The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-02-28
ODD THINGS IN SIAM.
CURIOUS CUSTOMS AND CERE-
 MONIES THAT ARE OBSERVED.
Cutting the TopknOt of the Child for
 His Spiritual weIIars-The Wedding and Its CelsbratIOn-cremat With
Refreshments.

So important a ceremony for the tuIute spiritual welfare of the child that it IS 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 or the benefit of the ceremony the govern ment provides all that is necessary TOT it at one of the temples at Bangkok The center of the ceremony is the cutting off of the topknot, which is all the hair children are permitted to wear up to that time But associated with it are a number of publications and other religious forms which have to be scrupulously carried out. The topknot, which is ordinarily with a chaplet Of flowers or beads, often held in place with jeweled pin of considerable val ue, is now much more resplendently adorned, while the child is further loaded with the richest jewels the family can provide. After the cere- mony the hair is allowed to grow all over the head and is usually worn about an inch long, standing up like brush. The child is now reckoned to have reached mans estate, although, to their credit be it said, the Siamese are in no hurry to marry their children. In fact, undue haste to make a match for daughter is apt to raise a question as to whether things are so fiourishing with the family as they might be.
 When marriage is thought of, it is of- ten the result of mutal affection and takes the form of an elopment, 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, 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 it to guest is a serious breach of hospi- tality. The quids when ready for chew ing consist of leaves of the betel 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 this mixture is ap- propriately "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 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 large metal urn or among the commoners in an ordinary coffin. After being kept 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 entertain ing them and providing free shows for the general public. The guests will en- ter 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 to turn to dip a hand. It is found to contain num- Der of tiny balls, each of which it hol- low and contains a screw of paper. A Siamese figure on it refers to 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 present whatever it represents.
 There may be a dinner, but anyway refreshments will be provided in abun- dance. Just at sunset the pyre will be lighted. A stick of scented wood or 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. 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 8 lamp and places it under the urn or coffin, together 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 na- tives as the roaring of elephants" It is made by shaving 8 thick bamboo very thin at one point and them mak- ing a slit. The inside is filled with composition and sealed, and this, when fired, exerts great pressure on the slit, making the edges vibrate continuously, so producing a series of loud groans of a most doleful character When the deceased is of high rank, the king sends an aid-de-camp with lamp lighted from one that is kept continu- ally burning in the royal temple and whose light was originally obtained from 8 tree fired by lightning. After the cremation the ashes are collected and most of them thrown into the river, though often a few are placed in the temple in wooden urn.-Mission Field.