OF SIAM. 261 



hopes delay will give it over those with whom it has to negociate — will 

 consent to delay or even forfeit present valuable and pressing interests. 



When the king goes abroad he is preceded by the Tamraat or bamboo 

 bearers, in files of two each. They proclaim, by the Bali w^ord sadet the 

 approach of majesty, and they clear the way by a hearty application of 

 their bamboos to the backs of the throng. It is consequently the 

 interest of every one, 7iot in office, to keep at home when the king 

 takes an airing. No acclamations rend the air on his advance. The 

 old adage " that a cat may look at a king," would scarcely apply here. 

 The people must squat in the mud or dust, and remain with prostrate body 

 head averted and downcast eyes until the cavalcade has passed. A band 

 of music also precedes the king. He is generally in a sort of palankeen, 

 carried by eight bearers, and close to him are the Chaan seng dap or state 

 sword bearers ; the tamroat hah or spearsmen, and other officers. Behind 

 him follow the Makat lek or honorary attendants. They have been called 

 Pages by some writers,* and they are so in several respects. They here 

 carry such articles as the king may want for immediate use, such as his 

 betel box, his smoking apparatus, clothes and arms. 



The rest of the cavalcade consists of guards and inferior attendants, 

 while here and there are persons with pellet bows to shoot earthen balls at 

 those who do not get quickly out of the way, or are wanting in respect. 



The King of Siam keeps n umbers of elephants, although he rarely 

 rides on one. The white elephants have been described by many travellers. 

 Their color is by no means pure white, but has a slight admixture of grey 

 or brown in it, and may perhaps be best compared with that of the Malacca 

 peninsular white buffalo. The former however owes its color to some organic 

 defect, as that of albinos in the human species does, while the latter is 

 of a distinct species. 



* M. D. L. LOUBERE. 

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