Evening star., 1902-08-25
BURMESE ROYALTY
COLLECTION OF ARTICLES AT
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
Oriental Cabinet, the Receptacle Of
Monarch's Personal Efects-Re-
Hgious Tokens-Buddha Shrine.

Lie SIIlilnSOnldU lnSlltutlou mas TeCchls
been the recipient of valuable collection
Of articles pertaining to Burmese royalty
and religion. The donor is Mr.. s. 8. How
land, formerly Of this city, who has de-
posted the collection permanently with the
institution and he intimates that it will be
bequeathed to the Smithsonian at his death.
1t is especially interesting to note that Mr..
Rowland collected the specimens himself,
obtaining the various articles from their
original sources and not from stores or
junk shops. He has been particularly in
terested In this line of work, and being
man Of wealth, he has been able to devote
considerable time to securing the curios,
besides his means have enabled him to pay
the large sums necessary to obtain several
Of the articles, which are regarded as of
high value. This is the only collection of
articles relating to the royalty of Burma
in the possession Of either the Smithsonian
or the National Museum and for that rea-
son they are of particular attractiveneSs to
the local seeker for curious things The
specimens of the Burmese religious tokens
in this collection are similar to others
Which have been obtained previously by
the National Museum, but the articles in
the Rowland collection are regarded as
among the most costly of their kind to be
found anywhere.
The lately acquired collection is in charge
of DR.. l. NJ CasanowicZ of the bureau OF
ISllSlOH ana dTcndSOIORy, at
National Museum, and it is now located in
two cases in the section just west of the
rotunda in the museum.
Cabinet of the King.
Among the most striking of the articles is
the cabinet of the Burmese king, which was
used as a receptacle for jewels, pipes and
small personal effects of the monarch. The
cabinet is strictly oriental in appearance
and sits on stand about three feet high
The cabinet proper Is about three feet high
and is surmounted with an ornamented
cover, the whole affair measuring eight feet
from top to bottom. 1t is magnificently in
laid with glass of various colors and it Is
beautifully decorated. A bed in which the
king Of Burmah reposed, made after the
same style as the cabinet in respect to
glitter and caFving, is another article of
the collection. A velvet saddle used by the
Burmese monarch is an interesting object
among the articles.
OF the articles formerly used by the Bur-
Inese in the practice of their religion, there
Is series of three beautiful bronze figures
representing Buddha In three attitudes. In
the first he is seated in meditation on
things divine; in the second he is standing
with his arms outstretched as though
preaching under inspiration, and the third
depicts him in reclining position, dying.
The first figure described is about two and a
half feet in height, while the second is
about twelve inches high. Buddha is repre-
sented In another figure, carved from ala
baster and inlaid with gems, in a reclining
position
Another representation Of the principal
god of the Buddhists is carved from teak
The figure is about three feet high and on
each side is the figure of an apostle
Shrine Of Buddha.
An especially interesting object of the
collection is beautiful shrine Of Buddha,
which comes from Japan 1t is carved from
and
the god, while apostles and followers to the
number Of fourteen are represented at his
feet and by his sides. This is regarded as
fine specimen.
pair Of aims bowls. similar to those
used by Buddhist priests in begging, are
also among the articles. The bowls are
somewhat larger than those actually used
and they are handsomely carved and inlad
A valuable manuscript of the Pentateuch
is feature of the collection. The char
acters are in Samaritan script, and are so
fine that it is necessary to use a magnify
ing glass to read them. Under the glass
they show up clear and distinct and denote
superior piece of work. The age Of this
manuscript is not determined, but the script
Is the same as that Of another copy of the
Pentateuch in Paris, which was written in
the eleventh century, but 1t is not certain
that this Is Of the same age. The book is
written on thick vellum.
Other manuscripts in the collection are
the Koran. or bible of the Mohammedans a
handsome little volume; the psalms and gos-
pei of st. John, in Ethiopic, and copy of
the Pentateuch in Hebrew on parchment
Among other articles in the collection
worthy Of especial mention is a howdah of
the sacred white elephant of Burma: two
carved wooden figures representing the Chi
nese gods Of war and peace. Buddhist
prayer wheel and a sample of sacred writ
Ing on palm leaves; three small Buddn.
shrines from Japan, two beautiful bronze
temple lamps, and a temple drum from
Thbet, and a standing figure Of Buddha on
a platform.