The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-03-04
The FerOeIOus Ruler Of Burmah.

Aht eiOCiouS NultI Vi DuTmals
Theebau the sultan Of BuTmah, who
has recently created so much hostility in
christian lands Of the wholesale murder
OF his notwithstanding his drunken cries,
has displayed a large amount OF common
sense which nobody believed him capa-
bic OF possessing. He has granted an
interview to the manager OF the IRA.
waddy .Flotilla company and FIVE other
English gentlemen. More than that,
he offered the interview himself. Mr..
Swan and his party had asked for an
audience when they passed up through
Mandelay to Bhsmo, but we're told that
such a distinction was not 10 be had for
the asking. They, were, therefore, con.
siderably astonished, when on their re.
turn, they were told officially that If they
wished to interview with his majesty he
would be graciously pleased TO receive
them. The royal offer was of course,
excepted. At the palace the party were
met by Chevalier Andreine, Italian Con-
sui, acting on this occasion as interpret
or, in conjunction with the Pangye,
Woon, who speaks English, French,
and Italian. Having passed through
the Taga-nee, the red gate into the inner
Enclosure, they quickly arrived at the
big fight Of steps, on each side Of
which stand the two great gilded can.
mons. Before ascending the steps they
had put off their shoes. The shoes be-
ing reliuquished, our party remounted
the steps, made in the usual Burmese
fashion, very low and very wide-too
low to be comfortable in ascending one
at q time, and too wide for two
being taken at once. Atthe head OF the
staircase and stretching under the gil
ded colonnade, were arranged in double
line, a regiment of Burmese braves,
with their bayonets fixed, Now com.
menced the second trial. 1t is difficult
to look about and see things, and at the
same time avoid treading on nails pro
iecting through the p~lanking, The
object of the nails is shrewd and pecu.
liarly characteristic Of the Burmese. II
is to force visitors to lower their eyes
when in such near proximity TO the
ruler of land and sea. Having gone
through this ordeal, the worshipers at
the Golden Feet were ushered into O
side room, the floor of which was cover
ed with a gigantic rug or carpet woven
in one piece. There they were forth,
with requested to sit down.
Theebau has not become acc lstomed
to European visitors, and has not yet
fallen into the way Of keeping them
waiting for a few hours. Before reclin-
ing upon the couch, however, he took
off his own shoes, a Circumstance which
the party took to be a compliment to
them. His majesty had hurried glance
at them, and then asked their names,
examining the floor six feet in front OF
him most searchingly. Having been
duly informed, he expressed a hope That
they had enjoyed their trip, and that
his Officers had been properly civil to
them. A few other questions and an
swers passed, politics being carefully
avoided, and then Theebau suddenly
vanished. His majesty having granted
a private interview, did not put on his
court robes, the long surcoat aud thra.
poe, Or crown. He was dressed in sim,
pie Burman fashion, with a yellow put.
soc, or kilt, like waist. cloth, and a white
linen jacket. Fixed into his young
the top-not into which the hair is tied,
was a magnificent spray Of diamonds,
and a sapphire ring worth a monarch's
ransom cleaned on his finger. But
otherwise the absence of all decorations
particularly Of the Tsalway, the Bur
mese order Of knighthood-was special
ly noticeable, In personal appearance,
however, he has greatly fallen of.
When he acceded to the throne October
a year ago, he was very handsome; the
~handsomest Blrman in the country it
used to be said, with a bright black eye
and smooth olive skin. Now his face is
pulled out and bloated, his eyes sunken
and dead, his whole appearance un.
wholesome and repulsive. He seldom
looks up, and when he does it is only to
give a side long glance, and then drops
his eyes again. Altogether OF a young
fellow of twenty-one he is the most sat-
isfactory specimen Of a 'frightful exam
pie for temperance lecturers that l
have known Of. Nevertheless he does
not appear to have lost his cunning.