The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-11-24

WEDNESDAY. NOV. "a, 1886.
THEBAW'S TREASURES.

treasures, looted from the palace of
Mandalay, has been arranged in
nine cases, close to the Ceylon
Court. Three large wall cases con-
tain objects of clothing and the
memories of Prince Esterhazy's re-
splendent uniforms, with pearl en-
broidery in lieu of silver lace, and
diamond tassels on the cleaning
Hessian boots, are completely
eclipsed by coat into which emer-
aids, diamonds, and other precious
stones are woven with beaten gold,
SO that the weight alone would forbid,
were ceremonial considerations Of
superstitious state wanting, that the
glittering garments should be worn
oftener than once year. Lady
Dufferin is said to have assumed it
once, and with difficulty to have
stood upright in it, as her ladyship
might have done for a few seconds
in q suit of armor. Golden hats of
varying shape, some like helmets or
Phrygian bonnets, others of
pagoda form, are in this and
the adjoining cases on the same
northern wall, One Of these, as a
specimen of delicate filigree, is little
inferior to the choicest of the Bur-
mese monarch's gorgeous head
coverings sent with other spoil of the
Mandalay palace to the Queen. Her
Majesty, it is limited, may be petit
toned to grant for exhibition some
of the select examples of which she
is now the possessor. Among the
articles of dress is q square piece of
embroidery, in shape and size like a
herald's tabard or the banneret of a
trumpet of State. This curious
piece of work bears a defiant pic
torial taunt. The chief emblem dis
played thereon is the Burmese pea
cock, whose tail is spread, or rather
dispersed, over the entire ground
work OF the deliberately bordered de-
sign. 1t might almost escape notice
that either claw of the majestic bird
rests on q supporter of the royal
arms of England, one on the lion,
the other on the unicorn, both these
heraldic fictions being so diminut-
lively represented as to suggest
ludicrous insignificance. The pea
cock is superb, omnipotent, invinci-
BILE, while the lion seems appalled,
and the unicorn shrinks into nothing
ness.
The Kings state umbrella, furled,
is in the center wall case. There is
talk of mounting it aloft in the CEN
ter of the gallery, spread open to
show its jeweled magnificence. One
of the state hats, covered with pre-
cious stones, all set in elaborate
devices of gold, is surmounted by
tapering final, the base of which is
formed of convergent diamonds,
large, long, but of little value. A
lapidary or dealer in gems would
discriminate widely between the
different value of the jewels slate
the property" as an auotioneer
might say, 'of monarch retired
from business. Some of the stones
are of great value and others, COM
paratively speaking, are rubbish.
Palm leaf fans carried in professions
are formed of thin gold. Weapons,
in less number than might have been
expected, are mingled with the
purely ornamental objects. There
is one sword-blade which can be
bent till the point touches the hilt
without risk of swapping the steel or
impairing its elasticity, Slippers
and clogs of gold, worn only on
state occasions, are also here. The
knives and daggers are without
exception two-edged. No blade
has back.
Bowls, cups, vases, TASKS, vessels
of all shapes but those to which the
Western world is accustomed, prin-
cipally occupy the six cases ranged
on the open floor of the main avenue.
Most of the quaint dishes with
covers take the form of duck.
They are all more or less jeweled,
some of the stones being uncut. In
several instances the eyes, which
were rubies have been picked out.
Great significance, probably of re-
ligious kind, seems to be attached
to circular group of nine stones,
the largest being in the center. The
"nauratau," as it is called, in exact
literal Specification, is attached to
many of the objects. 1t is almost
invariably found at either end of the
curious strips of thinly beaten gold
which are inscribed with family
archieves or texts of Buddha. OF
these plates, which are carried some
times in procession, there are a
great many, The ''nauratau" like
wise appears on betel boxes, reliqu-
aries, and other objects of venera-
ton. Thus, on the circular lid of q
splendidly jeweled betel box, spe-
cially devoted to the Kings own use,
is remarkably costly specimen OF
the mystic group of nine stones.
The middle gem is ruby of 3s4
carats, with only one fault. Its
value consequently is very great.
Round it are evenly set a moonstone,
pearl, diamond, cats eye, 9
coral, a crystal, an emerald and Q
sapphire. All these stones are valu
able, the diamond being of Amster,