A POWERFUL QUEEN.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 962, 12 March 1917, Page 4

A POWERFUL QUEEN.

SUPAYA-LAT OF BUBMAH. That, women in the East are the moving power behind the throne in many, many instances is ouco more illustrated in the career of ex-King Theebaw, of Ava, Upper Burmah, whose death was chronicled a day or two ago. Theebaw was, according to a writer in the London "Times," one of the junior members of a large family of sons and daughters of King Mindoon, who ruled Ava despotically, but on the whole prosperously, for 2.6 years. After undergoing the usual novitiate in a Buddhist manastery, he became, with three of his brothers, a pupil of the late Dr J. B. Marks, who built a school aril church at Mandalay almost entirely at the cost of the King. Dr Marks often testified to the engaging and kindly qualities and bookish tastes of the youth, who soon afterwards, under malign female influence, allowed terrible atrocities to be committed.

When King Mindoon was dying, at the close of 187S, the Queen of the Middle Palace determined to secure succession for Theebaw, who was in love with her daughter, Supaya-Lat, and his weakness of character ensured for her great, power. He gained by various strategems the support of Ministers, and all possible rivals to the Throne, who were summoned to visit the dying King, were imprisoned. Theebaw was declared the successor, and within five months of his accession he had his captive brothers and sisters put to death. Supaya-Lat ousted her eldest sister from the position of Chief Queen, and by virtue of stronger will completely dominated the King. The rapacity of the Court set the example to the whole hierarchy of officials; extreme disorder prevailed throughout the country; diplomatic relations with Great Britain were broken off, and ultimately, at the end of 1885, we had no alternative but to issue an ultimatum, which was contemptuously treated by the King and his Ministers. An expedition was sent, and it swiftly fulfilled its purpose. On November 28, 18S5, King Theebaw abjectly surrendered to the late General Sir Harry Prendergast. In vain he pleaded for three months, then three weeks, then for three days in which to prepare for exile; the General, recognising that delay of a single moment might be dangerous, gave him and his chief queens, by whom he was accompanied, only 10 minutes to get ready to depart in a waiting steamer. He was afterwards sent direct, to Ratnagiri, on the Kolkan coast of Western India. There the exiled King spent the last 30 years of his life in slothful eon--1 tentment and ease. Queen Supaya-Lat retained her hold upon him until her death, and the last of his queens died some 44 years ago.