The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 47 pages of information about The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction.

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 47 pages of information about The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction.

The Engravings, twelve in number, are, for the most part, excellent.  The Frontispiece—­two lovely children—­is exquisitely engraved by J. Thomson, as is also “Heart’s Ease,” by the same artist:  the last, especially, is of great delicacy.  “Holiday Time,” from Richter, is well chosen for this delightful little work.

Altogether, we congratulate the fair Editoress on the very pleasing, attractive, and useful character of her volume for the coming season; and as that for the previous year did not reach us early enough for special notice at the time of publication, we are happy to make the amende, by placing the Juvenile Forget-me-not first on our list of Annuals for 1830.

* * * * *

BURMESE BOAT-RACES.

As the waters of the Irawadi begin to fall, a yearly festival of three days is held, consisting chiefly of boat-racing.  It is called the Water-festival, of which we have the following account in Crawfurd’s Embassy to Ava:—­

“According to promise, a gilt boat and six common war-boats were sent to convey us to the place where these races were exhibited, which was on the Irawadi, before the palace.  We reached it at eleven o’clock.  The Kyi-wun, accompanied by a palace secretary, received us in a large and commodious covered boat, anchored, to accommodate us, in the middle of the river.  The escort and our servants were very comfortably provided for in other covered boats.  The king and queen had already arrived, and were in a large barge at the east bank of the river.  This vessel, the form of which represented two huge fishes, was extremely splendid; every part of it was richly gilt; and a spire of at least thirty feet high, resembling in miniature that of the palace, rose in the middle.  The king and queen sat under a green canopy at the bow of the vessel, which, according to Burman notions, is the place of honour; indeed, the only part ever occupied by persons of rank.  The situation of their majesties could be distinguished by the white umbrellas, which are the appropriate marks of royalty.  The king, whose habits are volatile and restless, often walked up and down, and was easily known from the crowd of his courtiers by his being the only person in an erect position; the multitude sitting, crouching, or crawling all round him.  Near the king’s barge were a number of gold boats; and the side of the river, in this quarter, was lined with those of the nobility, decked with gay banners, each having its little band of music, and some dancers exhibiting occasionally on their benches.  Shortly after our arrival, nine gilt, war-boats were ordered to manoeuvre before us.  The Burmans nowhere appear to so much advantage as in their boats, the management of which is evidently a favourite occupation.  The boats themselves are extremely neat, and the rowers expert, cheerful, and animated.  In rowing, they almost

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.