Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-11-29
VOL. II.-NO. SO.
THE BIRMAN EMPIRE
From, he National j


interest to every political observer that nd"e of
our readers will regret space this day occupied in our
counS by description of situation circumstances, and
the character and people We
DC the most full and comprehensive section
Il" the world which has yet appeared newspaper aud
as nus proceeded from thu pen OF gentleman (A Wal
ace) whose long residence in India, and great descriptive
powers, emtiilc BIN the reputation i've has
have given the detail nearly ansuaCc without
material change abridgemrn will be esn-
0le', from this picture appreciate which
the have to encounters i'm t1e at,cmns r., ove,r,,
aud subugoe This territory habite,i as it s
not by Of pnsilanmoUs aud eJcr,iuate men, hy
people naturally justly attached ,heis
bits laws and ir5utions, and long accustomed
We hope that the wealth Of the Birman
ing too powerf, a temptation y avaiinc was noe
amongst the motives which led to the presso' contest
The Birmn Enpiye.-The Brnan Empire the
most extensive government In India, which subject
sovereign authority includes taking Assam into
the accOunt) 1850 geographical miles in length aud
coo in breadth, extending from the 3h TO the 28th de-
grcos OF north latitude, and from the 92d the IGlt OF
cast longitude On the north, is bounded by Tibet on
the south, by The Indian Ocean and the territory ofiam
the Empire of China skirts it's north.e frontier Cam
bca stretches along verge, and the west is
terminated by the Tiporai rnountais and the river
Nauf The number of square miles comprised in this
empire Is estimated a. $4,000 exclusive OF Assan0
containing Ava, ArraCan, Pegu, Martabau. Tenassc.
rim Jun<sey Ion, Ncrgui, Tabay, UTs.au. Iowashan.
and tassay 1t is said 10 contain 5000 cities,
anu villages without including Arracar. The popua-
ton has bern estimated by Colonel Symcs ut y mill
oas: but Captain Cox cecGcd him at the Bir-
Court, esiIDatcs ii only half that number. Tho
chic! rivers The Irawaddy, the Kenduefn the Io-
lang, and the rcgu, and the chief towns trrlrrera-
poGr 'e capital; Ava the ancient caaal hianahaboo,
TIE dr;h place OF Alonpra: Pegu, Rangoop, SYRIAN,
PRONE. Nacra:s, Persai'n, and ChaSang. The eli
male is healthy, the SEASONS being regular aid ex-
tresncs of heat and Geld seldom c1perence The in
cu-e heat which peCede the rains 50 very short IN
its continuance. that Observation-Disclosures tTfinc In
many parts, the soils fertile Rice i'll the south Yields
abundant crops and in the north wheat, aid the var-
ouS kinds 0! sna grain. and egnues which grow in
til"doztGn. UGuIi-h. tobacco, indigo,
cotton and tic different tronca fruits. ndaeu 2us
tthoUgl dc auiatt iourshcs Uiraera aoor il
yels scasCo els any flavor. The teak grows here
IN great abundance ant also othe- kind az nm
her which grows ~ Ip!ir. There 'rncs of rod
aud silver, ruies and apphires IRON tin ;oat
ny arsenic sul,lur. Stc. A"st!N>iS Crr'es heaUti-
ful Chr-sgtes, iasner. au5er. and roa,te are also
found here: aud The wei ie,e w,c produce pctro-
/ leum oil.
! With China, he l3irTsus carry extensive
trade. Cotton. amber, IVORY precious stores, beiei-
nut and edible ress transported up ffc rvcr Ira
waGdN IN large ais "a far a Bamoo 0ierc tei are
battered ut tbs zee mart, wii. Ing hines. ..,cr-
chants for and wrought silks, veve-, h.! leaf
preserves paper, and utensils If hardware The
British IN India have been IN ,hc practice of importing
10 Madras and Calcutta, the E.rFna,, comm rs
teak timber. TO tic Of s.ear a Hon % dol
lars annually, which they hr9a paid tce i'll E"ciIs!,
broad CLOTH. hardware. Dengal ausins glass
CossimbaZar silks, cocoa nus &c. The BCn like
the bincse have coin; silver, i'll bullion aui cad
being tic currency of the country, aud t'c value of
these being regulated nv artificial standards uctates
{
li'cir a'ais 10 native banherS The Vaico Of rice
the capital is 90 for 81 pounds; bus at HanGoou
go pom. IS may be purchased fo' that
There is said TO exist great similarity between tie
courts OF Ava aud Pekin especially as regard, III es
acd os;rnatious srcEdOur. The Birr.an Emperor
like tie sovereign of China acknow Iedgas equal
Amongst his titles arethc Sovereign o. tie Earth the
Emperor Of EmPerors tic Sove. een esteemed oy
Riches and Happiness TIC Monarch u Elephants and
i:orses and a good things, the Lord o: nigh bu Pa
iaCcs, OF Cold sc. Sc There are no hcrrd,t,.rv dr.
mites but rank is designated by the nua6cr OF e5Id
chains which are worn. Tue king wears q CHAINS
aud his prime minister ,; and the other mobiles ogoa ed
for life during Office different nuInber, DOWN
! 10 g. which denote the lowest order Of nobility. One
tenth OF all produce is exacted the revenue Of lie
crown; bUt the amount varies much that average
can be estimated The Emperor, however IS under
stood TO be immensely rch every man in tb@ cnefcm
IS held liable to military duty when calle3 but the
standing army time o! rcace has bcCu YCrT sr,a r.
1T is evident. however from nc numbers they lave
brought into thc field during tha Cxistina hat
they swell their army a very considerable f. ce.
OF war ooais the Emperor is said to have SEQ carry
ing each from 10 80 rovrers 80 gOdisr3 with nus
lSets aud piece Of ordnance on 'jo brow.
There is great contrast between tie prfnans and
the natives of India: the former bcIng lively inquisi-
tive, active rascbie and inpatient; whn tber Ben
gal neighbours arc exactly the reverse of all ese In
Ava, tho females not concealed FROM the sight Of
men; but they treated in manner uncomfortable
either with dclicscy or humanity Thor women arc
sold 10 strangers. but this purchase does authorize
TIE carrying OF them out Of the country they ne
| yer permitted to emigrate. The pluck out their
boards by Tie roofs and both sexes colour their ieoth
their eye lashes, and the edges OF their cyeds. black.
1 Polygamy IS prohibited by law, but concubmage 10
an unlimited sNtcnt, is admitted. The Biyrraus bury
their dead they arc in hcir food gross and uncesnly
even reptiles being eaten by the lower classes. TIC
sitting posture IS considered Tie most respectful Their
houses are raised wooden posts or bamboo Ccuer-
ally Composed OF barnhUos and mats, and bit uJier-
emily matched; but ter te,upics spcudlj 'ai-'cs.
giIlieuing With gold--Ihcrc is one Of these -lcudid
! erections, built on rising rrercd above EanGo1n,
which Is a=ccndcd by 90 magnificent step. Terraces
are cot round tic sumrit Of the hill ami planted uith
rows OF trees. Whose rich foliage gives Hac effect to
tic lofty spires OF TIC temple which rise above n. The
cen;rc sprc, which is the i9csi, ned 40 The top
with sort Of cap IN the form Of unrE,a which,
well the spirc itself IS richly gilt ard gIijcra beau
tiiully in tae sunshine The great temple ~ Pegu las
40 less than 100 tall spires all richly g and iis
lance, they seem like forest Of go'd wEo1cc the tenn
pie derives Us 77me, being called tho Golden Temple.
The centre sprc, With Tie cap, umbrella 81 feet
In clr-nrul-Lncn m n called llc