The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-07-21
BUDDHIST CAMP MEETING.
A RELIGIOUS GATHERING ON THE
ISLAND OF CEYLON.
An Army With Banners, Marching
to the Place of Assemblage-An
Oriental Priests WAY.

Oriental Priests WAY.
Anna Ballard, writing from the Island
of Ceylon in the Indian Ocean, describes
Buddhist camp meeting. She says:
We saw a procession start on the other
side of the lake, from Dalada Maligawa,
our chief temple of Buddha in the town.
1t was the point of rendezvous.
In quick pursuit we followed on wheels
behind fleet Indian-Arab horse. The
graceful Oriental must do everything
brilliantly. In presenting religious offer
ings-these were for the clergy-they
must go in form, all together, not strag
Cling along Jas we would to n donation
party under the cover of night, but in
broadest daylight; not with the gilt
smuggled under cloak and waterproof,
but borne aloft on the head, drums beat
ing, youths dancing, banners flying. They
must do it with pageant, displaying their
utmost good will and even Joy in the
doing.
They marched through long princi-
pal steeet ("Trincomalee street') and
then took a sudden retracing climbing
turn up one of the beautifully laid-out
and well-built roads that wind over the
wild mountains that hedge in and prac-
tically are part Of Kandi. First went
the banner-bearers. Some banners were
shield shaped and had only a silver cres-
cent and stars, on blue ground. An
other was pure color banner; several
colors in different shades, and striped
like a rainbow. Another banner had
/ huge and long-tailed lion, the emblem of
the Singalese, the ''lion race" Their
legendary genealogy tells of lion among
their ancestors. The reverse side Of the
same banner had a grand peacock. The
peacock and the goose are their religious
birds.
The sacred goose, In stucco and fresco,
embellishes the drawing-room of the
Kandian Old Palace, now the residence
of an English high official. The tallest
and largest banners have the lion and the
peacock Leading the procession was a
large "bandyn-vehicle- by bull
locks, hump-shouldered, small, and do
cile (our regular, old-style animal for
carriage use-horses-now numerous,
being European introductory. The
band-wagon held gifts. There were
drummers and pipers and a corps of
dancers, young men, who each held two
bamboo sticks about as long as carving
knives. Very sonorous were these sticks,
as they knocked them together at every
step, making the whole march in very
high, conspicuous dancing steps-really
an agile single-foot jump-in perfect, de-
liberate time and crossing back end
| forth, somewhat like modern dance.
Women were in the procession bearing
upon their heads in wide, shallow bask-
cts their womanly gifts of cakes for the
priests. Lastly went another wagon,
which was prettily canopied and decked.
1t contained stores of food rice being
the staple. All were dressed better than
ordinary, and thus have everybody been
attired ever since the New Years festal
period began.
The procession left the 'Lady Horton
/ Road" I" turned into the Jungle woods,
and came to an improvised retreat,
which, while it was built out of tropical
material, and surrounded by palms and
| jungle, the throng exclusively oriental,
| had yet the tone of Western camp
ground, religious and sylvan improvi-
sation in Illinois or on Long Island. A
large pavilion, square aud plumb, the
! place for congregations, was constructed
out of bamboo poles, the roof being a
strong, tight thatch of palm leaves.
In the middle was square plat
form, three steps high, and
inclosed by three rails. 1t had a desk
and behind that chair; both were COW
cred with luxurious effect, as we also
would improvise a table and great chair
with a preachers desk and seat. But
over this PLATFORM lofty construction
"a circular dome, dagoba-like, with
Celebrations in shape, reaching up with
its conical peak, neared the roof. This
preachers sounding board, this "pun-
kha" fan and yentiator, was painted or
papered in marvellous manner, lions with
shining eyes, etc. ; also the cupola was in
constant revolution, exhibiting its inter
esting rough pictures.
A young priest robed in yellow, as are
all and always Budlha's ministers, as
cended the steps, seated himself and
soon began to read leaf, and then an
other leaf from palm-book. So con
venient it is to slip down on the string,
one leaf to hold in your hand, and let the
whole heavy book lie on the table. This
is their "preaching," or reading bana.
"Bana' is the sacred Scriptures, the pre-
cepts of Buddha. This preacher intoned
very like, only more So the bana reading
which l heard lately in st. Pauls highly
"rituap church in Kandi, and not more
so than tones which have heard before
the Roman Catholic altar. After a time
a man in the audience, who was intently
watching for the proper moment, called
loudly out a long, monosyllabic "hoh!''
which corresponded to the responses in
both the English and the Roman Church,
and also to the responsive "Amenw used
by all Christians.
The men were standing all around,
moving or even speaking at will, with
semi-quietness-quite in the regular
fashion Of a grove meeting, or at the
street preaching of a city. They who
had open cars heard the word; and the
priest preached on, all the same,
.twhethnr mon wnuld hear or wnuld for.