New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-19
THE BURMAN.
HE IS DOOMED TO EXTINCTION.
INEVITABLE LOT OF THE WOMEN OF BURMAH
SEEKING FOREIGN MARRIAGEs-THE

-SEEhlNG fOhEipN NHRh""'~' AAAS
PURE BLOOD DISAPPEARING.
The standard of a nations greatness, 1t has
been said Is the esteem in which 1t holds its
women: and there is doubtless no small amount
OF justice in the statement Historians have
pointed out that the golden age Of the far
Eastern empires was when the women OF INDIA
were free and ranked, socially and intellectu-
ally. at par with their brothers; and that the
decadence of those nations dates from the
time when they began TO seclude their women
and esteem them inferior to men. Inc present
day. at any rate. offers one striking example
of d nation, once one Of the most powerful
and most splendid in Asia, actually passing
out Of existence. or being merged ana ios' III
alien races, directly because Of the Ill treat
ment given to its women under its social ana
religious systems.
This nation is that of Burmah. VI i's olo
time glories there is no need TO SPEAK. Inc
land is covered with monuments Oh hsh
and powerful civilization, and no lana Is pe''er
gifted to be the home thereon. Nowhere are
the conditions Of life easier The climate is
genial the soil is rich beyond descrlpuoh' Inc
minimum, Of toll gives the maximum of re-
suits The opportunities OF achieVemeh' are
vast and innumerablc In former centuries
they were lmpTONeu Dul to-""y wv ~N'''' ~
The incarnation of happy-go-lucky Incidence,
and is dreaming himself away into extinction.
He still. It IL true possesses elements of dis
tinction. both physical and Intellectual Says
a recent observer. Mr. c. II. lie Maistre in
THE Asiatic Quarterly Review: He Is the
prince Of easy-gong fellows. Short in stature,
the Burman possesses a snewy and well-knt
frame, and carries himself proudly He in
bn chic cbo PA terie.iCS of his MOn0O-
liam ancestry-eyes slightly oblique. yellow
brown complexion a broad, fiat nose. and
almost beardess face He is gifted with con-
siderable intelligence and is often extremely
witty Like most easy going men, he is
pleasant companion, and is troubled by no
caste prejudices to mar the harmony of inter-
course between Europeans and Asiatics. He
Is OF an extremely generous disposition, and
spends large sums of money on pagodas. or
other religious edifces the erection Of which
he hopes will bring him rich reward in
future state The cares of life sit lightly on
him and he bears reverses Of fortune with
the coln.ness and foititude OF n stole. In his
person he is clean and neat, and. when he
afford IT, Is always smartly dressed. To
his good qualities must be added that Of So
briefly: drunkenness in Burman is quite ex-
ceptional. and, as the Burmese race are in
vcterate smokers some think this moderation
all the more remarkable. The Burman how
ever. has his faults-faults so great that when
weighed against his good qualities the balance
unfortunately nclines 10 the wrong side. He
IS the most conceited and self-satistied OF men;
and any attempt to convince him that his pride
in himself was not altogether justifiable would
be mere waste of time He Is intensely indo-
lent. and quite unable to appreciate the value
or realize the necessity Of perseverance. Pain,
and even death. he will face with great calm
ness Of courage; but he is intoerant Of all dis
cipne. and SO makes but an Indifferent SOL
dier. He is fond of gambling. and spends his
money very freely for Of thrift he has but the |
barest conception Driven by the greed and
dishonesty of his own officials in the past TO |
practise dishonesty in all the ordinary affairs |
Of life deceit has become. TO certain ex- |
tent. a habit. and he retains but little genuine |
love OF truth for its own sake. He Is supersti-
tious. and often cruel in the extreme In spite
" the humanizing doctrines OF the Buddhist
creed Woman he considers a mere slave, born
to minister to his wants. and as such he treats
he. And. because Of this fact, and because
the Burman woman has begun TO rralize what
It means. tho race seems doomed 10 disappear.
TRANSPORTATION OF WOMEN.
The Burmar believe; that before woman
AN even aspire to reach Niryana-that mes
neric trance or state OF blissful unconscious
ness which is the longed-for goal Of all true fol-
overs of Buddha-she must be transformed into
man in some future existence. This natur-
Ally leads him to regard woman as being
lastly inferior to himself; and this inferiority
has been so impressed upon the Burmese woman
hat it has grown into profound superstition
.fu ,ni .h ha n |
# the customs prevalent in that province.
\ woman must not the shadow OF
"a CODA or OF a man. and 1t is no uncommon
occurrence to see a woman move out of her
oath to avoid the commission of this great
'n This is but an instance of the humiliating
which the submissive nature OF
he Burmese woman has enabled the men Of
Ter race to enforce upon her. and the non
observance Of which she considers certain TO
iraw upon her some great calamity or TO re-
ard her progress to Nrvana. The spread OF
< cstern civilization Is. however, rapidly under
mining this belief of the woman in her sup
POSED inferiority but the Burman does not APP
,ear likely 10 accommodate himself 10 any new
rider OF things. He is conservative TO the
backbone; his conviction that the proper place
or woman is AZ his feet IS deeprooted ana not
q be easily disturbed and her efforts TO free
lcrsclf from this degrading position ne REGARDS
IS altogether unreasonable and unbecoming.
THEIR FREEDOM.
Although held in no great esteem by the men
f their race, the women Of l}urmah have much |
or which they should be thankful. and are by no
means tit subjects for pity. They certainly lead
life Of toll; but otherwise they are free to
lease themselves in most things; free to breathe
he pure air Of heaven. Il gift of nature, 1t Is
rue. but which IL denied 70 millions or |
heir less fortunate Eastern sisters Iheir |
ower for good evil IL cOnsideraDe' TOT. IN |
ountry where the indolcnt and happy-go-lucky
temperament OF the men has thrust the busi-
less and burden of life intH the hands OF the
woman 1t is but natural that me influence oil
he wife I'm her household should be practically |
rrestible Reared in a hard school the Burmese
re excellent women of business and as con-