Smyrna times., 1903-02-04
CURIOUS CUSTOMS STILL
OBSERVED OVER IN SIAM
ODD THINGS AND CEREMONIES THAT ARE
OF MUCH INTEREST TO TOURISTS.

Decentralization Ceremonies,
In Siam the cutting of the topknot is
so important a ceremony for the future
spiritual welfare of the child that if is
most scrupulously carried out, with all
the pomp ard ceremony that the means
or the parents will allow. That the
poor people may not be deprived Of the
benefit of the ceremony the government
provides all that is necessary for if at
one of the temples at Bangkok. The
center Of the ceremony is the cutting
OH of the topknot, which is all the hair
children are permitted to wear up to
that time. But associated with it are 4
number of publications and other reli-
g1ous forms which have to be scrupu-
lously carried out. The topknot. which
is ordinarily adorned with a chaplet of
flowers or beads, often held in place
with jeweled pin of considerable val
ne, is now much more resplendentlv
adorned, while the child is further load
ed with the richest jewels the family
can provide. After the ceremony the
hair is allowed to grow all over the
head and is usually worn about an inch
long, standing up like a brush The
child Is now reckOned to have reached
mans estate, although, to their credit
De II said, the Siamese are in no hurry
TO marry their children. In fact, undue
haste to make a match for a daughter
is apt to raise a question as to whether
things are so flOurishing with the fam
lily as they might be.
When marriage is thought of. it is Of
ten the result of mutual affection and
takes the form of an elOpement. with
subsequent forgiveness by the old folk.
The more formal way calls for q lot of
negotiation and the payment to the
parents of "ka nom," which is often.
however, returned to the daughter on
the birth of her first child. The monks.
who are the astrologers of the country
among other accomplishments, are
called upon to fix the lucky day, on the
arrival Of which the bridegroom and
his friends go to the brides house, car
rying presents of cakes and betel. All
SiameSe chew betel, and not to offer if
to a guest is a serious breach of hospi-
ing consist of leaves of the beteI peD-
per, chips Of areca nut-there is no
such thing as betel nut that careless
travellers write abOut-a little slaked
lime and sometimes tobacco also. The
Siamese word for this mixture is an
proprlately "muk." This will ALWAYS
be in evidence at weddings, and the
preparation and presentation of the he
tel tray to the bridegroom constitute
one of the forms of acceptance by the
bride of his authority over her. The
monks will be already in attendance
feasted with the best that can be pro-
Tlded, and the ceremony of marriage is
performed by them with the Sprinkling
OF consecrated water over the couple.
But the greatest ceremony of all
takes place after death If the person
be Of high rank, the body is placed in a
sitting posture in a large metal urn or
among the commOners in an ordinary |
coffin. After being kept period that |
Iengthens with the exaltation of rank |
day is fixed for the cremation. All |
the friends Of the family are invited. |
and enormous sums are spent on enter !
tanning them and providing free shows |
for the general public The guests will |
enter the inclosure, while Chinese thea
ters, Slamese mariOnettes and plays !
will be provided for all who care to !
witness them. On entering one would |
De met by some member of the de- |
ceased's family bearing a black bag. |
into which all are invited in turn tc dip |
hand. 1t is found to contain a num- |
Der of tiny balls, each of which is bol-
low and contains a screw of paper. A |
Siamese figure on it refers to a similar
figure on some article in one of the |
booths in the inclOsure, and the guests
are expected to present the number to
the attendants and receive as a present
whatever it represents.
There may be a dinner, but anyway
refreshments will be provided in album
dance. Just at sunset the pyre will be
Aghtcd. y stick of scented wood or a
wreath of flowers made Of the per
fumed sandalwood, as well as a candle
Of unbleached wax, is handed to each
guest and lamps are lighted at the foot
or the steps of the pyre. Just as with
US those at the graveside perform the
last office for the dead in dropping a
little earth into the grave, so in Siam
each one lights his candle at a lamp
and places it under the urn or coffin, to-
gether with the scented stick or wreath.
buddhist monks away in one Of the
booths will be reciting sacred texts
meanwhile but nothing in the way Of
prayer, whether for the dead or the
living, enters into the ceremony.
Fireworks will be let off, including a
very mournful one known to the ma
tiyes as the roaring of elephants" It
is made by shaving a thick bamboo
very thin at one point and then making
slit. The inside IS filled with compo-
sltlon and sealed, and this, when fired,
exerts great pressure on the slit, max
ANuF IL