XXIX 
miscellaneous notices. See. 
watching them till they sunk and merged into the liquid mass. 
It is almost beyond the conception of those who are unac¬ 
quainted with Burmese customs, or who have not had mi 
opportunity of witnessing a scene like the present, to imagine 
the amount of costly offerings that were given during the day. 
We ourselves saw, during the short time that we were present, 
about seventy precious stones, consisting of rubies, diamonds, 
sapphires and emeralds thrown into the crucibles, besides large 
quantities of gold and silver ornaments and coins. The mate¬ 
rials of the bell being supplied by voluntary donations, and 
most of them while casting there can be but little attention 
paid to the kind or proportion of the metals used in its com¬ 
position. That there might/ be no lack of the good things or 
life to keep up the strength and spirits of all engaged in this 
important task, there was a shed adjoining that in which the 
furnaces were placed, plentifully supplied with water, betel, 
cheroots, food, fruits, &c,, which were placed there and dis¬ 
tributed gratis, by the charitable and pious portion of the 
people. When a crucible was ready, it was luted from the 
furnace by bamboos, two at the side and one above, winch 
were quickly lashed to keep it steady, and with a cry of clear 
the way,” it was carried to the mould. It was there received 
bv the master and liis men, who were stationed on the top, mid 
who before pouring in the metal thrust some rags into the mouth 
of mould as well as in the crucible, which burned and created a 
bright flame through which the metal was poured into the mould. 
This cloth was plentifully supplied by the surrounding Bur- 
mans, who threw off and gave tbeir turbans in hundreds for 
the purpose. The supply of metal from the forty furnaces, was 
continually kept up, with an average interval of two or three 
minutes between each crucible. The smelting operations com¬ 
menced at gun-fire on Thursday morning and were completed 
at gun-fire the same evening; occupying about fourteen hours* 
When the last crucible that filled the mould was poured in, 
an old Bur man ascended to where the master of the operations 
stood and offered a padso full of valuables to cast into it; but 
it was two late, the bell was finished, and the old man de¬ 
parted deeply disappointed at being excluded from adding his 
mite to the general contribution. Shouts of joy and gladness 
from the assembled crowd, at the so far successful termination 
of their labours, rent the air; and the scene closed with a 
dance and song of triumph, in which all present joined, our¬ 
selves expected. 
