The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-15
CREMATING A KING.
THE CREMATION OF THE LATE
KING OF SIAM.
The Glittering Structure Of Vast
Size Built as if by Magic.
Transporting the Body
The Ceremonies

was CIcullIcu Will I'LL uuC uouols uluC
months after the Monarch's death. The
interval between death and cremation
seems strangely long; but haste, which
Ia in no case considered "good form" in
Siam, is thought especially indecorous
when the mortal remains of any great
dignitary have to be disposed of. Ac-
cordingly, the body of the royal deceased
was allowed to lie in state for more than
nine months; and it was not till the
spring of the present year that prepara-
tions were made for" erecting the grand
building in which he was to be reduced
to ashes. But then, as if by magic, there
arose in the wide open SPACE to the north
of the royal palace glittering structure
of vast dimensions. On the ouside of
pile, a long quadrangular line of low
thatched buildings forming cloisters.
Inside number of pointed roofs rising
one above the other. In the midst of
there, four-sided tower with conical
roof, sloping upward until it tapered
into o pinnacle, and thence dwindling
into a mast, which was held firm by long
ropes stretched from the ground. The
top of this-nearly 200 feet from the
ground-rose above the gabled roofs, and
the whole mass glittered with bright
gliding scattered lavishly over the red
groundwork of the walls and platforms
below.
Inside the cathedral-for it resembled
nothing SO much-the scene was still more
bright. From the tall ceiling of the
naves or aisles hung draperies of rich
coiored cloth and gause, with festoons of
lamps. Along the sides of the aisles were
chairs for the state officers, and there
was a gold throne for the King himself.
In the middle of the building, beneath
the great spire, was the catefalque and
pyre, light Quadrangular structure pin
nacled and draped and profusely deco
rated with wood carving and heavy gild-
ing. On golden altar within the sort
of flour poster" thus erected was the
resting place for the urn itself, in which
the body of the defunct King was to rest
while the FIRE was lighted beneath. A
dim religious light, even at midday, per-
vaded the inmost sanctuary; and the
gloom was suitably relieved by the yel-
low robes of priest who from time to
time glided ghostlike through the brild-
ing or squatted in devotional attitude
upon the floor.
-Four days before the actual burning
occurred the important ceremony of
transporting the body from its state rest
ing place to the cremation building. An
immense procession was formed on the
far side of the cdifce. A military escort
came first, and then a troop of artificial
beasts constructed of wood. The horse,
the Assyrian eagle-headed lion, the
fabulous Rachasce dear to Siamese
scholars, the tiger and the sacred ele-
phant all gilded along, dragged upon
tiny cresking wheels by men clad in con-
secrated jackets of Chinese workman
ship Then came forest of flags and
crimson canopies borne aloft by men
wearing striped uniforms of blue; red
and white; then more soldiers and more
bands; and next, amid fourishes of
trumpets and the playing of the national
anthem, the King himself, borne in a
golden Litter, with two of his children.
His majesty takes his post in pavilion
near the gates of this building, where the
Princes and Ministers are already await
ing him and soon is heard the discordant
blast of the Brahmin shells blown by the
Hindoo priests who officiate only on high
occasions OF state in Siam. A long and
slow procession follows. The dead
march is well played by the royal band,
in true European style; and to its solemn
notes cd:ances strange procession, in
which the Brahmin priests with their
snow-white robes and tall white pointed
caps are very conspicuous. Behind them
appears the funeral carriage itself-a
towering structure on which the dark
brown of the wood-carving is we'll set
off by the heavy gold Of the decorations.
Almqst at the top of it, close to the ark
which holds the royal remains, sits one
of the chief priests. The others hold in
their hands the sacred cord which unites
them al in prayer. In ltters near the
hearse are carried the two sons of the
late King, clad from head to foot in
cloth. ofgold, and these 60 in first to the
building to receive the corrse, which is
slowly lowered on to another litter and
deposited at length on the catafalouc
within.
On tho cremation day all Bangkok
turns out. The lakons, or theatres, beat
their loudest drums and exhibit their
most attractive dancing girls. AT P.
N. the Foreign Minister proceeds to the
east entrsnee g, followed by the diplomatic
body, who are seated on chairs between
the cost transept and the cloisters. Near
them are the great provincial magnates
in uniform, with their gold belts, and in
side, within the nave itself, are the Chief
Ministers of State and Princes of the
blood royal, arrlyed in black, with blue
or yellow sashes. There is long pause.
bat at last ascuffling at the gate is heard.
Soldiers file in, carrying the red bundles
which remind on. so much of Roman
fasces. A double line is formed, Europeans
with their uniforms and evening dress on
; one side, S:amese in brighter colors on the
other. Then the national anthem sounds.
! The King comes in, alone this time, in his
litter of state. His bearers put down
the litter; his Majesty steps out of
! it, salutcs the functionaries, salutes
/ the diplomats and with quick step
mounts the step of the nave. Another
minute, and he has applied the scented
torch to the fagots of the pyre, and, i'm
mediatcly returning, ascends his litter
and departs. There is sort of rush into
the building; but the hasty are impru-
dent. A thick, dull vapor is rising
! heavily fom the altar and rolling in
su len waves down the nave. 1t is sup
posed to come from fragrant WOODS
deeply impregnatcd with sweet scents !: