THE IDOL OF BUDDHA
THE
ROMANCE OF THE HAREM.
BY
MRS. ANNA H. LEONOWENS,
AUTHOR OF "THE ENGLISH GOVERNESS AT THE SIAMESE COURT."
Illustrated.
THE EMERALD IDOL.
BOSTON:
JAMES R. OSGOOD AND COMPANY,
Late Ticknor & Fields, and Fields, Osgood, & Co.
1873.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872,
BY JAMES R. OSGOOD & CO.,
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
University Press: Welch, Bigelow, & Co., Cambridge.
"Truth is often stranger than fiction," but so strange will some of theoccurrences related in the following pages appear to Western readers,that I deem it necessary to state that they are also true. Most of thestories, incidents, and characters are known to me personally to bereal, while of such narratives as I received from others I can say that"I tell the tale as it was told to me," and written down by me at thetime. In some cases I have substituted fictitious for real names, inorder to shield from what might be undesired publicity persons stillliving.
I gladly acknowledge my indebtedness to Mr. Francis George Shaw forvaluable advice and aid in the preparation of this work for thepress, and to Miss Sarah Bradley, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Bradley ofBangkok, for her kindness in providing me with photographs, otherwiseunattainable, for some of the illustrations.
New Brighton, Staten Island,
September 13, 1872.
To the noble and devoted women whom I learned to know, to esteem, andto love in the city of the Nang Harm, I dedicate the following pages,containing a record of some of the events connected with their livesand sufferings.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.