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HISTORY & MONARCHY

 

 

 

  Reua Dang Escort Barge

 

Thailand

 

 

The Reua Dang is a lesser escort barge, used as a shield boat to accompany and protect the true Royal Barges during the Royal Barge Procession. The outside hull, bow and stern are painted black, without any pattern, and the inside is red with yellow edges (fig.). There are currently 22 of these vessels in use and each has its number painted in white on the bow, using Thai script. The bow and stern are adorned with a pair of creamy-white tassels, one on each side, and a golden pah thip-like streamer in the middle (fig.). This kind of barge carries around 30 people, mostly rowers, but also a helmsman, a master of the vessel, four gunman and an officer. The oarsmen wear a black jacket trimmed with red, striped black-and-red trousers, and a black hat with a neck- and earflaps, also trimmed with red and with a golden naval emblem and a golden spike (fig.). The paddles are also black.

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