Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-01-01

from the mountain ranges. an
four or nve there were whose bright re
cotton tunics and baggy blue trouser
showed that they were fugitives from tn
army Of King Theebaw, whose reign ha
now drawn 10 close.
Lonsdale knew enough of the Poope
wees to be aware that with their stric
ideas-for in their outward life and th
observance Of rules those of Burmah ar
more rigid than their brethren in Siam
such companions would not b.
the choice OF the old man in the pslan
quiz; but none was left him just then b,
the force OF circumstances, aud they wer,
in duty bouud-after his accident from
the random shot-conveying him to hi
monastery, where they arrived ebou
nightfall three days after, and departed
leaving Lonsdale's head on his shoulders
but with evident reluctance.
However, he had not seen the last o.
them.
There be rellsined for some weeks
unable TO effect an escape with the leas
hope Of safety or success in making hit
way through poddy fields, water cuts
forests aud wild jungles infested by saw
age animals and equally savage Dacoits
Without weapons, a guide, and knowl-
edge OF the language, 1t seemed impossi.
bic to reach the Irawaddy, where alone
his desire might be accomplished.
He was ignorant now of all that was
passing in Burmab, ignorant of the OPP
erations of our troops, as to whether they
were still in the land of the White Ele
plant or had returned to India
and of anything subsequent te
the surrender of King Theebaw tc
General Prendergast, and that Bbamo ha6
fallen to the latter-Bhamo, the greai
town of Pegu, where the yearly caravan
from China arrives laden with treasure
vermilliop, velvets, umbrellas and
phessants; ignorant also OF Lord Duffer.
that "5y command OF the Empress
Queen, it is hereby rotifled th,t the ter
ritories formerly governed by King Thee
baw will NO longer be under his rule, but
have become part of Her Maj astv's DO
minions, and will, during Her Msjasty's
pleasure. be administered by such officers
as the Viceroy and Governor-Genersl ot
India from time to time may appoint
/. E., that Burmah was anne xed ov Grea'
Britain, with its $50, 600 square miles and
200. 900 of souls.
He wss suffering meanwhile from bis
slowly healing wound, end saw with nc
small anxiety that his patron and protec-
tor. the aged Pooneyee, was evidently
sinking under the effect of bis lacarsted
limb, which medical skill OF Burmese
kind could not cure.
The monastery was rather untensnted
just then. Many Poongyees had fed tc
the hills of Pegu In terror of the British
invaders, and some who had been found
unworthy to be protested members of the
service Of Buddhs, hsd been stripped Of
their yellow garb, degraded and expelled
to resume secular course Of life.
Built near a pyramidal temple dedicated
to Buddha, this monastery occupied the
slope of hill above mino,
tributary of the Irawaddy, end
though sick of his inactivity an6
apparently hopeless detention there
Lonsdale could not, as yet, complain O
being either ill-lodged or lifted; tor il
was not then the three months of the
Buddh' st Lent, and offerings of fruits
rice, ghee, flowers and so forth-apar'
from many other good tntpgs-came
freely in from tn deyout, but nothing Of
the nature Of flesh, as the strict religion
of Buddha foraids the sacrifice of anima
life for food, SC far as ecclesisstics
especially sre concerned.
The most humble of all Gods creatures
was the poor Poongyee, who, in his spirii
Of gratitude, protected Montague Ions.
dale, whom he, no doubt, would have
sent to the British headquarters had hi
possessed the meaus of doing so will
any hope Of safety. he set no store upor
the life he was evidently so soon to leave
himself
La the lives of these strange communi.
ties, Lonsdale saw much that had been
Of course, hitherto quite unknown IL
him.
No priest ever kindles a fire. lest By &C
doing he may deprive some animal 0!
life; hence ne takes the simple food, be-
slowed in charity. just as he receives il
from the giver. He is bound to procure
that food by "the labor of his feet;" thus
in the early morning, Londsale saw them
as soon as they could 'distinguish on
their hands," setting forth from the
monastery, esch with his sabeit or wick
erwork basket, with which, but in deep
est silence, he paused at each door to re-
ceive such cooked food as the devoul
chose to accord; and-like that of the
Soc ITS de Chs tie in Europe-the food
thus obtained was shared with the poor
and necessitious. In every convent is q
cara or reader, VINO is treated with re.
spect and awe. "They are held" says
q recent writer, Sin the highest
respect by all ranks of the people, from
the sovereign to the beggar in the street
Their dress, their mode OF life, their re-
nuncietion OF the word ana its pleasures
draw on them the admiration Of the lsitF.
When they sppesr in public places they
are the objects OF the greatest Difference,
and all people, whatever may be theif
social position, give way before them.
4 Throughout. British and Upper
Burmah the respect paid 10 the order is
every where apparent, In the liberslity
with which their wants are supplied, the
size and beauty Of the dwellings built for
them by laymen, the respectful language
in which they are addressed, the submits
sive attitude Of those who appear before
them, Or in the pomp displayed on the
occasion Of the solemn cremation OF their
remains otter DEATH"
So in the care of these people Lonsdale
was safe, apparently, till Dscoits became
over all the land between Ran-
COON and Bhemo. Yet his Impotence OF
the life he led grew stronger every day
now that his wound was completely
healed.
His thoughts forever rose on his BROTH
er officers, on the regiment and what it
might be doing, on the deaths of poor
Digby Montressor and other good fellows,
on the unfortunate Claire, now really g.
widow in distant land. More than all
did his thoughts, Of course, run on Me-