under the care of these teachers in the temples. So universal is this custom that work for boys is something that has not yet been invented in this country.
As soon as a little boy is out of his babyhood his parents at once begin to look around for a desirable teacher for him. A priest is selected: usually he is a friend or relative of the parents, and one whom they think they can trust to care for and educate their boy. The child is then taken to the temple, or wat, as it is called, and given to the priest. In doing this the parent gives up all claim, authority and oversight of the boy to the priest, often closing a long speech on the subject by begging the priest to "whip him a great deal; do not break his back or put out his eyes; anything less than that you can do: I won't say a word."
While the child is in the wat the parent is expected to clothe him and also to contribute liberally to the lunch-basket that this man of holy orders carries around daily to have filled by pious Buddhists. The child's most important duty now is to wait on his teacher, follow him on his morning tramps, paddle his boat, serve his food and be ready at all times to obey his wishes.
The priest, on his part, is expected to teach the boy to read and write; and if he is a very extraordinary "man of letters" he may possibly
