The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-08-25
ODD THINGS in SIAM
CURIOUS CUSTOMS AND CEREMONIES
THAT ARE STILL OBSERVED.


so important a ceremony fo- the future
spiritual welfare OF the child that it is
most scrupulously carried out, with all
the pomp and ceremony that the means
Of the parents VIII allow. That the
poor people may not be deprived Of the
benedt Of the ceremony the government
provides all that is necessary for It at
one o. the temples az Bangkok The
centei OF the ceremony is the cutting
off Of the topknot, which 10 all the hair
children are permitted 10 wear up 20
that time. But associated with It are a
number Of publications and other reii.
gious forms which have to be scrupu.
lousy carried out. The topknot. which
Is ordinarily adorned with chaplet Of
flowers or beads. often held in place
with a jeweled pin Of considerable val
ne, is now much more resplendently
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
NhAAA - hOM AENhNnfA ~ nave ANaNhN1
mans estate. although. TO their credit
be It said. the Slamese are in no hurry
to marry their children. In fact, undue
haste to make n match for daughter
Is apt to raise a question as to whether
things are so fiour.shing 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 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, ara
called upon to fix the lucky day, on the
his friends go to the brides house. car
rying presents of cakes and betel. All
Siamese chew betel. ana not to offer it
to a guest Is a serious breach of hospi-
tality. The guilds when ready for chew
ing consist of leaves of the bete pep
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 ibis mixture is up
propriately "muk" This viii always
be In evidence at weddings, and the
preparation and presentation of the be-
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 pre-
vided. and the ceremony Of merriage ls
performed by them with the sprinkling
of consecrated water over the couple.
But the greatest ceremony OF all
takes place after death. II 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 a period that
lengthens 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, Siamese marionettes and plays |
will be provided for all who care to |
witness them. On entering one would |
be met by some member Of the de-
ceased's family bearing black bag.
into which all are invited in turn to dip |
a hand. II Is found TO contain a mum
Der OF tiny balls. each Of which is hol. |
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 70 |
the attendants and receive as present |
whatever Il represents.
There may be dinner, bur anyway |
refreshments will be provided in abun'
dance. Just at sunset the pyre will be |
lighted. A stick OF scented wood or a
wreath OF flowers made OF the per.
fumed sandalwood. as well as candle |
Of unbleached wax, Is handed to each |
guest, and lamps are lighted at the foot |
Of the steps OF the pyre. lust as with |
us those at the graveside perform the |
last Office for the dead IN dropping a |
iitlle ear ~ lutV the grave, 80 III siam /
each one lights his candle at 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 on. including a
very mournful one known to the na-
lives as the roaring OF elephants" II
Is made by shaving a thick bamboo /
very thin at one point and then making |
slit. The inside is filled with compo-
sition and sealed. and this. when fired,
exerts great pressure on the slit, max
ing the edges vibrate continuously, so
producing q series OF loud grOans OF a |