No. 318.
Mr. Halderman to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Bangkok, Siam, January 8, 1884. (Received February 27.)
Sir: After a fortnight’s absence, I have returned from Chantabun, an important Siamese port, on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Siam, about 170 miles southeast of Bangkok, whither I had gone to make survey of the trade prospects.
The town has a sheltered harbor for junks and light-draught vessels only, and an estimated population of 30,000 Chinese, Anamen, and Siamese. It sells annually for foreign consumption about 25,000 piculs of pepper (a picul equals 133⅓ pounds).
Precious stones, cardamom seeds, and ivory in small quantities are also exported. On the hill sides near by, coffee is produced.
In the alluvial plains, 20 miles out, stretching as many miles more toward Batamboug, and in a northeasterly course, sapphires are found. The workers in these deposits are now few in number, and are for the most part experienced Indian and Burmese miners.
[Page 453]The gems are said to be not inferior in beauty, brilliancy, and value to the sapphires of Ceylon.
I found a Roman Catholic mission, claiming 2,000 converts, engaged in what appeared to be a not unsuccessful work.
French influences are seeking to establish a line of steamships from Bangkok, via Chantabun, to Saigon, the capital of French Cochin China, and give assurance of ultimate success.
The special inducements for American trade are not now superior to what may be had at other Asiatic sea-ports possessing better harbors and safer anchorage.
Population along the coast and on the adjacent islands is sparse.
This territory, lying contiguous to Cochin China and the protected State of Cambodia, will, perhaps, at no remote day, receive attention, as now nowhere may a frontier line be found entirely satisfactory to the two interested powers, France and Siam.
In my journey I was accompanied by Comte de Kergaradec, the French commissaire and consul.
Near Chantabun we met His Majesty the King en route to that port.
I have, &c.,