992 Dr. Helfefs Third Report [Dec. 



British political ascendancy inspires and spreads throughout the Eas- 

 tern nations, influences probably as much the natives to treat an Eu- 

 ropean with particular consideration, as the appreciation of security 

 and of a mild rule conferred by the British, over such a great portion 

 of mankind. 



Character of the natives superior to the Indians.— The character 

 of the natives in Tenasserim is, on the whole, praiseworthy. By all 

 who have had an opportunity of drawing a parallel between them and 

 the natives of India Proper, they are declared superior to the Indians. 

 One of the peculiar features of Burmese character, and one which is 

 to a superficial observer striking, is their independence and manliness, 

 forming a striking contrast to the submissiveness, humility, and ef- 

 feminacy, so universally met with in India. 



Independence and manliness is an apparent anomaly, if found 

 amongst a people, who have been swayed by one of the most despotic 

 governments in Asia, since time immemorial ; but to account satisfac- 

 torily for this apparent discrepancy, it is necessary to keep in view the 

 nature of Indo-Chinese despotism. It is laid down in these countries, 

 and considered by all people as an indisputable axiom, that all and every 

 thing is the property of the king, and that the king is lord of life and 

 land. This rule of state and nations adopted in Indo-China, operates 

 differently for the rights of men, though they have been always under 

 such an axiom unknown, or not understood, yet the infringement of 

 them, could not have been every where effected equally. 



I confine my observations to Tenasserim, endeavouring to shew, that 

 independence can exist, even where a man is doomed to be the pro- 

 perty of his sovereign from the moment of his birth. 



People in Indo-Chinese governments, are theoretically slaves of the 

 king, but not virtually. The government could not use the whole 

 population for government purposes. If part of the population 

 were called upon to sacrifice their personal liberty, either to carry 

 on a war, or to accomplish some public work, it could be only a tem- 

 porary measure, and after the purpose of government was effected 

 the majority would return again to their homes, released from their 

 temporary bondage. The infringement consists in the unjust, forcible, 

 and arbitrary exaction of the property of the subject. 



Tenasserim formed an out-station of the Burmese empire. Gover- 

 nors were sent to manage public affairs, who were often superseded by 

 others, before they knew the resources of the provinces. The inha- 

 bitants therefore easily found the means to deceive their superiors about 

 their abilities to contribute to the revenue, or refused to do so. 



