New-York tribune., 1905-12-27
Some Sketches of People and Scenes
in Burma.

rvervbody knows Mr. Kiplng's 'Mandalay."
.t q Is probable that few readers of the poem
sors q clear idea of the land which gave the
,os, his inspiration There ought to be a well
eonne. accordingly. for Mt. r. Talbot Kelly s
.Rurrna'' (the Macmillan Company. a volume
-ecently added TO the series in which text and
nscture are of about equal Importance. the lat
sar being invariably printed IN colors Neither
as en- author artist is Mr. Kelly par
,,cularly brilliant-he never gets below the sur
face of his subject-yet he is clever enough TO
e,ve us some fairly vivid impressions Of g. pictu-
-ssoue country. More than one writer OF fiction,
Going TO Burma for his material, has portrayed
the Burmese as disclosing. upon occasion, ways
that are devious and dark. Mr.. Kelly ignores
che sinister types, IT, indeed he ever saw any
Of them. In Burma" he says. 1--WE can still
and country which is garden OF wonderful
beauty and inhabited by race entirely IN har-
nony with its surroundings. and who under
stand what is meant by the Joy of living" 1t
IS IN this key of happy appreciation that his
hook is written throughout
His pictures, which are obviously careful and
restrained studies. showing that he is more anxi-
ous 20 state the facts than to riot In color. in
troduce US to a luxuriant landscape which has,
snparently, fewer crude barbaric contrasts than
vre are accustomed to expect in Oriental regions
The Jungle is thick. 1t is true. and it harbors
many deadly animals and serpents, yet the Bur-
-nese panorama unfolded in these pages is, on
.he whole, a charming hunanized affair,
through which one might easily travel without
having any very exciting adventures. The civil
tzation OF the Burmese may not be consummate.
but such as it is, 1t is pervasive. Mr. Kelly
speaks Of the winning traits Of the people, of
the attractive way in which they live their every
dav lives They are simply though nicely
dressed" he says. and adds: Il never failed to
sxperience feeling of pleasurable surprise on
seeing q daintily clad girl emerge from some
humble matched hut, looking bright and
clean and arranging her silken scarf round her
neck or giving the final pat to her well dressed
hair before starting upon her promenade or er-
rand These people have so much that is in
nately pretty in their composition that nature
itself seems to be beautifed by their presence,
and even the poorest have a peculiar faculty
for arranging and wearing their simple gar
uaents TO advantage This artistic faculty of
the Burmese comes out most conspicuously in
their pagodas. Of which there are apparently al
most unlimited numbers in the land Mr.. Kelly
has found these buildings everywhere. He says
that "fn the heart Of the forest and unfrequented
1ungles they are constantly met with" OF
course, many Of them are modest enough, but
at Rangoon and elsewhere there are pagodas
built on great scale. and lavishly enriched with
carving and color.
They are exquisite rather than grandiose how
ever and it is not surprising to ind from Mr.
Kelly's notes that the Burmese belong in the
category of slow moving, Intellectual people,
amiable but effemnate. He has this to say
about certain native attendants whom he en-
ployed:
was much struck with the innate politeness
which characterized them, their services being
Of an equal wishing to honor his guest than Win
the Of The hPeng th91gn s 6ice S se
TOO, are pleasant, and their movements IN the
had much of the natural grace of women. Indeed,
9 80 P4 @ m is bda5 t ses tae ob at heg ge e s an %
which the women do not affect. 1t would be
ene fef dies SEX IN NE ha8e s been {od though
with what truth / cannot say. that the universal
the waists 10 Just above the knees was ordered by
665ton f9aF f @ the tn OFa 70 WhateTer 's s on
however the custom exists and many 1 OF the pat
the most ornate description
Mr.. Kelly makes up in vIgnettes like the fore
going what he lacks in matters of real interpre-
tation While he fails to give absolutely
exhaustive study Of the Burmese. he tells us
many little things about them; that they are
losing soma OF the gracious manners of their
forefathers: that they fond Of animals and
treat them well; that they seem to be devout;
that they are fond Of a joke. and on. Add to
these gIimpses of human nature the authors
delicateIy drawn illustrations. and you have
rapid survey of Burma, which, for all its super |
fciaIlty, remains moderately instructive and is |
certainly interesting In taking leave Of it we |
must quote one more passage for the benefit OF /
the musical student. Describing a native the
RtrIcaI performance, the author has this to say
about the orchestra:
Next 10 the stage were the musicians. eight in
number. busy tuning up. The instruments
the eFe Circular tub with perforated and
carved sides. round the inside Of which are sus- |
pended upon strings two octaves or drums OF TONI
IONS covered with black goatskin- These are |
tuned by clay being squeezed on to the skin until
the right pitch is reached The skilful manner IA
which the operator manages the clay is interesting |
10 watch, and It forms a pretty pattern In W%hlte %
upon the dark skin. These drums are called pat |
lougyi' and are played with the nat of the fingers
the musician sitting in the middle OF the ring The
'chenoungwine' is similar instrument wmCn C
stands higher. and in which circular bronze gongs |
take the place OF the drums. Each OF these gongs
or 'chenoung,' IS tuned by pouring from oenIno |
little melted wax into a boss or projection In the
centre. Once tuned, they retain theIT pltcn al.o
them. Here also the player sits IN the middle of
The rongs which entirely encircle him, and uses
ward turn Of The wrist he strikes those behind
him with equal facility to the others There is also
5g @ fslls0 6ofS of &IicR are Struck with the
open palm; large cymbals caI@d egWin aI,,5 ano q
eight is Completed by the 'hne" reed instrument
of brs IA0 re tone Of this 'trumpe is rather
strident but modified by the softer and more neo-
o12g5 o2b,ns i5 ao6uc6g 2nq mGsie Wch if somewhat
farbaric. was pleasing in It's general erect anu
think. quite the best Eastern music had heaTd
Speaking Of music. we may note that there is