Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-10-28
LETTER FROM INDIA.
In Burmah.-The City OF RangOon.
Buddhaism.-0rigin Of the
Burmese.

In Burmah.-The City OF RangOon.
Buddhaism.-0rigin Of the
Burmese.
Correspondence DEsEREI NEvs.l
Burmah is not well known in
western countries. Politically it is
situated between China and Bengal
of the East Indies. The narrow
frontier to the north is the hunting
ground Of nom1dic Mongols, also
called Tartars. The southeast from
tier is Siam. Siam and Burmah
are twins, just as were the Siamese
twins; the only difference being that
Burmese are Buddhists Of one sort
andSiamese of another thinking that
Buddha, /. e, the wise one, is better
represented by the white elephant,
who in their mythology represents
wisdom. The water boundaries Of
Burmah are the Blysof Bengal and
Martaban, and the rivers Brahma-
pootra and Sal Wen Than Lweng,
also called Wei Tsu.
The Burmese hop while they sing,
and sing as though they used but
one lung. This may not be 4 bright
pun on the Hop Sing of wun Lung
sam, but ii may help to impress on
the reader, that Burmah is 4 small
celestial empire beyond the porce.
lain walls. Burmah people are ur-
i tramelled by time worn customs,
caste distinctions or civilized pre-
judices. They live as though they
were independent and always wear
n smile. There is none Of the care
worn look OF classic Cinnamon about
them. They are a nation of gay
hearted rustics, unacquainted with
7 Chinese finery. Even in Buddhism
they assert their independent no.
tons, worshipping with flowers, in
cense and music Instead Of food and
drink,
THE CITY or RANGOON
is the capital, situated in the Ira
waddy delta. The Irawaddy over
flows frequently. Consequently the
houses are built or stills, - that
when the inundatian comes, the
lever floor is still above high water.
These houses or cottages are always
called bungalows, the English in
sist upon calling them so. Perhaps
it Is well they do, FOR a house or
cottage would mean a European
. dwelling; 4 native house would
signify an English built house ins
hibited or owned by a native. The
bungalow il generally a two story
building, mere framework of tim
Der, bamboo and lattice, the air or
wind moving through easily in any
direction. The roof Is made Of brick
or bamboo tiles and is the only sub
stantial part Of the bungalow, and it
needs to be such when the heavy
rains set in as they now do.
Stone mortar, plaster or cement are
not used IN the construction Of these
dwellings. Rangoon has some
European dwelling; and few they
are. The most imposing monuments
are the pagodas. The general form
OF a Burmese pagOGa might not iu-
aptly be compared 10 4 gigantic
Chinese clarinette or oboe, or to an
ancient trumpet 200 feet high and
tapering to a needle point. 1t is
gilt all over, and looks like a spire
OF gold. Some are built in
the form Of a terraced pyramide
very much elongated.
Around the Pagoda are shrines
in which are the remains Of heroes
and holy men of Buddhism. In
the cupOla or dome under the tower
are treasures Of gold. The large
Pagoda Of RangOOn has q canoe
and other objects Of gold. of course
these treasures are guarded by
armed men. Unlike many other
heathens, the Burmese permit
Europeans to visit these places.
The principal object Of the Pa
CODA isl am tOld-tO remind the
votaries Of God and his greatness.
Ii would be unfair TO call Buidhists
idolaters; somebody has said:
Buddhism is atheism with a God. -
RangoOn is surrounded with water.
pools, ponds and canals all over.
The town is big, very big village,
though it has the population of a
city. Despite this description it is
very cosmopolitan. II contains
Burmese, Chinese, Moguls, Arabs,
negroes, Hindus, Parsees, etc. Con-
sequently a China town, joss
houses, etc, mosque with a score
Of minarets and a fine synagogue
and churches.
The protestants OF Buddhism are
the Burmese. They have their own
reformed views which they base
upon their records palm leaf tab
lets and from these they get their
priestly authority, just as the Pro-
testant finds his call 10 the ministry
in the Bible. Buddhism contains
all manner Of sects, monks. nuns,
scribes, parsons, the doctrine Of a
savior born Of virgin, and a triune
God. The greatest folly Of Buddhism
is their punctiliOus care 10 prevent
cruelty 10 animals. This is carried
so far, that, i'm districts where the
British do not rule, to kill an OK or
feven for food can only be
by death upon the cross.
is the capitll and most
odious punishment OF Burmah.
Manslaughter is considered a trifle.
To kill a man maliciously costs only
money, $40 TO $50 for an ordinary
mortal. Except this and few ma
fipna1 mi raIfrrfaftc sIaag npI.FI -,
and fallen Christianity are very
much the same. The reasler may
doubt this, but why do so many en-
lightened Christians embrace Budd-
hism in Europe, and America, India |
and Australia. IL this were not So?
OF Theosophy, are found |
right in Salt Lake City.
/ assert again that Buddhism is |
1nIy apostate Christianism, plus
he tinseI and glitter in the
oriental mind. In apostate re-
igions what mean such things !
Is mass, or no mass, holy 1
waters, quaking under the spirit"
apostolic succession, or a clll in the
heart, ordination or divining for
money, and baptism or the presence
n the holy hostie, or immaculate con-
,eption? What are all these names?
and Sectarianism are but
of similar errors and per
laps deviations from the same
ruths.
Beyond the deluge the Penta-
euch and Chinese history agree.
Then begins an era Of literature and
stronOmy, as naturally would at
he Tower Of Babel which is often
to have been an observa-
Dry, built to predict any cataclysm
T nature like our metereologic