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Show Babies in Far-Off Siatn. When a Slameso baby Is born tho mother Is removed from tho bed and laid upon a long, narrow flat board. By hor sldo a big flro Is mado In n portable earthenware stovo. The servants ser-vants or friends scatter round tho houso a cortnln kind of fruit which is supposed to bo efficacious in preventing prevent-ing tho entrance of evil Rplrlts. A cord also encircles tho house. This cord has been blest by tho priests, nnd Is another barrier ngalnBt supernatural visitants. As a matter of fact, what with tho heat of tho fire, tho heat of tho climate, cli-mate, and tho presenco of so many peoplo In tho 'room, It Is so stlfllngly hot nnd uncomfortnblo thnt It may bo doubted whether evil wanderers from I below would caro to sojourn there. Thero are always three old women present on these occasions, whose business It Is to solicit for tho llttlo ono tho patronage and protection ot sundry guardian angels. They make threo balls of rlco and throw them in lucky directions, and so Insure a certain cer-tain amount of good fortuno for tho babe. AH babies In Slam have tho same namo when thoy nro born. This Is "Dnng," which means "red." It Is a silly namo to give, for though a Slameso Slam-eso baby is a triflo Ilko law beef In color, It is at onco covered ovor with a yollow paste, which gives it tho ap-poaranco ap-poaranco of sufforinc from a highly concentrated and expansive form of bilious attack. This yellow paste Is made ot turmeric powder, nnd It Is sup' posed to keep away mosquito bites. Tho baby wears no clothes, and continues to appear In tho samo lack of apparel for several years. Boys nnd girls allko do wlthuot clothing for a comparatively long tlmo. This undress uniform, It may bo noted, not-ed, possesses cortnln distinct advantages. advan-tages. It Is cool, sanitary and economical. econom-ical. , Children nro frequently adorned with mnsslvo gold and silver bracelets and nnklcts. Thoy wear a little silver shield fastened In front of tho body by n string of" heads. This shield Is purciy ornamental, playing no essential essen-tial part In tho child's costume, for It Is often lost and not replaced, tho string of beads remaining maybo for sovcral months longer. Queen. |
