Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-04-20
BURsrAH AND IT'S KING.
The Scene Of the Sacrifice Of
Seven Hundred Persons.

health, were buried alive-not burned
as previously stated-under the tow
ers Of the city walls. This is the
brief cable telegram communicating
the horror, which created a terrible
panic in Mandalay, the Burmese CAPT
tai, and sent hundreds of people fee
ing from the city. A much more bar
barous people would naturally b,
thrown into a ferment by such a crue
attempt to prOpitiate the gods. TIL,
Burmese, indeed, are a people Of few
vices and many virtues, and as quicl
to catch new ideas and as apt to as.
simulate them as the Japanese. Theil
civilization, though imperfect, is
in many respects high. In bold.
ness and breadth of design, per.
lection Of structure and mag.
ni6cence of decoration. some Of theil
temples and palaces need hardly feal
comparison with European piles,
Their carving is exquisite, and shows
a vein of humOr almost Gothic in its
grOtesqueness. A war canoe, built
for a hundred paddles, will be covered
from stem to stern with carving as
minute as that on an ordinary Chinese
workbox, but far more delicate in de-
sign and minute in finish. They work
admirably in gold and silver, and their
l%acquered goods are equal to those Of
Japan, while they are wonderful foun-
ders of.bells up to eighty tons weight
and sixteen feet across. Towards the
close of the last century they cast the
largest bell but one in the world, a
bell weighing fully ninety tons. Not
withstanding these accomplishments,
the Burmese know nothing Of the act
OF porcelain making, nor are they ia
miliar with the use Of paper. The
climate of their country, though for a
part Of the year moist and depressing,
is cooler than that of India. The nee
essaries of life, labor aud service are
cheap, and the natural wealth Of the
cOuntryis great. Teak, ironwood, ebony
and sandalwOOd abound, and gold,
silver, copper, tin, lead, antimony and
iron are to be found almost by
scratching the surface" while there is
an abundance of coal sufficiently good
for smelling and manufacturing pur-
poses, Petroleum is found every
where, and nitre, salt, limestone, and
white marble are plentiful. Though
the sapphire, ruby and emerald dis
trict at present forms part Of the royal
domain, there are quarries Of jade and
amber open to be worked. The peo-
pie smoke necessarily, but are strictly
temperate; they are idle becausea days
work provides a weeks expenses,
though when employed they are in
dustriOus and willing. Serious crimes
are rare among them. and they have
neither beggars nor paupers; they are
almost Irish in their vivacity and
sense Of fun, and quite English in
their passion for such amusements as
horse.raeing and boat racing, cock
fighting, betting, boxing, wrestling,
and football; and finally they have a
popular theatre, where the drama is
relieved by the ballet. King Theebaw,
the monster whose cruelties have made
him infamous, is a little over twenty
one years of age. He is a tall, we'll
built young man, and, before he was
attacked by the leprosy, was fair in
complexion, with a good forehead,
clear, steady eyes, and a firm but
pleasant mouth. His chin is full and
somewhat sensual looking, but withal
be was regarded, at the time of his
accession to the;throne in the fall Of
1873, as maaly, frsnk-faced young
fellow, who would make a very accept
able sort Of a king from the oriental
standpoint. He soon, however, gave
the people abundant cause to change
their opinion of him. Notwithstand-
ing the persevering way in which he
went to work last year to dispose for
ever Of all possible claimants to the
throne, there is abundance Of material
left to supply the vacancy which will
soen be reported, as four Of his broth
ers are alive in India, where they
have been cared for by the Anglo-In-
dian government ever since they fed
from their own country to escape the
fate that befell fourteen Of his other
brothers.