The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-11
THEBAW'S BRUTALIzED LIFE
"A Many-Titled Eastern Monarch Whose
Throne Was Cemented with Blood.
The King of Burmah Ruled by Woman Of
Savage NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Murders
the Mainstay Of the Monarchy.

as it is more frequently styled in official CORE
sspondence, the Kingdom of Ava, is many
titled monarch. His royal style and title, as
fully written in official documents, runs thus:
'sHis Most Great and Glorious Majesty, King of
the Sea and Land Lord of the Rising Sum- who
rules over Sunnaparan, campo deepa and all
the umbrella bearing chiefs of the Eastern
Countries, Master of the Saddan (Celestial) King
Elephant. Lord of Many White Elephants. Lord
of Gold, Silver, Rubies and Amber, the Sup
porter of Religion, the Sundescended Monarch,
Sovereign of the Power of Life and Death, Ar
bitter Of Existence and Great Chief of Righteous
ness the Lord of the Golden Palace, King of
Kings and Possessor of Boundless Dominions
and Supreme Wisdom" The author of "1he
Burman, His Life and Notions, by Shway
Yoe," one of the most accurate observers of
Burman life and character, who had special
opportunities of becoming acquainted with
Thebaws character and career, describes the
holder of these numerous and high-sounding ii
ties as being young man of very bad character,
who killed his brothers and sisters, and who
drinks gin, but who is very far from being
fool for all that If the official chroniclers of the
court of Ava are to be relied on, King The
tvious than his titles are lofty and high sound
ing. The Royal Book of Kings enumerates
$3.50 kings as having followed each other in
regular succession. More critical historians,
owever, do not carry his lineage further back
than to Alaungpra, who died in 1760, having
founded the present dynasty. Before commenc-
ing his career Of conquests, Alaungpra was a
Myo.Thug-gi, or headman of a small village and
as the leader of a band Of huntsmen was known
as Mutsobo, or the hunter captain. In few
years Alaungpra had founded great and popu-
lous empire. He carried his arms from the
Siamese capital to Dacca, and from the Gulf of
Martaban to western China. The territory
over which King Thebaw now rules is but
fragment of the empire which owned the sway
OF Alaungpra. In the two wars with the En-
glish the Burmese lost Assam and the
board. Many of the native tribes
in the interior, who were subdued by Alaungpra
and his immediate successors have shaken off
the feeble rule of the later Burmese kings.
Thebaw exercises real authority over but small
portion Of the territory he still claims to rule.
The Shans and the Karreenee tribes are in open
rebellion, and Bhamo, the gate of western
China, is virtually out of Burmese hands. 1t
was recently occupied by band of brigands,
who deied the Burmese government and de-
feated the Burmese troops sent against them.
It is estimated that the entire population of the
territories over which Thebaw claims to exercise
sway does not exceed 2, 000, 000 but there no
reliable statistics. Thebaw is practically
prisoner in his palace at Mandalay, which is also
the chief arsenal of the country If Thebaw
ventured to leave his palace on any distant jour
ney or for any heightened period, there is strong
probability that he would not be able to obtain
readmission. None of the Burman kings have
been in the haoit of often leaving their palace,
or for any length of time; but Thebaw leaves it
more rarely and for shorter intervals than any
of his predecessors A visit to worship at some
neighboring pagoda or to preside at some relig
ious ceremony in Mandalay is the extent of his
travels.
Thebaw whose name is taken from town in
the Shan states, lie the eleventh monarch of the
dynasty of Alaubgpra. He is not pure bred
Burman, and there are the strongest reasons for
doubling that he is really descendant of Ala
urgpra. His mother, Meebayah, the Loungshay
Queen was a haf-bred woman of one of the
wild Shan tribes. She ranked seventh among the
recognized queens of Min-done- Min, the late
King Of Burmah. Shortly before Thebaws birth
it was discovered that a criminal intimacy ex-
listed between his mother and a Pohngye, or
mendicant monk. The erring Pohngye Was in
carcerated, and soon died in prison of ''oficial
fever" Thebaws mother was shut up in con-
vent, whore she remained until her son became
King. On his accession to the throne she was
allowed TO revisit the court A succession of
horrible scandals ensued. Some thirty persons
were beheaded and the Loungshay Queen per-
manently resumed her residence in the convent.
In July. 1863, when Thebaw was twelve years OF
age he was placed under the charge Of DR..
Marks. a well-known missionary, who had just
opened Society for the Propagation of the Cos
pei School at Mandalay. 1t was established by
the desire of the late King and was attended by
nearly 300 pupils There were at that time eight
of Thebaw's brothers, all about the same age,
Mt DIR. Marks's school Thebaw remained there
until March, 1870 when he ceased to attend
Thebaw learned to speak English tolerably
md poad a hyth a has
whatever English he knew. In his school days
Tbebaw was fond OF cricket, game which of
hate years is largely played by the Burmans. He
batted fairly well, but refused to his share of
fielding. and was in the habit of using very in
furious language to any one who bowled him.
Thebaw, while at school, is described as having
been slow at his lessons, and boy of sulky and
morose temper This may have been due to the
way IN which he was leased aud bulliei by his
brothers. who constantly called him Pohngye-
than, or the priests son. q taunt which always
greatly exasperated him. sThebaw went through
school without being fogged, although on more
SHAN one occasion he narrowly escaped that pun
ishment On leaving school, Thebaw entered
one of the royal monasteries as a neophyte. His
studies were then more successful, and he took
honnrs in Buddhist law and in other subjects.
The morals of the Future Supporter of Religion"
were however, then more than doubtful, and,
owing to his too marked firtatons with various
Burmese young ladies, including Soopayah-lat,
his present Queen, he was severely logged by
the Kyoung-pohg oh, or head of the monastery
where Thebaw was neophyte. On. Thebaw's
accession the venerable ascetic who castigated
him while he was aneophyte was placed in re
firement.
Thebaw owes his seat on the throne to pal
ace intrigue The late King did not intend that
be should succeed him, and had selected another
Of his sons. the Nyoung Yaun Prince, as his sue
cesser. When the late King died the Tynedah
Mengyee now one of the junior Prime Minis
ters. who. as captain of the Kings Guard, was
in immediate control of the palace. concealed
the fact Of the Kings death for some days. in
the interval, in conjunction with the Queen of
the South, or chief Queen of the late King, he
Matched plot to place Thebaw on the throne.
There were then at Mandalay nineteen princes.
sons OF the late King, who had pretensions to
succeed to the throne. The princes were sum-
moned to the palace by forged letter, purport-