Lovely Legend in Burmese History

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22955, 5 February 1938, Page 5 (Supplement)

Lovely Legend in Burmese History

TN the Burmese history, called the Hmniumn Ynzawiu, or Glass Palace Chrpwiple, there is a levoly legend or Ma Saw,, the great tlurtcentlircentury Queen of Burma, It seems that Ma Saw, when a child, was out m the fields with hor father, who Y ftS u a farmer, when a hamadryad, a deadly reptilo appoarod and encircled the little girl with its body, Without touching her, it lifted its hooded head abovo her and swayed there for many minutes before departing. The father was deeply impressed, and from a near by monastery lie learnoa that there could bo only one interpretation of the incident-'-tho child was destined to bo a queen, and the serpent had recognised her future royalty. When Ma Saw was fifteen, hor father contrived to grow a jasmin hush that bora blossoms of three colours, In tune this attracted the attontiou of Ueanm. the King of Burma, who was travelling near by on one of the royal elephantss and, when ho came to view the \vou» (Irons flowers,, he also beheld Ma Saw tending tlie bush, He fell in lovo with her immediately, and thp word was given for her to he brought to the palace, The hamadryad had been right" Ma Saw became queen, ruled gloriously sfttr TJsana's death, strove valiantly to save Burma from the Jartar invasion, and returned ultimately, m ber declining ye&rs, to the village ot her youth-