( 118 ) 



199. They glory in their life of freedom, scorning the idea of 



being subjects of the King of Burma, 

 Manners and customs of these having to pay tribute or vassalage 



people to be subject of next Chapter. . , . & ,, A J • • , & 



to him; all they give is voluntary, 

 and not compulsory they say ; but of this subject and others con- 

 nected with the manners and customs of these people, I shall treat 

 more fully in the next chapter, when comparing the different classes 

 of this interesting tribe. 



200. Breakfast was now served, on nice clean plantain leaves 



. . , ». . . in bamboo baskets, which acted as a 



Observations during breakfast. . i i mi i •ii^i-ii 



table. Ihe meal consisted of boiled 

 rice and various stews and curries, but what the ingredients were, 

 I could not venture to say. I only tasted one, and that was evidently 

 pure capsicum stew, for it nearly skinned the roof of my mouth. 

 Everything was presented in the most cleanly manner, but the 

 fronziness of the inmates — both in appearance and scent — was so 

 very forbidding, that I could only manage to play with the meal out 

 of mere compliment to the people. My party fortunately were less 

 fastidious, and called for a second helping. No people could be more 

 hospitable to their guests than these mountaineers are to all who 

 take shelter under their roof, and it is a popular idea that, so long 

 as the sword is suspended in their house, they will never abuse the 

 confidence placed in them ; excepting in their cups, and then they 

 are ungovernable even among themselves. Next followed a part 

 of the entertainment I most dreaded, — the passing of the "flowing 

 bowl," but to refuse, would have been regarded a marked insult by 

 these people, who are true believers in the old Latin proverb in vino 

 Veritas. I had to caution my peons ; but the sergeant of the guard 

 assured me the liquor was merely fermented rice-toddy, sweetened 

 with a little jaggery, and had no inebriating effect, unless taken in 

 very large quantities, with the express purpose of getting intoxi- 

 cated, as the Kakhyens are in the habit of doing. Myself and fol- 

 lowers having each been supplied with a bamboo vessel of this vile 

 beverage, one was handed to the Tswabwa, who put the cup to his 

 lips, as a signal for all to follow : nor did any but myself fail to 

 empty the goblet in a draught ; heel taps evidently being regarded bad 

 form, but I found it impossible to swallow more than a mouthful or 

 so of the filth, which, to my palate, resembled what I would imagine 

 sweetened putrid water to taste like ; however, I kept the cup to my 

 mouth the whole time the others were drinking, and by a sham 

 gulping process, led the Tswabwa and his friends to imagine I 

 was equally enjoying the beverage. The goblets consist in a joint 

 of a bamboo about three inches in diameter and a foot long, they 

 are cut through at two-thirds of their length, the lower portion serv- 



