ANAM 



107 



and parents, but take great delight in mocking and banter. Their attachment to the soil of 

 their country is very strong, and they never leave it for long. The form of government is 

 absolute monarchy, and the succession to the throne follows the order of primogeniture. Public 

 offices are open to all, and there are no social distinctions other than those due to office. 

 Hence all citizens who are not officials are on terms of equality. 



The Anamese are not a religious people, but have great respect for the dead; their 

 worship consists chiefly of ceremonies in honour of their ancestors. In other respects their 

 religion, if so it may be called, is a strange mixture of cults and creeds. Buddhism, the 

 dominant creed, is overlaid by coarse, popular superstitions, and there is a great deal of spirit- 



Photo by Signor Seato] 



[Handalay. 



BURMESE DANCING-GIRLS. 



worship, or crude demonology. At their pagodas incense is burned to the good or evil spirit 

 of the place (genius loci), or perhaps to the dreaded tiger. In Tongking there are said to be 

 more than 500,000 Christians. 



Among the most picturesque and characteristic of Anamite spectacles are the markets, 

 which are thus described by the present Viceroy of India (Lord Curzou): "They are held on 

 stated days in the week, either in an open place in the middle of the village, frequently tiled 

 over, or thatched as a protection against the sun the site being the property of the 

 commune and being let out in plots or stalls or sometimes in the open country at a central 

 spot between several hamlets. Marketing is entirely conducted by the female sex, who may 



