El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-04-23

inserting stem after stem until at last
the hole in the lobe will contain bunch
as big around as Your thumb. After
the ears are well healed the plugs or
hollow pipes are inserted
Some of the women stretch their ear
holes until they grow to an inconceiv-
able size. l have seen peasant girls
with ear holes so large that a nap
kin ring could be thrust through one,
and 1t is not uncommon 10 see a Bur-
mese maid with big cigar thrust through
one ear There was not merchant in
the bazaar at Mandalay who could not
have used her ears for cigaret holders.
and but few who had ear plugs less than
the size of their finger tips.
The Girls All Smoke.
Speaking Of tobacco, all Burmese
women smoke. and girl learns TO puff
at a cigar long before her ears are
bored. Children are taught the habit as
soon as they are able to walk and
see 4yearold boys putting cigarets. The
average cigar used by the women looks
much like a long ear of popcorn with
the husk on 1t is made of other leaves
in connection with tobacco: it is loose
~ rolled and is often tied with a string.
All the girls are adept in making che
roots and at party one girl may roll
for the crowd, the big cigars being
passed about from one guest to another,
each taking a whiff In counting,
doubt not. the girl makes the cigar and
the two take love smokes in turn.
Love and Marriage
And this brings me to marriage in
Burma. The customs here are far diff
ferent from those of Japan, China Ke-
rea or the other countries / have visited
during this trip around the world The
Japanese girl has a husband picked out
by matchmaker, the Korean takes one
at the dictation Of her parents, while
the Chinese maiden is often sold, and,
If married, becomes the slave of her
motherinlaw- The Siamese girl is nom
inally the property of the king, and
the Malayan is shut up in Moham-
medan harem. as are the millions Of
women of India, Egypt and Turkey.
The Burmese girl goes about as she
pleases, and marries whom she will Dur
ing her childhood she associates with
the boys, and after marriage she is
looked upon as a comrade and often
rules the household. She is the bust
ness man Of the establishment. She
usually makes the money, and always
carries the purse.
The Burmese marry early and one is
an old maid if not married before out
Of the teens During the courtship the
young man brings presents of oranges
or candy; he writes verses in praise OF
his lady's beautiful ear plugs, and
she in return gives him cigars and, per-
haps, turban or shawl knit by her
self.
The marriage is little more than a fes-
tival at the house of the girl. Here the
young couple eat rice together. join
hands and say they intend to live as
man and wife. They are supposed to
bill and coo. feeding one another as
the birds do; and they drink tea with
their parents and parentsinlaw. The
groom makes the girl a present con-
sisting of a silken skirt or piece of
jewelry. and he is supposed to furnish
the wedding breakfast After marriage
the two go into seclusion for a honey
moon Of seven days, and they then take
up their home in the house of the bride.
1t is presumptuous for them TO set up
theiT own establishments Immediately
after marriage, as the man is supposed
to work a certain time for his wife.
understand that there are many
love matches in Burma, and that where
parents object the young people elope
and go off to themselves. There are few
marriages for money.
The marriage is a civil ceremony and
it has nothing TO do with religion. II
is a social and business partnership
rather than a moral contract. and many
marriages are entered into without any
ceremony at all Among some people
the wedding is kept secret for time,
for the young couple do not like to be
stared at nor have stones thrown on
their houseroofs is sometimes the
custom girl does not change her
name when she marries, and there is
nothing about her to show whether she
is married or no. She wears no mar
rage ring, and She still, as 1 have said,
for herself in a business way and she
frequently acts for her husband. She
can sign deeds, lend or borrow money