American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-05-19
SKETCHES Il, INDIA.
No. ~.

Q
Assam into the account,) 1850 geographical miles
10 length, and 600 IN breadth, extending from the
9th to the 18th degrees oil north latitude, and from
the 92d 10 the lO4th OF east longitude On the
north il is bounded by Tibet, on the south by the
Indian Ocean and the territory Of Siam the En-
pire of China skirts its northeast frontier, Cambo-
dia stretches along its eastern verge, and the west
is terminated by the Tiperah mountains and the
river Maui The number OF square miles com
prlsed in this empire is estimated al $4,000, Eek
elusive of Assam,) containing Ava, Arracan Pegu'
Martabau, Tenasserim Junkseylon Mergni, Tabay,
Yunshan. Lowasban, and Cassay II is said to con,
lain 5000 cities, towns and villages, without inclu-
ding Arracan The population has been estimated
by Colonel Symes al IL millions: but Captain Cox
who succeeded him in the Bi.man Court, estin ates
it at only half that number. The chief rivers are
the Irawaddy, the Kenduem, the Lokans, and the
Pegu; and the chief towns Ummerapoor, the cap
ital; Ava, the ancient capital MaDchaboo, the
birth place of Alompra Pegu, Rangoon, SYRIAN,
Prone, Negrais, Persian. and Chagaing. The
climate is healthy, the seasons being regular, and
extremes OF heat and cold seldom experienced.
The intense heat which precedes the rains Is so
very short in Its continuance, that the inconvenience
IS rifing. In many parts, the soil is fertile Rice,
in the south, yields abundant crops and in the
north, wheat, and various kinds OF small grain,
and leguines which grow in Hlndostan, flourish.
sugar canes, tobacco, indigo. cotton, and the differ
ent tropical FRUITS are Indigenous Although the
tea plant hourishes near Ummerapoor. il yields
scarcely any flavor. The tea tree grows here in
great abundance, and also every oher kind OF
timber which grows in India There mines of
gold and silver, rubies and sapphires, iron, tin,
le ad, an,imony arsenc sulphur, &c. Anne hysls,
.arnes, be autifu chtysolites, Jasper, amber and
marble, are also found hee; and the wells are
here which produce petroleum oil.
With China, the Birmpns carry on an extensive
'iade. Cotton, amber, ivory, precious stones, bete-
nut and edible nests. transported up the river
lrawaddy, in large boats, as Tar as Bamoo; where
they are battered the ice or mart, with the CHI
nese merchants, for and wrought, silks, velvets
god-leaf preserves, paper and some utensils oil
hardware. The Brush IN India have been in the
practice of importing TO Madras and Calcutta, from
the Birman dominons, teak timber to the amount
OF nearly million dollars annually, which they
have paid for IN Enesh broad cloth hardware,
coarse Bengal muailns glass. Cossimbazar silks
cocoa nuts, &c. The Birmans, like the Chinese,
have no coin; silver in bullion and lead. beng the
currency Of the count y, and the value o. these be-
ing regulated by artificial standards. huctuates So
continually. that foreigners are obliged to entrust
heir affairs 10 native bankers. The value OF rice
at the capital is Sc cents Tor "a pounds; but al
Rangoon, $50 pounds may be purchased for that
sum.
There is said to exist great similarity between
the courts of Ava and Pekn, especially regards
titles and ostentatious spendor. The Birman EN-
peror, like the sovereign Of China, acknowledge.
M equal. Amongst his titles are the Sovereign
of the Earth, the Emperor of Emperors, the So
vereign esteemed for Riches and Happiness, The
Monarch OF Elephants and Horses and all good
things, The Lord Of high built Palaces, of Gold &c.
&c. There are no hereditary dignitics, but rank
is designated ny the number OF gold chains which
are worn. The king wears "a chains, and his
prime minister ~, and the other mobiles created for
life, or during office, wear different numbers, down
to 8, which denote the lowest order of nobility
One tenth Of all produce is .xacted as the revenue
of the crown I; but the amount varies so much that
no average can be estimated. The Emperor, how
ever, is understood to be immensely rich every
man in the kingdom 10 held liable to military duty
when called upon but the standing army, in time
OF peace has been very small. Ii is evident, how.
ever, from the numbers they have brought into the
held during the war existing, that they can
swell their army to a very considerable force. OF
war boats, the Emperor is said to have 500, carry
ing eech from 40 to so rowers, so soldiers with
muskets, and piece of ordnance on the PROV.
There is great contrast between the Birmans
and the natives OF India; the former being lively,
nqulsltive, active, irascibe, and impatient; while
'heH oeh6ai neighbours are cxactiy the reverse OF
all these. In Ava the females are not concealed
from the sight OF men but they are treated in a
manner irreeoncileaole either with delicacy or hu
manity Their women are sold TO strangers, but
this purchase does not authorize the carrying OF
them out OF the country; they never permitted
TO emigrate. The men pluck out their boards by
the roots, and both sexes colour their teeth their
eye-lashes, and the edges OF their eyeids, black
Poygamy IS prohibited by law, but concubnage. TO
an Unlimited extent, is admitted. the Birmans
bury their desd they are in their food gross and
unclesnly; even reptiles being eaten by the lower
classes The sitting posture is considered the most
respectful Their houses are raised on wooden
posts, or bamboos, generally composed of bamboos
and mats, and but indlferentlY thatched but their