The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-10

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lamentations in the gloom and the silence.
Some of these We're relatives some Wis
itors seized with religious emotion, and
others were Gueyihthal. the professional
mourners, who were there to weep and
chant their praises of the departed saint
Festivals and pews, We're organized in the
monastery precincts BY lis wealthy sup
porters, and all the time, far ana near,
collections Were being raised to defray the
expenses of the appToaching ceremony.
Notices had from the outset been sent TO
the friends, disciples, scholars and rela-
tives of the deceased, and all of these
would either attend in person or send
padetha or Offering suitable to the occa-
sion.
And now we are on the very eve of the
burning. The last details have been set
tied. Invitation have been sent to monks
who are to be present at the ceremony,
and the padethas to be bestowed on them
are ready, the betel-nut boxes, the eight
day clocks, the hanging lamps and little
velvet carpets, which Phongyis love. The
coffin, having been carried in procession
through the town, has been brought 10
the place of cremation, and is resting for
the night on the shoulders of the gilt and
wicker white elephant designed for the
purpose. The chosen site is on the slope
the spire of the Golden Paeoda and whose
feet are laved by the clear water of the
Royal lakes. Al one end of a great quad
rangle towers the piasath in which to-
morrow the body will be burned; to right
and left of il are ranged I'm lines the fig
ures Of gigantic elephants. fashioned with
the wonted skill of the Burmese. of wick
er and paper and t1nsel yet so lifelike that
in the night, with here and there the glare
of a torch or the flame of a fire playing
on their trappings they look like live
mammoth tethered before the corpse
of the dead monk. The quadrangle is COM
peted by a continuous line Of booths and
tents, open on the side facing the inte-
rior of the square, in which scores of peo-
pie are camping for the night Wherever
the burmese assemble together there are
it is needless to say, merfment and mu-
sic and laughter, for they are the hap
pest people under the sun All through
the night, under the clear, starry heavens.
young and Old, white-flleted loogyis, gay
young lOO-byos, merry-hearted girls with
large brown eyes and scented flowers i'm
their glossy jet hair, and comely faces
powdered white with ingenious thanaka,
sit and chatter and laugh ana hirt, as
though life were nothing but happy com
edy, and dead man were not lying a few
yards distant, waiting for the morrow's
burning. All through the night. ceasing
only toward the approach of dawn. the
music of many instruments is borne away
from the encampment on the cool night
air. The tinkle of the puttala, the cang
of the harp. the mellow voice of the flute
alternate and mingle with the boom of
orchestral drums, the clash of cYmbals
and The wneszings OF coneertinas and har-
moricas. .a
Ii IS past noon, and the sun is beating
down somewhat ruthlessly on the great
~ Il raer al.-sl IL.
Aukhiegah Sayadaw IS about to be burned.
The principal structure is constructed on
altogether novel and ingenious lines Two
pillars of pseudo brick support a gorgeous
oaldachino of green and gold, which tapers
away into the multiDie roofs and pinna-
c!eS OF Burmese architecture. The space
between the pillar tops is spanned bv
massive beam, from which hangs the re-
ceptacie in which the burning Wal take
place. 1t is very elegant cradle Of sheet
IRON, perforated with curious traCery and
covered with gold leaf. a python is colled
about the great beam, and is seemingly en-
gagged in a struggle with. huge mythical
bird bearing some resemblance to a vult
ure. Figures of Mats and serVitors. excel
lently carved, with scarlet umbrellas over
their heads, flank the bird and python
These are all purely fanciful adornments
The main interest Of the occasion is CEN
tered IN "a mechanical continuance which
VIII shortly cause the iron cradle 10 swing
through more than a senli-circle while the
bird and python will appear in a very real
iStlc manner to engage in combat Tie
secret of this machinery Is closely kept,
and As a source of much pride to the or
ganizers.
The white elephant, which all last night
occupied one end of the quadrangle. has
been brought around into line near the
burning place. Two white umbrellas shell
no en-
a symbol of the dead mans exalted sta
ton. y ladder has been placed against
the mammoth's side; a pile of little bum
dies OF dry, scented wood is lying under
the burning-trough, and expectation is
written on the faces of the spectators.
There is some slight talk among the as
sembled monks, man moves away to
the foot of the bamboo ladder and RAPIDLY
mounts up TO the white elephants back.
The creature looks almost alive as the
dark climber in spotless silk and linen is
for moment silhouetted against the daz-
zling light. Then the dead man Is slowly
hauled down and borne to the dais below
the turning-trough. The outer coffin in
which he lies is an object of much admit
ration. 1t is of wood covered with pur-
pie velvet and decorated with pictures
from the Eats, cuts out in beaten gold It's
value is considerable, and IL Is the gift OF
pious, white-haired old woman, who is
VIC WeditihSSt supporter Oh the monastery
OF which the dead man was the head
Great merit will accrue to her for so pious
and valuable a gift But 1t is not to be
burned. IL is opened, and from wi.hin
the plain zinc coffin is taken out This,
too, IS opened, and those within the in
ner Enclosure may look on the face of a
man who has been dead nine months II
they will. The open zinc coffin is borne
to It's gilded cradle, some inhamma bic ma
terials are placed on the wasted form
within, the scented wood is lighted and
their flame leaps over the coffin interior.
At the same moment the. cradle begins to
swing; the bird tapping ats wings and
forward its neck seems to fly
at the python, which moves its slnuous
neck, and ever as the menacing beak of
the bird descends on it, 1t escapes by fling
ing its head aside.
Meanwhile the smoke gathers In clouds
about the cradle and the red flames leap
up with grewsome vitality. A wind
comes by and scatters the odor and smoke
over the heads of the spectators, lost in
delight and admiration at the success of