The National Museum.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 178, 30 July 1932, Page 13 (Supplement)

The National Museum.

1 spent an interesting morning at lhe National Museum which is beyond the King’s official palace. Both the buildings and the contents of the museum are delightful and instructive. Every phase of {Siamese life and culture is represented: while part of the building is an old temple in which a huge gulden Buddha reigns supreme on a lofty glittering altar. The natives still come and worship and burn their joss sticks before it, and as 1 was pre sent on Sunday morning and native visitors were plentiful, 1 had a good opportunity of observing current Siamese life as well as records of its past. The people are more Mongolian in appearance than cither the Malayan

or Javanese and for their nether garments they wear either a voluminous pair of silk trousers, black for the artisan but every colour of the rainbow for the dandy, or else a sarong which they drape in a distinctive way round their limbs, purposely showing a piece of bare knee between the drape and the stocking. This is not becoming to Western eyes. The museum contains picturesque courtyards with ancient trees and at the back is a stall where various examples of native handcraft may be purchased by the visitor. Among the exhibits are some magnificent royal furniture, all heavily carved, gilded and decorated, also thrones, palanquins, and state barges, while an effigy of one of the Siamese kings sits on the neck of a stuffed elc phant. engaged in directing a battle.