The Siamese twins, Chang and Eng : a biographical sketch.

Date:
[1869]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Siamese twins, Chang and Eng : a biographical sketch. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Chang and Eng were only eight years of age. Very scon after they began to assist in the support of their mother, who had been left in straightened circumstances, owing to the long illness of their father. The first business in which they embarked was the manufacturing of cocoa-nut oil, which is such a very laborious employment that they found their strength unequal to it, and were compelled to relinquish it. • , BECOME PEDDLEBS. They next engaged in peddling. This business is carried on in Siam almost as extensively as in the United States, with this difference, however, that whereas the Yankee peddler has to provide a wagon and a pair of horses, the Siamese has only to procure a boat and pair of oars. Pedlars in Siam are compelled to take out a license and pay a tax; but Chang and Eng were exempted by special favor. They say they were pretty keen at striking a bargain, and seem to think that the roving merchants of Siam are not a whit behind their brothers of Connecticut. TBY THE DUCK AND EGG BUSINESS. Not altogether relishing the peddling trade, Chang and Eng next turned their attention to the rearing of young ducks and dealing in eggs. The favorite food of ducks, in Siam, is a small shell-fish, for a supply of which Chang and Eng went a considerable distance to sea, gener- ally twice a week, and sometimes oftener. Ever since then they have been very much attached to the sea, enjoy a voyage, and never recollect having been in the least sea-sick. The Twins remained in the duck and egg trade until their departure for the United States, when they left a very flourishing business to their brother. AS CURIOSITIES IN ST AM. Chang and Eng excited a good deal of curiosity in Siam, and many persons called at their father’s house to see them, especially when they were very young. The King, having signified a desire to see them, they went to Bunkok, and saw not only his majesty, but also his seven hundred wives, some of whom made presents to the Twins, as did likewise the King. IN AMEBICA. Chang and Eng left Siam on the 1st April, 1829, under the protec- tion of Captain Coffin, of the American ship Sachem. At the time neither their mother nor they thought it likely that they would be absent longer than 18 or 20 months. They arrived at Newburyport on the 16th of August following, going directly to Boston. They remained in the United States until the middle of October, during