J 8 42] in Ava, to Aeng in Arracan. 1147 



bestowed upon them. Another object of adoration is the thunder- 

 bolt, or rather I should suppose the meteoric stone. Whenever a 

 thunder-storm occurs, the Kicaams watch with the utmost anxiety 

 the spot where the lightning strikes, and when the weather is again 

 calm, they proceed to the place they had marked, and examine all the 

 trees, to observe whether any had been scattered by lightning, or their 

 branches broken. Should they be so fortunate as to find one, they 

 immediately dig the ground under the injured bough, and commence 

 searching for the sacred stone, which is generally about the size of the 

 hand, and by them supposed to fall from heaven. This stone is sup- 

 posed to possess the most supernatural qualities, and its appearance is 

 hailed by the sacrifice of a hog and a bullock, ending in a feast; after 

 which it is delivered over to the care of the passive, who keeps it as an 

 infallible talisman against every sort of disease. 



Their ideas of the difference between good and evil consist in sup- 

 posing, that those who honour and respect their parents, take care of 

 their children and cattle, and eat most meat, and drink spirits to the 

 greatest excess, will be well provided for hereafter, and their souls 

 transferred into the bodies of oxen or pigs ; whilst those whose sensual 

 appetites are not so great, and who do not enjoy to the utmost all 

 the good things of the earth, which may be thrown in their way, 

 are considered unworthy of a future reward, looked down upon and 

 contemned. Although it is evident that the Kicaams partly profess 

 the doctrine of transmigration, yet it seems most extraordinary that 

 they should not only feel no compunction in killing their cattle, but 

 deem it a meritorious act. It must, however, be observed, that the 

 sanction of the Passive is necessary before an animal can be slain. 



When any one dies, the event is hailed as a joyful circumstance, 

 and the relations give a grand feast to which all the village is invited, 

 when the degree of affection borne to the deceased is shewn by danc- 

 ing, eating, and drinking in prodigious quantity. Then, should the 

 defunct be a man of property, his body is burned, and the ashes being 

 collected are placed in a basket, and either taken to the mountain of 

 Keoungnatyne, near which we passed when marching from Shoecatah, 

 or to the mountain of Yehaartoung, and there deposited. The latter 

 mountain is very sacred and very lofty, " for (to use the words of my 



uncouth, uncivilized informant) from its summit the whole world 



7 K 



