The Siamese twins, Chang and Eng : a biographical sketch.

Date:
[1869]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Siamese twins, Chang and Eng : a biographical sketch. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    RELIGION OF SIAM The religion of the Siamese is a species of Budhism. Its moral code is very high. The Siamese are forbidden to kill not simply man, but even beasts and insects. Those who are curious to trace a con- nection between belief and practice will at once be impressed by the circumstance that birds and beasts, which usually flee at the ap- proach of man, in Siam are as fearless as the tamest of domesticated brutes. The Siamese, under the sway of their religion, hesitate to take even the life of plants or seeds. They are also forbidden moral uncleanness, falsehood, and theft. In these regards the people of Siam are like other people—preaching better than they practice. “Total abstinence from all that intoxicates ” is a part of the Siamese code. Siam is ahead of New England in the matter of a Prohibitory Law! It obeys the law with about the same degree of fidelity. They burn their dead. The White Elephant is worshipped as the receptacle of a soul for advance in the life of heaven. THE GOVERNMENT. The Government of Siam is that of absolute despotism. There are two Kings—a Chief and his Assistant. The veneration of the people for the^Ruler is profound. Had Chang and Eng remained in Siam, they would have paid almost divine honors to their sovereign; would have crouched before him; have crawled into his presence; and, call- ing themselves the most worthless and insignificant of creatures, have addressed their King as the “ Sacred Lord of Lives;” as the “Owner of All;” as the “Most Infallible and Exalted.” And Chang and Eng would have been compelled to give to the King a third of their time. In this regard, they prefer the government of a constitutional mon- archy, or of a republic. PERSONAL DECORATIONS. The Siamese have curious customs in regard to personal decoration. Had Chang and Eng remained in their native land, they would have stained their teeth black, have plucked the beard from their faces, and have shaved the hair from their heads, with the exception of a tuft about two inches in height, rising straight from the top of the crown. But their wives, in accordance with the female custom, would have cut their hair close instead of shaving, and covered it with a skin. SIAMESE WIVES. Another custom, to which the present wives of Chang and Eng would probably raise serious objections, yet to which they would have