Catoctin clarion., 1902-02-27

Christmas Eve we spent at Dncit Park
where large fair has been held for the last
three days. The fair was gotten up by the
King, the profits to be used in tlaishing
temple recently built containing Buadha
the King cast. The booths surrounding the
temple are well arranged and filled with use
ful and fancy articles of every description,
and one is waited upon by Prncesses and
ladies from the palace. The Kings booth
contains the most expensive articles and the
King at an auction hands out the different
curlos and wares to be sold 1t being the
night before Christmas he sends to an Amer.
lean who is we'll known to induce the for
egners to surround his booth that good prices
may be gotten and his efforts prove correct
as most of the articles sold brought more
than their value. Christmas trees were fire.
ouent and filed with toys and tinsel as you
see at home.
1t has been the custom of several kings
to build q temple during his life and
cast Buddha f'r it. The preparations
for this one have gone on for over
year. In the first place 20 launches had to
be built at a cost of 1900 tcas each, then old
guns had to be gotten and melted into pieces
about one foot long by six inches thick, the
Kings and Queens barges put in order for
transportation as the Buddha had to be cast
in the North IN the same temple his father
cast one. AT last 1000 people acc mpanied
the King on this trip and were away SIX
weeks. Arriving at their destination, all the
gun metal to be used had TO be prepared for
the fina' undertaking, and this IN a very
primitive way: but before starting His Maj
esty asked of the royal family as well as all
others who wished to contribute. gold in any
form jewelry or money: about $4,000 ticals
were contributed, which were added to the
gun metal used in the head. The Buddha
was cast IN seven pieces but it was found
when put together, that the body was not
able to bear the weight of the head, and it
was brought to Bangkok the day before our
arrival. saw 1t n few days afterwards; it
was in a depiorable condition, bat by resting
the head on iron rods on the inside, the rest
of the body was able TO hold It's own weight.
Then came the polishing of this great piece
and afterwards the gliding of it: the King
gildcd the face and when all was linshet,
helped to place the jewels on it. ] was very
much interested in it rs was able to see it
every few days. The day after its compile
ton it was taken on a railroad to the river
where raft had been prepared for its recep
ton. Great fire works and an illumination
of the navy yard took place the night b fore
Its removal to the temple. The Admiral
gave dinner to the King and two Queens
and some 80 ladies Of the palace. All of the
Princes as well as the officers Of the navy
were present; through the kindness Of the
Surgeon in Chief OF the Navy we were invi-
ted. cannot say so much for the food given
us but it was served on the Kings Royal
Worcester China ani there was considerable
display of gold plate; the flowers and sweet
meats were in solid goll bowls and platters
of fancy design; on the white cloth white
and yellow silk was arranged most asiefny
Buddha took place with great pomp and
ceremony. The King accompanied it in one
ofhis royal barges with 20 rowers. Proceed
ing the Buddha and His Majesty fully 500
boats and barges and following him 1900
more, making the most gorgeous sight il has
been my lot to see. Each boat was gotten
up by its owner according to his fancy, and
one saw swans, crocodiles, sword hsh,whales,
small Buddhas, temples, rowers in all fancy
dresses representing everything on the earth
as well as the sea- This combination OF color
With the clear water of the river 9hh the
clearer sky made an impression which
shall not soon forget.
Speaking of Buddhas l DO not think
mentioned before the great sleeping Buddhs
ir Wat Poh; 1t is the largest OF its kind il
the world, being 165 feet 10 length, the fee
are 20 feet long by feet wide; the soles @
the feet contain the history of BuNdha TIT
! obarocters beinp of mother of pearl Tht