Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-07-02


probably the happiest women in the
world. In the first place they are far
advanced in the suffragist sense hav-
ing full control of their property and
being considered shrewder in business
than the men themselves and in the
second they are pretty and fascinating
and are SO regarded by the men. In
fact. the great aim Of Burmese wom-
ans life. especially if she be young, is
to be considered extremely pretty.
1t is yet to be learned that any OF
the Burmese women are prominent in
affairs of state, but in all branches of
industry, even in foreign commerce,
they are exceedingly active and are
more closely identified with financial
matters than are the men.
Most of the markets in Burmese cities
are almost entirely conducted by wOm-
en- 1t is no uncommon thing to find
certain trades completely organized by
women in these cities, and the foreign
buyers come actually in contact with
quantity robed. picturesque matrons
who know precisely how to deal with
them. A man has to be more careful
in dealing with these women than he
would with Burmese gentleman,
for they are extraordinarily shrewd at
bargain.
A large number of the government
contracts for timber and forage are
made with women, and it has been
found that while they will haggle Cor
the smallest percentage of profit, they
are yet invariably honest and fulfill all
of their obligations exactly as they
are contracted.
Wives are consulted in all the affairs
of life in this country and no farmer
would think of making negotiations re-
garding his harvest without first talk
ing the matter over with his wife, This
usually results in his letting her do
all the selling. The wives have vet
stronger hold upon the husband. Ac-
cording to Burmese law marriage is an
equal contract and all property is held
jointly, that is, the woman invariably
has an equal share with her husband
and quite as valid claim upon all
the household effects and material
goods as he.
The property that a woman inherits
ir acquires in any way before marriage
or after it belongs to her and to her
| alone. Her husband cannot touch it.
The maids are quite as free and have
quite as many rights as have the mat
rOns. In fact, in a large family the
daughters are quite as important from
business point of view as are the sons
and their advice is apt to be taken
even more readily. Throughout the
whole country there is comparatively
little education, but the women get a
fair share Of what there is.
Not only do the women do most of
the buying and selling in Burmah,
wholesale as we'll as retail, but they at
| tend to all household affairs. Man is
not made subordinate but he has no
more responsible position than his sis
| ters have. Taken all in all there IS lit
| tie question that the Burmese women
are the freest in the world in every re-
lation of life.
The Burmese women smoke-not
cigarettes in an initiative sort of a way,
but cheroots, which are the Burmese
| substitute for cigars. 1t is a curious
and very picturesque sight to see one
of these Burmese girls in the enjoyment
| of her cheroot. The greater mum Der
of them select weed that is long and
green. fully ten inches in length, and in
a day they smoke many OF them.
Though cigars. rolled in the Eu-
ropean fashion. and made of tobacco
leaf, are used to some extent in the
cities where foreign civilization has
crept in, the true Burmese cheroot is
of distinctive sort. 1t is constructed
of an envelope formed of certain dried
leaf. or of the inner husk of the maize
plant, and this envelope is filled with
a mixture of tobacco and finely chopped
wood. the latter generally of the stalk
of the tobacco plant itself. 1t Is an
inch in diameter at the thicker end
1t is the custom of Burmah for young
woman not to smoke her cheroot in
steady puffs, but to take few whiffs
and then lay 1t down or pass it to the
next lady in the party.
Quite as common is the smoking
habit among girls as it is among WON.
en-, and it extends even to children. A
frequent sight is that of Burmese
mother taking a cheroot from hel
mouth and putting it TO the lips of hel
nursing child. The child, II it be a yea,
and half or years Of age land The
women of Burmah. according to an ole
custom, suckle their children until the,
are long past ., will purse up its tiny
lips and pun away at the weed Will
every indication of pleasure
| Many other peculiar and interesting
customs do these people have kissing
Is absolutely unknown in this land. tn,
nearest approach to it being smelling
The lover puts his arms around tn,
lady he adores and literally smells he
cheek; the young mother bends owe
her baby's little body and continual,
shifts at it.