The Opelousas courier., 1890-06-14
THE ROYAL RULER OF SIAM.
GORGEOUS CEREMONIES IN WHICH,
he PARTICIPATES.
The Kings Barge Propelled ny
Eighty MenWith BrightsyPai1nteo

The Kings Barge Propelled ny
Eighty MenWith BrightEyPainteo
Paddles.
Many of the temples of BANGKOK
Siam, have been dedicated to Inc hihg,
and hence are called ''royal watts" IL
has been the custom, from ancient times
for the King to have a yearly visit mace
to each of these temples, to carry oner-
ings of yellow cloth and other things !"
the priests, and to worship the images.
The temples near the palace DIE VISITED
first, and to them His Majesty ls oorhe Oh
mems shoulders, seated in an elegant
golden chair Of state, sparkling with
gems, and followed by princes and noDles
in costly carriages; and some OF these
carriages are filled with offerings to De
presented. After this the temples On the
river are visited, and then the ceremony
is made impressive by grand professions
of boats. Sometimes there are over a
hundred beautiful boats, containing w
q thousand men in holiday dress, n
the confusion, excitement and noise make
a scene never to be forgotten. 1nese
boats are unlike those used on other oc-
c~asions, and are scarcely ever out except
during the taut katin season.
His Majesty's barge is, OF course the
largest and most beautiful; u the
others are all of the same general style.
It is perhaps 100 feet long, with o great,
qilded. fabulous looking creature for It's
igure-head, and a gilded stern that rlses
gracefully fifteen or twenty feet high OUT
of the water. In the middle of the boat
His Majesty is seated on an elevated
cushioned platform, under a pavliion
with archiDg roof, from which hang cur
tains of crimson and gold cloth, which
can be looped back or drawn close at
pleasure. This barge is propelled by
eighty men with long, brightly painted
paddles, which they dip in the water ana
then lift simultaneously high in the arr
The first part of the procession is COM
posed of about fifteen or twenty boats
somewhat like the Kings barge, but
/ smaller, and not having SO many men IN
them. Others of these front boats have
bands of native music; and all this noise
is meant to drive distractions out OF the
way, or, in other words, to prepare the
way for the King; and the din aud COM
! motion is very exciting. Following this
is His Majesty's barge; and, if the cur.
tains be looped back, the Kings genial
face may be seen surrounded by either o
few of his royal brothers or some OF bis
little children. Following His Majesty 5
barge, and near to it, is a smaller M OF
magnificent adornments, which carries
the offerings to be given to thu priests
and following it are the beats OF the
princes and noblemen.
When His Majesty reaches the temple
landing he is received by guards OF SOL
diers stationed along both sides OF the
walk to the door of the temple. When
about to enter the temple he takes oti
his shoes; then. with the offerings in his
hands, he lifts his hands above his head,
and bows down low before the image Of
Buddha. He then makes similar obei'
! sance to the superior priests and bestows
the gifts. This done, His Majesty again
enters his boat and goes to another tenn
pie.
In January, 1887, there was celebrated
the ceremony that confirmed the title tt
the present Crown Prince of Siam. A
that time, for seventeen days, Bangkok
was in holiday dress; banners and bunt
ing, garlands of flowers, decorated arches
long lines of the seven-storied umbrellas
in silver and gold, with hurrying crowd
of both natives and foreign residents, al
reminded one that som wonderful oc
casion was going on.
Che steamers on the river made a CRANE
display 0Aamany colored flags during tn
day. and in Saeyening were coveret
with thousands Of Ssaps that shin
mered and sparkled in m~~suaint ant
beautiful designs; and in sectio'
the picture was completed bTtGsplgEs Q
grand fireworks. Professions throug
the day and theatrical performance
through the evening were kept up 10
several DAYS, and at last the auspiciou
time arrived, that which wa appointe
by the best ~astrologers, and on Januar
Ii the grand "water rite' came of.
A temporary floating pavilion, rich an
beautiful in all its appointments, ha
been erected at the bank of the river net
the palace. The place where the primo
was to go down to the water was PR
tected first by a basket-work netting, ii
side of that a finer netting, and inside {
i, that a third netting of fine wire, to kee
out all pernicious animals, while soldier
with spears guarded each side of this e1
quisitely- prepared bathroom. Two pal
Of crystal stairs led from the floor OF tt
main room of the pavilion down to I'll
surface of the water.
When the appointed time arrived ii
little Prince was taken down n pair
! the crystal stairs by his royal uncle, viii
a his royal father stood ON the other pair
: the crystal stairs; there they waited, an
y as soon as the gold and silver ~cocoanut
!, which were floating ON the surface of Il
: woter, came near enough to each other
. touch, then the prince was put into Il
a water, the music struck up, artillery fire.
the priests pronounced their blessing
and His Royal Highness Chowfa Nal
Wajirunhis was hailed heir-apparent
the throne of Siam.
These ceremonies were brought to
> close by an evening entertainment Civ,
! in the "King's Gardens" by the famili
: of the leading princes and mobiles of 4
. Government; and to many who saw
: this was the most wonderful part Of Il
!. very wonderful occasion. These garde
were arranged, decorated and illuminate
until they were indescribably beautiful
and were much more like enchantme
than reality.-Demorest's Magazine.