The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1934. THE THRONE OF KANDY.

Evening Star, Issue 21835, 26 September 1934, Page 8

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1934. THE THRONE OF KANDY.

CbvX/ON, after all, has provided the most magnificent piece of ceremony which His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester can expect to meet with on his travels. “ In a glittering setting of Oriental splendour,” the cables have informed us, 11 the Duke restored to the Kandyan chiefs the original throne and crown of the Kandyan kings, which were removed from Ceylon by the British Administration 119 years ago. The ceremony took place in the Kandy assembly hall, wh.ich was decorated with rich and rare silks, creating a riot of colour. Kandyan chiefs wore their national costume. Chief Addigar J. C. Ratwatta, senior Kandy chief, was on the dais with the Duke of Gloucester when the throne was ceremonially restored. During the four miles State drive the Royal procession passed beneath fourteen beautiful pandans, where devil dancers and tom-tom beaters performed. The Duke later witnessed a magnificent perchera from the Temple of the Tooth. A procession of 100 caparisoned elephants, with dancers, tom-toms, a fireworks display at the lake, ami illuminations, provided a fitting climax to a remarkable day.’’ Neither Australia nor New Zealand is likely to vie with that display, but the meaning of it all must have been a good deal of a mystery to a great many readers. The story of how the throne and the crown oi the last king of Kandy came to England is connected with the conquest of the last independent kingdom of Ceylon, before the whole island finally fell under British sway. The kingdom was conquered in 1815. Ceylon at this time, or, more properly, that portion of Ceylon which was already in British hands, was being governed by an astute statesman and clever general, Sir Robert Brownrigge, while in the centre of the island, surrounded on all sides by impassable mountains, with the lew passes valiantly defended by the warlike upcountry Sinhalese, the last independent kingdom ol Ceylon—that of Kandy kept up a precarious existence. But Sri Vickrema Sinhe, the king at this time, was so notorious a tyrant that his bloodthirsty deeds have not yet been forgotten by the Sinhalese. It was no wonder, therelore, that many chiefs were secretly plotting to overthrow this tyrant. Of these (as a writer in the ‘ Sydney Morning Herald’ tells the story) a powerful chief named Ehelopoia had been banished by Sri Vickrema Sinhe, and had fled to Sir Robert Brownrigge to seek his help to rid Kandy of its cruel king. While Ehelopoia was staying with the Governor information reached him from Kandy that the king had executed with barbarous cruelty bis wile and children for his (light. At the same time it was reported that the Kandy king bad been constantly harassing British merchants trading with Kand.t. With a mixed army ol -Alula's and English, numbering about 2,000, the Governor was persuaded to make com-

mon cause against the tyrant. As was to be expected, the King Sri Vickrema Raja Sinhe tied from his capital at the first sign of trouble. His reign had been so oppressive that scarcely any chief came forward to assist him. Soon after he was captured, and by a remarkable coincidence his throne and crown fell into the hands of the army on. the same day as his capture. The capture of the king and his banishment to India were signalled by the Convention of Kandy, which the Governor signed with the Kandyan chiefs, by which the kingdom of Kandy was annexed to the British Crown, and Baja Sinhe and his descendants for ever excluded from the throne. The throne itself was sent to .England, in case the Kandyans at some future time might desire to put some other king upon it, and for many years the Sinhalese did not know what had become of it. Recently, in these peaceful days, they appealed for its restoration, and H)s Majesty the King was pleased to grant their request, the Duke of Gloucester being entrusted with its return. No one had estimated the value of the throne and crown, but even apart from their historical value the gold and jewels contained in them must make them extremely valuable. The crown is not very impressive, but the throne is a work of art as well as of beauty. In appearance it resembles a large straight-backed chair, and is about oft in height at the back. The frame is of wood, entirely covered with thin gold sheeting studded with precious stones, the exquisite taste and workmanship of which does not constitute the least of its beauties. ' The most prominent and striking features are the two golden lions adorning the arms of the throne, the heads of the animals being turned outwards in a peculiarly graceful manner. The eyes of the animals are formed of entire amethysts, each larger than a musket ball. Inside the back, near the top, is a large golden sun, from which the Kandy royal family claimed their descent, and on either side the figure of a female deity in sitting posture, the whole design being encompassed by a moulding formed of bunches of art crystal set in gold. The seat inside the arms is laid with red velvet, which may have come from the looms of Kashmir. The footstool of the throne is a foot in breadth and two and a-half in length, the top being of crimson silk worked with gold.