The New York herald., 1879-08-26
GROWING KING THIBO.

DAIAy-CURIoUS CUSToMS-THE KING 5 HOS
TrL1TY TO THE ENGLISH.
From the London Daily Telegraph
MASpALAy, June IL, 1879.
The grand coronation ceremony terminated the
day before yesterday and still ths vacillating state
continues unchanged 1t was confidently announced
up here that the King only awaiting this formal
conservation before he commenced victorious
march through the provinces of which his uncle had
been dispossessed. True. the English had paid hve
laos of rupees to invasion; they were removing
troops and steamers at his demand. and were pre-
pared TO conciliats his nvnclble might. But Thbos
vengeance could no longer be stayed. and an imme-
diate move was inevitable. The Residents head
was to be forcibly removed this is the In
variable preliminary. Europeans were TO DC
yenerally wiped away from the royal do
minions. and then Pegu would be once more
"golden' possession. Now. alas! all this cheerful
programme has been postponed for another forty
days This is the period specified for royal repose
after the late ceremonial excrtons. and' II rumor
speaketh right. "cats milk" (as the Burmese
euphemistically designate ''Old Tom gin) VIII play
no unimportant part as a restorative 1t is certain.
however. that the young King has not attempted to
conceal his hatred OF the English and foreigners
generally. The British Residency was studiousy
all the recent festivities. and
In fact no European was invited admitted within
the palace. The presenceo the English Residency
party has in fact for months been utterly ignored
Thib0s dislike has been carried to such comical
extent that he has rechristened road because its
old name had English SAVIOR; and recently had
.evere whipping administered to a clown for using
the word captain in comic description Of o
steamboat voyage All the same, the coronation
would have been well worth seeing There are
several grades of this ceremony. One the King
underwent last November. on the occasion of his
marriage; and another. the grandest of all. he has
yet to achieve, when he scrape together sufficient
coin The chief incident OF the recent celebration
was the great white silk umbrella, which
each new king has to fabricate and unfold above
his throne. In Burmah white is the peculiar color
OF royalty and casual white cover to an ordi-
nary parasol is prescribed under the most aw-
full penalties A gold betel box apd spittoon and
diamond or emerald earrings are other special in
sigma Of sovereignty though high officials have oc-
casionally permission to assume them. Another
royal privilege is the use of various holy waters.
The chief OF these, may mention, is the water of
nine pools mythical Himalayan me untain. The
Kings predecessors had naturally some difficulty in
obtaining it, and the Court Brahmins parttioned
of part Of the 1rrawaddy, which. after solemn incan-
tations, they declared had acquired the necessary
qualities.
INTERESTING PREPARATIONS.
On the first of this month golden palanquns.
escorted by procession OF white robed Brahmins.
might have been issuing from each gate OF the
city their way to procure the sacred waters which
all are obtainabe within easy distance OF Mandaay.
Each palanquin contained eight gold. eight silver
and eight earthenware pots The moment OF the
start the winter drawing and the return is each timed
in accordance with astronomical calculations Nor
can the water be removed without the tutelary
deties the naads and dryads of each pool and tree
the hollows of certain treesl, beng suppi-
Gated with lengthy observances. Finally all
which had been newly erected tor the King in the
north garden of the palace On the following day
the King. arrayed IN crown and gown 70, the latter
broidery), descended, with the south, or second
Queen. through the principal gate of the palace
building, through which royalty alone is allowed to
pass and " .s conveyed in golden barge along the
canal, which circles the INSIDE OF the palace en-
bathing room being at little distance from her hus-
bands. Here each unrobed by his or her at
tendans. the dress becoming the perqulsite of the
chief Of the eunuchs and being finally converted into
sort parchment which to inscribe the Buddhist
ordination service. The bathing generally consists
In the King dipping his finger in q ever. in which
Brahmin has mixed the various waters, wetting
his hair knot. A little water was then sprinkled
tendant Brahmins. The King then rejoined the
Queen and they both returned by water to the pal
On June took place the royal state procession
Hitherto the invariable course has been round the
city moat. Thibo, however, has never yet ventured
to stir outside the palace. and confined himself to
cruise round the inner enclosure. At the time
all the troops were assembled in the outer range,
aud heavy guards of cavalry and elephants were
statioped at all the gates After making three tull
tours OF the premises the King and Queen returned
to assume formal possession of the Golden Palace.
THE GOLDEN PALACE.
the Queen Mother. who seems to have been offciat-
ing sort OF NJ c.. called out to her son, Its
not time yet; come down again" They descended
accordingly. and seated themselves q small couch
the platform below. Here the chief butlor served
had tasted the different viands the remnants
al collected and given to cat which had been kept
specially hungry tor the purpose. No explanation
has been given OF this curious custom, which
all assert to be of extreme antiquity. At the
same time two malefactors and pair of
every kind Of domestic animal were set free,
and aims were distributed to Brahmins and
Buddhist monks. Finally Thib6 and his consort
were permitted to mount the throne the royal gong
was braten-a sacred clangor only heard on such
occasion-and three cannon were with some diff
Guilty exploded. Meantime the great white canopy
which had been commenced on the 1st was we'll nigh
completed and on the Sth it was hoisted above the
throne. Thereupon the King again took his seat,
and for three days received the homage OF his sub
5ects. There was by no means satisfactory attend
ance. Only two of the Eastern Shan chiefs came in,
and none of the larger fcudatories. Nor there
many district officials the majority being detained,
a5 hear. by difficulties in collecting the
taxes which have just been imposed. The Rangoon
Journals that there great distress in the from
tier DISTRICTS and that the people crowding into
territory. At critical period like the present
large paupcr Immigration is not altogether An ad-
vantage. The King made up for his scanty levee by
issuing pompous proclamation to the effect that
his accession had been recognized and that gifts and
congratulations had been presented by China. Siam.
1anipur aud ali the Western nations. This broad
statement contains slight element of untruth, as
officially recognized the young King. England has
yet returned answer and no decision has yet
been even despatched from China. As for siam, oil
intercourse has long been interrupted.
THE KING STARTING AS BANKER
All the folk up here are Whispering about the two
exceptional events of the late coronation the first
being that the Chief Queen took absolutely part
In it,. and the second that the procession moved
round the palace starting from the left hand instead
Of the right. The KING. it is said. advised by
the BrAhmins, but these again are by no means
favorable to his rule and have prophescd that it
will infalliby terminate by November next. The
Burmese firm believers In Brahminical sooth-
saying Did not the royal astrologers foretell fve
months and seven days beforehand the date Of
the late Kings decease? Every Talang also will
quote you really marvellous instance OF q prophecy
being fulfilled Their national chronicle contains
prediction, now two centuries old. that burmese
rule will forever in tho land when u swarm
OF bees remove the pinnacle of the Shive Dagon
Pagoda. when the pagoda itself is surrounded with
water and when three kings meet together in Ran
goon. In 1871 the old pinnacle removed under