National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-04-22
A RunMRsE Funeral.
Singular Rites in Memory of,the Dead
In Burmah.

"N"|NHNNNNHN
despair of conveying anything like an
adequate picture of this strange sigh6writes
n correspondent of the Cleveland Hcrdh from |
Burmah. The procession was mainly uade
up of two-wheeled bullock carts, adoned
with two white flags, one on each side. Thse
carts were tilted at an angle in the harness, .
that the occu pants were In danger Of slidint
over on to the oxen. Two Of the carts werol
covered with cages, in the midst of which sat
two musicians. One WAS completely sur
rounded with rude sort Of drums all swathed
IN white, tho oriental mourning color. The
man beat them just as we play on tuned COB
let's with wooden hammers. The other man
clashed some cymbals But the hearso or
catafalque-that was distinctivoly Burmese,
and was o curiosity, indeed. 1t was drawn
by pair OF bulloeks, but differed from the
other carts in that they were equipped with
four wheels, instead of two On top of it
rested framework of bamboo about 30
feet high, terminating in three paper
pnnacles above At u point about 90 feet
| from the ground was the place for the coffin.
1t consisted Of nothing beyond two crossbars
ofbamboo about foot apart set into the rude
bamboo tower, which was at this point about
n foot square. In tho whole scaffoldng thoro
was not nail, all tho rods being tied together
with strips of rattan. Up to this juncture
had seed no coffin or symptoms of interest
| in the proceedings, save such as was taken
| by the horde of naked infants and children
who were caperiug about the cArtB In
evident glee. Now four men advance
from neighboring hut, bearing upon
their shoulders quite o respectable looking
casket-on the European plan, il such de-
scription Is permissible. The problem of how
to get the coffin up to its destined perch was
now an exciting one, but IL was solved by tilt
ing tho coffin up on end, and thus passing 1t up
to tho coolies in the rigging. Hero tho coffin
was dashed in position by means Of ropes. To
me this top heavy vehicle looked very pre-
carious, but it was evidently strong, Judging
from the nimble way in which half dozen
coolies climbed around in the scafolding
and anon sat astride Of the casket in the
process Of decorating the hearse. This matter
OF decoration was no less interesting than
had been that of hosting the coffin into
its resting place. A dozen men emerged from
q neighboring shed bearing huge paper corni-
ces and hanging ornaments, which had been
cut out 30 as to At tho vehicle. When all
these had been fitted into their proper places
the rude catatalque Of coarse bamboos APP
peared to be transformed into paper pagoda
on wheels, gay with the most brilliant colors.
Then moro men emerged from the sheds bear
ing huge statues Of papier mache, which were
placed at the four corners of the wagon. The
oxen were then hitched to this gorgeous fun
eral pile aud the procession started. In a
conspicuous position near the head was
q Burmese band composed almost exclusively
of drums, swathed in white. There were q
few fute-like instruments. / may be mis-
taken, but think that each musician was
playing an original tune, without any refer
enoe to the musical efforts of any Of bis con-
freres. Then followed q long procession Of
natives on foot, clad In uniforms consisting
Of white Jackets and red sirongs. Many oil
these people bore banners aloft. A few
Charles and long string of OK carts fol.
lowed, the OK carts containing loads Of
fruit in many instances. Just as the pro
cession began to move there was feeble
fre.orscker demonstration probably the
considerate offering of some Chinamsn
who thought that the ceremony
would not be all complete otherwise
and graciously contributed that feature IL
order to insure the perfect security of tn,
dead. The people who were not in uniform
were dressed in all tho colors of the rainbow
Such vivid puppies, green's, and yellows, ant
such delicate pinks, creams, chocolates, ant
lavenders, l had mover seen anywhere else
and must say, also that the costumes il
general here, as q rule, are refreshingly clea,
in contrast with those of tho neghboring poo
pie. Those of the Indiamen and Arabs ar
especially filthy. The latter will wear nomi
nal white, but never were rags so revoltingl,
nasty-nothing short Of that-as are thes
soiled white garments, which the common
people can never be persuaded to wash