The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-05-17
A burmese Funeral.

nevertheless novel one. 1t was a
Burmese funeral. I despair of convey
ing anything like an adequate picture
of this strange sight. The procession
was being made up as landed, and l
stayed nearly an hour watching opera
tons. The procession was mainly
made up of two-wheeled bullock carts,
adorned with two white flags, one on
each side. These carts were tilted at
an angle in the harness, SO that the
occupants were in danger of sliding
over onto the oxen. Two Of the carts
were covered with cages, in the midst
of which sat two musicians. One was
completely surrounded with a rude
sort Of drums, all swathed in white,
the Oriental mourning color. The
man beat them just as we play on
turned goblets-with wooden ham
mers. The other man clashed some
cymbals. But the hearse or catafalque,
that was distinctly Burmese, and was a
curiosity indeed. 1t was drawn by a
pair of bullocks, but differed from the
other carts, in that 1t was equipped
with four wheels, instead or two. On
top of it rested framework of bamboo
about thirty feet high, terminating in
three paper pinnacles above. AT point
about twenty feet from the ground
was the place tor the coffin. 1t con-
sisted of nothing beyond two Cross
bars of bamboo about a foot apart, set
into the rude bamboo tower, which was
at this point about a foot square. In
the whole scaffolding there was not a
nail-all the rods being tied together
with strips of rattan. Up to this junct.
ure had seen no coffin, or symptoms
of interest in the proceedings, save
such as was taken by the horde of naked
infants and children who were caprr-
ing about the carts IN evident glee.
Now, four men advanced from a
neighboring hut, bearing upon their
shoulders quite respectable. looking
casket-on the European plan, If such
a description is permissible. The prob
lem of how to G the coffin up to its
destined perch was now an exciting
one, but it was solved by fitting the
coffin up on end, and thus passing it up
to the coolies in the rigging, Here the
coffin was lashed in position by means
) of ropes. To me this topheavy vehicle
ooked very precarlous. but it was evil
IDENTIFY stroi 6, judging from the nimble
way in which half dozen coolies
climbed around in this scaffolding, and
anon sat astride of the casket in the
process of decorating the hearse. THIS
matter of decoration was no less inter.
estlng than had been that of hosting
, the coffin into its resting place. A
dozen men emerged from a neighboring
+ shed bearing huge paper cCrnices anC
hanging ornaments, which had beer
l cut out so as to iii the vehicle. WheI
all these had been fitted into theil
proper places, the rude catafalque o.
coarse bambOos appeared to be trans
:; formed into papier pagOda on wheels
i gay with this most brilliant colors
b Then more men emerged from the shed
> bearing huge statues of papier mac e
= which were placed at the four corner
Of the wagon. Tie oxen were thel
!, nltched to this gorgeous funeral pile
= and the procession started. In a con
+ spicuOus position near the head was
. Burmese band, composed almost ca
= clusively Of drums, swathed in white
There were few tlute.liRe instru
i ments. may be mistaken, but
Il think that each musician was playin
} an original tune, without any referenc
"a to the musical efforts of any of hi
'e cOnfreres. Then followed long pre-
=, cesslon Of natives on foot, clad in un
ID orms consisting Of white jackets an
I. red slrougs. Many of these people Dol
Ia banners aloft, few Charles, and
" long string Of OK carts fOllowed-the G
. carts containing loads of fruit in mar
M instances. just as the procession bega
to move, there was feeble firecrack
demonstration, probably the cOnside
ed ate offering of some Cinnamon wi
re thought that the ceremony would n
ca Ue at all complete otherwise, and gr
- ciously contributed that feature
M, order to insure the perfect security
OIL the dead. The people who were n
,ee in uniform were dressed III all t
ue Colors Of the rainbow. Such viz
.us puppies, greens and yellows, and su
~ delicate pink, creams, chocolate a.
-, layenders, | had never seen anywht
III else; aud / must say, also, that t
~ cOstumes in general here as a rule Z
1Ih refreshingly clean in contrast wi
Gel those of the neighboring peoples. Tho
Of the Indiamen and Arabs are esp
Tally filthy. The latter will wear no
a" lnal white, but never were rags
,ei reyoltlngly nasty-nothing short
ed, that-as are these sOiled white g
.ar ments which the common people {
'ng never he persuaded to wash. h;
'lo- almost come to the conclusion now u
The Burmese Of Moulmein do moth
but conduct funerals. l saw three
b, tnat first day, and have seen two
sen three every day since. 1t isn't a la
mel town either, aud there is no epidel
A al raging.
las
lfii Tower of London.
II d,
hea' Many are the tragical incidents c
lnnrLnl with the TnWpr of Innhnn