IN A CAMBODIAN LOTUS-LAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25344, 27 October 1945, Page 10

IN A CAMBODIAN LOTUS-LAND

A small group of R.A.F. men investigating a former Japanese Southern Area air ioree headquarters in Cambodia (French Indo-China) are living in a land of fantastic riches and strange tradition. Cambodia is probably the world's oldest kingdom, dating back for 2000 years, and ruled today by 23-year-old King Norodom Siaukou. He is unmarried, and receives a salary of 400,000 piastres a year from a small tax levied on the population of Cambodians, Chinese, Annamites, Malays, and Burmese. When the first of the R.A.F. men arrived they drove through the streets

By BRUCE ROTHWELL, in the Sydney Morning Herald

of the capital, Pnom-Penh, amid cheering crowds waving flags, and showers of flowers. Since then the visit has been n Hollywood fantasy of continuous entertainment, presentations at court, ten-course banquets, never-ending wine, and music by the National Cambodian Band. Barefooted, with two R.A.F. men, I visited the pagoda—the Pagoda of Silver it is called. The floor is made of

BRITISH AIRMEN'S GOOD LUCK

ten-inch square plates of solid silver—--4700 plates—offset, by marble walls carrying on the upper half a continuous mural depicting the translation of a famous Sanskrit poem, "Ramayan," singing the exploits and loves of the country's heroes. The pagoda contains a figure of Buddha weighing 250 pounds, and cast in solid gold, exquisitely chiselled and studded with precious diamonds,, rubies and emeralds. Built in the shape of a cross, the King's throne room alone keeps the R.A.F. men in a perpetual state of wonderment. The throne itself is situated in the centre, with various statues of kings in the background and walls of amazingly delicate, minute mosaics. One diamond ring among the crown jewels is the size of a large egg. The | young King, in common with his people, has many outside interests, particularly horse-racing. He owns several imported Australian-bred horses. Beginning this November the Fete de I'Kau (the Festival 'of (lie Water) attracts thousands to the Great Lakes and Mekong River, which for a few weeks flows backward—one of (he weirdest spectacles in the world. Hundreds of junks, forming floating villages, catch fish trapped in the river, the natives hauling in an average of 300 tons a month. Behind this bizarre scene is the making of a tense political situation. The Cambodians are endeavouring desperately to hold their country from the Annamites, who are in strong numbers. But although they are anti-Ammmite they are not, absolutely pro-French, and according fo the King they intend to seek Allied assistance to develop nil army, air force and navv. Meanwhile fhe Tew Englishmen in Pnom-lVnh are living fhe lives of unwritten fiction, dining and wining with fhe King and his Ministers of State amid gaily-bedecked garlands of jasmine flowers, and visiting side-walk cafes in the French style, where they have taught fhe hands fo play them such songs as "Mairzv T)oates" and "Lily Marlene."