The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-03-04
ODD THINGS IN SIAM
CURIOUS CUSTOMS AND CEREMONIES
THAT ARE STILL OBSERVED.

Wedding and Its Ce1ebration--Cre-
nation with Rcfreshments.
In Siam the cutting of the topknot Is
so important ceremony for the future
spiritual welfare Of the child that 1t liz
most scrupulously carried out, with all
the pomp and ceremony that the means
Of 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 IL at
one Of the temples at Bangkok. The
center Of the ceremony Is the cutting
of Of the topknot. which IL all the hair
children nre permitted to wear up to
that time. But associated with II are u
number of publications and other rell.
gious forms which have to he scrupu
lously carried out. The topknot, which
In ordinarily adorned with chapet OF
flowers or beads, often held I'm place
with u 1eweled pin OF considerable val
ne, In now much more resplendently
adorned. while the child Is further load
ell with the richest jewels the family
Gun provide. After the ceremony the
hair Is allowed to grow all over the
hend and In usually worn about an inch
long, standing up like q brush. The
child Is now reckoned to have reached
mans estate. although. to their credit
be II snld. the Slamese are In no hurry
to marry their children. In fact, undue
haste to make match for II daughter
!s apt to rnise question as to whether
things are so Gourishing with the fam
lily as they might be.
| When marriage ls thought of, II In 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 IL often,
however. returned to the daughter on
the birth Of her first child The monks,
who nre 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
| ing presents OF cakes and betcl. All
Siamesc chew bctcl, and not to offer 1t
to guest Is II serious breach Of hospi-
tallty. The guilds when ready for chew.
ing consist Of lenves OF the betel pep
per, chips of ureca nut-therc IN no
such thing ns betel nut that careless
travellers write nbout-a little saked
lime and sometimes tobacco also. The
Siamese word for this mixture Is ap-
proprintcly "muk." This will 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 pro-
| vided. and the ceremony Of marriage Is
| performed by them with the sprlnkllng
| OF consecrated water over the couple.
But the greatest ceremony of all
takes place after death. If the person
be OF high RINK. the body is placed In u
sitting posture In II large metal urn or
among the commoners In an ordinary
coffin. After being kept period that
lengthens with the exaltatlon of rank
a day Is fixed for the cremation. All
the friends OF the family are invited,
and enormous sums nre spent on enter
taining them and providing free shows
for the general public. The guests will
enter the inclosure, while Chinese thea
ters. Sinmese 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-
| ceaseds family bearing u black bag,
into which all are invited In turn to dip
a hand. 1t Is found to contain num-
ber Of tiny balls, each OF which IL hol-
low and contains a screw of paper. A
Siamese figure on II 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 n present
whatever II represents.
There may be dinner, but anyway
refreshments will be provided in abun.
dance. Just Mt sunset the pyre will be
lighted. A stick OF scented wood or q
wreath of flowers made of the per-
fumed snndalwood. 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. Just as with
last Office for the dead in dropping a
little earth into the grave. 80 In Siam
each one lights his candle at lamp
and places 1t 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
tives 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-
siton and sealed. and this. when fred,
exerts great pressure on the slit. max
ing the edges vlbrate continuously. so
producing series Of loud groans of q