Thanks to the fact that nowadays more and more books are digitized we are able to read books that are some times for decades no longer available for the public for several reasons. That's quite a pity while these books contains useful information while the archives are destroyed, incomplete or nor accessible.
p. 401. “The Bankok Calendar. The trade of Siam is under great restrictions, and the duty on foreign-rigged square vessels is so high as almost to prevent their resort to the port. The sugar crop averages about 160,000 peculs, rather less than 20,000 tons a year; but with proper encouragement and suitable machinery, ten times this quantity might be raised. The duty on English and American ships coming in ballast is 1,500 ticals the fathom of 6 ft. 6 in. English, and if with cargo, 1,700 ticals. The measurement is taken across the widest part of the vessel, without, reference to length, draught, and tonnage. The science of ship-building has been introduced, and has made more progress than we were prepared to expect in this semi- barbarous country. The first square-rigged vessels built after the European mode, were the Ariel and the Conqueror, the one of eighty, the other of 500 tons. They were constructed in 1835, by a gentleman with a very long name, Khun Phra Nai Wai Wonnat, the eldest son of his excellency the Phra Klang. The king was so well pleased with them as to order royal docks to be constructed in the vicinity of Bangkok. Into these docks was received the hull of the Caledonia, a vessel of 780 tons, which bad been built elsewhere. Two war-junks were also constructed, the Fairy, and the Sir Walter Scott, for the royal navy of Siam. Here is fame for us. What would the author of “Guy Mannering” hare said, if it had been predicted to him that in the far east, in the semi-barbarous and almost unknown region of Siam, the king should pay him the compliment of christening one of his own junks with his name? But a larger achievement was at hand. The Victory, not Nelson’s “Victory”, but as remarkable a vessel for the circumstances of the country, of 1,070 tons, was launched within two years after the art of ship-building had been introduced; but by this time Khun Phrai Nai Wai Woranat had been appointed royal ship-builder, and commissioner of dock-yards. This individual, we are told, has some knowledge of English, and with the aid of books and shipbuilders, has constructed vessels which reflect great credit on him and on his country. The following account of the machine-shop of Bangkok we give entire: “The friends of improvement will rejoice to learn that a machine shop has been established in Siam. It was commenced by his royal Highness Prince T. Momfanoi in 1844. One of the missionaries, who is a practical mechanic, aided him in the work; but the prince being a man of talent and genius, has made and arranged things to please himself. His royal highness speaks and reads the English language with tolerable correctness, and, having a good English library, which contains many valuable me-
p. 402
chanical and scientific works, he is able to construct his tools and machines from the best models.”
Source
Allen’s Indian Mail and register of Intelligence for British & foreign India, China, & all part of the East. London, Tuesday 4 July 1848, no.104.
