Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/735

 POriTLATION AND TRADE.

699

in numbers over to the Siamese side, where the Indian oak (Tectova grandis) is much more abundant. It is stated that some of the forests of Siam produce larger and better timber than those on the Moulmein side. Teel seed, or ramtil, is grown in the northern provinces of Siam. It yields a bland oil, resembling olive oil, of which about 49,000 piculs were exported in each of the years 180(1 to 1869.

The foreign trade of Siam centres in Bangkok, the capital. The value of the total exports from Bangkok in 18G9 was 1,181,170/., of which British vessels took to the value of 408,990/., and Siamese 455,772/. The invoice of cargoes imported was 751,870/., of which in British vessels 133,232/. and in Siamese 544,543/. In the year 1868, 346 vessels with an aggregate of 142,373 tons, entered Bangkok, with cargoes of the value of 712,988/. ; and 317 ves- sels of 133,655 tons cleared from Bangkok, with cargoes of the value of 999,817/. A large proportion of the cargoes, especially in the entries inwards, were in Siamese vessels. The entries inwards included 103 British vessels of 47,237 tons, manned by crews numbering 1,733, and bringing cargoes of the value of 64,266/.; and the clearances included 96 British vessels of 44,360 tons, with crews 1,863 in number, carrying cargoes of the value of 293,411/.

The direct commercial intercourse of Siam with the United King- dom is inconsiderable, and of a fluctuating character. In the five years 1865 to 1869 the value of the exports from Siam to Great Britain, and of the imports of British produce into Siam, was as follows : —

Exports from Siam

Imports of British

to Great Britain

Produce into Siam

£

£

1865

9,372

34,854

1866

14,490

4,036

1867

—

4,244

1S68

127,980

3,072

1869

417,030

25,846

The chief article of exports from Siam to Great Britain in the year 1869 was rice, of the declared value of 385,559/. Among the import? of British produce into Siam, the chief article in 1869 was machinery, of the value of 11,445/.

Money, Weights, and Measures.

The money, weights, and measures of Siam, and the British equivalents, are : —

Money.

The Tkal, or Bat — 12,800 cowries, average rate of exchange, 2s. 6d.

,, Sjxmish Dollar ... „ „ 4*. 2d.