The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1911-03-22
SIAM POSSESSES
PRECIOUS BuDDHA
Is Replica Of Ancient Figure at
Pjtsanul0ke
MADE OF COLO AND BRONZE,

Late King chuIaIonskorn, Determined
That Bangkok Should as Equally
Honored, Called on People to Help In
Furnishing Metal and. Then Gave
Magnificent Defeating Celebration.
Siam was a short time ago the scene
Of one Of the most interesting events
Of its history. The late King Chula
longkorn while touring in the north.
ern part of his kingdom at the end of
his reign visited the ancient town of
Pitsanuloke, which contained within
its walls a celebrated many centuries
old figure of Ruddha.
The king was so filed with enthusi-
asm by this statue that he made a VOW
to place a similar figure in the royal
temple, Wat Suan Dusit, In the CAPT
tai of his kingdom. He sent Off some
Buddhist priests Immediately to Bang.
kok. ordering them to bring back six
old bronze cannon captured during a
war with Burma to Pitsanuloke. In
the meantime the king so pushed on
the work that by the time the cannon
arrived the process of casting could be
begun.
People Contribute Treasures.
Faithful Buddhists streamed from
far and near and threw gold and silver
into the glowing mass. Girls took off
their costly jewels and offered them as
a sacrifice. Whole families would
gladly have given their all. In order
that the sanctity of the ancient statue
should be conveyed to the new two
consecrated silver cords were fastened
to the ears Of the old statue and given
into the charge Of the highest BONES,
who watched day and night and sang
and offered prayers necessarily.
Amid the rejoicings of the peo-
pie, the casting was finished, and the
statue. under the guidance of the king,
was conveyed in solemn procession
down the river to Bangkok, where the
work of art was to be completed.
1t is said that hundreds Of chisels
were broken during the work. King
Chulalongkorn gilded the face himself
and placed in the forehead an enor-
nous precious stone. Then the whole
figure was gilded and adorned with
Buddhistic rosaries of fiery brilliants
from the kings treasury.
At last the great day came when the
new Buddha was to be brought to the
royal temple, Wat Suan Dust.
Brilliant Defeating Procession.
The scene under a glowing tropical
sun was so wonderful, so gorgeous II
color, that it will remain unforgetta.
BILE by all who witnessed it. The gor
geous statue of Buddha. Is if carried
by an invisible power, moved males
tically on the glittering waves Of the
broad river Menam, followed by the
purple and gold state barges Of the
king. the queen and the whole court.
Numberless Buddhist priests clad IL
yellow garments followed in long fan
| tastic boats, singing to the curiOusly
beautiful sounds Of the Siamese mu
steal instruments. Then came hun
dreds of little boats filed with thu
populace, who ended the strange feet
The front Of the temple was lief
open to receive the statue of the new
Buddha, whose golden body glitteret
in the sunlight. 1t was conducted
into the temple to the sound Of thu
Siamese national hymn, the festiv'
ringing Of gongs and the singing O
the BONES. Suddenly there came
great silence. during which the kim
with a ringing voice bestowed upol
the Buddha the name Phra Chinerai.