The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-23
A WONDERFUL CEREMONIAL.
CUTTING orr THE LONG H1IR or
PRETTY SIIMESE PRINCESS
An Eastern Ceremony OF Publication from
Original SIn-The whole Einmese Court
Taking Pnrt in ~ Gorgeous Miracle Play.

has commenced the year 1879 with n brilliant
| show, rare even in Siam. the tonsure OF llrst-
| cluss Princess. Almost every Siamcse, rlch or
| poor, in youth has the topknot cut on with Y
| certain celebration. In the crse Of children OF
| rich people the ceremony lasts several days.
| and Is attended with much display icnsing.
| theatrical performances. and Religious services
| In the cnsc Of prnccly families, tho tonsure,
| called So-kan. is always an orcasion for great
| professions in the palace, but tho pomp, IS
| vastly increased when the So-kan is that of
| Celestial Prince or PrincesH-one whose mother
| Is Of royal birth-whirh. II II occur during
iine OF perfect pcace throuEnomt sum I'M, - S,H n
| artificial hill. Mount Krailat, whcreon part Of
the ceremony takes place. During ne last
| these frst-class Sokans. and this. the sixth.
! has therefore caused no little excitement in
| Bangkok. attracting vast crowds OF sightseers.
Tho Princess Z" Strangely beautiful" lSi-wia.
laksl. though not the daughter Of n " Celrstial."
is great -granddnughtOr VI the greatest subject
the King OF Siam. tho Regent -,
Tho Princess Si-wilm is a pretty girl. with
weeks sk ago ago Ind beautiful long black hair. but
| all cut of preliminary 70 this ceremony
save small TUT ON thn top OF her heaii wn Wien
| titled white cotton threads. Each thread had
grass leaves and gold ring rolled np with 4.
n gold hairpin Krallat. tho Golden Mountain.
| the home OF Nshnu was like the fairy set-scrne
| OF n pantomime. only II stood on tho open lawn
in the broad daylight, cleaning with the bright
sunglow; II was capital reorganization OF u
rs. bouldcrs lakes. and waterfalls. From hnse
y top II WAS covered with unsel ana gold ieai.
| TWO winding paths lru TO IFS summit, on WHICH
was charming gilt pavilion. the palace OF
Nishnu. The whole might DO sixty feet in
All around tho foot Of tho HILL in many n cave
| and grolto. were models. set pieces. and figures
moved by concealed machinery. illustrating
| episodes from the knmaynna and lnava. an
! cient and fabulous histories Of India and Ma
| laya. the favorite literature OF the Samese;
never seemed TO tire OF tho roughness OF the
! art. On all the hundred crags and pnnnclcs OF
| the hill were the angels and gods Of Hindoo
auf 'mmcse mythology. trees on which grew
women and monkeys. ana hll thnt IL pleasant
ing the strange or delicious howers OF the gar
deus Of heaven.
The ceremony ia one of publication Mt an i'm
portant period Of life. Every infant at the age
Of one month IL shaved. except for ono minute
patch. which is lcft To this ceremony. The bath
ing aud tho complete shaving of tho head are
cmblcmatic OF the removal OF all the impurities
the Original sin-with which the child is born.
| During the publication white thread Is worn
round the head. and every person engaged is
clad in the white robe OF IA devotee. Directly
the shaving and bathing are completed. every
one appears in red the subject OF the ceremony
becomes u Brahmachari-a pure being-and the
gels nj the achievement. As Tor the ceremonial.
il Is, indeed. u drama, acted before the people
u State. On this occasion the highett born
Prince In Siam. q CsleStAl-Prince-M Minister Of
Prime Minister and Minister Of Foreign Affairs
We're RrchAngrls. The Kings private sccre-
tary. two Dukes, and other great personagcs
were leaders Of the escort Of angels the angels
were nll officials. and the hours OF heaven were
]
The rites commenced on the evening Of Jan.
2, with "A religious service in the great throne
hall, when they lit the candle OF vctory-a WAX
torch one iathoui high-which remained burn
ing until the topknot was cut AZ the east end
81 this hall was throne. on which were relics
81 Buddha. IA figure Of Pra Sinm. the patron de-
ity Of siam; large figure Of Iiuddha cut out Of
rock crystal, the great seal Of the kingdom. and
all tho chief insignia OF Sameso royalty. tho
crown aud slippers, the fapper. the discus. tri,
dent. and sword. the state umbrella. spears. and
the great white shel-a huge whelk. spiralling
reverscly OF when only two exis in Siam. and
which is fabulousy valued. In front OF this
altar were several trays. with offerings OF cakes
and flowers. While the King and his daughter
attended religious service in this hall and
listened 10 the chanting OF twenty-four Samese
Buddhist abhots. the Brahmins In another hall
carried on their service. Tho priests in the
great hall sat on platform. from which white
cords passed round and out Of the hall and
about the golden mountain. These cords were
supposed 70 be- enicacious in keeping out bad
spirits, Tho aooots having commenced the
night until the day OF tonsure
on the next aiternoon was the first grand pro-
attend religious service in the throne hall. The
ers. had set apart q special pavilion, where they
might watch at their ease The Foreign Min
lister himself came from time 10 time 10 see that
they, were comfortable and the good natured
ing lady visitors with tea and sweetmeats and
the gentlemen with brandy and soda. The
The representatives OF Germany. France. Hol-
land, the United States. and sometimes about
hospitality. on the lawn were about seven
hundred noblemen. seated on ordinary iron
garden chairs. The south Side OF the lawn adj
Joining the inner palace was reserved for Prin-
cesSes .nnd ladies OF rank. The gittering
Thc lawn.
Tho .nssombage Of noblemen was Of itself
most bri liant sight. All wore gold brocade
coats. md many, sparkled with diamonds; one
OF those reputed wealthy, a Lord Iricha. came
10 tax 70 his friends among the foreigners. He
wore n brocaded frock coat. gold on green silk
ground, buuoning close 10 the neck. fastened
WIN single diamonds. each half an inch in di-
mond buckle, Instead OF trousers he wore tho
national panung which AT short distance looks
Ike loose knee brooches. The panung wns Of
chinlz the pattern denoting die rank. and white
dress. He was followed by n train Of men car-
ryng gold teapot. spiitoon, tray Of bclel nut
The foot Of the hill was surrounded by troous
Of dancing women dressed in cloth Of silydr
VIII glt high crowns representing the Apsaras.
or hours OF heaven; and all the centre Of the
posturing with bows and arrows.
At about 7. NJ. the King arrived in state.
lie was borne on silyer-gilt seat along tho
course appointed for the procession. Around
the King were carried several pyramidal
gold cloth which foreigners cali royal um6fei.
las, but over him was held a real umbrella OF
OF the Kings children followed him. some
borne in litter, some on foot His Majesty
young and od-looking. with a peculiarly
bright eye and Intelligent expression, was mag
nlIcent!y ro0ed ~ cloth OF gold, md wore the
] 7. stepped
onco from his lofty seat on To- the wall
Tho procession had reached the inner gnte
and was close upon us; first came the Japanese
gunrd In japanese war dress, hideous black
masks and deers horns then n company Of
Nappors In European uniform carrying axes
thcn military music. Some very beautiful girls
magnlncenty dressed, appeared before the
Kings pavilion dancing tho flower dance
waving branches OF gold and silver flowers.
stately aud ravlshing miuuet. Then pNced two
nohlemcn, archangels. all in white. with gold
embroidery and crowns. surm0uutpd 10y n white
horn or spike about eighteen inches high fol-
lowed 10y about q hundred crowned angels Of
lower degree. and owning less gold embroidery
marching in two lines. and between them In
dim musicians. Next came moro angels Of high
degree IN marVcllpusly gorgeous robps. These
wore followed 10y rrpros natives Of the races
who will servo the Princess. NIL in their ma
lionnl costume. China boys in blue coats cnl-
broidered with dragons Maays with gilt hrl-
NETS and strange turbans, and Anamesc in
plain white robes. Now appeared some hun
dred children dressed in white. with little gold
coronrts on their topk nots, and the thin Brah-
man thread around tho corone These were