The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1870-07-07

hlngoom. Ihe edlflce was nearly three
hundred feet high, and covered with gid
ing in the centre, under the dome, was a
raised structure decorated with gold and
precious stones, and on which the body was
to be placed. The monument had four
openings. and at each angle were raised
smaller edifces, built in the same style as
dlnai points. A covered gallery around the
building served for the lodging of the nu-
merous priests who had come from all parts
for the ceremony. The princes and man
darins attended daily 70 hear them perform
divine service, and make them presents of
bete>ro0t, cigars, &c. The Meme was to
be taken down after the body was burned,
out the wood of which it was constructed
could only be employed 10 erecting tenn
pies. The avenues open to the crowd were
marked ou. by tall masts bearing the seven
royal parasols; theatres had been raised on
all sides by the great dignitaries of the
crown, and public games and spectacles
were going on day and night. The King
almost every morning came out in state and
visited the part of the building reserved
for the sovereign. A line of soldiers sur~
rounded that portion to which only the
mandarins were admitted His Majesty on
those occasions took his seat on lofty
throne, while near him were ranged the
second King, the Regent and his children,
the princes, mandarins, &c, according to
their grade. The. people Frustrated them
| selves on the passage of the King, who
threw to them cltrons containing money the
value of which increased daily until the
accomplishment Of the ceremony. On the
18th the remains of the late King were re-
| moved to the meme, to remain exposed un>
til the 18th. On that day all the vessels in
that harbor bad the flags half mast high.
A tent for the Europeans invited to be
present was raised on the way and in it
were received by the Minister of Foreign
Affairs. The march was opened by troops,
cavalry, artillery and Infantry the King
followed in rich palanquin bareheaded,
came successlvely the second King and his
troops. the regent, princes, mobiles armed
with sabres, elephants and other animals
ashes of the deceased King: then followed
the chief Of the BONES, heading his priests,
and behind them the funeral car, which
was accompanied By the two younger broth
ers of The King, placed on less elevated
carriages, they we're magnifcently dressed,
and wore on their heads Siamese crowns,
| to the top of which band of silk was at
tached, the other end being made fast to
| the golden vessel containing the deceased
King body We joined in the procession
to the Meme, where the religious ceremony
| took place and were afterwards invited to
repast served in the European style the
regent came to US at the close of the enter
| talnment to invite US to be present at the
last part OF the ceremony. The Meme from
that moment was accessible to all the Sia>
mese who came to offer their prayers before
the body. On the 18th the King sent tor
us to deliver to us the usual presents in re-
membrance of the OCCASION Early on the
| 18th the final preparation commenced; the
construction supporting the pile was TEN
porarlly stripped ofits ornaments; the gold
en- vessel was changed for one of copper
placed on grating covered with perfumes,
ani beneath was nlaeod heap Of fragrant
wood eight feet high. About in the even
Ing the entire company was assembled
around, and the King, set fire to the mass
without leaving his throne, by means of a
train going from his feet to the centre of
the mass. According to tradition the fire
from heaven which burnt the ralacc of the
Kings grandfather, and which has been
piously preserved, was that used. The peo-
| pie were then allowed TO press forward and
throy on the fire flowers OF sandal wood
which they had brought when The flames
began to rise high the rrincesses surround>
| ed the burning mass and uttered lanenta-
tions. The time employed for the cremation
was scarcely an hour, and the fire died oct
before the bones were entirely reduced to
ashes; those which remained being deposit.
ed IN i small urn, of gold, set with prec-
lous stones. The ashes were gathered up
on golden dish and conveyed, with great
ceremony, by the princesses in mourning,
IN boat, to consecrated point of the riv-
er, to be thrown into the water. After the
cremation the ietes continued for three days,
and were Terminated by the removal of the
urn containing the relies Of the sanctuary
OF the Kings of Siam"