The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-27
ENGLAND IN BURMAH.
AN EXPEDITION TO KACHIN TO sun
DUE A STRONG TRIBE.

like PeOpIe--UntiI the March of the
Red Coats They Had supposed
Their Mountain Businesses Inn
pregnabIe.
H. Clinton Badde,ey in the Pail Mall
Gazette.
The sana- Kachin country is 1900 feet
above the sea level. and is approached
only by many weeks OF wearisome march,
ing with alterations of steep hill climbing
and precarious descents into precipitous
gorges. The whole region is covered with
dense jungle. saving where clearances
have been made for the cultivation of pad
dy, the staple food of the country. In the
lowlands-that is. in the valleys-large
trees and thick underground prevail and
at the higher elevations, thin bamboo;
While in the district of Sirin there grows a
peculiar tree, from which a deadly poison
is drawn and applied to the tips of the
Kachin war-arrows. The india-rubber,
rubber, cinnamon, lemon, mulberry and
betel-nut abound among the forest
growths; while opium, wild tea, indigo,
mustard, cotton, tobacco and corn are
likewise to be met with. The climate is not
insupportable to the European, and during
certain seasons of the year is cool and
healthy. Paddy, however, is at present the
only food product under cultivation. This
is threshed daily by the women, according
to the requirements of the family. This
the sportsman, the Kachin country should
offer abundant attractions. Tigers and leo
pards there are in plenty, and wild pig
and sambhur; and in the Kumaon hills,
to the west, the rhinoceros is to be met
with; and, though not numerous, elephants
are also to be found. The villages are gov
erned by headmen, who have a peculiar
method of extracting Vicarious justice,
which frequently leads to awkward COM
plications and the establishment of long
standing feuds
The murder of Mr.. Margary at Momein
twenty years ago, has recently afforded
the Kachins an opportunity of demon
strating the vagaries of the blood-feud as
well as tribal notions of justice. 1t so
happened that when the British govern
ment on receiving the news of the muir
der, represented to the Chinese authorities
their desire that the offenders should be
punished, there were between thirty and
forty Kachins in Momein. trafficking in
amber; these were promptly seized, and
all, with the exception of three who con-
trived to escape, were executed A blood
feud was established by this procedure,
and seventeen years later, in 1894. five ma
tives Of India, happening to stray into the
confines of the Kachin territory, were
promptly dispatched in expiation of the
! Chinese severity of twenty years back.
The recent expedition met with little
opposition, and was accompanied with
but slight loss of life; but much toilsome
marching was incurred, nevertheless, over
a country quite roadless and broken, MAX
I'M ba
| resolution and general soldiery attributes
| of the campaigners. One headman, it Is
| true, did endeavor to disconcert his foes
| by the construction of an enormous tim
| Der gun which, 1t is not surprising TO re-
late, dispersed in many directions on the
| first attempt to utilize it against the APP
| preaching enemy. No doubt the expedi-
ton has disillusioned the Kachins as to
| the impregnability Of their mountain
strongholds, and though not yet entirely
subjugated, in less than a score of years
we may hope TO see this fertile district
| contributing in ahoundant Measure to the
worlds markets, in such products as are
| the natural growth OF the soil.
The subsection of the Kachins will add
also to the repose of their neighbors, the
Shans, with whom they have a tendency
to be at constant feud. Until recently
the Kachin villages were subject to Shan
headmen, but this arrangement was found
ity of the two territories that subsequent
dispositions have provided for the self
| government of the Kachins; since when
| more amiable relations have euperVened.
Nevertheless, the Kachin is a quarrelsome
neighbor, and none the worse for a little
| additional supervision. He has some inter-
eeting traits, however, among which may
| be instanced his sensitiveness, where he
imagines his dignity has been infringed
| In illustration of this popularity, there is
an amusing story of a native, who, be-
coming dissatisfied with the humble des-
ignation which had distinguished him
from childhood, resolved from henceforth
to be known by a understanding title,
and proceeded forthwith to apprise his
Villagers of his intention. BY his
new name he came, without difficulty to
be recognized among his near acquaint-
ances but a friend from a neighboring
village, not having heard of the altera-
ton in Pan Mas address, accosted him,
unfortunately one day by the old fam-
lar cognomen. So highly incensed was
the Kachin at this breach of etiquette
that nothing short of solatium of fif-
teen rupees, would appease his wounded
honor. The money was paid, but after
ward recovered by the Intervention of the
political officer, though the affronted ma
tive asserted that by abandoning his claim
he was accomplishing his own social de-
struction.
| The Shans, who have suffered much
from the incursions of the Kachins and
the irruptlons of the Was, are by far the
most civilized and law-abiding of the
tribes of Upper Burmah and the frontier
Chinese states, a mountainous region al
ternating I'm magnificent rolling downs,
with an altitude of from 1900 to 5000 feet
above the sea, and vast forest-clad hills
and declivitous valleys. the rolling saluen
threading its way between. To the east
lies the plain of Keng-Tung. and beyond
that province-or rather dissecting 1.-THE
Mekong, the boundary mark between
French Siam and British Upper Burmah.
Siam Is in reality the only Shan state
which is not tributary either to Great
Britain or China. The same language is
spoken in Slam as in the northern and
southern Shan states. the Shans differing
from the Chins in that they speak every
where the same Language, observe the
same social and religious customs,
and preserve the same dis
tngulshing traits. You may meet
them in the mission schools at Toun-
goo and othor Burmese stations, and will
soon learn 10 recognize them by their
cleanliness OF appearance and smiling