EDUCATION'/ 
381 
Speech expose an Individual to the contempt of his equals, the hatred 
of his inferiors, and to corporal punishment from his superiors. Salu¬ 
tation is made by equals raising the folded hands to the middle of the 
face, and to superiors, higher or louver according to the degree of the 
person addressed. 
Slaves and servants in presence of their masters, and inferiors in 
presence of superiors, sit on their heels, with bent knees, and heads 
Inclined, while they raise their folded hands above their heads. Infe¬ 
riors stoop on passing a superior, and where the disparity of rank is 
great, the former, on entering the house of the latter, must make his 
approach on his knees and elbows, and wait nntil he is addressed. 
The most serious affront a person can offer to another is to place 
his hand on the head of that other. To touch his head dress is little 
less insulting. 
It is also a breach of respect and politeness not to take off the 
nong p,ka or scarf and wrap it round the waist on entering a house 
on a visit, and a neglect to tuck up the long folds of the Chong ha- 
ben or lowest part of a man’s dress, is on a like occasion construed 
into an affront. On entering a house the Siamese uncover the head, 
and indeed it is most common and agreeable to them, according to 
ancient custom, to go at all times bare headed. 
The King and his Courtiers o nly cover their heads on solemn oc¬ 
casions. The King’s crown is the first thing amongst the Regalia, 
and obeisance is paid to it when off his head, a custom of Chinese 
origin. 
When a boy has reached the age of 8 or 9 years, his parents take 
him, with all the accompanying pomp they can afford, to a monastery 
or Wat, where he is delivered into the charge of the Priests. Incense 
and candles are burned, and presents are bestowed on the Priests, 
The parents continue to send provisions while their son is under tui¬ 
tion. The Priests first instruct their pupils to trace with steatite on 
a blackened board the following words and letters in Bali: 
Namo P,hoott,ha seett,ha t,homma a a aa i u u, rhk, rft Ihk, lit 
e, 6, ai, 6 , au, am, a. 
When perfected in this lesson, they are taught the T.hai or Siamese 
