Omaha daily bee., 1895-05-01


Mrs. ]. w. Mexican, after FIVE years in
that comparatively unknown country, can
speak with authority on life in Laos.
The people of Laos resemble their half
brothers the Siamese, but are considered by
every one Except the Siamese themselves)
a superior race. They are certainly more
teachable, seemingly more desrous OF i'm
proving their condition religiousy and far
more lovable than their neighbors on the
south.
Though the customs and habits Of the two
people differ somewhat they are alike in
that the lives OF both are filled with super
stitions which seem most ridiculous TO us.
Every phenomenon of nature, every dis
ease, in fact, everything the cause of which
is not apparent, is shrouded in supersti-
tion.
They believe the earth to be fiat and
poised on the back of an immense fish
which sleeps most of the time. Earthquakes
and tides are caused by the movements OF
the fihs.
A lunar eclipse is supposed to be caused
by a frog devouring the moon. At such
times there is great commotion all over the
country. Beating of drums. gongs and
cymbals, fireworks and firing of guns, While
those who can make noise in no other way
do so by shouting and screaming. The pur-
pose of all this is to frghten away the frog.
l shall never forget an eclipse which l saw
while in Laos. At the first bite OF the
frog, so to speak, the noise began and in
side of few minutes there was such din
all over the city that 1t was almost i'm
! possible to carry on conversation. This
continued until the eclipse had passed.
The burial customs are interesting. TIC
| die Of old age or fever is to die good but
| to die from any other cause shows lack OF
merit and is to "die bad" II one dies
| good" the body can be burned The clothing
must be put on backward and must be torn
| The body may be bathed and the haiI
| combed, but IL one "dies bad" he must be
buried as he died. The body cannot be
bathed or the clothing changed. The law
| of the land absolutely forbids any dead body
being taken across any bridge, large oil
small.
The marriage ceremony consists in thG
hands of the bride and groom being
tied together and then they are blessed by
| some aged person who was previously
selected. They are then released and eacf
wrist OF the couple is enclrcled with strint
| and they are again blessed, as follows
MAY you each live 220 years." The husband
| returns to his own home after the ceremony
| and visits his wife every day for three ol
four days and when they have become &C
quainted he moves TO her parents home
| He must live there until another daughter
is married, when he may go and establish
| home OF his own, II his wife is an only
daughter he remains and helps support hi
parents-in-law as long as they live. II h
does not consent to this he cannot marry tn
daughter. Polygamy is not usual among
| the common people. Generally speaking, tn
husband and wife live happily together.
| Woman holds a higher place here than II
post heather countries. She has perfec
freedom and have been told she take
charge Of the family p9cketbook.
According TO Buddhist teachings, a woman
cannot begin TO be saved until she has meri
enough to be reborn as a man. The womel
are very jealous in their religion going oftel
TO the temples and from their scanty stor
making gifts to their gods.
The religious life Of the people enters int
| their political and social life and they are S
interviewer that 1t Is almost impossible 4
separate them,
The country is full Of temples and tn