Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-03-24
sianlese Women and Children.

Si9Elese women and Children.
Up to the age of ten wears, Siamese
children Of either sex are not troubled with
any superabundance of clothing, and it is
seldom that a child is seen wearing the
smallest shred ofa garment, except on days
of festivals. Jewels, sometimes of very
great value, are put on young children.--
Among the higher classes, the girls and
boys, up TO the age of twelve, wear a num-
Der of gold chains, sometimes four, six or
seven at time, all different, and each hav-
ing some amulet or ornament attached
The hair is allowed to grow long on 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 ornamented pin. Often
a wreath of the white jessamine is twined
to fit closely about this knot, and the ef-
feet is pretty. Both boys and girls are
dressed Gf their scant measure of clothing
may be called drtss) exactly alike, so that
it is not easy to distinguish them. AT the
age of twelve the lock of hair is cut of,
leaving patch which bears strong re-
semblance to a small black hair brush
This, IN the man, is combed back and al
lowed to grow degree longer than in the
women; not so much so, however as to
suggest any marked difference to stranger.
The women keep their locks carefully oiled,
combed, and gunmed, to stand upright,
and they take infinite pains to keep the
| top of this brush smooth as velvet. A
Siamese lady's hair is held to be in perfect
order when she can plunge into the river,
and duck her head many times under with
out disturbing the smoothness and upright
ness of her national hair brush. The cere-
money of cutting off the lock of hair is
kept with entertainments and rejoicings.-
1t is great event in your Siamese life,
and resembles the coming out amongst
young ladies in other countries; for in Siam
children are supposed 10 reach years of dis
cretion rather early.
After girl marries, she gives up wear
ing of ornaments and trinkets. These are
set aside and reserved for her children in
their turn. Boys, as I have mentioned be-
fore, have IN opportunity of learning to
read, by entering themselves as neophytes,
or attendants ON the priests. Whether
girls have any schools or persons author
lied to t, ach them, l do not know; but it
is not uncommon in Siam 10 find women
able TO read and write. l met with three or
four myself, and these were persons of the
lower ranks. The occupations of the fa-
males are various and far less crcumscibed
than in many other parts of the east. In
fact, the women in Siam occupy moral
position many degrees superior 10 that of
their sisters in neighboring countries. The
wife of Siamese has no unimportant voice
in the domestic arrangement of the family.
She is cash-keeper, and seems to possess
the right TO claim all her husbands earn
ings. The women, as race, are intelli-
gent and observant; those belonging to
The higher classes seem to have pleasing
and modest manners. The head wife of
the prime minister is very interesting
woman; she is not young, but is by no
means wanting in personel attractions
She has no children; but that does not
seem TO disturb her husbands affection, or
her influence over him. She came with
her attendants, by invitation, to lunch with
us; and although our talk was limited for
lack of words, she could contrive to make
herself agreeable. It was the first time
that Siamese lady of rank had ever visit
ed on equal terms foreign family, but it
would have been difficult to guess this from
her perfectly easy and quiet demeanor.-
She sat at the luncheon table, with the
gentlemen; and, although she had proba-
bly, never before used knife or fork, or
any of the appliances of an English table,
she acquitted herself with perfect proprie-
ty and good breeding, even to the over
whelming act of taking wine with her host.
Her step son (the Siamese admiral,) ac-
companied her, and she was attended by
about thirty maidens, two of whom were
her youngest sisters, very pretty girls; the
rest were slaves. The whole party of at
tendants remained sprawling on the ground
during her visit.
An absurd little incident will serve TO
show how diligently those people observe
the custom of prostration. The lady re-
quested permission to visit the sleeping
apartments, in order TO see how English
people arrange rooms; she was according
ly taken up stairs, followed by the whole
body of maidens and her step-son, who did
not at all see why he should not have the
benefit of a peep as well. She expressed
her satisfaction at all 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
refinement not to be equalled. Finally,
when everything in the room had been du-
ly handled and examined, she inquired in
a preplexed manner, where we kept our
money, as she could not see strong box ,,
Of any kind. 1t should be mentioned that
On previous visit to her own house l
lad been shown over woman's private !
apartments, and in the the sleeping room
saw four large iron safes, which she point ,
ID out as seeming to add much to the hon
'r of the family. There happened to be
BOX of mine in corner, however, covered
'ver with the usual arrangement of cush-
ons and frills; this being shown her, she {
eemed greatly relieved to find Judging
rom the size of the box, which, however, {
vas empty at the time,) that we had, or )
ppeared to have, some worldly pelf, and d
delighted at such a charming way of cov-
ring it As she was about to descend
he stairs acommotion disturbed the whole [
'evy of damsels, to whom it appeared sud- a
enly to occur that by going down stairs @
rst their mistress would place herself be- n