Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-06
WINDOWS ROYAL CITY
Laid Out in the Center of
Mandalay.
SEPARATED BY MOAT
REMOVAL OF THE CAPITAL FROM
AMARAPURA.
Buildings Falling Into Ruins--Should
Be Preserved as Objects of
Antiquarian Interest.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star and
Chicago Record Herald.

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star and
Chicago Record Herald.
MANDALAY, Burma April 4. 1904.
The royal city of Mandalay is separated
fIom the town in which the people live
and In which business is tranacted by
moat thirty feet deep and 300 feet wide by
red brick wall twenty-six feet high. In
side the wall is supported by an earthen
rampant twelve feet wide, which reaches
II within four feet of the top. There are
twelve strongly protected gates. three on
each side of the Enclosure, approached by
bridges across the moat which may be
raised at any time, and each gateway is
crowned with a cupola or pagoda of seven
stories OF handsomely carved teak
Within the wall is a lovely park, half
forest half parade ground, and the royal
palace, formerly occupied by King Thebaw.
ste nds exactly in the center, surrounded
by other palaces. pavilions. temples, au-
dience chambers, Offices barricks and vari-
Gus other buildings of teak wood, strik-
ingly picturesque because of their fantas-
tic designs and ornamentation. but badly
built and even now In an advanced state
of dilapidation. No other group Of build
ings in existence comes near being an
architectural nightmare and, although
they violate every law Of art. architecture
and engineering, they are nevertheless ex-
ceedingly interesting and worth long
journey to The palace and Its con-
Meeting buildings were formerly defended
by two palisades of teak posts. twenty
feet high, and an inner brick wall run
ming parallel sixty feet distant The body
guard is always camped between them in
order to insure the protection of the cruel
king who was always afraid of his own
shadow. And he had good reason to pc.
One can get bird's-eye view of all this
tawdry splendor by climbing to the top OF
Mandalay hill. an isolated mound rising
about a thousand feet from the fiat plain
upon which the city Is built, and the guide
book tells us that every stranger should
commence his inspection OF its objects OF
interest by making the ascent ana gazing
upon the town, which will be spread out
like great map, the fort and palaces belng
in the center and the various temples, mon
uments and bazaars scattered around IT,
Beyond the city one can see great artif1-
cial lake. covering an area of twenty square
miles which is the center OF an irrigatlon
system built by the late King Mindon, ana
the canals which conduct the water to the
rice fields look like silver bands binding the
fantastic group of palaces to the green
frame in which they are set. Upon the sum-
nit of the hill was formerly wooden
temple containing a gigantic inquire OF
Buddha pointing with his finger at the
palace beneath, but they were ueSIfo9eo W
fire several years ago.
Founding of Mandalay.
King Mindon Min assembled the throne IN
1853 The capital of Burma and the royai
residence were then at the City OF Amara-
pura about sixteen miles south OF Mahoa-
Law where is nothing now except ruins. Be
fore he was crowned he had a dream: and
he had similar one after the coronation,
so that they made great impression upon
his superstitious soul In the nrst a White
elephant took him to the top or the mn l
have described. where he dismountea anu a
found two women giving their names as
IA and Ma who led him by the hand TO the
summit and pointed out beautifui site 1or
a CAPITAL upon the plain below. man
wearing yellow robe IKE an. mona nf Vet wnt
stood near, gave him handful OF s"set
scented grass and told him that MS ore
phants and horses would thrive IL they weIe
kept In the pastures that surround ,ne nini a.
IN the second dream Buddha appeared at
+ba TON of the hill, and, pointing Gown W
the plain, commanded Mindon 10 pulu a
city there. and he did 50 almost lhnIe uia s,'
after he had inherited the power. ~ 81 j.,
ra nura the ancient capital. was ueeel 'eu -
,Seo tho palaces of Mindons ancestors WEE
abandoned. everything of value IN ,ne -
that could be removed was trans 5aS hU
Mandalay, and the court was
almost every inhabitant. ,,,r
~ rsw city was laid out by french
engineer on gigantic scale; TOT . -, "nd
plenty of room, and. like WashlIstona De- he
ST. Petersburg. 1t was entirety pto''e .roots
80 n single house was built The streets
are broad and run at right angles. W.
strip of land was reserved aiohs INC -.
-
vi 49, blocks were assigned to the priests
for the erection of temples. while In ths
exact center was a reservation Vhe az
one-third miles square TOT tne pa.a ot,,oos
the royal family, the government oinces
apd the residences of the court me new
CITY was named Mandalay by the Ehslsh
and other foreigners. The burmese WIZ.
like their neighbors, the Chinese, prefer
bigh-soundng titles called IL Schwernyo.
daw. which means 1.-THE royal city OF goio.
II was also named Yadanaban, the Gus
,Iaxx a
ter OF gems, and Myehahua"' 'ne N
OF the universe" -
AS II was founded exactly 2,iOO years
after the death of Guadama Buddha, the
walls OF the royal Enclosure were niaoe ~
measure exactly 400 la each way, ana
AT Intervals OF 800 feet were placed watch
towers that are exceedingly picturesque,
but so badly constructed that several nave
already fallen and others are IN an au-
yanced state of decay.
Should Be Preserved.
II will only be a few years until all the
glory disappears unless the British au-
thorities spend some money In repairs and
keeping them In order, which they have not
dome to date 1t is true that the fanciful
designs are In violation of all that civilized
neonIe call good taste. and that the build
ings are practically useless, but they are
unique monuments of the taste OF very
Interesting people, and relics OF dynasty
OF autocrats who have disappeared forever
from among the sovereigns OF men. Hence.
they should be preserved for chronological
and sentimental reasons: for the same rea-
sons that we found museums and maintain
them There is nothing to compare with
the towers, palaces and pavilions of Man
dalay anywhere in the world except In
China. The nearest approach to them Is In
the forbidden city of Picking. 1t will not
cost a great deal to preserve them. and 1T
Is duty which the British government
owes to history.
Although Mindon was a pious Buddhist
he regularly violated every precept of that
faith That religion teaches Kindness
gentleness charity and suppression of all
passions and desires. II abhors the she'd
ding of the blood of any living creature
M. Ilr,hd NJ 10