New Britain herald., 1927-09-22
OLDEST MONARCH
 IN WHOLE WORLD
King Of Cambodia Dies at
 Age Of 67

Washington, D. C.. Sept 2o - The worlds oldest monarch, the King Of Cambodia S7 years of age. recently died in his picturesque cap ital. Pnom- Penh, in southeast Asia. Hi. land. part medieval. part ultra modern.
 Camboiia is q hodge podge Of the unexpected II is q land or forests, damp and lecch-infes.e of open savannahs, of wide rice fields and plodding water buffalo, of tigers and wild elephants; of humble cot tagers, all literate. whose chief pleasure is writing poetry; of gildeI modern pa godas, and temples, hoary with age, swallowed by the jungle; of automobiles, trolley cars. and electric lights.
 \ Protcctoratc of France
 The forms Of an oriental kingdom are faithfully followed; but behind the king. his five ministers, and his court formalities, stands the French Resident Superior. and at his elbow few French soldiers; for Cam boda is a part of French 1ndo- China and proteCtorate Of France. The country is slightly smaller than the State of Missouri and has population of about two and half millions.
 The Mekong. ono Of the worlds great rivers. is the life artery Of Cambodia. Sea going steamers as cend the stream 10 Pnom-Penh. the capital. 200 miles from the sea; and smaller steamers and junks traverse the network of streams and lakes hundreds of miles farther inland. But it is not only as waterway that the stream is useful. On it's overflowcl lands the country's chief crop, rice is raised in abundance
 Most Of the civilized people are concentrated along the river and between its lower reaches and the Siamesa border. The country houses in all parts of Cambodia are set on posts which raise them from six 10 ten feet off the ground. This is nec- cssary along the river banks be cause of the high floods, and else where to protect the householders from tigers.
 Ceremony Marks End of Flood
 During the flood season a great lake forms in western Camhodia, into which the waters of the Me kong flow until it becomes body of water 1lS miles long, IS miles wide, and more than 35 feot deep. When the floods reccde, the waters flow from this natural reservoir back into the Mekong and keep its lower reaches well filled. The great importance of the river and it's floods is recognized by an annual festival on the stream connecting the Great Lake and the Mekong. A cord is stretched across the stream and at the time of reversal of the flow this is cut with great cere- mony by the king from the royal louseboat.
 The highlands 10 the north are occupied by wild tribes of hunters who must fight for existence against rank vegetation. wild animals, snakes and insects. Slave raids from neighboring countries have made them wary and suspicious and they look upon all outlanders as enemies. Some of them protect their villages by poisoned darts stuck up In the ground.
 Where Civilization Means Litcracy
 Practically all of the civilized Camodians are literate. The country abounds in old temples. built during the Cambodian Golden Age, some 700 years ago. In these the Budd- hist priests conduct schools which are attended by all children from those Of humble farmers 10 those of the royal family. The princes, likc all other boys of Cambodia. must live during a certain period as novi- tiates in I temple. subslsting by means of the begging bowl as the Buddha did, and as the priests do today.
 Pnom -Pcnh is a colorful capital set upon hills on the banks of the Hekong. its ornate temple spires and magenta tiled roofs half. hidden by giant palms and Towering tropical trees. Tn parklike inclosure on