The Jasper weekly courier., 1921-06-10
The Eng-Daw-Yd Pagoda, Burma.

prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety. Washington, d. c.
While there is a considerable
amount OF unrest in many parts of
India proper, the people of Burma,
which is governed as a part of India
and yet Is geographically separate
from it, seem TO be living contentedly.
Geographical and social conditions and
the economic situation flowing from
them undoubtedly have much 10 do
with this. Burma knows little of the
fear Of famine or the pinch of poverty.
It's lands are productive, il is rich in
minerals, il is not Oyer-pOpulated, and
it is free from the elaborate caste sys-
tenn which is a tremendous handicap
10 India, both socially and economi-
cally.
Kipling and practically all other writ
ers about the East have pointed out
repeatedly that ii is difficult at best
for westerners sto understand the ori-
entail peoples. If the. observer from
the West wishes to tackle this admit
tedly difficult problem by easy stages,
perhaps he could find no better place
90 start than Burma. In a number of
senses there is less of a gulf between
the life and customs of the Burmese,
and those of the West than will be
found if the comparison is made With
any other eastern country.
The Indian is in most cases sober
individual. The lower castles must
cake life with desperate seriousness
because of its hardness and the diff
Guilty of clinging TO il. The higher
castles are sedate and given to specu-
lative philosophy. The Chinaman is
an enigma. His emotions are difficult
10 fathOm. The people of the Mo-
hammedan countries are marked by a
quiet dignity.
The Burmese Love Life.
In contrast with these other peo-
pies IF Asia. and almost alone among
them. the Burmese are frank, open,
happy-lovers Of life. Their women
are not secluded. but are among the
freest women in the world. Both men
and women are lovers of music and
wearers of bright clothing. Because
of their spontaneity and friendlinesS
they have been dubbed "the Irish of
the Orient"
Burma is country OF many tribes,
but practically ali Of them are of the
same racial strain. Shans, Karers,
Katch.ns, CEins and palaungs are
among those living in the outlying
parts of the country. though the
Karens and 10 certain extent
the others are 10 be found in
parts of lower Burma. a more heav-
lily settled section which is most easy
of access 20 the outside world. Ii is
the Burmese, however. who constitute
the dominant element with the high
a. ii is known 10 most westerners who
visit the land.
The Burma of the Burmese, that is
lower Burma and the basin of the
great lrrawaddy river, is a land of
pagodas. the Shrines OF Buddhism.
Thousands upon thousands Of these
beli-Shaped structures surnounted by
gilded spires and tinklinS bells have
been built Many of them have fallen
into decay. but others are built each
year. They are the symbols of the
hold which the Buddhist religion has
upon the people Of Burma. 1t is their
belief that the sureSt way of "acquir-
Ing merit" and achieving holy rest al
ter death is 10 erect pagoda; and
very few Burmese who are able 10
add 20 the country's forest OF pagoda
spires fail To do So.
No Aristoc-Gcy, Few Poor.
There are no noble classes among
the Burmese. no aristocracy, few who
are very wealthy. and few very poe.
While the caste system as a system
does not exist in the country. there
are several classes of people who are
looked upon as degraded by their ,vo
cations and with whom practically ne
intercourse Is had by the majority OF
the people. Unfortunately, too. these
classes are hereditary. They are the
grave diggers. the descendants OF the
former pagoda slaves and the beggars
The general attitude toward these un-
for;unates is one cf the contradictions
I'm Burmese character; anu there are
others. Their religion requires kind
ness toward animals, and Burmese will