Photo aii<l (,'.i|,\ ri-ht by R. Lenz & Co. 
the; king borne in royal progress through the city, seated on a goeden 
palanquin 
ments, dressed in dull red, with Tyrian 
caps. First came the golden drums (see 
page 392), followed by trumpets of an- 
cient form, then those with conch shells. 
The noise was not music to foreign ears, 
but served to give the time. The dull 
thud of the drums, given every fourth 
step only, was weird in the extreme. 
These were followed by a number of 
royal five and se/en-storied umbrellas 
(see page 393), in various colors, pre- 
ceding and following His Majesty, who 
was borne seated on a golden palanquin 
surmounted by the usual "prachidee" 
canopy, with 16 chamelion-looking bear- 
ers, who could barely shuffle along on 
account of the weight of their burden. 
On the day after the coronation there 
was a royal progress through the city in 
grand state procession, in accordance 
with ancient custom. In addition to the 
various royal attendants, a division of 
about 11,000 troops took part. There 
were two gorgeous pavilions erected 
along the route, where His Majesty re- 
ceived addresses from the people and the 
European community before proceeding 
to Wat Bavaranives, where the King 
worshiped before the Phra Jina Siha, the 
ancient image of Buddha. 
On Monday afternoon, December 4, 
there was another royal progress on the 
Menam River, in accordance with ancient 
custom. His Majesty proceeding to Wat 
Chang with offerings (see pages 402, 
403, and 404). This was a most unique 
and impressive and charming sight. The 
quaint Oriental costumes — gorgeous red, 
blue, and cloth-of-gold uniforms of the 
guards and gentlemen at arms — made a 
perfect rainbow of color. 
The King appeared squatting a la 
Buddha, on an uncovered golden palan- 
quin, dressed in native costume of cloth- 
of-gold, wearing a very large broad- 
brimmed gray felt hat, caught up on one 
394 
