The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-07-01

singular Ceremony in slam'-IhS
CorDse OF the Late Monarch
to Ashes in the Presence ofthe court
From Galignani's Messenger, May %. /
The Courier de Saigon cohtaahs IoPoIt
from Lieutenant Richter, commander OF
the French gunboat Coulenvre' aescrloln9
cremation of the late King of Siam, to
which ceremony he had been sent TO attend
officially. After narrating his ARRIVAL he
says: "a, ,u
accompanied by the French Consul
and the Chancellor of the Consulate,
7 visited the Meme, or monument
which contained the funeral pile.
This construction was raised in three
months. the entire population contributing
to the labor, but the pieces OF TIMBER
which support it were nearly a year IN
arriving at Bangkok, and were the tallest
trees in the Kingdom. The edlfce Was
nearly three hundred feet high,a nd covered
with oilding: in the centre, under the DOME,
yvas q raised structure decorated with gold
ond precious stones, and on the
hody was to be placed. The monument
had four openings, and at each angle were
raised smaller edifices, built IN the same
stvle as the Meme, and correspond
ing with the four cardinal points. A COW
cred gallery around the building served ior
the lodging of the numerous priests VINO
had come from all parts for the ceremony,
The nrinces and mandarins II daily
70 hear them perform divine service, and
make them presents of betel-root, cigars,
&c The Meme was to be taken down alter
the body was burned, but the wood OF
which it was constructed could only be en-
ploved IN erecting temples. The avenues
omen to the crowd were marked ont by TAIL
masts bearing the seven royal parasols'
aheatres had been raised on all Sizes
by the great dignitaries of the crown
and public games and spectacles
were going on day and night. Inc hlng
almost every morning came out IN state
and visited the part of the building reserve
ed for the sovereign. A line OF soiuier-
surrounded that portion to which only tbs
mandarins were admitted. His Majesty on
those occasions took his seat on a lofty
throne. while near him were hinged the
second King, the Regent and his children,
the princes, mandarins, &C., according to
their grade The people prostrated them
selves on the passage ofthe King, who threw
to them citrons 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 IL
that harbor had their flags half-mast nigh
A tent for the Europeans invited to DC
present was raised on the way, and IN 1t We
were received by the Minister OF Foreign
Affairs. The march was opened bytroops
!, cavalry, artillery and infantry; the klnl
followed in a rich palanquin b~areheaded
: completely shaved. and in mourning; mex
came successfully the second King d
r troops, the regent, princes, mobiles armed
| with sabres, elephants and other amman
Enthusiastically caparisoned, and bearing thu
S ashes of the deceased KING: then tollowe'
the chief of the BONES, heading his priests
3 and behind them the funeral car, whlcl
r was accompanied by the two younge
brothers of the King, placed on less ele
= waited carriages. they were magnificent.
3 dressed, and wore on their heads Slames
: crowns, to the top of which a band OF sill
3 was attached, the other end being mad
= fast to the golden vessel contain
3 ing the deceased Kings body. w
Joined in the procession to the Meme
where the religious ceremony took plac
/ and were afterwards invited to a repas
} served in the European style; the regen
: came to us at the close of the entertain
ment to invite us to be present at the la
4; part of the ceremony. The Meme from
: that moment was accessible to all the Siam
| csc who came to offer their prayers befor
2 the BODY. On the 18th the King sent TO
l us to deliver to us the usual presents III re
= membrance of the occasion. Early on tn
: 18th the final preparations commenced; tn
construction supporting the pile was ten
t porarilystripped of its ornaments; the gold
envessel was changed for n of copper plac
3 ed on a grating covered with perfumes, an
beneath was placeda heap of fragrant WOO
< eight feet high. About 5 in the evenin:
the entire company was assembled around
and the King set fire to the mass, withou
leaving his throne, by means of a train go
; ing from his feet to the centre of the mass
, According to tradition the fire from HEAVIER
} which burnt the palace of the Kings grand
, father, and which has been piously pre-
served, was that used. The people wer
then allowed 10 press forward and throw OF
the fire flowers of sandal wood which the,
had brought; when the flames began to ris
high the princesses surrounded the burn
ing mass and uttered lamentations. Th,
time employed for the cremation was scar
: cely an hour, and the fire died out befort
the bones were entirely reduced to ashes
those which remained being deposited IN
small urn of gold set with precious stones
The ashes were gathered up on a piece o
fine white stuff, which Was placed on
golden dish and conveyed, with great cere
mony, by the princesses in mourning, i'll
boat, to a consecrated point of the river
10 be thrown into the water. After tht
cremationthe fetes continued for three days
and were terminated by the removal of thu
urn containing the relics of the sanctuary
of the Kings of SIAM"
DEATH OF AN OLD SETTLER-Iranei
CANNED, of Mendoza, died last week. HI
was one OF the oldest settlers of MinnesO
ia. He was a Canadian by birth, ant came