The Jasper weekly courier., 1921-06-10

not even become drivers OF vehicles in
cities because they feel that such a
Calling entails a certain measure Of
cruelty of horses. Yet their attitude
toward crippled and MANNED humans
is the height of unkindness. Such un-
fortunates are considered 10 be in the
degraded classes along with the grave
diggers and the beggars, and are de-
MED association with the normal pop
ulatiOn.
One custom among the Burmese
that cannot fail TO arouse comment
from westerners is the prevalence OF
smoking and the peculiar turn it has
taken. Smoking is INDUCED in literal
ly by men, women and children. Gig
arettes and cigars of a huge size are
preferred, often a foot or more in
length and with circumference in
proportion. Children of all ages use
these gigantic smokes" and it is not
uncommon even TO see an infant in
arms putting away at a huge cheroOt.
The habit is not as injurious as might
be expected because the tobacco used
is adulterated with q considerable pro-
portion of milder materials.
Their Marriage Customs.
Marriage in Burma is not a matter
Of great ceremony or ritualism. For
mally eating together, usually before
witnesses, constitutes a couple man
and wife. Though the theory is other
wise, a girl usually selects her hus-
band, and is given to him by her par
ents. Ii n bride is dissatisfied with
her husband she may run away from
him and return TO her parents. She
is promptly returned by them. but may
repeat the procedure. After she has
run away three times and been re-
turned three times. she may leave for
good. il being assumed that 1t is i'm
possible for her husband 10 retain her
She is then in effect divorced.
The rule works the other way about
also. If parents do not consider a
suitor eligible and prohibit match,
the maiden has only TO run away TO
him three times, after which the par
ents must not interfere, but must con-
slider the marriage a thing accom-
plished.
Where Burma touches India proper
on the latter's- eastern border, ii is
bounded by Bengal and Assam. Earth
er to the north il touches southeastern
Tibet Along its eastern border, Bur
ma is in contact with China for a con-
siderable distance The Chinese at
one time claimed sovereignty over the
land. The lower part of Burma's
eastern boundary is formed by French
Cochin China and Siam; and to the
south and west lies the Bay of Bengal.
The total area of Burma is slightly
less than that of Texas, our largest
state. while its population is in excess
of 100000. several millicn more
than that of our most pOpuloUs state,
New York.
Climate and Resources.
The greater part of Burma is in the
tropics and during half the year much
of II is very hot. This heat is eSpe-
cially trying 10 Europeans in parts Of
the delta region where the humidity is
high. In some sections more than 20
feet Of rain falls each year. There is
considerable loss OF life among natives
in some parts of the country from
snakes. spiders, poisonous insects and
wild animals. Just as India has its
Simla TO which officials and others
Journey in the hot season, so Burma
has lis hill station, Maymyo, only A.
miles from Mandalay, but nearly 2.4oo
feet higher. This summer capital
makes il possible for Europeans 10
stand the rigors of the Burma cli-
mate.
Burma's mineral wealth has long
made il one of the treasure houses OF
the Orient. One Of the richest silver
zinc-lead ore bodies in the world is sit
uGted in the northeastern section.
Mogok, short distance north Of Man
dalay. largely supplies the world with
. rubies. Silver and precious stones
were among the things most highly
priced in the old East. But Burma
also possesses modern treasures: tung-
sten, necessity in an age Of steel and
electricity: tin. essential in perform
ing the worlds sanitary work and "A
equipping its households; and petro-
| leum. the fuel OF today.