Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-06-06
Facts Concerning the Laos.

/ DdngkOk- 4heSe AnguOmS are all tFlDu-
tary in certain sense, as they pay a small
triennial tribute to the King of Siam, and
be claims the perOgatITe Of nominating a
successor to any Of their thrones when
vacancy occurs. Aside from this and the
''Righf of Appeal" which the Laos people
have, each Laos king is absolute in his own
dominion.
The Laos are hardy mountaineer peo-
pie, kind and affeetionate in disposition,
and physically and morally superior to the
Siamese.
A large majority OF the men are thickly
tsttOOed from the bottom Of the waist down
below the knee. 1t is a mere matter Of
taste, no religious element being involved
/ IN it. The operation is very painful one,
men sometimes dying while undergoing it.
The men generally wear the Laos plaid,
but some dress in blue or white tunics, fit
ting closely and reaching to the knee.
The men OF the Ching Mai province allow
the hair to grow, only cutting it when il
becomes too long. Some wear whiskers
others do not.
The Laos women have long glossy hair
of an intense black which, with tidy per-
sons, is neatly gathered in high knot be-
hind. They wear the Laos pettieoat, more
or less ornamented with gold thread, and
| embroidered with silk of bright colors, and
a jacket, close fitting to the waist thence
| expanding more amply till it reaches near
/ " to the knee. Those who can afford it
wear ear and finger rings, and surround
neck, arms and ankles with circlets of gold
or silver. The Laos women nearly always
are seen with flower in their hair.
When q young Laos gentleman wishes
to make suit to yOung lady, he asks her
] for the flower in her hair. If he is regard
ed with favor he gets the flower, otherwise
the flower is withheld and the young man
takes it for granted that he has ''permis-
sion to withdraw"
Marriage contracts are made verbally,
| the parents Of the young lady receiving
compensation from the future husband for
the loss they will suffer in being deprived
Of her assistance. The amount of compen-
satiOn depends upon the brides beauty,
youth and family connections. The Laos
have marriage ceremony which is in most
cases performed by the magistrate Of the
district in which it occurs. A divorce is
also attsinable under certain circumstances
but it must be by a mutual agreement ex-
cept in severe cases Of unfaithfulRess on
the part Of the bride.
The LHos have considerable musical taste,
but their instruments are very simple and
few in number. Only the gentlemen are
instructed in instrumental music.
Cocoa and betel nut trees abound in
Ching Mai. Oil is made from the former,
and the latter produces an article Of COM
merce.
Ching Mai has large market which is
very neat and orderly. 1t is entirely kept
by women, who seat themselves on the
ground, with vegetables, fruits and con-
fectionery deposited on plantain leaves, or
in little baskets made by themselves.
While not trading they work away on EN-
brOidery used in ornamentation.
Salt is used as the currency Of the mar
ket. So seldom is money used that the
owners OF the articles often do not know
the value Of them in money, but can read
lily tell, if asked now much salt they will
take. The reason Of this is, that all their
salt comes from Bangkok, and has to be
transported up the Menam river by boats. |
These boats are propelled by men with oars |
and bamboo poles. This river is a most |
beautiful one, but the very things which |
enhance its beauty-its forty-two falls
prove almost insurmountable distractions |
to navigation, and make trip from Ching |
Mai to Bangkok and return cost about two |
hundred dollars. When we remember that |
no large boats can pass up, and that with |
even a small boat it requires between three
and four months to make the round trip |
we can understand why salt should be so
very precious in Ching Mai. We must re-
member, too, that there is no established |
line of boats going and coming as upon |
our own waters, but all this transporting
is done by private individuals, and is only
an occasional or incidental occurrence.
.v1o l
have to wait sometimes from three to six
months before receiving any mail matter
from Bangkok, aid in one instance Ching
Mai had no mail for eight months. Com
pare this with our rapid transit and tele-
graphic communication and realize their
isolation.
At Rahaang gentlemen may leave the
river and complete the journey to Ching
Mai by elephant, but ladies could not en-
dure the ride, it is such a very tiresome
mode of travel. The elephant is faithful
and indispensable servant in that land Of
mountains. All overland transportation
throughout the Laos is carried on by means
of elephants and oxen. Large droves Of
oxen are frequently seen travelling single
file behind leader, decked with mask,
fancifully made of shells, covering his
whole face, while from between his horns
q large peacock tail rises and sweeps grace
fully, though comically, over his back.
Each OK is laden with an immense pair Of
baskets, thrown over saddle bag fashion,
and in these are placed the articles for
transportation. Sometimes every OK is
covered nearly all oyer with strings of little
bells which add some life to the scene.
Both buffslOes and oxen are used for
plowing, and are guided by reins attached
to the nose of the animal.
The white elephant is an object of re-
ligious veneration. Tigers, deer, wild hogs,
peafowls and jungle chickens abound in
the forests; while dogs and cats, crows ard
lizards are among the domestic animals.
Rice, which is a staple product, is first
sprouted and then sOWn in thin mud.
When the stalks are twelve or eighteen
inches high 1t is all transplanted by hand.
The natives put down three or four stalks
in place, erowdIng the roots in the soft
mud with their toes, while holding the
tops out Of the water.
Woman occupies an honored place
among the laws. If any trouble occurs
which necessitates litigation between a
man and woman, the Judge always de-
cides the case in favor Of the woman.
Laws concerning theft and other misde-
meanOrs are very strict. Robbery is pun
ished with death. The morals of the laws
are wonderfully pure, IN comparison with
those of other heather nations. Their re-
ligion is Buddhism, and is free from the
cruelty and Yileness Of Hindooism. There
is no such thing as caste among them.
The Siamese are kind to foreigners and
give them a cordial welcome in their coun-
try.
About six weeks-ilcluding parts of
March and April, are annually given up
almost wholly to idolatrous worship-much
of which consists in efforts to propitiate
Spirits. The Spirit of the river upon
which most Of their commerce is carried
on, is propitiated by floral offering.
Tiny boats filled with the choicest flowers,
carried to the rivers ridge and tapers ar
ranged by which to illuminate the little
bark. AT q certain hour after dark, a
signal is given, and simultaneously thous-
ands of these little boats are launched,
and go sailing down the stream. Aside
from it being an act Of idolatry, it is
most brilliant and beautiful sight, and one
that exeites our highest admiration.
The first and only Christian Mission was
at Ching Mai in 1867, three
years after its founders had surveyed the
ground and applied for permission. The
PRESBYTERIAN Board hesitated all this while
on account of the remoteness of the place,
but finally consented. Revs. Daniel Ne
Gilvary and Johnathan Wilson. were the
pioneers, and the Missionaries now engag-