No. 54.— 1903.] KING KIRTI SRI'S EMBASSY TO SI AM. 35 
gold- worked flags, and music. The sacred books and various offerings 
followed, guarded on either side by a band of warriors armed with 
the five kinds of weapons. Upali Maha Thero came next, carried in 
a palanquin curiously worked with gold, and followed by many 
offerings ; next was Arya Muni Maha Thevo in similar state. These 
two were accompanied by the other Theros and Samaneras destined 
for Layka, all of whom bad been presented with various gifts ; a 
band of warriors followed them, preceding the presents that were to be 
sent to Lanka which were conveyed m gilt chests. Three officers 
had been appointed to proceed to La^ka as ambassadors, and numerous 
honours had been conferred on them. Two of them came next in 
two litters shaped like beds and richly adorned with ornaments of 
solid gold. These were carried on the shoulders of men, while the 
third rode behind on a richly caparisoned horse. We, who had been 
gazing at this rare sight with delight, were now directed to enter the 
horse carriages in which we joined the procession. The gorgeous 
decorations on either side of the road, the viharas and crowds of 
priests, the masses of men, women, and children gay in jewels and 
gold, who thronged to gaze at us, cannot be described in words. We 
proceeded thus as far as the river, lost in admiration at the splendour 
of the crowded street. Here we found awaiting us the royal barges, 
decked with the heads of lions, bears, elephants, kinduras, makaras, 
crocodiles, serpents, buffaloes, deer, peacocks, parrots, pigeons, dra- 
gons, and rakshas ; whilst in the intervals were carved trees, creepers, 
and plants, all gilt. On their decks were constructed booths of gold- 
worked cloths gaily adorned, and similar curtains were hung around, 
while various flags and umbrellas were fixed at stem and stern. Un 
board these barges were conveyed the image and books and royal 
message as well as the priests. The king, the royal queens, the 
sub-king, the prince, as well as the nobles with their wives, accom- 
panied us in similar boats ; after them came a host of devotees of 
either sex and of citizens in boats in an unbroken stream, the boats 
being secured in rows by cables so as to move in line. In various 
boats dancing and singing were going on, while numerous drums kept 
up a continuous volume of sound. Thus we proceeded down the river 
till we reached the large new ship, which with its gilding within and 
without appeared like some ship of the gods. This was the vessel 
destined by his majesty for the use of the priests who were sailing 
for Laigka. So on Thursday, the first day of the increasing moon of 
the month II, about ten hours after dawn, the sub-king bore the 
golden image reverently on his own head within the ship, and placed 
it on a throne surrounded by gold embroidered hangings of various 
colours : the holy books and the king's message were similarly dis- 
posed of, and the presents and offerings were stowed away. The 
priests were then taken on board amidst cries of " Scidliu " and the 
firing of guns and the accompaniment of music, and were followed 
by the three Siamese ambassadors who were proceeding to Lanka 
accompanied by many presents. A message was also conveyed to us 
from the king, giving us permission to depart and also directing that 
Wilbdgedara Muhandiram Rala alone, who was well known to the 
Theros and ambassadors — he had been to Siam on a previous occa- 
sion — should travel in the Siamese ship. The rest of us were also 
requested to go on board the ship ; but as the number of the Siamese 
attendants and the quantity of their baggage was great, we were to 
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