Karl Friedrich August Gützlaff

“ Budhism is atheism, according to the creed which one of the Siamese high-priests gave me; the highest degree of happiness consists in annihilation; the greatest enjoyment is in indolence; and their sole hope is founded upon endless transmigration. We may very easily conclude what an effect these doctrines must have upon the morals of both priests and laymen, especially, if we keep in mind that they are duly inculcated, and almost every male in Siam, for a certain time, becomes a priest, in order to study them. From the king to the meanest of his subjects, self-sufficiency is characteristic ”

“ The Siamese are very fickle, and will often be very anxious to embrace an opinion to-day, which tomorrow they will entirely reject. Their friendship is unsteady; their attachment to the gospel, as the word of eternal life, has never been very sincere; neither could we fully succeed in fixing their minds on the Saviour. Though all religions are tolerated in Siam, yet Budhism is the religion of the state, and all the public institutions are for the promotion of this superstition. ”

“ Language, as well as customs, derived from the Chaou-chow Chinese, are prevalent throughout the country. They delight to live in wretchedness and filth, and are very anxious to conform to the vile habits of the Siamese. In some cases when they enter into matrimonial alliances with these latter, they even throw away their jackets and trowsers, and become Siamese in their very dress. As the lax, indifferent religious principles of the Chinese, do not differ essentially from those of the Siamese, the former are very prone to conform entirely to the religious rites of the latter. ”

“ No industry, no genius, no honesty is found amongst them, with the exception of one individual, who indeed has a right to claim the latter virtue as his own. From this misconception has emanated all the disgraceful treatment of Europeans up to the time of the war between Burmah and the Company. When the first British envoy arrived, he was treated with contempt, because the extent of English power was not known. When the English had taken Rangoon, it was not believed by the King, until he had sent a trustworthy person to ascertain the fact. ”

“ I regret not to have found one honest man; many have the reputation of being such, but upon nearer inspection they are equally void of this standard virtue. Sordid oppression, priestcraft, allied to wretchedness and filth, are every where to be met. Notwithstanding, the Siamese are superior in morality, to the Malays. ”

“ Chow-fa-nooi, desirous of imitaing foreigners, has built a ship, on a small scale, and intends doing the same on a larger one, as soon as his funds will admit. English, as well as Americans, are disencumbered in their intercourse, and enjoy at present privileges of which even the favored Chinese cannot boast. ”

“ No service is then so menial, so expensive, so difficult, but they are forced to perform it. And in case of disobedience, they are severely punished, and, perhaps, put into chains for their whole lives. ”

“ To an individual, who sees millions of his species wrapt in the gloom of ignorance and idolatrous superstitions, and devotes himself to the noble service of working out their deliverance, the considerations of civilized and Christian society, and of home, will not, in the least degree, lose their value ”

“ If they ascend the throne, the changes in all the institutions of the country will be great, but perhaps too sudden.—The son of the Phra Klang, or minister of foreign affairs, is of superior intelligence, but has a spirit for intrigue, which renders him formidable at court, and dangerous to foreigners. ”

“ And if they have children, these frequently cut their tails, and become for a certain time Siamese priests. Within two or three generations, all the distinguishing marks of the Chinese character dwindle entirely away; and a nation which adheres so obstinately to its national customs becomes wholly changed to Siamese. These people usually neglect their own literature, and apply themselves to the Siamese. ”

“ A system of the grossest lies, which can find champions only in the biased minds of some scholars in Europe, engrosses, theoretically, as well as practically, the minds of its votaries, and renders every step towards improvement most difficult. ”

“ To them nothing is so welcome as the being presented, by the King, with an honorary title; and this generally takes place when they have acquired great riches, or have betrayed some of their own countrymen. ”

“ They have been liable to every sort of petty annoyance, which would weary out the most patient spirit; and have been subjected to the most unheard of oppression. Some of them proposed to introduce some useful arts, which might increase power and riches ”

“ The natives of China come in great numbers from Chaou-chow-foo, the most eastern part of Canton Province. They are mostly agriculturists; while another Canton tribe, called the Kih or Ka, consists chiefly of artisans. ”