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APPENDIX-II.
THE CORONATION OF THE KING OF SIAM
After the death of His Majesty the King Rama
VI of Siatn on November 26, 1925. his younger
brother ascended the throne under the title of His
Majesty the King Prajadhipok. The coronation of
the new King took place on February 26, 1926,
when there were magnificient ceremonies, partly
Hindu and partly Buddhist in character. Here again
we find the important part played by the Brahmin
priests, who still retain their position of honour in the
royal court.
Following is the pen-picture of gorgeous scenes
connected with the coronation of the new King of
Siam. It is from an eye-witness from Bangkok under
date February 26, 1926 :—
"Yesterday there was written, and turned over,
another page in the history of Siam. His Majesty King
Prajadhipok, King of Siam, was crowned with tradi-
tional ceremonial, in the presence of the Princes of
the country and the representatives of foreign Govern-
ments, Impressive throughout and laden with old-
time tradition, the ceremony of the actual Coronation
will remain imbedded in the memory of those who
were privileged to witnessit, To those of Siamese
blood there was felt the full significance of the his-
torical occasion ; to others there was presented a
ceremony laden with Eastern ritual, so deeply and
spiritually impressive that the emotions were swayed