The National tribune., 1892-04-07
THEBAw AND FAvoRIrE WIFE soopYA-LAT.

stands on base of about II acres, and it rises
in round layers, somewhat like those Of bee
hive, AS it goes upward, until its spire at last
perces the sky at distance of nearly 400 feet
above the ground. 1t is quarter of mile
around the outer golden rim of the base of this
tower, and its spire is taller than anything in
America except the Washington Monument.
On its top there is great golden umbrella big
enough to cover a good sized house, and this
umbrella is studded with jewels. and it cost
more than 5000, 900 when it was made, about IL
years ago. The Pagoda itself has cost millions.
1t is of brick and stucco. and covered with
gold-leaf, and it has grown up layer by layer,
being plated and replated until now it has
as much gold as q dozen of our Western mines.
While / was in Burmah they were replatng
ii, and it cost something like $50. 900 to put a
new coat of the thnnest gold polish upon it.
Not long ago one of the Kings of Burmah made
a VOW that he would give his weight in gold to
this monument. After he had taken his bath
and had scrubbed himself Off to the lowest pos
sible number of pounds he jumped on the
scales. and he weighed just enough to make
that VOW cost him $40, 600. With this money
goldleaf was bought, and the great Pagoda got
a new yellow bath. This Pagoda is especially
sacred because under it there is supposed to
be buried three hairs of the great Buddha him
self, which were carried here for the purpose
many centuries ago.
Speaking of the jewels on this Pagoda, one
of the rubies which hangs from the umbrella is
said to be worth 5000 rupees, or in the neigh.
borhood of 81, 600, and there are several hun
bred rubies hanging from it. Burmah has the
greatest ruby mines in the world, and there
are diamonds on some of the Pagodas of Bur-
nah. There are number of monks who do
nothing else but to take care Of this big Pa
CODA, and near it is Buddhist monastery.
All Buddhists are expected to be monks at
some time during their lives, and it is proba-
BILE that thousands Of monks were rendered
set of beggars, and the people consider it a
favor to give them food. They 20 about in
gangs every morning between 7 and o'clock,
each one carrying big wooden bowl, and the
people come out and give them rice. They are
not expected TO ask for food. and they stand
like statues in front Of the doors, and if no
one comes they go on to the next house with
out knocking. When their bowls are full they
trot back to their monastery and have a good
feed. They will not pay any attention to
women, and a monk is supposed never to have
anything to do with women while he is in the
priesthood. He is supposed not to touch even
with the tip of his finger his mother his SIS
ter during this time, and in Siam he can be
divorced by entering the priesthood. and free
to marry again when he comes out. The rules
of the Buddhists monks of Burmah are very
strict They are supposed to never eat of any
living animal or any insect. Some Of them
strain the water before they drink it for fear
they might swallow tadpole or fish by mis-
take, and as they have no idea of the possibilities
of the microscope, they do not suffer from the
millions of bacteria and animacul9 which
flow down their outlets.