An Elephant Hunt In Siam.

The present young king Somdetch-Phra-PaTamendrl-Maka-Cbulalon-Korn , being in mourning , could not attend , and bad deputed the Regent to represent him on the occasion . Amongst the Europeans who ivere present at the hunt , I noticed

the American Consul , General Partridge , and the legation , the English Consul , Thomas Knox , Esq ., accompanied by the naval officers from Singapore , the Vice-Consul of France , with the French naval officers from Saigonthe Spanish embassy

, , represented by the Chevalier Paxtoy Chaval , the Prussian Consul , with the officers of the Medusa , then lying at Bangkok , before pursuing ber voyage round the world . There ivere also present tie Portuguese ConsulM . ViallatAvho so

unfortu-, , natelyperisliediu this excursion , the Danish Consul , and several American and English missionaries , both men and Avoinen , Avitb some European and American merchants and their families . The Siamese were

represented by the second king of Siam , Avitb the Court , the Regent , the principal officers of tlie crown , the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Interior ;—tlie grand mandarin of the elephants and the writer were masters of the ceremonies . Three steamers of the royal fleet left on

the 24 th of A pril with the guests on board . They started at ten o ' clock . Every possible attention was paid to the comfort o ! the party , a band of music Avas onboard each steamer , and a perfect army of boys in blue and Avbite fanned the guestswhile ,

, the air was fragrant Avith floAvers streivn upon the decks . As I bad received an order to bring the Portuguese Consul in a small pleasure yacht , I set out two hours later . M . Viallat Avas not ready , but promised to leave as soon as possible .

AVe ascended the magnificent river called Me-Nam ( mother of waters ) keeping along the banks , which ivere fringed Avith fig , palm , banana , guava , citron and other trees . The air was heavy with perfumes , unknown in Europe , and to add oddit y to the scene , little monkeys , of various species gambolled and leaped from branch to branch with perplexed look and startled

cry . As the sun began to set , Ave took the middle of the river , with the double view of avoiding the mosquitoes , and making up for lost time . As the last ray of the sun died aAvay behind tlie mountains , the

clash of gongs , summoning tlie talapomts or priests to prayer , ivas beard from tlie pagodas , that lied aivay behind us in the 'twilight . Then myriads of insects began to zizzee , as the Siamese anomatopoetically express it , and as soon as the moon rose a

milky kind of light seemed shed over the earth , Avbile innumerable fire-flics illumined the trees . AA e arrived at Ajutbia at half past twelve , where Ave found the steamers lying at anchorbut the music and joyous

, sounds on board testified that lew of their inmates bad any desire for sleej ) . I wont immediately to tlie Regent , and informed him of M . Viallat's unexpected delay ; the Regent seemed annoyed , and feared that bis men might lead him astray , as they

Avere but imperfectly acquainted with the road . I ivas awakened next morning early by one of my men , and set out to explore the neighbourhood . Behind me , towards the east , extended a vast forest to the very horizon ; it Avas through this ffrest the elephants were to arrive . At my feet the Meiiani rolled majestically along On the

other other side of tlie river was a A ast arena built of masonry , Avliicb I found out was the trap . I jumped into a pirogue , manned by a few Ehones-JRMa ( loivers ) and lauded on the other bank , at the very spot where the elephants Avere to pass . The trap soon sboAved itself to be two

hedges about twenty feet in height , and gradually growing narroAver as they approached the entrance to a large construction , wliicli looked like a pagoda in ruins . An incredible luxuriance of vegetation formed two thick Avails of a verdure

as shining as green porcelain . Tlie curiously shaped trees Avere so leafy , so thick , and so intertwined from root to top , that it appeared impossible for the smallest quadruped to pass through them . A thousand birds found shade in the foliage ,

and saluted the delightful morning Avitb their Avavblings ; red and green parrots climbed to the tree-tops Avith . the aid of their booked beaks . Among the trees I distinguished the acacia rose , the ginger treethe stepbanotistlie gardeniathe

, , , tamarind , the laurel rose , the guava , the papaw , the kaclanga , & c , and all these trunks and branches Avere interlaced together by young bamboos . AAlfh every gust of air they loaded the atmosphere with