The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-04-29
Bdriiiah and tia King.

The recent human sacrifice at Manda-
lay, in Burmah, has served to bring that
people prominently into notice. The
Burmese, indeed, are a people of few
vices and many virtues, and as quick to
catch new ideas and as apt to assimilate
them as the Japanese. Their civiliza-
ton, though imperfect, is in many re-
spects high. In boldness and breath OF
design, Perfection Of structure and mag |
nihcence of decoration, some of their
temples and palaces need hardly fear
comparison with European piles. Their
carving is exquisite, and shows a vein
of humor almost Gothic in its grotesque-
ness. A war canoe, built for q hundred
paddles, Will be covered from stem to
stern with carving as minute as that on
au ordinary Chinese workbox, but far
more delicate in design and minute in
finish. They work admirably in gold
and silver, and their ~lacquered goods are
equal to those of Japan, while they are
wonderful founders of bells up to
eighty tons weight aud sixteen feet
across. Towards the close of the last
century they cast the largest bell but
une In the world, a bell weighing fully
ninety tons. Notwithstanding these ac-
complishments, the Burmese know
nothing of the act of porcelain making,
nor are they familiar with the use of
paper. The climate of their country,
though for a part of the year moist and
depressing, is cooler than that of India.
The pecessaries of life, labor and str-
vice are cheap, and the natural wealth
of the country is great. Teak, ironwood,
ebony and sandalwood abound, and
gold, silver, copper, tin lead, antimony
and iron are to be found "almost by
scratching the surface" while there Is
an abundance of coal sufficiently good
for smelling and manufacturing pur-
poses. Petroleum is found eve ywhere,
and nitre, salt, limestone, and white
marble are plentiful. Though the sap;
phire, ruby and emerald district at
present forms a part of the royal
domain, there are quarries of jade and
amber open 10 be worked. The people
smoke necessarily, but are strictly tenn
perate; they are idle because q days
work provides weeks expenses, though
when employed they are industrious
and willing. Serious crimes are rare
among them, and they have neither
beggars nor paupers; they are almost
irish in their vivacity n sense of fun,
and quite English in their passion fol-
such amusemepts as horse-racing ano
boat-racing, cock-fghting, betting, box
ing, wrestling and football; and finally
they have a popular theater, wher,
the drama is relieved by the ballet
King Theebaw, the monster whose cruel
! ties have made him infamous, is a littlt
over twenty one years Of age. He is I
tall. we'll built young man, and, before
he was attacked by the leprosy, was fail
in complexion, with a good forehead
clear, steady eyes, and a firm u pleas
ant mouth. His chin is full and seme
what sansual-looking, but withal he wa
regarded, at the time Of his accession Il
the throne, in the fall of 1878, as
manly, frank-faced young fellow, wAt
3 would make a very acceptable sort of
king from the oriental standpoint u!
soon, however, gave the people abund
, ant cause to change their opini n o
him. Notwith taud,ng the p~erseyerinl
s way in which he went to work la, { yea
to dispose forever of all possible claim
. ants 10 the throne, there is abundance Q
! material left to supply the vacanc,
f which will soc be reported, as four o
t his brothers are alive in India, wher
a they have been cared for by the Anglo
: Indian Government ever since they he'
r from their Own country to escape tn
fate that .befell fourteen OF his othe
brothers.