The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-07-08

on the slope of the hill, whose sum- init is crowned by the spire of the Golden Pagoda, and whose feet are IaVed with the clear waters of the Royal Lakes" At one end of a great quadrangle towers the piasath, in which tomorrow the body will be burned; to right and left of it are ranged in lines the figures of gigantic elephants, fashioned with the Wonted sklll of the Burmese of wicker and pa- | per and ttnsel, yet so lifelike that in the night, with here and there the glare of torch or the flame of a fire playing on their trappings, they look like live mammoths tethered here be- fore the corpse of the dead monk The | quadrangle is completed by a contin- uous line of booths and tents, open on the side facing the interior of the square, in which scores of people are camping for the night. Wherever the Burmese assemblies together there are, it is needless to say, merriment and music and laughter, for they are the happiest people under the sun. All | through the night, under the clear, starry heavens, young and old, white filleted loogyis, gay yung loo-byos, l AAiSSt iiSetl lCu SSlIl0 WILL lell WAL eyes, and scented flowers in their glos- 1 sy jet hair, and comedy faces powder ed white with ingenious thanaka, sit and chatter and laugh and flirt, as 1 though life were nothing but a happy | comedy, and a dead man were not ly- ing few yards distant, waiting for the morrow's burning. All through the night, ceasing only toward the ap- proach of dawn, the music of many in- 1 struments is borne away from the en- 1 campment on the cool night air The tinkle of the puttala, the clang of the harp, the mellow voice of the flute al- ternate and mingle with the boom of orchestral drums, the clash of symbals and the wheezings of concertinas and l harmonicas.
 It is past noon, and the sun is beat | ing down somewhat ruthlessly on the great crowd assembled about the Piasath, where Aukhlegah Sayadaw is about to be burned. The principal structure is constructed on altogether novel and ingenious lines. Two pill lars of pseudo brick support gorgeous baldachino of green and gold, which tapers away into the multiple roofs and pinnacles of Burmese architecture. The space between the pillar tops is spanned by massive beam, from which hangs the receptacle in which the burning will take place. It is a very elegant cradle of sheet iron, per- forated with curious tracery and cov- cred with gold leaf. A python is coil 1 ed about the great beam, and is seem- ingly engaged in a struggle with a huge mythical bird bearing some re- semblance to 8 vulture. Figures of Mats and servitors, excellently carved, | with scarlet umbrellas over their heads, flank the bird and python. These are all purely fanciful odorn- mentS.
 The main interest of the occasion is centered in mechanical contrivance which will shortly cause the iron cra- semi-circle, while the bird and python will appear in a very realistic manner to engage in combat. The secret of this machinery is closely kept, and is a source of much pride to the organiz- CTS.
 The white elephant, which all last night occupied one end of the quadran- gle, has been brought around into line near the burning place Two white um- Dt6lldS SlGiLSI Ille COlllIl HUH IIle Culi, and serve as symbol of the dead mans exalted station. A ladder has been placed against the mammoth s side; a pile of little bundles of dry, scented wood is lying under the burn ing -trough,s and expectation is written on the faces of the spectators. There is slight talk among the assembled monks, a man moves away to the foot of a bamboo ladder and rapidly mounts up to the white elephant S back The creature looks almost alive as the dark climber, in spotless silk and linen, is for a moment silhoutted against the dazzling light. Then the dead man is slowly handed down and borne to the dais below the burning trough The outer coffin in which he lies is an object of much admiration. It is of wood, covered with purple vel vet and decorated with pictures from the Eats, cut out in beaten gold. Its value is considerable, and it is the gift of a pious, white-haired old woman, who Is the wealthiest supporter of the monastery of which the dead man was the head. Great merit will accrue to her for so Dious and valuable a gift. But it is not to be burned. It is opened and from within the plain zinc coffin is taken out. This, too, is opened, and those within the inner inclosure may look on the face of man who has been dead nine months if they will. The pen zinc coffin is borne to it's gild- ed cradle, some inf1ammable materials 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 flaping it's wings and craning forward it's neck, seems to fly at the python, which moves it's sinuous neck, and ever as the menacing beak of the bird descends on it, it escapes by filming it's head aside.
 Meanwhile the smoke gathers in clouds about the cradle and the red flames leap up with a grewsome vital ity Awind comes by and scatters the odor and smoke over the heads of the spectators, lost in delight and admira- ton at the success of their novel cre- nation.
 How dreadful" murmurs a, young English girl among the onlookers, as a puff of human smoke is blown full into her face. T think we really must go away"
 In fifteen minutes Aukhlegah Saya- Ill