Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-08-01


of about the same grade, but rather in
terror, are the adventurous, from a-twen,
'nsede, and woon, gorernor,) of whom
there are generally from tourtosi These
constitute the cabinet, or prIvy council
and have access to his majesty at all times
They do not act publicly as kings off,
GERS, nor sign imperial documents, but are
IN daily session in room near the palace.
Their influence with the king procures
them great respect, and many brides.
There are SIX or eight government Sec
retaries, called sa-re-dau- gyee, (gre@t gor-
ernment a0rlters.) whose business is SINH
lar to that Of the state secretaries.
1t is not necessary to describe minute
Iy the other grades of officers. They de-
scend, in regular progression, down to the
head-man of a hemlet; each exercising
arbitrary sway over those next beneath.
From first to last, they are with few ex-
ceptions, harpies, who seek only their
own advantage, and neither love nor pity
the people. The country labors under
the curse which Jehovah threatens to send
upon a wicked people" Governors who
should be like fire among the wood, and
like a torch of fire in sheaf; who should
devour all the people round about, on the
right hand and on the left"
Orders of nobility are marked by the
tsa-lway, or golden necklace. The par
ti:ular grade is indicated by the number
of chains composing it, which are united
at different places by bosses. Three strands
Of common chain-work indicate the low
est rank. Three, of more curious con-
struction, the next above. Then come
those Of six, nine, and twelve, which last
is the highest for subject Chief prime
es OF the blood wear eighteen, and the
monarch himself twenty four.
The community is, by common estima-
ton, divided into eight classes-the royal
IA nIy, great officers, priests, rich men,
Iaborers slaves and outcass The latter
consist of slaves to pagodas, lepers, grave
diggerS, exccutioncrs, and perhaps some
othes. Even among these are different
degrees Of responsibility. None of the
classes constitute an. hereditary caste, ex
cept lepers and slaves of pagodas. The
latter are the most respectable Of all out
casts
The legislative, executive and judicial
functions are not separated, but a meas
ure of power in each is enjoyed by every
officer. Hence arise innumerable and
shameful abuses. Having no salary, eve
ry government-man regards his district,
or his office, as his field Of gain; and hes
itates at no measures to make it profitable.
Most of the rulers keep spies and retain
ers, who discover who has money, and
how it may be got Accusations Of all
sorts are invented, and the accused has no
way Of escape, but by present. Real
criminals may almost invariably eIude JUS
tce by bride, if it bear some proportion
to the magnitude of the offence. Gangs
of robbers frequently practise their trade
by the connivance of a ruler who shares
their gains. One of the native christians,
who had been in the employ of a ruler
before his conversion, assured me, that Of
ten, on finding some one who bad laid up
little wealth, his master would employ
him, or some other retainer, to place some
goods under the intended victims house
BY night, in order to bring against him
the charge of theft. In the morning il
would be loudly proclaimed that this re-
tainer of the great man had been robbed
A general search would ensue, and the
goods being soon detected under the vic.
Tins house, the evidence would be declar
ed complete The wretched man, whose
only fault was thrift and saving, would be
condemned to some severe punishment
and escape only by paying fine as grea
as it was supposed he was able to bear.
1t would require greater space thar
can here be spared, to give any correc
conception of the general misruIe Of men
in power. We give one other instance
The late war having introduced into Ran
COON and vicinity the Bengal coins, the
woongyee engaged largely in making
four-anna pieces, which were reall Y worth
bnt two They were, soon well known
and only passed for their real value The
| incensed great man sent the herald abou
the city, procaiming that whoever OBJ
ected to take them at their nominal val
ue, should suffer a specified fine and i'm
prsonment. Business was for a while
completely checked, and at length, after
making some severe examples, he was
obliged to let the people 60 to welghimg
their money as before.
An absolute monarch is, in fact, propri.
etor both of his domains and his people
He cannot but see that the number of his
subjects, and their prosperity, form his
true greatness and honor. Hence, though
he may be bad man, prudence and poll
cy dictate rule which shall minister tc
the general good. 1t seems ever to have
been thus in Burmah. The king enact:
salutary laws, and views his people with
kindness; but sycophants and intriguer:
pervert his plans, and illustrate his inten
tons Around Ava, his personal knowl
edge and accessibteness to petition
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