The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1867-01-17

Inc practice OF burning the boi!cs OF
the dead Is retained in Siam in full force
: TO the present day among all the primer
pal families. The ceremony is magnif
CEN enough, but fearfully expensive aaa
its Continuance is an intolerab!e buldeA,
y but no one dares to dropit because 1t is
1.-THE old c,.tom.u The Bangkok Re-
corder Of September 20 contains descrip-
lions of the burning on that day of two
Siamese noUles, one a brother of the
prime minister of the kingdom, who
died June IL, and the other a half broth
Or, who died few weeks later. During
oil the intervening time the bodies had
lain in state in their respective homes.
The whole period had been occupied in
costly preparations for the CEREMONY
On platform about eight feet from the
ground had been erected pyramid six
teen feet high, surmounted by splendid
urn highly ornamented and gilt. Over
this was an immense and lofty white
canopy, open at the four sides. The
whole was pro:usely decorated with
flowers and fancy articles.
On the day of the funeral the pyramid
was chiefly removed and pile of fire.
wood built In its place, OIL which the
bodies were placed. The account pro-
cccds:
within the Enclosure on two sides, of
the dome were seated priests, princes,
noblemen, &c. On another side were
the female mourners and friends, to-
gether with nearly all the European
ladies residing in the city. On III ,
fourth side, where his Majesty was to APP
proach the dome, were the European
gentlemen, comprising mariners, mer-
chants, consuls, clergymen, &c. With
out the Enclosure on all sides were vast
multitudes of both sexes and Of all
classes.
1.-THE hour of five o'clock p. IN. had
now arrived, which was the time APP
pointed for the ignition of the funeral
pile. Presently the royal heralds ai-
nounced the approach of the King by |
their trumpets and conch-shells. All |
eyes were consequently turned to the
quarter at which his Majesty was to en-
ter, and few strains of God save the
King from the brass band introduced
him very quietly into the presence of
the dead, where he seated himself with
. large number Of his children before ten
or dozen Buddhist priests arranged in
a line sitting on n carpet. These went
through with certain rehearsals and in
carnations for the dead, barely audible
bat not to be understood, while his
teapot into basin, it being symbol of
blessings cravcd for the departed spirit
rs we'll as for all the remaining friends.
1.-The screen which had hidden the
dismantling and humiliation of the
bodies OH the wood was now drawn aside.
His Majesty then snapped an instru-
ment PECULIAR to the Siamese which
ignited II little powder and this taper
which the King, having assembled the
steps, applied to the funeral pile. I'm
mediately the nearest mourncrs stepped
up anu placed each his wax candle and
Candle sticks under the wood and then
the princes and lords in rapid succession
did the same until all order of rank was
lost in the desire to manifest the same
respect FOR the dead before tie flames
should become too hot to admit o. ap.
proaci. Tn, fire increased with I'M
usual rapidity.
"There was no bathurst of grief bat !
manifestly silent, solemn weeping
among some of the mourners. We
could not help but weep with them
when we consider that they We're weep
ing without one ray of the glorious hopes
which the Gos eel ailo d, to them who
believe in Hin who IS the resurrection
and the life