Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-02-15
ODD THINGS IN SIAM
CURIOUS CUSTOMS AND CEREMONIES
THAT ARE STILL OBSERVED.
Cutting The TOpknOt Of the Child
For Ills Spiritual Welfare The
Wedding and Its CelcbratiOn-Cre-
nation with Refreshments.

For His Spiritual Welfare -The
Wedding and Its CelcbratiOn-Cre-
nation with Refreshments.
In Siam the cutting of the topknOt is
20 important a ceremony for the future
.piritual welfare Of the child that it is
most scrurulously 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 it al
n 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 tc
that time. Eat associated with it are ::
number of publications and other reli'
gious forms which have to be scrupu-
lousy carried out. The topknot. which
is ordinarily adorned with Il chaplet OF
flowers or heads, often held in place
with Il jeweied pin of considerable val
ue, is now much more resplendentl.f
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 ali 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
be it said, the Siamese are in no hurry
to marry their children. in fact, undue
haste to make Il match Tor Il daughter
is apt TO raise Il 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 muiual affection ana
takes the form of al elopement, with
subsequent forgiveness by the Old folk
The more formal way calls for & lot o
negotiation and the payment TO the
parents of ''ka nom,' which is often.
however, returned to the daughter Oh
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 betcl, and not to offer it
to a guest is a serious breach of hospi-
tally. The guilds 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 slakel
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.
Toasted with the best that can be pro
vided. and the ceremony of marriage is
performed by them with the s%prinkling
of consecrated water ove the couple.
But the greatest ceremony OF all
takes place after death. Ii the person
be of high rank, the body is placed in Il
sitting posture in a large metal urn q,
among the commoners in an ordinary
coffin. After being kept a period that
lengthens with the exaltation of rank
a day is fixed for the cremation. All
the friends of the family are invited
and enormous uln are spent OH enter
tanning them and providing free shows
for the general public. The guests will
enter the Enclosure, while Chinese thea
tiers, 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 a black bag.
into which all are invited in turn to dip
q hand. 1t is found to contain a mum
Der Of tiny balls. each Of which is hol-
low and contains Il screw of paper. \.
Siamese figure on it refers to Il similar
figure on some article in one Of the
booths in the Enclosure, and the guests
arc expected TO present the number 10
the attendants and receive as a present
whatever it represents.
There may be q dinner, but anyway
refreshments will be provided in abun
U"''NN' "VHe ~ oiiot Nv PJlC VII be
lighted. A stick of scented wood or "A
wreath of flowers made of the per
fumed sandalwood, as well MS a candle
Of unbleaclled wax, is handed to each
guest, and lamps are lighted at the foot
of the steps of the pyre. Just as will,
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 q 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
Fireworks will be let off, including a
very mournful II known to the ma
tives as the roaring of elephants" 1t
is made by shaving a thick bamboo
very thin at II point and then making
a slit. The inside is filled with colnpo.
sition and sealed, and this, when fired,
exerts great pressure on the slit, max
ing the edges vibrate continuously, SO
producing a series Of loud groans of a
most dOleful character. When the de-
fGn onV tr 80 ls-l