Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-07-16
The Brute of Burmah.

On account OF the recent nOtorlty OF
the King of Burmah, and the whole
sale human sacrifice, the following ac
CONT Of Theebau's coronation in 1879
will be read with interest:
i A correspondent of the London Tel
e0a,ph, writing under date of Mandalay,
June -, 1879, says: 1.-The grand coro-
nation terminated the day before yester.
day. There are several grades of this
Ceremony. One the king underwent
last Nover. Der, on the occasion of his
marriage; and another, the grandest of
all, he has yet to achieve, when he c,n
scrape together sufficient coins. The
chief incident of the recent celebration
was the great white silk umbrella, which
each new king has to fabricats and un-
fold above his throne. H. Burmah
white is the peculiar color of royalty,
and even casual white cover to on
ordinary parasol is prescribed unler
the most awful penalties. A gold betel
box and spittoon and diamond or einer-
aid earrings, are other special insignia
of sovereignty, though high officials
have occasional 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 on a mythical Himalayan
mourtain. The kings predecessors
kad naturally soma difficulty in obtain,
ing it, and so the Court Bcahmins par
titioned off part Of the Irrawaddy,
which, after solemn incantations, they
declared had acquired tho necessary
qualities. On the 1st OF June, golden
palanquins, escorted by procession of
white-robcd Brahmins, might have
been seen issuing from each gate of the
| city on their way to procure the sacred
waters, which are all ohtainable within
easy distance of Mandalay. EIch pal
arqain contained eight goli, eight
silver AID eight earthenware pots The
moblcnt of the start, the rAwiig
and The return, is each timed in accord
ance with astronomical Gale ulations.
Nor can the water be removed without
the tutelary deities, the nai,;as aud
dryads of each pool anl tree IT, kinds
OF sacred water are found within the
hollows Of certain treesj being supplied
with lengthy observances. Finally oil
the wGter-pots were placed in bath.
chamber which had been newly erected
for the king in the north garden of the
palace. On the following day the king,
arraycd i'll crown and gown 1.-THE latter
called the "craeper' dress, from lbs
curious embroidery descended, with
the south, or second queen, through
the principal gate of the palace
building, through which royalty alone
Is allowed to pass, aud was conveyed in
u golden barge along the canal which
| circles the inside of the palace inclos-
ure, 10 their respective tenements, the
queens bathing room being at a little
distance from her husbands. Here
each was unrobed by his or her attend
ants, the dress becoming the rerq,risite
of the chief of the eunuchs, and being
finely converted into sort of rarch-
ment on which to insc.ibe the Buddhist
ordination service. The bathing gener-
ally consists il the king dipping his
finger in u ever, in which a Brahmin
has mixed the various waters. and wet
ting his hair knot. A little water was
then sprinkled over him, and various
blessings invoked by the attendant
Brahmins. The king then rejoiued the
yucca. and taey both returned by
water to the palace. Ga June 81 took
place the Royal state procession.
Hitherto the invaliable course has beeh
a.ound TIE city moat TAiho, however,
has never yet ventured to Stir outside
the palace, and confined himself TO
cruise round the inner Enclosure. AT
the same time all the troops were as
sembled III the oWter range, and heavy
guards of cavalry and elephants were
stationed ut the gates. After making
three full tours Of the premises, the
king and queen returned to assume
formal possession of the golden palace.
The pair had solemnly mounted the
throne when the queen mother, who
seemed to be officiating as a sort Of NJ.
c., called out to her son, cts not time
yet; come down again" They dc
seconded accordingly, and seated them.
selves on small couch on TIE platform
below. Here the chief butler served
them slight repast, and after the king
aud queen had tasted the different
viands the remnants were all collected
and given to cat which had been kept
specially hungry for the purpose. No
explanation has been given of this curl
Gus custom, which all assert to be of
extreme antiquity. At the Same time
two maletactors ana pair of every
kind OF domestic animal wore set free,
and aims were distributed to Drahmins
ana Buddhist monks, Finally Thibo
ard his consOrt were permitted 10
mount the throne, the royal gong was
sounded-a sacred clanBor only heard
ON such an occasion-and three can
non were with some difficulty exploded.
Meantime the great white canopy which
had been commenced on tue 1st was
wellnigh completed, and OF The Sth it
was hoisted above the throne. There
upon the king again took his scat, and
for three days received the Homage
of his subjects. There was by no means
a satisfactory attendance. Only two of
the Eastern Shan chiefs came in, aud
none of the larger feulatories.. Nor
were there many officials, the ma GRITTY
being detained by difficulties in col
Letting the new taxes which have just
been imposed. TIE king made up for
his scan.y levee by issuing u pompois
proclamation to the effect that his ac
cesslon had been recognized, and that
gifts and congratulations had been
presented by China, Siam, Manipur,
! i