went on Shore, and took notice in one of the temples of three sitting, and a standing large Idols, gilt, with Mandarin's Caps. About Forty smaller Idols kept them Company standing at their feet. We cast anchor at night a few miles from the Capital.

1690.

On the Eleventh of June We arriv'd, God be prais'd, in Come to good health at our factory, situated below Judia, a little Judia. before nine in the morning, just as they were a going to perform Divine Service, it being Sunday. In the afternoon the Director of our Factory had notice given him, to keep with his people within doors the next morning, because his Majesty intended to go abroad. When the King of Siam goes abroad, every body must keep out of the way, as they do in Persia when the King's Women go out. All the windows are shut, and not the least noise to be heard. If one happens by chance to meet the King, or his Wives, or the Princess Royal in the open fields, he must prostrate himself with his face flat to the ground turning his back to the Company, till they are out of sight.

Mother.

On the Twelfth of June, at four in the afternoon, the Funeral of the Berklam's or Chancellor's of Siam, who hath also the Berklam's direction of foreign affairs, his Mother was buried with great pomp and solemnity. The Siamites call also their Nurses mothers, and those brothers and sisters, who suck'd the same Breasts. This was only the Berklam's Nurse, for his Mother died, and was buried about Fifteen months before. The burials of Siamites of quality are pompous and magnificent beyond expression. The Corpse is carried to the burial place by water in a stately Prow, as they are here call'd; which is sometimes gilt all over, the Drums beating and the Music playing all the while. Corpse is either laid on the face in a coffin, or placed in an open chair expose'd to the view of the Spectators, tho' often it smells intolerably, by reason of the time and delay the preparations for their burial require. And yet persons of quality esteem it one of their chief cares, assoon as they are taken ill of a violent, or lingring sickness, to

The

1690.

Audience of

order the necessary preparations for their funeral to be go ready betimes. The Coffin is a sort of an oblong-squar Chest, or box, not unlike the German Coffins, gilt, o cover'd with gilt paper. It is plac'd under a stately hers with a cieling, which is likewise gilt and curiosly adorn' with fine columns and cornishes, supporting several arched bended roofs in proportion to the deceased's quality. A the side of the boat which carries the dead corpse is row' another of equal length, with a beautiful gilt pyramid built in form of a steeple. Before and behind are severa other prows, with high poles of Bambous in the middle hung with eight or ten gilt crowns made of paper. Th annexed figures will give the Reader a much better Idea than could be expected from the most accurate description All these several prows lie along the banks of the Rive till the funeral is over. After this manner the Corpse i brought to the burial place, accompanied by Talapoins the Music playing all the while, and there burnt together with the coffin. The remaining bones and ashes are gather'd together, and interr'd, and a stately Pyramid erected over them, instead of a Monument, the height and magnificence of which are again proportionable to the deceased's quality. The place, where the Berklam's mother was interr'd, was seated between two branches of the River opposite to the City, and enclos'd with a square row of Banners, Flags and other Ornaments dispos'd in form of pallissado's. Upon the middle of the place was erected a stately tower of an extraordinary height, curiously adorn'd and supported with fine pillars, columns and cornishes: under this tower, which had two gates opposite to one another, the corpse was laid in a magnificent coffin upon a pile of precious wood, to which the King put fire himself, in honour to the Berklam, for whom he hath a peculiar esteem. At one side of this Tower was erected a convenient building for the Talapoins, and the door leading to it was cover'd with several gilt roofs.

Some Days after Mynheer van Hoorn, Director of our the Berklam. Factory, with Mr. Daniel, and Mr. Moses Brocseborde,

two Persons well skill'd in the Siamish, Malayan, and several other Eastern Languages had a public audience of the Berklam, as Lord High Chancellor and Director of foreign affairs, in order to deliver the Letters, and

1690.

FIG. 4. A Prow, or boat, such as the Siamites use at
their funerals.

Presents, we had brought over on board our Ship for his
Majesty and him. The Captain of our Ship, and I, were
likewise admitted to it. The day of the audience between
seven and nine in the morning there came over to our
Factory four Operas, or Mandarins of the second rank to

1690.

conduct us, of the number whereof were, Opera Tsijat, an Indostan, now chief of the Moors, or Mahometans, and the King's Siabander, or Receiver of the Customs for foreign goods, clad after the fashion of his Country, in a gown embroider'd with gold, with a turbant upon his head, a Chinese Mandarin with his Hairs tied up, otherwise clad as the Mandarins of Siam are, and two Siamites, both Mandarins, one of which was about fourscore years of age. We treated them and their retinues, with Brandy and Sweetmeats, but the Indostan and one of the Siamites refus'd to drink. Their prows were very sumptuous and pretty, particularly that which was sent to bring over the Letters for the King and Berklam, on board which went the Interpreter alone. It was not unlike the others as to its shape, but somewhat larger, and prow and stern higher. The Moor's prow had this particular, that all the watermen were clad in shirts or gowns of coarse linnen, with flat yellow and white Caps. His chair was lin'd with green, yellow and white. On each side of it there was a bench for his retinue. But the chair stood higher than the two benches, according to the fashion of the Country, which requires that persons of quality should have their seats plac'd higher than persons of an inferior rank. On each side of the chair stood a Scimeter and Pike, gilt and adorn'd with precious Stones, as badges of their authority, which all the Mandarins cause to be carried after them upon solemn occasions. These state Scimeters have handles fix'd to them at least a Man's length, so that one may cut and beat with them as with Scythes. The chairs are compos'd of several pieces. Right upon the prow lies the first deck, or layer, rais'd about a span above its borders, three or four paces long, and as broad as the prow, neatly carv'd and adorn'd with beautiful Cornishes. Upon this first deck is plac'd another less in compass, but higher and adorn'd after the same manner. Upon this second Deck stands the Mandarins four legg'd gilt chair, and over it is extended a sort of Canopy, which is fix'd to the chair with gilt Cramp-irons, almost round and withal

so wide, that its Diameter exceeds the breadth of the

1690.

FIG. 5. A Prow, or boat, such as the Siamites use at their funerals. prow. It is made of Leather, lin'd within with black, without either gilt all over, or red with gilt borders.