Selected quad for the lemma: city_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
city_n	great_a	river_n	town_n	5,503	4	6.2089	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A32752	A relation of the late embassy of Monsr. de Chaumont, Knt. to the court of the King of Siam with an account of the government, state, manners, religion and commerce of that kingdom.; Relation de l'ambassade de M. le chevalier de Chaumont à la Cour du roi de Siam. English	Chaumont, Alexandre, chevalier de, d. 1710.	1687 (1687)	Wing C3737C; ESTC R6683	53,413	156

to fifteen hundred Tun laden with Cloth Coral and divers other Commodities from the Coasts of Coromandel and Suratte as Salt-petre Tin and Silver he draws thence raw Silks Satins Tea Musk Rubarb Purcelins Varnisht Works China-wood Gold Rubies They make use of several Roots in Physick which turns much to their advantage The King sends to Japon two or three small Vessels laden with Merchandise there being no need of sending Money such as Hides of all sorts which are good Commodities there for which they sometimes receive Wedges of Gold and Silver Copper and all sorts of Goldsmiths Work as also Tea Cabinets and other things He sends sometimes two or three to Tonquin of three hundred Tun at farthest with Cloth Coral Tin Ivery Pepper Salt-petre and other Commodities of the Indies for which he has Musk raw Silks varnisht Wood wedges of Gold To Macao the King sends a Ship for the most part laden with the same Merchandises as to China One may send there also to good advantage Fans of Gold Silver Silks and Arms for which you receive the same Merchandises as at China but not at the same rate At Laos the usual Trade is carries on as well by land as by water sometime Flat Boats go there in which are sent Cloth and Linen of Suratte and the returns are Rubies Musk Gum Elephants Teeth Rhinoceros Horns Buffalos Skins and here is great prof●● in this Trade because there 's no ris●● to run To Camboye the King sends small Barks with Cloth Suratte Linen and Kitchin Utensile which come from China for which he has brought him Elephants Teeth Benjamin three fort● of Gums Buffalo's Skins Nests o● Birds for China of which I shall speak hereafter They sometimes send to Cochinchim but seldom for this People is untractable being most of them unfaithfull which hinders Commerce they can when they go Silver of Japon to great Profit yellow Wax Rice Lead Salt-petre red and black●Cloth white linen Vermilion and Quick-silver For which they have raw●Silk Sugar candied Birds Nests which are made like those of Swallows found on Rocks by the Sea-side they are a good Commodity for China and several other places for these Nests being well washed and dried they become as hard as horn and they are put into Broths they are of admirable virtue to the sick and languishing persons and to those who are troubled with pains in their Stomach I have brought some of them into France When there 's no Vessel to be had at Fret they send one to Suratte laden with Copper Tin Salt-petre Elephants Teeth Japon Wood and several other Merchandises which come from other parts of India and the returns are Linen-cloth and other European Commodities when there comes none from Siam You may also trade to the Coasts of Coromandel Malabar and Bengala the Commodities are Elephants Tin Salt-petre Copper Lead and the returns are Linen of all kinds There is seldom any trade to Borneo this is an Isle near that of Java where the returns are Pepper Dragons bloud white Camphire yellow Wax Gold Pearl Diamonds the best in the World The Prince that possesses this Island is not willing to permit a Trade fearing always some surprise and will suffer no European to settle in his Countries There have been some French Merchants there for he trusts them rather than any other Nation There is also a Trade driven to Timor an Isle near the Molucques whence is drawn yellow and white Wax Gold Slaves c. and thither is sent Linen of Suratte Lead Elephants Teeth Powder strong Waters some sort of Arms red and black Cloth and Silver The People here are peaceable and negotiate fairly Here are a great many Portugueses As to the Commodities of Siam there is onely Tin Lead Ivory Skins of wild Beasts and Elephants there will be store of Pepper in time that is to say the next Year L'arrek Iron good quantity of Rice but you may find here Commodities from all the places before mentioned and very cheap Here are brought pieces of English Cloth and Searges Coral and Amber Cloth from the Coasts of Coromandel and Suratte Money in Piastres which are truckt but as I now said most Merchants have left trading here since the King would turn Merchant there being brought few Goods for the Ships that were wont to come here came not the last year so that here 's little to be found all being in the King and his Ministers Hands who sell for what they please The Kingdom of Siam is near three hundred Leagues Long without reckoning the Tributary Kingdoms to wit Camboges Gehor Patavi Queda c. It 's bounded northward by the Kingdom of Pegu and by the Sea of Ganges on the side of the West and from the South by the little Strait of Malaca which was taken from the King of Siam by the Portugueses who have been Masters of it near sixty years the Hollanders have taken it from them and are the present Masters of it on the East it 's bounded by the Sea and by the Mountains which divide it from Camboges and Laos The situation of this Kingdom is advantageous by reason of the great extent of its Coasts lying as it were between two Seas which open the passage to so many vast Regions its Coasts are five hundred Leagues round and are every where accessible from Japon China the Philippin Islands Tonquin Cochinchine Siampa Camboge Java Colconde Bengala and from all the Coasts of Coromandel Persia Suratte Arabia and Europe and therefore the Countrey is capable of a great Commerce would the King permit all people to come and trade there as heretofore The Kingdom is divided into eleven Provinces to wit that of Siam Tanaserin Josalam Reda Pra Jor Paam Parana Ligor and Siama These Provinces had heretofore the Quality of Kingdoms but are all now under the sole power of the King of Siam who sets Governours over them There are some which may retain the Name of Principalities but the Governours depend on the King and pay him Tribute Siam is the principal Province of this Kingdom the Capital City is situated fourteen degrees and an half of latitude northward on the side of a great and stately River and Vessels laden come up to the City which lies above forty Leagues distant from the Sea and reaches above two hundred Leagues up the Countrey and 〈◊〉 this means it leads into part of the Provinces which I have above mentioned This River abounds with Fish and its sides are well peopled although they lie under water one part of the Year The Earth is indifferently fruitfull but ill drest the inundation proceeds from great Rains which fall for three or four Months together which makes their Rice grow apace so that the longer the inundation lasts the more Rice they gather and so far are they from complaining that their greatest fear is of dry weather There are several lands lie untilled for want of Inhabitants which has happened by the preceding

Wars and they being enemies to labour they love onely those things that are easie so that those Plains and Forests which are to be seen on the Mountains serve for a retreat to Elephants Tygers and wild Cows Deer and Rhinocero's and other Animals which are here in great quantities As to Plants and Fruits there are several in the Countrey but which are not of great use and which cannot be easily brought over by reason of the length of the way There are no Birds but what we have in Europe excepting one like a Black-bird which counterfeits the laughing of a Man his singing and whistling the Fruits the most esteemed are Durions they have a very strong scent which does not agree with every body but as to their taste 't is excellent This fruit is very hot and dangerous to ones health if a Man eats much of it There is a great Nut about which is a kind of Cream shut in a rine which my Palate could never approve of Mango is in this Countrey in prodigious quantities and this is the best Fruit in the Indies of an exquisite taste no ways incommoding unless a Man eats too much of them then indeed they may cause a Fever it 's like an Almond but as big as a large Pear The Mangoustan is a Fruit like a green Nut which has within it a white Fruit of a sharp and pleasant taste like that of a Peach or Plum it 's very cold and yet stringent The Jacques is a great Fruit which is very good but hot and causes Fluxes in the Bowels when one eats of it with excess The Nana is like the Durion that is to say in respect of its Skin it has at its end a crown of leaves like the Artichoke its meat is very good tasting like a Peach and Apricock together it 's very hot and strong which makes it commonly eaten soakt in Wine The Figs are a sweet Fruit of a kind nature yet somewhat phlegmatick there are of them all the year long The Ate is a very good sweet Fruit and does no hurt there are who esteem it more than all the Fruits in the Indies There are Oranges of all kinds which are very good The Pataie is a very good Fruit but the Tree which bears it lives onely two years The Penplemouse is a wholesome Fruit which is like the Orange but of a sharper taste There are several other Fruits which are not so good They began some years past to sow Corn in the high Countries near the Mountains which comes up well and is very good As also Vines which have been several times planted but to little purpose being eaten up to the roots by a sort of Ants. There are a great many Sugar Canes which yield abundance as also Tobacco which the Siamoises eat with Arrek and Lime As to the Arrek the Siamoises esteem this Fruit more than any other for this is their common food there is such a great quantity of it that the Markets are full of it and a Siamoise would think himself guilty of a great undecency should he speak to any one without having his mouth full of Arrek Betel or Tobacco There is no City in the East where is seen more different Nations than in the Capital Town of Siam and where so many different Tongues are spoken it is two Leagues round and half a League long well peopled although so much under water that it resembles rather an Island there are none but English French Moors and Chinoises who dwell in the Town all the other Nations being lodged round about it in Camps each Nation by themselves who should they come all of them into one body would take up as much room as the Town does but the reasons I before mentioned hinder most strange Nations to come and bring any thing with them The people are obliged to serve the King four months in the year and longer if he needs them he gives them no pay they being obliged to keep themselves and therefore the Women work to maintain their Husbands As to the Officers from the greatest Lords of the Court to the meanest of the Kingdom the King onely allows them some small gratifications being as much slaves as the rest and this saves a great deal of money As to far distant Provinces whose Inhabitants do not actually serve each singular person pays him a Tribute I arrived at a time when the Countrey was wholly under water the Town seemed the more pleasant for it the Streets are very long large and streight there are on both hands Houses built on Piles and Trees planted round about them which makes a fine sight and you cannot go to them but in a Boat you would think you see at one look a City a Sea and a vast Forest where are several Pagodes which are their Churches most of which are gilded about these Pagodes there are places like Church-Yards planted with Trees which are for the most part Fruit-Trees the Houses of the Talapoins are the biggest and finest and are very numerous This Countrey is wholsomer than any of the Indies the Siamoises are commonly well shap'd although all of them have tanned Countenances they are well sized their Hair black which they wear short by reason of the heat they Bathe often which contributes to the preservation of their health the Europeans who dwell there do the same to avoid sickness They go about all their business in Barges during the Inundations which lasts six or seven months together The King rises in the morning and holds a great Council about ten of the Clock wherein all affairs are treated of which being ended his Physicians assemble to know the state of his health and he afterwards goes to Dinner he makes but one real Meal a day and after Dinner he withdraws into his Apartment where he sleeps two or three hours and 't is not known about what he imploys himself the rest of the time it not being permitted his Officers to enter into his Chamber About ten at night he holds another privy Council where there are seven or eight Mandarins of those which are most in his favour which Council lasts till mid night Afterwards he has Histories or Verses made after their manner read to him to divert him and commonly after this Council Mr. Constans tarries with him alone to whom he opens his whole mind the King being sensible of his vast parts his Conversation pleases him and he seldom can get away till three of the clock in the morning and this is the manner of the King 's living At certain times he takes pleasure in hunting as I already observed he is always well drest He has no other Children but a Daughter who is called the Princess Queen of twenty seven or twenty eight years of age the King greatly loves her I was told she was a handsome woman but she has never been seen by any men she eats in the same place and at the same time her Father does

they abominate the Image of Christ on the Cross saying we adore the image of this Brother of their God who was crucified for his Crimes This Nacodon being annihilated they have no God at present yet his La● remains but onely among the Talapoine who affirm that after some years the● will be an Angel who will become 〈◊〉 Talapoin and afterwards an absolut● Divinity who by his great merits may come to be annihilated These are the principles of their Creed for 〈◊〉 not to be imagined they adore to Idols which are in their Pagodes 〈◊〉 Divinities but honour them onely 〈◊〉 men of great deserts whose Souls 〈◊〉 at present in some King Cow or Talapoin And herein consists their Religion which to speak properly at knowledges no God Vice say they carries with it its own punishment making the Soul pass into the body of some vile Fellow or Hog or Crow or Tyger or such like animal They admit of Angels which they believe to have been the souls of just men and good Talapoins as to Demons they say they have been the souls of wicked persons The Talapoins are much reverenced by all the people and even by the King himself they cast not themselves on the ground when they speak to him as the greatest in the Kingdom do and the King and persons of highest Quality salute them first When these Talapoins thank any one they put their hand to their forehead and as to the common people they salute them not as all They are Apparelled like other Siamoises excepting that their Sash 〈◊〉 yellow their Legs and Feet naked they wear no Hats they carry over their heads a Fan made of a large Palm leaf to keep them from the Sun which is very hot they make but one meal a day to wit in the morning and they eat at night perhaps some few Figs or other Fruits they may leave when they will their Profession and marry having no other engagement on them but onely to wear a yellow Sash and when they leave it they are at liberty and this makes them so numerous that they are almost one third of the Kingdom That which they sing in the Pagodes are some fabulous stories larded with now and then a fine sentence those which they sing during the Funerals of the dead are We must all die We are all mortal The dead bodies are burnt musical instruments playing all the while● these Funerals are very costly and after the bodies are burnt of those that are dead their ashes are put under great Pyramids all gilded with Gold raised about their Pagodes The Talapoines practise a kind of Confession for the Novices go at Sun rising to prostrate themselves or sit on their Heels mumbling some few words after which the old Talapoin lifts up his hand on the side of his Cheek and gives him a kind of Benediction which done the Novice retires When they preach they exhort the People to be charitable to them and suppose themselves very able Fellows when they can cite some passages out of their ancient Books written in the Baly Language which is like the Latin amongst us for this Language is fine and emphatical having its Conjugations like the Latin When the Siamoises intend to marry the Man's Kindred go first to found the Maid's Kindreds Inclination and when they have agreed on the business the Man's Parents present seven Boxes of Betel and Arect to the Maid's Relations and though they accept of them and they are already esteemed as married yet may be broke off Some days after the Man's Relations present him and he himself offers more boxes than before and then he remains in the House of his Father-in-law and this onely to see the Maid and to accustome themselves to one another which lasts for two Months after this all the Parents meet when they put into a Purse one a Ring and another Bracelets and another Money there are others who lay pieces of Stuff o● the Table In fine the most ancient of the Company takes a lighted Tores and carries it seven times round these Presents whilest all the Assemble shouts wishing it a happy Marriage the Spouse a long Life and a perfect Health they afterwards eat and drin● together and so the Marriage is finis●● As to the Portion 't is as in France excepting that the young Man's Relations carry his Money to the Maid's Relations but all this turns to the same for the Maid's portion is laid apart and the whole is given to the new married Couple If the Husband puts away his Wife without any form of Justice he lose the Money that has been given him 〈◊〉 he repudiates her by the Judge's Sentence who never refuses it the Woman's Relations give him her portion 〈◊〉 there be any Children the Boy follow● the Mother and the Girl the Father if there be two Boys and two Girls one Boy and one Girl live with the Father and one of each with the Mother As to strong places in the Kingdom there 's Bancock which is about two Leagues from the Kingdom of Siam where there are two Forts as I already mentioned There is a Capital City called Juthia otherwise Siam which is newly fortified by an enclosure of brick Walls Corsuma a fronteer Town lying near the Kingdom of Camboye is ●●t a weak place and so is Tanaserin on the side of Malabar and so are indeed most of his Places As to their Souldiers 't was not the Custome to pay them but this present King having understood that the Kings of Europe payed their Men intended to have done the like but being informed by his Treasurers what an immense ●●min 't would cost him by reason of the multitude of his Souldiers he changed this pay into Rice which he districted to them and they were therewith all well contented for heretofore every Souldier was bound to further himself with Rice at his own cost As to their Boats and Vessels their ●arges of State are the finest in the World being made of one piece of Timber and which are of a prodigious length some of them holding near an hundred and fourscore Rowers the two ends are high raised all is gift with Gold and neatly carved and 〈◊〉 the midst of them there is a kind of Throne built like a Pyramid Heretofore they had onely Vessel built like those of China some of which they use still to go into Japon China and Tunquin but the King has cause several to be built after the Europea● fashion and has bought some of the English There are about fifty Gallies to guard the River and Coasts h● Gallies are not like ours there being but one Man to an Oar and they are about forty or fifty at most on each The King makes use of Moors Chinases and Malabars for his Seamen The Commanders of his Ships are either English or French by reason of the●● the Nations unskilfulness He sends every five or six years Vessels to China of which there are 〈◊〉 a thousand