May this volume aid in arousing a more intelligent and generous interest in this field――the sacred trust of our American Presbyterian Church; may it promote a truer sense of the heroic sacrifices, the patient and multiplied labors, of the noble band who for the past half century have toiled and waited in hope for the spiritual regeneration of the Siamese and Laos! SCHENECTADY, May, 1884. N. B. Uniformity in the spelling of Siamese and Laos proper names is not yet attainable. Different ears catch the foreign sounds and transliterate them differently, giving an endless variation. Thus the single city which we give as Cheung Mai, following Dr. Cheek, may be found in books and maps as Cheng Mai, Cheang Mai, Zimma, Chang Mai, etc. To ascertain the pronunciation in such cases, see what one pronunciation can be made to cover all of these spellings. It is hoped that the present volume is a step in the direction of a correct transliteration of Siamese names. CONTENTS. PART I. SIAM. CHAPTER I. PAGE THE INDO-CHINESE PENINSULA. _An Introductory Sketch._ 15 CHAPTER II. SIGHT-SEEING IN BANGKOK. _Mrs. S. R. House, formerly of Bangkok._ 81 CHAPTER III. TOURING IN SIAM. _Mrs. S. R. House, formerly of Bangkok._ 96 CHAPTER IV. IN AND ABOUT PETCHABUREE. _Miss Sarah Coffman, Petchaburee._ 112 CHAPTER V. ANIMALS OF SIAM. _Mrs. S. R. House, Bangkok._ 120 CHAPTER VI. THE CHINESE IN SIAM. _Mrs. N. A. McDonald, Bangkok._ 145 PART II. VARIETIES OF SIAMESE LIFE. CHAPTER VII. A SIAMESE WEDDING. _Mrs. J. W. Van Dyke, Petchaburee._ 162 CHAPTER VIII. HOUSEKEEPING IN SIAM. _Miss M. L. Cort, Petchaburee._ 175 CHAPTER IX. CHILD-LIFE IN SIAM. _Miss H. H. McDonald, Bangkok._ 184 CHAPTER X. FIRST HAIR-CUTTING OF A YOUNG SIAMESE. _Samuel R. House, M. D., Bangkok._ 193 CHAPTER XI. THE SCHOOLS OF SIAM. _Mrs. S. G. McFarland, Bangkok._ 206 CHAPTER XII. HOLIDAYS IN SIAM. _Mrs. S. R. House, Bangkok._ 224 CHAPTER XIII. A GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENT. _The late D. Bradley, M. D., Bangkok._ 233 CHAPTER XIV.