Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-02
Prom The New York World.

Prom the New York World.
Mandaiay, or Mandate, the capital Of Bur
mah.lies about three miles nom the Irrawaddy
river, on rising ground below Mandate hill
The present capital OF the land OF Ava was
founded about 1883 by the father OF the present
king oil Burmah, the ancient capital being Ava,
situated some twenty miles below Msndalay.
one OF the motives Of the late king for selecting
the present site for his capital IL said 20 have
oeen his desire 10 remove the palace from the
sight and sound OF the British s,eamers. but
TINS is an improbable reason At best The city
consists of two concentric fortified squares the
outer being defended by high brick walls and
earthworks thrown up on the inside -Four
gates give admittance into the civ over ssrh
oi which rises a tower with seven gtlded roofs
similar though smaller towers adjoining the
ana very deep surrounds the wallis and il
nairoled during the night by guard-ooats flled
The first square is inhabited by the ofrcials.
civil and military, and the soldiers of the royai
army. The houses OF the inhabitants are ali In
separate enclosures, bordering on broad WE'LL
kept streets, along which Is the Kings fence"
iatuced paltsade, behind which the burmese
nlde themselves when the king passes The
central or royal square is surrounded NV an
outer stockade OF teak timber, twelve feet HIGH
ana an inner wall Two gates opposite each
other are the entrances into this incloSurs
which contains the government offices and the
royal mint on one side On the other is another
Enclosure. Passing through this gateway. a
large open area is seen. and ON the opposta sido
ARISES a puiiuihg, crowned by nine roofs richly
giided, and surmounted by n golden htee an
umbrella adorned with q coronai of tinkiing
bells: This marks the audience hall, and, the
royal abode being considered sacred. all enter
ing that apartment required TO take OF their
shoes. To the left can be seen the abode OF the
white elephant, this animal being scarcely
distinguishable from any other elephant except
that the skin OF the head Is OF a slightly paler
hue than the rest of the body. To the right ID
the royal arsenal, outside of which there was in
recent years completely armed deck OF a
nessel, serving as school for naval gunnery.
The royal gardens and the palace buildings are
situated In the rear of the central hall. the
former being both grand and picturesque.
The suburbs OF the city stretch southwark In
broad streets outside the city walls, converging
towards the Arracan pagoda Between the civ
and Mandate hill numerous khyounss or mon
a st nave been erected by the queens and
other members OF the royal family, their teak
pillars and rocks being magnificenty carved
and richly gilded. At the foot OF the him Is a
tenn pie with large seated statue OF Buddha
carved I'm white marble. the hill itself being
crowned by gilded pagoda and a large statue
OF Bnddha. the Golden King" standing with
outstretched finger pointing 10 the golden urn-
brella that marks the royal abode On the
eastern side the city isskiried by a swamp, and
the Myitnge river, six miles To the south almost
insulates the environs OF the capital
A few miles from Mandalay Is the town of
Mengroon. which Is celebrated for its huge ruin
Oh solid brick-work, formerly intended for N
gigantic pagoda, but which was left unfinished
ia consequence of a prediction that its compile
tion would be fatal to the royal founder King
Mentaragyi The earthquake OF 1899 sniff rho
huge cube OF solid brick-work and reduced n In
ruins. 1ule gives the dimensions of the lowest
oil the hve encircling terraces 400 feet square,
IL completed. the edfice would have been 500
feet high Not far from this gigantic ruin is the
great bell OF Nungoon, cast at the commence
ment OF this century, and in shape and form re-
sembling western bells. Its height is = feet
besides feet Tor hanging apparatus. II is IL
feet In diameter and from 10 10 IL inches I'M
thickness, while its total weight is supposed 10
exceed 200, 900 pounds.
The river near Mandaiay is dotted with
Islands, on one Of which the royal gardens ara
sltnated. some miles up the river is a little
island called Theehadaw, which boasts the ONLY
stone pagoda i'm Burmah, and is a famous re-
sort for Buddhist pilgrims. But the most pecu-
liar features of this island are the famous tame
hsh. The boatmen OF the neighborhood, pill
grims or passing travellers supply themselves
with rice or plantains and leaning over the
water call "'Tit-tit-tit" Soon the fish appear
and after repeated calls come alongside the
boats and eagerly devour the food Offering So
tame are some OF these sacred fish that they
suffer themselves TO be stroked, showing their
ugly heads and backs, TO which ardent devotees
sometimes attach patches OF goId-leaf. For
three miles above and below this island fishing
Is prohibited by royal order and the priests.
part of whose daily duty consists in feeding the
nsh, claim that the watery pets never stray be-
yond these boundaries