presentattles of mi -isterial rank and higher officials of
State. The auspicious hour was 9-53 and that moment
the High Priest of Siva invited His Majesty to take a
ceremonial bath of purification and anointment on a
specially-erected pavilion between Baisal Hall and the
residence of Chakrabarti Biman. The anointment
consisted of fa) water from the five principal rivers of
the Kingdom—the Menam Chao Phya, Mekiong, the
Rajapuri River, the Bajrapuri Rivsr and the Bang-
pakong River—supposed to be an analogy for the
famous classical five rivers of ancient India—the
Ganges, Mahi, Yamuna, Sarabhu and Airaviti; (b)
water of the four ponds of Subarna which are sanctifi-
ed through constant usage in every State ceremony
where there is an'anointment : and (c) some of the
water from the 17 circles which had been previously
concentrated. Before rising His Majesty received
benediction and anointment from Their Royal High-
nesses Prince Bhanurangsi and Prince Nagor Svarga,
as well as from the Prince Patriarch.
"This ceremony was accompanied by a fanfare of
drums and trumpets, the playing of the National An
them, and a Royal salute of 19 guns. At the same
moment the Royal Umbrella of State was raised at
the Amarindra Hall, the Chakrabarti Biman Hall,
Dusit Mahaprasat Hall, Chakri Hall, and An-
aneasamakhom Hall. Then the music died down, the
boom of the guns ceased, and silence again fell upon
the gathering. Impressive and signicant holding