BURMA 



119 



greatly oppressed by the Burmese, who con- 

 quered them; they occasionally visit the towns 

 of the lowlands for purposes of trade. To 

 some extent they appear to approach the 

 European type. They live in small settle- 

 ments near streams in the woodlands, culti- 

 vating rice, bananas, betel-nut, and other 

 fruits or vegetables, such as sweet potatoes. 

 In ordinary circumstances they are a quiet 

 and peaceable people; but one branch of 

 them, the Red Karens, are the most brutal 

 savages, committing every atrocity except 

 cannibalism. The Karen girl's dress is pretty 

 and picturesque. The tamein, or skirt, re- 

 sembles that worn by the Burmese girl, but 

 the Karen prefers more sober hues. A dark 

 cloth sleeveless jacket, made like a short 

 skirt, cut in a low peak at the breast and 

 back, replaces the Burmese white jacket and 

 coloured neckerchief. It is decorated with 

 scroll designs worked in coloured threads 

 banded with narrow red and white braids, and 

 sometimes with spangles bought in bazaars. 

 Occasionally it is further embellished by 

 narrow ribbons, generally made of red 

 flannel, 20 inches long, which are sewn in 

 pairs under the armholes and at the breast 

 and back. The effect is very pleasing when 

 worn by a bright-looking Karen girl, whose 

 beauty, however, from an English stand- 

 point, is doubtful. 



The Karens have a curious way of cele- 

 brating marriages and funerals at the same 

 time. AVhen celebrating one of their 

 "wakes," a platform of bamboo is erected 

 in front of the house where the dead man 

 lived. On this platform or stage, barbarously 

 adorned with pieces of cloth, a linen sheet is 

 placed, on which the body is laid. People from neighbouring villages come in large numbers; 

 but although certain funeral rites are performed, these they postpone until the young men 

 and maidens have done their courting and chosen their partners for life. And so the occasion 

 partakes more of the nature of a public courting than of a funeral. The proceedings are 

 somewhat after this fashion: The young men and girls separate into two choirs, and seat 

 themselves on opposite sides of the remains. Family jewels are displayed in great profusion. 

 The young men begin with a chorus celebrating the beauties of the Karen maidens, their 

 charm of movement, and modest demeanour. To this the girls respond in a falsetto of the 

 usual drawling character, accepting the eulogy of their graces. These overtures are usually 

 set pieces handed down from antiquity, or rendered into the Karen tongue from some popular 

 Burmese play. Then the young bachelors begin, each in turn, and sing love-stricken solos, 

 calling on the name of some particular damsel. Among an Eastern and poetic people, a 

 flowery language is only what might be expected on such an occasion; so we need not be 

 surprised to learn that the girl is compared to a star, a flower, or a ruby. No painter could 



I'kolO by Messrs. H'tll/.i ,t- 3keen\ 



KAREN WOMEN. 



IJtunyooil. 



