to support a monk, provided that he is a reasonably competent school-master and of good character, works well.  But in the larger monasteries it is admitted that there are inmates who have entered in the hope of leading a lazy life and even fugitives from justice.  Still the penalty for any grave offence is immediate expulsion by the ecclesiastical authorities and the offender is treated with extreme severity by the civil courts to which he then becomes amenable.

The religious festivals of Siam are numerous and characteristic.  Many are Buddhist, some are Brahmanic, and some are royal.  Uposatha days (wan phra:) are observed much as in Burma.  The birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha (which are all supposed to have taken place on the 15th day of the 6th waxing moon) are celebrated during a three days festival.  These three days are of peculiar solemnity and are spent in the discharge of religious duties, such as hearing sermons and giving alms.  But at most festivals religious observances are mingled with much picturesque but secular gaiety.  In the morning the monks do not go their usual round[223] and the alms-bowls are arranged in a line within the temple grounds.  The laity (mostly women) arrive bearing wicker trays on which are vessels containing rice and delicacies.  They place a selection of these in each bowl and then proceed to the Bot where they hear the commandments recited and often vow to observe for that day some which are usually binding only on monks.  While the monks are eating their meal the people repair to a river, which is rarely far distant in Siam, and pour water drop by drop saying “May the food which we have given for the use of the holy ones be of benefit to our fathers and mothers and to all of our relatives who have passed away.”  This rite is curiously in harmony with the injunctions of the Tirokuddasuttam in the Khuddakapatha, which is probably an ancient work.[224] The rest of the day is usually devoted to pious merrymaking, such as processions by day and illuminations by night.  On some feasts the laws against gambling are suspended and various games of chance are freely indulged in.  Thus the New Year festival called Trut (or Krut) Thai lasts three days.  On the first two days, especially the second, crowds fill the temples to offer flowers before the statues of Buddha and more substantial presents of food, clothes, etc., to the clergy.  Well-to-do families invite monks to their houses and pass the day in listening to their sermons and recitations.  Companies of priests are posted round the city walls to scare away evil spirits and with the same object guns are fired throughout the night.  But the third day is devoted to gambling by almost the whole population except the monks.  Not dissimilar is the celebration of the Songkran holidays, at the beginning of the official year.  The special religious observance at this feast consists in bathing the images of Buddha and in theory the same form of watery respect is extended to aged relatives and monks.  In practice its place is taken by gifts of perfumes and other presents.