At Banff

Siam's small, brown King Prajadhipok marched behind 125 large, hairy Scottish bagpipers in Banff, Alberta, one day last week. The pipers shrilled and wheezed ''The Campbells Are Coming," but behind the King came Rear Admiral Thavara Chayant, royal physician, Siamese Minister to the U. S. Prince Amoradat Kridakara and two inspectors of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. In a motor car came Queen Rambai and the royal suite. They arrived at a large field. King Prajadhipok (incognito as Prince Sukhodaya) ran St. Andrew's flag up a tall flagpole and opened formally the fifth annual Highland Gathering and Scottish Music Festival, under the patronage of Edward Prince of Wales.

When Highlanders gather they play loudly and persistently on bagpipes: piobaireachds (traditional laments), marches, pibrochs (battle-cries), strathspeys and reels (dances). They dance highland flings, reels, jigs, sword dances and hornpipes. They compete at putting the shot and tossing the caber (a heavy pole). To do all these things in Banff last week came, Scots from all over Canada. To see and hear came 10,000 guests, including Lieutenant Governors Dr. William Egbert of Alberta, Hon. James Duncan McGregor of Manitoba, Hon. H. W. Newlands of Saskatchewan, Premiers John E. Brownlee of Alberta and S. F. Tolmie of British Columbia, as well as the Siamese.

For four days and four nights Prince & Princess Sukhodaya heard music, watched games. Pipe Major William Campbell, proud oldtime piper to Queen Victoria at Balmoral Castle, played them a tune, recalled how he had played for the Prince's father, King Chulalongkorn. Their Majesties took many a picture; their adopted son Prince Chirasakti had two still and two cinecameras slung over his shoulders. They bought small-sized kilts, bonnets and sporrans, thought they would wait until they returned to Bangkok before putting them on. They went to concerts of old Scottish music, heard two ballad-operas. Smoking was forbidden at the concerts. Innocently, His Majesty smoked.

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