, 1879-03-26
SI-WlLAI-LAKS' SOKAN.
Marvellous Tonsure OF the Celes-
tial Princess Strangely
Beautiful"
Semi-Barbaric Ceremonies Of
Surprising SplendOr ut tho
Siamese Court.

Surprising splendor Mt tho
Siamesc Court.
Correspondence Londen 1tIegropa.
BANGKOK, Jan. 17.-The 8tafnese Court has
commenced 1873 With show, rare crcu In Siam,
the tonsure of a lrat-class Princess. Almost
every Siamese, rich or poor, In youth has tho
topknot cut of with certain celebration. In
tho case Of Pnucc!y families, the tons1rc, called
Sokahsis always an occasfon for great process
sions lii the Palace; but the ponp Is vastly In
creased when the Sokau Is that Of Celestial
Primes or PrinceRs-one whose mother is Of
Koynl bsrth-whtch, II It occur during time Of
perfect peace throughout Slam, is ssgnalized by
the erection on the palacolnHn Of an artificial
IT'LL, Mouut Krallat7 uhercou part Of the cere-
mony takes place. During the last hundred
years uIcrs have been only five Of these rss-class
aokans, and this, the sixth, has therefore CAUSED
no little excitement In bangkok, attracting vast
crowds Of slghtscsss. The Princess "Straugcly-
benuliful'
{Bf-wILAf-1AKs)
wns not 10 the strict right Of birth entitled to
this honor; but, though not the daughter Of a
Celestial" she is tie Ercat-grauddauGhte OF
the greatest subject oi tla King Of Siam, the
NA7At0TeASt AuA WHY VHl AfpAV9SA I'LL SA%IF-
tson made in her case. Even the strict Master
OF the IiItcs bowed approval when 1t had been
conceded to him that the mountain should be
three feet lover than the standard, and that
she should not bc bathcd with water from the
jar reserved for the "hcayen.born." The
Princess si-wifai is a pretty girl, With large
almond shaped eyes, and only few weeks ago
had beautiful loug black lair Lut oil was cut
of preliminary to this ceremony save a smnll
tuft on the top ot her head, which The Drahman
bound IN three locks With sAnetlfed white
cot ottonthrcads. Each thread had grass-leaycs
anI gold ring rolled up With It, All three
w kn4,i.Ar, TUE GOLDEN uouA7Ars,
the home of Visfinu. the great god of gods
With llIIn'oos alal 1ndo. .Chinesc, was like the
ialrr setscene Of puntonimc. only H. stood on
with the bright sun.glow Of the East. II was
cutlously and ingenlously made, capital rep
rrsensation Of d rugged limestone hilI, Win
ellis, saves, Erossoes, howlders, lakes. An'i
with tinsel nn,l gold lcai. Two winding raIhs
led to its summit, on which was charming
git pavilion, tile palace Of vistnu. Thu whole
might he flty Or sixty fcet In hight. All
around the foot Of t.'e fill, In many cave or
moved by concealed springs or machinery, Illus.
trati.,g episodes troia Pamayana an'!
insya, ancient and iabu'tns, histories Of
i,dta ND slaIaya, The iayor:tc literature
spent hours, and never secmcd TO tire Of the
roughness Of tic art. On all the hundred erngs
! Ill! plnnacles Of the hill were the angels and
gods Of lilndoo md slamese mythology, trees
OIL which grew women MD monkeys, aml all
TINT ts pleasant ana mtschicyous In magical
botany, Representing the strange or delicious
flowers Of the gardens Of Heaven: The angels
Of the sun and moon had, behind their little
palaces, large revolving stars Of many g'istcn-
lug rays, most successful
B1Ts or rANIoMlu1c ENGINEERING,
probably first seen by some Starnese Ambassador
ut Drury Lane Theatre, ind ut once adopted Ia
Siam, A few very useful diy!n!sics were
specially cared for on the hilltop Therc was
cre to fall when hc leavcs bis palacc, 50 he WIS
headed elephant; while tho hilcous
many-armed sLya, called BY the s!nmeso
northeast as,A south faces Of the pavilion Of
| Visnu. It Is ubout GanesA that 8!amesc my
tnoTogtes tell tile frat story of topknottut'
| tiny On krai!at. lie WIS one Of fishilu's crea-
day Toy sokan ceremony, asked the noble siyn
10 perform the ceremony. Slga promised 20 DO
Us lie was usked, but tlic hour approached ant!
the king Of gods did not appear. He had over
archa.xel lndra was sent lot. ".t'o," cried the
Eod Of gods, "n,ld wake him by blowing bis own
|
tsunpet." heaven a"" earth sesHunaetl, ansi
Sisa WOKE Atg saw lhara, " "Ahyth@1ng @ WronE t., f.,
ie y Asked "ho" ase a'l the looco *oFldst'
.h,ghs Well,' answered me ulslne MESSENGER,
oat uancsa ie Haltn,Er In, yonss snohs
nf saetp LOT tnat ooy saltl oava, stll aEo~sg;
| ~ "ssn ae tlau POL sot a htAa 70 Ge sha'eu.
nc spokc carelessly, not Anef'ty; bhs tue Erent
;nn"1. ,yho haS he, hasn With ssneIa1 Eass
suddenly hecar1e hra1l,rss. ths whn1e ceremony
was sno}.t nn hea,]Icss IL remained til m cir.
nhant's iead was obtained for him. Thus be- ia
tic Elephant headed Deity to this lay.
| the n1rr. co.Msvcrn
% ibe cvc9lng OF jap. Win Religious service
n the great throne mil! wien they lit ttle can
dlo 81 vsctory,I9 Wox torch enc lathom high
Which Remained burning l!ntl ths topknot was
cut. At the & eati cna Q. ttlS @ nall "as % throno
Or altar On Mnlch were rellcs 81 bndaaat a
figure Of Pm Siam, the patron deity Of Siam, .
,afge neara 81 9aooha ,6 eat o' Of fGfk e!yh;a
Insignia VI sIaMese KoyAlty, the crown and slip
pcTs, the tapper, the tscus, trident, nni sword,
the state umbrella nnd spears, and the great
| "a v.