386 



ON SIAMESE LITERATURE. 



in the first instance, the person whose pice lie nearest to it has the before- 

 stated privilege. 



The Len rua are boat races. The distance to be rowed over is about 

 two miles. It is chiefly the officers of Government, who indulge in this 

 amusement. They use paddles ; the rowers sing he he rua, a boat-song. 



iew Khivai are buffalo races. The course is about two hundred yards 

 long, and a straight line at each end is a starting post, and in the centre 

 a house where the judges of the race sit ; two buffaloes start at a time at 

 the sound of gongs, one from each post, and to the right hand severally. 

 The aim is for either buffalo to overtake the other before he has gone 

 twenty times over the course. Two only start at once. 



The course is very broad and is separated in the middle by a row of 

 people. So that it in fact becomes a sort of narrow oblong figure, the com- 

 passing of which forms one round. 



There are no riders, but each owner seizes the rope which, as usual, 

 IS passed through the cartilage of the animal's nose, and goads him on, 

 being relieved at short intervals in this operation by persons stationed 

 betwixt and at the posts. The person whose buffalo overtakes that of the 

 opposite party must seize the rope it is held by, or he does not win. 



The Siamese of Bankok have no buffalo fights like those exhibited 

 in the Burman Provinces, in which the owners ride their buffaloes and 

 urge them on, and where lives are occasionally lost. Large bets are made 

 at Siamese races. 



Len Weeng ngoa Ke-tm, are carriage races. These carriages or carts 



are of a very light construction but strong. 



Two start together, each being dragged by one, or two oxen. The 

 driver stands in the vehicle, and goads the oxen on by a long stick having 



a pike at the end. 



They run to the extremity of the course, but do not return. 



Leti Weeng ngou khon. — The men run races on the same course as the 



buffaloes — going twenty times round if neither has overtaken the other. 

 They also run straight forward to a goal. 



