Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-02-24
81 Buddha's ToOth-The
~ ~. ana Their Treasures.

usss m Iynddha's tooth under somewha;
dsocs o. circumstances. Some years
ssgrln ~ funds of the temple be-
20, we. snd it was necessary TO raise
or lV y, lie crowd of priests who live
roeg the tooth Was exposed to the
AsS' 1ilrims for three weeks, and a
~ o. pn5 sum was obtained. Those
s1d I ~s much enjoyed prolonged
30 gnsl,er donors were allowed to
prs; ! move on. while the rest, whose
pS Wv we're Insignificant, but who were
ktnnsS, IN the old principle, "mony
tn ME makes . muckle," were buried
n has been expected that the tooth
!, - exhibited now for similarly
fdns,;od and the faithful in the coun-
y IL gathering up their skirts and
- themselves for pilgrimage to
ess when suddenly the Device Nile
w!ih;nd of Dean of the Temple, issued
80 that The relic would be put away,
nc same time invited me to wit
= restoration to its place. had
imagined that the room to which
p,;nce of Wales had been admitted
ne ordinary shrine of the relic, and
~ besitated to obey the summons;
.ssi;beration resulted in change of
a'ss;on and repaired to the temple.
,seb the room to which | was told the
md been conveyed, 1t was necessary
J - 70 the side OF the temple, and thence
narrow and dimly-lighted stone
a:.;,..se iealously guarded by priests,
- smsll, square ante-room. As /
D 100 me deor OF the apartment noticed
- was covered with beaten gold,
=, re nosts were composed of an outer
= ..oof fneiy-carved wood, then strip of
IVY NV next strip of carved ivory, and
a. That one of embossed silver, the in
:. .trip OF all, namely, that next the
=, being of gold. Passing under
ssssin which was now lifted, l entered
y, room and found myself in the CON-
nv OF about twenty priests, all
riding very jealousy the inner
:asr,nent of all. 1t was clear that
had arrived at the resting-place of
- relic. else what could mean the slid
- IRON barred gate, which, being drawn
~ showed a golden door with orna-
ssotaI posts, exactly like those | have
.I,ssdy mentioned A heavy curtain,
soseyer. prevented my looking through
- doorway, and three or four stout Gin
.,lese prevented my further progress. 1t
sss possible that might have TO turn
bsok after all, for the priests gave me
Iooks that could not be called affection
10 and muttered in their unpleasant Ian
rare remarks the reverse of compliment
ar was wondering whether the pur-
,base Of a piateful of flowers which stood
i liable would be of service, whether /
.bould drop some money into an iron
ratipr close to the door, evidently the re-
sptscIe of offerings, and SO try the effect
4 beneyolence, or whether l should re-
trsat when the Device Nilemee's face APP
Deared in the doorway, and l was admit
nd into the sacred chamber. The room l
vas now in was scarcely more than seven
ist square and nine feet high. The cell
Ins was heavily hung with what had
once been yellow silk, now discolored
I'D almost black. The walls were bare
There we're two other doors--on the right
"a on the lett--both fastened, and |
usadiscover no window and no means
drsalation whatever. Facing the door
mae step of which stood was square
nm cage, raised three feet from the
round, and reaching to the ceiling. The
ha Of the cage was of beaten silver. In
he center Of the floor was a huge silver
Gh, bell-like. structure, beautifully en-
bssed, more than four feet high, and at
the base nearly three feet in diameter. On
a silver table in front of this cage
we're all the jewels : we had seen
exhibited ON Friday night to the
Prince, with some half-dozen golden pa
goiss; the sreceptacles for these
treasures were there also, and nine
priests were preparing under the super
ision of the Device Nlemee to put all
way. There lay, also, the sacred tooth
N the golden lotus leaf, ready to be
'aced in the largest pagoda of all. Eight
y ten lighted wax candles, some in stands
nd some in the hands OF the priests,
dded to the almost unbearable heat OF the
partments in which thirteen or fourteen
eople were crowded together. With
rest ceremony the little golden casket
the tooth was closed by the
Ugh priest, his brethren of the golden
ODE raising their hands in pious attitude
ne while. The largest pagoda was then
pened, and all the inner cases l had pre-
iously seen were taken out and opened.
me by one they received the relic, only
ow each was wrapped in muslin as 1t
a. placed in the next largest case.
here seemed occasionally to be especial
IRE TO arrange the muslin in u certain
ay. Everything was clearly done ac-
,rding to rule, and those shaver, yellow
bed priests were determined to do their
ork well. A curious sight it was to see
lem bending over the relic, the gutIering
indies in their hands, while the Device
'iieiaee Jealously watched the gradual
Hathing OF the treasure. Case after case
'celyed 1t, more muslin was handed up
heneyer wanted, till at last 1t was ready
" 1he golden pagoda Then 1t finally
lappeared from view, a golden key was
poaced, tie pagoda was locked, and for
le present placed on one side. ! wish !
ouid fully describe that pagoda. Unjust
col grea, value, for it is Of pure gold,
very heavy and nearly two feet high.
rom the umbrella or topmost story
Inc pagoda hang chains which
appor splendid Jewels, cats-eyes
AIRY San inch in diameter, . sapphire
ulle as large, besides diamonds
~ fubies, But only an actual sketch in
l'gnt coiors can convey to the eye an ade-
ua,e idea OF its beauty. The next treas
y 70 pc similarly wrapped in muslin
"a put away was the emerald Buddha,
men was also placed in pagoda some
'ha smaller though quite US pretty.
nele were the anklet and one piece OF
pen god filagree work, heavily set with
- and other stones, to 90 into an
- 'er pagoda, and then the great sapphire