3 i8 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



merit that he sees us swallow, at a single meal, a quantity that would 

 suffice him for two or three days. The whole dish is screened with a 

 hood of straw, covered with cloth, which protects the meats against 

 dust and keeps them warm. The head of the house removes the 

 cover, and they all fall to with a will. When several dishes are pro- 

 vided, they all take a little of each at once, and it is only a little, so 

 that the plate is often passed back. For service, the Cambodian em- 

 ploys his lingers, not even having the Chinese chopsticks, and using a 

 little bowl, or a Chinese spoon, only to take up the sauce. The repast 

 is usually eaten in silence, and occupies but a few minutes. When it 

 is over, the servant brings a towel and the family wipe their hands ; 

 then they rise and go to the water-jar to wash their hands and drink 

 a cup of water. The Cambodian never drinks while he is eating. 

 Such is the meal of ordinary well-off people, as simple as possible, and 

 free from all parade of dishes — no linen, no covers, no knives, no 

 glasses ; hardly a cup for each person, and only a family drinking- 

 cup at the water-jar after the meal. Such simplicity should seem to 

 exclude all idea of luxury ; but it exists. It is shown in the enrich- 

 ment of the few dishes that are used. The plates of the poor man are 



plain ; those of the rich are 

 decorated ; and they may be 

 of earthenware, of porcelain, 

 of copper, plain or chased, 

 of silver or gold. 



Tea is reserved for re- 

 freshment between meals, 

 and to be offered in compli- 

 ment to visitors. Whoever 

 goes into a Cambodian's 

 house is offered tea, and it is 

 a sign of esteem and friend- 

 ship to take it. A refusal 

 would be misconstrued. 



The costume of the Cam- 

 bodians is peculiar to thern. 

 The sampot is their only na- 

 tive garment, for all others 

 that they may wear may be 

 regarded as Siamese or An- 

 namite importations. The 

 manner of wearing it is dis- 

 tinct i\c to the Khmer race, for the other people of the country wear 

 it differently. The sampot is a strip of cloth about a yard wide 

 by three yards long, generally woven Avhole, and after patterns that 

 have come down from remote antiquity. With the common people 

 it is cotton, with well-to-do people it is silk, while the rich sorae- 



( AMl'.oDI LN8 



