THE KINGDOM OF THE YELLOW ROBE [Illustration: "THE SHRINE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WATERS."--PAKNAM. _Page 30._] THE KINGDOM OF THE YELLOW ROBE BEING SKETCHES OF THE DOMESTIC AND RELIGIOUS RITES AND CEREMONIES OF THE SIAMESE BY ERNEST YOUNG Late of the Education Department, Siam. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY E. A. NORBURY, R.C.A. (Late Director of the Royal School of Art, Bangkok, Siam) And from Photographs by the Author. WESTMINSTER ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE & Co 1898 PREFACE The following pages are intended to present to the reader an account of the domestic and religious rites and ceremonies of the Siamese. They are the outcome of several years' residence in the Capital of Siam. In order to verify some of my own observations or to amplify some points with regard to which my own knowledge was rather scanty, I have consulted most of the books which in recent years have been published concerning the country of Siam. I am particularly indebted to the works of two writers whose knowledge was both wide and deep; viz., H. Alabaster, whose "Wheel of the Law" deals with Siamese Buddhism; and Captain Gerini, whose various monographs on domestic or religious customs are full of valuable and reliable information concerning their misty origin and meaning. I must also acknowledge my indebtedness to "The Siam Repository" (a weekly paper long since extinct, but whose pages are a treasure-house of information to the enquirer), and to my friend Mr. R. L. Morant for much helpful criticism and advice. The illustration "Planting out young Rice" is from a sketch in the possession of Mrs. Smith, of Tarrawatta, Beckenham, who has kindly lent it for the purpose of illustrating this book. The following five illustrations are also from sketches, kindly lent by E. Lloyd Williams, Esq., of James St., Buckingham Gate. "Offering Rice to the Priests." "Making Curry." "Ploughing a Rice-field." "Collecting ripe Grain." "Rice Boats coming down the Menam." E. Y. _Chingford_, 1898. CONTENTS _Page_ _Preface_ ix CHAPTER I. STREET SCENES IN THE VENICE OF THE EAST 1 " II. BY KHLONG AND RIVER 25 " III. THE CHILDREN 44 " IV. THE SHAVING OF THE TOP-KNOT 64 " V. COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE 85 " VI. DOMESTIC LIFE AND CUSTOMS 103 " VII. DOMESTIC LIFE AND CUSTOMS (_continued_) 125 " VIII. POPULAR AMUSEMENTS 147 " IX. OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL 171 " X. THE CULTIVATION OF RICE 196 " XI. LAWS AND LEGISLATION 218 " XII. CEREMONIES FOR THE DYING AND THE DEAD 235 " XIII. THE ORDER OF THE YELLOW ROBE 251