The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-02-16
ODD THINGS In SIAM
CURIOUS CUSTOMS ANL CEREMONIES
THAT ARE STILL OBSERVED.


For Hia spirituni welfare The
wedding nEd IL, Ceiebrntion-crc-
nintion with Refreshments.
In Siam the cutting Of the topknot IS
so important Il ceremony for the future
spiritual welfare OF the child that it ia
most scrupulously carried cut with all
the pomp ana cercmony that the mea,.
Of the parents viii allow That the
poor people may not be deprived OF the
benefit OF the ceremony the government
provides an flat is necessary for il at
one or thc temples at Bangk0k The
center of the ceremony is the cutting
oil Of ihe toplnot, which is an the hair
chillttn are permitted 10 wear up TO
that time. But associated with it are
number Of publications and other rel-
gious forms which have to be scrupu
lousy carried out The topknot. which
is ordinarily adorned with n chaplet OF
flowers or beads. often held I'm 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 90 grow all over tile
head ana Is usually worn about an inch
long standing mp like a brush The
child Is now reckoned TO have reached
mars estate. although to their credit
be it said. the S!amcse Gre in 40 hurry
to marry their children. In fact. undue
haste TO make match for a daughter
is apt TO raise a question as TO whether
things are so fourshing with thc fam
lily as they might be.
When marriage is thought OF. it is Il.
ten che result OF mutual affection aud
takes The form of am elopement, with
subsequent forgiveness by the old folk.
The more formal way calls for a lot OF
negotiation and The payment 10 tie
parents OF "ka noin,' which is often.
however returned to the daughter on
the birth of her first child The monks.
who are the astrologcrs of the country
among other accomplishments. are
called upon to FIX the lucky day on the
arrival Of which the bridegroom and
his friends 20 to the brides house, car
rsing presents OF cakes and beteL All
Slamese chew betel. and not to offer it
to a guest is serious breach of hospi-
sality The guilds When ready for chew
ing consist Of leaves of the betel pep
per chips of areca nut-there is no
such thing MS betel nut that careless
travellers write abOut-a little slaked
lime and sometimes tobacco also. The
Siamese word for this mixture is ap-
proprlately muk.7 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 win be already IN attendance
feasted with the best that can be pro-
+ vided, and the ceremony Of marriage is
performed by them with the sprinkllng
Of consccrated water over the copi,ie.
But the preatest ceremony Of all
takes place after death. II the person
be Of high rank, the body is placed IN a
sitting posture IN large metal urn or
among the commouers ia an ordinary
cohiu. After being kept q period that
lengthens with the eXaltation Of rank
u day is fixed for the cremation All
the friends Of the family are Invited,
and enormous sums are spent on enter
taning thom and providing free shows
for the general puhiic. The guests WA
enter the iuclosure while Chinese thea
tors Samcae marionettes and plays
win De provided for an who care TO
witness them On entering one would
be- met by some member of the de-
ccased's family bearing black bag,
into which an are Invited in turn TO dip
hand. II IS found 10 contain a mum
ber Of tiny balls each Of which Is boil
low and contains screw Of paper, 4
Siamose figure on Il refers 10 similar
figure on some article in one Of the
booths in the nclosure and the guests
are expected to present the number tc
the attendants AND receive as q present
whatever &c represents.
There may be u dinner, but anyway
refreshments VIII he provided in album
dance. just nc sunset the pyre will be
lighted A stick Of scented wood or a
wreath of nowdrs made of rAe per
fumel sandaWood. as well as a e2ual'
Of unblcached wax, Is hauded to eacl
guest and lamps are lighted at the fooI
OF the steps of the pyre. lust as viii
us those at the gravesidc perform the
last office for the dead ia dropping q
little earth into the grave. so in Sian
each one lights his candle at lamI
and places IL under the urn or coffin. 70
gether with the scented stick or wreath
Buddhis, monks away in one Of ghi
booths wiH De rociting sacred text
meanwhile but nothing IN the way o
prayer. whether for tne dead or th0
Giving enters into the ceremony.
Fireworks will be let on, including
very mournful one known 20 the IN
tivcs as the 'Toaring Of elephants /
is made by shaving a thick bambo
very thin at one point and then making
q slit The inside is dlled with compo
affioH and eeulad and this when fired