Chronik Thailands

กาลานุกรมสยามประเทศไทย

von

Alois Payer

Siam um 1900/1908

Zitierweise / cite as:

Payer, Alois <1944 - >: Chronik Thailands = กาลานุกรมสยามประเทศไทย. -- Siam um 1900/1908. -- Fassung vom 2014-06-29. -- URL: http://www.payer.de/thailandchronik/chronik1908b.htm    

Erstmals publiziert: 2013-10-04

Überarbeitungen: 2014-06-29 [Korrektur] ; 2014-03-08 [Ergänzungen]

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Dieser Text ist Teil der Abteilung Thailand von Tüpfli's Global Village Library

ช้างตายทั้งตัวเอาใบบัวปิดไม่มิด

Abb.: Karte Siams um 1908
[Bildquelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- Vortitelblatt]

Siam um 1900/1908

Abb.: Männer: 1 Bettler; 2 Khmer (ខ្មែរ); 3 Siamesen; 4 Siamesischer Adliger
[Bildquelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 243]

Abb.: Adliger in Sänfte bei ritueller Prozession, ca. 1900

Abb.: Bäuerinnen
[Quelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 47]

Abb.: Lao-Frauen

Abb.: Rauchende Nordthai-Frauen, 1897/1907
[Bildquelle: Anne & Heiner Damm. -- http://www.hdamm.de/afotos/ah_opidx.htm. -- Zugriff am 2013-02-28. -- Creative Commons Lizenz (Namensnennung, share alike)]

Abb.: Nordthai-Männer, 1897/1907
[Bildquelle: Anne & Heiner Damm. -- http://www.hdamm.de/afotos/ah_opidx.htm. -- Zugriff am 2013-02-28. -- Creative Commons Lizenz (Namensnennung, share alike)]

Abb.: Familie in Chiang Mai (เชียงใหม่), 1897/1907
[Bildquelle: Anne & Heiner Damm. -- http://www.hdamm.de/afotos/ah_opidx.htm. -- Zugriff am 2013-02-28. -- Creative Commons Lizenz (Namensnennung, share alike)]

Abb.: Essensverkäuferin, Nordthailand, 1897/1907
[Bildquelle: Anne & Heiner Damm. -- http://www.hdamm.de/afotos/ah_opidx.htm. -- Zugriff am 2013-02-28. -- Creative Commons Lizenz (Namensnennung, share alike)]

Abb.: Frau, Nordthailand, ca. 1900

Abb.: Frau, Nordthailand, ca. 1900

Abb.: Frau, Nordthailand, ca. 1900

Abb.: Lao
[Bildquelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 79]

Abb.: Lao-Braut
[Bildquelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 73]

Abb.: Lao-Familie
[Bildquelle: The kingdom of Siam : Ministry of Agriculture, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, U.S.A., 1904 ; Siamese section / ed. by A. Cecil Carter. -- New York: Putnam’s Sons, 1904. -- Nach S. 30]

Abb.: Lao-Frau beim Weben

Abb.: Angehörige einer Minorität, Mukdahan (มุกดาหาร), 1900

Abb.: Lahu-Frauen (ล่าหู่), Chiang Rai (เชียงราย), 1900

Abb.: Adlige Shan (တႆး), Chiang Mai (เชียงใหม่), 1900

Abb.: Buben, Bangkok, 1910

Abb.: Bauernhaus, Zentralsiam
[Bildquelle: The kingdom of Siam : Ministry of Agriculture, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, U.S.A., 1904 ; Siamese section / ed. by A. Cecil Carter. -- New York: Putnam’s Sons, 1904. -- Nach S. 46]

Abb.: Dorffest
[Bildquelle: The kingdom of Siam : Ministry of Agriculture, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, U.S.A., 1904 ; Siamese section / ed. by A. Cecil Carter. -- New York: Putnam’s Sons, 1904. -- Nach S. 58]

Abb.: Wasserschöpfrad, Chiang Mai (เชียงใหม่)

Abb.: Siamesisches Mädchen

Abb.: Siamesin

Abb.: Siamesin
[Bildquelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 77]

Abb.: Knabe, vorbereitet für Zeremonie des Haarschopfabschneidens

Abb.: Mon-Mädchen (မောန် / မည်;  มอญ)

Abb.: Lawa-Mädchen (ລະວ້າ, ลั๊วะ / ละว้า)

Abb.: Karen-Frau (ကရင်လူမျိုး / กะเหรี่ยง)

Abb.: Meo-Frau ( 苗族 / แม้ว)

Abb.: Wandertheater
[Bildquelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 223.]

Abb.: Tänzerinnen

Abb.: Schauspieler, um 1900

Abb.: Schauspieler, um 1900

Abb.: Siamesisches Orchester

Abb.: Lakhon Nok (ละครนอก), Nakhon Sawan (นครสวรรค์), 1900

Abb.: Straße in Paknam - ปากน้ำ
[Bildquelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 246]

Marktszene in Chiang Mai (เชียงใหม่ / ᨩ᩠ᨿᨦᩉ᩠ᨾᩲ᩵)

Abb.: Fischerboote, Paknam - ปากน้ำ
[Bildquelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 248]

Abb.: Stadtmauer von Chiang Mai (เชียงใหม่), Nordwestecke (แจ่งหัวริน), 1897/1907
[Bildquelle: Anne & Heiner Damm. -- http://www.hdamm.de/afotos/ah_opidx.htm. -- Zugriff am 2013-02-28. -- Creative Commons Lizenz (Namensnennung, share alike)]

Abb.: Straßenbrücke in Nordsiam

Abb.: Fußgängerbrücke in Zentralsiam

Abb.: Zusammenstoß zwischen Zug und Elefant in der Nähe von Ayutthaya (อยุธยา), 1908

Abb.: Zusammenstoß zwischen Zug und Elefant in der Nähe von Ayutthaya (อยุธยา), 1908
 

Abb.: Büffelkarren, Zentralsiam

Abb.: Wasserbüffel, Zentralsiam

Abb.: Zuckerrohrpresse,

Abb.: Wahrsagetafel

Abb.: Bestrafung durch Auspeitschen

Abb.: Eine Amme nährt ein verwaistes Elefantenkind an ihrer Brust

Abb.: Telegrafenbüro, Chiang Mai (เชียงใหม่), 1900

Abb.: Gerichtsgebäude, Pattani (ปัตตานี / ڤتتاني)
1900

Buddhismus

Abb.: Textauslegung (Predigt)

Abb.: Paritta-Rezitation
[Bildquelle: Wikipedia. -- Public domain]

Abb.: Deckel für buddhistische Handschriften

Abb.: Zubereitung der Palmblätter für Manuskripte

Abb.: Siam um 1900: Wandermönche (พระธุดงค์), Postkarte, um 1900

Abb.: Wandermönche (พระธุดงค์)

Abb.: Somdet Po belehrt einen Schüler
[Bildquelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 223]

Abb.: Naga's (นาค, als Prinzen gekleidete künftige Novizen/Mönche) werden auf Elefanten zur Novizenordination (บรรพชา) gebracht (พิธิบวชนาค)

Abb.: Tempelbube - Dek Wat - เด็กวัด
[Quelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 49]

Abb.: Mönche
[Bildquelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 211]

Abb.: Bau von Sandpagoden an Songkran (วันสงกรานต์)

Abb.: Königliche Kathin-Prozession (ทอดกฐิน) zum Wat Bowonniwet (วัดบวรนิเวศวิหารราชวรวิหาร), Bangkok

Abb.: Aufbahrung eines Leichnams im Haus eines reichen Siamesen

Abb.: Einäscherung eines vornehmen Siamesen

Abb.: Krematorium in Bangkok zur Einäscherung der im vergangenen Jahr Verstorbenen

Sitten und Bräuche

"The manners and customs of the Siamese form an interesting study, even though, in the absence of reliable records, it is difficult to trace their origin and growth with more than approximate accuracy. The religious customs are mainly of Brahminic origin, though in many instances such changes have been wrought in them that little remains of former practices. Shortly after a Siamese baby is born it is adorned with amulets placed round its wrists, and often around its ankles and neck. These are generally formed of thin pieces of silver or gold, having sacred characters in Pali written upon them. These slips of metal are rolled up and formed into little tubes, through which run the strings by means of which they are fastened on. In some instances the bones from the legs of birds are used in place of the metal. The amulets may often be seen upon the wrinkled limbs of very old persons. Each charm is supposed to bring good fortune of some kind or another, and it is considered very unlucky if the string bearing them breaks. Almost from birth the children have their heads shaved, with the exception of a tuft at the top, which, when it grows long, is plaited up and tied in a knot. The cutting of this topknot is the first and greatest event in a Siamese child's life. It would almost appear to mark the recognition of the child as a human being, as distinguished from a sort of a domestic pet. The ceremony is known as the Kawn Chook, and it is undergone nowadays by practically every girl in the country ; its practice, in the case of boys, is, however, usually confined to children of royal and noble birth. In the case of the royal children the ceremony is an extremely imposing and elaborate one, which lasts for three days. A huge structure called a "golden mountain" is erected, and near this the Kawn Chook takes place. The most auspicious hour for the event having been discovered by the court astrologers (Brahmins), the topknot is divided into three parts, each of which is then severed by persons specially selected for the purpose. His Majesty the king usually cuts the first lock. Lengthy and impressive religious services are held in connection with this haircutting ceremony, which is considered of such importance that a veritable library of books has been written upon it and its origin, though the only book which can be thoroughly understood by the average European reader is one which was written some years ago by Colonel Gerini, of the Royal Siamese Military College. The tonsorial implements used at these royal hair-cuttings are all of gold, and most of them are encrusted with extremely valuable jewels. Next to the ceremonial hair-cutting the most important event in the life of a Siamese is marriage. This can take place, with the consent of the parents, when the boy is fourteen and the girl twelve. As elsewhere in the East, marriages are generally a matter of commercial arrangement, if not exactly of purchase. There are numbers of regular professional "go-betweens," who make quite a comfortable living by bringing eligible couples together, receiving big commissions from the fortunate swain, and sometimes from the girl's parents as well. The bridegroom has always to furnish a house to the satisfaction of the bride's relatives, and has, further, to give the girl's mother a certain amount of gold, together with a sum of money. This latter is known as nguan nom, and literally means "mother's milk money." In celebrating the wedding a number of religious ceremonies are performed and friends and neighbours are feasted, while, in the case of the wealthy, bands and theatrical companies are engaged to amuse the guests. Although divorces are easily obtainable under Siamese law, they are, curiously enough, comparatively rare for a country where marriage is to a considerable extent a matter of bargaining. On the whole, Siamese domestic life is generally comfortable and peaceful. The funeral customs in Siam differ in various parts of the country, and according to the former financial circumstances of the deceased, but among the Siamese and Laos cremation is generally in favour. Among the wealthy and those of high rank these cremations are very elaborate and costly, and are often deferred until a considerable time after death. The cremation of the late Crown Prince took place three years after the date of his death, and cost considerably over a million ticals. The bodies are embalmed immediately after death, and are preserved in hermetically-sealed urns until just before the final ceremony. The embalming consists in filling the body, till it is in a state of complete saturation, with a mixture of mercury and honey. The cremations themselves are attended by elaborate religious ceremonials ; and besides these there are theatrical and other entertainments, while all the principal guests are given presents as mementoes of the departed. Siamese and Chinese theatricals, fireworks, pony and foot races, and club, sword, boxing, and other exhibitions are given, while open house is kept for a week or so. Presents are given to the priests and alms to the poor, and in not a few cases families have reduced themselves almost to indigence through the lavish way in which they have celebrated these particular occasions. While the cremations of the rich are spectacular and rather picturesque ceremonies, those of the poor are much more simply conducted. The bodies, enclosed in a rough wooden shell, are placed on a pyre in a temple compound. Attendants armed with long iron forks rake the fire, and, should the wood supply be insufficient, augment it with kerosene oil, thrown on with dippers. Paupers are now cremated by the priests at certain temples without any charge ; but in former days bodies were simply left on open spaces of ground, to be eaten by pariah dogs and vultures, the fleshy parts of the corpses being cut down to the bone with knives to aid these ghoulish scavengers in their work. From cremations to ghosts is a fairly easy transition, and, according to current belief, Siam is full of them. They inhabit houses, trees, hills, rocks, streams, and every conceivable thing, and are known by the generic name of "phi." Connected with them is a colossal mass of most fancifully embroidered folklore. Everybody believes in the phi, yet every one swears he does not, although he calls the owl the nok phi, or ghost bird. Outside every house in the country districts and outside many in the towns, even in Bangkok itself, one sees little models of houses about a foot high and with the typical Siamese roofs. These are ban phi, or ghost-houses, and it is alleged that if these are provided the spirits will take up their abode in them, and will not trouble the people residing in the neighbourhood. On certain festivals offerings of cakes, fruit, &c, are put on the little shelves in front of these spirit-houses, either to propitiate their tenants or to attract new and beneficent ones. Inside most of the dwelling-houses, too, little square pieces of paper, bearing Pali inscriptions, are affixed to all the main uprights and corner posts. These are to curry favour with the spirits of the earth, into whose domain the bottoms of the posts have intruded. Again, under the ridge-beam of the houses is placed a flag, red on the one side and white on the other, and bearing some curious hieroglyphics on both sides. This is to apologise to the spirits of the air and the lightning for intruding on their special preserves. If one of these flags falls the house is considered doomed, and the owner moves into another as quickly as he can. In addition to these domestic ghosts there are hundreds of other varieties. Furthermore, many of the people still believe in the evil eye and half a dozen similar things. In Bangkok the visitor will often notice houses with the following mark in white, resembling chalk, on the doors or shutters :— This mark is made by Brahmin priests, not with chalk, as might be supposed, but with ashes from the bo-tree, the sacred tree under which Buddha is said to have rested. Placed on the door by a holy person, the mark is said to protect the various inmates of the house from a considerable proportion of the ills that flesh is heir to. Many similar charms are in constant and almost universal use. There are many different forms of enchantment in Siam, the individuals practising them being known as "phoo vis-aits." These men are commonly supposed to be able to work all kinds of magic, black or white ; they tell fortunes, cast spells, provide love potions or poisons, and, in short, gull the ignorant most unscrupulously. But apart from such tricks, which deceive none but the absurdly credulous, the "meh see" is a species of enchantment in which most of the people do believe. The following notes regarding it appeared in the Siam Observer a year or two ago, and it may be added that since these appeared, the strange complaint mentioned, if complaint it be, has been investigated by a number of medical men, who have declared themselves unable to come to any definite conclusion concerning it :— "Every one who has read Mr. Hugh Clifford's stories of life in the Malay Peninsula will recollect the mention he occasionally makes of lattah or latta, that queer kind of hypnotic complaint to which Malays are sometimes subject, and which is suggested as often being the cause of their going amok and killing every one within reach. But few farangs are aware that certain Siamese, mostly women, are subject to the same complaint, which is known as 'meh see,' and among the Mohns as 'bah chee.' The method is simple enough. The victim is got to sit down in front of a rice-pounding mortar or a rice-winnowing basket with her hands together in front of her in an attitude of prayer. The operator then points at her and asks her to dance or jump about, or sing, as the case may be, and she at once does so, occasionally performing the most extraordinary antics and keeping them up until she becomes completely exhausted. Recently the present writer saw an exhibition of this sort in which a Mohn woman, employed as a servant in the house of a farang residing at Seekak, Ban Moh, was the victim, or subject, whichever the case may be. The woman, when told to dance, seemed perfectly unable to refrain from doing so, although in all other ways she seemed perfectly rational. The subject is certainly one of great medical and scientific interest, and it might well be investigated by some competent authority on such matters. It may be mentioned that Professor Skeat, who made a very close study of Malay customs and superstitions, attributes it to hypnotism pure and simple, but it seems that the Siamese do not consider it precisely so. The complaint, or whatever it may be, is said not to be  hereditary, although sometimes several members of a family may be good 'subjects.' It is further said to be more common amongst the Mohns than amongst either the Siamese or Laos, whilst the Chinese are almost free from it, and amongst the Luk Chins it is extremely rare. It would seem to be popularly looked upon as a kind of 'possession,' not necessarily by devils, as was that in Europe in the Middle Ages, but by spirits, who may or may not be beneficent ones. In some cases a kind of invocation is used which runs as follows :— 'Meh See ay Meh See sow sah, Yok muek wai Phra ; Wa cha mee Khun chon '; which may be roughly translated as, 'Oh, Meh See, thou virgin, raise your hands in prayer to the Lord Buddha and you will receive the admiration and praise of all.' After this the spirit is supposed to enter the body of the performer, who is then unconscious, whilst she performs the terpsichorean evolutions or sings. It is very evident that the whole thing is due to some kind of hypnotic influence, and it would certainly be interesting to find out precisely what, and also whether it is every one who has the power of influencing the 'subjects.' "It may be mentioned that in the case of men, a phi loob (spirit fish-trap) or phi kadok (a flat basket used for drying betel-nut) is put before the performer, and after an incantation is sung he generally seizes the first stick or other weapon handy and falls upon the spectators savagely. These performances generally take place after nightfall, and the Song Kran holiday is supposed to be the best time for them, as then the spirits are- endowed with the greatest power." The Siamese have an elaborate calendar of official feasts and festivals. There are two New Years, the "popular" and the "official" one, the latter being on April 1st, while the date of the other varies with the moon. There is generally a three days' holiday on each occasion. Some people go to worship at the temples, others make presents of fruit and cakes to the priests, while every one dons his or her best clothes and pays a round of social calls. The ordinary laws against gambling are also in abeyance for the time being. The Swinging Festival, variously known as the "Thep Ching Cha" or "Sow Ching Cha," is rather curious. The Minister for Agriculture, or an official deputy, is created a kind of mock king, and is carried in procession to the big swing near the Royal Palace. Opposite this a dais has been erected, on which he sits, his right foot over his left knee. Three "teams" of Brahmin priests then get on the swing in succession, one man in each trying to catch with his teeth a bag of ticals fastened to a high bamboo. The feat is a difficult as well as a somewhat dangerous one, as the swing supports are 75 feet high. The first swingers get 12 ticals each, the second 8 ticals, and the third 4 ticals. If, while the swinging is in progress, the mock king touches the ground with his right foot, he has to pay a number of Brahmin priests who are in attendance on him a rather heavy penalty, while in the old days he was stripped to the buff and chased through the streets in disgrace. When the swinging is over the Brahmins scatter holy water over the mock king, the swingers, and the assembled crowds, and by so doing are supposed to call down a blessing on all and sundry. The procession then re-forms and the mock king returns home. The entire performance is gone through twice, once in the morning and again in the evening two days later. The processions nowadays are very elaborate as well as large, and no visitor to Siam at the time of the festival should miss seeing them. The actual origin of the custom is unknown, but it is generally thought to be some form of harvest thanksgiving. It sometimes takes place early in January, but occasionally early in December. The Phrabat Festival is interesting from the religious standpoint. Buddhists from all parts of Siam go on pilgrimage to Phrabat, a place in the hills about a hundred miles north-west of Bangkok, where Buddha is said to have left the imprint of his foot in a rock. The footprint is certainly there, and it bears all the marks said to be characteristic of the foot of the great teacher. Nowadays one can go the whole distance by rail, and it is an agreeable trip to make, the season when the festival occurs being a pleasant one, while the scenery surrounding the temple which has been erected over the precious relic is delightful. There are, however, several other alleged footprints of Buddha in Siam, but these are for the most part admitted to be artificial and merely placed where they are for the convenience of pilgrims who cannot reach Phrabat itself. The Kroot Thai, or old-style New Year holidays, are still observed throughout Siam. They usually occur within a week or so of the official New Year. Elaborate religious services are held, and each family makes a peculiar kind of cake out of the glutinous rice, which is supposed to be particularly suitable to the season. Presents of fruit and flowers are made to the priests, to whom the wealthier people also make presents of yellow robes. Companies of priests assemble on the palace walls, and on the night of the second day all the guns there are fired at intervals of about twenty minutes until daylight, each gun, it is said, being discharged thirty-six times. The general populace usually join in and fire crackers at intervals all through the night, all this are being created in order to drive away evil spirits, who are at this time credited with a large amount of peculiarly baleful influence. On the third day of the celebrations gambling is permitted everywhere. The ceremony of Tu Nam, or drinking of the water of allegiance, takes place twice a year, on days established by ancient custom. The ceremony is a quaint and picturesque one. All the Government officials assemble in one of the halls of audience and take the oath of allegiance to his Majesty. They drink and sprinkle their foreheads with water in which have been dipped swords, spears, and other weapons. The idea is that, as these are the weapons with which the king executes justice upon all who have been guilty of treachery or rebellious conduct, the various officials, in drinking from the water in which these weapons have been dipped, invoke the royal vengeance upon themselves should they prove unfaithful. The custom has existed from time immemorial, and its origin cannot be traced. In former years the half-yearly salaries of all the principal officials were paid them after the completion of this ceremony. It would, of course, be a difficult matter, even with the present improved means of communication, for officials from the more distant provinces to attend the ceremony at the royal palace, and it is therefore the custom to send small quantities of the tu nam (water of vengeance) to the respective stations, where the officials may drink of it and sprinkle themselves with it in the presence of the principal provincial authorities. Although as originally instituted the custom was intended to apply to Siamese officials only, it is interesting to note that of late years many foreigners in the Government service have complied with it. It may also be noted that the priests are generally exempt from participation in this ceremony, though the chief priests from the various Bangkok temples assemble at the royal palace and perform religious services while it is in progress. One of the most striking festivals in Bangkok is that called the Thot Kathin, which takes place each year soon after the end of the Buddhist Lent, and in which his Majesty goes in person to present robes to the priests at the principal temples. The pageants are often very striking. On the first day his Majesty generally proceeds by water in state procession to the various riverside temples. The boats used on this occasion are huge canoe-like structures, with high-raised bows and sterns, some of them being manned by over one hundred red-coated oarsmen. The largest of all is the royal barge, which has a pavilion in red and gold brocade erected amidships for the accommodation of the sovereign and his suite. At its bows hang peculiar white tassels, made, tradition asserts, from the hair of a mammoth goat, to which are ascribed a fabulous value. The oarsmen pause after each stroke and swing their oars high in the air, shouting as they do so, and as the men in the bow strike the water first and are followed in regular order by those behind them to the stern, a peculiar caterpillar-like appearance is given to the craft as it makes its way along the river. The state processions by land are often extremely picturesque, notably the ones in which the king is borne in a state palanquin. It is in this manner that his Majesty visits the principal of what are generally known as the "royal" temples. During the continuance of the festival either his Majesty or his direct deputy bears the much-coveted yellow robes and other gifts to every temple in the country. The occasion of the Chalerm, or Coronation festival, is, however, the time to see Bangkok at its brightest and best. His Majesty was born on September 20th, but as that month falls in the rainy season, the anniversaries of his birthday and coronation are usually held together on the 15th and three succeeding days of November. A number of religious ceremonies take place within the Grand Palace walls, and various receptions and other functions are held, but the most popular of all is the annual ball given by the Foreign Office, to which most of the foreign residents of Bangkok are invited. At night the whole city is ablaze with illuminations. Whatever may be the artistic shortcomings of the Siamese, they have thoroughly mastered the arts of temporary decoration and of illumination, with the result that at these annual festivals the capital presents a wonderfully beautiful appearance. Both the king and queen usually go round and view the decorations by the river as well as by-land. At this festival his Majesty always makes the town a present of one or more bridges. In addition to the above feasts and festivals there are scores of others of less importance. Some have a religious significance, others are purely secular. A few certainly are gradually dying out, but the greater part are maintained with as much as possible of their old-time ceremonial." [Quelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 220ff]

Katholische Kirche
 

"The members of the Roman Catholic Church in Siam at the present day number no less than 23,000. The work of the Mission is conducted by a bishop, 55 missionaries (European and native), and 58 catechists and teachers for Primary Schools, while the various agencies through which they reach the people include— 1 Clerical College, with 78 students ; 49 Primary Schools, attended by 3,077 children ; 1 College for Sciences and Arts, with 600 students ; 1 convent boarding-school for young ladies, with 120 students, conducted by the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres ; 2 convent day schools, with 127 students, conducted by the same Sisters ; 16 orphanages ; 4 dispensaries and hospitals for natives ; 1 General Hospital for Europeans and natives ; 50 churches or chapels ; 1 printing press. Two religious institutes are represented in the vicariate— one by the brothers of St. Gabriel, conducting the Assumption College, and the other one by the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, conducting the schools for girls and the Hospital of St. Louis." [Quelle: T. Masao in: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 215]

Abb.: Bischof J. L. Vey, Apostolischer Vikar für Siam
[Bildquelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 214]

Abb.: Assumptio-Kathedrale (อาสนวิหารอัสสัมชัญ), Bangkok
[Bildquelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 215]

Protestantische Kirchen

"I should be encroaching too much on the liberty, and I should like to say the opportunity, vouchsafed me were I to chronologically narrate the praiseworthy, the self-denying, and Christ-like work the American Presbyterian Mission has been doing up to the present time. But I must mention the work of the moment that they are engaged in. The Siamese Mission, which has its headquarters in Bangkok, has stations at Nakawn, Sri Tamarat, Pitsanuloke, Petchaburi, and Rajaburi. These stations have medical missionaries and also secular schools. In Bangkok there is a handsome mission church, the money to build which was contributed by Siamese. The Christian High School for Boys is doing splendid work under the Rev. W. McClure and Mrs. McClure. The staff consists of five missionaries and seven native teachers and the scholars number 240. There is a mission church and a girls' school at Wang Lang, the latter being under the control of Miss Edna Cole. Last year 12,000 copies of the Gospels were printed in the Siamese language at the Presbyterian Mission Press, which is under the management of the Rev. J. B. Dunlap, and employs seventeen printers and a foreman. The American Presbyterians have also a mission in the North of Siam, called the Laos Mission, the headquarters being at Chiengmai, with branch stations at Nan and Keng Tung. There are schools and medical missionaries at those stations, and recently a mission to the lepers has been opened. The American Bible Society is represented by Rev. J. Carrington, M.A., who has spent thirty-nine years in Siam. He is doing a magnificent work of colportage in Bangkok and the neighbouring towns." [Quelle: Hernry J. Hillyard in: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 217]

Abb.: DR. Hillyard, Chaplain von Christ Church
[Bildquelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 217]

Abb.: American Presbyterian Church
[Bildquelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 216]

Gendarmerie

Abb.: Städtische Gendarmerie-Station

[Bildquelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 109]

Abb.: Gendarmerieschule in Prapatom (พระปฐม)
[Bildquelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 110]

Sport und Spiele

"Among the purely Siamese sports, however, which attract most attention are the kite-flying contests held at Bangkok Premane Ground every year in March. The "wow," or kites, are divided into two classes, male and female. The large male kites are star-shaped and strongly built ; the female kites are diamond- shaped, much smaller, and more fragile. The male kites soar high, and often sail along at the end of a mile of cord. It is the object of the owners of the female kites to entangle their strings with the cord attached to a male kite and so haul it down. If they accomplish this successfully they are the victors ; but the odds are against them, as, owing to their small superficies, the female kites are unable to carry strong and heavy string and their finer thread frequently gets broken. Very considerable sums of money often change hands over these competitions, and some of the kites are looked upon almost as family heirlooms. Kite-flying simple as it appears, is quite an art, and experts can make the kites perform extraordinary gyrations in the air. The "pla kat," or fighting fish of Siam, are a species of stickleback, the male members of which family are endowed with extraordinary pugnacity. When in repose they are but dingy-looking creatures, but upon becoming enraged they display a marvellous range of iridescent colouring which shifts about in  kaleidoscope fashion. They are fed with the larvae of mosquitoes, for the sale of which there are regular shops in the Sampeng district of Bangkok. Large sums are wagered on the fighting powers of the finny warriors, and in many cases their owners refuse to sell them for hundreds of ticals. Siamese boxing, a favourite amusement with the soldiery, is distinctly interesting to witness. The contestants are allowed to use the feet, as in the French savale, while their arms are swathed up to the elbow in strips of cloth or coconut fibre. Siamese football is a game in which four men usually take part. Their object is to keep a small rattan ball in the air as long as possible by knocking it to one another in shuttlecock fashion. The ball may be struck with the feet, knees, head, or shoulders only. In this game the Siamese youths display a remarkable agility ; during the visit to Siam of Prince Henry of Prussia some years ago a quartette of players kept a ball in motion in this way for fifty-five minutes, a truly wonderful performance. Among the now prohibited forms of "sport" which were previously quite common in Siam are cock-fighting and the "awphlong suam lang tao hai wing khieng kan," a species of amusement derived from making tortoises run races with small fires upon their backs. This latter pastime, it would seem, however, could hardly have possessed an excessively lively interest for any one but the tortoise. During recent years motoring and motorboat racing have become exceedingly popular among the more wealthy members of the community, while football on European lines has been started in some of the schools." [Quelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 236f.]

"THE BANGKOK GAMBLING HOUSES. In any list of those places which are likely to interest the visitor to Bangkok the licensed gambling-houses should be included. There are half a dozen altogether, the principal one being Phratoo Sam Yot. They are open all day and half the night, are extensively patronised, and form a rich source of revenue for the Government. Four games of chance are played- -all of Chinese origin—the most popular being that known as "tua," a modification of Chinese fan-tan. This is played on a large circular mat, some twenty to thirty feet in diameter, around which squat players of all ages and of both sexes. There is no limit to the stakes, which range from a few small coins up to thousands of ticals. The dexterity, acquired from long practice, with which the croupiers rake the money about on the mats with huge bamboo implements, seldom or never making a mistake, is marvellous. In addition to the gambling in the regular gambling-houses, however, certain games with cards and dice are permitted upon those premises where the practised in Bangkok may be formed from the large number of little tables, lighted with small square lamps, and presided over by Chinamen, which may be seen in all the business thoroughfares after nightfall. The Chinamen collect the money and distribute the lottery tickets. A little before midnight the duplicates of the tickets are collected and taken to the headquarters of the gambling farm, where the drawing takes place. During the Siamese year 1907-08 the organiser of the lottery paid the Government 3,055 000 ticals for his privileges, while the other forms of gambling produced revenue for the Government amounting to 3,563,548 ticals—the two sums being equivalent to £490,000." [Quelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 248.]

Abb.: Siamesisches Rennboot
[Bildquelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 236]

Abb.: Elefantenfang bei Ayutthaya (อยุธยา)
[Bildquelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 236]

Abb.: Gefangene Wildelefanten im Kraal
[Bildquelle: Twentieth century impressions of Siam : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources / ed. in chief: Arnold Wright. -- London [etc.] : Lloyds, 1908. -- S. 235]

Zu Wirtschaft Siams um 1908