The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-28

though, TO their credit be it said. the
Siamese are in no hurry to marry their
children-in fact, undue haste to make d
match for a daughter is apt to raise
question as to whether things are so
fiourishing with the family as they
might be.
The Marriage Ceremony.
When marriage is thought of, 1t is
often the result of mutual affection, and
takes the form of an elopement, with
subsequent forgiveness by the old folks.
The more formal way calls for lot of
negotiation and the payment to the par
ents of 'Ka nom''-'the price of moth
ers milk'-which is often, however, re-
turned 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, carrying pres
ents of cakes and betel. All Siamese
chew betel. and not to offer it to a
guest is a serious breach of hospitality
The guilds when ready for chewing con-
sist of leaves of the betel pepper chips
of areca nut-there is no such thing as
betel nut that careless travellers write
about-a little slaked lime, and some
times tobacco also. The Samese word
for this mixture is appropriately
"Muk." This will always be in evidence
at weddings, and the preparation and
presentation of the betel tray to the
bridegroom constitute one of the forms
of acceptance by the bride of his au-
thority over her. The monks will be
| already in attendance, Toasted with the
| best that can be provided and the cere-
mony of marriage is performed by
them. with the sprinking of consecrated
water over the couple
Scenes at "a Funeral.
But the greatest ceremony of all
takes place after death. If the person
be of high rank the body is placed in
sitting posture in a large metal urn,
or, among the commoners, in an ordi-
nary 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 in
Vited and enormous sums are spent on
entertaining them and providing free
shows for the general public. The
guests will enter the Enclosure, while
Chinese theaters, 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
deceased family bearing a black bag,
into which all are invited in turn to
dip a hand. 1t is found to contain a
number of tiny balls, each Of which is
hollow and contains a piece of paper
A Siamese figure on 1t refers to a SIM
liar figure on some article in one of the
booths in the Enclosure. and the guests
are expected to present the number to
the attendants and receive as a present
whatever it represents. There may
also be dinner, but any way, re-
freshments will be provided in abund-
ance. Just at sunset the pyre will be
lighted. stick of scented wood or a
wreath of flowers made of the per-
fumed sandalwood, as well as a candle
of unbleached wax. are 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 per-
form the last office for the dead in
dropping little earth into the grave,
so in Siam each one lights his candle at
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 sa-
cred texts meanwhile, but nothing in
the way of prayer, whether for the
dead or the living, enters into the cere-
mony.
Fireworks Display Included.
Fireworks will be let off, including a
very mournful one known to the ma
tives as thea"roaring of elephants" 1t
is made by shaving a thick bamboo
very thin at one point and then maxi
ing slit. The inside is filled with
composition and sealed, and this, when
fired, exerts great pressure on the sht.
making the edges vibrate continuous
ly, so producing series offloud groans
of a most doleful character When the
deceased is of high rank the King
sends an aide-de-camp with a lamp
lighted from one that is kept continu-
ally burning in the royal temple and
whose light was originally obtained
from tree fired by lightning. After
the cremation the ashes are collected
and most of them thrown into the
river, though often a few of them are
placed in the temple in a wooden Urn.