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Show MALDIVIANS' MYSTIC SEVEN Quaint Ceremonies in the Coronation of an East India Sovereign. Sir John ICcanc, as representative of tho Governor of Ceylon, has paid a visit to tho Maldlve Islands, tho occasion being tho assumption by tho Sultan of tho sword of state, a ceremony corresponding to a coronation. The British party sailed In the Proserpine Proser-pine of the Kast Indian squadron for Mall, the principal island of tho group, which extends in a series of atolls for 600 miles. They llo very low, nnd a first gllmpso of them suggests simply trees growing out of tho water. Out of the thirty-six islands only nine aro Inhabited. Inhab-ited. "When the Proserpine anchored off Malt a boat brought out the Prime Minister. Abraham Dlde, and later a splendidly fitted state barge embarked Sir John Keano and his staff for the shore. Tho palace Is close to the landing stage. The party wero led by the royal bands, composed com-posed of twenty musicians playing tomtoms tom-toms and trumpets They performed a weird chant as tho palace courtyards were passed through. Tho only way to the royal apartments was up a doubtful ladder. The reception room was gloomy, but lined with tapestry and covered with carpet. The Sultan a young man gorgeously dressed In a long green sliver embroidered gown, with a small, richly Jeweled turban met tho vis itors. Ho is only about twenty years or age and hardly spoke above a whisper He accepted gratefully a gift from the Ceylon Government of a sword of honor nnd other presents. Next day the Proserplno was gaily dressed with flags and a guard of seamen and marines landed and formed up in tho palace square. Sir John Keano and stall' followed. Seven Is a mystic number with the Maldlvlans, and the ceremony of assuming tho State sword had to bo gone through seven times, seven seats, three of which were In tents draped with colored materials and the remaining four lnsldo the palace precincts, having been erected for tho ceremony. The Sultan, dressed In a long orange-colored robo with silver embroidery, arrived from tho palace surrounded by tho high officials. Ho was preceded by twenty volunteers, neatly dressed In white European uniforms uni-forms and armed with rifles, and was followed fol-lowed by the royal body guard carrying spears and shields On arriving tho Sultan was conducted to his seat and surrounded by tho Prime Minister and all tho other court dignitaries digni-taries Then seven Incense bearers holding hold-ing their censers were ushered In and ranged themselves In front of him, remaining re-maining there for about flvo minutes, at the end of which tlmo their places woro taken bv seven fan bearers, each holding a beautiful fan of peacock feathers. These proceeded to go through a display of fanning accompanied by the. martial stralnts of the band outside These In turn were relloved by seven other bearers, bear-ers, also holding fans folded to the shapo of a bludgeon. They also went through a. series of motions, afterward giving placo to seven bearers with bottled rose-water, rose-water, with which they proceeded to sprinkle his highness On these withdrawing the Sultan roso from his seat and was formally Invested with tho sword of stato by tho high priest, a salulo of seven guns from tho palace square and sovonteen from the Proserplno announcing the fact to the people of the Islands. All tho court, headed by the Prime Minis er nnd high priest, then did homago anl kissed his bigness' shoes. A slmllnr ceremony took hlaco at the other seats. The proccssioi then made the circuit of the Island, hnl.ing at seven shrines, where stands had been erected for tho women and a spae cleared for the performers of special dances and games London Mall. |