ON SIAMESE LITERATURE. 



353 



The prevailing tone in which the Heroic or Epic poems are recited 

 and read is high ; but there is too much chiming in the whole to please an 

 European ear. 



Although the accent may fall on a consonant, the word in which it 

 occurs is short under any circumstance, if its chief vowel be short. 



THE BOT-RANG OR DRAMA. 



The Siamese have attained to a considerable degree of perfection in 

 dramatic exhibitions — and are in this respect envied by their neighbours 

 the Barmans, Laos and Cambojans, who all employ Siamese actors when 

 they can be got. 



The JBot-rang may be translated a melo-dramatic opera. The sub- 

 jects are taken from their romantic histories. They are acted on many 

 occasions of ceremony and at the great festivals — and the performance of 

 one piece will sometimes last for ten days. Princes have a hall appropria- 

 ted for such public exhibitions — but temporary sheds are most commonly 

 erected with stages inside for the actors, when the populace are to be 

 gratified. The Lok lo or actors are not always speakers ; for it sometimes 

 happens that they have only to adapt their gesticulations to what is spoken 

 by the prompters, and so well is this conducted that the deception is not 

 easily discovered at the distance where the spectators stand : nor was I 

 aware of it until an attendant pointed it out to me. 



A chorus of twelve or more persons, and aided by a full band of music 

 attends. The female characters are generally represented by boys in 

 women's attire. The dresses are rich and becoming, and the dances grace- 

 ful and easy, surpassing in every respect the shuffling of the feet, 

 and frequently distortion of the body exhibited in the Indian natch— 

 and which is only supportable when it shews off to every advantage 

 the fine shapes and handsome features of the Hindu female votaries of 

 Kamdeo. 



The music would be very pleasing were one or two of the wind 



instruments laid aside, especially the Pi chanai, a harsh sort of hautboy. 



D 2 



