Twilight Over Burma: My Life as a Shan Princess (Kolowalu Books (Paperback)) by Inge Sargent

Author:Inge Sargent [Sargent, Inge]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
Published: 1905-06-16T00:00:00+00:00

Family portrait of the Prince and Princess of Hsipaw with their daughters, Mayari (left) and Kennari (right).

Ten

The wicker chair next to Thusandi on the terrace was empty, not unusual with Sao’s busy schedule of meetings in Taunggyi and Rangoon. But this time the empty chair had a different meaning; there was a frightening possibility of it remaining so. Thusandi closed her eyes and hoped for a vision, a spiritual experience, something supernatural to connect her with Sao, wherever he was. She had heard of, even seen, such occurrences after she had arrived in Hsipaw and accepted them as part of Shan life. That took some time though; while growing up in Austria, she had been taught to regard anything supernatural, including astrology, as suspect and unbelievable.

Earlier that morning, Thusandi had attempted to consult Saya Ba Han, their astrologer, to get a reading of Sao’s horoscope. She had waited impatiently for him until her messenger brought disappointing news: Her trusted old astrologer sent his apologies—he was afraid to pass the military guards at the gate. Thusandi acknowledged with a sad smile how allegiances could change within twenty-four hours. She was not angry, merely disappointed in a man whom she had considered to be loyal and apolitical. He had always rushed to the East Haw at a moment’s notice whenever a foreign visitor wanted to have a horoscope done to take home as a souvenir, a conversation piece at diplomatic cocktail parties. Since Saya Ba Han spoke no English and visiting diplomats no Shan or Burmese, Thusandi was often asked to interpret—at times a rather sensitive task. She smiled when she thought of one of the most memorable episodes.

The ambassador from a southern European country, with his attractive young wife and their poodle, had called on Sao and Thusandi for lunch. The ambassador had seen Saya Ba Han’s elaborate astrological charts on palm-leaf in Rangoon and wanted to order one for himself. He also asked for a reading of his horoscope. Sao excused himself while Thusandi took their guests and Saya Ba Han into the study. No sooner had they sat down than the astrologer said, “The young lady here is not this man’s wife.”

“What did he say?” the ambassador asked impatiently.

Thusandi was not about to reveal what she had just heard. “He said that you travel a great deal,” she replied, thinking quickly. Then she turned to the astrologer. “You’re wrong. They have been in Rangoon for three years—everybody knows they’re married.”

“No, his wife is on another continent. I’m sure of that.”

The ambassador looked at Thusandi expectantly. She had done enough translating to come up with other noncommittal statements until Saya Ba Han changed the subject.

Thusandi never shared with anybody what the astrologer had revealed about the status of this ambassador’s wife. A year later, the Rangoon diplomatic community was shocked by a scandalous discovery: The woman whom this very ambassador had officially introduced as his spouse was, in fact, his mistress. His wife was in Europe attending to the children and their Catholic education.

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