The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-01-24
SIAMPOSSESSES
PRECIOUS BUDDHA
Is Replica Of Ancient Figure at
PitSanulOke.
MADE OF GOLD AND BRONZE.

Late King chuIalonekorn, Determined
That Bangkok Should Be 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'
Iongkorn 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 celebrated many centuries
old figure Of Buddha.
The king was so filed with enthusi-
asm by this statue that he made vow
to place a similar figure in the royal
temple, Wat Suan Dust, in the capi-
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
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
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
| conseerated 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 gi1ded and adorned with
| Buddhistie 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 Dusit.
/ Brilliant Defeating Procession.
The scene under a glowing tropical
sun was so wonderful. so gorgeous II
i color. that it will remain unforgetta-
bic by all who witnessed it The gor-
geous statue Of Buddha. as Il carried
by an invisible power, moved nlajes
tically on the giittering 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 III
i yellow garments followed in long fan
tastic boats, singing to the cnriously
beautiful sounds Of the Siamese mu
steal instruments Then came hun
dreds of little boats filed with the
populace, who ended the strange feet
l The front Of the temple was left
lopen to receive the statue Of the new
| Buddha, whose golden body glitteret
In the sunlight It was conducted
into the temple to the sound of thu
Siamese national hymn. the festiv'
ringing Of gongs and the singing q
the BONES. Suddenly there came |
, great silence. during which the kim
i with ringing voice bestowed upol
Il the Buddha the name Phra Chinerat.