the eldest son, the present supreme king, now in his twentieth year,
looking when five years old the exact counterpart of this one--his
graceful little figure, dimpled cheeks, eyes lustrous as diamonds, and
the glossy, raven hair, close shaven at the back, while the foretop
was coiled in a smooth knot, fastened with jeweled pins and twined
with fragrant flowers. The dress was very simple--only two garments of
silk or embroidered muslin--but the deficiency was more than made
up by jewelry, of which, in the form of chains, rings, anklets and
bracelets, he wore almost incredible quantities, while his golden
girdle was studded with costly diamonds.

[Illustration: SEVENTY-SECOND CHILD OF THE KING OF SIAM.]

[Illustration: ENTRANCE TO THE ROYAL HAREM.]

Polygamy prevails in its fullest extent in Siam, especially among
those of noble or royal lineage; and the higher the rank the larger
the number of wives, those of the supreme king amounting ordinarily to
five or six hundred. Of these, the "superior wife" holds the rank
of queen: she resides within the harem proper, where are the private
apartments of the king, and her children are always the legal heirs.
For the other wives or concubines, their children and attendants,
there is a whole circle of buildings, connected by balconies with the
palace royal. All these are handsomely fitted up, but what is called
"the harem" pre-eminently is more gorgeous than our dreams of fairy
palaces or enchanted castles of genii. Long suites of apartments
with frescoed walls, ceilings of gold and pearl, floors inlaid with
exquisite mosaics of silver and ebony, and with hangings of costly
lace, velvet and satin, huge waxen candles, and lamps fed with
perfumed oil that are never suffered to expire, mirrors, pictures, and