CHANGED ATTITUDE TOWARDS FOREIGNERS
In May, 1851, the king was formally inducted into his regal office under the title Prabat Somdetch Pra Paramender Maha Mongkut. The accession was celebrated with prolonged festivities. The coronation was private, witnessed only by the princes and nobles. After an interval of a few days came the more public ceremony of enthronement, and to this the Europeans were invited:
“We all (except of course the ladies) had the honour of being present by his own invitation. Indeed we had a regular audience from His Majesty; a strange and not a little imposing scene it was in that audience hall of the palace. A dinner was prepared for us after the European style, and though ‘he could not shake hands with us as he desired—Siamese custom not allowing it,’ yet he sent some substantial proof of his regard in the shape of a gold flower and one of silver, together with a gold salung (value one-fourth eagle) and other specimens of the coinage of the new reign.
“You will understand how marked are these attentions when you are told that no missionary was ever before on any occasion admitted within the walls of the palace, much less allowed to have an audience.... We were told from the throne in a public audience by the King himself (who perfectly understands our object in coming to his land) that he wished us to find ourselves pleasantly situated in his country and to go on with our pursuits as we have been doing—‘Fear not!’ he added. That was the purport of what he said, and though he was addressing merchants as well as ourselves we knew he must have had us in mind as much as them.”
Then came the spectacular procession of the king and nobles around the walls of the palace:
“According to immemorial custom on coronation occasions, H. M., with his nobles and princes in grand procession, marched around the walls of the royal palace, a mile in circumference. We missionaries with the other Europeans received special invitations to be present.... As the King came along, with pomp and glitter and display of wealth, sitting high on his throne carried by thirty-two men, he was distributing right and left to the crowds showers of silver coins. When he saw us he stopped to rain silver upon us with a right good will.”
A month later occurred the inauguration of Chao Fah Noi as Second or Vice-King. A public pageant only slightly less magnificent was given, and again the missionaries with the Europeans were personally invited and honoured with special attention.
With the accession of King Mongkut a complete change of attitude towards the missionaries was instant. The new men appointed to high office were from the group of progressives. Those who were carried over from the old régime changed their attitude with facility, for after all they only reflected the royal mind. Princes who had eschewed intercourse with foreigners now courted their acquaintance, frankly declaring that fear of disfavour with the old king had formerly held them aloof. Teachers and servants eagerly returned to their posts. The people in the streets manifested a new respect for the foreigners. With great joy Dr. House records the change:
“A new era with us—at least the dawn of a brighter day. We have a home at last promised us, and on a really pleasant spot of ground they are going to allow us to build. With brothers Mattoon and Bush, went up to visit the ex-prince-physician (now foreign minister) at his new palace he falls heir to. Were graciously received. ‘I have laid the matter of which you spoke, before the King. He said he gives his permission for you to come here (i. e., to site nearby) to live; desires me to give you any assistance; permits you to build for yourselves; can have the whole vacant space to the canal bank, if needed; wishes you to build many houses; about a thousand missionaries may come if they wish.’
“Almost too good to be true! Are we really then going to obtain what we have been seeking for in vain now these four and one-half years—a place to build a home of our own? A most eligible spot this; none better in all Bangkok.”
Permanency being assured, the missionaries decided to construct houses of brick, making them as durable and as comfortable as possible. The erection of these houses required a constant oversight of the work and attention to details that cannot well be understood by people in America, for all the practical problems that the architect or builder would take care of as a matter of course had to be solved by the missionaries who had no experience in such work. In the midst of the enterprise the masons and carpenters struck and it required much diplomacy to adjust their demands. The first houses were completed and preaching services begun at the new compound in February, 1852. This site continued to be the location of the mission until 1857, when growth of the work necessitated a change.