304 ON TIIK RELIGION A.VJO- 



found a great fpirit of illiberality among my brethrefl 

 of trade; nor were they exempt from impoling on the 

 Aveaknefs of the lick, by a pretenfion to fupernatural 

 powers. In fpite however of all thefe indiretl means 

 of influence, I found them dcfervedly not in pof- 

 fefhon of an honourable eitimation among their coun- 

 trymen. One curious cuftom relating to the Burma 

 phyiicians may be mentioned. If a young woman is 

 dangcroudy ill, the do6tor and her parents frequently 

 enter into an agreement, the doftor undertaking to 

 cure her. If ihe lives, the doftor takes her as his 

 property; but if fhe dies, he pays her value to the 

 parents; for in the Burma dominions, no parent parts 

 with his daughter, whether to be a wife, or to be a 

 ■concubine, without a valuable conhderation. I do 

 not know whether the doctor is entitled to fell the girl 

 again, or if he muft retain her in his family; but the 

 number of fine voung women, which I law in the 

 lioufe of a dotlor at Myeda^ makes me think the 

 practice to be very common. 



In furgerv, the f^ill of the Burmas.^ I believe, 

 goes no farther than drclfing wounds, and fetting 

 bones. Of late indeed they have introduced from 

 Arakan the art of inoculation for the fmall-pox. This 

 practice has however not become general, as a very 

 great proportion of the people's faces are pitted by 

 that difeafc. 



On law, the Burmas have many treatifcs; both 

 containing the laws of MtNU, and copious com* 

 nientaries on thefe. Whether they ■ fhll have any 

 copies of the law, as originally imported from Ceylon^ 

 I know not: but 1 was told, that the Damathat-gye, 

 or code in common ufe, has fufl'ered feveral alter* 

 ations, and additions, made by the decrees of various 

 princes, 



1 iiKAKD of no poetry, which the Burmas "po^cUi, 

 except fongs. Of thefe they have a great number 

 on a variety of fubje^ts, and are fond of quoting 



