The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01
CORONATION OF
 KING OF SIAM

London, December a.-(Speoial.)-The following interesting account of the cere" monies incident to the coronation of his Majesty King Muha vajiravudh of Siam has been received from Bangkok On &C., count of the national mourning in honor of the late King Chulalougkorn, the cere- monies were considerably curtailed and there will be a second coronation cere- mony next November.
 "The Brahmn astrologers had discov- cred that 9h. 33m. 56s. a. m. on Novem- Der Il was the most propitious time for the new king to take the ceremonial bath proceeding his ascending the throne of his fathers. and that the latter event must take place at 1h. 43s D. m., and every thing was arranged accordingly. In the early morning the King, clad from head to foot in white, attended a series of Buddhist services, which were conducted in various halls of the palace, and at about 9:15 a. m. was borne by state palan- auin to the Amarindr Vinichat Literally, Hall of Judgment of Indra), in which all the royal princes and ministers of state were assembled Here, the King alight- ing from his palanquin, lighted some candles, after which he emerged and took his seat upon an octagonal dais, the faces of which were square to the principal points of the compass, and which, accord ing to the official programme, is known as the 'Uthum-porn Raja Art
 His majesty first faced the south cast, after which the whole was en- closed with curtains and, after Brah- min had uttered an invocation, the wa ter was turned on in shower bath fash ion. This, was done eight times, tn e King facing in different direction each time. Suddenly there came blast of unearthly music from a body of priests performing upon .conch shells. three very ancient and ornate bronze cannon in the palace courtyard were each fired 21 times and this gave the signal to the batteries of artillery out side the palace walls and the ships Of the fleet assembled in the river to fire salutes of 121 guns. At the same time the priests in all the temples of the city beat bells and gongs with wooden mal- lets. while bands everywhere struck up the national anthem
 "In the meantime the King had re- tired to the dressing apartment pre- viously mentioned and put on the royal robes, consisting for the most part of magnificent gold brocade. Here his ma jesty received at the hands of the chief Brahmin the nine-storied white umbrel- Ia indicative of royal rank, the gold plate or leaf engraved with his titles, and other articles of regalia, including the crown, sceptre. and sword. After some further Brahminical ceremonies the King placed the crown upon his head and ascended the throne in the main hall of audience. The throne was on a dais un- der nine-storied canopy, and screened by Q pair of huge curtains of gold tis- sue. At the appointed time, viz. In. 9m. As D. m. the chief of the Brahmins gave signal and the curtains were drawn apart, disclosing his majesty sit- ting in state. All the assembly arose and made obeisance three times. and his royal highness Prince Devawongse, the Kings uncle and minister for foreign affairs, proceeded to read an address of homage and congratulation to the new sovereign on behalf of the nobles and people, promising their loyalty and fealty. "At the close of his address, hsi ma- jesty made 8 lengthy reply.
 "The King having concluded, sat down on the throne, and Prince De- vawongse replied. Sire. we all re- ceive your majerty's commands most respectfully Then the curtains in front of the royal dais were closed. various bands played the national an- them, and the young King, who must have had an extremely wearying and uncomfortable time of. 1t since day. light, in the words of the official pro- gramme of the ceremonies, proceeded to the Chakkravatti Viman to take hia rest on the royal couch"