282 THE GOVERNMENT 



There are no men servants in the interior of the palace. 

 The lady of the king's wardrobe is TJiaau P.hoosa mala. (0 

 Male children are admitted to the palace. 



OATHS. 



The oath of fidelity which is administered to Siamese officers, whether 

 civil or military, does not differ materially from that administered to a wit- 

 ness in a court of law. Both are little better than imprecations for evil of 

 every description to happen to the perjured and the unfaithful public 

 servant. 



The mode and terms in which evidence are sworn will be described 

 under the head of oaths in my " account of Straits cultivation and accom- 

 panying notices." It will only therefore be requisite to shew what addi- 

 tions are made in tendering the civil and military oath. 



Previous to its being administered, a large jar (kjian) full of holy water 

 (nam pjiee ])Jiat s ach ha (") or nam 0?igk,haan) h placed before the party, 

 waxen candles and incense tapers duly lighted and placed in order, flowers 

 of the lotus, and of other plants, are also produced. 



The adjurer (Satthakjion) (^) comes forward accompanied by four 

 PJiraam (*) or persons if possible of the brahminical tribe — certain war- 

 like weapons are then dipped in the lioly water,* and the person 

 repeats the oath. It begins as before with I, his majesty's devoted 

 slave, &c. 



" I , slave of PJira PJioot tjiee Chaau( Booddjia properly, but here 



" meaning his majesty) cha rap pJira Haclia pJira than, (^) having accepted 



(') P. Thduara, Bhusamdld. P. Wibhdgasachcha. (^) P. Saddhdguna. 



(') P. Brdhmana. ( ') P. Sdrawlrdjapaihdna. 



* This form is practised by several Malayan tribes in the Malacca Peninsula. It was 

 observed at Perak by the writer while on a mission there — and has been described in the 

 publication above alluded to. 



