The foreign visitor watching a Siamese boxing match is not so much attracted by the hand-and-feet fighting as the opening ceremony that often lasts from five to ten minutes. It is called “Ram.” It is a peculiar combination of praying, limbering-up exercises, an acknowledgement to the fans for their presence, and a salute to the opponent, instead of the usual handshake to which we are accustomed. The fighters first bow until their heads touch the ground. This is when the prayer to Buddha is made. Then each fighter twists his head toward his manager’s corner with another prayer, this time for the man who has trained the fighter. Next comes a salaam to the crowd. Then with head still bowed in reverence and with hand upraised towards heaven, the fighters recite a prayer for victory. The final stage of the ceremony is that in which the fighters prance around the ring like toe dancers and shadowbox as they have been taught by their masters. They move their hands in mystic waves, kicking their legs high, then each goes to the other’s corner and bows to his opponent. A band of six musicians plays during this ceremonial prelude, and continues to play throughout the fight. The weird music is reminiscent of medieval days; and the entire “Ram” rites, I was informed, may be compared to the ceremonies attending the opening of athletic tournaments in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. With the conclusion of the ceremonies, the fighters are called to the ring center where the action gets under way. Each has a white band on his arm. It is known as the Holy Band or _mongkol_ in Thai language, and is supposed to give strength and courage to the contestants. Beneath this band is a small charm, a tiny Buddha statue, or a pebble from the holy soil of a Buddha Temple. The referee calls for time, and as soon as the fight gets under way, six musicians begin their quaint music with two high-pitched guitars, two oriental drums, and two flutes. This accompaniment is nerve-wracking to an American. Those accustomed to it would regard a match dull without it. The tempo speeds up as the bout progresses and the action in the ring remains rhythmic as the boxers keep pace with the musicians. The Siamese boys make our boxers look like novices as far as their courage and ability to take punishment are concerned. They take a shellacking, giving and receiving blows, and European rules would call for quick disqualification. [Illustration: 24] THE FITZSIMMONS CLAN The 1956 Olympic Games were over. My long stay in Melbourne, where I had gone to report the international boxing competition, was completed. Should I journey back to the States by way of the Far East, stopping off in cities familiar to me through previous visits? That was a decision I had to make quickly because of the heavy transportation problem, and it didn’t take me long to do so.