The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1903-06-03
ODr THINGS IN SIAM
CURIOUS CUSTOMS AND CEREMONIES
THAT Are STILL OBSERVED.

For EfH Spiritual Welfare - The
Wedding. and Its CeIebrntion--Cre-
nation With nefresiimcnts.
In Siam the cutting of the topknot Is
SO important a ceremony for the future
spiritual welfare OF the child that II Is
mott scrupulousiy carried out, with all
the romp 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 ii at
one of the temples Mt Bangkok. The
center of the ceremony IS the cutting
of Of the topknot, which is oil the hair
children are permitted TO wear up TO
that time. But associated with 1t are
number of publications aud other rell-
gious forms which have TO be scrupu-
lousy carried out. The topknot, which
is ordinarily adorned with chaplet of
flowers or beads, often held In place
with jewcfed 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 to grow all over the
head and is usually worn about an inch
long, standing up like brush. The
child is now reekoned 10 have reached
mans estate, although, TO their credit
be II said, the Slanese are in no hurry
to marry their children. In fact, undue
haste TO make match for a 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, 1t is 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 a 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 tie astrologers of the country
among Other accomplishments, are
called upon 10 fix the lucky day, on the
arrival OF which the bridegroom and
his friends so to the brides house, car
rying presents of cakes and betel. All
totuintoC (DtN Dtttis anu ifot " VIII IL
to n 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 slaked
lime and sometimes tobacco also. The
Siamese word for this mixture is APP
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-
yided, and the ceremony of marriage is
performed by them with the sprinkling
of conseerated 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 OF
among the commoners in an ordinary
coffin. After being kept a 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 enter
tanning them and providing free shows
for the general public The guests will
enter the inclosure while Chinese thea
ters Siamese marionettes and nIavs
will be provided for all who care TO
witness tbem On entering ono vould
he met Nv some member Of the de-
ceased,s family hearing black bag.
info which ali AFRO invited IN turn to din
hand n is fopnd 70 contain n nm.
her Of tinv halls each Of which Is hoI-
low and contains a scre,v of manor A
Siamcse fip,re IN n refers RI . similar
firure On Some article IN ono of tho
booths in The inclosure and tho puests
ara evnecto,,. N ,rosent tbe number ~
Tho atta,dants ana receive ne nresent
,vhatoyor \ ronresonts
Thma p,,,. be 4 dinner hut anyway
rofros,,n,o,t, ,v,,l he rrov;dod T., ohnn.
dance Inst ~ s,nsot tho nvre viii ho
ligbted 1 sticl 81 scented wool or a
wrooth of aowors ,noda of tha nor
frn,od sondalwood &c vol, ~ condlo
Of upb,eached way Is handed 70 each
ouest and l,mns ara lighted II tho Foot
NJ Tho stens ~ tho nvre Inst nc WITH
nc thoso 4, Tho c,ares;da norfo,,, 40
last of,ica for tho dood +, dron,iua =
: little earth into the crave 90 n siam
each one lights hls candle n Iamn