The record-union., 1893-03-18

on his fist live pheasant, which accord
ing to the rites of chiyalry he presented
TO the Duke. AT this extraordinary sum-
mons, he took an oath to engage in the
molly war against the Turks, and his ex-
ample was followed by the Knights, amid
the widest scene of revelry.
BY THE LOVE OF THEIR CHILDREN.
An oath at once thrilling yet sad, was
one common to all foot soldiers, and like
all other oaths renewed each campaign.
1t was sworn upon the love of their chill
dren, the affection of their wives and
mothers, and in the pane of their safe
return, which vow, if broken by disloy-
atty or cowardice, subjected the victim to
the forfeiture of his family ties by i'm
prIsonment or death at the pleasure of
his sovereign.
Both III Burmah and Siam the taking
OF the oath OF fealty on entering the royal
service Is very ceremonious observance.
In Burmah, Europeans as vel. as natives
are forced to drink the ''Thissa- Yay,"
tine water of truth" All the
trenchmen and Italians and mis-
cellaueous adventures now at Burmah
Court have taken the oath OF allegiance,
and are considered Burmese subjects.
W heneYer a warlike expedition is sent
out or when an official leaves the capital
or takes charge of a district, and at other
lAlIlcS Wien IL SLTlh6S Inc Ming IdllCy,
this water of the oath must be drunk and
there are regular officials, called the Thes-
sa-daw-Sayay," royaltruth secretaries, ITO
administer it and record the fact. The
words Of the oaths are as follows: 81,
most pulssant and glorious Lord of the
Celestial Elephant and of many white
elephants, Lord OF the Heavenly W eapon,
ana sovereign of the whole world, de-
clare that if you Nor \ (Nga Pyoo is the
tVnIral RnrD,aGn n and fpllnNy
my commands you will be free from all
the nlnety-SiX diseases and the eight ac-
Cldents under the aid of the five thousand
mats Spirits that guard religion, the tree,
the earth, the skies, the hills, the five
great rivers and the five hundred little
rivers. But il you infringe your oath
that you have ratified III drinking this
water in which swords and spears have
been dipped, may you die by these
weapons and be afflicted by all the evils
above mentioned"
DRINKING THE TRUTH WATER.
This is written on paper and the oath
recorder, with the candidate, proceeds to
pagoda. There the formula is read
over before an image of the Buddha-
-Gaudema, the candidate repeating the
whole, word for word, as it is read TO
him. The paper is then burned and the
ashes are put into a bowl of water2this
is stirred up by a small bundle, in which
the five kinds of weapons used by the
Burmese are tied. Finally, the person
taking the oath drinks the cup OF water
TO the dregs. The five weapons nova
days are the bow, spear, sword, muSket
and cannon. The club and the dagger
used to take the place of these two latter
in early times. II is unnecessary to say
tina, miniature weapons are used TO Stir
the water. All dependent chiefs, as well
qG DnurlNr annniIfaH oil
Gals, have TO take this Thissa-yay, and it
is frequently offered before and alter the
beg pardon days" when all persons Of
consequence come TO thank the King
for tOrgiving their sins and mercitully
allowing them to live. The same cere-
mony Is carried out, only i'll Il far more
systematic and regular way in Siam.
The Romans of lower empire thought
it vastly better TO break an oath to God
than to the Emperor, besause the former
might forgive, while the latter would not
and as most natural result this soon
tended to change the common VOW sworn
TO God to that sworn TO the Emperor
Perjury was criminal offense, ana most
severe laws were enacted for furnishing
the offender. Usually he was imprisoned,
ostraclZed from society, and any prop
erty he might possess conhscated by the
crown.
OF all the Roman oaths the military
VOWS were the most sacred and were
taken upon the ensigns. Soldiers took it
voluntarily, and promised, with impre-
cations, that they would not desert from
the army and not leave the ranks unless
to night against the enemy to save Ro-
man citizen. During the administration
Of these VOWS most solemn and impress
i've silence was observed, and religious
awe held in thraldom the unruly masses,
that at the conclusion broke forth like
mighty sea into waves OF the most eX-
travagant excuses and fragrant dissipa-
lions, which We're continued for three
days, The peculiar custom of taking the
oath of allegiance by holding a hand full
of the national coin heavenward and
swearing in the monarch'S name to MAIN
tain the Government and revere the King
was not confined to the byzantine nation,
but was the German custom as well until
the Christian era. This was not more
curious than the oath OF Spain: IF | first
uesignedly fail of this oath, on that day
we powers above torment me-my body
in this life, and my soul in the next, with
horrid fortunes. Make my strength and
my words fail. In battle let my horse
and arms and spurs and subjects fail me
when need is sorest," and which was con-
tirmed by the parties sharing between
them the cOnsecrated water.
MoHAMMED's vow.
No more impressive. yet equally char
acteristic OF the people and their doctrine.
is the oath of Mohanmed II. After re-
peating the words of the law, he swore:
And / swear by the great God, the Gre
ator OF heaven and earth; by the seven
books; by the great prophets; by the l24,-
600 prophets and by the saber which l
wear, that no one shall act counter to
.baSa commands SO lone nc fbaSa