This silk pouch bears an address label in the hand of King Mongkut of Siam in English and Siamese (Thai) to Cheang Sam Teo. The label on the front bears a faded stamp on the top left. The English inscription reads:“To Honourable Chiang Some [Tuw?] Esquirefarmer of Opium and Spirit at Singaporethe own[er] of Barque [Siam?]& Hamlett [deck?]”Inscribed in Chinese on the back of the pouch are instructions for its delivery. King Mongkut (1804–68) was the fourth king of Siam (now Thailand) under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1851 to 1868. Under his rule, Singapore’s opium trade expanded into Siam as a result of the signing of “the Bowring Treaty” between the British Empire and the Kingdom of Siam on 18 April 1855. During this period, much of Singapore’s opium trade was controlled by Cheang Sam Teo (章三潮), a Hokkien merchant, and his Teochew partner Lau Joon Tek. It is likely that King Mongkut was introduced to Cheang through the opium trade and maintained correspondence with him relating to business matters.
