The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-07-03

hesi'uteu' remlhueu nef OF her nnger.
She espoused my cause with the persist.
ence and intelligence for which Siamese
women are noted. do not know exactly
how it came about. know that there was
terrible amount of diplomacy. | was
given to understand that certain royal
parsonage had finally been induced to
interfere, and that the redoubtable Tepada
himself, at first decidedly hostile, had
been brought to consent At any rate
was told that | was to be permitted to
witness the performances, under certain
restrictions which it is not necessary to
mention here.
On the morning of the 18th, in company
with Woun-Tajac, the Princes eldest son,
who was to witness the celebrated rites for
the first time, | set out up the river in a
covered barge. We had guard of FIVE
swords-men, quite "tail' of servants and
attendants, aud the boat moved merrily
ahead propelled by the strong, habile arms
of twenty-five oarsmen. The Meinan is a
very beautiful river, aud the scenes along
its banks varied and curious. But the
weather was hot and sultry, the awning
tempted to slumber, the young Prince did
not spare the iced champagne, which his
bheareis knew how to favor deliciously with
certain aromatic stimulant herbs, and
well, | have no notes Of the voyage, which
passed swiftly enough At dark on the
evening Of the 10th We debarked aud
mounted elephants to Juthia, reaching
there at midnight. The Prince took me
to cousin of his fathers, who dwelt in
that city, and, as the ceremonies were to
begin early the next day, We took bath,
emptied the last bottle of the Roederer,
and slept the sleep of the just.
Woun-Tajac called me very early the
next day, and he and his fathers cousin,
jolly, fat old gentleman, called Soon
datchTam- Bondar, set to work to prepare
me for witnessing the performances in the
great pagoda, A white turban was wound
around my head, my skin was stained the
color of new bronze, my moustache ruth
lessly trimmed down, blacked and waxed
till it had the proper Malayan detected
droop and tenuity, my eyebrows blacked,
and native garments furnished me, over
which wore the long white robes which
was told were peculiar to the "initiated. -
At seven o'clock We started for the pago-
da, Soondatch and having had our break
fasts, but Woun being neophyte, was
compelled to so fasting.
The pagoda of Juthia is more celebrated
for its saeredness than its size, or the
splendor of its architecture. II is never
theless building Of some very striking
features 1t is situated without the city,
upon broad and commanding terrace,
elevated considerably above the level of
the river plains 1t is approached from
the city by long brick paved avenue,
wide, straight and imposing This avenue,
which is half a mile in length and nearly
100 feet wide, is bordered upon each side by
strips of palm groves, in the silent shades
of which stand innumeable small votive
pagodas, and gilded images and statues of
Buddha in all his characters, but especial
ly as the calm, stegnant, peaceful Guata-
ma. At the extremity Of the avenue is
flight Of broad sandstone steps, then ter
race, decorated with flowers and statuettes
with much taste then another broad
flight of steps, another terrace, another
flight of steps, and finally through great
gateway guarded by mopstrous statues,
We came to the terrace upon which the
temple itself is planted. The feet of mil
lions of worshippers and pilgrims had worn
their way into the steps and the flags of
the terraces, and both steps and terraces,
as we'll as all the environs Of the temple,
were crowded with an immense multitude
of persons, who necessarily moved about
to aud fro, yet never spoke above whis-
per. These made way for us as we passed
with respect mingled of reverence and
curiosity. Bands of male and female
BONES passed to and fro in the crowd,
swinging sensers and scattering flowers.
Some of the sc were shockingly mutilated
having cut off their fingers, their ears,
their noses, and even their eyelids, in the
excess of their devotion to Buddha's ser
vice. .it.Ti5fuQiS
The pagoda itself Is an immense round
building with square top, like gasome
ter, and trimmed around with gallery
supported by gigantic columns, painted
vivid red and dashed over with dusting
of gold, giving them a peculiarly brilliant
effect Underneath this portico the build
ing was entered by eight tall doorways,
each grotesquely sculptured with griffons,
crocodiles and serpents. Behind the build
ing, ike pile of plates narrowing to
candle-extinguisher at the apex, roso the
Characteristic bell-core Of all these tenn
pies. It was multitudinous with bells,
banners, gay lanterns, bright streamers.
1t was elaborately, even grotesquely orna-
mented, gilded, eolored, and decorated with
curiously shaped squares of porcelain, so
that it was almost too dazzling in the sun
shine to gaze at for any length of time.
At its base forest of small pagodas clus-
tered, crowding up to the very base of the
columns supporting the temple gallery,
Soondatch and Woun.Tajac, each hold
ing me by an arm, now directed me to-
wards one of the doorways Of the temple.
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