Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-11-22

an enemy whom they hated. could make a
good show of resistance. But there is
small chance of making much resistance,
az they are ready to rise against the King
and are friendly to the English. Many
who suffer from the various physical
defects which would permanently dis
qualify a man from service in European
armies are not here thrown out on
that account. The officers are totally igno-
rant of drill or discipline, and have no con-
troll over the men. For many years the
rulers of Burmah have made some show
Of engaging foreigners TO drill their troops,
and several Europeans have freduented
the capital on this business; with norii-
nally princely salaries. But the royal
month, when money has to be psid, is apt
to assume dimensions not recognized by
Europeans nor agreeable to them. From
this cause, principal v, those adventurers
generally Frenchmen and TIA lane, have
dropped fl and only few remain. The
native officers will not delegate the small
est authority to the European instructors,
but expect them, by their mere presence
in the camp, to work a miracle with the
soldiers. They are joked at openly by the
men, and even when the little authority
they are allowed is defied nobody dreams
of vindicating it.
Ihh hlhd AND THE I.
The King is an absolute monarch, hav-
ing under him four ard sometimes six
Woon-gyees, OF principal officers of State,
constituting a CONT termed the HlWotdau
the designated Crown Prince, or some
other prince specially appointed being
president of this council. The Woon-gyees
have no special department in the distri-
button of business, but deliberate together
on whatever is brought before them. Their
decisions are recorded by clerks of the
council known as Tsafedsu-gyees, or By
others called Than dau-zans Atenwoons
are interior. or household ministers, who
attend the King in turn, and there are four
or six OF these. Orders OF the council are
submitted by them to the King for ep-
provsl, and they are the immediate recip-
tents OF the royal orders, though in rank
inferior to the Woon-gyees. Besides the
cases adjudged by theHiwot-dsu collective
ly, it has always been the custom for many
suits to be referred to individual ministers
at their own houses, and this used to be
one OF the principal sources Of revenue to
the Woon-2yeeS. The Atenwoons transact
their extensive business arisipgin the pres
| ent reign out of the monopolies The
Woon -douks are the third order Of minis
| ters, and may be termed the assistants OF
the Woongyees, with whom they sit in
the Hiwot-dsu, though in an inferior posi-
ton. There is no hereditary nobility or
gentry in Burmah. All rank is held at the
pleasure Of the King, and persons of the
| lowest social status may rise to the highest
position, and are just as easily degraded
The most mischivous feature of the
Burmese rule, in common with other
| lndo-Chlnese governments, is the recog-
nized claim of the sovereign TO the service
| OF the whole adult population, service
| which is eXacted to an incredible extent
| No man can call time or labor his own
| Burmah shares with Siam and Cambodia
the disgrace CT having in her midst & vile
/ system of slavery. Many OF the victims
of this system are hereditary slaves, such
as those condemned to serve at the pago
das; others are bond slaves, who could
obtain their liberty by paying their debts
| CHARTERED oFPREss3Rs.
| As none of the officers connected with
the judicial or financial administi alton o.
the country receive any salary, they are
chartered oppressors OF the people; for
| following a system common to the East
| these officials are dependent for theil
emoluments on peculatioD, extoTtion anC
the reception of bribes Justice is open
ly bought and sold. Princes, Governor
and high officials ale allowed to cole C
the revenue from districts or villages fo
their own benefit, and the only limit II
their demands is the endurance or th,
paying power of the people. Every fanc
tionary, from the highest to the lowest
Isqueezes those whose necessities brin;
them to ask the inter ference of his flee
Gate-keepers, policemen, servants-al ar
alike.
BARBARoUs CODE.
From what has been said it will be un
derstood that the written code, civil an,
penal--which strains st a high standar,
of excellence-is simply dead letter. Tn
great instrument of punishment is tn
bamboo. Indeed, it is perhaps the mos
powerful engine Of government. Common
punishments for minor offenses are i'm
prisonment. labor in chains, the stocks
| snd fines; fJr serious crimes there ar
hogeiIg, branding, manning, slavery t
| pagodas, and death. The incorrigiOle
when no longer abe to pay fines, al
tattooed with circle ON the cheek, or tn
| name OF the cffenge on their breasts. Pei
sons thus marked are deprived Cf civ
| rights, and become dead in law. Capita
| punishment seldom occurs, and almost eX
clusively for murder and treason. 1t
inflicted by beheading, drowning or cruc
fixion. The land is all regarded az be
longing to the crown; but any one ma
, occupy as much of it as he pleases, and i
! any place not already held by another
He has only to inclose and cultivate i
! and it is his. If the boundary be II,
maintained, or the inclosed space be fc
several successive years Unimproved,
reverts to the King, and may be taken u
, by any other person. The King is SUI
posed to own all the elephants in tn
kingdom, and has generally from 1000
1000 that have been caught and tanned.
! THE CAUSE OF THE WAR,
The BombsyBurmahC CompaDy,a "a BIRTHS
corporation having very important inte
ests in Independent Burmab, was orde1e
by the Burman government TO pay tweDt
, laos Of rupees (about 81 ,000,000) in respeC
| OF their forest lesses, The company replie
that it was unable to pay such an emo
nous sum, and, furthermore, that 70 sue
( pay ment was required under any reason
able construction Of the grants from th
Burman king. Judgment was accordingl
, entered against it. The company appeale
, to the British government, and on tt
, | IS b of last August the officiating secJetaI
, | to the Chief Commissioner of British Bu
mah," wrote to the Burman Minister +,
, | Foreign Affairs, reciiing the facts as the
| are here given. BE then proceeded to il
; form the Burman Minister that ii
/. | British government - not the Chi
commissioner, not the Indian Viceroy, bu
t the British nment-'csnnot aCqu
t esce' in any such proceedings. He aske
: that all further actions against the cor
: psny should be suspended, and propose
: that the whole dispute should be referre
$ to person skilled in judicial matters, to
! | appointed by the VIcerov of India. T
/, | closed by requesting the Burman COVER
: ment to make very early reply" to the
. | three questions: % whether the deer
{ ! would De suspended; (2) whether the ms
! ter would be submitted to arbitration, ar
(3) whether the Burman governme
would agree to abide by the arbitrator
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