Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-01-18
A SIMPLE PEOPLE
A Travels. Tells o. The Traits cf The
Burmese

The Burmese are avery good natuIeu
people and kind To strangers Being
naturally free and independent IN their
nature. they do not eringe and DOW
down before the white men, as most
Asiatics do. They look with contempt,
mingled with pity, upon the servile
Bengalee and Madrassee. The Bur
uese are by far the finest race physical
ly [ have met with during my residence
in the east. Although not, as rule,
tall. they are models Of manly form ana
grace. They are very athletic AMI
strong, and excel in all manly sports.
They are fine wTgStlers, taking dellShI
IN such games of strength w hen a
Burman talks TO YOU he looks you
straight in the face, and bears hihiselI
altogether in a manly way. Like mos.
Orientils. they are not oVeriond OF
work. and take every advantage OF the
numerous holidays in their calendar
ON these HOLIDAYS, during the dry
monsoon. the men play ball and other
games. During the rainy season All
outdoor work has to be suspended. Inc
g,tiEe OF ball somewhat resembles loot
ball with the kicking LEFT out lne
laIue commences 10y one ut the PLAYERS
running As far as he can with the bail
towards tHe goal. lie does not carry II
far before Le Is caught up with, the
hall yyrs-ted from him and tossed from
one side 10 the other, until finally u Is
thrown or carried between the two poles
which are set up at the ends OF the Dali
gruuuI.
FANuGTTE AMUSEMENT
Another favoriye amusement OF the
burmese. not only ON saints days anu
HOLIDAYS. but ON all evenings when
delicious breeze permits, IS kite lying
These Kites are made of the thin rice
papar common iE the country, pdstei
over splIt bamboo frames and shaped
INTO the form, ut various birds ana
beasts. the ka.uUE dragon being pre-
ferred figure. They believe that the
dragon az one TerIod was common
animal. but that u has now become eN-
tinct. These counterfeit present.
msuts~ are very CumicJ. and tantlsllc
in appearlurr. being culUred with a Tree
hand and liberal allowance ot the
brigh'es and E.tud.est shades.
Very few BIrmtsr, outside OF the
seaport towns and large stations IN the
interior If the country, care 10 learn 10
speak English, 50 that all VINO desire 10
know ANY thing about the country must
learn 90 read, write and speak the Llh-
IuslEt OF lit Elllu. A-slt Aibs'A - tt4S
most a lilicult, ~ there are many words
spelled alike bat which have different
Recommendations and meanings 1t takes
months before the learner can hit the
right infection or utOuatlon- some
never learn tu 81 etk Burmese properly,
although they may have resided Tor
wears I'M the country. The writing ap-
pears simple. being composed OF cIrcu-
lar aud ssmi-Circular letters, but the
very simplicity OF form makes the let
tels mole difficult 10 recullect, so many
being comparatively alike. Every con-
snnaut ends with "a. The yOwels are
attached 10 the top or bottom OF the
consouantS. In writing the words are
placed close together, no space being
left between each word. This adds TO
the difficulties and perp.eNlties the
learner has to encounter.
The more l know these kindly people
the better / like them. Our discus
sious upon religion soon end, for theirs
Is such a simple faith that l can show
them no advantage they could obtain
bv becoming Christians. They live
moral and simple lives; they look for
ward i'm the course of time 10 becoming
part of the essence of their supreme
spirit. the BUddh Giaudama, rs a re-
ward of such pure lives that l confess
i neves attempt TO convert them To my
.u4.sr.g a.