258 



ON THE GOVERNMENT 



The candles and incense tapers having been lighted, and the crystal vase& 

 full of flowers being arranged, the king approaches the shrine of Booddjia. 

 Then having taken tapers and flowers in both hands he falls on his knees 

 and, having raised his hands with what they hold above his head, repeats 

 some particular prayers.* These finished, he spreads part of his robe on 

 the floor before him, and placing on it his opened hands with the palms 

 downward, he makes three several profound obeisances, at each of 

 which his head touches the backs of his hands. He concludes by perform- 

 ing three similar obeisances to the superior, and making such gifts as are 

 customary. The superior, and the rest of the priests sit unmoved during 

 the ceremony, assuming the attitude said to have been the favorite one of 

 Booddjia when he instructed his eighty-four thousand followers. 



The king is cautious of exhibiting such humility oftener than custom 

 prescribes — and waves it when he can. 



When he goes abroad he uses the precaution of sending heralds in 

 advance to warn all priests to keep out of his sight ; since were he to meet 

 one the customary homage must be paid, which it is believed would tend to 

 diminish the respect which the multitude pay to his person. 



The Siamese do not supplicate Booddjia, and rarely any other divi- 

 nity, for riches or any other good in this life — at least they suppose that 

 entreaties for such would not be attended to. 



They deprecate evil rather than implore good — and their exercisers of 

 possessing spirits, and expounders of the Nangsce tamradoo or horoscopes, 

 candidly allow that unless the faith of the applicant be lively their arts are 

 of no avail. There is no doubt that in hypochondriacism such a belief 

 might be of assistance in effecting the cure of a patient. 



In their plurality of Devv attas or inferior divinities, a Siamese sometimes 



* Generally as follows : akk,hee t,hawayang p,babo boop,hang chene t,liattawa. Seetee 

 kappako teeyo ap,lieeropo t,harento wee takkatayang paromaug sook,liaDg. 



