“There in that hall of the queen’s apartments in the inner palace, to the interesting group around, Dr. Bradley read the scriptures ... his auditors occasionally asking questions, sometimes for information, sometimes in a carping way.”
But the queen was not improving; and at her request the foreign doctors were permitted to leave and the Siamese court physicians restored to their functions, administering their medicines prepared from “sapanwood shavings, rhinoceros’ blood and the cast-off skins of spiders.” After a day the American physicians were again called in attendance, and although they judged the cause to be beyond help, continued in constant attendance.
“September 25. For first time without exception since Monday, September 13, am to sleep in my own bed at home—having all other nights slept in my clothes at the royal palace, relieving Dr. B. who has charge of the queen in his attendance at night, his family requiring his presence then.”
The death of the queen occurred on the tenth of October. On this occasion Dr. House was requested by the king to write a detailed account of the late illness and death of the queen; and this, together with matter of his own composition, the king had printed for distribution.
A MISSION SCHOOL ORGANIZED
Having obtained a permanent location, the Presbyterian missionaries advanced to the long-cherished project of a school. Under date of August, 1852, Dr. House makes entry:
“In evening we talked over plans for doing good, laying out mission work, schools, bazaar schools, a Chinese teacher. Will go to Rapri to visit our brother Quakieng.”
This last sentence refers to the Chinese who had been received into the young church upon certificate. He lived at Rapri (Ratburi), a few days’ journey northwest of Bangkok, where he conducted a school for Chinese children. A week later the journal records: “On next Sabbath (15th) Quakieng will begin to explain the Scripture to the Chinese.” This indicates the first step forward, a teacher of the Chinese language introduced as a means of gaining pupils from among the Siamo-Chinese children. From this time until his death he was fully associated with the school; and in November he removed his family to live near the mission compound.
At the annual meeting of the Mission, Oct. 4, 1852, the journal says: