles of the kingdom-and still farther off was seated an immense concourse of government officers, petty lords, and private gentlemen. Budhist Priests were scattered here and there throughout the crowded rooms, and were made conspicuous by their yellow robes (the clerical color) and their tall, priestly fans. The whole number assembled in the different apartments of the Pavilion, could not have been less than ten or fifteen thousand persons, yet such is the awe that the presence of royalty inspires, that perfect order and quiet were maintained till the close of this levee which lasted nearly eight hours.

Among those present, were the Heir apparent, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Lords of the Treasury and Harem, the Commander-inChief of the Army and Navy, the High Priest of the Kingdom, &c. All were seated à-la-orientale, on mats or cushions—no chairs could be allowed, because as the King does not himself use one, to furnish them to his guests, would not only elevate them too much in his presence, but would seem a tacit implication of deficiency of taste or judgment on the part of 'His Serene, infallible Majesty."

On entering, the foreigners took the seats assigned them, nearest the throne, and about half an hour afterwards, the King, a stout, merry-looking old gentleman of sixty, entered, seated on a goldcovered palanquin borne aloft by eight of his own nobles. He was preceded by an excellent band, that continued to play at intervals during the evening, sometimes the national anthems, but more frequent

ly some amorous legend or plaintive song of the wild and wonderful.

As the King entered, all except the foreigners prostrated themselves three times, each time touching the floor with their foreheads, and as they rose, lifting their joined hands high above their heads, and repeating in full chorus, some of the numerous titles of the King. When this tiresome ceremony was ended, the foreigners were one after another, introduced by the Prime Minister to his royal mas

ter.

The King conversed for about an hour with his guests, expressed his delight at finding that they spoke the Siamese so well, inquired how long they had been in the country, whether they liked it better than their own, what was the latest news from England and the United States, and wound up by a profusion of oriental compliments on the dress and personal appearance of the ladies. He however offered his condolence to the wearers for "the immense trouble it must occasion them to put on so many minute articles of dress," and inquired whether they went through "this tiresome routine every day, removing the day garments at night" or whether they kept on one suit all the time till it was worn out!

He said the European dress looked very well, but that for convenience and comfort in a warm climate, he much preferred the simple costume of his own country.

By His Majesty's order, refreshments were then brought in, and the guests urged to partake freely of the choice delicacies placed before them. Goblets of cool sherbet, and sparkling pomegranatejuice were handed round, and tea served in tiny tea-pots and cups of the purest gold. Cakes, fruits, and sweet-meats in endless variety were placed before the foreigners, but unfortunately neither knife, fork, spoon, nor even chop-sticks with which to handle these tempting viands. As the good-natured old King urged the ladies especially to partake of the dishes before them, they were compelled at last to excuse themselves by informing him that they were not accustomed to eat à-la-Siamese, i. e. with their

fingers. The King apologised to his visitors, and then mildly reproved the master of ceremonies for his carelessness, upon which that worthy personage made a hasty exit, and in a few minutes returned, plentifully supplied with Chinese chop-sticks. These the foreigners were utterly unable to make use of, and after several vain attempts as much to their own annoyance as to the amusement of the King-they were obliged again to excuse themselves, at the same time assuring their noble host, that they did not require refreshments, as they had made a late dinner. But the kind old monarch was not satisfied, and again summoning the major dono, gave another order, but in too low a tone to be heard by his guests. The official again left the hall, and after a few minutes absence returned, and this time, placed before the foreigners, a magnificent set of silver desertknives, forks and spoons of Queen Victoria's pattern. These his Majesty had ordered from England, soon after Queen Victoria's accession, but had never used, having retained them merely as a foreign curiosity.

All obstacles being now removed, the ladies were compelled to submit, and "His Serene Majesty" had the pleasure of looking on while they ate, and laughing to his heart's content at their expense.

This important business dispatched, the King called upon his foreign friends to participate in a royal game, which he assured them, had been in vogue among Siamese monarchs from time immemorial, and in which no guest could refuse to share without giving offence to the sovereign. At a signal given by the King, five huge baskets filled with very small limes, were placed directly in front of the throne. Inviting the foreigners to scramble for them, and assuring them that whosoever succeeded in getting the largest number, would enjoy his highest favor-the King threw as many as he could hold between his two hands, in such a way as to scatter them in every direction, over the widest possible space. This was repeated for some fifty or more times, and the foreigners wishing to indulge the whim of their royal host, en

tered heartily into the sport, and scrambled about on their hands and knees in pursuit of the limes, sometimes receiving from the merry old King, a hearty pelt over the head and knuckles, at which he would beg pardon, and assure them that it was entirely accidentai !

After an hour thus spent, the foreigners begged leave to desist in order make way for the native nobles, who had not been allowed by the King to join in the game, till the foreigners had had enough of the sport. The ladies and gentlemen were then requested by His Majesty to count their limes, and he presented a fan and six more limes, to the lady who had obtained the largest number. They were then directed to examine the limes in their possession, and they now noticed for the first time, that each had a small gash cut in the side, and upon being opened, exposed a gold or silver coin to view. Each lime contained only one coin, and they varied in value from fifteen cents to two dollars and forty cents-and the lady who obtained the highest number, had collected in all including the six presented by the King, about fifty dollars. The foreigners wished when the game was concluded, to return the coins to the King, stating that it was contrary to the customs of their country for ladies and gentlemen to accept presents of money— but he would by no means consent to receive them, saying that Siamese custom required guests always to retain whatever they obtained in this way, as a testimony of the royal favor.

When the baskets had been entirely emptied of their precious contents, the band struck up a fine martial air, and during the performance, two youthful warriors well armed and mounted, appeared upon the stage. At a given signal their swords were drawn, and they rushed furiously to the combat. For half an hour they appeared about equally matched, but then the smaller and more youthful one rushing recklessly against the extended weapon of his adversary, had his own blade snapped short off to the very hilt-he however defended himself manfully with the empty scabbard till another sword was brought to him, and finally

after about two hours' desperate fighting, he succeeded in unhorsing his adversary, who was led off wounded and in disgrace, whilst the victor received as the prize a gold hilted sword, the congratulations of his sovereign, and the plaudits of the whole court. They were both sons of noblemen of high rank, nearly related and warmly attached to each other-and the vanquished retained no unkind feeling toward the victor after the conclusion of the combat.

A band of singing and dancing girls next made their entrée. These were fair and beauteous maidens of about twelve and fourteen years of age, with brilliant eastern eyes, and long, curved finger nails of the most delicate rose tint, and were dressed in the most fantastic style of oriental magnificence. In graceful evolutions they threaded the mazy windings of the voluptuous Asiatic dance, and threw their plastic forms into every graceful attitude calculated to charm the beholder, and elicit the admiration of even the coldest and most unobservant. As the dancing ceased, the singing commenced, and one sweet voice after another warbled out its plaintive harmony, till all burst forth in one joyous, deafening chorus that seemed to rend the vaulted roof, and rivalled the notes of the loudest and most brilliant orchestra. Their performance finished, they bowed themselves gracefully before the King, and vanished like fairy nymphs from the crowded stage, whilst their sweet music was yet thrilling on the ears of the enraptured audience.

Two

The next game was one purely oriental in character, and needs to be witnessed, for its effect to be fully realized. enormous lanterns of oiled silk, one in the form of an alligator, and the other of a huge, horned serpent, both brilliantly lighted, and each moved about by a man concealed within, glided noiselessly in intricate windings about the platform, for a few moments, and then rushed furiously upon each other, spouting out fire-rockets, and hissing forth flames and smoke from their expanded nostrils and fiery jaws, whilst wild, unearthly groans issued as from a deep subterranean vault, and

were answered by hideous yells of rage and anguish. At length the serpent triumphed, and leapt furiously from the stage, driving with horrid imprecations and bursts of Satanic hatred, his vanquished foe before him.

A theatrical performance came next, in which were detailed the adventures of a princess and her celestial lover, who after innumerable hardships and difficulties, were at length happily united, passed through several thousand transmigrations, and at last entered into wigban together.

Feats of jugglery followed, in which much cunning and dexterity were shown, especially in handling the most venomous serpents, and placing even the deadly cobri-capello in a man's bosom without any injury being received.

Fire-works in great variety, and brilliant beyond conception concluded the entertainments of the first evening-after which the King, thanking his foreign friends for their attendance, and expressing an earnest desire to see them all again, on the following day, retired as he came on his gold-covered palanquin-the band accompanying him, and playing as they made their exit, a brilliant national anthem.

Similar festivities were kept up every day for a month, after which, the embalmed body surrounded by small fagots of sandal-wood, was burned on a lofty, golden platform made for the occasionand the ashes collected by the High Priest placed in a small golden urn, and deposited with similar relicts of royalty in the King's palace. The golden pyre on which the body was burned, cost between fifty and a hundred thousand dollars, and was afterwards presented to one of the royal temples. And thus ended the funeral rites of the queen-mother of his Siamese Majesty, having occupied the time of nearly a thousand persons, for about one year, and a cost to the nation of half a million of dollars!

Well is it that queens do not die every day, or the resources of kingdoms would be exhausted, and the heavy, crushing toil of the poor would prove insufficient to support the pomp and pride of the rich.