The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-04-18
ODD THINGS IN SIAM
CURIOUS CUSTOMS AND CEREMONIES
That ARE STILL OBSERVED.

Cutting the ropknOt OF the chile
FOR HIS Spiritual Welfare The
WcddinE aud Its CeIcbrat6on-Cre-
nation With Rcfreshments
In Siam the cutting OF the topknot is
30 Important "a ceremony for the future
spiritual welfare OF the child that Il i
most Scrupulously carried out. with all
the pomp aud ceremony that the means
Of the parents viii allow That the
poor people may not be deprived Of the
heucut OF The ceremony the government
provides all that is necessary for II at
one oi the temples aC Bangkok. The
center OF the ceremony i the cutting
or OF The topkuot. which j. all the hair
children are permitted 10 wear up TO
that time. But associated with il are 1
number Of publications and other reli-
giouS forms which have TO be Scrupu-
lousy carried out. The topknot. which
Is ordinarily adorned with a Chaplet Of
flowers or hc3d~. often held in place
with icwe'cd Pin ot considerable val
uc. is nov much more rcSpicudcntly
adorned While the child - further load
81 with the richest Jewels the family
can provide After the ceremony the
hair IS allowed 20 crow an over the
head and is usually worn about IN inch
lou-. standing mp Ike 4 brush. The
child is uore recboncd TO have reached
mans estate. although. TO their credit
he Sc sali. she Stances are i'm no hurry
10 marry their children. In fact. undue
haste 90 make q match for daughter
is app to raise question as TO whether
things are 50 1ouri>hln- with the fam
ily 81 they m sht le
When marriage is thought o.. il IS Of
ten t-o result Of mutual affection and
takes the form Of an cioVcment. with
subsequent forgiveness 10y the old folk.
Tho more formal way calls for lot OF
negotiation and thc payment TO the
parents ~ "k8 nom" which is often.
however. returned 90 tie daughter on
tle birth ~ her nr~t child The monks.
who are the 5~tro'o-ers Of the country
among other accomplishments. ara
called upon to lX thc lucky day. on the
arrival oi which the bridegroom and
his friends so io thc brides house. car
ryin- presents of cakes and betel. All
>iamc>e chew lctoi. and not TO offer il
10 q guest is 81 serious breach of hoSpl-
iahty. The guilds when ready for chew
'rS consist of leaves Of the betel pep
per- chips OF arcca nut-thcre is no
such thing as betel nut that careless
travellers write about-a little slakea
ume and sometimes tobacco also. Tn.
S.amose word FOR this mixture is an
propr.ately "muk" This will ALWAYS
De ia evidence at weddings. and the
preparation and presentation OF the be-
tcl tray 10 tho bridegroom constitute
one or the forms OF acceptance bv In.
bride Of his authority over her. The
monks viii Dee already In attendance.
toasted With the best that can he pro-
Nlued ami the ceremony Of marriage IS
performed 10y them with the sprinklfnr
OF consecrated water over the couple.
but tie greatest ceremony OF all
takes place after death. II the person
be OF high rank. tie body Is uIaced in a
sitting posture IN large metal urn ar
among the commoners in an ordinary
coffin. After being kept 2 period thar
.enStlens with the cNaltatiou of rani,
"a day is fixed for the cremation. All
me friends Of the family are invited.
anu enormous sums are spent on enter
tanning them and providing free shows
Tor the general public. The guests Will
enter the Enclosure. while Chinese tbo,.
'eIS' Siamese marlOnettes and PLAYS
VIII be provided for all who care IN
witness them. on entering one would
he met by some member OF the de-
ceaSed's family bearing a black bae,
INTO which all are invited in turn to ain
a mana IL is found TO contain num-
Der OF tiny balls, each Of which is hol-
low and contains q screw Of Daner
S4amesc figure on ii refers to a similar
nsure on some article In one Of the
booths in the inclosure. and the guests
are expected TO present the number TO
the attendants aud receive as a present
whatever it represents.
there may be dinner. but anyway
refreshments viii be provided in abun.
uaHce. just at sunset the pyre will be
ilSLted. y stick Of scented wood or a
wreath Of flowers made of the nor
umed sandaiwoOd, as we'll as a candle
guest ana lamps are lighted AT the foot |
OF the steps Of the pyre. Just as with |
Us those at the graveside perform the /
.ast office for the dead in dropping 4 /
niue earth into the grave. so In Siam
'ach one lights his candle at a lamn /
ana places 1t under the urn or coffin. To-
setner with the scented stick or wreath
Buddhist monks away in ono y. g.
booths will be reciting sacred texts
meanwhile, but nothing in the wav Of
prayer, whether for the dead or the
IlNlhg enters into the ceremony.
fireworks will be let of. including q
very mournful ono known 10 tho ~
yves as the roaring Of elephants" If
- made by shaving a thick banboo
' -. '"an III, at one point and then making
slit' The inside is filed with comno,
siuoh and sealed, and this. when fired
cAetts great pressure on the slit nal.
ing the edges vibrate confinuorslr -