IN THE EAST INDIES. 107 
from Mogok and are the finest in the world. At 
Thaybeitkyn, on the Irrewaddy, a very small village, 
several natives came on board our boat with some 
for sale.” I bought six or so, really beauties; of 
course, they have flaws and are off color, but still 
are very effective. The silks the natives weave are 
fine and the English people we met said that they 
never wear out; as Miss Knight’s muslin has seen 
better days, I bought some splendid blue silk for 
$10. Katherina will make it up for me in Java. 
I shall hire a sewing machine for her. There are 
so many fascinating things to buy, and such wonder- 
ful places to see, that you could spend a lifetime 
here doing both. In many ways Burma is the most 
attractive place we have been to. India, of course, 
has finer buildings, but the people of Burma, always 
smiling and happy, and dressed so prettily, and their 
fascinating carved pagodas with gilded tops, and the 
alabaster Buddhas, and the whole spirit and life 
of the people, caught my eye and I long to go back 
there and see them again. You could spend days 
in the silk bazar and simply months at the Shwe 
Dagon. Singapore is interesting, but too European. 
The roads and streets are kept up like Common- 
wealth avenue. You go about in rickshaws. There 
are English shops everywhere. Tom’s shoes are giv- 
ing out and so I got hold of a Chinaman, Puck Quay 
by name (this place is almost entirely peopled by 
Chinese) and he is fixing them, two pairs, and mak- 
ing a pair of boots for Katherina, for $4.50. 
It is cool and pleasant here. Tom has gone to 
the Botanical Gardens and Katherina and I have 
been out having a perfect time. Give my love to 
