The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-10-18
s1AMEsE WOMEN AND CHILDREN

| elLnef sex are UOL UfOuDleu Will any Supciapunu-
ance of clothing, and it is seldom that child is
seen wearing the smallest shred of garment ex-
cept days of festival Jewels, sometimes OF great
value, are put on young children. Among the
higher classes boys and girls up to the age OF ten
or twelve, wear number of gold chains, sometimes
four six or seven at the time, all different, and
each having some amulet or ornament attached.
The hair is allowed to grow long the front part
of the head, but the rest is kept shaved, leaving
this circular patch to be twisted into knot which
is kept in its place by long ornamental pin. Of
ten a wreath of white jasamine is twisted to fit
closely about this knot, and the effect is pretty.
Boys and girls dressed If their scaEt measure
of clothing may be called dress-exactly alike, so
that it is not easy to distinguish them.
At the age of IL the lock is cut off, leaving a
small patch which bears striking resemblance to
a small, black hair brush. This, in man, is
combed back, and allowed to grow degree longer
than in woman, not so much so, however, as to
suggest any marked difference TO a stranger. The
women keep their locks carefully oiled, combed
and guned, to stand upright, and they take infn-
ite pains to keep the top Of this brush smooth
as velvet.
Samese lady's hair is held to be in perfect
order, when she can plunge into the river and duck
her head many times under the water without dis
turbing the smoothness and uprightness of her ma
tive hair brush. The ceremony of cutting off the
cings. 1t is the great event in young Siamese ife
and resembles the coming out amongst young ladies
in other countries; for in Siam children are sup
posed to reach years of discretion rather early.
After girl marries she gives up the wearing of
trinkets and ornaments. These are reserved and
aside for her children in their turn. Boys have
opportunity to learn how to read by entering
themselves neophytes, attendants ON the
priests. Whether girls have any schools or per-
sons authorized to teach them, | do not know; but
it is not uncommon in Siam to find women able to
read and write.
The occupations of the females are various and
less circumscribed than in any other part of the
Fast. In fact, the women in Siam occupy moral
position many degrees superior to that Of their sis
ters in neig ighboring countries. The wife of Siam
csc has no unimportant voice in the domestic ar
rangements of the family. She is cash keeper and
seems to possess the right to keep her husbands
earnings. The women, as race, are very intelli-
gent and obsevant; those belonging to the higher
classes seem to have pleasing and modest manners.
The head wife Of the prime minister is very in
teresting woman; she is not young, but is by no
means wanting in personal attractions. She has
children, but that does not seem to disturb her
husbands affection, her influence over him.
She came with her attendants, by invitation, to
lunch with us, and although our talk was limited
for want of words, she could contrive to make her
self agreeable.
An absurd little incident will serve to show how
diligently those people observe the system of pros
traton. The lady requested permission to visit
the sleeping apartments, in order to how En-
glish people arrange their rooms. She was
dinghy taken up stairs, followed by the entire body
OF maldens and her stepson, who did not at all
why he should not have the benefit of peep as
well as they. She expressed her satisfaction at
the arrangements, and especially her delight at
small iron crib belonging to my child, which seemed
to strike them all as device of luxury and refine
ment not to be equalled. Finally when everything
in the room had been handled and examined she
inquired, in perplexed manner, where we kept
money, she could not see a strong box of
any kind
1t should be mentioned that on previous visit
to her own house, had been shown over her pri-
vate apartments, and in the sleeping-room saw four
large iron safes, which she pointed out as seeming
to add much to the honor Of the family There
happened to be a box in corner, however, covered
over with the usual arrangements of cushions and
fris, this being shown her, she seemed to be great
ly relieved to fnd-judging from the size of the
box, which, however, was empty at the time-that
we had, or appeared to have, some worldly pelf
and delighted at such charming way of covering
it up As she was about to descend the stairs, a
commotion disturbed the whole bevy of damsels,
to whom it seemed suddenly to occur, that by 60
ing down hrSt their mistress would place herself
beneath them; thing not to be tolerated for a
moment. Accordingly, with sudden rush, the
young ladies passed her on their hands and knees,
just as she was about to descend, and the whole
twenty scrambled down stairs head foremost, with
a hurrying, laughing and giggling, that as
amusing as it was surprising
The Siamese women, as we'll as men, are terribly
disfgured by the effects of constant and excessive
betel chewing. 1t is carried to disgusting extent
amongst people of all ranks and ages. Even little
children may be with their lips dyed red, and
crimson juice running out Of each side. Their
mouths are never, by any chance, empty; as soon
as the one quid is disposed of another takes its
place. SO that Siamesc always speaks as if with a
pebble in his mouth, and that no small one The
effect of the incessant chewing large guilds is to en-
large the lips considerably, to dye them sort of
black red, and entirely to alter the shape of the
lower part of the face. The Siamese say that the
chewing of betel acts continued stimulant, and
that they could not exist without it. 1t is highly
injurious to the teeth but think it don't destroy
health to any great extent.
Smoking is another habit carried to extreme
in Siam; mcn, women and children seem to live
upon cigarettes and tobacco rolled up in palm leaf
| was told as fact by lady, that she had seen a
nursing child of two years old taking whifs of its
mothers segar, alternately with its more natural
nourishment. For this, however, will not vouch.
But have frequently watched very pretty little
girl, of five years old, smoking cigarette while