Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-01-06

Win yeli8 OF rage ana fear into the re-
cesses OF the woods, leaving several
killed and wounded behind them.
BY dawn next morning Lonsdsle went
forth few yards from the gate to see the
scene Of the late conflict ana there picked
up, to his JOY, sharp and deadly dab or
Burmese Dagger, and that which was bet
ter, six chambered revolver, with six
unexploded csrIridgessin it.
"Slx Burmese lives to 60 ere mine is
lost, hope!" he muttered sterniy, vet
with laugh.
He saw thst the revolver was British
government lone, aud thus serious doubts
OF its being serviceable occurred to him
these weapons and their ammunition,
Ike our machine guns, so often failed in
action; but the Charges seemed ell right,
and with sign OF genuine gratitude, she
corcealed it and the dagger beneath his
tunic.
But ere he turned to re-enter the gate
ne saw in its immediate vicinity q very
appalling sight, but one that was thor
oughly Burmese in character.
Eight OF those wrerches who had been
assallants over night had been taken and,
by order OF the Woongyee, were fastened
to lofty bamboo fence, first by the hair
OF the head, lifelong coiled topknot being
unbound for that purpose, and then by
the throat, with their bare limbs stretched
out IS far as they could be without dislo-
cation, and thus, with under jsw fallen,
their eyes open and glszed, anu nude, ell
save linen scarf, they hung in the blsze
Of the morning sun, ripped open, with
the yiscera dropping out, as punishment
for sacrilege.
Lonsdale had seen men too often bat
tered, gashed, and torn in msny ways by
shot ard shell in action; but this appail-
ing spectacle proved too much for him
and he turGed away in horror.
However, en- emotion Of confidence
came back to him now with the kDo7l
edge that he was secretly armed, and es-
cape did not seem quite SO hopeless. He
calculated that once safely from the vi
cinity OF the monastery, wherein he was
known to be lurking, by travelling west
ward st the moderate rate OF fifteen mics
day, in less than three days he might
reach the river, feeding himself as bsst
he might on the way.
The obsequies of his late protector
gave him additional hope of escape if he
could only get forth into the open country
among those who were to drag and escort
the funeral car, thus Guiding the Watchiul
and sanctuary Dacoits.
The Rangoon Rahosn favored, even
suggested this idea, and gave him blue
cotton Burmese frOck, reaching to the
knees, a sort Of csmise, with loose sleeves
to cover his uniform; and gu ample hand
keTchief of what the British call book
muslin, to envelope the hesd and face
partially in turban fashion. He also
gave him some food in a species of wallet
made Of mating, to be ready for a. y
emergency.
| So the eventful evening of the old
| PoongYee's cremation came st last, for
the bodies Of all priests and persons Of
rank are burned in that region, while
those of the lower classes and those who
die under the age OF fifteen are buried or
| flung into the river.
| a stage twelve feet high was erected on
q four wheeled carriage ornamented with
paintings and mirrors, end on the summit
If this lay the coffin, wherein the body
VAS half visible, but covered with gold
Leaf umbrellas; red bsnneroles on BAN
! boo slaves were stuck all about it, and
nigh over all rose an acute spiral pyramid
OF split bamcoo.
! With several priests upon it chanting
| Tic ucau5 VIC
whole of the cur ious structure was drawn
from the monastery for a mile or more,
chi. fly by women and boys, ell shouting
snd laughing, followed by q great band OF
spectators, of whom Lonsdale-disguised
IS we have subscribed-Was one; end the
brief twilight was closing into night VIXEN
the place for cremation was reached, the
tributary of the Irawaddy, which was
| ~uif Yir Ina, 40
ing on its CLASSY surface.
There was no weeping or wsiliDg, but
there was an exhibition OF female deEc-
ing, which, to say the least of if, YVES
rather strange, for the costume of the
Burmese dancers, while descending to
the ankles, is not closed by g front seam,
pides belle them not, great part Of the
limb is always exposed, and while the
dance was in progress the resinous, oiled
and perfumed wood was heaped uo il
piles TO form the funeral pyre.
At this juocIure of the ceremony, when
8 whimsical contest ensues by an adverse
pulling at the rear of the car, By a party
who profess reluctance to leave the prec-
ious remains, till those in front prevail,
! Lonsdale, almost holding his bresth in
the keenness Of his excitement, quietly
drew aside and took his way into an ad-
jscent wood, needless, or just then OBJ
livious, of what wild animalsi it might con-
tain.
AS he proceeded with quickening steps
he could hesr upon the evening wind the
booming of barbsric drums, the tinklipg
OF bells, and the wailing Of wind instru
ments mingling with the chanting and
! ahOutinu of the necple
Anon, a great lurid glare shot ath"srt
the sky and flashed through the vistas OF
the woods as If it came from solid
mountain Ct fire.
The night was clear, and the peculiarly
rarided and transparent atmosphere fen
dered objects distinct st a great distance;
far into the recesses OF the leafy wilder
ness through which Lonsdsle took his
way went the lurid glare of the flames,
and the grotesque shadows they formed
out Of the strange trees and gigantic
plants, till silence and darkness began to
close together around him and he found
himself alone and out in the night.
gvs,Ys