Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-10-11

| Busy Rangoon presents livery dp-
pearance even during the heat OF the
tropical day, but more particularly at
morning and evening when the coolies,
durwans, clerks, bazaar keepers and
| the various officials, merchants ana
laborers are going to and returning
| from daily occupations.
The constantly changing scene ever
| stirring and interesting, is peculiarly
eastern with a wealth of color COM
bined with an infinite variety OF race
| costume and speech. No greater con-
trasts in wearing apparel can be
| imagined than those to be seen daily
on the streets of this commercial me-
| tropolis of the East. The thurman
with silken turban, loose jacket Oh
silk or white cotton and waist cloth
! Oungy) many yards long, usually
tucked in at the waist but OCCASION
ally thrown over the shoulder. Bur
mese women dress very much Ike the
men minus the turban with additions
in the shape of flowers for the hair,
neckerchief and Il Drofusion of golden
ornaments. Natives Of India dress i'll
accord with the customs of the locali-
tleS WlltHCt lIty tplilt VOL Siiio hioihi
the long. flowing white robes and ma
icstic turbans of the hill tribes to the
simple breech clout of the Bengali
coOlie.
The chinese costume usually con-
Sists of shirt, trousers. and loose coat
ordinarily of lightweight cotton goods
but among the Wcll-to-do always OF
silk. The most striking feature con-
nected with these simple articles OF
apparel is the cut and pattern of the
trousers Imagine q pair OF meal
bags for the legs. coming together just
above the knee, with a proportionately
spacious allowance for the upper por-
ton and you have a very fair con-
ccptiOn of Chinese architectural taste
! in trouser construction. But while the
Chinese may differ with us in their
ideas of artistic clothing they arc usual
| " neat and clean and almost invariably
reliable and trustworthy. Other ma
| tionalitics dress after the manner OF
| the countries from which they come
| with such variations as tropical heat
| may suggest Rangoon is in reality
more Indian than Burmese, the popu-
| latiOn being about as follows: In
dams, 50 per cent; Burmese, 30 per
cent; Chinese, ) per cent, and the
| balance English, Germans and Ar
menians. with a sprinkling of rep
rcsentatives of nearly every country
on Garth. Rangoon has been a city
| of rapid growth the population in 1876"
being 81 900: in 1873. $4,000: in 1891 49,
! 900; in 1901, $4,000; and at present, ac-
| cording to municipal officials, there
are 295, 600 inhabitants.
| Situated about 20 miles from the
| mouth of the Rangoon Cor HlainG)
River practically the whole trade of
| the IrraWaddy delta is concentrated at
| Rangoon and this deltaic section in
cIudcs the most productive rice fields
| in the world. The harbor always pre-
| sents a scene picturesque and ami
mated, bright with the flags of many
nations, and varieagated by a wide
| diversity of race and custom in tn"
| makeup of the crews. Here may be
seen the Chinese junk, Arab dhoW,
Malay proa and Burmese trading boats
| all fitted with lateen sails side by
! side with European sailing vessels and
| every variety of steam vessel from
the tramp to the ocean liner Pussy
| busting little steam launches with
Serangs and native crews are con-
tinually moving up and down the riv-
| er accompanied by rapid fire com
bination of whistle. bell and native
yell. Native Sampans manned by
dusky citizens and propelled by I'M
| wieldy oars may always be seen in
| and about the docks and indeed in
any part of the river. These in con-
rection with the hoarse screeching of
loading tackle and the shrill cries of
the coolies convey an impression not
easily forgotten. Rangoon River,
while in reality a true river by itself,
is connected with. and is one of the
nine outlets of the Irrawaddy; THAI
mighty current rushing from the foot
hills of the Zaul Range more than
one thousand miles south to the ocean,