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their attendants made them bow their thanks to us.

We drove out to Phya's house, and met his wife. Then we all went down town to the Chinese restaurant How Thin Lao, where we had shark's fin soup, some delicious fish, and a dish of Siamese curry prepared by Madame S. in her own house. She also brought a big bowl of peeled rambutans. This fruit has a pleasant, slightly acidic flavor, but is so difficult to eat that I had never cared much for it. When it is peeled and seeded - a difficult process and one requiring a special kind of knife, sharp and narrow - one can really get enough to taste the juicy, delicate meat, and it is very good indeed.

Mr. Minnigerode had invited us to dinner, and we found ourselves again that same evening at How Thin Lao's. We had a Chinese dinner, with duck skin, pounded prawns, mushrooms, and other delicacies. After dinner we went upstairs and danced until twelve-thirty, Bill getting a great kick out of dancing with the little Siamese and Chinese girls again.

July 24 -

It rained steadily all morning, and we were glad of an excuse to sleep late, and rest up after all our activities. Just before lunch we walked down to the nearby market, admiring the great variety of fruit and green things that Siam raises and eats. Near the market was a Chinese medicine shop, and among the remedies on display were dried sea horses, and tiny seed pearls.

After lunch we went with Phya S. to see Wat Po, one of the oldest and most beautiful temples here. Peace and serenity seemed to hang in the golden haze of late afternoon. Golden-robed bonzes wandered about, presumably meditating. A couple of men were spreading corn on the stone walks to dry, and sweeping it up again with bamboo brooms. [[strikethrough]] little [[/strikethrough]] Groups of small statues stood in a veritable rock garden, which was sheltered by a green tree. Once inside the temple gate we found ourselves in a corridor where there were many statues of Buddha, gilded, all alike, making a row long enough to have real perspective, grading the statues from the highest one near us to the one that seemed small because it was so far away. The big temple here contains the famous reclining Buddha, 150 feet long, rather shapeless, with most of the gilt worn off, impressive only for its size. One golden curl which had fallen off stood on a nearby table, and it alone was as big as a man's head. In another temple was a rather lovely gilded bronze statue of Buddha, high on a carved altar, and faced by eight of his disciples. [[strikethrough]] Before him [[/strikethrough]] At the foot of the altar were two big beeswax spheres, elaborately molded and colored a rather giddy pink - a gift from the King to the temple of wax to be used in the temple candles throughout the forthcoming year. The outside of the temple has curved and pointed gables which are covered with bronze colored glass, shimmering in the sunlight like gold and most effective. The temple gates are guarded by many of the same figures we have seen in the other Wats, and also by a curious tall stone figure of a Chinese admiral, in top hat, buttoned coat, flowing tie, floppy trousers and high boots.

This is the beginning of the Buddhist Lent, and the temples are all full of worshippers, who bring with them flowers and gifts of candles and spheres of wax. The air is heavy with the odor of the flowers and of the fragrant beeswax.