532 



BIRMAN EMPIRE. 



an it as an abuse of time to perform any of the common 

 J.mpire functions of life, which, so long as they occupy ;<t- 



*" '" tention, must divert their minds from the abstract 

 contemplation of the divine They receive 



contributions of food from the laity, and prefer what 

 is cold Co hot. Each convent sends forth a certain 

 number of its members, who walk at a quick pace 

 through the streets, carrying a box in which the do- 

 nations are deposited. During their walks they ne- 

 ver cast their eyes around them, but keep them fixed 

 on the ground ; they do not stop to solicit, and sel- 

 dom even look at the donors, who appear more desirous 

 to bestow than they are to receive. The Rahaans eat 

 only once a-day, namely, at the hour of noon ; and 

 as a much larger quantity of provisions is commonly 

 procured than is sufficient for the members of the 

 convents, the surplus is disposed of to needy stran- 

 gers, or the poor scholars, who daily attend them 

 for instruction in letters, and in the duties of religion 

 and morality. From the number of convents in the 

 neighbourhood of Raugoon, the number of priests 

 must be very considerable. Colonel Symes was in- 

 formed they exceeded 1500; but this must include 

 those in their noviciate. Formerly, it is said, there 

 were also nunneries of virgin priestesses, who, like 

 the Rahaans, wore yellow garments, cut off their 

 hair, and devoted themselves to chastity and reli- 

 gion ; but these societies were long ago abolished, 

 as injurious to the population of the state. 

 Twnules. The temples of Godama are generally of a pyra- 



midal form, and are supposed to contain some relics 

 of the god, as a tooth, a bone, a hair, or a gar- 

 ment. The pyramids are often of an immense size : 

 they are constructed of solid brick-work, plastered 

 over, and generally placed on a prodigious elevated 

 terrace. The base of the pyramid is frequently sur- 

 rounded by a double row of small ones ; and the 

 summit of the whole is always crowned with umbrel- 

 las, made of a combination of iron bars, into a kind of 

 fillagree work, and adorned with bells. Many of these 

 pyramids are from three to five hundred feet high. 

 In the larger temples, the umbrella, with at least the 

 upper part of the pyramid, and often the whole, is 

 images. entirely gilded over. Other temples, of nearly a si- 

 milar structure, but hollow within, contain images 

 of Godama, to which the adoration of his disciples 

 is directed ; however, the greater number of the 

 images are placed in a. kind of chapels which sur- 

 round the large pyramids, containing the relics of 

 Godama. In these figures, the god is always repre- 

 sented as a young man, of a placid countenance, and 

 generally in the dress of a Rahaan. His postures 

 are various. The most common is that of sitting 

 cross-legged upon a throne, with his left hand rest- 

 ing upon his leg, am' holding a book, and with his 

 right hand over his knee. The images of Godama 

 are of various materials, as clay, copper, silver, and 

 alabaster. Many of them are completely gilded and 

 ornamented with paintings, of flowers. The size also 

 of these images varies exceedingly. Some are not 

 above six inches high, and others are of a most co- 

 lossal Mature. Dr Buchanan mentions, that he Baw 

 an image at Ava, consisting of one solid block of 

 ptlfe alabcuAcrv and ::t a sitting pasture, He had no 



opportunity of measuring its dimensions ; but its fia- Birma 

 ipeared to be about the length and thickness Fn.pire. 

 of a large man's thigh and leg, from whence some .'~ 1 



idea ni.\y be formed of the immensity of the whole. 



ies attending to their private devotions, it is Offering*, 

 customary among the Birmans to present offering* at 

 the temples. These are very various ; boiled rice, 

 fruits, especially the cocoa nut, flowers natural and 

 artificial, and a variety of curious figures, made of 

 paper, gold leaf, and the cuttings of the cocoa nut 

 kernel, are the most common. It is also very custo- 

 mary for the rich to offer elegant white umbrellas 

 with golden ornaments, large slippers, canes, pillows, 

 and all manner of utensils gilded, and of the finest 

 materials. Instead of these costly offerings, the poor 

 content themselves with presenting imitations of them 

 in paper. These gifts are placed on altars, or on 

 wooden benches before the god or the temple ; and 

 the eatables become a prey to the dogs or the crows. 

 People who have been in danger by water, present 

 models of boats or ships, some of which are formed 

 with considerable neatness. One of the most common 

 ways for a person to express his devotion, is to gild a 

 patch of a temple, in consequence of which many of 

 them have a very motley appearance. The muni- 

 ficence of the king in this respect has been very ex- 

 tensive. Dr Buchanan was told, that he is annually 

 at the expense of nearly 86,8051b weight of silver for 

 this purpose. In no case do the Birmans offer bloody 

 sacrifices. 



In the Birman empire, the most liberal toleration Tofera. 

 of religion prevails. In the same street may be heard t' 00 - 

 the solemn voice of the Muezzin calling the Islamite 

 to early prayers, and the bell of the Portuguese cha- 

 pel tinkling a summons to the catholic Christian. 

 Processions meet and pass each other without giving 

 or receiving the smallest offence. The Birmans never 

 trouble themselves about the religious opinionsof any 

 sect, nor disturb their ritual ceremonies, provided 

 they' do not interfere with the peace of society, or 

 meddle with their own deity Godama. Some few of 

 the natives have embraced the catholic religion, but it 

 does not appear that any persecution has been excited 

 on this account. The catholics have three places of 

 worship at Raugoon, but the congregations are not 

 very large. In no capacity can any one reside in the 

 Birman empire with less suspicion than as a teacher 

 of religion. Persons sustaining this character, whe- 

 ther Christian, Mahomedan, or Pagan, have greater 

 privileges by order of government than those in any 

 other capacity. 



In this country the form of government is despotic; Govern*, 

 but still the emperor is accustomed to consult a conn- ment. 

 cil of ancient nobles. There is no country of the 

 East in which the royal establishment is arranged with 

 such minute attention as in the Birman court; it is 

 splendid without being wasteful, and numerous with- 

 out confusion. There are different officers by whom 

 the affairs of government in its various departments 

 are transacted. The Birman government has no he- 

 reditary dignities or employments ; for on the death 

 of the possessor, all honours and offices revert to the 

 crown. The order of nobility lias different degrees, 

 which are distinguished by the number of strings 



