The English Governess at the Siamese Court | Page 6

He was followed by a dozen attendants, who, the
moment they stepped from the gangway, sprawled on the deck like
huge toads, doubling their arms and legs under them, and pressing their
noses against the boards, as if intent on making themselves small by
degrees and hideously less. Every Asiatic on deck, coolies and all,
prostrates himself, except my two servants, who are bewildered.
Moonshee covertly mumbles his five prayers, ejaculating between,
_Mash-Allah! A Tala-yea kia hai?_ [Footnote: "Great God! what is
this?"] and Beebe shrinks, and draws her veil of spotted muslin
jealously over her charms.
The captain stepped forward and introduced us. "His Excellency Chow
Phya Sri Sury Wongse, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Siam!"
Half naked as he was, and without an emblem to denote his rank, there
was yet something remarkable about this native chief, by virtue of
which he compelled our respect from the first glance,--a sensibly
magnetic quality of tone or look. With an air of command oddly at
variance with his almost indecent attire, of which he seemed superbly
unconscious, he beckoned to a young attendant, who crawled to him as
a dog crawls to an angry master. This was an interpreter, who at a word
from his lord began to question me in English.
"Are you the lady who is to teach in the royal family?"
On my replying in the affirmative, he asked, "Have you friends in
Bangkok?"
Finding I had none, he was silent for a minute or two; then demanded:
"What will you do? Where will you sleep to-night?"
"Indeed I cannot tell," I said. "I am a stranger here. But I understood
from his Majesty's letter that a residence would be provided for us on
our arrival; and he has been duly informed that we were to arrive at this
time."
"His Majesty cannot remember everything," said his Excellency; the
interpreter added, "You can go where you like." And away went master
and slaves. I was dumfoundered, without even voice to inquire if there

was a hotel in the city; and my servants were scornfully mute. My kind
friend the captain was sorely puzzled. He would have sheltered us if he
could; but a cloud of coal-dust and the stamping and screaming of a
hundred and fifty Chinamen made hospitality impracticable; so I made
a little bed for my child on deck, and prepared to pass the night with
him under a canopy of stars.
The situation was as Oriental as the scene,--heartless arbitrary
insolence on the part of my employers; homelessness, forlornness,
helplessness, mortification, indignation, on mine. Fears and misgivings
crowded and stunned me. My tears fell thick and fast, and, weary and
despairing, I closed my eyes, and tried to shut out heaven and earth; but
the reflection would return to mock and goad me, that by my own act,
and against the advice of my friends, I had placed myself in this
position.
The good captain of the Chow Phya, much troubled by the conduct of
the minister, paced the deck (which usually, on these occasions, he left
to the supercargo) for more than an hour. Presently a boat approached,
and he hailed it. In a moment it was at the gangway, and with robust,
hearty greetings on both sides, Captain B----, a cheery Englishman,
with a round, ruddy, rousing face, sprang on board; in a few words our
predicament was explained to him, and at once he invited us to share
his house, for the night at least, assuring us of a cordial welcome from
his wife. In the beautiful gondola of our "friend in need" we were
pulled by four men, standing to their oars, through a dream-like scene,
peculiar to this Venice of the East. Larger boats, in an endless variety
of form and adornment, with prows high, tapering, and elaborately
carved, and pretty little gondolas and canoes, passed us continually on
the right and left; yet amid so many signs of life, motion, traffic, bustle,
the sweet sound of the rippling waters alone fell on the ear. No
rumbling of wheels, nor clatter of hoofs, nor clangor of bells, nor roar
and scream of engines to shock the soothing fairy-like illusion. The
double charm of stillness and starlight was perfect.
"By the by," broke in my cheery new friend, "you'll have to go with me
to the play, ma'm; because my wife is there with the boys, and the
house-key is in her pocket."
"To the play!"
"O, don't be alarmed, ma'm! It's not a regular theatre; only a catchpenny

show, got up by a Frenchman, who came from Singapore a fortnight
since. And having so little amusement here, we are grateful for
anything that may help to break the monotony. The temporary
playhouse is within the palace grounds of his Royal