CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PEOPLE 9 



and often extends over several years. It is performed by an 

 instrument resembling a mathematical steel pen. In addition, 

 portions of the arms and upper part of the body are tattooed 

 in cabalistic characters and charms against an enemy, evil 

 spirits, and disease. They also make incisions into which they 

 insert bits of gold and silver and allow the skin to heal over 

 them ; this operation they think renders them invulnerable. 



The women are fairer than the men, and their features more 

 delicate. I have never in my life seen more perfect figures 

 than those possessed by the young girls. The Hindoos are 

 as good perhaps, and on a larger scale, but the Burmese girls 

 have firm, well-developed busts, small hands and feet, and are 

 well moulded together. Their naturally long black tresses, of 

 which they are very proud, are added to at times with false 

 tails carefully dressed and perfumed, are gathered at the back 

 of the head a la Chinois, and gracefully adorned with fresh 

 flowers, sometimes an orchid, jasmine, or a chumpac. They are 

 very cleanly in their persons, probably the most cleanly in the 

 world ; they bathe once, twice, or even three times a day, and 

 have no disagreeable aroma about them. 



They wear, wrapped round the body, a ta-mein of silk, 

 woven in vandyke, cable, or serpentine patterns of the brightest 

 dye and varied hues, always blended with great taste. Young 

 girls support their busts by wearing a tight under-jacket. 

 Married women with children dispense with this, and cover 

 their chests by a bodice of a looser material folded in under 

 the left arm. The ta-mein is tucked in tightly at the waist, 

 and falls down in front to the ankles, but as the ends only 

 slightly overlap, a portion of the leg, when walking, is exposed, 

 sometimes half-way up the thigh. The bottom of the skirt is 

 of a different pattern, often of a pale pink, with horizontal 

 narrow stripes of dark colours interwoven with gold or silver 

 threads. This skirt trails behind some ten inches or a foot on 

 the ground, and its graceful management, in either walking or 

 dancing, is one of the accomplishments of a Burmese belle. 

 An enggee, or jacket, of muslin, silk, or satin, is worn open, and 

 with a ta-bet or scarf thrown over the shoulders, partially hides 

 the admirable contour of the bust. 



When in full dress, they powder their faces with sha-nat-kha, 



