THE KINGDOM OF THE YELLOW ROBE

"THE SHRINE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WATERS."—PAKNAM.
Page 30.

PREFACE

The following pages are intended to present to the reader an accountof the domestic and religious rites and ceremonies of the Siamese.They are the outcome of several years' residence in the Capital ofSiam. In order to verify some of my own observations or to amplifysome points with regard to which my own knowledge was rather scanty,I have consulted most of the books which in recent years have beenpublished concerning the country of Siam. I am particularly indebtedto the works of two writers whose knowledge was both wide and deep;viz., H. Alabaster, whose "Wheel of the Law" deals with SiameseBuddhism; and Captain Gerini, whose various monographs on domesticor religious customs are full of valuable and reliable informationconcerning their misty origin and meaning. I must also acknowledgemy indebtedness to "The Siam Repository" (a weekly paper long sinceextinct, but whose pages are a treasure-house of information tothe enquirer), and to my friend Mr. R. L. Morant for much helpfulcriticism and advice.

The illustration "Planting out young Rice" is from a sketch in thepossession of Mrs. Smith, of Tarrawatta, Beckenham, who has kindlylent it for the purpose of illustrating this book.

The following five illustrations are also from sketches, kindly lentby E. Lloyd Williams, Esq., of James St., Buckingham Gate.

• "Offering Rice to the Priests."
• "Making Curry."
• "Ploughing a Rice-field."
• "Collecting ripe Grain."
• "Rice Boats coming down the Menam."

E. Y.

Chingford, 1898.

CONTENTS