Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1889-07-18
Burmah and Burmans.

The gross area of the country which
acknowledges the sway of the King of
Burmah is about sixty-seven thousand
square miles, with population at
present estimated at three millions,
which is yearly being largely reduced
by migrations into British Burmah.
The religion is Buddhism mingled with
Shamanism, the latter largely consist
ing in the Cancellation of spirits sup
posed to dwell in trees, rivers, stones
and other objects of nature" Educa-
ton, to the extent of enabling each in
dividual to write his own name, is fair
ly widespread; but progress is checked
by vile system Of slavery and the
claim OF the sovereign to the service of
the whole adult population, enacted to
such an extent that no man can call
time or labor his own. The officials
receive no salaries, and consequently
Justice is openly bought and sold.
Princes, Governors, and high officials
are allowed to collect the revenrA
from districts or villages for their own
benefit, and the only limit to their de-
mands is the endurance or the paying
power OF the people. Every function
airy from the highest to the lowest,
squeezes those whose necessities bring
them to ask the interference of his
Office. Gate-keepers, policemen-all
are alike.
1t is much to the credit of the peo-
pie that, under such adverse circum-
stances, record can lie made as to
the manners OF the Burmans. The
natives are extremely pleasant in man.
ner, hght-hearted, and more independ-
ent and courageous than other
races of Indo-China. They are not
so civilized as the Hindoos, they
have absolutely caste prejudices, and
IN other respects they differ from
the nstives of Hindostan so radically
that they have scarcely any character
istics in common. Probably the lib
erty OF women reaches in Burmah a
height not attained in any other coun-
try IN the east, not even Japan. The
choice OF maTriageable girls is perfectly
Tree; mans wife acts for her husband
IN almost any business capacity; women
appear in public unveiled, and their
intercourse with strangers is unre-
stricted. They are born petty traders,
and IN many cases conduct thriving
AO'ssAA OuoAAiOcc Wullo blolf male fGla-
tives are idling or gambling. Marriage
with the Burmans is purely civil rite,
and though divorce is very easily OBJ
tanned there is little immortality among
them, notwithstanding travellers tales
to the contrary; and in some cases
after divorce the parties to the suit
promptly Eemarry and live together as
before. In spite of great deal of i'm
providence, pauperism may be said to
be quite unknown; none are very rich
or very poor: a days work is easily
got, and the land is SO bountiful that
the earnings of a day suffice for three
days living. There are no poor laws.
the inconsistencies in reality forming q
gigantic system OF relief, always open
to strangers or natives alike, without
any trouble about settlement"
The land is all regarded as belonging
to the crown, but any one may occupy
as much of it as he pleases and in any
place not already held by another. He
has only to inclose and cultivate it,
and it is his. If the boundary be not
maintained, or the inclosed space be
for several successive years unim-
proved, it reyerts to the King and may
be taken up by any other person. =
Hayper's Bazaar.