ained for an hour or so,
chatting merrily with both ladies and gentlemen, while the steamer
puffed up the river a few miles, and then returned for His Majesty to
disembark at his own palace. King George occasionally wears the _full_
English dress, either civil or military, but generally only the
hat, coat, linen and shoes, with the Siamese _pah-nung_ in lieu of
pantaloons. The regent, the minister of foreign affairs and many of
the princes and nobles have adopted this mongrel costume, and, to a
greater or less extent, our language, manner of living and forms
of etiquette. Visitors to the kings now sit on chairs, instead of
crouching on cushions before the throne, as formerly; while native
princes and ministers of state no longer prostrate themselves with
their faces in the dust in the royal presence, but stand at the foot
of the throne while holding an audience with their Majesties, each
being allowed full opportunity to state his case or present any
petition he may desire. The sovereigns are no longer unknown,
mysterious personages, whose features their people have never been
permitted to look upon; but they may be seen any fine day taking their
drives in their own coaches or phaetons, and lifting their hats to
passing friends. Nor do they on ordinary occasions deem it necessary
to be surrounded by armed soldiers for protection, but go where they
list, with only their liveried coachmen and footmen, and perhaps a
single companion or secretary inside.

The city itself has correspondingly improved. Within the walls have
just been completed two new streets, meeting at right angles near
the mayor's office, where is a public park of circular form very
handsomely laid out. The streets radiating from this centre are broad,
and lined with new brick houses of two stories and tiled roofs. These
are mostly private dwellings, uniformly built; and with their broad
sidewalks and shade trees of luxuriant tropical growth present a
very picturesque appearance. One wide street, commencing at the royal
palace, extends six or seven miles through the city, reaching
the river near a little village called Pak-lat-bon. This is the
fashionable _drive_, where may be seen not only their Majesties, the
regent, the prime minister and other high dignitaries lounging in
stately equipages drawn by two or four prancing steeds, but many
private citizens of different nations in their light pony-carriages,
palanquins, etc., instead of the invariable barg