The Sun.
London, England, 1825-06-24 00:00:00

THE BURMESE.

The Burmahs are in general men of low sta-
ture, but stout, muscular, and capable of endur-
ing great privation. They all wear long hair,
which they tie in a knot on the forehead, and
are generally clad in a silk resembling plaid,
which they fasten round their middle, so as to
make a large lump in front of them. They are
almost all more or less tattooed ; some from the
navel down to about a span below the knee,
and others on one leg only. They are possessed
of amazing activity and strength, and the pos-
tures in which a Burmah throws himself, while
engaged in pugilistic and other athletic games,
are scarcely to be credited. In what we call
bottom, they are not inferior to Englishmen, and
they resemble us likewise in their love of boxing,
and similar amusements. In true bravery they
take the lead of all other Asiatics, as no one
who has ever had an opportunity of seeing
them at Rangoon, will be disposed to deny.—
Touching their peculiar mode of warfare, we
have as yet been able to learn but little,
though we are in hopes of acquiring more inte-
resting and useful knowledge on that point, ere
very long ; but we know that every man ca-
pable of bearing arms is compelled to doso when
the exigencies of the state require his assistance.
This, however, is a regulation which, with cer-
tain modifications, has been common to almost
every nation where the act of war was yet in its
infancy, and regular armies unknown ; so that it
cannot be mentioned as characteristic of the Bur.
mese. Every European, who may be married to
a native Christian is compelled to serve in per-
son, on like occasions, or to provide a substi-
tute ; and in prosecuting the present war, these
rules will doubtless be rigidly enforced. We
are informed, and we believe truly, that the Bur-
mans are famous for stratagems, and that in the
execution of them they display a wonderful
degree of patience, coolness, and intrepidity.
Hence an ambushed Burmah will not move
though the enemy's foot should be within an inch
of his person; and it must be allowed that there
are few who, at such a moment, would be equally
still and collected. We think this a species of
information by which our troops may eventually
benefit, as by small detachments, in particular,
too much caution cannot be used, however quiet
and apparently free from enemies the part in
which they operate may be. One ruse was
practised with success at Doodpatlie, as appears
by the detail which a correspondent enabled us
lately to give of that affair ; and where a war is
likely to be protracted and similar stratagems em-
ployed in the course of it, we are not sure that a
slight check of the nature alluded to, at the com-
mencement may not prove in the end more ad-
vantageous than otherwise, by the necessity
which it inculcates of mingling discretion in a
due proportion with chivalrous intrepidity.--
The bow and arrow, and a short sword called a
rlah, having a blade of about a foot and a half
in length, are weapons with the use of which
the Burmese are said to be very perfectly ac-
quainted, and they possess abundant courage
to use them either in close or distant combat.—
Their war-boats are generally from sixty to one
hundred and twenty feet in length, but very nar-
row, and w
whole length. They are
quick and dextrous in the management of the"
i‘o r
abreast the
rather paddled, by men who
he
and to any other than British enemies muSt
exceedingly formidable either on land or water
Indeed we believe it is owing to their former
successes in war that they at present have sai,
high, and, in our eyes, so ridiculous a notion of
their own bellipotence, as was evinced by their
reply to our late proclamation ; but we conjec-
ture that their ideas on that subject will be e/c-
-ceedingly qualified before the approaching es"'",.
paign shall be brought to a conclusion.—(Bengas
liarkaru.)

Henry Savory, and other convicts, are or-
dered to he conveyed, forthwith; from Bri4tol, on board the
Hulks, preparatory to an early transportation to New South
Wales.
MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE.—On Wednesdldl
were interred, in Woolwich Church-yard, in the presence of an
immense number of spectators, the remains of Mr. John Free'
man, a fine young man, Clerk in the Prerogative Offie?'
Doctors' Commons. He left the Office on that day week, at
excellent health and spirits, and in the evening quitted his
lodgings in town in order to visit his friends at Wet
wich. On his way the fineness and warmth of the evenian
tempted him to bathe in the river a little below Green;
wich, where the bank appeared to slope gradually, and the
water to be very shallow. In two minutes he was
struggling out of his depth, and presently disappeared.
friend whowho had accompanied him on his way, but
had declined bathing, immediately plunged in with the hope
of saving him, but was very near perishing himself in the fruit-
less attempt. Every endeavour to recover the body was
successful until Saturday evening, when it was seen slow
e
floating close to Woolwich, and as if making for the theof
which had always been so Sear to him. 'ln many parts of d
river which appear shelving and shallow, deep holes, 00°°°4
by the digging of ballast, yawn beheath, dangerous to a g „t--.
swimmer, and certain destruction to a bad one. Into one
these he was suddenly precipitated, when he perished ; 1!11„,
it is hoped that his melancholy fate will operate as a warm
t
to others; his excellent principles, correct conduct, and ;In
blemished life, make his death, which produced a great sonsa
of.
tion in his neighbourhood, appear a mysterious dispensati
Providence.
on

BIRTHS.
On the 20th inst., the wife of Charles Lisle Robson, Esq.'
NewCastle.upon-Tyne. of a daughter. .
On Thursday, the 23d inst., at York-gate, Regenes-Prit'•
Mrs. G. A. Brown, of a daughter.

MARRIED. of
On the 21st inst., at Cheam, George nankin, Esq., • , otte
Thomas nankin, Esq., late of Newlands, Herts, to Cpar' „„
Cro,-

Frances, youngest daughter of the late Charles Russell
melin, Esq., of the Hon. East India Company's civil sag'
B Onenl.
gathe 18th inst., at St. George the Martyr's, John
Esq., late Captain in his Majesty's 17th Lancers, to 1%.0"'
second daughter of Robert Whatley, Esq.

• D. • t.,
' At Gerrard's-cross, Bucks,Dl on lls Tuesday night, the 21st ' of
in her 47th year; Mary Caroline, wife of Mr. K. Cat'
Queen-squar, loomsbury.
Yesterday,e the 23d hist., at" her house in Heathcote-street
Sarah, relict of the late Mr. Thomas Bell, of Scarborough, °
eldest daughter of Mr. Kinder, of North-place. Aoro,
, On, the 22d, inst., at his residence, No. 7, Spring-01'4d,
Mr. Samuel Shepherd, late of the firm of Hancock, SheP""
and Rixon, aged 4 late
' On the 19thr inst. .at Epsom, Surrey, Mr. John Levf-''
of Castle-Risitig,'N'orfolk, in his 67iii year. 0011
1 igOrs.nli%Ver'6drisnoens,a- iranY .htehre.tl32 tlyi enasrt .1 4
pro
On.the.3o,th'ult., at Geneva, M. Schaub, a celebrated
feiscir iii'rnathernatics.
—...._.
in Church-street, Paddiou

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