I838v] Exhibition of the drama* 599 



Phra Ram (or Sri Rama) and his ape general Houlaman (or Hun- 

 nuraan) attended by his army of apes appear in their proper shapes on 

 the stage. On the right was a throne for the king, and on the left an 

 elevated space for Thotsakan or the " ten-headed" who was the Hindu 

 jRavan or tyrant of Ceylon. The tyrant appears attended by his 

 queen and encompassed by his attendants. 



As masks are worn in this department of the Siamese drama the actors 

 do not speak, but merely adapt their gesticulation to what is read by 

 the prompter, or speaker rather, placed behind screens. The dialogue 

 is frequently lively, but being in verse has too often a monotonous effect 

 on the ear. A band of music was ready to supply breaks in the ac- 

 tion and to accompany certain battle, and other scenes. 



This band consisted of drums, trumpets, flutes, the metallic sticcado s 

 musical trough, and kettle drums, cymbals and gongs ; when the ac- 

 tresses, or, as they then happened to be, boys in girl's clothes, danced, 

 they kept excellent time to the music, and I was particularly struck 

 with the greater ease and elegance which the Siamese dancers possess 

 over those of any people in Hindustan. Here sprightly figures rather 

 prevailed, while in India it requires a dancing girl to have a very great 

 share of beauty to prevent the spectator from becoming speedily relieved 

 by sleep from her display of studied gesture and cramped action. 



The dresses of the dramatis personse seemed appropriate, but perhaps 

 rather gaudy. 



Phra Ram had a green mask, and Sookkreep (SoogrivaJ his 

 minister a golden one. The tail of the general Houlaman becomes during 

 a skirmish the prize of the opposite party, to the infinite diversion of the 

 audience. The policy of the Siamese government leads it to take ad- 

 vantage of the good nature of its subjects, and in gratuitously admitting 

 them to such amusements, makes them willing to forget for awhile in 

 mirth and song the miseries they endure from the unmitigated tension 

 of its rule*. 



We left the theatre much gratified at the novelty of the whole per- 

 formance, and on my return home I found that a sumptuous dinner had 

 been sent by the young chief for myself and party. But perhaps he 

 had not considered that Mussulmans and Hindus would not dare to 

 touch the viands he had sent. No doubt they were discussed by his 

 own people afterwards. 



The dinner consisted of the following dishes: a half grown pig roasted 

 whole, several ducks and fowls stewed, hashed and baited, stews of 

 various kinds, a large tray of preserved fruits, including dorians, &c. cus- 



* Under the bead poetry will be found some further notices on the subject. 

 4 F 



