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[Illustration: THE IDOL OF BUDDHA]




  THE

  ROMANCE OF THE HAREM.

  BY

  MRS. ANNA H. LEONOWENS,

  AUTHOR OF "THE ENGLISH GOVERNESS AT THE SIAMESE COURT."

  Illustrated.

  [Illustration: THE EMERALD IDOL.]

  BOSTON:
  JAMES R. OSGOOD AND COMPANY,

  LATE TICKNOR & FIELDS, AND FIELDS, OSGOOD, & CO.

  1873.




  Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872,
  BY JAMES R. OSGOOD & CO.,
  in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

UNIVERSITY PRESS: WELCH, BIGELOW, & CO., CAMBRIDGE.




PREFACE.


"Truth is often stranger than fiction," but so strange will some of the
occurrences related in the following pages appear to Western readers,
that I deem it necessary to state that they are also true. Most of the
stories, incidents, and characters are known to me personally to be
real, while of such narratives as I received from others I can say that
"I tell the tale as it was told to me," and written down by me at the
time. In some cases I have substituted fictitious for real names, in
order to shield from what might be undesired publicity persons still
living.

I gladly acknowledge my indebtedness to Mr. Francis George Shaw for
valuable advice and aid in the preparation of this work for the
press, and to Miss Sarah Bradley, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Bradley of
Bangkok, for her kindness in providing me with photographs, otherwise
unattainable, for some of the illustrations.

  NEW BRIGHTON, STATEN ISLAND,
  September 13, 1872.




DEDICATION.


To the noble and devoted women whom I learned to know, to esteem, and
to love in the city of the Nang Harm, I dedicate the following pages,
containing a record of some of the events connected with their lives
and sufferings.




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

  I. The Idol of Buddha                           _Frontispiece._

  II.  The Emerald Idol                               _Vignette._

  III.  A Siamese Slave-Girl                              Page 32

  IV.  A Siamese Flower-Girl                               "   48

  V.  Guard of Amazons                                     "   64

  VI.  Palm-Trees near the New Road, Bangkok               "   80

  VII.  A Young Siamese Nobleman                           "  104

  VIII.  Smâyâtee                                          "  120

  IX.  A Royal Actress                                     "  128

  X.  Rungeah, the Cambodian Proselyte                     "  144

  XI.  Ladies of the Royal Harem at Dinner                 "  160

  XII. A Laotian                                           "  168

  XIII. Crenellated Towers of the Inner City               "  176

  XIV.  An Amazon of the Royal Body Guard                  "  184

  XV.  Queen of Siam                                       "  240

  XVI. King of Siam                                        "  264

  XVII. Temple and Ruins of Kampoot                        "  270




CONTENTS.


    CHAPTER                                                       PAGE

    I. "Muang Thai," or the Kingdom of the Free                     1

    II. Tuptim: A Tragedy of the Harem                             14

    III. Tuptim's Trial                                            25

    IV. The King changes his Mind                                  35

    V. Slavery in the Grand Royal Palace of the "Invincible
    and Beautiful Archangel"                                       42

    VI. Khoon Thow App, the Chief of the Female Judges             58

    VII. The Rajpoot and his Daughter                              65

    VIII. Among the Hills of Orissa                                72

    IX. The Rebel Duke P'haya Si P'hifoor                          77

    X. The Grandson of Somdetch Ong Yai, and his Tutor
    P'hra Chow Sâduman                                             84

    XI. The Heroism of a Child                                    102

    XII. The Interior of the Duke Chow P'haya Mândtree's
    Harem                                                         107

    XIII. A Night of Mysteries                                    112

    XIV. "Weeping may endure for a Night, but Joy cometh in
    the Morning"                                                  