Page:Brief sketches of Siam (Smith, 1909).pdf/8



In the early part of the 18th. century Siam was known as the land of the White Elephant and the Siamese Twins. These twins were united together with a round band of flesh at the middle of their sides which necessitated their always being together. Light coloured elephants are occasionally found in the forests of Siam. When found they are brought with much pomp and ceremony to Bangkok where they are formally presented to H. M. the King and are graciously cared for in fine buildings. The Siamese revere these rare animal and therefore they have made it the prominent emblem of their National Flag.

Joshua Coffin an enterprising American acquired possession of the twins and went all over Europe and the United States exhibiting them. Eventually they settled in one of the Southern States where they married and died.

While Burma, Pegu, Siam and Cambodia were independent they frequently engaged in war with each other and had among them the captives of their enemies.

While Mrs. Ann Haseltine Judson the wife of Rev. Adoniram Judson, D. D., the universally known Baptist Missionary was labouring in Burma, she found some