The English Governess at the Siamese Court

The English Governess at the
Siamese Court

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Title: The English Governess At The Siamese Court
Author: Anna Harriette Leonowens
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THE ENGLISH GOVERNESS AT THE SIAMESE COURT
BEING RECOLLECTIONS OF SIX YEARS IN THE ROYAL
IN THE ROYAL PALACE AT BANGKOK
BY
ANNA HARRIETTE LEONOWENS.

With Illustrations, FROM PHOTOGRAPHS PRESENTED TO THE
AUTHOR BY THE KING OF SIAM.
[Illustration: Gateway Of the Old Palace.]

TO MRS. KATHERINE S. COBB.
I have not asked your leave, dear friend, to dedicate to you these pages
of my experience in the heart of an Asiatic court; but I know you will
indulge me when I tell you that my single object in inscribing your
name here is to evince my grateful appreciation of the kindness that led
you to urge me to try the resources of your country instead of returning
to Siam, and to plead so tenderly in behalf of my children.
I wish the offering were more worthy of your acceptance. But to
associate your name with the work your cordial sympathy has fostered,
and thus pleasantly to retrace even the saddest of my recollections,
amid the happiness that now surrounds me,--a happiness I owe to the
generous friendship of noble-hearted American women,--is indeed a
privilege and a compensation.

I remain, with true affection, gratitude, and admiration,
Your friend, A. H. L.
26th July, 1870.

PREFACE.
His Majesty, Somdetch P'hra Paramendr Maha Mongkut, the Supreme
King of Siam, having sent to Singapore for an English lady to
undertake the education of his children, my friends pointed to me. At
first it was with much reluctance that I consented to entertain the
project; but, strange as it may seem, the more I reflected upon it the
more feasible it appeared, until at length I began to look forward, even
with a glow of enthusiasm, toward the new and untried field I was
about to enter.
The Siamese Consul at Singapore, Hon. W. Tan Kim-Ching, had
written strongly in my favor to the Court of Siam, and in response I
received the following letter from the King himself:--
"ENGLISH ERA, 1862, 26th February. GRAND ROYAL PALACE,
BANGKOK.
"To MRS. A. H. LEONOWENS:--
"MADAM: We are in good pleasure, and satisfaction in heart, that you
are in willingness to undertake the education of our beloved royal
children. And we hope that in doing your education on us and on our
children (whom English, call inhabitants of benighted land) you will do
your best endeavor for knowledge of English language, science, and
literature, and not for conversion to Christianity; as the followers of
Buddha are mostly aware of the powerfulness of truth and virtue, as
well as the followers of Christ, and are desirous to have facility of
English language and literature, more than new religions.
"We beg to invite you to our royal palace to do your best endeavorment
upon us and our children. We shall expect to see you here on return of
Siamese steamer Chow Phya.
"We have written to Mr. William Adamson, and to our consul at
Singapore, to authorize to do best arrangement for you and ourselves.
"Believe me
"Your faithfully, (Signed)
"S. S. P. P. MAHA MONGKUT."
About a week before our departure for Bangkok, the captain and mate

of the steamer Rainbow called upon me. One of these gentlemen had
for several years served the government of Siam, and they came to
warn me of the trials and dangers that must inevitably attend the
enterprise in which I was embarking. Though it