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Show Holy-Water Sprinklers, f amTiiHHTunmnTTiTnniTnnnnnmTTTTi r This picture shows three natives of the Lao States, in Indo-China, on the day of their great annual fete. This fete is celebrated when the waters of the River Mekong begin to rise at the commencement of the rainy season. Prayers are offered up to Buddha to send sufficient rain to flood the rice ABOUT TO BLESS HOUSES, fields, and so produce abundant crops. These prayers over, the natives arm themselves with the branches of n. sacred sa-cred tree, and having dipped them into the river they then proceed through the village, blessing each house as they go. One of these men, it will be seen, has donned a mask, thinking, perhaps, that this will render the business mora, effectual and possibly frighten away those nasty evil spirits which are aU ways at hand to frustrate all that ia food. |
